Chapter 30

Lu Ran.

“Hmm?” Lu Ran set down the red scarf and turned to look at Jiang Meiren.

She wore a white raincoat that suited her fair, lovely face—pure and serene.

The girl asked: “Have you advanced?”

Lu Ran smiled: “Guess.”

This scene felt like it had played out just days ago?

Jiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a look full of exasperated amusement: “Who cares to know.”

His proud, confident demeanor made the answer obvious to anyone.

“Heh.” Lu Ran grinned.

You dare use chopsticks at my feast? I’m pulling out the plastic bag again!

Sorry, everyone.

I’ve packed it up again!

“Good!” Deng Yu shouted loudly, startling Lu Ran, “You’ve learned Immortal Hoof too?”

Lu Ran nodded as if it were obvious: “Don’t worry.”

Deng Yu’s heart settled—Lu Brother truly lived up to expectations.

For yet another teammate advancing ahead, Deng Yu felt intense envy and a faint pressure.

But his joy outweighed it all—Lu Ran’s strength meant higher survival odds for the whole team!

Especially now that he possessed the Divine Art: Immortal Hoof, his mobility would increase, allowing him to better link the team and assist everywhere.

“So amazing.” Tian Tian gazed up at Lu Ran, her little mouth slightly open.

Seeing Tian Tian’s adorable expression, Lu Ran couldn’t help but reach out and pat her head.

Though they were the same age, gentle, sweet Tian Tian always gave off the vibe of a little sister.

“Mm.” Tian Tian lowered her head, cheeks flushed, not daring to dodge.

It was the Goddess Jiang who showed mercy, rescuing her subject—she pulled Tian Tian behind her, shielding the small figure.

On the podium, a male teacher held a microphone and barked: “All teams, assemble by team number, form ranks!”

The playground was chaotic, yet the teacher’s voice continued: “Today, you will participate in the City Defense Operation—protect this city!”

Amid the teacher’s lengthy speech, the students finally formed ranks.

The playground fell solemn, the atmosphere growing heavier.

Compared to the last Dog Village trial, this Fifteen-Day City Defense is a hundred times more dangerous!

As homeroom teacher Li Yan said, today there will be no soldiers filtering out the weakest demons for you to practice on.

Tonight,

If you slip up even slightly, people will die!

“Attention!” the male teacher shouted, “Teams whose numbers I call, step forward to the podium one by one.”

Deng Yu suddenly spoke: “I think I saw my sister.”

“Oh?” Lu Ran gazed into the distance, searching for Da Mengyan.

Sure enough, among the dark raincoats, he spotted a vivid yellow figure.

“Your sister’s rank must be high?” Lu Ran leaned close behind Deng Yu and whispered.

Before the podium, a line of Wangyue personnel stood in neat formation, while Da Mengyan stood beside five others at the side.

Deng Yu shook his head: “She’s only been employed a few months—what rank could she have?”

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow—then this positioning… because she’s from the city bureau?

Very likely.

Even if Deng Yuxiang is just a lowly clerk in Yunshan City’s Divine People’s Bureau, here in Yuxiang City, she’s an official sent down from higher authority.

“Team 33!”

“Team 57!”

“Team 98!”

“Here!” Deng Yu answered instinctively, voice booming.

Under the students’ gazes, the four quickly moved through the ranks to the podium.

“Your ten teams are each assigned a Wangyue leader for the mission at the West District Gymnasium,” the teacher said gravely. “From now on, follow your Wangyue leader’s orders!”

As he spoke, men and women in black raincoats stepped forward to their respective teams.

The Wangyue leader of Team 98 was a middle-aged man with a gentle face.

“Let’s go,” the man said first, waving to the four.

Deng Yu led the way, following closely.

But as they passed the side of the podium, Deng Yu greeted: “Sis.”

Just moments ago his voice had been loud—now he sounded reluctant to speak, yet dared not stay silent.

Lu Ran, however, waved cheerfully: “Hello, Sister!”

“Mm.” Deng Yuxiang ignored her brother, instead sizing up Lu Ran.

She tilted her head slightly, posture elegant: “Little Lu Ran, don’t die.”

“No wonder you’re my sister,” Lu Ran raised a thumb. “You really know how to care!”

“Hehe~”

“Haha.” Several colleagues from the city bureau burst into laughter.

“You little brat,” Deng Yuxiang laughed and scolded, “Get going!”

Deng Yu: “...”

