Chapter 21: Gazing at the Moon

That night, Lu Ran was excessively joyful.

The bedroom was too small to contain the joy in Lu Ran's heart, so he simply climbed out the window, darting back and forth along the pedestrian paths and across the lawns within the residential compound.

Amidst the drizzling rain, a series of hissing sounds rang out continuously!

Streaks of immortal mist outlined Lu Ran's trajectory of movement.

It was not until most of the divine power within his body was consumed that Lu Ran stopped, watching as his pair of white misty sheep legs gradually dissipated.

"So satisfying~!"

Lu Ran wiped his wet face and shook his head vigorously.

It had been a long time since he felt this sense of running wild.

While sighing with emotion, he crossed the lawn and climbed back in through the small bedroom window.

"Heh." Soaked to the bone, Lu Ran lay softly on the floor and let out a long, relieved breath.

With Ru Ci Shen Fa bolstering him, he had gained another asset for tomorrow's city defense battle!

As he thought, Lu Ran suddenly realized that Xiang Xiang Xianyang was incredibly indulgent toward him.

The original intention behind Xiang Xianyang creating the Divine Art·Immortal Hoof was to allow believers to stay away from danger and evade conflict.

The deity naturally permitted believers to practice the Divine Art, but just now, Lu Ran had gone beyond the scope of practice; he was purely intoxicated by joy.

Thinking of this, Lu Ran stood up and approached the shrine: "Thank you, my lord Xiang Xianyang!"

The jade carving of Xiang Xianyang remained pure white, silent and motionless.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, then requested: "Tomorrow, I will inevitably use Yong Ci Fa to engage the demonic race head-on rather than avoiding battle and fleeing; I hope you grant your approval."

"From now on."

After a long silence, my lord Xiang Xianyang finally transmitted a voice.

Lu Ran immediately perked up: "From now on?"

"Not just tomorrow. From now on."

Lu Ran clenched his fists; indeed, this was the response he expected!

From beginning to end, Xiang Xianyang's attitude had always encouraged Lu Ran to fight; there was never a moment when He told him to avoid battle and act cowardly!

This could be seen from the fact that Xiang Xianyang taught him the Te Shu Shen Fa·Sound of Despair.

Lu Ran pressed his palms together and said in a deep voice: "This disciple will surely strive to make the Xianyangyi Sect shine brilliantly and will not disappoint your expectations!"

"By the way." Lu Ran suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Does the Divine Art·Immortal Hoof have any special methods of usage?"

If he could create a Sound of Despair just like with the Divine Art·Sound of Compassion, wouldn't he have hit the jackpot?

The room fell into complete silence.

Lu Ran waited patiently, but for a long time, no response came.

Was there no special version?

Lu Ran felt a slight disappointment but dared not voice a single complaint.

It was all because in recent days, the mysterious and domineering Boss Sheep had brought so many surprises, truly spoiling a certain someone rotten.

Lu Ran spoke no more; he sat cross-legged before the shrine, drawing in the divine power of heaven and earth to make full preparations for tomorrow's city defense battle.

The rain fell all night,

and Lu Ran stayed awake through the night, accompanied by the pattering light rain.

It was not until early morning the next day that the low, drawn-out sound of an alarm siren rang out across the city once again:

"Woo~~~"

Lu Ran opened his eyes; his pupils were exceptionally bright, with energy faintly circulating within them.

He stood up, wisps of mist swirling around his body, and walked to the windowsill.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the light rain had not ceased.

Judging by the situation, the full moon would likely not be visible tonight.

Lu Ran sighed slightly in his heart and reached for the Stream Artifact·Divine Power Bead hanging around his neck, sensing the full store of divine power within it.

In recent days, whenever he cultivated before the shrine, he had infused divine power into the bead, all for the sake of this fifteenth day of the lunar month.

"Woo~~~"

The alarm siren continued to echo through the city, lingering for a long time without dispersing.

Lu Ran delayed no longer; he went to wash up, then hurried to the master bedroom to retrieve his father's ceremonial blade, Xia Guang Dao.

Ten-plus minutes later, Lu Ran, clad in a black raincoat and carrying the Xia Guang Dao wrapped in cloth, stepped out onto the deserted streets.

Inevitably, as he made his way, he became the focus of attention.

Especially when passing through the residential compounds, curious citizens could always be seen on the balconies and behind the windows of house after house.

Some even shouted loudly at Lu Ran, urging him to hurry home and not run around recklessly.

Yesterday, ordinary people could still go out to shop, but today, that was completely impossible!

In response to the earnest exhortations of the warm-hearted citizens, Lu Ran did not reply, filled only with emotion.

Once, he too had been one of these citizens, possessing no ability to resist, able only to beg heaven for mercy and endure the torment of this fifteenth night.

