Chapter 162: The Last Night

After Lu Ran went up to the stage and received the Divine Power Bead from the teacher, he turned and left!

The teacher still wanted to use the same trick, letting Lu Ran say a few words to stimulate the students.

However, Lu Ran ran so fast~

It wasn't until Lu Ran returned to the team that the male teacher showed a look of regret and said: "After this defense of the city, you will be on winter break."

"There is no homework for winter break; I wish you all a happy New Year."

"Alright, follow your Moon-Watching leader!"

"Yeah, it's almost New Year." Lu Ran held the newly acquired Divine Power Bead and muttered to himself.

Although he had always lived alone, every New Year's Eve, he still had to go to Jingcheng to spend the holiday with his mother and younger sister.

It had been a full year since he last saw his mother; to say he didn't miss her would be a lie.

Since becoming a believer, he had been busy with cultivation and training every day, and the number of times he called her had also decreased.

"Let's go, Brother Lu!" Deng Yutang put his arm around Lu Ran's shoulder, "It's our turn."

"Oh." Lu Ran immediately came back to his senses.

"What were you thinking about, so intently?" Deng Yutang was a bit curious.

"Thinking about the New Year, it's only half a month away; it's really fast." Lu Ran sighed with emotion.

Deng Yutang nodded silently, feeling quite the same.

Since becoming a believer, month after month...

"Long time no see." From the front came a familiar male voice.

Several people looked over and saw the Moon-Watcher Zhang Feng, who was specifically leading Team 98.

"Hello, Brother Zhang."

"Morning, Brother Zhang."

"Good." Zhang Feng nodded with a smile, carefully examining the few of them: "How has your cultivation been? What levels are you all at?"

Since they parted on the fifteenth of August, four months had passed.

The few students had changed quite a bit, matured a lot, and had more of the demeanor of warriors.

"We are all at the Stream Realm, Fourth Stage." Chang Ying said proudly, "Lu Ran is at the River Realm, First Stage!"

"Oh?" Zhang Feng looked at Lu Ran, both surprised and happy.

This special youth always brought him surprises.

Whether it was Lu Ran's desire to fight, his combat strength, or that terrifying talent, it was enough to make one tongue-tied.

Now, Chang Ying's "River Realm, First Stage" made ripples in Zhang Feng's heart once again.

In half a year, River Realm, First Stage!

Without a doubt, this was the growth speed that only believers of First-Class or Second-Class gods should have.

Even powerful Third-Class god believers probably couldn't do it!

"Incredible." Zhang Feng sighed with emotion, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Good, you are all very good, you have all made great progress!"

"Especially Lu Ran, you've changed a lot."

"You already possess the aura that a warrior should have."

Lu Ran laughed, looking embarrassed: "I'm not that good, I'm still far off."

"The one who has changed the most has to be Jiang Ruyi."

"Ah?"

"What?" The few of them didn't understand and looked at Lu Ran.

Only to see Lu Ran patting Chang Ying on the back, looking up at the black-skinned girl: "Look at this change in Jiang Ruyi!"

"From a fair-skinned and beautiful girl, she's turned into a tall, fierce, big-eating girl~"

Chang Ying:???

Tian Tian covered her small mouth with one hand, but she couldn't hold it in: "Pfft, hehe~"

Deng Yutang: "Hahahahahaha!"

Such hearty laughter attracted the curiosity of the people around them.

Zhang Feng was also amused and led them toward the bus: "It seems I should also retire with honor."

"Leader Zhang?" Tian Tian was sensitive and noticed the complex emotions in Zhang Feng's tone.

"Retire with honor?" Lu Ran looked at Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng nodded: "Yeah, you are all at least at the Stream Realm, Fourth Stage, and you have also experienced half a year of training, participating in battles big and small."

"Now, you are all warriors, the main force guarding the city."

"I, this leader, should be stepping down."

The demons invading the city on the night of the fifteenth were mostly between the Mist Realm and the Stream Realm.

Under normal circumstances, the four-person team was indeed qualified as a guard force.

Listening to Zhang Feng's words, Lu Ran couldn't help but think of someone else—Instructor Dou Zhiqiang.

Last time, when Lu Ran and Si Xianxian went to Evil Dog Village, Dou Zhiqiang had also said similar things.

The cold-faced instructor had already said goodbye to Lu Ran in his words.

From now on, the two of them would basically never meet again.

As for the road ahead, he didn't have the ability to accompany Lu Ran any further.

Hmm... thinking about it carefully, it was actually quite good.

At least there was a somewhat formal farewell.

And in the journey of a person's life, many last meetings happen inadvertently.

"Get on the bus!" Zhang Feng came to the bus, "After this exam, go home for the New Year!"

This flag was also very standard.

Several people quickly got on the bus, only feeling that the bus was very empty; including Lu Ran's 4 people, there were only 20 students left in the class, a total of 5 teams.

The bus carried everyone and drove all the way to the east side of the city.

The destination of this trip was the abandoned school—Rain Alley City No. 5 Elementary School.

When the bus arrived at the school and Lu Ran stepped on the playground, he couldn't help but look toward the southeast.

The dilapidated swings were still there.

It was just that the autumn day with withered yellow leaves had turned into a winter day covered in white snow.

Full of memories!

Lu Ran stepped on the snow on the playground and walked straight over.

Zhang Feng was still easygoing and didn't bother Lu Ran.

"Tsk tsk~" Lu Ran came to the swing frame.

