Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1603 - 876: Night Patrol (Part 2)

Jiang Ning maintained a gentle playing style, yet the shuttle darted at an astonishing velocity. Zhang Ruyun dashed after it rapidly, but he remained unable to grasp it.

Then, Zhang Ruyun seized the shuttle for ten successive rounds.

Butcher Zhang's expression soured, longing to cut 1,000 yuan from his son's monthly allowance.

Xue Yuantong, adept at gauging the mood, interjected with rebuke: "Jiang Ning, your playing is simply awful. Zhang Ruyun reaches every one of your shots; why not just allow him to grab them?"

Jiang Ning confessed sincerely: "Yes, my error."

Zhang Ruyun quietly slunk off.

Mr. Qian and Butcher Zhang returned to their residences. The previously serene environment descended into quietness.

Xue Yuantong approached to engage in badminton with Jiang Ning once more. Reflecting on how Tongtong had boldly commanded him earlier, Jiang Ning resolved to compete earnestly.

He smashed the shuttle forcefully across various angles, and although Tongtong possessed exceptional dynamic vision and considerable agility, her brief legs compelled her to hustle everywhere.

Xue Chuchu narrowed her eyes faintly, envisioning Tongtong tumbling across the floor.

Jiang Ning's intensity proved excessive, drenching Tongtong in perspiration.

Tongtong recognized his deliberate actions. In a rage, she returned home for a wash, donned her pajamas, and snuggled into her compact bed.

Jiang Ning and Chuchu lingered indoors briefly, noticed her absence, and sought her out.

Tongtong's chamber exuded warmth, brimming with charming plush animals—tiny bunnies, felines, cubs—all procured by Jiang Ning just for her.

Tongtong huddled beneath the covers, her sweet face alone visible, eyes broadly alert, evoking a youngster being settled by their mother for the night.

On this day, Tongtong had swapped her linens, and the duvet had aired under the sun throughout the day. Nestled within, she sensed a softening melt, enveloped by the scent of sunlight.

"Tongtong, aren't you gaming this evening? Chen Siyu mentioned it to me," Jiang Ning remarked.

Xue Yuantong, harboring resentment from prior events, squeezed her eyes shut to ignore them: "Hmm, heading to sleep, you two can remain awake."

"Chuchu, doesn't she resemble a spirited young child fond of severing ties with companions?" Jiang Ning inquired.

Xue Chuchu avoided aligning with Jiang Ning's jabs, responding gravely, "No, yet currently, Tongtong's fragile heart lies in irreparable shards, unfixable this night."

Jiang Ning expressed remorse: "Oh, very well then."

Xue Yuantong held her eyes closed, their dialogue echoing nearby yet feeling remote.

In the following instant, Jiang Ning proposed, "Chuchu, it's scarcely 9 o'clock, shall we venture to town for hotpot? There's a spot I frequent where they freshly wok the components, the scent by itself will mesmerize you. Their crisp tripe and beef excel, the pork brain offers utmost softness, plus their exclusive chilled rice wine surpasses external varieties. We'll also order crunchy fried pork and fried custard...

Xue Chuchu, unaccustomed to evening excursions, found Jiang Ning's suggestion alluring.

Under the bedding, Tongtong's petite ears pricked up, gulping discreetly.

Jiang Ning: "Chuchu, let's prepare and depart."

Consequently, the duo headed to their separate dwellings. Upon wheeling out his electric scooter, Jiang Ning discovered Xue Yuantong poised at the threshold, attired completely.

Jiang Ning simulated astonishment: "Who could this be?"

Tongtong, devoid of expression: "Xue Yuantong."

Jiang Ning: "But wasn't Xue Yuantong slumbering?"

"She roused, and that's prohibited?" Xue Yuantong replied through gritted teeth.

Chuchu, wrapped in a soft blue puffer coat, appeared graceful beside Jiang Ning. Xue Yuantong experienced betrayal—Chuchu had covertly plotted to elope for cuisine with Jiang Ning.

Weren't they best companions?

Jiang Ning: "Climb on."

Xue Chuchu advanced to share the scooter with him.

Xue Yuantong's gaze wavered as she idly queried, "Oh, Chuchu, where's your electric scooter?"

...

After five minutes.

Chuchu, Tongtong, and Jiang Ning crowded onto the single electric scooter, as Chuchu's had exhausted its power.

Jiang Ning maneuvered his sleek scooter down the concrete route flanking the river levee. Illuminated by streetlights, the path pulsed with vitality, vendors arrayed with kebabs, wok-fried grains and pasta, teas, trinkets, and sparklers. Multitudes ambled by, while juveniles ignited Kongming lanterns.

