Chapter 19: Evil Demon Sculptures?

Just a few minutes later, the black coupe entered the Yuxiang Jiayuan residential complex and stopped before a building entrance.

Lu Ran thanked them repeatedly, opened the door, and got out.

Deng Yu Tang also stepped out and retrieved the Radiant Blade from the trunk, handing it to Lu Ran.

“Little Lu Ran.”

The passenger window rolled down slowly; Deng Yu Xiang leaned over the steering wheel, waving out the window with a tilted head.

“Goodbye, sister!” Lu Ran misunderstood and immediately waved back.

Deng Yu Xiang smiled; her glossy lipstick always reminded Lu Ran of a song by General Zhou.

She spoke: “Work hard and coordinate well with Xiao Tang, earn more good results.”

“If I’m satisfied, I might teach you a couple of tricks.”

Lu Ran instantly perked up: “Sister also uses a blade?”

Deng Yu Tang had just gotten in the car and shouted out: “My sister is—!”

Deng Yu Xiang slammed the accelerator; the black coupe roared off into the rain.

Lu Ran watched the vehicle roar away through the rain, and couldn’t help grinning.

This girl,

was both stunning and fierce—though her name was a bit off.

Such a radiant woman didn’t match the gloomy, rainy, melancholy atmosphere of Yuxiang.

Come to think of it, my own name doesn’t fit the vibe of my hometown either?

“Her glossy lipstick carries a confident pride I can see~”

Lu Ran hummed softly under his breath as he walked home step by step.

He rushed straight to his small bedroom and bowed respectfully before the altar:

“Lord Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned.”

Lu Ran paused, then continued: “Thank you, Lord Xiang Xianyang, for your teachings. The special use of the Voice of Compassion is truly overwhelming.”

“Your disciple has not disgraced your name and should secure first place in this assessment.”

Lu Ran clasped his hands together and reported for a long time; the white sheep jade carving inside the altar gave no response.

Seeing this, Lu Ran bowed again, then picked up the Radiant Blade and entered the bathroom.

He tossed his clothes into the basin to soak, then washed himself and the blade repeatedly.

Only when he was clean and fresh did he step out of the bathroom, casually place the blade on the table, and collapse onto the small bed.

Exhausted beyond measure, he fell asleep quickly.

But this sleep was uneasy.

In his dream, Lu Ran seemed to arrive at a mysterious place.

“Where is this?” Lu Ran’s face twisted in shock as he looked around.

The light here was dim, shrouded in thick mist with very low visibility.

That wasn’t the issue—the real problem was: most people, when dreaming, sink into the dream and don’t realize they’re dreaming.

No matter how absurd the dream, they never question it until they wake.

But Lu Ran was fully awake right now!

He even believed he was conscious—how he’d arrived here, he didn’t know.

“Uhh~”

“Uhh~~~” Whimpers echoed from layers of mist.

Lu Ran tensed, whirled around to face behind him.

Cold winds blew but failed to disperse the dense fog, only sending a chill down his spine.

“Lord Xiang Xianyang?” Lu Ran whispered, tiptoeing forward.

As he advanced, a massive sculpture gradually emerged.

Lu Ran’s eyes widened slightly.

The sculpture stood over ten meters tall, shaped like a dog, entirely black, with a slender frame.

A sculpture of the Demon Clan’s Evil Hound?

“This?” Lu Ran stared, gaping up at the giant hound’s fangs.

“Uhh~~~”

“Woof! Woof!” Whimpers and barks came again.

On the giant hound sculpture, Lu Ran saw figures of hounds.

They were normal-sized but appeared as ethereal lines, like souls swirling around the massive statue.

“Woof!!”

The hound spirits noticed Lu Ran and opened their bloody maws.

But before they could leap, they were yanked back violently.

Around the sculpture, an invisible chain bound the whimpering, howling spirits.

“Gulp.” Lu Ran swallowed hard and stepped back slowly.

Carefully counting, there were thirty to forty hound spirits.

Wait.

Lu Ran’s mind stirred—weren’t these the thirty to forty Evil Hounds his squad slaughtered during this demon cave mission?

Does this mean the dead souls came to claim vengeance?

The Demon Clan has many kinds; some can indeed enter human dreams to steal souls.

