An eight-bearer sedan chair?

Outside the west gate, Jiang Tian and Deng's trio were confronting a mist shadow person.

This was a demon from the Mist Realm, specifically a fourth-stage Mist Realm demon.

It was at a higher cultivation level than the squad members, but it was fighting alone. Leader Zhang Feng was willing to give the squad a chance to gain experience and points.

However, ever since Lu Ran left, the squad's combat system had fallen into disarray.

At this moment, Tian Tian was at the forefront!

The small figure held a large petal shield, resisting the mist balls thrown by the mist shadow person.

She was the only one in the team with a defensive skill, so her positioning was not an issue.

The real problem was that the tall and straight Deng Yutang was crouching with bent knees behind Tian Tian.

From time to time, he would poke his spear out from the edge of the petal shield, stabbing the mist shadow person a few times.

Undeniably, the cooperation between the two was very effective, inflicting damage on the mist shadow person repeatedly.

But the scene was… well, a bit hard to look at.

There was no other way. At this stage, Deng Yutang had no defensive skills to rely on.

And the mist shadow person was frantically swinging mist orbs, like it was throwing bombs!

Without Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi took over the jungle role. She floated around outside, doing her best to distract the mist shadow person.

"Zzz~ Zz~"

The electric sparks flashing on the girl's fingertips outlined her movements.

Again and again, electric shackles talismans accurately struck the mist shadow person.

However, the mist shadow person's body structure was extremely peculiar, composed entirely of gray mist, which greatly reduced the effectiveness of the electric shackles talismans.

"Crack!"

Once again, an electric shackles talisman accurately hit the mist shadow person.

Fine currents, like scurrying snakes, crawled all over its mist-filled body.

"Heh heh."

Jiang Ruyi stopped, panting heavily, her chest rising and falling.

Deng Yutang reacted quickly, thrusting his spear fiercely.

The spear tip entered the mist, poking a hole in the gray mist head.

The mist shadow person's head was like a popped balloon, with wisps of mist constantly leaking out.

"Hiss!"

As the electricity dissipated within the mist shadow person, it roared in anger.

Its gray mist claws suddenly solidified, turning into physical forms, and fiercely grabbed the spear tip.

"Demon! How dare you!" Deng Yutang gritted his teeth, gripping his weapon, and roared back.

On the battlefield, Red Turban Believers never lacked the momentum to overpower others!

However, in terms of pure strength, humans of the same realm were no match for the demon race.

Not to mention that the mist shadow person was a full two minor stages higher than Deng Yutang!

"Hold steady!" Under Jiang Ruyi's slender fingers, electric sparks flickered again.

Honestly, without Jiang Ruyi, this squad would have been defeated long ago.

Deng Yutang's spear would have been taken away, and Tian Tian's petal shield would have been torn to shreds countless times.

Just as Goddess Jiang was casting a spell, attempting to suppress the demon again.

"Whoosh!!"

A gust of wind suddenly rose!

A figure flashed past Jiang Ruyi's side, blowing her raincoat and long hair.

Jiang Ruyi's body stiffened, her beautiful eyes widening!

Her astonished expression gradually turned to pleasant surprise: "Lu Ran."

"Baa~"

A sheep's bleat sounded softly, hidden amidst the wind and rain, escaping human ears and failing to elicit any reaction from the mist shadow person.

As expected, it was useless.

Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

The mist shadow person's face only had an outline, no facial features, and thus no ears.

He really didn't know how it perceived the world or how it let out its howls.

Regardless, Lu Ran's divine technique, Sound of Lamentation, had no effect on this peculiarly structured mist shadow person.

The Mist Shadow Person suddenly turned its head, "looking" behind it.

Although Lu Ran's Divine Technique had no effect, the Mist Shadow Person truly sensed the approaching enemy.

"Screech!"

A slender Xiaguang Saber cut through a curtain of rain.

A beguiling figure darted through at extreme speed, crossing paths with the Mist Shadow Person.

In an instant, The Mist Shadow Person was sliced in half at the waist by the Xiaguang Saber!

But it was not dead yet. Only the waist area that was cut continued to leak gray mist outwards.

