Days flew by, and before anyone knew, half a month had passed.

This morning, clothed in a yellow raincoat and wielding dual swords, Lu Ran strolled through the gloomy rainy day.

There's an old saying: "Spring rain is as precious as oil."

Rain Alley City would say... you're talking nonsense!

Listening to the bursts of spring thunder, Lu Ran stepped over a small puddle by the roadside, splashing up some water.

"Raining again," Lu Ran muttered to himself.

Though the scene felt oppressive, having rain on every fifteenth day of the lunar month was actually a blessing.

After all, it made buildings less prone to catch fire.

Creatures possessing fire evil magic had always posed a great threat to human cities.

Lu Ran turned down a street, looking towards the small district across the water.

There stood a tall figure at the district's entrance.

She was cloaked in a wide black raincoat, under which a pale face could be seen.

At the moment, she was tilting her head slightly back as if observing the roiling dark clouds.

"What are you looking at?" a voice called from a distance.

As the gust surged, Jiang Ruyi instinctively closed her eyes, her long raincoat fluttering in the wind.

Lu Ran truly possessed the skill of "Shrinking Land into Inches," reaching the girl's side in an instant, leaving a trail of ethereal mist similar to a dreamy illusion along the way.

"Hmm?" Standing beside the girl, Lu Ran followed her gaze into the distance.

In the far distance, the landmark building of Rain Alley City, Wu Lie Building, appeared hazy and indistinct through the misty rain.

A flock of crows circled in the gloomy sky.

Due to the distance, Lu Ran couldn't hear the crows cawing, but he could imagine it.

With this, the already grey world seemed even more desolate and bleak.

Realizing the girl's concern, Lu Ran spoke up, "This morning, I consulted our classmates."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi turned to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran shrugged, "The common caster's fortune was not bad, and the white caster's heart wasn't too panicked."

"Oh." Jiang Ruyi raised her hand, revealing a piece of chocolate from the wide sleeve of her raincoat.

Lu Ran, however, seemed frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the unopened chocolate.

"Don't you want it?" Jiang Ruyi asked, puzzled, as Lu Ran usually liked it.

While speaking, she moved the chocolate closer to him.

Still unresponsive, Lu Ran just gazed eagerly at it.

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi realized and burst into laughter.

Lu Ran like this was no different from when he would stare at the slippers on the shoe rack at his home.

"You and your ways," Jiang Ruyi chastised playfully, opening the chocolate wrapper for Lu Ran.

As expected, Lu Ran immediately bent down and took a bite.

"Hey, my hand!" Jiang Ruyi exclaimed as her chocolate-holding fingers recoiled.

Lu Ran immediately looked up, "Can I eat the hand too?"

Jiang Ruyi: ???

She glared at Lu Ran and kicked out.

I dodge~

Amidst laughter, they walked along the deserted streets, heading straight for their usual haunt—Hexi Park.

At the lakeside dock, Lu Ran saw two familiar figures.

"Uncle Sun, good morning!" Lu Ran, having just eaten the chocolate, was extra sweet.

"Little Lu has arrived," Sun Zhengfang greeted enthusiastically as he opened his door, inviting them inside. "I watched your 'Heavenly Pride' episode a lot after I went home!

Your first-person perspective almost made me dizzy!"

Wei Long nodded in agreement, seeming to have revisited it after going home as well.

Sun Zhengfang continued with a smile, "Did you rewatch your own broadcast after going back?"

Lu Ran shook his head, "No."

Sun Zhengfang: "Too busy with cultivation and practice to review it?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran blurted out, "I was too fast, too dizzying, even I felt dizzy watching it."

Sun Zhengfang's eyes widened in surprise.

Wei Long also looked puzzled.

"Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.

Show-off!

"You rascal!" Sun Zhengfang laughed and teased, "Do you know what they keep posting in the live chat during your solo fight against Night Charm?"

Lu Ran immediately perked up, "What?"

Sun Zhengfang laughed heartily, "All colorful fonts with 'Dazzle dazzle dazzle', 'Shake it up' and lots of little emojis of girls in red dresses dancing! It was like stepping into a dance hall.

I really couldn't understand it, but it was truly shocking!"

Lu Ran: "..."

Clearly, this was not Sun Zhengfang's usual manner of speaking; he must have learned a lot from the chat moderators.

Thinking back, was his own chat room really that jolly?

Lu Ran hadn't watched it, but he could imagine that explosive atmosphere.

He figured, those chats must have been filled in afterwards.

During his live battle against Night Charm, the chat must have been full of question marks, right?

Sun Zhengfang turned to look at Jiang Ruyi, his eyes filled with admiration. "Little Jiang also performed very well.

She has gained unanimous approval from the Divine People Bureau.

We've already sent a letter to your school. To commend your outstanding contribution, the 15th of last month was considered an extra test, rewarding you with thirty Believer points."

"Thank you, Captain Sun," Jiang Ruyi replied with a smile, nodding in appreciation.

Her graceful, composed demeanor drew yet another sigh from Sun Zhengfang.

