Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
"Finally arrived."
Gazing at the small courtyard before her, Yu Anran couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Under the cold, serene blue moonlight, the bamboo in the courtyard swayed with the night breeze, casting shadows on the ground like algae in water.
The yard was desolate, the walls mottled, a scene of utter desolation.
Yu Anran listened closely, the night wind seemed to carry a low sobbing.
"What a fine scene," she commented.
But to her, this was merely a trifle.
As a person from the Cloud Summit, even those of noble birth who were well-protected from childhood couldn't avoid encountering dangerous scenes, given the nature of the place they were born in.
Unlike the Green Mountains, which inherently exuded a sense of cold dampness, the Cloud Summit was mostly sunny, with the celestial aura of the Old Mother Mountain and the magnificent sea of clouds within the province.
At first glance, it was the most yang place in the Nine States.
But upon closer inspection, when you start to doubt everything about it, madness isn't far behind.
Why do trees with chopped branches grow eyes? Who is breathing when the clouds in the sky move? Are the sun and moon spying on the human world?
Is the bus I take to work every day changing color? I clearly put that thing there, why has it disappeared?
The card spirit that used to be obedient has recently looked at me with a sinister gaze; has it been replaced by something strange?
Card crafting success, the sea of consciousness boils, thoughts whirl joyously, but is there a terrifying monster hiding in the sea of consciousness?
Some call the Cloud Summit a crossroads, the more you try to understand it, the more absurd it becomes.
Yet, it is this place that gives the locals abundant "inspiration," relatively strong "mental barriers," and a very solid psychological capacity.
In a sense, the people of the Land of Peach aren't afraid of ghosts; it's an evolution or change to adapt to the environment.
The traits of the Cloud Summit people are innate; as long as they don't overthink or obsess, they are born with a "cheat" and natural talent.
And Yu Anran, as the daughter of the local richest man, was sent to the City of Night to lay her foundations at a very young age, and came to the Green Mountains area when she was slightly older.
One could say she reaped all the benefits of the Cloud Summit without any of the drawbacks.
For her, this was just a minor scene.
With a wave of her hand, "Cheng Ge" and "Brother" rushed into the Xiao Xiang Pavilion, one on each side.
"Grandma" stayed put to guard.
Then, with a "bang," the quaint door was pushed open.
Out came two figures Yu Anran was all too familiar with, "Sister" and "Mother."
The former was accompanied by a grey wolf dressed as an old lady and a goat that walked upright with a sinister gleam in its eyes.
The latter had changed into ancient-style luxurious clothing, her long hair, usually tied up, now cascading down with the night breeze.
"These are all my card spirits!"
Seeing this scene, Yu Anran felt a pang of heartache.
She finally understood why no one wanted to face Chronicle.
Too cruel.
With these dirty tricks, even if you win against him, you'll suffer great psychological trauma.
"Attack!"
Fortunately, her mental fortitude was strong; she gritted her teeth and accepted the N-T-R.
"Cheng Ge," hearing her command, summoned "hemp rope" and "wet newspaper," two "weapons," and charged forward.
"Mother" was expressionless, but her eyes were filled with deep resentment, and her body overflowed with yin energy, quickly turning her crimson ancient costume a dark red.
Then she flicked two sharp knives from her wide sleeves.
In the desolate courtyard, she opened a fierce battle with the "family killer" Cheng Ge.
Card spirits, as their name implies, contain "spirit."
Whether the story is made up by a Card Craftsman or really happened in this world, once a card spirit is created, everything becomes real.
Even if Yu Anran could control this family of five to fight side by side with her mental power, the hatred in their hearts would not dissipate.
Instead, it would accumulate and be suppressed, waiting for an opportunity to erupt like a furious volcano, spewing out all grievances.
And that opportunity is now.
Normally, N-T-R card spirits are "machine-controlled," acting on instinct without conscious spirit, and their strength is actually weakened.
Only this "Mother," after being forcibly pulled into Chronicle's camp, could fight with her own will and instinct, not holding back at all.
Even more so, she was extremely fierce.
Yu Anran's accessories and the knives previously taken by Chronicle were now in her hands.
The two sharp knives roamed freely in the night, like two cold, sticky venomous snakes, lunging and entangling.
"Cheng Ge" kept swinging the hemp rope, like the blades of a fan, stirring up a strong yin wind.
But the main scene of this area was the domain card called "Grand View Garden."
Here, female card spirits on Chronicle's side were enhanced, while the combat power of opposing male card spirits was weakened.
Plus the "entrance fee" paid upon entering the domain.
With this disparity, Cheng Ge and Mother, originally not far apart in strength, were now at a great distance.
Cheng Ge, with a rope in one hand and a newspaper in the other, could only barely defend in the storm-like onslaught.
In the long, cold night, the sharp blades scattered, cutting the bamboo as if mountains were collapsing, falling towards "Brother."
