Chapter 78: Rainy Night, Mackerel Cat

"Little Lu Ran"

Deng Yu Xiang turned around, looking down at the boy in the yellow raincoat.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran dared to face the nightmare head-on!

He strode up the steps, pushing Deng Yu Xiang forward: "Sis, come with me to the rooftop first!"

Deng Yu Xiang buried her doubts deep within.

She remembered now—why everyone had chased them here: because of a unique cry.

A cat’s cry!

A month ago, when Deng Yu Xiang and Lu Ran first met on the rooftop, Lu Ran had been searching for a cat.

Could this cat be the one he was looking for?

Whether it was or wasn’t, this little thing was lucky enough.

If those people hadn’t been here, this little cat would have been cruelly tortured and torn apart by the two ghost talisman dolls.

"Sis?"

Lu Ran stopped before the rusted iron gate, gesturing for Deng Yu Xiang to lead the way.

Wei Long and Wei Hu could become human shields—so could the Great Nightmare!

"Can’t you hear it?"

Deng Yu Xiang snorted but cooperated, gripping the cold iron railing.

"The rain outside is too loud," Lu Ran whispered.

With a creaking sound, the old iron gate swung open.

Deng Yu Xiang stepped onto the rooftop, scanning warily in all directions.

Lu Ran followed closely, stepping into the torrential rain.

"It really is you!" Lu Ran exclaimed, both surprised and delighted, striding forward.

"Meow!!"

The tabby cat had already fluffed up its fur, but its coat was soaked, making the hairs lie flat.

As Lu Ran approached, its eyes filled with terror, it screamed desperately, retreating toward a corner of the rooftop.

Lu Ran immediately stopped, fearing the little cat would jump off the rooftop.

"Is it?" Deng Yu Xiang stepped beside Lu Ran.

"Probably," Lu Ran knelt on one knee, softly calling, "Mee~"

The tabby cat froze in place.

Maybe it didn’t remember Lu Ran, but the tabby surely remembered this unique sound.

Even if it forgot the call, the Divine Art: Sound of Compassion would surely elicit the proper response.

"Mee~"

Lu Ran curled his fingers slightly.

Through the rain, the tiny tabby cat limped painfully toward Lu Ran, drenched and broken.

For ordinary creatures, the Divine Art was a crushing dimensional advantage!

The Sound of Compassion was meant to be a soft control, yet it forcibly reversed the tabby’s will.

Though still terrified, the little cat staggered forward, trying to offer Lu Ran comfort and protection.

"Meow~"

The little tabby cat softly mewed, extending its pink tongue to lick Lu Ran’s fingers.

Lu Ran rubbed its wet little head, speaking the same words he’d said during their first meeting:

"Are you alone too?"

The same words, bringing the same scene.

The little tabby cat suddenly rolled onto its side, one paw nudging Lu Ran’s fingers, as if pulling him closer.

This time, it was Lu Ran who froze.

"Meow~ Meow~"

The poor little tabby cat could barely walk, trembling with every step—no doubt it had suffered terribly this night.

Yet that tiny paw stubbornly nudged Lu Ran’s fingers, trying to soothe this pitiful human.

Lu Ran slowly lifted his head, astonished and delighted: "It really is you!"

Deng Yu Xiang looked at the boy’s smiling face beneath his hood.

For a fleeting moment, she too was stunned.

On this night of the fifteenth lunar month, such a smile shouldn’t exist.

Blood, slaughter, cries and wails—

These should be the symphony of this night.

Isn’t that right?

"Mm," Deng Yu Xiang nodded gently.

She who had slaughtered through the night was usually icy-faced, yet her piercing gaze had softened slightly.

On the rooftop, the others had also witnessed this tender scene.

Sun Zhengfang couldn’t help shaking his head with a smile.

Since Lu Ran joined this team, he’d given them too many surprises.

Lu Ran was a warrior—and also a candidate.

Combat power, combat will, and other traits were, of course, key evaluation criteria.

But in this long night of slaughter,

he could lift a cold blade and slay demons.

He could also kneel down to comfort the weak and helpless.

Sun Zhengfang was already looking forward to it!

After reporting Lu Ran’s performance tonight in full detail to the Bureau, how high would his score be?

What kind of extraordinary evaluation would Lu Ran receive?

In Rain Alley City,

a truly remarkable believer has emerged.

