95

In the deep of night, the relentless downpour carried an ominous scent, and the ever-cautious Yu Zhiwan used a test strip to check the rain. Her expression shifted drastically:

"Everyone, be careful! The pH level of the rain is nearing dangerous levels!"

Rain with a pH level below 5.6 is generally referred to as "acid rain," which has corrosive properties harmful to both human skin and plants. Over the years, pollution levels had long exceeded what the atmosphere could handle, and now acid rain was nature's retaliation against environmental degradation.

Ordinary plastic raincoats offered no protection against acid rain and would quickly be corroded. Yu Zhiwan, growing increasingly anxious, grabbed her radio to alert the others.

The sky was dark, like ink that refused to dissolve. The world seemed to sway as if in a cradle submerged in water, the rain blurring vision. Across the way, the A Organization, though surrounded by elite forces and on the defensive, still held their ground, making those around them hesitant to take action.

They had brazenly announced earlier that the underground laboratory was still under their control and rigged with explosives. Should they come under attack, the remaining members would activate the self-destruct mechanism, and the resulting explosion would affect not just Yicheng but neighboring cities as well.

The speed at which the toxic gas would spread meant that even if help were prepared, the response would be insufficient. Evacuating Yicheng's large population would be nearly impossible, and any announcement would likely cause panic, leading to chaotic stampedes.

What's more, the A Organization's branches in other countries were also active, prompting international rescue forces to be dispatched globally. Meanwhile, planes circled the skies above Yaocheng and other cities, waiting for orders to enter Yicheng.

The once-small Yicheng had now become the focal point of the world. The A Organization, like a cornered tiger, was poised to strike, its true intentions yet to be revealed.

Everyone was on high alert. Yu Zhiwan, stationed at the rear and protected by two armed soldiers, couldn't shake the growing unease, despite the seemingly favorable situation.

She was calculating time in her head, her sharp memory allowing her to catch even the smallest details. The previous chaos in the nation, where factions fought endlessly, had been momentarily quelled when faced with the A Organization. Despite their unified front, they knew that pushing the organization too far could lead to devastating consequences.

After all, no one knew just how ferocious a cornered tiger could be.

Yu Zhiwan's palms were slightly clammy, and by her calculations, the moment was nearly upon them.

She silently counted down in her head.

Five, four, three, two, one...

On her sixth count, the sudden burst of gunfire shattered the night's silence. A brilliant burst of fireworks lit up the sky, signaling the beginning of something far deadlier.

Seeing that the first shots had come from their own side, the commanding officer angrily turned to look, only to be struck by a stray bullet in the arm. His entire arm burned with searing pain, further aggravated by the increasingly corrosive acid rain, forcing him to find something to put out the fire.

Yu Zhiwan heard the distinct sound of the soldiers behind her unlocking their rifles, ready to join the fray at a moment's notice. She couldn't help but wonder if she had deceived Pei Yujang.

The A Organization's commander was a cunning madman. While Yu Zhiwan wanted the blueprint in his possession, he was equally determined to obtain what she had.

On the battlefield, she wasn't a skilled fighter but rather a valuable pawn. Those people wouldn't kill her before securing what they wanted. Only she could retrieve the blueprint, and only she had the highest chance of minimizing losses.

Yu Zhiwan didn't believe she could stay safely in the rear forever. The gunshot aimed at their side earlier confirmed that a traitor had been exposed and was now lying in a pool of blood. The situation had devolved into chaos.

But if she were the one orchestrating this, a traitor who had managed to infiltrate their ranks wouldn't be alone. The exposed traitor was likely just the first, serving as a decoy to protect someone more important.

The soldiers protecting her also sensed the danger, but they didn't retreat, instead standing resolutely in front of and behind her. Soon, someone descended from above, surrounding them. Despite the encirclement, Yu Zhiwan didn't panic but instead rolled to the ground to avoid the hands reaching for her, seeking cover behind the soldiers.

The soldiers assigned to protect her were highly skilled, and even during the fierce battle, they kept her securely guarded. However, as more enemies closed in and chaos ensued, Yu Zhiwan was eventually grabbed and thrown onto a dirt bike.

A cloth soaked in sedatives was pressed to her face. Although Yu Zhiwan had prepared herself, she pretended to pass out. But the assailant, unsatisfied with the results, struck her neck hard, determined to knock her out.

Silently cursing, Yu Zhiwan felt pain surge through her body as she lost consciousness, her pheromones bursting into the air.

Half an hour later, an off-road motorcycle sped through the jungle, dodging the rain-soaked obstacles. The sound of gunfire had subsided, leaving behind a battlefield filled with horror.

