Chapter 80: Rain-Soaked Old City

The tense and intense battle continued without pause.

After midnight passed, Lu Ran clearly felt the number of demonic invaders in the world gradually decreasing.

He no longer had to scramble desperately as he had before.

“Chang Ying really called it right.”

In front of the pharmacy, Lu Ran muttered to himself, staring at the dead dog at the entrance.

Now, nearly three hours had passed, and everything had passed with narrow escapes.

Lu Ran continuously trapped souls to nourish various demonic sculptures.

He even had a delusion that after this night, he could activate many demonic sculptures!

Behind him, Wei Hu heard the boy’s words and silently shook his head.

Wei Hu had always been skeptical of spirit-sign believers, and besides, Lu Ran’s classmate was of very low rank.

Yet Wei Hu showed no sign of doubt and said nothing to dampen the mood.

Setting aside fortune-telling, that “upper sign” had served as a positive psychological suggestion for Lu Ran.

“Xiao Lu, absorb it.” Sun Zhengfang ordered.

“Yes!” Lu Ran didn’t hesitate; he knelt on one knee, unfastened the Divine Power Pearl from his neck, and pressed it against the dog’s corpse.

He was certain he could now cast the demonic art: Evil Fang.

In other words, Lu Ran now had ranged offensive capability!

After returning, I’ll have to play around with it~

“Wei Ge, what time is it?” Lu Ran asked.

“2:28.”

“Isn’t that almost there?” Lu Ran’s voice carried a hint of delight.

“Don’t slack off until daylight fully breaks,” Sun Zhengfang warned.

“Yes!” Lu Ran would never argue with the examiner.

Thinking of the examiner, Lu Ran couldn’t help but recall the team’s official captain and asked: “Has Captain Ge not shown up?”

“You’d better pray that Captain Ge doesn’t appear,” came Deng Yu’s voice from above.

“Huh?” Lu Ran looked up.

Deng Yu stood on the pharmacy signboard, tilting her head downward: “Captain Ge is a River Realm believer, a great power in the eyes of the world.

His duty isn’t patrolling—it’s guarding the entire Rain Alley City.

If you ever see him act, it means the demonic invaders have surpassed River Realm strength.”

“Oh.” Lu Ran nodded.

Thinking back, the demons they’d encountered this night had all been between Mist and River Realms.

They hadn’t encountered any demon above River Realm.

From this perspective, a small county town has its advantages—at least the target is small.

Still, the overall strength of the demons invading the city this night was no joke—far stronger than in other months!

Lu Ran had ample grounds to speak on this.

This night alone, his squad had slain over twenty River Realm demons!

“Huh?” Lu Ran suddenly felt a tap on his head.

Though standing atop the pharmacy signboard, Deng Yu’s long Night-Cutting Blade could easily reach the ground.

She lightly tapped Lu Ran’s head with the blade’s flat: “This night, you didn’t see Captain Ge—and you also didn’t see the Paper-Face people?”

Lu Ran: “.”

Didn’t see them? So what?

Why’d you tap me?

“Hmm?” Deng Yu raised an eyebrow, her gaze probing.

Lu Ran: “The Paper-Face clan is so rare— isn’t it normal not to encounter them?”

“Is it?” Deng Yu’s eyes held a teasing glint.

Sun Zhengfang chuckled: “Xiao Lu, you don’t know—we all did psychological prep before the mission.”

Lu Ran: “What?”

Wei Hu, ever vigilant behind Lu Ran, spoke gravely: “We prepared for the worst!

Based on your performance at the Spirit Altar and your experience last fifteenth, we thought we’d likely face a powerful Paper-Face tonight.”

Lu Ran snorted: “So you’re saying I attract Paper-Faces?”

Deng Yu: “Dare you say you don’t?”

Lu Ran grunted: “Facts speak louder than words! She didn’t show up—actually, I kinda wanted to see her.”

He fell silent as those around him wore strange expressions.

Lu Ran wanted to see the Paper-Face because he had a demonic sculpture garden in his mind—he wanted to trap souls.

But no one else knew that!

Who in their right mind would want to meet a Paper-Face?

Do they want to die sooner?

“Mistake, mistake,” Lu Ran quickly stammered.

He truly hoped to collect enough Paper-Face souls tonight—then, once he advanced, he could activate the demonic sculpture directly.

Unfortunately, heaven didn’t grant his wish.

The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month was certainly not a day for good fortune.

Speaking of activating demonic sculptures—

Lu Ran truly had the potential to be a heartless bastard!

This night, he encountered many demons and trapped many souls.

It was truly love at first sight—every single one!

Take the Spirit-Charmed Doll, for example!

The demonic arts of the Spirit-Charmed Sect closely resembled the divine arts of the Jade-Fu Sect—how could Lu Ran not like them?