"Ha! Brother Lu is back!" Deng Yutang's eyes shone brightly as he shouted excitedly, "I knew you'd be alright!"

Tian Tian pursed her lips, secretly overjoyed, her small hands trembling with excitement.

When Lu Ran was abducted by the Yanzhiren and disappeared into the vast night, Tian Tian felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

After so many years, she had finally found a few teammates who respected her, found a warm little group.

However, this story, which she had longed for, had only just begun.

Everything was snatched away by that seductive Yanzhiren.

Tian Tian's heart wept, but as always, even her sadness was silent.

Similar to her was Jiang Ruyi, who was also dejected.

She had watched Lu Ran being carried away by the Yanzhiren and disappear into the rainy night, but she was powerless.

This scene was like a slow-motion replay.

It looped in her mind again and again, leaving her distracted.

Everyone living in this world knew how dangerous the night of the fifteenth of the Lunar Calendar was.

After every fifteenth, the death notices posted around the world repeatedly informed people of this cold and cruel reality.

However, when a living person disappeared from her side, Jiang Ruyi was still not mentally prepared.

Especially since this person was Lu Ran.

Lu Ran, who had sat at the same desk as her for two years, laughing and joking.

Lu Ran, who trained day and night on the old rooftop, saying he wanted to join the Jade Talisman Sect and slaughter all the evil in the world.

Every little memory made the disappearing figure incredibly clear in her mind.

Jiang Ruyi didn't even dare to think further, nor did she want to deeply consider his fate.

Only Deng Yutang continuously boosted morale, cheering on the squad, saying comforting words like "He'll definitely come back," "Don't worry," and "Brother Lu will be fine."

Interestingly, It was the Demon Race's Mist Shadow Person that ultimately "revived" the squad.

The sudden crisis temporarily awakened their dejected bodies.

Jiang Ruyi suppressed her surging emotions and forced herself to fight, only to find that during the fierce battle, That figure, whose fate was unknown, reappeared and returned here!

It was like an unrealistic dream.

"Whoosh!"

The tattered black raincoat fluttered wildly in the heavy rain.

A dark, beguiling figure flashed past the side of the Gray Mist Person again.

"Roar!"

The Mist Shadow Person was furious, its misty body trembling violently.

It had already dropped its gun, and its misty claws were continuously gathering mist balls, throwing them wildly at Lu Ran.

"Die!" How could Deng Yutang let such an opportunity pass?

He held his spear and thrust repeatedly.

In an instant, the Mist Shadow Person's upper arm, shoulder, and side of its head were pierced like a honeycomb, with a large amount of mist leaking out.

"Roar!" The Mist Shadow Person turned to fight Deng Yutang again. As its sharp claws extended, they were firmly blocked by Tian Tian's Petal Shield!

The Mist Shadow Person fiercely grabbed the Petal Shield, wanting to swing both the person and the shield away!

At the same time, a familiar scene unfolded once more.

The Electric Shackles Talisman arrived in time, electrifying the Mist Shadow Person's body, causing it to tremble.

Deng Yutang immediately stabbed at the Mist Shadow Person's claws, rescuing Tian Tian.

And this scene had already played out countless times.

The battlefield changed in an instant. As Deng Yutang was still trying his best to relieve the pressure, the dark beguiling shadow reappeared!

"Hiss!"

The divine mist swirling around Lu Ran's feet outlined his movements.

He drew vast amounts of divine power from the divine power bead he wore around his neck, instantly appearing behind the mist shadow person and unleashing a flurry of attacks.

Beheading!

The Xiaguang Saber gleamed coldly, slicing across the mist shadow person's neck.

Diagonal Slash!

With a twist of the blade, the edge cut from the mist shadow person's right shoulder to their left waist.

Horizontal Slash!

His wrist flipped, the blade swung to the right, connecting shoulder, arm, and hand.

Lu Ran used his saber like a brush, forcefully painting a "Z" shape on the canvas of swirling gray mist.

In an instant, the mist surged violently.

"Hiss!"

