The Rain Begins

Patter, patter... It was raining! A fine drizzle drifted down droplet by droplet, pattering rhythmically against the window awnings. The dead of night had fallen. In a small place like Silver City, rarely did anyone walk the streets past ten o'clock at night. Knowing bad weather was imminent and rain was about to fall, the pedestrians out in the open were fewer still. Along the streets, shopfronts on both sides had barred their doors tight. The rainy season had arrived. In the days ahead, Silver City would see continuous rain. *** In the basement. Li Hao had changed into a fresh inspector's uniform. A Vortex III was holstered at his waist, and he carried several grenades. He hadn't brought any heavy firearms; they were far too cumbersome, terribly difficult for a single person to operate, and inconvenient to carry. Not far away, Chen Jian had acquired a shield. It was black and relatively small, meant primarily to protect his vitals. In a corner, Yun Yao, the squad's doctor, was packing her small medical kit. Wu Chao, the scrawny scout, was toying with a dagger in his hands, staring blankly as if lost in thought. Directly ahead of Li Hao sat Liu Yan. Tonight, Liu Yan wasn't smiling. She was spaced out as well, facing a framed photograph turned facedown on the table. No one knew who was in the picture—perhaps her murdered husband? *Bang!* The door swung open. Dressed in a trench coat, Liu Long finally emerged from his office with the hound by his side. Only now did he bring Black Panther out. All eyes turned to him. Even Liu Yan and Wu Chao shook off their daze, gathering their focus to look at their captain. This man was the true pillar of the Demon Hunting Squad. "It's raining!" Liu Long strode inside, his tone cold and detached as he glanced around the room. "Is everyone ready?" "Ready!" Chen Jian grunted in reply. Liu Long's lips curved into a chilling smile. "Remember: evil never triumphs over justice! We stand on the side of justice!" "Justice!" the others growled in unison. "Perform righteous deeds, slay demons and defend the Dao!" The squad's slogan echoed through the basement once more. It sounded so theatrical, so grandiose, yet the resounding words still sent a thrum of adrenaline straight to Li Hao's heart. *Perform righteous deeds, slay demons and defend the Dao!* *Boom!* At that very moment, what sounded like a crack of thunder suddenly rang out. Yet the faces of Liu Long and the others subtly changed. Liu Yan sprang to her feet, her expression turning stark and grave. "That wasn't thunder!" Indeed, it wasn't thunder. They knew that sound far too well. It was a bomb! Liu Long's expression darkened, and he let out a stiff, grim chuckle. "The supernaturals... quite capable, aren't they? They don't want us leaving the city, and they don't want us seizing the initiative. They've... entered the city!" Entered the city! The enemies had breached Silver City and were wreaking havoc, using the safety of the entire city to force them apart and pin them down. Li Hao turned slightly pale. Liu Long and the others assumed he had been frightened, so none of them spoke, merely surprised that Li Hao would lose his nerve at such a moment. Sure enough, young people fell apart when things got critical! Yet Li Hao wasn't frightened at all. Listening to the distant blast, he felt only fury and alarm. "Boss, was that really a bomb? It sounded like... it came from the direction of my home..." It felt that way to him! As to whether it truly was, he couldn't be certain right now. Outside, clamor and commotion erupted. The Inspectorate was mobilizing! Liu Long, however, regained his composure. "It's only just begun. It seems our opponents this time won't be easy to deal with!" Before Li Hao and the squad could even leave town, the enemy had taken the initiative. It was a show of force, and a warning. *Don't even think about leaving the city!* It was even telling Liu Long and his team: *Give it up. We know all of your plans.* They even knew where Liu Long had laid his trap, waiting for them to step into it. *Not a chance!* Some supernaturals were exceedingly arrogant, but others were exceptionally cautious. The adversaries who had come this time were evidently very careful. Even if they didn't consider the Demon Hunting Squad terrifying, they still had no intention of blithely stepping into Liu Long's trap. Liu Long drew a deep breath. At this moment, he knew trouble was brewing. *Ring! Ring! Ring!