Chapter 14: Demon-Slaying Thunder

Chapter 14: Demon-Slaying Thunder

Wait a minute?

What did I just hear?

Li Fan has been single for nearly ten thousand years and hasn't even had a girlfriend?

I was utterly confused.

So he isn't actually a married fox? The fox my dad killed back then wasn't his wife?

Then why the hell am I following him through trials and tribulations?

I looked at Li Fan in shock and confusion, hoping for an explanation from him.

Li Fan ignored me, shooting a sharp glance that made Tang Yuan jump. Immediately, Tang Yuan patted his cat leg and corrected himself, "Oh, missy, you misunderstood! How could he not have one? He has a wife; it's me who doesn't, hahaha..."

"That's not right! You just said Li Fan didn't have one! I heard you clearly!" I grabbed Tang Yuan's cat ears in frustration, but despite his contorted feline face, he refused to retract his words.

Unable to extract any information from Tang Yuan, I turned my gaze to Li Fan, staring at him angrily.

I hoped he wasn't lying to me because I agreed to help due to his family's debt. Now, I've already stepped into the unknown, and if Li Fan had been deceiving me all along, that would be utterly unfair!

Facing my anger, Li Fan remained calm. "I'm not lying. Tang Yuan really made a mistake. Being sealed here for so many years, losing his Inner Core, and having half his soul separated – it's impressive that he still remembers who he is."

"Y-Yeah! My memory is all jumbled up. Just don't hold it against me," Tang Yuan said, baring his teeth in mid-sentence before continuing fiercely, "Speaking of that stinking wench, why does she have a grudge against me? Why doesn't she go bother you instead!"

A melon to be picked?

I announced Tang Yuan's successful change of topic mentally and leaned in, eager to hear more. My curiosity was ablaze.

"Her audacity! Just because I'm a helpless little kitten, she bullies me. Why doesn't she bully you...?" Tang Yuan's tone grew more aggrieved, almost to the point of tears.

Weakly raising her hand, Lin Yu interrupted, "Uh, guys, shouldn't we think about how to get out first? We can discuss this later, right?"

Tang Yuan shook his head in my arms. "Little missy, there's no exit here. That stinking wench was ruthless. Didn't the Lord tell you? He's prepared to spend his old age here."

Believing Tang Yuan, Lin Yu slumped to the side with a gloomy expression. Tang Yuan hopped down to comfort her. "It's alright. This ghost child's scenario is a school, which is pretty good. Some people are trapped in the toilet, forced to sleep there every day..."

I ignored the clownish Tang Yuan and tugged on Li Fan's sleeve, asking, "There really is no way out?"

"Indeed, there's no exit, but if there isn't one, we can create one," Li Fan replied, looking up at the dim sky.

"Not trying to discourage you, Lord, but back then you could, but can you now?" Tang Yuan wagged his tail and approached, suggesting, "In my opinion, we should all just slack off here with me..."

Before Tang Yuan could finish his sentence, Li Fan slapped him away. I looked at Li Fan with concern.

Why was it possible for him before but not now? Had he suffered some severe injury? Did these old wounds significantly weaken his abilities?

Li Fan glanced at me and flexed his wrist. "I won't die, so don't worry about me dragging you down."

Frustrated, I wanted to hit him. Wasn't he reading too much into things? How could he assume such ill intentions from me?

My strength wasn't great, and hitting him ended up resembling a pout. Li Fan chuckled, stroking my hair. "I know you didn't mean that. I was just teasing you."

"At least you understand, don't think so negatively of me!" I was completely disarmed by him. Li Fan spoke to me as if I were a child, and I couldn't argue back.

"Alright, let's go. I'll open an exit." With that, Li Fan stepped out first.

Lin Yu and I hurriedly followed, while Tang Yuan, hearing that we could leave, abandoned his initial plan of carrying someone and dashed out joyfully.

Li Fan formed seals with both hands, and a golden symbol slowly emerged from his forehead. Then, he pointed towards the sky, and dark clouds swarmed in, accompanied by the faint rumble of thunder.

"Summoning lightning from the heavens? He's trying to summon lightning?" Lin Yu's eyes filled with fear. "No matter how many years he's practiced, unless he's attained immortality, he can't summon heavenly lightning... Why is he doing this?"

Li Fan stood still, but at this moment, a violent surge of death energy erupted from his body. It was like black smoke that turned everything it touched gray. Lin Yu was startled and looked at Li Fan in disbelief.

As the thunder rumbled louder, Li Fan's eyes turned crimson, resembling a devil rising from the depths of hell. The sky above us began to tremble violently.

A bolt of lightning descended, instantly cracking the gray sky. I thought if it struck again, the sky would surely shatter.

Lin Yu and I retreated far away, both looking up at the sky simultaneously.

"This doesn't seem like heavenly lightning, it isn't heavenly lightning..." Lin Yu muttered to herself. "This is... Exorcism Lightning!"

The second bolt of lightning struck, shattering the gray sky with a loud crash. Transparent fragments rained down like hailstones. I quickly crouched, protecting my head, unsure where to run amidst the vast playground.

But then, I recalled Li Fan's words and immediately ran towards him.

Then, I felt a warmth as if someone had embraced me, and subsequently, I completely lost consciousness.

I was awakened by the glare of sunlight. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky. Glancing at my phone, it was almost noon.

Rushing to get up, I found myself still alone in the dormitory. However, there were creases on Song Wu's bed, indicating that she had returned last night.

On the desk, I discovered a note left by Song Wu, informing me that she had seen me sleeping soundly and thus taken the liberty to call in sick for me this morning.

Relieved, I let out a sigh. The teacher for today's class was notoriously strict; if caught skipping her class, I would undoubtedly fail.

It seemed that time in the Ghost Child's world didn't correspond to real-time. Despite spending so long inside, only one night had passed in reality.

Stretching, I prepared to wash my face. As I glanced at the vivid little fox tattoo on my wrist, I recalled sprinting towards him in my final moments and wondered if he had returned.

"Li Fan, are you there?"

No sooner had I asked than his sluggish voice replied, "Yes, unless something unexpected happens, I'll be here for the next few decades."

Alright, he did possess a bit of humor.

But then something significant occurred to me.

"I Fan, can you locate Lin Yu? My sister's soul is still with her!" I exclaimed anxiously.

"It's not a problem," he replied casually. "Your sister's soul is already with me. I retrieved it."

"When did you do that?" I was taken aback. "How come I didn't know?"

"The little girl's cultivation is too shallow. It was easy to take it from her," Li Fan chuckled with amusement. "Besides, who am I to you? Do I need to report everything to you?"

I hummed in response and continued washing my face, ignoring him.

From our interactions over the past few days, I had learned a lesson. Li Fan enjoyed being mischievous, teasing me for his amusement, and then soothing me when I got upset.

But I was just a twenty-year-old girl; how could I outwit this old fox?

So, I decided that ignoring him would be my silent protest.

Sure enough, no sooner had I found some peace than Li Fan couldn't resist asking me a question.

"Why aren't you responding?"

"I won't argue with you if I can't win. I can't just let you have your way, can I?" I replied while applying sunscreen.

"Bullying? Is this what you call bullying?" My wrist's little fox tattoo came to life, and its head leaned forward, catching sight of the various bottles on my desk.

"What are you smearing on your face?" it asked.

Me: "Sunscreen, of course. I can't afford to get wrinkles or a tan, can I?"

"Oh." It quietly withdrew its head. "You don't need it anyway. Just wasting your effort."