Chapter 378: Night Charm and Nightmare

In the dimly lit room filled with fading rosy light, Lu Ran spoke at length with the Great Nightmare.

Deng Deng Yuxiang's gaze was complex.

It was as if she had opened the door to a new world; staring at the bizarre and motley scenery within, she remained stunned for a long time.

Only when Lu Ran fell silent did the room sink into a deep quiet.

Lu Ran knew the amount of information he had revealed was too vast, so he gave Deng Deng Yuxiang ample time to think and accept it.

"Phew—"

Lu Ran exhaled deeply, leaned his upper body back, and slumped limply in his chair.

Finally sharing a secret he had harbored for so long gave Lu Ran a sense of relief and exhilaration.

An unknown amount of time passed.

From within the dim room came her hoarse voice: "So, your ability to locate sounds by hearing like the Lord Bei Feng believers was never due to extraordinary talent."

"That is Zu De Xie Fa, the Evil Consciousness?"

Lu Ran: "Hehe~"

Deng Deng Yuxiang was struck speechless, then burst into laughter.

Even now, her thoughts were still in chaos.

Lu Ran's sudden laugh made her laugh as well.

You little rascal, Lu Ran.

You really know how to deceive!

Come to think of it, My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang is even better at deceiving.

Descended into the world for forty years, he told a colossal lie that deceived the entire world.

Looking at it this way, little Lu Ran has indeed inherited the family trait.

Deng Deng Yuxiang said softly, "Who else knows this secret?"

Lu Ran: "Only you."

Deng Deng Yuxiang looked surprised: "Doesn't your little girlfriend know?"

"The time isn't right yet."

"Heh, and the time is right for me?"

Lu Ran shrugged: "You are currently a free person."

Hearing this, Deng Deng Yuxiang lowered her eyelids.

Mentioning her status as a free person reminded her that My Lord Lord Bei Feng intended to seize her soul and take her life.

Out of necessity, Lu Ran had begged the god Xiang Xiang Xianyang to forcibly sever the human-divine contract.

She tidied her disheveled long hair and said in a low voice, "Are you so certain that I will go with you?"

Slumping in his chair and gazing at the ceiling, Lu Ran raised the corners of his mouth slightly: "Mm, I am certain."

"The contract between you and Lord Bei Feng can be severed."

"But the bond between you and me cannot be cut."

Deng Deng Yuxiang turned to look at Lu Ran; by the faint rosy light, she saw his confident expression.

A stubbornness rose inexplicably in her heart, and she stared at Lu Ran with dissatisfaction.

Yet as she continued to look...

Through that face, Deng Deng Yuxiang recalled everything Lu Ran had risked everything to do for her.

The stubbornness in her heart gradually dissipated, leaving only tenderness.

Lu Ran spoke again: "Setting aside our past history and speaking only of my goal."

"For someone like you, that should be very attractive, shouldn't it?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang nodded subconsciously; the movement was imperceptible, yet it betrayed her inner feelings.

To sweep away all calamities in the world!

It sounded like a cause worthy of sacrificing one's head and shedding blood, of dying on the battlefield wrapped in a horse's hide.

Lu Ran: "While you were unconscious, My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang left a message."

"After the fifteenth of this month, our sect will open a Divine Ruin."

"My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang wants me to take you with me to venture into the world behind the Divine Ruin."

Deng Deng Yuxiang lowered her head and smiled: "A believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang..."

Proud as she was, she had never imagined that one day she would become a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang.

Of course, Deng Deng Yuxiang had also never imagined that My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang was such a terrifying existence.

My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang had actually bestowed upon Lu Ran a garden of demonic sculptures!

Deng Deng Yuxiang did not believe any other god possessed such capability.

So, is My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang an existence standing above all gods?

Mm... this god has many secrets.

Lu Ran suddenly said: "On the surface, you are a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang."

"On the surface?"

Lu Ran's smile became somewhat eerie; he suddenly tilted his head, gesturing toward the Night Charm kneeling under the bed: "What do you think of her?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang pressed her lips together.

She naturally knew that there was a sculpture garden within Lu Ran's mind.