But Lu Ran was certain: the Evil Hound clan had no such ability!

“Lord Xiang Xianyang?” Lu Ran’s temples throbbed; he didn’t know what was happening or where he was.

His only hope was his family’s deity—Xian Yang.

Yet apart from the spirits’ wails, there was no other sound.

Suddenly, a faint glimmer flashed in the eyes of the giant hound sculpture.

Fuck this shit!

Lu Ran spun and dashed into the thick mist.

His instinct for self-preservation drove him to flee, but after running only dozens of meters, he saw another massive sculpture.

Lu Ran froze.

A ghostly loop?

No, no—

Lu Ran frowned deeply and stepped forward slowly.

This sculpture faced away from him; it was clearly a dog, but not as slender as the Evil Hound.

“What is this?” Lu Ran felt increasing familiarity.

He circled cautiously to the side and finally recognized the breed!

It resembled a wolfhound, entirely black, with streaks of crimson patterns across its body—elegant yet eerie.

The Demon Clan’s Blood Calamity.

Folklore calls it the “Blood Calamity Hound”; it’s far more infamous and vicious than the Evil Hound clan.

Because the Blood Calamity Hound can spit roaring flames, reducing human cities to infernos in moments.

On every fifteenth night of the lunar calendar, this cruel demon is the last thing people want to see!

Not to mention economic damage—the casualties and psychological trauma inflicted by the Blood Calamity clan are incalculable.

“Blood Calamity.” Lu Ran gazed up dumbly.

Around this sculpture, no spirits drifted.

“Where the hell am I?” Lu Ran was lost.

Why are there sculptures of Demon Clan creatures everywhere?

This is insane,

what place have I entered?

The next morning, rain drizzled endlessly.

Lu Ran woke slowly on his small bed to find wisps of mist curling through his room.

No doubt, Xian Yang had bestowed another blessing while he slept!

Lu Ran was overjoyed, carefully sensing himself—he felt no weakness at all.

“Thank you, Lord Xiang Xianyang!” Lu Ran rushed to the altar and bowed deeply again and again.

After several attempts and patient waiting, the jade carving gave no sign; Lu Ran finally stretched out with a fierce yawn.

“Ahh~~~”

So good!

Lu Ran glanced at the wall clock—it was already 8:30 a.m.

The three-hour demon cave mission had been incredibly draining; he’d slept through the entire afternoon and night.

Today was the sixth day of the lunar month; school was off for a day, so Lu Ran wasn’t worried about being late.

He went to the bathroom, tossed his blood-soaked clothes into the washing machine, then began brushing his teeth.

But as he brushed, his movements suddenly stopped.

Something feels off?

Lu Ran brushed his teeth, silently pondering.

Why did he always feel he’d forgotten something important?

Yesterday I went to the Demon Cave, then returned to campus by bus, and the Deng siblings dropped me off home, took a bath, went to sleep, and only now woke up.

Nothing’s wrong!

Everything is clear and straightforward—no other matters remain.

“Hmm.” Lu Ran frowned slightly, unsure what was wrong with him.

He’d woken up this morning for no reason at all.

After washing up, Lu Ran picked up the Radiant Blade and headed for the master bedroom.

He carefully hung the Black Ice Blade back on the wall, his fingertips brushing the cold blade surface.

The scenes of yesterday’s dog-slaying flooded back into his mind.

Such a divine weapon undoubtedly skyrocketed Lu Ran’s killing power!

Lu Ran whispered, “In a few days, on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, I’ll summon you out again!”

With that, he folded his fingers and lightly tapped the thin, razor-sharp edge.

“Ding~”

The Radiant Blade emitted a crisp, pleasant sound.

“Good, it’s settled then!” Lu Ran smiled, revealing a row of white teeth.

Living alone, he had many little life hacks.

“You mind the house—I’m going out for a meal.”

“Ding~”

“Mm, don’t worry—I’ll remember to bring an umbrella.”

“Ding~”

Satisfied, Lu Ran turned and left.

But just before stepping out, he glanced again at the wedding photo hanging directly above the bedside.

Though his parents had long divorced, his father had never taken the photo down.

Lu Ran stepped backward slowly out of the room, gazing at the man in the old photograph, and whispered:

“I’ll come see you soon.”

(End of Chapter)