One of the swing boards was broken, leaving only two iron chains tied together; this was Lu Ran's own masterpiece.

At that time, he was chasing and being chased by a Night Charm, in a fight to the death.

He had also swung a full circle on this swing, accompanied by the full moon of the fifteenth of August.

Beautiful was all there was to it~

Thinking about it, Lu Ran's expression became strange, and he gripped the cold swing chains with one hand: "You might not believe it if I tell you."

"Now, I've become a Night Charm."

"Squeak~"

The rusty iron chains swayed gently, making a harsh sound.

"Creak, creak..."

The sound of footsteps on the snow came from near to far.

Lu Ran turned his head and saw Tian Tian holding his dual blades, searching for him.

"Master." Tian Tian called out softly.

"Thank you." Lu Ran took the dual blades.

Tian Tian's eyes rolled, her little thoughts quite active: "Master, are you thinking of Sister Ruyi?"

"Uh." Lu Ran got stuck.

Four months ago, he had indeed been swinging on the swings here with Jiang Ruyi.

If I said I was thinking about the Night Charm, would that not be very good?

"No?" Tian Tian said softly, feeling a bit disappointed in her heart.

"I was thinking, I was thinking." Lu Ran was between laughter and tears.

My disciple is actually my CP fan?

A sweet smile appeared on Tian Tian's little face, and she didn't care whether Lu Ran was lying to her or not.

It seemed that as long as Lu Ran said it, she was willing to believe it.

Lu Ran wrapped his arm around the dual blades and patted Tian Tian's little head: "I haven't slept for two days and two nights, I'm a bit tired."

Tian Tian hurriedly said: "Don't sleep here, you'll catch a cold."

Lu Ran: "..."

Lu Ran's sleep was deep and dark!

As night fell, a tall black shadow finally sneaked into an office on the fourth floor.

"Ran-bao, God Ran?"

"Mm..." Lu Ran responded groggily, turned over, and continued to sleep soundly.

Chang Ying stepped forward a few steps, sat on the edge of the bed, and patted Lu Ran on the shoulder: "Wake up, Ran-bao."

"It's dark, time to get up!"

"Mm?" Lu Ran finally opened his eyes, looking at the person in front of him by the light of the hallway.

"Get up quickly." Chang Ying said with a smile, "In a while, the demons will be crawling into your bed."

Lu Ran: "..."

The way you urge people to get up is quite scary?

If it were the likes of a Straw Demon or Bamboo Wood Demon crawling into the bed, you could just tie them up and continue sleeping.

Just a pillow, that's all.

If it were an Ink-Paper Person crawling into the bed...

Who could handle that?

Lu Ran sat up, only feeling his head buzzing.

"Only our team is guarding outside the door." Chang Ying muttered in a low voice, "With you not there, we feel a bit panicked."

Lu Ran laughed: "Isn't Leader Zhang Feng there?"

Chang Ying curled her lips and said as a matter of course: "With him around, where is there as much sense of security as being by your side?"

Lu Ran rubbed his eyes and warned: "Don't say that in front of others."

"I know, I know, I'm not stupid."

"I'm going to wash my face." Lu Ran got up, got off the bed, and walked out in his slippers.

"Then I'll wait for you at the door?"

"The blades."

"I'll help you hold them." There was no need for a reminder; Chang Ying's gaze had already locked onto the dual blades on the table.

Like Tian Tian, Chang Ying didn't mind being Lu Ran's "blade-holding attendant."

To this day, the relationship between Lu Ran and his teammates was changing bit by bit.

Fundamentally, it was due to Lu Ran's powerful strength; on the other hand, it was also the result of his deliberate guidance.

As for when it would bear fruit, he didn't know.

Lu Ran just hoped that when the day he was ready came, when he issued an invitation to his teammates...

They would not fail his expectations and would join the "Ran Sect" without hesitation.

A few minutes later.

The two arrived at the lobby on the first floor, just in time to see Bai Manni's team guarding the small shrine.

"How are you feeling?" After Lu Ran greeted everyone, he looked at Bai Manni.

Bai Manni, a Curse Master believer, was still restless and shook her head with worry.

"Sigh..." Lu Ran sighed heavily in his heart and pushed the door open to walk out.

The cold air hit his face, making Lu Ran completely energized!

The stars twinkled in the night sky, and the bright moon hung high.

The cold moonlight poured onto the snow-covered ground, making the frost and snow shine brightly.

"Good weather, Xiaguang!" Lu Ran gripped the Xiaguang Blade with his left hand and slowly raised it.

His gaze, through the pitch-black yet transparent black ice material, looked at the bright moon in the sky.

"Freezing to death, how is this good weather." Chang Ying rubbed her hands, breathing out mist.

Lu Ran said softly: "She doesn't understand what we are waiting for, do you think?"

"Hum!!"

The Xiaguang Blade in Lu Ran's hand suddenly trembled, and the movement was not small.

Such a scene left everyone stunned.

If a weapon's reaction could be this violent, then was it about to...

Zhang Feng looked astonished and couldn't help but ask: "Lu Ran, this blade of yours?"

"My father left it to me."

Lu Ran stared at the full moon in the night sky through the thin, cold blade.

It's time, Xiaguang!

This night is the last night before the red clouds appear in the sky, right?

The Moon-Watchers said that Rain Alley might not be peaceful tonight.

The Curse Master believer just now was also full of worry.

It seems tonight will be hard to endure.

However...

Morning clouds were never something we waited for.

They were something we killed our way to!

Don't you think?

"Hum!!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 163 =====