Of course, Lu Ran was still holding something back; during his earlier account, he had only said that he possessed a "garden of demonic sculptures."

He planned to reveal his hand completely only after he had comprehended the true nature of the world.

If I told her now that the sculpture garden also had statues of the gods,

Deng Deng Yuxiang would probably really find it hard to accept!

"What do you mean what?" A vague premonition stirred in Deng Deng Yuxiang's heart.

In the faint glow of the sunset, she saw on Lu Ran's face a smile she had never seen before.

Wild. Unrestrained.

After laying his cards on the table, he really was a little different.

Lu Ran said with a smile, "The Night Charm clan."

Deng Deng Yuxiang forced down the pounding of her heart and said softly, "She is my mortal enemy."

Lu Ran corrected her, "She was."

Five years as a follower of the Lord Bei Feng — it really wasn't something one could simply cut off at will.

Under the god's influence, Deng Deng Yuxiang had hated the Night Charm clan with exceptional venom for five years; her thinking still needed time to change.

Lu Ran went on smiling: "The Night Charm before your eyes, and the evil god sculpture behind her, are not our enemies.

They belong to me. They are my servants."

Deng Deng Yuxiang moved to the edge of the bed, set one foot down on the soft carpet, folded her legs, the motion graceful and natural.

Both hands resting on the bed's edge, she looked down at the meek, obedient Night Charm, still finding it all unbelievable.

Five years.

Whenever the two sides met, they killed on sight — there had never been a moment of peace like this.

Deng Deng Yuxiang's expression turned odd: "You want me to form a contract with the Night Charm clan."

She had assumed that, regarding Lu Ran's proposal, she would feel some resistance.

But in fact, she didn't!

Today's Deng Deng Yuxiang had plunged headlong from the very peak of the clouds into the abyss.

Earlier, she who had calmly accepted death now discovered, to her astonishment, that within this bottomless abyss she had seen Lu Ran.

Lu Ran would not let her die, nor would he let her sink into depravity.

He pulled her out of the mire and led her onto an entirely new path.

Resistance?

No!

Nothing but gratitude!

Lu Ran began, "The Lord Bei Feng clan and the Night Charm clan have similar abilities.

For now, I can't give you the Lord Bei Feng, so I can only give you the Night Charm."

The moment the words fell, Lu Ran's heart tightened.

Damn — he'd let it slip!

Lu Ran kept his composure, lowered his head, and looked at the Night Charm.

But Deng Deng Yuxiang's gaze burned bright as she stared at Lu Ran's face: "For now?"

Lu Ran: "."

I still preferred you just now, back when your thoughts were muddled and your head wasn't clear.

Deng Deng Yuxiang let out a nasal sound — both a question and a probe: "Mm?"

Lu Ran, looking like a man resigned to his fate, said bluntly, "The Lord Bei Feng wants your life, wants your soul scattered to nothing.

Put plainly, I've come to hate him."

Deng Deng Yuxiang's expression was very complicated.

After a long while, she gently rubbed Lu Ran's head, her gaze unusually tender:

"Be careful. Don't say things like that in the future."

"Oh." Lu Ran answered softly.

His mind raced, preparing the explanation that would follow.

Unexpectedly, Deng Deng Yuxiang did not press further.

After hearing Lu Ran's words, she merely lowered her head to look at the Night Charm, once again deliberately overlooking certain things.

She herself didn't know what state of mind had driven her this time.

Lu Ran smoothly changed the subject: "So long as we advance step by step, the day will come when you replace the Night Charm evil god sculpture.

You will inherit everything of the Night Charm!

Surpass her, overtake her!"

Deng Deng Yuxiang visibly froze for a moment, then turned to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran pressed his lips into a smile.

This time, he hadn't let anything slip.

What Xiang Xiang Xianyang, my lord, mainly wanted to see was Deng Deng Yuxiang, in the identity of Evil God · Night Charm, replacing the position of God · Lord Bei Feng.

Now that would be interesting.

"Mm." Deng Deng Yuxiang finally came back to herself, her gaze growing ever more complicated.