Xue Yuantong's bright tone echoed: "This is delightful. Previously, winter nights here saw scarce visitors, enveloped in gloom and isolation."

None foresaw such animation emerging in a mere year or two.

Jiang Ning grinned and commented: "With the adjacent police post and neighborhood workout zones erected, it will burgeon even further."

Tongtong's diminutive visage radiated eagerness: "How animated will it become?"

Jiang Ning smiled: "Animated to the point where, sans my company, you'd fear no nocturnal outings."

Xue Chuchu's pulse quickened, a trace of parting anxiety stirring profoundly.

Xue Yuantong remained untroubled: "Hmph, absent your company, to what destination?"

Jiang Ning: "Merely figurative."

En route midway, a savage cur roadside unleashed frenzied barks toward the electric scooter.

Xue Yuantong fumed: "How bold to interrupt! Jiang Ning, pivot swiftly and launch it airborne!"

Jiang Ning displayed grand tolerance: "Leave it, preserve its mutt existence."

Xue Chuchu found herself wordless, reflecting: ’Tongtong, aren't you the courageous one truly?’

She recollected their time at Xue Dazhuang Elementary, post-school stroll when a ferocious dog pursued with howls. Tongtong escaped mutely and unsteadily, pledging domestically to retaliate upon next sighting. However, confronting it anew, she cowered tremulously, advocating an alternate homeward path to dodge the creature.

Contemplating presently, it's an utter metamorphosis.

...

Han Bridge Street represents Yuzhou's storied antique lane, yet urban clearance and rebuilds have left the zone forsaken for ages, devoid of lighting, utterly dissimilar to the thriving Li Zhuang Food Street remotely visible.

Han Bridge Street's portal boasts an expansive vacant area. A cab idled at the junction, disgorging Yan Tianpeng and Zhang Chi from the rear seats. Such frugal sorts seldom summoned rides, with Lu Qiqi alighting from the front.

Yan Tianpeng eyed the distant vibrant Li Zhuang Food Street, joyfully noting: "Chi Zi, observe Qiqi's thoughtfulness, nourishing us with a lavish feast prior to seeking confrontation."

Zhang Chi mirrored the contentment: "Fullness fuels combat prowess!"

Lu Qiqi grew exasperated, reproving: "Nonsense, my quarry lurks nearby, aid me anon, and should I approve, I'll cover your supper."

Lu Qiqi ushered the pair to the weathered lane's ingress, soundlessly awaiting the rival's advent.

The chill pierced deeply, and style-seeking Lu Qiqi garbed sparsely, her limbs shivering from frost, though Yan Tianpeng and Zhang Chi remained silent adjacent, seasoned in operations with steadfast professionalism.

Precisely as impatience beset Lu Qiqi, the obscured Han Bridge Street ignited with glaring beams, an initial headlight gleaming, succeeded by Ghost Fire's emergence.

Zhang Chi cupped his hand over his features, discerning seven or eight electric scooters, each burdened with no less than two defiant lads.

He challenged: "What nonsense, Qiqi, are you betraying me?"

Lu Qiqi matched the bafflement; earlier, she and Yu Wen orchestrated a skirmish against a seductress, foes totaling merely two.

The septet or octet of electric scooters encircled them, a lass in ostentatious leopard-spotted microskirt advanced boldly.

She condescendingly queried: "Sis, you've merely two escorts?"

Her words concluded, the attendant youths exploded in scornful guffaws.

Yan Tianpeng interposed, his 1.9-meter colossus safeguarding Lu Qiqi.

Habitually diffident, Lu Qiqi attained marginal comfort.

Although Yan Tianpeng favored thrift, folly evaded him. Cognizant of opportune yielding, he hailed cordially: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, likely a mix-up!"

The juvenile crew, beholding the formidable titan yield, swelled with arrogance. A robust, narrow-gazed youth vaunted: "Mix-up? This vixen pilfers paramours, yet ventures forth?"

"Fail to furnish rationale this eve, and I'll supply mine!"

Yan Tianpeng mustered a grin, poised to articulate further.

Afar, a pristine grand G traversed, obstructed by the electric scooters, thus the grand G blared, imploring passage.

The presumptuous Ghost Fires band retorted promptly, comprising 17- or 18-year-old adolescents, irascible and avid to flaunt before mates.

The robust, narrow-eyed youth lugged an iron bar, parading to the immense ride, clanging it upon the pane: "Interrupt not!"

Within the auto, Wei Zishan gaped in shock, soliciting observer Zhuang Jianhui: "Brother Hui, does Yuzhou persist in such turmoil?"