* A communications device rang out. Liu Long picked it up, and a familiar roar immediately crackled through the speaker: "Liu Long! Where are you? Neither you nor Liu Yan are here with the Law Enforcement Team! A huge incident just happened in Silver City—are you deaf? Can't you hear it? There's been a bombing, and people are dead!" An incident of this scale required the Law Enforcement Team to resolve it immediately. Yet the Law Enforcement Team was currently in disarray because neither their captain nor deputy captain was present. A bombing was just one site. There was no telling if another was on the way. Not only that, but the furious voice barked again through the line: "Get back to the Inspectorate right now and lead the team to the crime scene! Not just you—Liu Yan too! Report back to your posts immediately! Another arson attack just broke out in the western suburbs. The fuel depot is on fire... Someone set it!" Liu Long remained calm, speaking slowly. "Understood, Director. Don't worry, I'll handle it." "Liu Long!" The director's voice turned heavy. "I know you've been busy lately, and I've turned a blind eye to some things! But professional matters are for professionals to solve. I am the Director of the Inspectorate, and the Inspectorate is the sole law enforcement agency in Silver City... You must understand that the safety of the entire city's citizens takes absolute precedence over any single individual! Tonight, I'll be overseeing things at the Inspectorate. You... need to go out and catch the perpetrators. As for that kid... if you truly feel you must protect him, send him to my office!" Both men understood that the explosion just now was only the beginning—a warning. It was meant to make the Inspectorate realize its place and force Liu Long's Demon Hunting Squad to abandon their protection of Li Hao. Their target had been Li Hao from the start. Therefore, at this moment, whether it was the bombing or the arson, it was all done as a warning rather than to completely burn bridges with Silver City's law enforcement. The director's voice was loud enough for Li Hao to hear clearly. This time, Li Hao also realized just how terrifying and insidious these enemies were. They hadn't panicked or rushed, completely unbothered by the Demon Hunting Squad's involvement, because they had already devised a scheme... to plunge Silver City into chaos! Once chaos erupted, the Demon Hunting Squad would be subjected to immense pressure. *Don't you claim to champion justice?* *Then right now, are you going to deal with the other emergencies to safeguard Silver City's peace, or stay behind to protect Li Hao?* "I understand," Liu Long replied, his voice still level. "I'll see to it. Director, I'm hanging up." He severed the connection. Liu Long looked at Li Hao, paused in silence for a moment, and said, "You wait here. Don't act rashly. I'm going up to handle things." "Boss!" Liu Yan's expression flickered. "This is exactly what they want to see!" They wanted the Demon Hunting Squad pulled away and stretched thin. From beginning to end, their target was Li Hao. That much was crystal clear. Liu Long nodded. "I know." Yet he had to go out. If he didn't show his face, those people would continue to sow mayhem across the city. Protecting Silver City was sometimes far more than empty talk. In the end, Liu Long left. At this moment, Li Hao's expression turned grim—not because Liu Long had departed, but out of fury. He was furious that the people trying to kill him acted with such blatant disregard for human life, resorting to any means necessary! They were using the lives of everyone in the city to force the Demon Hunting Squad to back off. Even if they believed the Demon Hunting Squad was nothing to fear and could be dealt with, they still chose to threaten Silver City just to be safe. *They deserve to die!* Li Hao roared inwardly. Yet he was powerless; he was simply too weak. *** Silver City fell into turmoil that night. Rain poured from the sky. Yet multiple fires blazed across the city. Only after Liu Long appeared and led his squad on patrols across the sectors did the unrest gradually begin to subside. *** Silver City Ancient Academy. The Yuan residence. At this moment, Yuan Shuo was not alone. The two Night Watchers, Hu Hao and Li Meng, were present as well. Li Meng's injuries appeared much improved, though her face remained pale. Hu Hao gazed outside, taking in the chaos beyond, and said softly, "Old Yuan, we've already reported this to Night Watcher headquarters. Reinforcements will arrive shortly... But for now, it's best you don't go outside. Staying here is much safer!" Hu Hao vaguely understood that the enemy had no desire to antagonize the Night Watchers, nor were they targeting Yuan Shuo. Their goal was Yuan Shuo's student. From the Night Watchers' perspective, these perpetrators were brazen and audacious... they deserved death! However, their mission was to protect Yuan Shuo. Thus, Yuan Shuo was far more important than Li Hao. They couldn't put Yuan Shuo in danger for Li Hao's sake. Yuan Shuo said nothing, merely staring into the night. Outside, things were slowly quieting down. "Bold bastards!" Yuan Shuo spoke suddenly, his tone laced