Chapter 98: Chapter Ninety-Eight: Encountering the Perverted Fog Demon

Time in the mountains is long; Shi Ran counts days on her fingers, but her master and third senior brother have already set out for a day—a whole day, ah! How does she feel like so much time has passed?

Luo Changfeng entered with lunch and saw Shi Ran listlessly sprawled on the small couch by the window; after thinking, he invited: "Want to go out and play?"

Shi Ran instantly perked up, properly placed her Qiankun bag at her waist, and looked at Luo Changfeng with bright eyes: "Senior brother, I'm ready—where should we go to play?"

Luo Changfeng slowly put the food box on the table, leisurely took out several small dishes, and said while taking them: "I heard that Clear Stream Town down the mountain has a temple fair today; if you want to go…"

Before his words finished, Shi Ran had already leapt to his face, grabbing his sleeve: "Go go go go go! Of course we should go! I'm so bored I could grow mushrooms, good senior brother, let's hurry!" She suddenly thought of something, stopped, and asked: "But what about senior sister and junior brother—should we bring them along?"

Luo Changfeng waved his hand nonchalantly: "No need to worry about them; they have their own plans—just tell me if you want to go."

Shi Ran nodded eagerly: "Of course we should go! Senior brother, let's leave now!"

Luo Changfeng grabbed Shi Ran's sash, cleared his throat, and said: "Wait wait, why do you say wind equals rain? It's still early; let's talk after lunch."

There was no choice; Shi Ran had to obey, since Luo Changfeng held the authority to act.

But Shi Ran hadn't expected that, although they had agreed to just two of them sneaking a look at the temple fair and returning, when she eagerly went out she saw three people leading four horses waiting for her.

Shi Ran widened her eyes: "Senior brother clearly said…"

Luo Changfeng gave an embarrassed laugh and quickly changed the subject: "Junior martial sister, we've been waiting for you; Clear Stream Town isn't far—let's go by horse!"

Shi Ran's attention was drawn to horseback riding, so she didn't dwell on the earlier topic, but Mei Ruoxue wouldn't let her go: "Junior martial sister, do you mind if I and Yu Sheng follow you?"

Shi Ran shook her head, her small pearl earrings flashing seven-colored light: "Senior sister accompanying me to play makes me naturally happy—I don't mind!"

Mei Ruoxue took a deep breath and continued: "I've heard that fog demons often appear near Clear Stream Town; Yu Sheng received a distress call, so we…"

"'Why is Ah Xue telling her these things?' Gu Yusheng rode over to Mei Ruoxue's other side, glanced back and smiled: 'She wouldn't understand either!'"

"'What don't you understand!' Although Shi Ran didn't really grasp what they were saying about demons and fog, she was very sensitive to who treated her well or badly, and immediately turned to complain: 'Senior brother, Gu Yusheng said I don't understand anything! Make him speak properly!'"

Luo Changfeng had just set up a barrier around the mountain gate, sweating profusely; hearing this, he felt weary and without thinking defended Shi Ran: "Yu Sheng, she is your senior sister!"

Gu Yusheng pursed his lips, but due to Luo Changfeng's authority, he half-heartedly clasped his fists: "Yes, eldest senior brother."

Shi Ran gleefully made a face at him, turned and mounted her horse in one smooth motion, her sleeves fluttering and raising a breeze. She patted the horse's neck and exclaimed excitedly: "Let's go, let's go! If we delay any longer, the temple fair will be over!"

Luo Changfeng shook his head helplessly, yet his eyes held a hint of indulgence: "All you know is to play, carefree and thoughtless!"

The four rode down the mountain, the hills lush green and the stream babbling. Shi Ran was in high spirits, humming an unknown tune, and occasionally looked back urging: "Senior brother, hurry up! The temple fair will be over!"

Luo Changfeng laughed and shook his head, yet he kept a leisurely pace behind them, his eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings as if on guard for something.

Gu Yusheng saw this and asked softly: "Eldest senior brother, is there something abnormal?"

Luo Changfeng gave a slight nod: "Recently the area below the mountain has been unsettled; although fog demons are minor, their movements are secretive—if they truly are causing trouble near Clear Stream Town, it probably won't be simple."

Mei Ruoxue heard this and frowned slightly: "Senior brother, do you mean… someone is deliberately luring us down the mountain?"

Luo Changfeng didn't answer directly, merely saying calmly: "Better safe than sorry."

Gu Yusheng frowned, looking ahead at that carefree figure: "Senior brother, bringing Shi Ran… I'm afraid…"

"'There's no choice—I also don't feel safe leaving her alone at the mountain gate; if someone with ill intentions lures the tiger away from the mountain, the consequences would be unthinkable. After thinking it over, it's safer to keep her close.' Luo Changfeng had also considered going down the mountain alone to scout, but Gu Yusheng knew this as well; he too wanted to investigate, so with no alternative, they could only bring three and one together down the mountain."

Shi Ran was utterly unaware that the three behind her had reached an agreement; she remained full of enthusiasm, charging ahead, her memory a blank slate, as if she had no color at all.

Now she could see light clouds and gentle breeze, hear birdsong and flower fragrance; as they galloped, tiny dandelion seeds floated on the wind—all these sensations felt different to her, as if… as if a story were gradually unfolding, slowly taking on color.

However, this feeling didn't last long; just as they were about to reach Clear Stream Town, the sky suddenly darkened, thick fog gradually spread around, and visibility plummeted.

"'Huh? How did the fog suddenly appear?' Shi Ran reined in her horse, looked back doubtfully, and asked: 'Senior brother, can you still see the road?'"

Luo Changfeng's expression hardened, he swiftly rode forward and said in a low voice: "Ranran, come back! This fog is not right!"

Before his words finished, a cold, eerie laugh suddenly came from the fog, seeming far yet near, wavering: "Disciples of the Floating Dream Sect… you've indeed come…"

Shi Ran's heart jumped; she instinctively touched her forehead, where a faint lotus-bud mark lay hidden.

Luo Changfeng quickly drew a water shield talisman and stuck it on Shi Ran's back, frowning as he stepped in front of her: "Which petty demon is playing tricks? Come out!"

No one answered Luo Changfeng's question; the fog grew thicker, and Mei Ruoxue hurled the Gloomy Song into the air, chanting: "In the Nine Darknesses there is song, brilliant as stars, and I, radiant—bright!"

The Gloomy Song sword spun for an instant, then blazed like daylight, illuminating the four in the mist; Mei Ruoxue actively took Shi Ran's hand and whispered: "Remember to hold on tight—this fog demon came prepared, and it won't be easy to deal with."

Shi Ran nodded, knowing she was the one most in need of protection, and tightly returned Mei Ruoxue's grip, whispering: "Senior sister, rest assured—I will obediently follow you."

In the fog, that cold laugh sounded again, this time tinged with mockery: "Let this old man guess—who is the one possessing the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus…"

"'Ah, it's you!' He suddenly changed tone: 'You think hiding behind your senior brother and sister means I can't find you, Little Ranran! Your body carries a faint lotus fragrance—this old man loves to smell it—'"

"'Smell your grandpa!'"

The usually obedient Shi Ran instantly changed expression: "You old pervert, senior brother—go on, cut him down hard!"