Part 1
Around 5 p.m., the clouds had turned black. The wind grew stronger, carrying a cool edge as it kicked up swirls of dust. The first drop hit the ground—then another. A gentle drizzle began, hanging in the air like a thin silver curtain.
It wasn't a storm yet, just a quiet, steady shower that the land drank greedily. Tiny dark spots bloomed on the cracked, dry earth. The parched concrete streets soaked up every drop as if afraid the rain might vanish at any second.
People stepped out of their homes, tilting their faces to the sky, hands outstretched to catch each precious droplet. Some cried tears of joy. Some prayed to the gods. Others laughed and played, while a few stripped down and showered right there in the open.
But not everyone was rejoicing. Some stood in silence, their eyes distant. They had taken the warnings seriously—they knew this gentle rain was only the prelude to what was coming. A never-ending torrent was on its way. In the distance, an unbroken wall of dark clouds stretched across the horizon. Thunder rumbled low and far, like a warning drumbeat.
Some sighed and decided to face the looming disaster one day at a time. Others began to prepare—gathering supplies, boiling water, mending roofs. Laundry, thick with dust from the Extreme Heatwave, was hastily washed before the deluge.
Back at the training site, guards and children played in the rain, some collecting water in makeshift barrels. At the track and field, if you looked closely, you could spot a man taking a full shower—shampoo, body wash, and all—shouting to the heavens, "I have been baptised!"
Part 2
The rain continued on, not slowing down, not getting stronger—just a steady, unrelenting drizzle. The constant hush had begun to feel less like a blessing and more like a warning. It washed over the cracked earth for the next few days, soaking deep into the thirsty soil.
Elsewhere, at the Li Family's private base near H City, an important meeting was underway. Gathered around the long conference table were the Wei family, Governor Shide, Long Jin, and several shadowy figures from both the government and the military, as well as leaders from other private bases. Some attended in person, others through encrypted video calls.
The topic was the same one that had been whispered about in hidden corners for weeks—a potion capable of awakening a person's latent potential. It had been circulating in secret, but with their connections, none of them were strangers to such rumors.
Governor Shide spoke first, his tone stern and heavy."I've been funding and covering for our private research laboratories for years, yet no results have been produced. Meanwhile, some mysterious faction has already completed the Awakening Potion. This… is unacceptable."
A man in military uniform added coldly,"Indeed. We even handed over that rare Awakened individual for study, and instead of gaining anything, your researchers managed to kill it. Explain that to me."
Long Jin slammed the table in frustration."I've invested four billion in equipment and supplies, and still—nothing?!"
The head of the Li Family wore a grim expression."One of our laboratories near City J was exposed. Now, City H's facility has also been compromised—seized by the military base there. All personnel and scientists have been taken into custody for investigation."
Silence fell over the table.
"For now, we keep a low profile," the Li Family head continued. "We have only one private laboratory left, here, under our control. Our top priority is no longer the research—it's acquiring the finished Awakening Potion already being quietly passed among the upper echelons of power. Once it's in our hands, the balance will shift back in our favor."
Part 3While the Li Family and its factions were locked in serious discussions, inside the Li family mansion, Li Meixue was having another crazed outburst. Her voice echoed through the hall as she slapped and kicked Han Jiaojiao, screaming,
"What use are you?! Han Yue hasn't broken up with my fiancé at all!"
She struck her again, fury boiling over. Han Jiaojiao, sprawled on the floor, her body covered in bruises, stared up with eyes full of venomous hate.
Why do I have to suffer like this?! That bitch Han Yue… everything started going wrong the moment she returned to the family. And those bastards—after I was arrested, they never once reached out. How dare they abandon me? I won't let them live in peace. I can't be the only one who suffers…
Putting on an expression of confusion, she muttered weakly,"Maybe… maybe it's because of the natural disaster. She didn't have time to finalize the breakup. Haven't you noticed? She hasn't been active on social media or posted any recent pictures with your fiancé."
Li Meixue froze mid-strike, her brow furrowing. She thought it over, then slowly nodded."Indeed… they haven't posted a recent photo. They must be busy dealing with the chaos."
Her demeanor shifted instantly. Putting on an innocent face, she reached down to help Han Jiaojiao up."I'm sorry, Jiaojiao. I was confused… I didn't mean to hurt you so badly. Will you forgive me?"
Han Jiaojiao dusted off her clothes and forced a gentle smile."Of course, Meixue. We're friends, aren't we? I understand better than anyone what it feels like to have someone you love stolen by that bitch. I know your pain."
They embraced—two women smiling sweetly on the outside, yet each hiding her own scheme against Han Yue.
Meanwhile, Han Yue was curled up comfortably in the living room, wrapped in a blanket with her little bunny, sipping hot cocoa, blissfully unaware that, once again, certain people had her name on their lips.She gave a small sneeze, almost spilling cocoa on herself."Is someone talking about me?" she murmured, steadying the cup with one hand while scratching her bunny's head with the other, then took another sip as if nothing had happened.