with a biting chill. "Supernatural is supernatural; mundane is mundane. In the end, the law still governs this world! This organization is far too arrogant. Do the Night Watchers know which group it is?" Far too arrogant! Silver City might be small and remote, but it was still an officially recognized city. Yet now, it was being used as leverage to threaten both the Night Watchers and the Inspectorate. Hu Hao shook his head. "This matter isn't under my jurisdiction, so I'm not entirely sure. But to act so unscrupulously, with their movements so elusive... it boils down to the three major supernatural organizations: Red Moon, Feitian, or Yama!" At the mention of those three organizations, Yuan Shuo's brows knitted tightly. Was it one of those three? If so... his student's trouble was far greater than imagined. Those three organizations had emerged even earlier than the Night Watchers. The Night Watchers had been founded twenty years ago, but the three major organizations had likely existed before that, merely keeping hidden. It was only after the Night Watchers were established that the authorities gathered clues and learned of their existence. Compared to other supernatural factions, Red Moon, Feitian, and Yama had advanced much farther down the supernatural path, possessing vastly more powerhouses. Even a fleeting glimpse into their depths revealed secrets that chilled the blood. Their strength was beyond imagination. Yuan Shuo said nothing more. If it truly were one of those three... then this situation was indeed formidable. Still, they had only come to Silver City for Li Hao; even if powerful figures had been deployed, they wouldn't be overwhelmingly beyond expectation. Otherwise, if the Night Watchers ambushed them and inflicted losses on their top experts, that wouldn't be an outcome the three organizations wished to see either. Yuan Shuo didn't budge. He was waiting. Now was not the time for him to act. He would either refrain entirely, or when he did strike... that first strike had to yield immense results. Otherwise, failing to kill the snake would only make it harder to deal with later. Inside the room, the two Night Watchers looked equally sullen. The Night Watchers were the official, legitimate supernatural authority, yet right now, they felt utter humiliation. They weren't powerful enough, and this mission was beyond what they could handle. All they could do was watch as the prestige of the Night Watchers was dragged through the mud! Silver City might be small, but it was still home to a million people. Tonight, it had been forced under someone else's intimidation. "We'll wipe them out sooner or later!" Li Meng spat with a cold snort. A newborn calf knew no fear of the tiger; she spoke grandly and seemed bold enough. Yuan Shuo remained quiet, while Hu Hao sighed inwardly. It sounded simple enough, but if they could wipe them out, the Night Watchers would have done so long ago. It was precisely because they couldn't, and because the enemy was so elusive, that things had come to this pass. The supernatural had risen too fast and too abruptly. The authorities had failed to grasp control in time; in fact, the supernatural hadn't appeared out of thin air, but through calculated, deliberate plans—something the government hadn't realized right away either. By the time they understood, they could only rely on the state's formidable foundation to hastily muster the Night Watchers, barely maintaining stability across the various provinces. Now, turmoil raged everywhere, and with the Night Watchers' limited numbers, how could they possibly intimidate every corner of the realm? Hu Hao harbored deep anxieties. Over the past twenty years, the Night Watchers had continuously compromised. If this went on, the various organizations would only grow more reckless. In some regions, even the Night Watchers had been corrupted. How much longer could such peace endure? Silver Moon Province had fared relatively well until now, but would the chaos in Silver City tonight spread further? Silence fell over the room. The two Night Watchers felt anger and indignity, but they could only watch and wait, pinning their hopes on reinforcements from headquarters. They even dreamed of headquarters powerhouses descending to crush the chaos in a single stroke, making the supernatural realm tremble! Yet... that longing had persisted for many years, and it rarely came to pass. Nearby, Yuan Shuo leaned against his chair in silence. His hand, however, gently stroked a broadsaber beside him. Back when Yuan Shuo made his name, it hadn't been through weapons. He was well-rounded, master of both weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. Yet tonight, he kept a saber at his side. A saber that had only recently been forged. No one paid it any mind. Even the two beside him paid no attention, let