As time passed, the rain grew heavier.

Lu Ran and the others kept moving and fighting, occasionally heading to various locations for reinforcement as instructed by their superiors.

He had experienced countless such rainy nights.

Yet for some reason, Lu Ran felt that this night was passing especially slowly.

Was it because he was feeling anxious that time seemed to drag?

After all, during the day, Captain Sun had clearly stated that tonight in Rain Alley City would not be very stable.

"What time is it?" Lu Ran crouched by the roadside, holding a Divine Power Pearl and absorbing the remnant bones of the Evil Demon.

His voice had barely fallen when the dark night suddenly lit up.

A bolt of lightning split the sky!

"It's ten thirty-four," came the voice of Sun Zhengfang from behind.

Jiang Ruyi furrowed her brow slightly, her gaze piercing through the layers of rain, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

The rain was getting heavier.

It was starting to obscure vision.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of thunder exploded across the night sky.

Lu Ran's body trembled slightly.

Since lightning had just appeared, everyone was mentally prepared and knew that the sound of thunder would follow.

However, Lu Ran's complexion was still a bit off.

The great genius of Da Xia, afraid of thunder?

Hmm... he once was.

The sounds of the storm and thunder brought back some painful memories for him.

As a child, Lu Ran was indeed afraid of the flashing lightning and roaring thunder.

During those terrible stormy nights, his father would always come to his room to tell him bedtime stories to lull him to sleep.

At the age of thirteen, Lu Ran thought he had grown up and become strong enough not to be afraid anymore.

Because of this, on the night of the fifteenth, his father, Lu Xing, did not stay by his side. Instead, he went out on a mission.

That departure

meant that his father never returned.

And Lu Ran was left trapped in that stormy night.

To this very day, he still couldn't escape from it.

Lu Ran often thought that he should have continued to be afraid.

That way, on that stormy night, his father would surely have stayed by his side as always.

His father... wouldn't have died on the banks of the Wu Lie River.

"This rain is quite heavy, isn't it?" Captain Sun said, his face solemn.

Rain was common in Rain Alley City, and heavy downpours were not unusual.

But a thunderstorm of this scale was a rare occurrence.

"Lu Ran," Jiang Ruyi called softly, "Lu Ran?"

"Ah?" Lu Ran came back to his senses, the Evil Demon's skeletal remains in front of him had already been absorbed completely.

Jiang Ruyi, with her delicate perceptions, noticed Lu Ran's odd behavior, and leaning over, she took hold of Lu Ran's arm:

"Are you okay?"

Her voice was very soft, dispelling the sound of thunder that still lingered around Lu Ran's ears.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Lu Ran said repeatedly, and looking at the pouring rain, he joked, "It's like the sky has sprung a leak."

That forced smile naturally didn't escape Jiang Ruyi's eyes.

Jiang Ruyi opened her mouth to speak but, given the presence of cameras, she decided not to press further.

As Lu Ran stood up, Jiang Ruyi's hand naturally slid down and gently picked up Lu Ran's hand.

This gesture, obviously, should not have occurred under these circumstances.

The squad was on a patrol mission and could engage with Evil Demons at any moment.

All the members wore cameras, and any action would be watched by the public.

Jiang Ruyi was undoubtedly a competent warrior, and her skin was so thin that, from any angle, she wouldn't normally take Lu Ran's hand.

"What's the matter?" Lu Ran turned his head to look at her and teased, "Such a grown person, still afraid of the rain and thunder?"

This act of a villain suing first was something he had played well.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyi did not retort but merely looked down slightly and quietly replied, "A little bit."

Lu Ran was utterly stunned.

It was a type of tenderness difficult for ordinary people to understand or feel.

She had accepted Lu Ran's groundless words.

She had accepted them on behalf of Lu Ran himself.

Her slender fingers threaded through the gaps between Lu Ran's fingers, gripping his hand a little tighter.

"Let's go, continue the patrol," Jiang Ruyi said as she began to walk, gently pulling on Lu Ran.

This gesture was like...

Like she was trying to lead Lu Ran, who was trapped, out of the thunderstorm night of many years ago.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crossed the night sky, and the pitch-black firmament lit up again.

Silently following her, amidst the lightning and thunder, Lu Ran felt an incomparable sense of peace.

What no one expected was that just after the sound of thunder passed, an anxious female voice came through the earpiece:

"River Realm, River... Ah!"

"Uh..."

The voices of two Moon Gazers came abruptly and ceased with a scream.

Captain Sun's face changed drastically, and just as he was about to say something, alarms blared!

Lu Ran's heart plummeted.

The time had finally come, hadn't it?

Just last month, on the fifteenth, Rain Alley City had just had a "peaceful" night, with a chance to catch its breath.

Tonight, could this cursed city still not escape...

Initially, Lu Ran's live stream was filled with chats such as "Don't be afraid, Miss, come to my embrace" and "Hugs."

As the alarm sounded, the comments in the stream abruptly changed:

"Special event! Is Rain Alley City facing a special event now?!"

"This is the fourth student to experience a special event, right? The channels next door are all broadcasting Night of Ghosts!"

"The alarm sounds short and urgent, the Demon Lord descends!"

"It's not alternating in length, Rain Alley City is not experiencing the Night of Ghosts, it's the descent of the Demon Lord!"

"What should we do, find a shelter to stay in?"

"Scared for what, just kill and be done with it~"

"Your horse, are you so eager to risk it? What about Lu Ran's life? He's only at the intermediate level of River Realm, at most River Realm·Third Rank, and the descending Demon Lord is at least Jiang Realm!"

"Right! This is beyond Lu Ran's capabilities, he definitely shouldn't act recklessly, leave it to the Human Clan's powerhouses, survival is the priority!"

"Nonsense! Such a proud Heavenly Pride, how can he retreat?"

