Midnight.
“Yiya!”
A babyish cry rang out in the pitch-dark study.
A cloud of black mist exploded in midair, and a pitch-black monster baby appeared out of nowhere, limbs splayed wide as it floated in the room.
With a creepy grin plastered on its face, the little fiend’s stubby legs spun across the study floor like it was riding wind and fire wheels.
“Yi?”
It noticed that the study was unusually clean and tidy. Aside from a cabinet and a chair, there was nothing else to catch its interest.
It glanced toward the door and, babbling “yiyiya,” charged outside.
“Yiya!!”
Just as it reached the threshold, an invisible ice wall appeared before it. The little thing rammed straight into it, immediately raising a big bump on its forehead.
“Wuwu~~~”
Clutching its forehead, it burst into loud, wailing sobs.
Outside the room, a figure stood.
“Knew it. You were hiding in the study.”
Outside the door, Li Ziyang stared into the study, a mocking smile on his face as he looked at the little troublemaker.
“Yi?”
The monster baby stood up, holding its forehead. It was angry—very angry. And there would be consequences.
It leapt high into the air, flailed its tiny arms, and pointed at the ice wall. In that instant, several tendrils of black mist shot forth from within the room and slammed against the wall.
Thud thud!!
Two dull thumps rang out, but the wall didn’t budge.
The monster baby’s eyes widened in disbelief: “Yiya?”
“Don’t waste your energy. That thing was made by Mom, just for you. We might not be able to catch you, but you really think we can’t lock you up?” Li Ziyang said coldly.
“Yiya!”
The little one refused to believe it. It swung its tiny arms again, summoning even more black mist.
After several more attacks, the wall remained completely unmoved.
The baby was now panting, clearly worn out.
“You’re staying put these next few days. If you dare sneak out to cause more trouble—I’ll peel your skin and rip out your tendons!”
Li Ziyang’s eyes turned icy. A ghostly hand spread out behind him, surrounded by a sinister wave of demonic aura.
“Yiyiyiya~”
...
...
Day Nine.
“Hello?”
“Brother Ran! Save me!”
Early in the morning, Li Ran was jolted awake by a call from Lu Zhaohui.
“Huh?”
He was still groggy, half-asleep, and had no idea what kind of nonsense Lu Zhaohui was up to now.
“I’m at home! They’re almost here! You have to stop them from taking me away!”
Li Ran heard the sound of desperation in Lu Zhaohui’s voice on the phone.
In an instant, all sleep vanished from his mind. Puzzled, he asked, “What’s going on?”
“They’re coming! Brother Ran, if you don’t come now, it’ll be too late!”
Before Li Ran could even ask for clarification, the call ended.
“What the hell is that idiot up to?”
He glanced at his son, who was still sleeping soundly beside him, and didn’t dare wake him.
In the kitchen, Su Bingyao had already prepared breakfast.
A hot glass of milk and a ham and egg sandwich.
“Why didn’t you sleep in a bit longer?” Su Bingyao asked.
She looked well-rested, clearly having slept peacefully the night before.
Li Ran glanced toward the study’s door and immediately understood. “So that little menace was locked up in the study last night.”
The monster baby vanished during the day and only came out at night. Even though they knew it was in the study, they still couldn’t find it—it was as if it could slip through space and time, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Locking it in the study was currently the only method to keep it from causing havoc.
Though who knew how long that would last.
Li Ran also noticed that both Su Bingyao and Li Ziyang’s eerie power levels had grown significantly these past few days.
Su Bingyao’s Eerie Power: 500
Li Ziyang’s Eerie Power: 300
That’s an increase of a hundred per day.
Even though Li Ran hadn’t managed to catch the little monster, he knew its eerie power must be growing too—otherwise, Su Bingyao wouldn’t be having such a hard time.
“Babe, I’ve got an emergency—I’m heading out.”
“Take your breakfast with you.”
Seeing how hurried he was, Su Bingyao quickly packed the sandwich and milk into a bag and handed it to him at the door.
“Thanks, honey. Mwah~”
With no time for a proper goodbye, Li Ran gave her a quick peck and rushed out.
He shadow-stepped down the stairs and, once he hit the ground, bolted toward Building No. 3.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of suona horns in the distance.
He looked over and saw a grand wedding escort team parading through the neighborhood.
Traditional music rang out. Following behind was a palanquin carried by eight men, accompanied by a matchmaker, bridesmaids, and several attendants.
Confetti cannons, firecrackers, and colorful smoke filled the air. The sheer spectacle of this traditional wedding parade made many of the neighborhood’s residents stop and gawk.
“What the hell—someone’s actually getting married? And they’re doing a full-on ancient-style ceremony?” Li Ran was stunned.
He didn’t stop to stare for long. Oddly enough, he found this eerie world surprisingly down-to-earth—who would've thought they held weddings inside these dungeon instances?
“No idea what that idiot’s getting himself into. Why isn’t he at the rendezvous point?”
Everyone was supposed to gather at 9 a.m. every morning—an unspoken rule.
Clearly, that wasn’t happening today.
Song Linjia had turned into a porcelain doll, Zhao Yingzhi had a dual soul in her body, and now Lu Zhaohui was having some kind of crisis.
Might as well cancel the “morning meetings” from now on.
Reaching Building No. 3, Li Ran used shadow-step to get straight to the 11th floor.
“It’s me. Open up.”
The door cracked open a sliver, and Lu Zhaohui peeked out like a thief, scanning behind Li Ran cautiously.
“Brother Ran, get in here!”
He yanked Li Ran inside and quickly shut the door, locking it with three bolts.
“What are you doing?”
Li Ran had no clue what this guy was up to.
“They’re coming, Brother Ran. You have to stop them… Get Zhao Yingzhi, Song Linjia—no, that’s still not enough! Call your wife, your kid, the bigger the crowd the better! They need to see I’m not that easy to take!”
“We can’t let them through this door!” Lu Zhaohui said frantically.
It was the first time Li Ran had seen Lu Zhaohui so panicked. Even in the most dangerous missions, this guy might whine a little, but he’d never lost his cool. Now, he was a total wreck.
“Who’s trying to take you?”
Just then, the suona music drew closer. Li Ran’s expression shifted, and his Golden Finger triggered a prompt.
He pointed at Lu Zhaohui, speechless in shock. After a long pause, he finally asked, dumbfounded, “The wedding escort outside… is for you?!”
The suona blared louder and louder. Lu Zhaohui didn’t even know how to explain—he blurted out in despair:
“Meng Ge wants to marry me!”
“Pffft!”
Li Ran spat out the mouthful of hot milk he’d just sipped.
“What the hell, bro—you’re a damn tadpole with a frog tattoo!”
“Huh? What does that mean, Brother Ran?”
“It means you’re showing off your mom, dumbass!”
Li Ran couldn’t believe this idiot. A good man, in a good relationship, somehow ended up skipping straight to marriage?
Fine—get married if you want. But how did you end up getting married off?
Just because your parents aren’t here doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!
And now that they’ve shown up with a full parade and an eight-man palanquin, how can you possibly slam the door in their faces?
Lu Zhaohui looked like he was about to cry. He broke down and said, “Brother Ran, please think of something! Mengge’s mom said there’s going to be a bridal chamber prank tonight!”
(End of Chapter)