225: Chapter 225 Night Market, Warmth

It was a man's voice.

The stunningly beautiful woman under the tree in the distance seemed to hear the voice and slowly turned around.

Upon seeing who it was, a bright smile bloomed on her face that had previously been as cold as frost.

The surrounding aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay was washed away completely.

The two guards nearby, who had been whispering to each other, were stunned on the spot, their mouths hanging open for a long time without being able to close.

Before they could react, they saw the woman taking small, quick steps as she trotted over.

Lin Wan stopped in front of Chen Ran and tilted her head up slightly: "Why, are you not happy to see me?"

The two guards stiffly turned their heads back, wanting to see who exactly had such charisma.

What met their eyes was a young man with a tall, upright figure, dressed in a dark robe.

This... isn't this the newcomer who just came to report to the Demon-Slaying Squad today?!

They recognized his identity, but still didn't understand why there would be any connection between the two of them.

Chen Ran ignored the two jealous gazes from the side.

He reached out very naturally, took hold of Lin Wan's soft, boneless hand, and explained with a smile:

"How could that be? To have a renowned captor of the capital come to pick me up personally—if outsiders knew, they would probably die of jealousy."

Lin Wan's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not pull away, letting him hold her hand.

The two walked side by side toward the other end of the long street.

"However, aren't you on duty at the Six Doors?" Chen Ran squeezed her soft palm and asked casually,

"With business there so complicated, how do you have the free time to come here to find me?"

Lin Wan let him hold her hand, walking with light steps on the bluestone path.

"I haven't seen you in a long while, I missed you a bit."

"It's only been less than two days." Chen Ran smiled, not speaking his inner thoughts aloud.

"But the Six Doors has indeed been incredibly busy lately." Lin Wan pouted.

"Ever since the last explosion case in the capital, the leads have been cut off, and there has been no new progress to this day... The few people we caught back then were just suicidal pawns, and they died after only a few days. We don't even know where they got the explosives or how they transported them to the scene."

Lin Wan said gloomily as she walked forward.

She was in charge of this explosion case, but now that weeks had passed, the progress of the case remained very slow, even causing her to feel a headache.

Chen Ran listened from the side, pondered for a moment, and said: "I think you could shift the focus away from the source of the explosives. That day was the main competition day of the Grand Martial Arts Tournament. Since the other party chose to use an explosion to interrupt the competition process, why did they not have any other actions afterward?"

Lin Wan was a smart person; with a slight nudge, she also found a line of thought:

"According to your line of thought, the other party's goal probably wasn't the Grand Martial Arts Tournament, but using the explosion case to attract our attention?"

"That's it." Chen Ran tapped Lin Wan's head lightly: "Since there are no results from investigating forward, then investigate backward, and see what exactly happened before..."

"Don't mess around, my hair is all messed up."

Lin Wan grabbed Chen Ran's mischievous hand, her mind already immersed in the case.

Chen Ran did not hide the deeds of the Red Lotus Demonic Cult; on the contrary, he even revealed some clues to Lin Wan.

Even if they could really find new clues, Chen Ran could guarantee that they would definitely not lead back to him.

...

Until sunset, with the long street bustling with crowds, Lin Wan suddenly realized that she hadn't come to investigate the case today.

Unknowingly, she had fallen into work mode again.

Lin Wan warned herself in her heart:

"Lin Wan, oh Lin Wan, you are here to relax today, not to work."

Thinking of Xiao Qian's previous hint, Lin Wan straightened her expression and gave a light cough:

"Who told you not to come find me these past few days? If you had come to assist me earlier, this case probably would have been solved quickly. By the way, how did you feel about your first day of learning at the Demon-Slaying Squad?"

Chen Ran's entry into the Demon-Slaying Squad to learn was not a secret; she had learned the news from her brother early on, so she had specifically come to wait for him today.

"It was alright, just sparring with some Yao Beasts."

"Fighting with Yao Beasts?"

Hearing this, Lin Wan scanned Chen Ran's body with some concern.

One had to know that although Yao Beasts were clumsy, they had thick skin and tough flesh, and their immense strength often required three or four Martial Artists of the same rank to barely manage a draw.

Confirming that his breath was stable and he didn't look like he was injured, Lin Wan finally relaxed and rolled her eyes at him: "You only know how to show off."

By this time, the sky had completely darkened.

Shops on both sides of the street hung up lanterns one after another, and the dim yellow light stretched their shadows very long.

