CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: RUAN RUAN, I FOUND YOU

The investigation concerning the Illusion Insect is being conducted secretly, and the festival on Star River Star is proceeding as planned.

Early that morning, a famous interstellar idol group performed, and with the sound of songs and dances, announced the official start of the festival.

Entertainment programs continued one after another, and people’s faces were filled with smiles.

The streets were bustling, and everyone was looking forward to the festival ceremony, of course, many were secretly hoping for a chance encounter with Commander Lu.

At the Central Villa District, Su Ruan was purifying the Energy Stone.

It’s always good to have some ready in the Space Button, in case of a situation like last time at the Moonlight Bar, she could take out an Energy Stone for Lu Shinian to absorb, at least ensuring he wouldn’t be exposed for a short time.

Lu Shinian went out yesterday and hasn’t returned, and it’s unknown whether he can make it before the official start of the evening festival ceremony.

Su Ruan, somewhat distracted, thought to herself as the black mist of the Level 1 Energy Stone in her hand seemed to pause suddenly, motionless.

She gathered her thoughts, focused, and continued to purify the Level 1 Energy Stone.

The excitement outside seemed unrelated to her; she was absorbed in her own world and soon became immersed in it again.

Time flew by, and before long, it was already dusk.

The festival ceremony was scheduled to start at exactly six o’clock, but it was already half-past five, and Lu Shinian still hadn’t returned.

Su Ruan put the Energy Stone she had spent the whole day purifying into the Space Button and sent a message to Lu Shinian.

[I’ll head over to the festival first, find me over there when you’re done.]

After sending the message, she quickly tidied up and headed towards the center of the festival ceremony.

The entire Star River Star had a symmetrical structure centered on the intersection in the middle.

The sacrificial altar was at the central intersection, half covered in a thick layer of snow, the other half was grassy.

These two completely opposite weather conditions coexisted well, without interfering with each other.

The sacrificial round platform was beautifully crafted, full of ancient and heavy atmosphere.

Just looking at it from afar, one couldn’t help but want to submit.

The sacrificial ceremony was open to everyone, but the banquet after the ceremony was only open to invited guests.

Therefore, many people crowded around the sacrificial round platform, and Su Ruan, unable to squeeze in, could only stand at a distance.

At six o’clock sharp, fireworks burst centered around the platform, illuminating the entire sky, dyeing the originally sunset-like hue with more vibrant colors.

Su Ruan looked up at the blooming fireworks, her long lashes trembling lightly.

Lu Shinian hadn’t replied to her message yet, perhaps he was caught up in something.

Accompanied by the fireworks, a man wearing a mask, dressed in an ancient robe with a texture-rich long braid, stood on the sacrificial platform.

He raised the staff in his hand high, mumbling something.

Because she was too far away, Su Ruan couldn’t hear clearly.

She vaguely saw the man on the round platform place his left hand on his chest, curling four fingers, raising only his thumb, drawing from the left of his chest to the center, seeming to pause for a moment, then to the right side of the chest, pulling back and pausing again.

After repeating a few times, he loudly proclaimed, "Feel honored! We are favored by the gods!"

Su Ruan’s pupils slowly contracted, her hands and feet unknowingly turned cold.

The hands at her sides trembled slightly, memories surged overwhelming, and that delicate, slightly pinkish face gradually turned pale.

"How could it be possible," she murmured, seemingly oblivious to the crowd around her.

How could it be?

This sacrificial ceremony was exactly the same as the one held in the Otherworld.

Especially those special sacrificial gestures, each pause, all the same.

It was almost... almost like a kind of replica, or rather, inheritance.

Su Ruan felt a cloud of doubt rushing towards her, the gradually calming mindset over time began to waver again.

That pair of extremely beautiful eyes flickered with dark light, her black hair moved without wind, and her semi-long bangs half-covered her eyes, making it hard to discern her expression.

The temperature around her subtly carried a kind of cold aura.

Until...

A large hand grasped Su Ruan’s small hand, at the same time, that familiar low voice came to her ears.

"Ruan Ruan, I’ve found you."

That strange cold aura disappeared instantly, as if it was just some kind of illusion earlier.

Su Ruan looked up, her long lashes quivering, and voluntarily leaned towards Lu Shinian.

"Why are you so late?"

She almost, almost lost control of herself.

Perhaps her voice carried a hint of grievance, making Lu Shinian subconsciously respond, "Sorry, things got a bit tricky."

Su Ruan didn’t really blame Lu Shinian, and after venting out that momentary panic, she obediently nodded, "Is it resolved now?"

"Not yet." Lu Shinian pinched his brow, "It’s a bit troublesome."

The Illusion Insect is hiding somewhere they have practically searched the entire Star River Star and still haven’t found it.

Moreover, during the investigation, he discovered that there were two other forces also looking for the Illusion Insect.

It seems quite a few people realized the anomaly with the Illusion Insect, he must find that peculiar Illusion Insect before those two forces.

Lu Shinian held Su Ruan’s hand, pulling her closer, "Why are Ruan Ruan’s hands so cold?"

Su Ruan blinked and joked, "Waiting for you."

Lu Shinian was stunned for a moment, knowing that his Ruan Ruan was joking, yet he still felt a pang of heartache.

"Next time, if I don’t return from a mission, Ruan Ruan doesn’t need to wait for me."

Wrapping her in his arms, "All I need to know is that Ruan Ruan is by my side."

For the rest, he dared not ask for much more.

Su Ruan lightly pressed her lips, just as she was about to say something, Lu Shinian’s Light Brain rang again.

Lu Shinian glanced at it, an undertone of darkness passing through his eyes.

It was a message from Vice Wang.

[Commander, the Illusion Insect has infiltrated the festival, it’s highly likely to cause a massive hallucination effect.]

Though ordinary Illusion Insects’ Illusion Realms are easy to see through, this Illusion Insect is different, it can create Illusion Realms that deceive those with low spiritual power, and most of the tourists on Star River Star have an E level spiritual power.

If this Illusion Insect creates terrifying Illusion Realms or other seductive ones, the whole situation will become very chaotic.

Quite a few citizens might get injured, perhaps even leading to a large-scale panic.

This is definitely not something they wish to see.

Lu Shinian evidently realized the gravity of the situation, he looked at Su Ruan, hastily whispered, "Ruan Ruan, the Illusion Insect mixed into the festival, you go home first, don’t come out."

Seeing his serious expression, Su Ruan worriedly asked, "Do you need my help?"

Lu Shinian hugged Su Ruan, lowered his head, and whispered into her ear, "Going home is already helping me."