Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 687 The Gates of Ghost City Open
Seeing Xiao Ran's determination, Lu Cheng stopped trying to persuade her.

"It's rare for us to get together again, so let's drink until we drop. I'll cook a few of my signature dishes."

Wu Man stood up: "Old Lu, what would you like to eat?"

"How about stew? To be honest, I haven't had it in years."

It was a stew made by Wu Man that brought Lu Cheng out of the village back then, and now, many years later, Lu Cheng really misses that taste.

"no problem."

This was a piece of cake for Wu Man; she set up the stove and pot, and soon she was cooking.

Xiao Ran also took the opportunity to ask about Gao Yuting.

"What else can she do? Every time she sees me, she's either cursing you or on her way to cursing you. But don't worry, you know Yuting's personality. At worst, she'll beat you up and that'll be the end of it."

Xiao Ran agreed with this reasoning.

At worst, I'll just have to kneel on a washboard when I get home. Besides, couples who quarrel in bed make up before they get out of bed, and they shouldn't hold grudges overnight.

"Come on, come on, dinner's ready!"

Before long, Wu Man's shouts were heard. Xiao Ran took out the famous wines she had taken from Master Beast's room. The group ate the stew without ceremony, along with several of Wu Man's signature dishes, and sat outside the tent, eating, laughing and drinking.

As the campfire died down, the eastern sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn.

The aroma of last night's stew still lingered on my lips and teeth, dispelling some of the gloom, but that brief warmth was replaced by the heavy shadows of the ghost city at dawn.

The wine jar was empty, and the tacit understanding between the brothers needed no further words. Lu Cheng patted Xiao Ran on the shoulder.

"Xiao Ran, be careful." Lu Cheng's eyes were complicated, showing concern, worry, and even more so, a helpless acceptance of his predetermined fate.

"Things can change in an instant within the Ghost City. If anything goes wrong, try your best to get out. I'll be waiting for you outside!"

Xiao Ran grinned: "Don't worry, big brother, I've prepared a big gift for Huang Chao!"

The grand gift Xiao Ran mentioned was naturally the Plum Blossom Taoist. As long as Huang Chao dared to show his face, he would immediately invite the Plum Blossom Taoist out.

Even if he is a celestial being, so what? I don't believe that Plum Blossom Taoist can't kill him, but at least break a few of his bones and peel off a couple of layers of skin.

"Brother, I'm entrusting these people to you."

Xiao Ran looked at Huang Le, Qing Hai, and Liu Mu behind her.

The risks in this Ghost City are too great. Huang Le's strength would be a complete waste if he went in, and as for Qinghai and Liumu, Xiao Ran couldn't bring them in either.

The three prohibitions Huang Chao left outside the door were clearly aimed at him. Even though Qinghai and Liumu were possessed bodies, they were still corpses and could not enter the city.

“You’ve all been with me for a long time. If something happens to me, you can all go your separate ways. But one thing, considering our good relationship, don’t cause any trouble near Ruzhou.”

Xiao Ran addressed the two of them.

Both Qinghao and Liumu are demons from the Underworld. Liumu went to great lengths to get to the Lost City, so Xiao Ran didn't want to make things difficult for them. Considering that they had known each other for a while, Xiao Ran was willing to give them their freedom if he couldn't get out.

"Don't worry, that's not our ambition."

Liu Mu said to Xiao Ran, and Qing Hai nodded in agreement.

Finally, Xiao Ran took the sleeping raccoon dog out of her bosom and handed it to Lu Cheng: "This is a spirit animal raised by Grandpa Zhao. Please keep it safe for me, brother."

"Well, don't worry."

Lu Cheng understood Xiao Ran's meaning and put the blue raccoon into his sleeve pocket.

"Hurry up, let's go!"

Jin Chanzi waved to Xiao Ran, urging her to hurry, indicating that it was almost time and that the Prince of Jin's men had begun to enter the city.

Dai Long and Wu Man were also fully prepared to go, even though Xiao Ran had advised the three of them not to go in with her.

After all, Huang Chao was clearly targeting him this time, so there was no need to involve so many people.

However, in the end, the three did not accept their proposal.

"Brother, take care!"

Xiao Ran patted Lu Cheng's arm, and before Lu Cheng could say goodbye, she turned around and caught up with Jin Chanzi and the other two without looking back.

The city gates of Chang'an, the "Ghost Capital," were unimaginably enormous, resembling a gaping maw ready to devour its inhabitants. The gates were tightly shut, neither made of metal nor wood, covered in mottled, eerie dark red patterns, like dried, congealed blood. On either side of the gates stood two strange stone tablets, each taller than the city wall, inscribed with large, blood-red characters:
【Three things not to enter】

Those who are not members of the martial arts world are not allowed to enter!

No one other than a commoner may enter!

No living person may enter!

The handwriting exudes a strange, penetrating power of law that chills the heart.

"Tell me, is Plum Blossom Taoist considered a living person?"

Looking at the inscription on the stone tablet, Xiao Ran asked Jin Chanzi in a low voice.

"It doesn't count!"

Jin Chanzi shook his head: "What kind of living person is he? He's more sinister than a dead man. But don't worry, although Huang Chao's rules are strict, they can't control Plum Blossom Taoist. This guy is a bug himself."