Jiang Ruyi was almost a Heavenly Pride herself, yet completely devoid of arrogance, truly refreshing to be around.

In recent years, this tiny Rain Alley City had indeed produced several remarkable individuals...

"What about me? What about me?" Lu Ran quickly interjected.

Sun Zhengfang looked at Lu Ran and chuckled, "You want a double portion?

Your participation wasn't in a Divine People Bureau test, but in the 'Heavenly Pride' hosted by Da Xia!"

Lu Ran spoke earnestly, "But I've earned merits for the patrol team, I've bled for the Divine People Bureau!"

"Go on, get out of my sight, I get dizzy just looking at you!"

Lu Ran: ?

"Let's go, we're on patrol." Without giving Lu Ran another glance, Sun Zhengfang simply walked out the door.

"Hey? Uncle Sun! Don't go, Uncle Sun..."

...

As time slipped away, the rain gradually turned into a drizzle.

The small city of Rain Alley lit up for the evening, casting a comforting glow from every household.

As they passed by the neighborhood across the water, both Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi looked up.

The lights were on at Jiang Ruyi's family home, but her parents were not at the window as usual.

Jiang Ruyi had explained to Lu Ran:

Her mom and dad were worried about her getting distracted on missions, so they made it clear they would absolutely not show up at the window.

Still, every time they passed by, both couldn't help but look up.

"Should be time now," Jiang Ruyi turned her head, gazing towards the east.

Far away, the top of Wu Lie Building was ablaze with light, piercing through layers of rain and mist.

"Yes," Lu Ran listened to the gentle patter of rain.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, barely catching a strange hissing sound.

Could that be the hiss of a snake?

Has the invasion of evil demons begun?

Indeed, a massive roar unexpectedly came from afar.

This night of the fifteenth had truly begun!

Lu Ran didn't pay heed to the distance, instead, he turned his head towards the neighborhood across the water.

"Little Lu?" Sun Zhengfang obviously noticed Lu Ran's abnormal behavior and immediately called out.

Together with that, a group of Moon Gazers stationed at the neighborhood gate tensed up.

They knew all too well who Lu Ran was!

"Lu Ran?"

"Is there an evil demon nearby?"

"Hush!" Amidst the queries, Sun Zhengfang quickly signaled for silence.

Lu Ran's expression turned stern, his eyes fixed on the fourth floor of an apartment building.

Jiang Ruyi's heart tightened immediately!

This building near the street was where her family's apartment was located.

Ching! The sword left its sheath.

"Block one, fourth-floor stairwell!" Lu Ran grabbed the Dawn Blade and shot straight up.

Jiang Ruyi, surrounded by Jade Tokens, quickly followed suit.

"Little Lu, Little Jiang, enter from the third-floor window!" Sun Zhengfang immediately commanded, "I'll enter from the fifth floor with Wei Long, to block it off!"

"Yes!" Jiang Ruyi sped up to open the window.

As they approached the building, Lu Ran spoke rapidly, "Captain Sun, I think I heard the hiss of a snake."

Sun Zhengfang's heart leaped in alarm!

A snake?!

The Moon Gazers stationed at the neighborhood entrance similarly tensed upon hearing Lu Ran's words, all on high alert.

The evil demons in the world were numerous, including several snake-like creatures, mostly weaker ones with low intelligence.

However, there was one particular form of snake-like evil demon that was humanoid and particularly troublesome!

"Click~"

Jiang Ruyi stepped onto the windowsill, and with the temporarily deactivated but reactivated Divine Technique·Jade Talisman Formation, two Jade Tokens instantly appeared within the stairwell.

One token, sparking with tiny sparks, lightly pressed down, opening the window from the inside.

Without taking any chances, Lu Ran activated his water armor and slipped inside the window.

"Shit!" Suddenly, from the stairwell above, Sun Zhengfang cursed, "Always what we fear most!

Jade-faced Snake!

Little Lu, don't come in, draw her out..."

Before he could finish, Lu Ran's eyes narrowed.

He saw a woman emerge from the stairwell.

Hmm... half a woman.

For her lower half was a serpentine body, covered in white scales that shone like jade under the light inside the building.

And her upper body...

This woman had a beautiful face and a majestic demeanor.

Her jet-black hair was styled high, with a white veil flowing back from it.

She was dressed in white and draped in a sheer white fabric, appearing noble and aloof, holding a delicate white Jade Ruyi in her hand.

What evil demon was this?

If you said she was a deity, Lu Ran would believe it!

Evil Demon·Jade-faced Snake!

One of the evil demons most detested by First-class God·Monk!

"Sss..."

The Jade-faced Snake, spotting Lu Ran crouching on the windowsill, let out a soft hiss.

Her face emotionless, her actions at odds with her dignified aura.

Her mouth then released a vivid red snake's tongue, which she licked across her red lips.

"Gulp." Lu Ran's throat constricted.

Watching as she raised the Jade Ruyi, Lu Ran, without another word, abruptly turned and leaped out.

"Zzzsh—"

Underneath Lu Ran, the mist churned as he grabbed Jiang Ruyi by the window, plunging rapidly towards the ground.

"Boom!"

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