164 Sudden Fallout
Liu Hongshan’s strike came without warning, but fortunately, Lin Ran was on guard against him along the way, so he still managed to retreat and dodge immediately.
In a flash, the sharp tip of the sword swept across his chest, leaving a faint red mark.
Lin Ran instantly unsheathed Thunderball at his waist. However, just as he was about to counterattack, he stopped. At some point, Liu Hongshan’s eyes turned white.
“Lin Ran! We are ambushed!”
Liu Hongshan shouted and swung his sword at Lin Ran again.
Lin Ran quickly dodged and took a few steps back.
As if thinking that the distance between the two of them was safe, Liu Hongshan stopped attacking. However, he still held the Dragon Roar Dagger and put on a vigilant posture.
Lin Ran looked at the strange Liu Hongshan. Although he didn’t know what was going on, he could tell that Liu Hongshan was probably in some kind of illusion. His first thought was to leave this place immediately.
Although the two of them were now cooperating, the fact that they were enemies did not change. Now that Liu Hongshan was in an illusion, it was a good opportunity to kill him.
The guy in armor was a problem, but after Lin Ran mastered the use of the Thunderball Sword, he was confident that he could rush into the crack before that guy arrived.
As for Liu Hongshan, who was in an illusion, Lin Ran just had to leave him here alone to fend for himself.
However, on second thought, Lin Ran gave up on this idea.
Lin Ran didn’t know how this illusion happened or how long it would last. If Liu Hongshan returned to normal after he left, Liu Hongshan would probably immediately understand what was going on.
Even if Liu Hongshan might not be a match for the guy in armor, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to escape. If possible, Lin Ran still wanted to keep him in this secret place.
After giving up on the idea of leaving alone, Lin Ran began to wonder if he should take the opportunity to kill Liu Hongshan once and for all.
However, on second thought, Lin Ran felt that it was inappropriate.
It was not that he did not want to take advantage of the situation, but although Liu Hongshan was in an illusion, it was not difficult to tell from his speed of reaction that his cultivation wasn’t affected.
Liu Hongshan was in a very vigilant state. Attacking him at this time would definitely not be a wise move.
If Liu Hongshan activated his internal energy in a critical moment and attracted the armored guy over, Lin Ran might not be able to escape either.
After thinking about it for a long time, Lin Ran realized that the safest way was to figure out why Liu Hongshan was in an illusion.
“Liu Hongshan!”
Lin Ran called out tentatively. After all, Liu Hongshan had called his name just now, so he guessed that Liu Hongshan should still be able to hear him.
As expected, just as Lin Ran finished shouting, Liu Hongshan tilted his head slightly to his left. “Why are you calling me again? I don’t know where that thing is hiding. Be careful!”
Seeing this, Lin Ran was enlightened.
After Liu Hongshan fell into the illusion, he spoke in the same direction several times. This meant that the world in his eyes was not chaotic. There was a logic to this illusion.
Thinking of this, Lin Ran asked, “Did you see it clearly just now? What attacked us?”
“I don’t know. It looks like the shadows we saw just now.”
Liu Hongshan replied softly. After a pause, he asked, “I didn’t find anything on my side. How is it on your side?”
“Everything is normal?”
Lin Ran replied casually with a complicated expression.
In Liu Hongshan’s eyes, Lin Ran had become the shadows they had seen just now. Did that mean that those shadows were part of the illusion?
Lin Ran also saw a shadow flash past just now. Was he hallucinating too?
Thinking of this, Lin Ran quickly raised Thunderball as a mirror to look at himself. However, the light here was too dim. He almost pressed his eyes to the blade, but he could only barely see the outline of his eyes.
After trying a few more angles, Lin Ran finally gave up. However, he guessed that he was not hallucinating. Otherwise, the Liu Hongshan he saw should be nothing but air.
Lin Ran glanced at Liu Hongshan, who was still in a vigilant posture. Then, he sat on the ground and began to write something on the ground with Thunderball.
First, Lin Ran wrote the word “poisonous gas” and crossed it.
He and Liu Hongshan had been together the entire time. If there was poisonous gas, it was impossible for Liu Hongshan to be the only one affected.
Then, Lin Ran wrote the word “drug” and crossed it out again. He clearly didn’t drug Liu Hongshan.
In the end, Lin Ran wrote the words “water and food” on the ground.
Although the journey was harmonious, Lin Ran had been on guard against Liu Hongshan. He was very sure that Liu Hongshan did not eat or drink anything. In other words, this illusion did not take effect from inside his body… Wait!
Thinking of this, Lin Ran’s expression changed and he suddenly looked up at Liu Hongshan’s left arm.fm
The biggest difference between the two of them was that Liu Hongshan’s arm was injured and he had once burned herbs in the palace into ashes to stop the bleeding!
If this illusion was caused by some kind of poison, then it was very likely that it existed in the herbs and seeped into Liu Hongshan’s body through the wound!
Herbs that could still take effect after being burned to ashes were not rare. The more Lin Ran thought about it, the more he felt that it was possible. He quickly asked Liu Hongshan, “Liu Hongshan! How’s the wound on your arm?”
“It’s fine now.”
Liu Hongshan pretended to be calm and replied softly, “It still hurts a little, but it won’t affect my movements.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
As Lin Ran spoke, he quietly stood up and walked towards Liu Hongshan. Finally, he stopped six steps away from Liu Hongshan.
Through the exchange of moves just now, Lin Ran roughly estimated that the safe distance between the two of them was about six steps. At this distance, Liu Hongshan wouldn’t be able to see him.
“This place is very strange. If you become a burden, don’t blame me for abandoning you.”
As Lin Ran spoke, he held Thunderball in his right hand and slowly reached out to Liu Hongshan’s left sleeve. It was just long enough to touch his sleeve.
Liu Hongshan sneered. The tip of Thunderball had already quietly entered his sleeve.
Then, Lin Ran cut open the fabric, revealing the wound on Liu Hongshan’s arm!