Chapter 58: Level Assessment?

Lu Ran quickly hung up the phone, crisp and decisive.

This is terrifying!!

Why does my butt still ache after answering that call?

Lu Ran touched the spot once struck by the wind blade and walked toward the bathroom.

He took a thorough shower, taking barely more than ten minutes before stepping out.

But as he passed the window, his peripheral vision caught something.

Without thinking, Lu Ran stepped back.

No way?

Lu Ran saw a luxury sports car parked on the sidewalk outside the lawn.

Beside the car’s front fender, a tall figure leaned half-sitting, scrolling on her phone, facing Lu Ran’s bedroom window.

Huh?

The young woman, with sharp senses, lifted her eyelids and looked toward the bedroom window.

Lu Ran froze in place.

Awkward!

Just as the red sun rose, the sky blazed with morning glow.

The morning sunlight illuminated the woman’s refined profile.

The beautiful ruby earring on her earlobe glimmered brilliantly in the light.

Deng Yu smiled playfully: “I heard your phone signal is bad?”

“Ah.” Lu Ran, with no escape, stepped forward to the window. “It’s too old. Needs replacing.”

This girl

Can’t afford it?

Who blocks someone’s front door like this?!

Deng Yu tilted her chin slightly, gesturing toward Lu Ran: “How’s your ear signal?”

“Fine.” Lu Ran touched his earlobe. “Works well enough.”

“Hmph. Bring your sword.” Deng Yu turned, opened the car door, and plopped into the driver’s seat. “Five minutes. Starting countdown now.”

As she spoke, Deng Yu raised her slender arm and waved her phone, the countdown already active.

Lu Ran was stunned.

“Wait, don’t you have a younger brother?” Lu Ran looked pained. “If you’re itching to fight, go beat him up!”

Deng Yu replied casually: “He’s not even blood-related.”

Lu Ran: ???

What the hell?

You say that… and you’re actually kind of right?

Lu Ran sighed: “It’s early morning. At least let me eat something.”

“I’ll treat you.” Deng Yu didn’t look up. “Say what you want.”

Lu Ran stared at the arrogant heiress in the luxury car and blurted: “Hot pot?”

“Hah!”

Deng Yu actually laughed in annoyance, swung one long leg out of the car, and stomped her leather boot hard on the ground as if to rise.

“Soy milk and fried dough sticks are fine too.” Lu Ran turned and rushed to find his clothes.

Deng Yu watched the figure vanish from the window and retracted her leg.

A few seconds later, Lu Ran leapt straight out of his bedroom window, carrying his wooden sword, crossing the lawn, and arriving beside the car.

“Why the rush? There’s still plenty of time.” Deng Yu smiled more charmingly as she watched Lu Ran’s disgruntled expression.

“Aren’t you stationed in Yunshan City?” Lu Ran leaned against the car window.

“The fifteenth is coming. I’ve been sent back by the bureau.” Deng Yu gestured to the passenger seat. “Get in.”

“Oh.” Lu Ran reluctantly got in, sword in hand. “If you want to stretch your limbs… why not bring Yu Tang along?”

Deng Yu pressed the accelerator: “I wanted to take Yu Tang on this mission too. He’s not up to it.”

At this, Lu Ran immediately defended: “Yu Tang is strong—he’s our team’s soul!”

No matter what hardship we face, he never loses heart. He’s always the one who lifts us up.”

Deng Yu drove on, a faint smile curling at her lips.

The atmosphere of this team was truly good.

Yesterday, she’d spoken with Deng Yu Tang on the phone, checking in on the team’s condition.

At seventeen or eighteen, they’re at that age of fierce competitiveness.

Yet, whether from Deng Yu Tang’s mouth or Lu Ran’s, both praised the other.

That’s rare.

Deng Yu smiled, glancing at Lu Ran: “Don’t bother. No matter how much you praise my brother, you’re still getting beaten.”

Lu Ran: …

After a moment, Lu Ran muttered: “Then how about I praise you?”

“Hahahaha~” Deng Yu burst out laughing, her voice bright and unrestrained.

Her radiant beauty matched perfectly with today’s sunny alleyway.

“Is there a breakfast shop around here?” Lu Ran asked as the car drove deeper into the outskirts.

This road led to the desolate area beside Wu Lie River.

“Someone wants to meet you.” Deng Yu spoke. “Meet them first. Then I’ll take you to eat.”