Bodies were piled up, and those still clinging to life trembled in the muddy pits left by the rain. Broken fingers, twisted and pointing upward, quivered as the remaining flesh slid into the muddy water.

It was the first time Liu Xijing had witnessed such a scene. Despite her strong mental fortitude, she couldn't help but leap from the bike, clutching her waist as she vomited. Under Pei Yujang's guidance, she had prepared by applying a thick layer of alkaline solution to her shoes and clothing, but the overwhelming sight and the stinging rain proved too much.

The corrosive acid rain was powerful, though it had lightened somewhat. Even with her experience in war, Pei Yujang found herself trembling at the sight of the devastation.

But the moment of weakness passed quickly. She immediately focused on her objective, remembering why she was there.

Some soldiers who could still move helped each other to their feet, eyeing Pei Yujang with suspicion. She picked up a usable gun from the ground and approached the surviving National Defense soldiers, showing her credentials from a safe distance and asking quickly:

"Where is Yu Zhiwan?"

A few terse exchanges later, Pei Yujang understood the situation. After a brief pause to gather herself, she swung back onto the bike, her voice raspy and serious as it echoed through her helmet:

"Chase them!"

An Omega's pheromones, when unleashed to their full potential, could dominate the surroundings with a gentle but invasive intensity. Most of those present were Alphas and Betas, and even the Betas, who were typically less sensitive to pheromones, could clearly sense the rich rose scent in the air.

Yu Zhiwan had passed out from the assailant's strike, but her strong will to resist had caused her to lessen the impact. Those sent to capture her were undoubtedly experienced, and she feared that if she struggled too much, she might face something far worse.

As the bike jostled her along the rugged terrain, Yu Zhiwan gradually regained consciousness.

The number of troops left to protect her wasn't much. With the sudden turn of events, the rapidly changing battlefield had already led to a sharp increase in casualties. But now, the focus wasn't on her—it was on the residents of Yicheng. Yicheng might not be large, but it still had a population of hundreds of thousands, and with an electrical station in the vicinity, a large-scale explosion would have catastrophic consequences.

Yu Zhiwan guessed that the forces had likely gone to the underground laboratory, preparing for a pincer movement. But as her mind raced, she felt that something wasn't right.

The vision she had seen was limited in its scope. Yu Zhiwan couldn't have remembered every detail, and she only recalled that this battle had been chaotic, ultimately leading to the destruction of Yicheng, with Yihu Park collapsing just as Pei Yujang had described.

Wait, Yihu?!

Yu Zhiwan's eyes widened in sudden realization.

The roar of the dirt bikes grew louder, the pursuers closing in fast. They expertly navigated around fallen trees, one of them tossing a lit log backward, causing his comrades to curse and shout. The pursuer's face remained expressionless as he pushed his bike to its limits.

Yu Zhiwan could barely make out the man's figure as he steadied his gun, the barrel aimed directly at her heart. Her blood ran cold.

The person who was supposed to be protecting her had now turned the gun on her.

Was this man a traitor? Or had the National Defense decided that if they couldn't retrieve her, they would rather destroy her? As the gun's barrel aligned with her chest, Yu Zhiwan's mind went blank, knowing there was no time left to think.

Bang!

The sound of two gunshots overlapped, and blood blossomed from the man's chest. Yu Zhiwan looked up into a familiar pair of eyes.

It was the first time she had seen this side of Pei Yujang.

Fully armed, Pei Yujang had removed her goggles to aim, revealing her slightly upturned phoenix eyes. In those usually gentle eyes, a cold killing intent now coalesced, the curve of the bullet reflecting her unhesitating resolve as it tore through the man's heart.

Blood splattered in front of her eyes, but Pei Yujang held the gun steady. She had once believed she could live peacefully in this world, never expecting that she would pick up a gun again after a year.

But this time, it was to protect the one she loved.

In that moment, Pei Yujang didn't hesitate. Even if the man she shot had orders from the state, even if he carried the highest authority's insignia, she would still have disobeyed and pulled the trigger without a second thought.

The wind whipped through the air as Pei Yujang's eyes narrowed in concentration. A branch struck her face during the high-speed chase, cutting a gash along her cheek. Blood dripped in a steady stream, mingling with the acid rain that brushed against her skin, but she felt no pain.

At the turn, Yihu Park lay to the right, while the deeper forest stretched to the left. Pei Yujang instinctively veered left to continue the chase but hesitated when she saw Yu Zhiwan's brows furrowed in distress as she mouthed something to her.

Pei Yujang paused.

Yu Zhiwan's lips clearly formed the word "water."

Without a second thought, Pei Yujang swerved towards Yihu Park, and with a powerful leap, plunged into the icy waters of Yihu Lake.