The mist shadow person roared in anger, struggling to defend itself as it turned to tear backward.

Its pair of solidified, sharp mist claws missed their target.

The little painter behind it jetted mist from their feet and had already flown backward.

The tattered hem of its black raincoat fluttered forward, rustling loudly.

It seemed to mock the mist shadow person's futile rage.

"Hiss!"

Once again, Deng Yutang's spear pierced the mist shadow person's back of the head.

The gleaming spear tip even poked out from the mist shadow person's forehead!

Finally, the mist shadow person, leaking profusely, fell completely silent.

For the mist shadow person race, a pierced head was not a fatal wound.

This was because the mist within its body had dissipated to a certain extent, reaching a critical point.

This strangely constructed creature finally lost its life.

"Pfft!!!"

In the pouring rain, the mist shadow person's body exploded.

Big explosion!

The scene was quite spectacular.

"Heh." Lu Ran flicked his saber, his two fingers landing on the long, cold blade, slowly wiping it towards the tip.

He wiped away all the gray mist clinging to it.

Don't ask why.

If you ask, he's just taking out a plastic bag.

However, before Lu Ran finished, he thought of something and hurried toward the mist.

Then, he urged the divine power bead around his neck with all his might.

The crystal-clear jewel lit up quietly, and the scattered mist finally found its purpose, no longer dissipating.

Wisps of mist flowed like strange lines in the air, meandering towards Lu Ran's neck and pouring into the divine power bead.

This sight was both magical and bizarre!

Tsk, that felt good~

Lu Ran placed a hand on his neck, feeling the wisps of mist slip through his fingers and into the bead.

Weren't the divine power he'd lost in the battle just now being replenished?

Suddenly, a hand landed on his back.

"Hm?" Lu Ran turned his head and, under the stadium lights, saw the girl's wet face.

The rain was a good cover, drenching everyone fighting in it.

But her eyes were red, clearly unrelated to the rain.

"You... you're okay." Jiang Ruyi's voice was small and soft.

All the words in her heart finally turned into a few simple phrases.

"Yeah." Lu Ran smiled and nodded, also noticing the girl's abnormality.

Beauty Jiang's eyes were filled with complexity.

There were too many emotions in her gaze for Lu Ran to tell if she was worried or happy.

Lu Ran smiled and spoke, as if he was truly fine, comforting his teammates in his own style: "I told Yanzhiren that marriage isn't a child's play, how can it be so casual?

We don't care about her dowry, but at least she has to give me a proper title, right?

We've watched historical dramas, it has to be an eight-bearer sedan chair, a proper, legitimate marriage!"

Lu Ran subconsciously raised his hands as the girl in front of him suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

What?

Lu Ran froze on the spot. The usually talkative him was suddenly speechless.

Jiang Ruyi hugged Lu Ran tightly, as if confirming he had truly returned.

Slowly, she released her embrace, took a step back, and said in a low voice with her head bowed:

"It's good that you're back."

Lu Ran's mouth was slightly open. After a long while, he managed to say: "Actually, it's okay not to go with her.

That Yanzhiren felt cold when I held her, but you're warm.

By the way, does your family have an eight-bearer sedan chair? Wow!"

Deng Yutang appeared behind Lu Ran, suddenly picked him up, and threw him into the sky: "Woohoo~~~

Hahaha! I knew it, I knew you could definitely come back! Hahahaha!"

He laughed heartily, filled with immense joy that was incredibly infectious.

Along with him, Lu Ran also laughed: "Haha!"

Regardless of what his teammates went through mentally, Lu Ran was the one who truly experienced it.

He had indeed walked through the gates of hell.

It was truly fortunate to have survived.

The torrential rain continued to fall.

It landed on Lu Ran like sweet dew, allowing him, who had escaped death, to experience the precious feeling of being alive.

Jiang Ruyi looked up at Lu Ran, who was being tossed into the air and laughing heartily.

Finally, A smile also appeared on her face.

Thank you to the bosses Nance Youhun, Jingdi, DaCapa, and Ye Luoweifeng for their rewards. Thank you for your support, bosses are generous! (*) Sending hearts.