"It's dark." Chen Ran looked up at the sky, "Come, let me take you to stroll through the capital's night market. You are usually busy investigating cases, you haven't had a good stroll, right?"

Lin Wan's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I've long wanted to go for a stroll, but I never found the time."

The capital's night market was far more prosperous than other places.

Both sides of the long street were filled with all kinds of small stalls; the calls of vendors, the sounds of bargaining, and the playful laughter of children were intertwined, filled with a thick, worldly atmosphere.

Chen Ran held Lin Wan's hand, weaving through the bustling crowd.

Passing by a stall, Lin Wan stopped her footsteps.

"Chen Ran, look at that."

The stall owner was an old man with gray hair, holding a small spoon, skillfully pouring maltose onto an iron plate.

Before long, a lifelike sugar tiger took shape.

Quite a few passersby were gathered around the stall watching.

As a traditional craft with a long history, sugar painting held a place in both worlds.

Seeing that Lin Wan was interested in this, Chen Ran pulled her over.

When the surrounding passersby saw them, they were first stunned for a moment by Lin Wan's beauty, and then they quickly cleared a path.

Although Lin Wan was not wearing her official uniform today, the dress she wore was exquisitely crafted, with a neat silhouette, and at a glance, it was clearly not an ordinary item.

Looking again, standing beside her was a young man with a straight figure and equally extraordinary temperament.

The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, looked exactly like a wealthy young lady and her guard out for a stroll alone.

"Sir, draw me a rabbit!"

"Alright, young lady, please wait a moment."

The old man responded with a chuckle, his wrists flying, and quickly drew a vivid sugar rabbit.

Lin Wan rarely strolled through the night market alone, and encountering this novel thing, she was extremely curious.

She took the sugar painting and couldn't wait to take a bite; the sweet taste spread in her mouth.

"Is it delicious?" Chen Ran looked at her appearance and couldn't help but ask.

"Uh... it's not about being delicious, you try it." Lin Wan handed the sugar painting to Chen Ran's lips.

Chen Ran smiled and took a bite, saying: "This thing is for looking at; when you really eat it, the taste isn't very good."

The two walked and ate, and soon their hands were full of various snacks.

Candied haws, osmanthus cakes, bamboo tube corn... as long as Lin Wan looked at something for an extra moment, Chen Ran bought it all.

Eating these foods with the physical constitution of a Martial Artist would not have any impact on the body.

So there was no need to worry about the burden of gaining weight.

After strolling for more than an hour, Lin Wan was finally tired.

As for this strolling, after the initial freshness wore off, it wasn't that fun anymore.

"I can't walk anymore."

"Then let's find a place to rest for a while."

Chen Ran looked around, took her to the riverbank, and found a relatively quiet stone step to sit down.

A few lotus lanterns floated on the river surface, gently swaying with the ripples, emitting a soft light.

The evening breeze blew by, bringing waves of coolness.

Chen Ran took off his coat and draped it over Lin Wan.

"Are you cold?"

Lin Wan shook her head and leaned against Chen Ran's shoulder.

The two sat quietly by the river like this, neither speaking again.

Enjoying this rare tranquility and warmth.

After a while, Lin Wan suddenly sat up straight.

"Let's go release a lotus lantern too!" She pointed at the lanterns floating on the river and suggested with excitement.

"Okay."

Chen Ran stood up and went to the nearby stall selling lanterns to buy two lotus lanterns.

The stall owner thoughtfully handed over a brush.

"Customer, you can write your wish on the lantern; it's very effective."

Chen Ran handed the brush to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan took the brush, thought for a moment, and earnestly wrote a line of small characters on the lantern petal.

Chen Ran leaned over to look, but Lin Wan covered it up.

"You are not allowed to look! If you look, it won't be effective!"

Chen Ran chuckled: "Fine, I won't look."

He also picked up the brush himself and casually drew two strokes on the lantern.

The two walked to the riverbank, lit the wicks, and gently placed the lotus lanterns into the water.

Watching the two lanterns float downstream side by side, gradually blending into the distant lights, Lin Wan clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and silently made a wish.

"What wish did you make?" Chen Ran asked.

"I already said you can't say it; if you say it, it won't be effective." Lin Wan opened her eyes and rolled them at him.

Chen Ran smiled and did not ask further.

Just at this moment, the noisy street suddenly quieted down. A noisy sound of horse hooves came from afar, and everywhere they passed, the vendors did not dare to breathe loudly.

Chen Ran narrowed his eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

...