The Sound of the Wind

June 14th on the Lunar Calendar. The entire school was on break.

More accurately, the entire country was on break.

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth of every lunar month—the three days before and after the lunar fifteenth—society as a whole was put on pause, aside from personnel in certain departments remaining on duty.

The full five-day holiday was both an official regulation and a social custom.

"Wooooo~~~"

"Rumble!"

The morning alarm sound, accompanied by rolls of muffled thunder, woke Lu Ran from his deep sleep.

"Mm." Lu Ran rubbed his eyes groggily, picked up the phone beside him, and checked the time.

Exactly seven o'clock.

Although the Demon Race only emerged on the night of the lunar fifteenth, the authorities would sound the alarm on the fourteenth to warn the public.

"Good morning, Immortal Sheep." Lu Ran got out of bed and, out of habit, went to worship before the shrine.

Ever since the Evil Dog Village assessment, Immortal Sheep had not manifested for a long time.

In truth, this was how gods ought to be. How could lofty deities be seen whenever mortal believers wished?

"This disciple feels that I'm about to advance to Mist Realm: Third Stage."

Lu Ran spoke to himself, hoping the god could hear him.

Ever since advancing on the fifth day, up until this Lunar Calendar Fourteenth, Lu Ran had cultivated diligently. Even when he trained at the Training Ground, wisps of mist still curled around him.

Now, the mist within his body had been compressed to a certain degree.

His body had also been nourished by Divine Power, growing stronger and more vigorous by the day. He was already fully prepared to advance to Mist Realm: Third Stage!

Lu Ran was filled with anticipation. "Then I'll be able to cultivate Divine Technique: Immortal Hoof."

Yet the Xianyang Jade Sculpture within the shrine remained utterly silent.

After waiting for quite a while and confirming that Immortal Sheep had no instructions for him, Lu Ran bowed properly.

Then he shifted sideways and came to the windowsill.

The low, drawn-out alarm continued to echo through the city, making the already gloomy rainy day feel even more oppressive.

"It's raining again."

Lu Ran gazed at the rain-soaked neighborhood, watching the branches sway in the slanting wind and fine rain.

The weather forecast said it would be cloudy tomorrow. Would he be able to see the full moon?

Lu Ran let out a deep breath and turned toward the bathroom to wash up.

A few minutes later, he took an umbrella, carried his Wooden Knife, and stepped out of his home.

Rain Alley City beneath the Rain Curtain carried a rather bleak and desolate air.

Compared to the past few days, there were clearly fewer pedestrians on the roads, and the shops along the streets had all closed their doors.

Lu Ran searched for a long time before finding a small store that was still open. He bought a carton of milk and a can of fish.

His destination was still the Wulie Riverbank—the abandoned residential complex.

As for why Lu Ran had come here—

On one hand, it was to pay respects to his deceased father. On the other, he had never stopped thinking about that Little Li Hua.

Ever since their last parting, Lu Ran had deliberately come by every day on his way to school to take a look.

On the sixth day, Wu Shanshan leaving the team had left Lu Ran in a mess. In a moment of carelessness, he had let the Tabby Cat run away.

Whenever he thought of that Little Li Hua after returning home, Lu Ran would worry.

Stray cats and dogs truly found it difficult to safely make it through the fifteenth night of the lunar month.

Unless a kind-hearted person took it in, or Little Li Hua could secretly slip into a resident's home and hide beside a shrine or Divine Idol worshipped by people. Otherwise...

"Baa~~~"

In the drizzling rain, Lu Ran held up his umbrella and arrived at the overgrown residential complex by the Wulie Riverbank.

He called out "Mee Mee" all the way, from outside the building to inside the building, then up to that dilapidated seventh-floor rooftop.

Unfortunately, the Tabby Cat still did not appear.

"Dad, that Tabby Cat isn't here again." Lu Ran came to a corner of the rooftop and placed the milk and fish can on the railing. "You eat it."

Lu Ran put away his umbrella, exposing himself to the rain once more.

"Eat up quickly. Once you're done, I'll eat."

Lu Ran gripped his wooden Tang-style Katana tightly, imagined an opponent in his mind, and began training directly.

Thanks to the kitty, father and son had eaten canned fish for breakfast for several days in a row.

Lu Ran was getting a little sick of it.

As for Dad... well, it was fine.

Who cared whether he liked it or not? He couldn't speak anyway~

"Little Lu Ran?"

A voice suddenly came from the rooftop Stairwell entrance.

"Huh?" Lu Ran turned his head and saw a tall figure draped in a yellow raincoat.

Lu Ran jumped in fright!

This was... uh, Little Nightmare?

The little guy had actually grown this big. Her figure was so good...

Lu Ran wiped the rain from his eye socket and confirmed that she was still there.

For a moment, his heart rose straight into his throat!

How could there possibly be anyone in such a desolate place?

And she even knew his name!

Could some kind of demon have descended ahead of time?