Xiao Ran thought about it and realized that made sense. If even this basic rule could be influenced, then he wouldn't be the Plum Blossom Taoist.

"Brother Xiao!"

Gu Xintang and his entourage also came over, bowing to Xiao Ran and saying, "Brother Xiao, please remember our agreement."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran glanced around behind Gu Xintang and found that all the people behind Gu Xintang were unfamiliar faces, clearly not from the Qiankun Alliance.

The most conspicuous group was the one on the left. There were only five or six of them, but Xiao Ran recognized them at a glance. They were the treasure hunters under the command of Prince Fu, and at least half of them were mixed in here.

Noticing Xiao Ran's gaze, several people involuntarily avoided her eyes. However, they were unaware that Xiao Ran's spiritual power had already enveloped them, seeing through their guilty emotions.

It's not hard to understand why, when he fought with the Spirit Cult members yesterday, he also heard those rebel kings suggest joining forces to kill him.

If Brother Lu hadn't arrived, there would probably have been a chaotic battle yesterday.

"Congratulations, Brother Gu. It seems that your Qiankun Alliance has grown much larger. In just one night, you have gathered so many extraordinary people."

Upon hearing this, the group behind Gu Xintang blushed deeply, as Xiao Ran's words were incredibly sarcastic.

Yesterday they were supposed to join forces to deal with Xiao Ran, but today they're all hiding behind Gu Xintang. Isn't that because Gu Xintang and Xiao Ran made an agreement not to enter the imperial city and not to fight each other?

Now that Xiao Ran has exposed his little scheme on the spot, how can anyone not feel a little flustered?

"Brother Xiao, last night, Prince Fu took the lead and several kings signed the alliance agreement. With everyone in alliance, these friends are naturally also honored guests of our Qiankun Alliance. Please treat them all equally, Brother Xiao."

Gu Xintang didn't hide anything at all. He was a gentleman, and Gu Xintang had sensed that from the first time he met Gu Xintang and they dueled in the sword competition.

Over the years, Gu Xintang has never changed its original intention. Even if there are some small schemes, Gu Xintang has always brought them out into the open.

Based on this point alone, Xiao Ran had no intention of making things difficult for him.

"Haha, since that's the case, then don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise." After saying that, Xiao Ran glanced at the group of people behind Gu Xintang, "However, let's make some things clear. Before entering the imperial city, I promise I won't make the first move, but if anyone has any ulterior motives towards me, then don't blame me for being impolite."

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They had already witnessed Xiao Ran's methods yesterday; even the Spirit God of the Spirit God Sect was easily suppressed. How could they dare to provoke Xiao Ran?

Even when Prince Jin and others spoke up, they did not make a move. Instead, they waited for Gu Xintang to take action. Without Gu Xintang's lead, who would dare to act rashly?

Despite having a top-ranked swordsman in Xiao Ran's team, no one is sure how strong this top-ranked swordsman really is.

As for this Group C Thirty-Six, even though he was fierce and domineering yesterday, suppressing the Spirit God of the Spirit God Sect, he was still a defeated opponent of the Ancient Heart Hall.

If it weren't for Gu Xintang supporting them, they would have scattered long ago. Who would be willing to take that risk?

"what!"

At this moment, Xiao Ran suddenly noticed that there was another person following behind them. This person was the old drunkard who had been lying behind their carriage earlier.

After being driven away by Gu Xintang and the others, this person actually followed them here. He stood far away, with disheveled hair and reeking of alcohol.

Xiao Ran scrutinized the man carefully, but couldn't discern anything from him, only noticing a strong earthy smell emanating from him.

"The door is open!"

Jin Chanzi shouted, and everyone tensed up, drawing their swords and standing ready.

"Kakaka..."

A screeching sound came from the door in front of them. The sound was not like the sound of wood breaking, but rather like the sound of bones breaking, which made everyone's heart tremble.

Before long, strange dark red patterns appeared on the tightly closed, huge door. These patterns wriggled and twisted, like bulging blood vessels!

In the center, the heavy city gate silently caved inward and dissolved, slowly revealing an irregular, blood-red opening that could only accommodate two or three people walking side by side.

The edges of the cave entrance resembled writhing flesh, emitting a strong stench of blood and a nauseatingly sweet odor. The cave was pitch black inside, its depths unfathomable, as if connected to the deepest hell.

An air mixed with the smell of dirt, rust, and an indescribable stench of decay wafted out.

"yue~~"

Immediately, some people couldn't stand the smell and started turning around to vomit.

It's not that the other person is naive; it's just that the smell is really not something that ordinary people can tolerate.

"How many people are going to die?"

An old man frowned. He could smell the rusty odor in the air—the smell of countless dried bloodstains.

The stench of countless corpses mixed in was unbearable.

"Huang Chao massacred everyone in Chang'an, and set a huge fire before leaving. How many people do you think died?"

Some people just scoffed, not caring at all; they'd seen this kind of world and this kind of situation before.

"Stop talking nonsense, the door's open, let's not stand there, let's go in and talk."

Some people were urging him on, but he showed no sign of moving forward.

Gu Xintang glanced at Xiao Ran and, noticing she was looking at him too, understood her meaning. He nodded, then stepped forward and entered through the gate...

(End of this chapter)