"Brother," sensing danger, instinctively bent down but was caught by the wolf grandmother and the upright goat, biting his neck and arm.
He struggled desperately, headbutting the wolf and punching the goat, trying to break free.
But Sister, with a sinister smile, leaped high, blocking the pale blue cold moon.
And as she fell, a giant toy bear appeared, catching her securely.
The strange bear was patched all over, with some seams coming undone, revealing wriggling white worms inside.
Sister sat on the shoulder of such a monster, directing its long, bread-shaped legs to stomp heavily on "Brother."
In an instant, dust flew, the stone floor of the Xiao Xiang Pavilion was broken, and countless bamboos were uprooted, shooting up like spears.
At a certain height, they then swooped down towards Cheng Ge's position.
The two card spirits cooperated with each other, attacking their own opponents while creating favorable conditions for their teammates.
Plus the attribute boost from "Grand View Garden," it took less than two minutes to beat Cheng Ge and Brother to the point of no resistance.
Just as Yu Anran was getting anxious, a soft voice entered her ear: "Watch closely, Anran, this is how you use your card spirits."
The voice came with the wind, as if someone was whispering behind her, she could even feel their breath.
But when she turned around, there was no one there, only the old woman with hollow eye sockets and a cunning face nearby.
"Darn it."
Yu Anran bit her lip.
N-T-R was one thing, but was the taunting a bit too much?
"If you think this is all I've got, you're sorely mistaken."
Yu Anran chuckled, her eyes igniting with fighting spirit.
She threw out a card, instantly stirring up countless blood-red dots that quickly formed into a dozen "people":
An old gatekeeper with a face full of wrinkles, a middle school principal with a belly full of fat, a yellow-haired youth with an impatient face, a dark-skinned middle-aged man with a strong build, a handsome student with a gloomy face, a chuckling fat otaku with glasses reflecting light…
A knowledgeable and gentle career woman, a timid and quiet young girl, a big sister with a smile on her lips, an aunt with a hint of impatience…
A dozen "shadows," men and women, old and young, all present.
They spread out, filling the entire courtyard.
This was a legion card called "Residents of the Sunshine Community Under the Blood Moon."
It was with this card that Yu Anran captured fifteen small flags in the vast desert.
But back then, she was in good condition.
Now, however, she was weary in body and mind, activating the card left her face pale.
It felt as if someone was drilling into her temples, causing great pain.
"Go help!"
Knowing she couldn't drag this out any longer, she shouted, and the dozen shadows flashed into the Xiao Xiang Pavilion.
Some twisted their limbs and crawled on the ground like spiders;
Some bulged their muscles and churned with yin energy, looking like wild bears;
Some wielded sharp weapons and charged fiercely;
Some hunched over and leaped agilely, as nimble as monkeys;
They all attacked "Mother" and "Sister" together.
The yin energy web they spread even covered the shadows of the bamboo algae in the courtyard.
At this critical moment, the plants in the yard seemed to come to life, aiding in the battle.
It was the Mountain Ghost's "Growth" skill.
Under the crazy attack of the "mutated" plants in the courtyard, the residents of the Sunshine Community slowed down a bit.
Then they were swept away by a bamboo pole.
The one who made the move was the "Instructor Lin" of the Xiao Xiang Pavilion.
"Not one left."
Chronicle's command entered Daiyu's ears through the sea of consciousness.
The young girl immediately shook the bamboo, twisting her hips and lifting her arms, pressing down with spiritual energy.
She fully wielded the four or five-meter-long bamboo pole.
In an instant, the wind and clouds surged.
Uprooting the monstrous trees and rolling up the dry vines.
The entire courtyard was filled with green bamboo shadows and a tide of spiritual energy.
All the Sunshine Community residents who tried to take action were beaten to pieces.
Like the shattering of glass or porcelain, the sounds were continuous.
Yu Anran was stunned.
Even with her psychological endurance, she was shocked by this scene with such a strong contrast.
This was no longer a poignant beauty, but a fierce tiger roaring in the mountains.
Too fierce.
With the support of the Mountain Ghost, a top-tier assistant, Lin Sister, who already had the home-field advantage, showed her full ferocity.
If she broke a bamboo pole, she switched to a shovel.
Flipping and chopping, the blade whirled.
Halfway through, she unleashed a romantic cannon.
If her opponents weren't a ghost legion, the Xiao Xiang Pavilion would have been a bloodbath by now.
It was a completely one-sided situation.
Before the "Nine Nether Dreamland" time limit was up, an entire legion was overturned by Daiyu, a single card spirit.
Only "Cheng Ge" and "Brother" were left, still resisting despite their injuries.
Daiyu didn't even look at them, one person, one spear, spiritual energy exploding, sending them off directly.
Then she put away the shovel, approached Yu Anran with a gentle breeze, and patted her shoulder.
She looked melancholic yet gentle.
Then she turned her hand and exploded the head of the evil spirit old lady.