The woman reached up, pinched the hood, and pulled it back slightly, revealing an Eastern face.

Lu Ran became even more bewildered!

The woman before him was beautiful and radiant. Like her yellow raincoat, she appeared exceptionally bright and vivid in this gray, hazy world.

"Sister Rain Alley?" Lu Ran said in astonishment, his face full of disbelief. "What a coincidence?"

"What coincidence?" Deng Yuxiang shot Lu Ran a glare. "I followed the sheep calls here."

Lu Ran: "..."

"You've got some nerve." Deng Yuxiang stepped onto the rooftop. "It's Lunar Calendar Fourteenth, and you still dare come running into this barren area?"

"This is my secret training base." Lu Ran carried his Wooden Knife and pointed south. "Look over there."

"Hm?" Beneath the hood, the woman's dark eyes pierced through the Rain Curtain and gazed into the distance to the south.

Under the hazy rain and mist, the Wulie River surged onward.

Its momentum was grand and magnificent.

"The scenery really is nice." Deng Yuxiang looked into the distance as she asked, "Tomorrow, you and Yutang will be taking part in the city defense mission. How are your preparations?"

"Not bad, I guess. I thought I'd train a little more today and stay in shape." Lu Ran asked doubtfully, "Why is Sister Rain Alley here?"

Deng Yuxiang did not answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze toward the milk and canned fish on the stone railing.

"Do you want some, Sister?" Lu Ran caught on quickly. "I'll give them to you."

Deng Yuxiang smiled and rolled her eyes.

I climbed seven whole flights of stairs just to steal your milk and canned fish?

Deng Yuxiang turned and walked toward the stairwell, tossing back a sentence from afar. "Bring your little snacks and go home to train. Don't linger outside."

Little snacks?

Lu Ran felt a little upset.

That was Little Li Hua's cat food, my dad's offerings, and my breakfast, all right!

What did she mean by getting three meals out of one fish?

"Nothing's changed at all." Lu Ran muttered softly, then resumed practicing his blade on his own.

A few days ago, after she had sent Lu Ran to his doorstep, she had floored the accelerator, and her sports sedan had roared into the Rain Curtain.

Now, she had also left after tossing out one sentence, not even giving him a chance for small talk. She was truly swift and decisive.

Lu Ran had not expected Deng Yuxiang to return to the rooftop less than a minute later. "Do I have to take you home myself?"

"No, no." Lu Ran shook his head repeatedly. "Right away. I'll head back right away."

Deng Yuxiang smiled. "I can see it now. You're only obedient with your mouth, aren't you, youngster?"

Lu Ran said helplessly, "I'll stay a little longer. Just a little while."

What if Little Li Hua showed up?

Deng Yuxiang nodded lightly. "Looks like Yutang hasn't mentioned much about me to you."

Lu Ran did not understand. "Mention what?"

With a casual wave of her hand, Deng Yuxiang rapidly gathered a slender, translucent wind blade in her palm. "In front of me, Yutang wouldn't dare say even half a word of no."

In an instant, a biting aura came rushing at him, enough to make one's heart quail.

"North Wind!" Lu Ran's eyes narrowed. "Sister Rain Alley is a believer of the North Wind Blade?"

Second-Class God: North Wind!

Among the people, this god was also called the "North Wind Blade." Its Divine Idol took the form of a stern man holding a blade, seated at the distant northern border.

Together with the South Sea Bow, West Wasteland Axe, and East Thunder Halberd, it was known as the Four Directions Military Heroes.

Lu Ran's former teammate, Wu Shanshan, was a believer of one of the four heroes—the South Sea Bow.

"You don't need to trouble yourself anymore." A faint, almost imperceptible smile played at Deng Yuxiang's lips. "I'll break your legs, then personally take you home.

How does that sound, Little Lu Ran?"

This time, Lu Ran had no mind to admire the bright lipstick on her lips.

"Misunderstanding! Sister, I'm going back right now!" Lu Ran cowered with astonishing speed.

He truly had not expected such a beautiful and radiant big sister to be a living King Yama.

No wonder Deng Yutang did not dare say "no."

She struck whenever she pleased, leaving no room for negotiation at all!

"I said before that I'd teach you a move or two." Deng Yuxiang weighed the wind blade in her hand. "Better to run into a day than pick one. Today it is."

Lu Ran's expression stiffened as he felt a terrifying pressure envelop his entire body.

"Don't." Lu Ran backed away step by step. "Tomorrow, I still have to defend the city with Deng Yutang. If I get hurt..."

"Shh!" Deng Yuxiang gave the command for silence.

She slowly closed her eyes, as if listening for something. "Do you hear it?"

The woman suddenly became mysterious and cryptic, leaving Lu Ran bewildered again and again.

"Hear... hear what?"

Deng Yuxiang suddenly kicked off the ground and lunged straight at Lu Ran, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

"The sound of the wind."