Suddenly, Deng Yu felt overlooked—even though he hadn’t wanted to greet her earlier.

What’s wrong with me?

Since childhood, I’ve always avoided her—why today?

Lu Ran said nothing, only raised an eyebrow, his expression curious.

Deng Yuxiang reacted quickly, instantly understanding what Lu Ran was asking.

Her smile faded slightly as she gave a gentle shake of her head.

“Alright,” Lu Ran sighed inwardly and followed the team away.

“Is Xiao Deng your sister?” the Wangyue leader asked Lu Ran.

“His,” Lu Ran patted Deng Yu’s back. “If she were my sister, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

The Wangyue leader looked at Deng Yu with a strange expression.

Deng Yu could only nod.

Maybe she’s my sister—even though… she doesn’t seem to know me well—but she must be.

“Sir, what’s your name?” Lu Ran asked casually.

The man introduced himself: “Zhang Feng. Call me Brother Zhang.”

“I’m from the Yuxiang City Divine People’s Bureau, Wangyue Brigade—I’m a follower of Jianlian.”

Jiang Ruyi glanced at the girl beside her and whispered: “We’ve met a senior.”

Tian Tian looked curiously at her fellow believer—just as Zhang Feng’s expression turned serious: “From now until mission end, obey orders!”

“This guard duty is no joke—take responsibility for your own lives.”

“Yes!”

“Yes.” Their replies were solemn.

The ten teams boarded the Divine People’s Bureau bus, driving through empty streets toward the West District Gymnasium.

Yuxiang City had many shelters, and Lu Ran was very familiar with this gymnasium in the West District.

Even last month, on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, he had spent the night here.

As the vehicle entered the gymnasium road and he saw the circular building in the distance, Lu Ran felt a sense of unreality.

Last month on this day, he had been inside, lying on his bunk, mindlessly scrolling his phone.

Back then, his mother would still call amid her busy schedule, offering encouragement and comfort.

Now…

Lu Ran instinctively reached into his pocket.

Sure enough—he’d forgotten his phone again.

Truly, once you have Xianyang, you forget your mother.

And since becoming a believer, he’d trained day and night—long since lost touch with his sister.

Since leaving Jingcheng two years ago, every fifteenth day of the lunar month, brother and sister always exchanged messages, catching up.

Compared to Lu Ran, his sister’s nightguard environment was far better—she could stay home, safe before the divine statue of Jian Yi, which their mother worshipped.

“Did you bring your phones?” Lu Ran asked.

Deng Yu shook his head; Tian Tian in the back seat frantically rummaged and handed over her phone: “Here.”

Her phone case was a pastel cartoon rabbit—cute.

Lu Ran took the phone and handed it back: “Password.”

“Oh oh.” Tian Tian extended her small hand and tapped the screen.

Lu Ran accidentally caught a glimpse: “0607—your birthday?”

Tian Tian quickly pulled back her small hand without a word.

Lu Ran: “Why didn’t you say anything earlier? We could’ve celebrated with you!”

“June seventh,” Deng Yu tang mused. “By the lunar calendar, isn’t that the very day we formed our team?”

Hearing this, Tian Tian turned her head toward the window, refusing to look at them again.

Jiang Ruyi, swift and insightful, seemed to understand something.

“It might just be a bank password—don’t ask,” Jiang Ruyi interjected smoothly, placing a hand on Tian Tian’s back.

As her palm rubbed gently up and down, Tian Tian’s tense body gradually relaxed.

Jiang Ruyi’s eyes held a smile as she gazed at the girl sitting beside her.

She was just shy, that’s all—bad at expressing herself.

She must have many thoughts hidden inside her heart too.

A few minutes later, the vehicle entered the vast sports stadium and came to a stop before the gymnasium.

“Everyone, get out!”

A voice came from ahead; Lu Ran quickly sent out the message and followed the main group out of the vehicle.

Under the rain curtain, the stadium was utterly silent.

The green lawns, basketball courts, tennis courts—all empty.

“Let’s get familiar with the environment first,” Zhang Feng called to the four of them, leading them into the gymnasium.

Inside and outside, the difference was night and day.

The interior was brightly lit—there must be over a thousand people!

Rows of single beds were neatly arranged, clearly divided in rows and columns; most citizens stayed on their beds, playing on their phones or tablets.

Some gathered in small groups, playing cards or whispering boastfully.

Occasional soft laughter eased the oppressive atmosphere.

Why did everyone inside consciously lower their voices?

