Chapter 48 - 32: Citywide Nightmare?

"If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have casually extinguished that goblin..."

Xu Ran shook his head internally, silently watching the director’s battle of wits against empty air.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed, and the "ghostly creatures" still didn’t show themselves.

The director finally lowered his guard.

Not a trace for two whole months, without a single flaw showing—it’s absolutely impossible.

The only explanation is—the ghostly creature missing at the lake bottom was a hundred percent a failed creation!!

"Director, it’s been two whole months today."

"That ghostly creature must have failed at birth."

"I know."

Director, with thick dark circles under his eyes, was counting the days on his fingers.

Making sure of the time.

He laughed heartily, flew around the park four or five times to vent his frustration, then collapsed into sleep.

He was truly exhausted, battling wits against empty air for two months, barely catching a wink!

Every night when the park was quiet, he’d patrol, more phantom-like than a ghost.

Finally, after two months, he won the victory! Restored his heroic reputation.

And hearing the director’s hearty laughter afterward.

All the park’s moms: Well, the alarm is lifted now!

...

Slept a whole night and day.

At nine the next night, the director was refreshed, full of spirit, patrolling the rooftop.

In an excellent mood, he hadn’t felt this happiness in over ten years.

"Hey, Xu Ran, still practicing darts? How’s your dart skills coming along?"

Xu Ran changed the topic: "Director, you’ve finally relaxed?"

The director laughed heartily: "I’ve relaxed, hahaha!"

Seeing the normally serious director driven mad, then back to his normal mental state.

Xu Ran felt relieved.

If the director kept "battling" without end, the one sweating would be him.

"Haha, haha, congratulations, Director."

Xu Ran forced a couple of laughs: "Director, I’m off to bed, see you tomorrow. Bye bye."

Today’s progress maxed out!

I’m off, I’m off.

Xu Ran waved goodbye to the director, smiling brightly as he returned inside.

Shower.

Sleep.

Lying spread out on the bed, he closed his eyes, glanced at the system panel.

Child stage, day 1992!

[Your Qi Blood Value: 14112/100,000...]

Admittedly, time flies when you’re busy.

Since completing the third baptism till now, 257 days have passed, of which over 100 days were spent in the library brushing up the [Reading Thousands of Books] progress.

And after enduring the 100 days in the library pavilion, upgrading [Reading Thousands of Books] to [Advanced Insight], the next five months were much more enjoyable—various magical skills’ progress was skyrocketing daily.

Whether it was the Lightweight Skill, Xu’s Flying Knife, Origami Spirit Communication, or Piercing Flaws, the progress reached the perfect level of 15,700 points, just 333 days of self-discipline needed to reach the Third Sequence!

By then, he’d possess Invisibility Skill, Hand Rubbing Air Wall, Three Thousand Thunder Moves, Divine Weapon Toss, Origami Sealing, Suppression Simulation, Limb Regeneration, and a series of super skills!

The thought itself was thrilling.

With a handful of terrifying skills, even when facing formidable ghostly creatures, he’d have nothing to fear.

Invisibility Skill + Three Thousand Thunder Moves, escaping wouldn’t be easier?

Xu Ran gazed steadily, confidence gleaming in his eyes.

"Of course, can’t be complacent either, caution is key. The second kidnapping hasn’t come for a while now, perhaps it’s not that simple."

Thinking this.

Xu Ran drifted into a deep sleep.

He expected to wake up the next day.

Who knew an accident would occur—

Three in the morning, in the dead of night, with half the wall bathed in moonlight.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Someone knocking at the door, mom’s concerned voice came from outside: "Xu Ran, Xu Ran, did you have a nightmare?"

Xu Ran opened his eyes, turned on the light, went outside, only to see mom looking worried.

"What’s the matter, mom? I didn’t have a nightmare."

"You didn’t have a nightmare? Just now, in the parents’ chat group, many children suddenly woke up at night. Little kiddos were crying. They all had the same nightmare."

Xu Ran was astonished: "Huh? Our peers, and the newly enrolled kiddos had the same nightmare? Impossible, everyone’s dream realm is different..."

Mom looked horrified: "Not lying to you! All but two kids at kindergarten had the same nightmare!"

"And do you remember Zhuangzhuang and Tongtong? They also had the same nightmare. The children in the martyrs’ rehab area were frightened out of their wits by the same nightmare!"

Xu Ran was dumbstruck.

Kiddos spaced across dozens of kilometers having the same nightmare? Unbelievable!

With his level of knowledge and understanding, he couldn’t explain this eerie phenomenon.

City-wide nightmare!

Atmosphere of horror dialed up to the max, raising one’s hackles!

Could it be the goblin?

Xu Ran furrowed his brow: "How about Tiger Girl? Did Tiger Girl have a nightmare?"

Mom made a stern face: "No nicknaming your sister weird names!"

Xu Ran: "...How about Liuli, did she have a nightmare?"

Mom: "In kindergarten, only you, Liuli, and Zhu Yuheng didn’t have a nightmare. Apart from you three, the others were scared pale, eyes vacant, crying incessantly!"

Xu Ran: "Only the three of us didn’t have a nightmare?"

Mom nodded: "Yes."

"Only this matter is too bizarre, and it happened so suddenly, mom can’t explain it well to you right now."

"Come on, let’s head to the activity center! Director brought in reinforcements to release magic to soothe the children’s emotions!"

"Alright, let’s check it out."

Xu Ran took a deep breath.

Truth be told, a sense of unease rose in his heart.

City-wide nightmare!

City-wide nightmare!

Damn, the second kidnapping won’t truly go big this time, right?

...