With a light flick of her toe, the bamboo hat on the Night Charm's head fell off.

Freed from the hat's restraint, the Night Charm's jet-black long hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

And with the black veil no longer concealing her, the Night Charm's breathtaking true face was revealed.

Deng Deng Yuxiang still had her legs folded; one slender Bai Xi foot, suspended in the air, lifted the Night Charm's chin as she looked her up and down.

What met her eyes was a face pale as paper yet exquisitely beautiful.

Her beauty lay entirely in those pair of eerie, demonic purple pupils.

Lu Ran: "."

Aren't we mortal enemies?

Why are you rewarding her?

Deng Deng Yuxiang admired the Night Charm's captivating face and said softly, "If I were to take Night Charm Yemo Xiesu's place, would every Night Charm you create and summon in the future be me?"

"Eh?" Lu Ran blinked his eyes.

I don't know!

I haven't thought about that yet.

Deng Deng Yuxiang turned her head to look at Lu Ran; after all this time, she finally revealed a smile:

"Good, I will sign a contract with the Night Charm sculpture."

Just now, when Lu Ran was explaining his identity, he started by summoning Night Charm.

Presumably, Night Charm is his foremost battle general.

Deng Deng Yuxiang thought to herself.

Combining the abilities of the Night Charm clan with the intellect and temperament of this race, it was not hard to guess.

All this time, when he ventured alone to various places for training, he must have kept Night Charm by his side.

Lu Ran nodded: "Alright, tonight when we return to Lady Luo Sister Xian Mountain, with the help of Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang, we will sign the contract."

Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly thought of something: "Can I also sign another contract with the Evil Dog Yemo Xiesu?"

The Zu Zhi Xie Fa of the Evil Dog clan is truly explosive!

Evil Sense, Evil Agility.

And movement techniques like Evil Shadow Flash, such as Shun Yi Zhi Fa!

Simply terrifying!

Lu Ran shook his head: "While you were unconscious, Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang and I discussed many things.

The contract you are to sign with the Night Charm Yemo Xiesu in my mind is not an ordinary master-servant contract, but a higher-level one."

"Oh?" Deng Deng Yuxiang raised her eyebrows slightly.

Lu Ran explained: "Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang gave clear instructions that your role is that of a Successor, not a lowly slave.

Only such a contractual relationship will allow you to step by step replace Night Charm, and even surpass her.

From the moment you sign the contract, in a certain sense, you and the Night Charm Yemo Xiesu in my mind will already be equal.

In other words, you and the other Yemo Xiesu within the Sculpture Garden are equals.

In terms of status, there is exclusivity between you."

Deng Deng Yuxiang pondered: "In that case, can I still sign a contract with Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang?"

Lu Ran immediately nodded: "Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang is a true god of the mortal world, not one of those false gods in my mind or within the Sculpture Garden.

Well... at least they are currently false gods.

The contract Boss Xiang Xiang Xianyang is about to sign with you is a standard master-servant contract."

Deng Deng Yuxiang nodded thoughtfully.

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then said: "Sister, the Succession Contract between you and Night Charm Yemo Xiesu will greatly benefit you.

Every minute and second you live, you will be constantly syncing with the Night Charm statue.

But if you really like Evil Sense and Evil Agility, or like teleportation, we can switch to the Evil Dog statue instead!"

Deng Deng Yuxiang lowered her head, looking at Night Charm kneeling at her feet, and said softly:

"No, let it be her."

Having spoken, Deng Deng Yuxiang turned to look at Lu Ran, her eyes firm: "I prefer the wind."

Do I really like the wind?

Perhaps.

Or perhaps I'm just used to it; it doesn't matter.

What matters is that you led me out of the ten-thousand-foot abyss.

From now on,

wherever you lead me, I will follow.

Thanks to Maple1024 for the 10,000 reward! Boss, you're generous, handsome, and incredibly tough! Thanks for the support!

Thanks to bosses Crazy Eyes Clown, Happy Little Pomegranate, and Gong Qing Zhi Sheng for their donations! Thanks for everyone's support; I wish you long life! Hooray~

(Heart gesture)

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(End of Chapter)