Chapter 110: Sixteen Characters Descend from the Sky

Xiao Liu was a young man with a sincere face, standing nervously before Lei Xiang, unsure where to put his hands or feet. He couldn’t fathom how, as a mere foot soldier, he had drawn the attention of someone like Lei Xiang. Perhaps even Lei Xiang himself didn’t fully understand. Since he had completely eradicated the Blood Fiend Alliance—a shadowy force hidden for nearly a century—and ensured the peace of the Eastern Yue Kingdom, Lei Xiang’s name had become almost godlike in these lands.

At this moment, Lei Xiang noticed Xiao Liu’s anxiety and immediately sensed that the young man was truthful. With a crooked smile revealing his small tiger teeth, he said, “Xiao Liu, there’s no need to be so nervous or afraid. Today I’m just here to get some information. After that, you’ll go back and carry on as usual. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Xiao Liu parted his thick lips but said nothing. Lei Xiang saw this and continued, “On the fifth day of last month, during your watch, did you notice anything suspicious? When did you fall asleep, and when did you wake up?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Liu’s face suddenly paled. With a thud, he dropped to his knees and bowed, “Young Master Lei… I don’t know how I fell asleep. I have always been diligent in my duties and have never made a mistake. Please forgive me this once.”

Seeing Lei Xiang wave his hand with an unchanged smile, Xiao Liu lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then took courage to reply, “During my three-hour watch, nothing unusual happened. I really don’t know when I fell asleep—perhaps I was tired from playing cards all night the day before. I was awakened by the person who relieved me; I don’t know how long I had slept.”

Lei Xiang listened carefully, catching every detail. He didn’t believe for a moment that Xiao Liu’s sleepiness was due to card playing exhaustion. Suddenly, as if pulling a trick, Lei Xiang produced a crimson pill, “Xiao Liu, this is a miraculous medicine that can help restore your memory. Take it.”

Xiao Liu eyed the pill, hesitated slightly, but then swallowed it with saliva. A flash of joy appeared in Lei Xiang’s eyes. This pill didn’t restore memory at all; instead, it reduced seventy percent of the pain when Lei Xiang cast his spell and caused temporary memory loss.

Lei Xiang was not using a soul-searching technique; he would never use such cruel methods on his own people. With his right index finger extended, he gently brushed Xiao Liu’s forehead. Instantly, Xiao Liu drifted into a sweet sleep, his thick lips softly smacking as he slept.

Lei Xiang’s voice broke the silence, “Before you fell asleep on the fifth day of last month, what did you see?”

Xiao Liu clicked his lips, “That was about halfway through my watch. I saw a streak of white light flying past me at a speed I’ve never seen or even heard of. Then my eyes started to close, and I gradually fell asleep.”

Lei Xiang’s expression remained unchanged as he pressed, “Did you see clearly where the light came from and where it went?”

“Judging by the direction, it came from the mansion and headed north,” Xiao Liu answered.

Lei Xiang frowned. The northern area was vast and unknown. “Yang Jian, take Xiao Liu away. He will wake up on his own in six hours. This will cause no harm but will erase all memory of coming here.”

After Yang Jian took Xiao Liu away, Lei Xiang fell into deep thought. Using secret arts, he searched Xiao Liu’s sealed memories, confirming that the situation unfolded as he suspected: someone had abducted Dugu Yixiao and sealed Xiao Liu’s memory to erase any recollection. But Lei Xiang had a major question—who was that person?

He must be out of his mind.

Xiao Liu had reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement. For someone to pass by him unnoticed, that person must be at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator. A cultivator at that level could make a lesser practitioner like Xiao Liu vanish without a trace using more than ten different methods. Yet this person hadn’t done so. If he feared alerting others, he could have completely wiped Xiao Liu’s memory with soul-searching, but he only sealed it. Such a seal would not fool a high-level cultivator.

Perhaps the thief was nervous and wanted to escape quickly—that was the only explanation. But Lei Xiang faced a bigger problem. According to Xiao Liu’s memory, the kidnapper took Dugu Yixiao north, but the exact location was unknown. Lei Xiang had a good habit—if he couldn’t figure something out, he didn’t dwell on it. Shaking his head, he prepared to head north in pursuit.

Suddenly, a blue light shot across the sky and landed, revealing two figures. Lei Xiang stepped forward with a smile, as if expecting them, “Prime Minister Situ, Lord Linghu, long time no see. I didn’t have time to visit you this trip, my apologies.”

