The Hero Returns - Chapter 441

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

All I ever wanted was for famous detectives like Sherlock Holmes or Arsène Lupin to appear in my dreams and share their wisdom. But instead, why am I hearing the voices of notorious serial killers in my head, guiding me to solve a string of mysterious cases?

The 51st year of Konoha was designated by later generations as “the beginning of reform in the ninja world” and “the first year of Vientiane renewal”.

Orochimaru made an indelible contribution to this.

Because he was haunted by a lamp god.

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After being guided by a traveler who became a lamp god, watch how Orochimaru harvests leeks from the ninja world and walks the road to eternal life.

- Description from novelbuddy

The heroine has no cp
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Yi Linglong, no one has seen her face, no one knows her gender, but there are rumors in the rivers and lakes that this is a man who looks like a good woman.
His martial arts are strong, cold as frost, and a dagger seems to be able to kill all living beings in the world.
He kills one person in ten steps and does not stay for thousands of miles, but he has a maverick that is different from other Jianghu people.
His story can be said for three days and three nights. As a unique existence among assassins, he has become a legend. …
“I told you about the deeds of my male god, did you hear it?”
“I heard, I heard. Is there anything else? I’m going to collect sauerkraut.” Hua Rongyue waved her hand and turned away.
“Hey? Why is it not like you? Is it interesting, cooperate with me anyway, what is my male god doing now? You can figure it out, let me figure it out.”
Hua Rongyue, “…”
——If my calculation is correct, your male god estimates that 80%, maybe, is now accumulating sauerkraut in a small medical hall…

Content tags: Jianghu grievances, disguise, misunderstandings, women disguised as men
Search keywords: Protagonist: Hua Rongyue (Yi Linglong) ┃ Supporting role: People in the Jianghu ┃ Others: Hua Rongyue, Yi Linglong
One-sentence introduction: rushing through the rivers and lakes~

- Description from novelbuddy