For an entire day, Luo Lan flipped through every channel on the television.
There were actually a few programs explaining martial arts fighting competitions. Unlike traditional boxing, the martial arts fighting arena was about the size of half a soccer field, and there were no referees on the field. The battles between participants were also much more intense. Breaking the floor was commonplace, and the sound of punches from both sides rumbled like muffled thunder, making it look as if special effects had been added.
In terms of competitive viewing, it was indeed much more exciting than boxing or freestyle fighting. The simple act of hitting flesh with every punch, without rounds or intermissions, could keep the audience excited from beginning to end, not to mention that the two often fought until they spat blood and were covered in injuries. Luo Lan couldn't help but frown. As a martial arts fighter, this kind of battle was too risky. Weren't they worried about not having the life to spend the prize money after winning the competition?
However, what concerned him the most were those who were called martial arts fighters.
Undoubtedly, their physical fitness was far superior to ordinary people, and the power of nature was not just simply enhancing strength or speed. It seemed to have special uses.
The commentators off-field mostly gave these techniques a special name and highlighted it as the martial arts fighter's nickname for promotion. For example, this man named Hurricane could unleash ultra-fast combo punches in an instant, so his nickname was Storm.
Seriously, wasn't this equivalent to laying one's cards on the table in front of the opponent?
But even that was okay. What surprised Luo Lan even more was that he actually saw the figure of a demon in the competition.
It was a typical Mad Demon, tall, with burly arms. It did not wear a mask or iron gloves. The exposed fangs and three-finger characteristics clearly did not belong to humans, but the audience was oblivious to this. Judging from the commentator's tone, it seemed that they simply regarded the other party as a martial artist from a foreign country.
He had finally witnessed the strangeness and power of the dream world.
In order to make the demons swallowed by Jieluo reasonable, the dream even turned them into a minority race living in this world. Then what about the mixed-breed evil beasts? Luo Lan couldn't help but conjure up the image of the energetic Argonian maid.
It was not until his stomach growled that he realized the sun was gradually setting.
Luo Lan couldn't help but frown.
Normally, Jieluo should have returned long ago.
From reading the diary earlier, he knew that her school was on Zhongshan Road, about three kilometers away from the apartment building. It would take ten minutes to get home by bus. The after-school class ended at 5:30, and it was already 6:15. Could something have happened at school?
After thinking for a moment, Luo Lan decided to go downstairs to buy something to fill his stomach.
After all, she might be out with her friends. In summer, it would not be completely dark until around eight o'clock, so it was not strange to go to the park or arcade during this time.
He was the landlord, not a nanny. Even if he went to school at this time, he might not be able to find her. It was better not to meddle.
A little girl, even if she was diligent, would occasionally want to slack off.
He would make dinner this time... no, he would order takeout.
Just then, the scene on the television suddenly flashed, and the martial arts competition turned into a news broadcast.
Good evening, viewers. We are now interrupting with an urgent news report.
The host held a stack of manuscripts and read with a worried expression, "A knife-wielding robbery occurred on Zhongshan Road. A Route 29 bus has been hijacked. Traffic police have blocked the intersection. Please do not go out if you are near. We will broadcast the progress of the incident as soon as possible."
The scene on the television quickly switched to the scene. The road was already crowded with onlookers who were eager to stand outside the cordon, with no intention of evacuating.
Wait, isn't this the road Jieluo usually takes to school?
Luo Lan's heart sank. Could she have been hijacked too?
This was by no means good news. As an important part of the dream world, he did not know what consequences the death of a key figure like Jieluo would have. This was also why he was unwilling to delve into Jieluo's family origin.
According to past dreaming experiences, the subconscious would cheat when it encountered problems that it couldn't make up.
The result would be to suddenly wake up and never remember the content of the dream again.
Luo Lan absolutely did not want to end this dream prematurely before emptying his deep memories.
Not to mention the many residents in the Soul Tower—if they also possessed Memory Fragment Doors, that would be excellent information for understanding the real world.
Of course, it was also possible that Jieluo's existence had no impact on the dream, but he did not want to take the risk.
Thinking of the strange power surging in his body, Luo Lan decided to go to the scene to see if he could help.
After leaving the Tongzi Street, he ran along the bustling road. The heat flowed and circulated in his body, and his flying footsteps did not feel tiring at all. Even while running at high speed, Luo Lan could easily control every part of his body, skillfully avoiding the pedestrians on the street. The three-kilometer journey was shortened almost at the speed of a 100-meter sprint. In just a few minutes, he arrived at the scene.
However, to Luo Lan's surprise, as soon as he squeezed into the crowd, he found that the robber had already surrendered and was tearfully giving an interview, saying that he had only acted on impulse. The onlookers booed in disappointment and dispersed as they had come. The traffic police were also clearing roadblocks, preparing to restore traffic.
Luo Lan twitched the corner of his mouth. Wasn't it said that the police always arrived late after the incident?
Also, he did not find Jieluo among the passengers evacuated from the bus—it seemed he had run in vain this time.
Just as he was about to go back, a cry for help faintly came from the narrow alley on the side of the street.
Luo Lan paused and looked into the alley. Although the sun had not completely set at this moment, the light had been completely blocked by the tall buildings on both sides. It was pitch black inside, and he couldn't see anything.
Was it an illusion?
He slowly walked to the alley entrance. After a few minutes, he heard a faint cry for help again.
There really was someone inside!
He should call the police for help at this time.
Luo Lan looked back at the bus, but found that the police had already escorted the robber into the police car and were driving away. It was obviously too late to stop them.
Should he pretend he didn't hear it?
But he clearly felt that something in the alley was attracting him.
Since approaching here, the heat flow in his body had suddenly become intense, as if drumming, or cheering, as if urging him to continue forward.
Luo Lan tiptoed into the narrow alley.
His eyes quickly adapted to the faint light. He saw a man standing with his back to him, with nothing else around him.
"Are you calling for help?" he asked, frowning.
The man did not answer, but directly rotated his head one hundred and ten degrees. This bizarre scene made Luo Lan gasp.
However, even more surprising things were yet to come.
His face was as if it had been burned by flames. His scorched skin was covered with blisters. Above his forehead, a deep red swirl of energy was rotating, shimmering in the dim light.