Lu Ran had not even qualified to stay at home!

For only if your home enshrined a divine statue could you remain there.

Whether enshrined by yourself or by a relative, you could kneel devoutly before the shrine to beg for one night of peace, a Sister Sister Xian.

People like Lu Ran could only, under official organization, go to shelters to spend the night in terror.

Now, everything had changed.

Lu Ran had become a believer, possessed a Divine Art, and held the courage to raise his slaughtering blade against the demonic race.

This feeling...

"Huff." Lu Ran exhaled deeply, clutching the Rosy Light Blade tightly in his arms as he gazed at the alleyways shrouded in the curtain of rain.

Seventeen years had passed,

it was finally time for him to take the stage.

When Lu Ran arrived at the school, the playground was already teeming with people. Most students wore raincoats; it seemed everyone had thought alike, for no one could possibly fight while holding an umbrella.

"Brother Lu!" From afar, Deng Yutang waved his hand.

The problem was, he was also holding a red headscarf, and the way he beckoned people over looked rather strange.

"Brother Lu, is something troubling your mind?" Deng Yutang asked, looking at Lu Ran, whose face was as grim as still water.

Tian Tian stood slightly behind and to the side of Jiangjiang Ruyi, revealing half of her small face as she curiously watched Lu Ran.

"It's nothing." Lu Ran shook his head.

On his way to the school, he had gone to the Wu Lie River once more, hoping to give himself and Mao Mao another chance.

Alas, heaven did not grant his wish.

At this moment, Lu Ran still held only the blade in his arms; Little Li Hua was nowhere to be found.

He hoped it could survive this night.

"What is wrong with you?" Jiangjiang Ruyi asked, looking at Lu Ran, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes.

"Really, it's nothing!" Lu Ran said casually, then turned to look at Deng Yutang and remarked with disdain, "Next time you call me over, don't wave a handkerchief."

It makes me look like a patron of brothels~

Deng Yutang casually handed over the red headscarf: "Here!"

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

"It's a gift for you." Deng Yutang smiled. "Last time, didn't you say you wanted to try wearing one?"

"Hehe~" Lu Ran immediately dropped his disdain. "This is too embarrassing!"

Though his mouth said one thing, Lu Ran's movements were exceedingly smooth as he readily accepted the red headscarf.

Jiangjiang Ruyi looked at someone's shameless expression and felt utterly speechless, while Tian Tian covered her mouth and giggled.

"Haha!" Deng Yutang burst into loud laughter, looking rather proudly at Jiangjiang Ruyi. "A bet is a bet, Class Wu Ban Zhang Jiang!"

Jiangjiang Ruyi nodded helplessly, accepting the two red headscarfs Deng Yutang handed over. "Thank you."

"What bet?" Lu Ran asked, greatly puzzled.

Deng Yutang replied: "I prepared a headscarf for each member of our small team, but the Class Wu Ban Zhang said it was too valuable and refused to accept it."

"Later, we made a bet: if you accepted yours, she would accept hers."

Lu Ran felt slightly awkward and immediately changed the subject: "By the way, Young Master Deng, what does your sister do for work?"

Deng Yutang answered: "She is with the Moon-Gazing Detachment, under the Divine People Bureau, working at the Yunshan City Municipal Bureau."

Rain Alley City is a county-level city, while the prefecture-level city governing Rain Alley is Yunshan City.

There, the population numbers in the millions, and the divine statue of the Seventh-Rank God·My Lord Wu Ya stands tall.

"Divine People Bureau, Moon-Gazing Detachment." Lu Ran now understood clearly.

Elder Sister Deng was actually a cap-wearing officer!

That explained why she appeared by the Wu Lie River, and why she meddled in such a wide range of affairs.

The Divine People Bureau is the law enforcement agency of Great Xia.

Unlike ordinary police stations, the Divine People Bureau targets groups of believers, with its primary duty being to crack down on crimes committed by believers, among other things.

The Moon-Gazing Detachment is an internal institution within the Divine People Bureau; those belonging to this department are collectively known as "Moon-Gazers."

Wangyue is a lunar phase, also known as the full moon.

In the Great Xia lunar calendar, every day's lunar phase has a corresponding name; the so-called "full moon" refers specifically to the fifteenth day of the lunar month.

Every night of the fifteenth,

the Moon-Gazers are the ones the citizens rely upon, the city's guardian deities most worthy of trust.

"Why bring her up suddenly?" Deng Yutang asked, confused.

Nearby, Jiangjiang Ruyi allowed Tian Tian to wrap the red scarf around her arm, her beautiful eyes glancing faintly, yet meaningfully, at Lu Ran.

