Wooden Man

The pitch-black luxury sports car drove through the streets of Rain Alley, utterly out of place in this old small city.

In the passenger seat, Lu Ran gazed out the window at the Wulie River drawing ever closer.

The river ran north to south through the small city, nurturing generation after generation.

Lu Ran had mostly lived west of the river. After all, his home, high school, and the like were all on the western side.

Judging by Deng Yuxiang's direction, she was driving toward East River, which was relatively more prosperous. At the very least, it had a Central Commercial Plaza.

"Little Lu Ran, want me to tell you a story?" Deng Yuxiang casually asked as she drove onto the bridge.

"What story?"

"Once upon a time, someone wanted to file a complaint." A smile flickered in Deng Yuxiang's eyes. "Then he got hungry."

"Good stuff." Lu Ran was a little bewildered.

Was she even going to chase people down and kill them?

"Ha ha ha ha ha~"

Deng Yuxiang had not been this happy in a long time.

Ever since she had started working, everything had been serious.

Lu Ran's arrival reminded her of those joyful days when she used to tease Deng Yutang.

Unfortunately, those wonderful days were gone and would never return.

Deng Yutang was shockingly obedient now. He did not have a shred of resistance in him, making him no fun at all.

"Actually, jumping off a building was pretty thrilling." Lu Ran suddenly spoke, interrupting the woman's laughter.

Deng Yuxiang said, "That wasn't what you said earlier."

Lu Ran shrugged. He had to admit, it truly had been a special experience.

Forget Lu Ran being a Mist Realm Believer— even if he had been a Stream Realm or River Realm Believer, he would not have dared jump off a rooftop.

Watching the Wulie River rush southeastward, Lu Ran softly hummed:

"We who never knew how to show tenderness thought dying for love was merely an ancient rumor~"

Deng Yuxiang: ???

"Cough." Lu Ran coughed lightly and hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, what god does Uncle Sun believe in? Lord Biwu?"

Deng Yuxiang suddenly smiled. "Keep that spirit up."

Though she said that aloud, she added several more lines in her heart: Don't you dare be like Yutang—give up resisting and raise your hands in surrender.

That would be far too boring.

Lu Ran was deeply puzzled. "What spirit?"

Deng Yuxiang did not answer, instead saying, "Captain Sun is a Biwu Believer."

Sixth Rank God—Biwu resembled a Wutong Tree in appearance.

It was a support-type god, capable of defense and control, but especially adept at healing.

Every lunar fifteenth night, the shrines enshrined within major shelters all held statues of Biwu.

Who would have thought that a disciple of a Sixth Rank God could become a team captain?

Lu Ran said, "So your team is three protecting one?"

Two Prison Devil Believers and one Biwu Believer.

Was Deng Yuxiang the only offensive vanguard?

Deng Yuxiang explained, "Wei Hu was specially assigned by the bureau to protect you.

Captain Sun is the vice-captain. We also have a head captain named Ge Bin. You'll meet him in a couple of days."

"What god does Captain Ge Bin believe in?" Lu Ran's interest was immediately piqued.

"Nuo Sha."

"Nuo Sha?" Lu Ran's heart stirred. Ma Tianchuan, the top student at school, was a Nuo Sha Believer.

Deng Yuxiang nodded and cautioned him, "You'd better make something of yourself. When you meet our captain, don't wet your pants from fright."

Lu Ran nodded heavily. "I'll do my best."

For someone as confident as him to give such an answer, there was naturally a reason.

Third-Rate God—Nuo Sha.

A god whose very name contained the word "Sha," Baleful intent—could such a god possibly be gentle and friendly?

Back in the 1980s, when the Demon Race first appeared, the commoners all believed demons were the most savage and tyrannical beings.

Yet the appearance of the god Nuo Sha completely overturned that conclusion!

Lord Nuo Sha was far more vicious than demons, more ferocious than evil ghosts!

Honestly, it was only because Lord Nuo Sha protected the Common People.

Otherwise, based on Nuo Sha's appearance and terrifying methods alone, people truly would have classified him among the demons!

Too! Terrifying! To! Look! At!

The car slowly came to a stop, and Lu Ran saw the huge gilded signboard—Rain Alley Restaurant.

The floor-to-ceiling windows were spotless and bright, while the interior glittered with gold and splendor.

This was considered an especially good dining room in this small county town.

Deng Yuxiang turned off the engine and got out. "I heard from Yutang that when you were training in Evil Dog Village, you always covered your eyes with a red turban?"

"Yes." Gratitude appeared on Lu Ran's face. "You told me before to listen to the sound of the wind, so I gave it a try."

Deng Yuxiang nodded. "Then you can treat me to this meal."