alone noticed that inside the broadsaber's hilt lay a tiny stone saber, barely seven or eight centimeters long and two or three centimeters wide. Smaller than the grip itself! Yuan Shuo caressed it gently, his breathing falling into a distinct rhythm. Beneath his clothes, his muscles rippled continuously as waves of force coursed through his entire body. *** Silver City. Less than three thousand meters from the Inspectorate stood a grand cathedral. At this moment, the cathedral resembled a domain of ghosts. Deadly silence reigned! After an unknown amount of time, a low chuckle drifted out from the shadows in the corner. "Liu Long has come out! Yuan Shuo is still at the ancient academy, and the two tasked with guarding him are hunkered down there, too terrified to move!" "Have the Night Watchers made any moves?" "None spotted so far, but it doesn't matter. The Night Watchers here in Silver Moon Province only have a handful of top figures at headquarters. All of them have assignments and duties, and their movements are easily tracked... What's more, headquarters experts won't mobilize lightly. If we had deployed top-tier powerhouses this time, it might have drawn their attention. As things stand... the Night Watchers won't risk tearing off the veil of civility just to kill us!" If they could wipe out several of the organization's top powerhouses in one fell swoop, the Night Watchers might strike even if it came at a price. However, completely breaking relations with a formidable faction just to kill a few mid-level operatives wasn't worth it to the Night Watchers. Low chuckles echoed from the shadows, tinged with satisfaction and pride. Casting Silver City under their shadow brought an incredible sense of accomplishment. What were the Night Watchers to them? They had come this time merely to harvest an ordinary mortal. No matter how illustrious the Li family had once been, today's Li Hao was nothing more than an ordinary person. Yet there were actually people in Silver City attempting to stand in their way—overestimating their own strength! "When do we strike?" another voice asked from the dark. "No rush. We wait!" Wait for what? Some did not know, while others understood. One newcomer among the Ghost Faces couldn't help asking, "With Liu Long away and Yuan Shuo staying put, the timing is perfect. Do we still need to wait?" Wasn't this the ideal opportunity? "Wait a little longer. You don't understand... For now, keep the others occupied with their own troubles. When lightning strikes in the rainy night and the rainwater turns blue... that is when we strike!" Blue? Rainwater could turn blue? Among the Ghost Faces, not everyone had been to Silver City before, nor had all of them undertaken such a mission. At this moment, every one of them showed surprise and confusion. Could rainwater... truly turn blue? Why did it have to be that way? *** In the basement. Li Hao exhaled, glancing at the others with growing restlessness and unease. "They lured the boss away, yet they still haven't struck... Just how long are they going to wait?" He had assumed that once Liu Long left, those people would move. Yet they hadn't! They were still waiting! The rainy night had come; did that Red Shadow require other conditions before striking? If they didn't come soon, he would lose his patience. Worst-case scenario, he would risk his life in a fight! Winning would be ideal, but even dying in battle was better than waiting around like this. Nearby, Liu Yan let out a soft chuckle, her voice teasing. "Are you in such a hurry to die?" "Big Sis, who says we can't turn the tables and kill them instead?" Li Hao smiled as well, his restlessness dissipating slightly. "Then keep waiting!" Li Hao spoke again. "Why don't we head out on our own to the designated location? Since they're waiting... that means one thing: the time hasn't come yet! Even if we leave right now, they might not strike!" The Red Shadow's side still needed time. Waiting here for death was not something Li Hao was willing to do. "Wait for the boss's orders!" Liu Yan usually didn't listen to Liu Long much, but right now, she seemed to place immense trust in him. Since Liu Long hadn't told them to leave when he walked out, Liu Yan wouldn't bring it up. Even with Li Hao suggesting it, she insisted on staying put. *** Outside the Inspectorate. Liu Long had led his squad on a patrol round, left some men behind to handle the cases, and returned. This time, he didn't head back down to the basement. The rain grew heavier. In the dark night, thunder began to gather, rolling in muffled rumbles. At his feet, rain slid off Black Panther's sleek coat in rivulets, preventing the dog from being drenched like a drowned rat. He was on the defensive! Liu Long knew that right now, he was entirely reactive, being led around by the nose. The pressure