“Who?” Lu Ran asked, puzzled.

“You don’t know how much trouble your extra test caused the bureau,” Deng Yu tapped the steering wheel. “A few of my colleagues want to see you.”

“I knew it!” Lu Ran’s eyes lit up.

Why would this girl block my door just to beat me up?

So the person I’m about to meet… is my teammate from the Fifteenth Night?

“Perform well when we get there,” Deng Yu whispered.

“Absolutely!”

Minutes later, the sports car slowed and stopped before an abandoned residential complex.

Lu Ran opened the door and stepped out, scanning the surroundings.

Not seeing any Moonwatchers, he looked up at the rooftop of the abandoned building: “Are they up there?”

Deng Yu walked into the overgrown grass. “Not the one you usually train at.”

Lu Ran followed, whispering: “Thank you.”

The reason for his thanks went unsaid.

Clearly, Deng Yu had already learned a bit about Lu Ran and understood why he insisted on training here.

Deng Yu smiled: “I didn’t want to meet here originally.”

“But this area is one of the key zones our team is assigned to protect during the Fifteenth Night.”

Lu Ran: “We’re responsible for this patch?”

“Mm.” Deng Yu led Lu Ran into the central building of the complex. “Centered here, covering two nearby blocks.”

Lu Ran: “Seems like a small area?”

Deng Yu reminded him: “This is July fifteenth.”

“Oh, right.” Lu Ran nodded.

The two reached the rooftop and met three Moonwatchers.

Two young men stood at the rooftop railing, gazing at the view.

They were similar in build, over 1.8 meters tall, with neat, short hair and dressed in black tactical uniforms.

In one corner of the rooftop, a middle-aged man was on the phone.

He had a square face, over forty, and was none other than Sun Zhengfang—the officer who had treated Lu Ran’s injuries.

“Here they are.” The two young men turned in unison.

Their faces were nearly identical, both appearing to be in their late twenties.

Twins?

“Wei Long, Wei Hu.” Deng Yu introduced them. “Just call them Brother Wei.”

Lu Ran greeted them, but his mind raced with thoughts.

Wei Long?

That name’s a bit… over the top.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Lu Ran.” Both responded, their expressions cold and serious.

“They were soldiers before transferring to the Divine People’s Bureau,” Deng Yu whispered. “Both are Prisoner Demon devotees.”

Lu Ran: …

What a coincidence!

“Heh.” Deng Yu laughed, clearly aware of Lu Ran’s past. “What’s that look for?”

Lu Ran immediately shook his head: “Nothing.”

No wonder this is the Wangyue team—truly brimming with talent!

The followers in the first three rows? They’re all precious assets.

In this team, Deng Yu is a Second-Rank Divine—Devotee of the North Wind; the Wei brothers are Third-Rank Divine—Devotees of the Imprisoned Demon.

Four words: explosive talent!

What puzzled Lu Ran was why two Devotees of the Imprisoned Demon, known for control and defense, were in the same team.

This isn’t redundant resource allocation. Oh, I get it—maybe it’s because of me?

“Little Lu.” Far away, Sun Zhengfang was still on the phone, waving over his shoulder.

“Uncle Sun, hello!” Lu Ran smiled and waved back, very polite.

He was the team’s chief physician; if he ended up missing an arm or leg during this mission, he’d be stuck relying on the man.

Sun Zhengfang also smiled: “Da Long.”

Wei Long: “Here!”

Sun Zhengfang gestured toward Lu Ran’s position: “Go easy.”

Wei Long: “Yes!”

Wei Long received the order and strode toward Lu Ran.

Deng Yu stepped back immediately and warned: “Show me everything you’ve got.”

Your performance will determine your role in the team on the Fifteenth Night.”

To Deng Yu’s surprise, Lu Ran gripped his wooden blade and spun it in a flourish.

Since she picked him up this morning, he’d been sullen and reluctant.

Yet now, facing the powerful opponent striding forward, Lu Ran was brimming with battle spirit!

Could it be,

that this kid has a thing for fighting Imprisoned Demon devotees?

“Understood!” Lu Ran tensed his body, his legs slightly crouched.

It’s just a rank assessment!

Today, let you all see what it means to climb straight to Platinum in one battle!

What?

You’re saying I’m Silver?

No no no, you must’ve misread.

Also, it’s not that I’m stubborn—your matchmaking system’s flawed.

(End of Chapter)