The chat in the live stream was a commotion, while on the streets of Rain Alley City, the four-person group moved swiftly through the heavy rain that poured from the dark sky that brightened repeatedly.

The terrifying sound of thunder, mingled with the low and urgent alarm, weighed heavily on anyone listening.

"Woo! Woo! Woo!"

"Hurry up, pick up the pace!" Captain Sun urged his team members, rushing toward an office building next to the crossroads.

That was a shelter.

Captain Sun's plan was simple: Lu Jiang pair absolutely must not have an accident!

Existences of the "Demon Lord" strength level should be handled by the Human Clan's powerhouses.

If the Demon Lord descended in a nearby district, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi had to enter the shelter immediately for protection.

If the Demon Lord descended elsewhere, only then might Captain Sun let Lu Jiang pair continue their patrol mission.

In the end, Lu Ran was a hope for the Human Clan, a rising star destined to shine.

He must not perish halfway, he must not die here!

"All units, attention!" A man's voice came through the invisible earpiece, "In the area of City Center Square, an Evil Dog of River Realm has been spotted!

A conservative estimate puts the Evil Dog's strength at River Realm Third Rank or higher!

Our warriors have already engaged it, fighting the Evil Dog in the square.

However, this Evil Dog possesses the Evil Technique·Evil Shadow Flash, with extremely far Instant Teleportation distances, and may flee to any location at any moment.

All squads be vigilant, prepare for combat, and report immediately if anything is spotted!"

"Damn!" Captain Sun stopped, his heart filling with both shock and rage, and he unusually cursed out loud.

Evil Dogs of River Realm Third, Fourth, Fifth Rank?

If the Human Clan's powerhouses defending Rain Alley City failed, how many would die tonight?

Even if the Human Clan's powerhouses achieved victory, if a single mistake was made, failing to kill the Evil Dog, and allowing it to flee...

Tonight's Rain Alley City would still result in numerous deaths and injuries!

Out of all the types of Evil Demons in the world, why did it have to be one capable of instantaneous movement?

Will slaughtering Rain Alley City to the ground finally please the heavens?!

"Captain Sun!" Wei Long, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?" Captain Sun looked at Wei Long.

Wei Long had a burning gaze: "Evil Dogs of River Realm."

Captain Sun was confused and didn't catch the implication: "Yes, we continue to patrol, but we must remain on alert..."

Captain Sun stopped speaking.

He was thinking that since their squad was in the West River Area and City Center Square was in the Hedong Area, situated in the Wu Lie Building, since the battlefield was that far away, they could continue their patrol, carry out their duties, eliminate as many Evil Demons as possible, and support the Moon Gazer troops.

But as he spoke, Captain Sun suddenly remembered something.

That was last month, on the sixteenth morning of the lunar calendar.

At the entrance of Lu Ran's neighborhood, he heard a startling piece of news and spontaneously spoke a few words:

Not only can Lu Ran deal with Night of Ghosts, but he can also take on Demon Lord descents...

"Slap!"

Captain Sun slapped himself: "Cursed tongue."

That a composed and stable Captain Sun would display such distress showed how threatening the Evil Dog of River Realm was to the Human Clan.

The main reason for this was the dreadful Instant Teleportation Technique!

Other River Realm Evil Demons might not necessarily be able to break into the shelters.

After all, each shelter had a number of Divine Shrine Divine Sculptures.

But the Evil Dog Clan?

They truly can flash and slaughter their way inside buildings, slaughtering ordinary citizens!

"Uncle Sun?" Lu Ran was puzzled, staring bewilderedly at Captain Sun.

That morning, Lu Ran had given the Jiang Grade·Dog Demon Crystal to Jiang Ruyi and stayed at home.

He was unaware of the conversation that took place among the squad members after Jiang Ruyi rejoined the team.

Captain Sun simply waved his hand, not intending to explain.

Wei Long's expression was stern, and he repeated to Captain Sun: "Evil Dogs of River Realm!"

Because of the cameras, he carefully concealed much of the message.

If Wei Long straightforwardly mentioned that Lu Ran had the feat of killing an Evil Dog of River Realm, with this unique experience...

There would be no room for maneuvering!

Thousands of pairs of eyes were watching Lu Ran.

Speaking candidly would be tantamount to compelling Captain Sun to make decisions and pushing Lu Ran up Liang Mountain!

Wei Long merely mentioned it in four brief words to remind Captain Sun, allowing him to make his own choices and give orders.

Wei Long, however, did not expect Lu Ran to speak up: "Uncle Sun, I..."

"No!" Captain Sun cut him off decisively.

Lu Ran, on the other hand, remained calm, showing the bearing of a warrior: "There are three scenarios right now.

First, our powerhouses kill the Evil Dog, and all is well.

Second, our powerhouses severely injure the Evil Dog, which during escape, continues to wreak havoc.

Third, the situation we least want—the Evil Dog wins."

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Thunder roared continuously.

Lu Ran paused: "As long as I'm here, the second scenario is impossible!

I can attract the Evil Dog's enmity, completely cutting off its thoughts of fleeing.

My presence can also help our warriors, striving to prevent the third scenario from happening!"

Jiang Ruyi gripped Lu Ran's hand, squeezing tighter and tighter.

Wei Long's eyes blazed, looking at Lu Ran with not just respect, but deep admiration.

Captain Sun opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Lu Ran continued: "Uncle Sun, you don't know."

Lu Ran looked straight at Captain Sun, word by word:

"I've killed an Evil Dog of River Realm!"

Forced up Liang Mountain?

What a joke, the magnificent Ran Shen, needs others to push?

This mountain...

This mountaintop!

Lu Ran will ascend himself!

...

It's the last day of the month, I'm asking for some monthly ticket support.

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