Linghu Chong and Situ Hongji laughed heartily. “Young Master Lei, you flatter us. Ever since you drove away the Blood Fiend Alliance, you have been the great hero of Eastern Yue. Also, you formed your Golden Core in less than twenty years; we are now peers. Situ urged me to come see you.”

Lei Xiang clasped his fists in salute, “Please, brothers, come inside.”

Once seated, the three chatted casually until Situ Hongji asked, “What are your plans this time? If you need people or money, just say so. The current emperor is very grateful to you. He has already commissioned a golden statue of you, placed right at the East Gate, for the people of Eastern Yue to admire. You have just returned, and tomorrow will be the unveiling ceremony. The emperor also wants to host a welcome banquet for you.”

Hearing this, Lei Xiang’s heart warmed. Though he had only done a small service for Eastern Yue, he was honored so highly. But now he had to leave. “Please convey my deep thanks to His Majesty. I am truly unworthy. I must depart because Dugu Yixiao has been kidnapped. I cannot delay even a moment.”

“We are also distressed about Dugu Yixiao, but there is no need to rush. Attend tomorrow’s ceremony first, then leave. I will inform the emperor and accompany you on the search. Wouldn’t that be better?”

After repeated persuasion from Linghu and Situ, Lei Xiang reluctantly smiled and nodded. The two were delighted and ordered a grand feast to celebrate with Lei Xiang.

At dawn, the light mist was blown away by a gentle breeze, and the sun revealed its rosy smile. It was a fine day. The street before the East Gate of the imperial city was packed with people, all eyes fixed on a red cloth covering a statue about nine feet tall, including its pedestal. It was the statue of Eastern Yue’s greatest hero, Lei Xiang. Word had it that Lei Xiang had returned to the capital and would attend the unveiling. The crowd waited with curiosity and anticipation.

But Linghu Chong’s mood was far from joyful. He had reported to Situ Hongji that Lei Xiang was nowhere to be found. Even Yang Jian had disappeared. Situ Hongji was frantic. In just two hours, the Yellow Emperor of Eastern Yue would arrive to officiate the unveiling. Lei Xiang’s sudden absence was hard to explain. Situ Hongji regretted getting drunk the previous night; perhaps this was Lei Xiang’s way of slipping away.

The sun had risen high, yet Lei Xiang’s figure was nowhere in sight. The Yellow Emperor had already arrived. Situ Hongji and Linghu Chong performed the customary triple kowtow and explained that Lei Xiang had urgent matters and left the kingdom overnight, unable to attend. Upon hearing that he was rescuing a friend, the emperor did not blame Lei Xiang; on the contrary, his respect for Lei Xiang deepened.

The unveiling ceremony proceeded as scheduled. Although the officials and common folk were slightly disappointed not to see Lei Xiang in person, when the emperor pulled away the large red silk, revealing the statue, the crowd gasped in awe.

It shone brilliantly, dazzlingly golden.

Made of 99.9999% pure gold, it was a one-to-one likeness of Lei Xiang.

The Yellow Emperor led the crowd in a deep bow, expressing gratitude to Lei Xiang. Thousands of attendees followed suit, and from then on, the golden statue would be revered by all.

Suddenly, clouds swirled above, and a cluster of pink auspicious clouds descended, settling three feet above the statue’s head. The crowd watched in amazement as a small pink pig about half a foot long appeared. Its tail, with two long and three short needles, trembled, shedding a few blue stars. The blue stars vanished into the statue, which immediately radiated a blinding golden light, impossible to look at directly.

The little pink pig narrowed its tiny eyes and exhaled a plume of pink smoke that floated upward and burst with a “pop.” The crowd saw sixteen large characters appear in the sky: “I leave without farewell to save a friend; Eastern Yue is in peril; worship the golden statue swiftly.”

Including the emperor, Situ, and Linghu, all understood this was Lei Xiang’s contingency plan to protect the peace of Eastern Yue. They were grateful for his foresight and admired his abilities. To have forged a Golden Core in just a few decades foretold limitless future achievements. With such a figure’s commitment, Eastern Yue had nothing to fear.

Looking again, the little pink pig spread its transparent wings and soared northward on the wind.

P.S.: Worked late tonight, so the update is a bit delayed. Apologies!