Jade-Fu Lord is cold and aloof, looks down on me, right?

Fine,

I’ll slam on the brakes, turn around, and go play with Spirit-Charmed instead!

You’ve got Flame Explosion—I’ve got Blood Explosion!

You command lightning and thunder—I can summon thunder and lightning too…

All I’m doing is drawing talismans on black paper instead of white jade.

What are you pretending to be?

“Ah,” Lu Ran sighed.

Having an overly powerful divine patron isn’t always a good thing.

You built me a demonic sculpture garden? Where do I even complain about this?

There are countless demons, countless demonic arts—too many choices!

Which one should I activate?

“Done yet?” Sun Zhengfang urged.

“Done.” Lu Ran snapped back to reality—the dog’s corpse had been fully absorbed, not even a single hair left.

Only a glittering demonic crystal remained on the ground.

Lu Ran picked up the crystal and handed it to Wei Long behind him.

“Move out!”

Sun Zhengfang gave the order; the team followed closely.

The sky slowly brightened.

Night faded, and the rain lessened slightly.

The patrol squad’s demeanor was undeniably serious.

But at this hour, the teammates couldn’t help but exhale in relief.

The hardest night of the seventh lunar month had, barely, passed.

The Paper-Face never appeared… hmm, could it all have been a misunderstanding?

Last fifteenth, when the Paper-Face appeared precisely behind Lu Ran—was that just a coincidence?

“What time is it?” Lu Ran asked.

Again, Lu Ran reached the crossroads and saw the deep blade cuts in the asphalt.

Deng Yu’s handiwork.

Her great Night-Cutting Blade had severed everything in its path.

Even the earth had been torn open—a sight that sent chills down the spine.

“4:58,” Wei Long replied, his tone unusually relaxed.

The Wei brothers were the most exhausted—especially mentally!

They’d spent the entire night as Lu Ran’s bodyguards, on edge the whole time.

Normally, a Mist Realm student should be the team’s dead weight—quietly follow along and stay out of trouble.

But Lu Ran’s role is crucial!

He didn’t sneak around quietly—he shouted loudly instead.

Lu Ran is rapidly climbing the ranks!

The Wei brothers guarding him, however, had no words to express their suffering.

“It’s almost five,” Lu Ran said, exhausted but glowing with excitement, immediately quickening his pace.

Wei Long and Wei Hu hurried to keep pace, never leaving Lu Ran’s side.

The so-called mental fatigue really has its reasons.

“Sister,” Lu Ran said, arriving behind Deng Yuxiang with the Wei Dragon and Wei Tiger guards.

“What is it?” Deng Yuxiang, wielding the Night-Cutting Blade, let its tip glide once more over the deep cuts on the ground.

The scene was like reopening a person’s wound all over again!

“Did you bring your phone?” Lu Ran whispered, staring at the asphalt road covered in scars. “I want to let my family know I’m safe.”

Deng Yuxiang turned to Sun Zhengfang; seeing the team leader give a slight nod, she pulled out her phone.

“Thank you.”

In the slanting wind and fine rain, Lu Ran lifted his raincoat to shield his phone and lowered his head to dial.

After just a few seconds, the call connected.

A cold, clear voice came through: “Who is this?”

Lu Ran had never heard the Divine Sword One speak, so he didn’t know what her voice sounded like.

But in his mind, a woman’s cold tone over the phone must be Sword One’s.

Lu Ran spoke softly: “Mom.”

“Ranran,” the woman’s voice instantly softened, as if transformed from before. “Are you tired?”

“I’m fine. The Wangyue people have taken good care of me,” Lu Ran said, walking with the team, his gaze sweeping over his teammates.

He suddenly remembered something and added: “By the way, we rescued a stray cat together—I plan to adopt it.”

“Mm, if you want to keep it, keep it. Rest well when you get home.”

His mother’s gentle voice, mingling with the faint patter of rain around him, made Lu Ran feel like he could drop off to sleep right then.

“You haven’t answered me yet,” Lu Ran said, lowering his head to look at the slender, radiant blade in his hand.

Qiao Wanjun smiled faintly: “Your father and I disagree on many things.”

“But when it comes to you, we see eye to eye.”

“Mm.” A faint smile appeared on Lu Ran’s face. He lifted his head, gazing far off toward the Wu Lie River.

The sky was gray and hazy, the rain misty.

Lu Ran experienced a brief hallucination.

On the rooftop of the abandoned apartment building, he seemed to see the figure of someone long gone, gazing at him from afar.

The departed one, like wind and rain, drifted day and night, remembering the old city.

Special thanks to the patrons: Lingxi, Arunxing, Jiangzhu Yuqiao, Mijiu Tou Hao Yang, and others! Thank you for your support, patrons, you’re magnificent!

(`) Sending hearts!

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(End of Chapter)