"Just asking out of boredom," Lu Ran muttered softly, heaving a sigh in his heart.

The Great Da Da Mengyan was actually a public servant, and moreover, a Divine People law enforcer!

Wanting to spank her buttocks would now be difficult upon difficult.

If things went poorly,

I might easily end up inside operating a sewing machine.

"What is your sister's name?" Lu Ran pressed, "Be specific."

"Deng Deng Yuxiang. 'Yu' as in uncut jade, 'Xiang' as in Xiaoxiang."

"Oh." Lu Ran scratched his head; unsurprisingly, his hand landed on the hood of his raincoat.

He had indeed gotten her name wrong.

"Why do you keep asking about her?" The usually brave men of the Deng family rarely felt panic in their hearts.

Lu Ran replied: "Just asking, why are you so nervous?"

Deng Yutang's expression turned peculiar: "I know that in the eyes of others, my sister is beautiful, powerful, and extremely wealthy."

"But Brother Lu, take my advice: absolutely do not provoke her!"

"Me provoke her?" Lu Ran grimaced.

Your sister is indeed so beautiful that snot bubbles form, the kind of beauty where one wouldn't even heartache to wipe it away with money.

But she specializes in managing divine believers like me!

Our professions match so perfectly,

How could I willingly walk into the tiger's mouth?

"Brother Lu, I've always considered you a brother!" Deng Yutang threw an arm around Lu Ran's shoulder.

Lu Ran: "."

I never intended to become your brother-in-law either.

Besides, with my slight frame, I couldn't withstand her great long blade anyway!

"Alright, Sister Jiang Ruyi." Tian Tian, having tied her red scarf, whispered softly.

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi responded in a low voice, casually gazing at the bow knot formed by the red scarf tied around her arm.

Tian Tian waited with full anticipation, expecting the other woman to tie the red scarf for her.

However, Jiangjiang Ruyi merely toyed with the bow knot, paying no attention to the girl.

Tian Tian opened her mouth, but ultimately dared not speak, silently tucking her own red scarf into her pocket.

Nearby, Deng Yutang continued his earnest admonition: "Brother Lu, you must absolutely not jump into a fire pit!"

"You misunderstand," Lu Ran explained helplessly. "Yesterday during training, I happened to encounter your sister on patrol, and then..."

"And then what?"

"And then your sister beat me up, of course!" Lu Ran wore an expression of great suffering. "I didn't want to say it; it makes me sound like I'm lodging a complaint."

"So that's how it was." Deng Yutang breathed a sigh of relief. "Then there's nothing you can't say, though complaining to me is useless."

I wouldn't dare cough anyway.

Lu Ran:???

What happened to the Red Scarf believers being incomparably brave?

Jiangjiang Meiren came back to her senses, lowered her head, and looked at the silent Tian Tian: "Where is your red scarf?"

"It's, it's in my pocket," Tian Tian whispered softly.

"Let me tie it for you."

"Oh, okay." The gloom in Tian Tian's heart vanished instantly; a smile bloomed on her little face as she hurriedly took out the red scarf.

"How exactly did she beat you?" Deng Yutang continued digging for details.

"Don't mention it. Your sister is actually a believer of the North Wind Blade; why didn't you tell me!"

Lu Ran sighed, still muttering under his breath: "She beat me so badly I was searching the ground for cats."

Deng Yutang: "Huh?"

Lu Ran waved his hand, not wishing to speak of it further.

"Haha!" Deng Yutang burst into loud laughter. "My sister indeed strikes without measuring her strength, but after beating someone, she always offers a few pointers."

"Brother Lu, did she teach you a couple of moves?"

A thought stirred in Lu Ran's heart as he looked at the red headscarf in his hand.

Yesterday, the Great Da Da Mengyan had indeed opened the door to a new world for him:

She had repeatedly reminded Lu Ran to listen to the sound of the wind, rather than blindly using his eyes to view the world.

"She really did teach me." Holding the red scarf, Lu Ran folded it into a long strip and attempted to blindfold his own eyes.

Deng Yutang watched for quite a while but still failed to understand: "What exactly did my sister teach you?"

"Can't you tell?" With his eyes blindfolded, Lu Ran listened carefully to the noisy surroundings.

Deng Yutang looked at Lu Ran with confusion.

It had to be said, the look of being blindfolded with a red scarf was indeed somewhat cool!

"I get it!" Deng Yutang's eyes lit up. "She taught you to cosplay the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?"

Lu Ran:???

You damn well read quite a miscellany, don't you?

Thanks to everyone, especially Dead Ghost Da Meng, for the 100,000 reward!

Long time no see, you're back~

Wishing brother an early attainment of a good match; may lovers finally become spouses (`) Heart fingers.

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(End of Chapter)