"This time, you’re not getting away," Lu Ran picked up the little tabby cat, yanked open his raincoat, and tucked it into his chest.

"Come with me," he said aloud, but inwardly, he had already decided.

Little tabby cat,

you think you can refuse to come with me?

"Mee~"

Lu Ran let out another soft call, sealing his "cat-napping plan."

Deng Yu Xiang: "We can’t take it into battle."

Lu Ran looked up and saw the Great Nightmare’s expression softened—he guessed she didn’t intend to separate owner and pet.

Indeed, Deng Yu Xiang whispered: "During patrol, find a household and leave the cat there for now.

After tonight ends, you can go get it."

"Understood," Lu Ran had no objections.

"You’ve never raised a cat before, have you?"

"No," Lu Ran shook his head.

Deng Yu Xiang reached into Lu Ran’s chest, her fingertip tapping the tabby cat’s nose: "It’s clear it’s suffered greatly.

Stray cats are tougher, but you’d better get someone to help care for it."

"Mm," Lu Ran agreed wholeheartedly.

Not to mention what the little tabby cat endured before meeting them—just this rainstorm alone was enough to break it.

"What are you waiting for?" Deng Yu Xiang locked eyes with Lu Ran. "While your superiors haven’t issued orders yet."

Lu Ran’s heart stirred—he immediately turned to look at the attending physician.

Sun Zhengfang was a good man—at least, good to Lu Ran.

He understood Lu Ran’s gaze and smiled, palm already glowing with green light.

The vibrant life force within it made Lu Ran’s eyes gleam; he hurried over.

"Huh?"

As Lu Ran handed the tabby cat to Sun Zhengfang, a slender arm wrapped around him.

More precisely, Lu Ran was choked from behind.

Deng Yu Xiang stepped forward, forcing Lu Ran to lean back, retreating step by step.

The Great Nightmare's tone had lost its gentleness: "Now, let’s talk about you digging into my ears."

"No no no, I was just joking!" Lu Ran hurriedly said.

"Tell me, how did you hear it?" Deng Yu Xiang loosened her grip slightly.

Lu Ran fell silent for a long while, then muttered:

"Maybe heroes always emerge young."

Deng Yu Xiang: "."

She nearly laughed in anger!

Lu Ran whispered, “The old saying goes that only young boys are allowed, not young girls.”

Deng Yu Xiang placed one foot on the rooftop railing and looked down: “Thinking of jumping again?”

Lu Ran: “Huh?”

Deng Yu Xiang suddenly realized she’d been so angry she’d lost her senses.

She’d meant to say “bungee jumping,” but for some reason, those two words slipped out. Oh right!

That morning, in the car, Lu Ran had sung those lyrics.

More than ten minutes later.

In front of an auto repair shop.

Holding the small marmalade cat, Lu Ran knocked on the shop’s window under the watchful eyes of his teammates.

“What is it, Lu Ran?” Chang Ying said, surprised, looking out the window at her classmate. “Are you hurt?”

Compared to just a few hours ago, Lu Ran was now soaked through and in a sorry state.

“Can you do me a favor?” Lu Ran handed over the marmalade cat. “Take care of it.”

I’ll come back for it after the fifteenth night.”

“Of course!” Chang Ying carefully took the kitten and held it close. “Did you just rescue it?”

At that moment, the marmalade cat was fast asleep.

Chang Ying’s arms were clearly warmer, softer, and more comfortable than Lu Ran’s.

In her sleep, the kitten softly mewled, nuzzling her head against the warmth.

“Thanks so much. Go back inside,” Lu Ran smiled and nodded, then turned to leave.

“Rattling~”

A sudden crisp sound made Lu Ran stop in his tracks.

He turned to see Chang Ying holding the marmalade cat in one arm, and in the other, shaking a divination cylinder.

In just two or three seconds, a spiritual oracle slip floated out.

Both looked up—the ethereal oracle slip hovered in midair, slowly spinning.

Written on it in large characters: SHANG!

Lu Ran was pleasantly surprised: “You’re not kidding me?”

Chang Ying, equally astonished, gazed up at the oracle slip and shook her head vigorously.

How could such a divine art be faked?

“Lu Ran?” A voice called from far behind.

“Coming!” Lu Ran stepped backward, waving goodbye to Chang Ying with a smile, then turned and left.

“Be careful!”

Chang Ying took a step forward, watching the figure in the yellow raincoat vanish into the endless night rain.

(End of Chapter)