"Xi Xing!" Lu Ran gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.

Although Rain Alley Restaurant was not cheap, he really ought to be the one treating her.

"I'm teasing you." Deng Yuxiang smiled. "When you're out with me, it's not your turn to spend money."

Lu Ran: "..."

He silently watched this domineering heiress.

Why did that sound so strange?

Deng Yuxiang continued, "After dinner, we'll go back to the Wulie Riverbank and practice some more."

"Still practicing? Didn't I already finish my trial training?"

"You forgot. I haven't loosened up yet."

"Sister, I know a bun shop on the west side of the river. Um, do you like tea eggs?"

Night fell, and evening arrived.

Lu Ran dragged his exhausted body home.

After taking a bath, Lu Ran used a towel to dry his dripping wet hair, then flopped straight onto his small bed.

He casually picked up the phone beside his bed, only to discover that Jiang Ruyi had sent him a message that morning.

Jiang: "If I want to upgrade the Banjushi Sword, which material do you think would be better?"

Lu Ran was somewhat confused. Hadn't she already chosen Baihong Stone and submitted the application?

Lu Ran checked the time. It was 7:10 p.m., so he immediately replied on WeChat.

Ran: "Baihong Stone."

As the saying went: a beauty was like jade, and a sword like a rainbow!

Beauty Jiang was worthy of those words.

Unexpectedly, the other side replied very quickly.

Jiang: "Mm."

Looking at the words on the screen, Lu Ran could not help baring his teeth in a grin.

Some people really needed to communicate face-to-face.

She was far too cold over the phone!

Lu Ran did not reply again. He opened the four-person group's small group and found it rather lively. That afternoon, the three of them had been discussing demon types together.

After thinking it over, he tapped at the screen.

Ran: "Young Master Deng, what did you do today?"

Deng Yutang: "I've been training the whole time. I wouldn't dare slack off! What about you? Why didn't we hear from you all day?"

Ran: "Your sister treated me to breakfast."

Deng Yutang: "Huh?"

Just as Lu Ran was typing a response, Deng Yutang sent another message:

"My sister?"

Then, Deng Yutang's WeChat messages came one after another. It was clear he was truly anxious.

"Didn't I tell you? Never provoke her!"

"You're muddleheaded, Brother Lu!"

"Is her food something you can just eat?"

"And then? What was the price?"

Lu Ran awkwardly twitched the corners of his mouth.

Worthy of being her biological little bro—he struck straight at the vital point! What a soul-searching question.

After quite a while, Lu Ran finally typed out a line.

Ran: "She beat me up all morning."

Deng Yutang: "..."

Tian Tian: (#Д)

Deng Yutang: "It's already past seven in the evening. Did she knock you unconscious, and you only just wake up now?"

Lu Ran rolled his eyes irritably and clattered away at the screen, sending several messages in a row:

"This afternoon, I scoped things out with the Moon Watcher team."

"We surveyed the neighborhood's terrain and visited shops and homes. It felt like being a neighborhood cop."

"Oh, right, did you know? Chang Ying's family actually runs an auto repair business—the Chang Ying from Class One who tells fortunes."

"Her family's shop is on one of the streets I'm responsible for. I ran into her while making visits. She was wearing a little white tank top and changing a car tire!"

"Good stuff! Those muscle lines were seriously streamlined—cooler than the car itself! I was green with envy."

Deng Yutang: "This Fifteenth, it's my sister's team taking you out?"

Ran: "Yeah. I can't avoid her either! Your sister is treating me to breakfast again tomorrow morning. What should I do?"

Deng Yutang: "Brother Lu, listen to me. Just be a wooden man.

Whatever she says goes. Whatever she does, don't resist. In a few days, she'll find it boring.

Her taste for mischief is far too strong. You simply can't indulge someone like that!"

Ran: "Screenshot taken."

Deng Yutang: "Ran Ge."

"Tian Tian" patted "Deng Yutang."

Jiang: "Is this team strong?"

Seeing the Class Monitor appear, Deng Yutang's eyes immediately lit up, as though he had found a savior.

Deng Yutang: "Class Monitor, hurry and talk Brother Lu out of it. I still want to live a couple more years!"

Ran: "One River Realm, fifth-stage Biwu Believer; one River Realm, fifth-stage North Wind Believer; two River Realm, fourth-stage Prison Devil Believers.

There's also one Jiang Realm strong person, a Nuo Sha Believer.

He's the team captain, but he's very busy. I didn't see him today."

Jiang: "What an impressive team. Looks like we'll be able to see you on the day school starts."

Deng Yutang: "Ran Ge!!"

Tian Tian: ()(._.`)