Because at the intersections of the beds, numerous small shrines had been placed, each with a kneeling worshipper seated before it, gazing at the moon.

A quick glance revealed at least thirty to forty small shrines across the vast space.

Inside each shrine stood a small phoenix tree.

Sixth-Rank God: Biwu!

It was a typical plant deity; the Biwu sect’s divine arts excelled in defense and healing.

“You’re back?”

Lu Ran murmured softly, feeling as if he’d stepped across a day in time.

“Thirty beds across, thirty down—counting children, a thousand citizens total,” Zhang Feng whispered, leading his team through the rows.

“Memorize the layout inside. Note the gaps between the beds.”

“Though your posts aren’t inside, we may need to come in at any moment.”

As the squad moved forward, some citizens cast them friendly glances.

Lu Ran and his group’s identities were obvious—they carried weapons, and their leader was a Moonwatcher.

But some citizens were unfriendly toward these young people.

“Dealer!”

“I call!”

Not far to the right front, a bald man lay comfortably on his bed, playing “Landlord” on his phone.

Sensing someone approaching, he lifted his eyes, scanning Lu Ran and the others.

Especially when he saw the petite, fragile Tian Tian, the burly bald man glared at the girl outright.

His face brimmed with annoyance—no attempt to hide it.

“Do you know him?” Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly.

Tian Tian shook her head silently.

This sudden hostility seemed baseless, but there was a reason.

To some, young believers like Lu Ran were utterly unreliable!

In a real crisis, such believers might panic even more than ordinary people.

And yet, believers possessed physical strength beyond normal humans—when they panicked, the chaos only grew worse.

These rookies would be better off just treating themselves as ordinary citizens and relying on Moonwatchers for protection!

But the truth was, every generation of young believers needed training and growth—first postings were unavoidable.

The bald man was merely a guest here, and their squad had a Moonwatcher leading them; otherwise, he’d have already spoken up.

“Lu Ran?” Jiang Ruyi stopped walking—Lu Ran ahead had halted.

The bald man scowled at the standing Lu Ran: “What are you staring at?”

So what if he’s a believer?

A bunch of brats—go wherever you want, but don’t get assigned to my area!

But Lu Ran pointed at the bed and said: “Last month’s fifteenth, I slept on this very bed.”

The bald man sat up: “What are you implying? You’re claiming this bed? Not letting others sleep?”

But before he could finish, Lu Ran suddenly looked up, one finger pointing straight above:

“Around ten that night, I watched a Soul-Tearing Demon emerge right there—right there!”

The bald man: ???

Lu Ran pointed again, this time at the bald man’s feet: “If the Moonwatcher hadn’t acted fast, that demon would’ve landed at the foot of my bed!”

“Holy shit!” The bald man yanked his feet back. “Bro, don’t scare me like that—I can’t take it!”

“Your cards are too good!”

“Hurry up! I’ve been waiting till the flowers withered!”

Voices came from the phone.

The bald man’s face lost all its bulk from fear: “Bro, if you like this bed, I’ll move—I’ll move right now!

When you’re tired from your watch, come rest here—I’m leaving now!”

“Sir, calm down!” Zhang Feng rushed back and pushed the bald man back onto his bed. “Assigned beds cannot be switched arbitrarily.

Don’t panic—demons don’t appear in fixed locations.

There are many divine statues and Moonwatchers stationed here—we’ll protect you, rest assured.”

Lu Ran nodded firmly: “Yes, safe and painless!

I didn’t even have time to scream—it was over.”

The bald man: …

After calming the bald man, Zhang Feng turned to Lu Ran: “Psychological trauma is inevitable.

But you’re not the same person anymore—you must learn to face it, not live in fear.”

Lu Ran gazed up at the high ceiling, his eyes sharp and bright: “Bro Zhang, you misunderstand.”

Zhang Feng: “Oh?”

Lu Ran gripped the cloth-wrapped Radiant Blade, staring at the spot where the Soul-Tearing Demon had appeared: “I’m not afraid.

Quite the opposite—I hope to see it again tonight.

I want to slay it myself!”

“Oh my god’s god’s mother’s mother!”

The bald man leapt to his feet, face twisted in terror: “I’m switching beds—I absolutely must switch!”

“Stop talking!” Zhang Feng shoved Lu Ran away, hurrying them both toward the far end.

Thank you to BurningThighHairDaMeng for the gift—boss is generous, thank you for your support!

Gaa!





(End of Chapter)