The illusion had just been shattered by Yun Ran, and the long-missing sunlight finally appeared.
The voice of Ginsengfruit came into Yun Ran’s mind as well.
[Wuwuwu, Host, I was so scared, I was screaming until my throat went hoarse, and you did not respond to me, I thought you were done for...]
Yun Ran did feel a little distressed hearing the first part of the conversation, as since arriving in this literary world, they had been inseparable.
Now they had been attacked by some unknown enemy, and their connection was severed.
It’s only normal for Ginsengfruit, being a System, to panic.
But as soon as Yun Ran heard the last part, all his worries vanished.
He then coldly retorted with a sneer: "You’re the one who’s finished, completely lacking in discernment, even daring to compare me with a chicken!"
Yun Ran seldom got angry, but when he did, it was quite serious.
Quickly groveling, Ginsengfruit said: [Host, I was wrong, I really was wrong, I just misspoke, you know I’m your closest companion, in my heart you’re the most formidable person, without parallel.]
Ginsengfruit wanted to continue buttering him up, but before it could open its mouth, Yun Ran predicted its intent.
"You better shut up, I don’t have time to deal with you right now, stop trying to fool me with those stale jokes you picked up from elsewhere!"
It hadn’t even spoken yet, and the Host had already effectively shut it up.
Zhonglisu watched as Yun Ran took out the Compass and began to deduce the direction.
Previously, while the Illusion was still present, the needle on the Compass was spinning erratically as if it was startled.
Now it was finally usable, which made him heave a sigh of relief, although it was a bit embarrassing to admit.
But now, whatever he said, he had to cling to Yun Ran’s coattails.
"I’ve found the direction to leave this place, I’ll get you out of here first!"
Had Yun Ran not sensed that the owner of that voice from before seemed to have a particular hatred for Zhonglisu, he would’ve let him leave on his own by now.
[Host, are you afraid he’ll fall into the Illusion again and get ’gobbled up’?]
Ginsengfruit felt wronged and sulked, it was just a tiny slip of the tongue, but the Host really held a grudge, such a petty spirit!
Yun Ran then took out some dry food from his bag, gave some to Zhonglisu, and hastily ate a bit himself to replenish his energy.
Watching Yun Ran move forward, Zhonglisu did not dare to halt, hurriedly following suit, the Immortal Binding Rope still tied around him, of course.
It was unclear whether the owner of the Illusion knew that Yun Ran possessed the ability to destroy the Illusion.
The path they walked next was smooth, without any obstacles at all.
When they finally emerged from that area, Yun Ran had a ring of darkness around him, truly living up to the reputation of the harsh Northwestern sun.
The members of the Special Administration Bureau lurking outside saw that the arranged time had come, but none of them, including Master Zhongli, had emerged.
They immediately relayed the information back, as it was clear the situation here had significantly exceeded their earlier expectations.
But those lying in ambush in the safe zone did not dare to retreat directly from their position.
"Look over there, isn’t that two people?"
Someone spotted the figures of Yun Ran and Zhonglisu from afar and immediately used binoculars to check.
"There are two people, they are the previously missing Yun Ran and Zhonglisu, quick, inform the boss!"
In the past, if they saw their own ’comrades-in-arms’ stumbling back, they would rush to meet them without a second thought.
But now, they didn’t dare to act rashly because even they were no longer certain if what they were seeing was the Illusion.
The disappearance of two groups in a row had left them utterly confused.
This place was too strange; if these two were bait, then they would lose even more people.
Yun Ran and Zhonglisu were getting closer to them. The person holding the telescope finally saw that it was Yun Ran who was leading the way, while Zhonglisu was bound.
The person in charge, who was keeping watch here, quickly came over, took the telescope from his subordinate, and confirmed that it was indeed Yun Ran and Zhonglisu.
His previously agitated heart suddenly calmed down a bit.
"Prepare for the rendezvous! Also, initiate the previous Plan A!"
The person in charge was also affiliated with Xie Xuzhi’s faction; he naturally understood the importance of Yun Ran, the ’temp worker’.
Moreover, he had received a call from Gu Yuan. As long as Yun Ran could get out smoothly, there wouldn’t be much of a problem. He just needed to cooperate with Yun Ran with all his might.
At the same time, it was imperative to ensure that no one could stop Yun Ran under any excuse or purpose, to prevent interference.
His subordinate was stunned. To initiate Plan A required the responsibility of someone in the position of a branch director.
Although they were considered ’beyond the reach of orders while on an expedition’, if something were to go wrong, their boss could be sent to face Judgement.
The subordinate dared not say anything more and hurriedly went to prepare.
The person in charge, of course, understood what his subordinate meant. If it weren’t for the approval from those above, he wouldn’t have the audacity to utter such words.
He then continued to keep his eyes on Yun Ran, only hoping Yun Ran would not disappoint him.
At this moment, Zhonglisu felt like he was close to collapsing. He had always thought he had good stamina.
But now, he realized that his previous sense of well-being was all an illusion.
Especially now, he felt like his throat was about to emit smoke. He hated the sun of the Northwest!!!
"Do we have any more water?"
Yun Ran turned around, glanced at Zhonglisu with some disdain, and then took out the last half bottle of water from his bag and tossed it to him.
Although Yun Ran didn’t say a word, Zhonglisu really felt ashamed.
Woowoo, how embarrassing~
But he still took the water and gulped down the remaining half bottle.
Yun Ran, seeing that the Compass was finally working normally, knew that they had thoroughly escaped the threat of the Illusion.
He gave the hand holding the other end of the Immortal Binding Rope a forceful shake.
The knot that was binding Zhonglisu loosened.
He had studied it for quite a while before and couldn’t find a way to untie the rope.
Yet, with just a flick from Yun Ran, the rope obediently unraveled.
He didn’t know if it was because he had been bound for too long, but now that he had gained freedom, he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"I can still hold on; you didn’t need to untie me so quickly..."
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Zhonglisu felt goosebumps all over his body. When did he start having masochistic tendencies?
[Host, this guy seems not very bright. Is this because he has been too well protected?]
Although Yun Ran disdained Zhonglisu for being too weak, he still clarified for him: "We have successfully left the range covered by the Illusion."