from Silver City and the blatant audacity of these foes forced him to play along with their schemes. Yet there was little anxiety or panic in Liu Long's eyes. Only cold calculation and detachment. Just as he stepped out of the vehicle without even having a chance to drink a sip of water, someone rushed out from the Inspectorate's main hall into the rain, shouting anxiously, "Captain, another arson attack just occurred in the northern suburbs! Many people are trapped inside the building! The fire brigade has already dispatched, but they need assistance from the Law Enforcement Team..." Here it came again! Just like that, they lured Liu Long away time after time, toying with him and warning him: *You'd better not come back. If you do... another incident will follow!* "The Inspectorate..." Liu Long murmured under his breath. If they failed to resolve this, the Inspectorate's authority would be utterly shattered! And along with it, the Night Watchers would lose face entirely. *You people should understand this. I wonder if your preparations are thorough enough?* "Follow me!" Liu Long barked once more, striding into the rain to lead the Law Enforcement Team as they piled into the vehicles and sped away. Then let them keep playing! *You lot are outsiders in Silver City, after all. No matter what plans you've laid, could you possibly know this place better than Liu Long?* "I've almost pinned down your location!" Getting into the car, Liu Long patted Black Panther on the head, a faint smirk surfacing on his face. Black Panther's nose twitched faintly. It rode with the car through the rainy night as the vehicle wound endlessly through Silver City's streets and alleys. Their speed wasn't fast. Perhaps because the downpour had intensified, the engine even stalled several times. With every stall, Liu Long's temper grew noticeably more volatile. He would get out, smoke a cigarette, roar under his breath, and berate his subordinates, frightening the officers of the Law Enforcement Team so much that none dared utter a word. As for why the captain brought a dog along on a rainy night... god only knew what was going through his head. It wasn't until the vehicle arrived near a grand cathedral that the engine died once more. Liu Long stepped out, kicked the car so hard the frame shuddered violently, and roared in fury, "Damn it, why haven't they replaced these vehicles? Why? Stalling every time it rains—this isn't the first time! Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Can't those bastards up top see what the Law Enforcement Team is dealing with? Cutting our funding more and more, every single one of them is garbage! You lot too!" He bellowed, accompanied by an eruption of thunder, looking like a furious Vajra warrior as he roared, "Double time on foot! Someone smash this piece of junk tomorrow!" With that, Liu Long led his team into the rain, sprinting toward the crime scene. The destination was still far off, but he ran with astonishing speed. In the darkness, Black Panther vanished from his side as well. Beneath the rainy night, no one would pay attention to a stray dog. Ahead, Liu Long ran at the front of more than twenty law enforcement officers, rain lashing against his face yet unable to mask the fierce heat and fury in his eyes! *It's right near here!* Black Panther could see that thing. Not only could it see it, but it was also a hound—a hound that required no training, one bordering on becoming a spirit. "Just you wait...!" Under the rainy sky, Liu Long retrieved his communicator while running and dialed a number, growling into the line, "Leave the city! Only when you're out will the city quiet down. I'll arrange protection for you!" "Understood!" The call was promptly cut. It was Liu Yan's voice. *** In the basement. Liu Yan hung up the communicator, fully geared up, and barked in a low voice, "We're leaving the city!" Now was the time! Li Hao didn't know why the decision had suddenly been made to head outside, but he didn't question it. He quickly fell in behind Liu Yan. The others, including Yun Yao clutching her medical kit, followed without a word. *** Outside the grand cathedral. Moments after Liu Long ended the call, a ghostly silhouette abruptly surfaced, accompanied by a hovering crimson shadow. In a shadowed corner, Black Panther let the rain soak its fur, watching silently. After only a momentary glance, the hound tucked its tail and fled swiftly through the rain like a stray. It had been a stray to begin with, so there was no need to act; this was simply how stray dogs ran! *Whimper...* It let out low whimpers as it dashed through the downpour. Black Panther felt that it was about to accomplish a great deed. Perhaps this newly met big guy would teach it even more martial arts—far better than Li Hao, who didn't even know how to teach a dog martial arts!