Chapter Four: News

Lei Yan shifted backward and leaned against the chair. His eyes, somewhat unfocused, stared ahead. From Han Yu’s expression, he already knew that his guess had been correct.

“Alas…” Han Yu let out a long sigh. Everything was almost exactly as Lei Yan had surmised. At that moment, he no longer knew what to say. Comfort him? Judging from the unnervingly calm look in Lei Yan’s eyes, was comfort even necessary?

After a long silence, Lei Yan finally spoke. “Uncle Han, what do you intend to do?”

Han Yu drew a deep breath and said in a mournful tone, “I’m old. Since the family head has departed, I should return to my hometown for a look. Fallen leaves must eventually return to their roots.”

With a trace of desolation, Han Yu slowly left the hall. Lei Yan watched silently as his back disappeared from sight. He did not call him back or try to stop him. He merely watched in silence.

Not long after Han Yu’s departure, Xiao Lin entered the hall uneasily. He walked to Lei Yan’s side and said, “Young Master, we have just received a message from the family head. He asks that you return to the residence as soon as possible.”

“The family head? You mean my younger brother? He has already taken the position of family head, yet he still isn’t satisfied. It seems I’ll have to consider whether I should take over the Lei Family myself.” Lei Yan did not even bother to open his eyes as he spoke slowly. “I understand. Leave.”

“Young Master, do you mean…” Xiao Lin asked urgently, wanting to know Lei Yan’s exact intentions.

“I said, leave.”

Lei Yan’s mood was not as calm as it appeared. His eyes suddenly opened, and murderous intent surged forth like a tidal wave toward Xiao Lin.

“Yes.” Xiao Lin instinctively avoided Lei Yan’s gaze and hurriedly acknowledged him before turning and fleeing the hall. But the moment he stepped outside, Lei Yan’s voice reached his ears.

“Xiao Lin, I’ve already given you your chance.”

Back in his room, Xiao Lin could not stop replaying Lei Yan’s words in his mind. His body trembled uncontrollably.

“Why does his gaze make me feel so terrified? Damn it, why do I feel so insignificant before him? Afraid? I’ve long since seen life and death as nothing. Why am I still afraid?”

Inside the hall, Lei Yan let out a cold snort. After last night’s assassination attempt and the betrayal of information, he had more than enough reason to kill Xiao Lin. However, he did not intend to remain at Hundred Medicines Hall for long, so the place needed someone to manage it.

Not long after Xiao Lin left, Han Li entered the hall.

“Young Master, we’ve made some progress regarding the information you requested. Han Yi is still investigating, and we should have news within a day at most,” Han Li said hurriedly.

“Very well. Go get some rest,” Lei Yan said with a nod.

“There’s no need, Young Master. I was worried that you would grow anxious waiting, so I came back to report. If there is nothing else, I’ll continue investigating.”

Han Li turned and left the hall.

Watching his departing figure, Lei Yan murmured, “It still requires another day? Ling’er, how are you now? Have you found your Martial Uncle?”

Before he realized it, Lei Yan’s thoughts had once again drifted to Qing Ling. He did not know when it had happened, but Qing Ling had already become the spiritual pillar of his heart—awakening him from despair and supporting him through his hesitation.

“Child, rather than sighing or grieving here, you should refine the Five Elements Pagoda as soon as possible. That way, you will possess the strength to protect yourself and others,” Qing He urged once more.

Why does that old man keep urging me to refine the Five Elements Pagoda? Lei Yan wondered inwardly, though his feet had already carried him out of the hall.

Benefits could always drive people onto dangerous paths, and Lei Yan was no exception. Even though he knew that refining the Five Elements Pagoda concealed a certain potential threat, the benefits it offered were too intoxicating to resist.

Inside a guest room, Lei Yan sat cross-legged on the floor. A small pagoda, no larger than a palm, floated about a foot before him. His hands formed an obscure spell seal, and streaks of red light shot from his body and hands toward the hovering Five Elements Pagoda.

Refining the pagoda was far more complicated than Lei Yan had imagined. Not only did it require the use of spell techniques, but it also demanded that he harmonize his true essence with it. What troubled him most was the astonishing consumption of true essence during the process. Two spell techniques were enough to drain him completely.

Yet this expenditure of true essence also benefited him. It could stabilize his foundation and make his true essence more refined and concentrated.

The refinement of the Five Elements Pagoda was divided into five stages, with each stage allowing him to control one additional ghost. After an entire day and night, Lei Yan finally refined the pagoda to the second stage. In other words, he could now command two experts whose strength was close to the Great Ascension Realm at the same time.

On the following afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened. One mass of black clouds after another floated above Bafang Town. An oppressive atmosphere filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. Most people chose to remain indoors, and Bafang Town became unusually quiet.

“This feeling…”

Lei Yan stopped what he was doing. An indistinct connection between heaven and earth tugged at the true essence within his body. He had a vague feeling that his Golden Core Tribulation would arrive within the next few days.

Knock, knock, knock!

A hurried knocking sounded at the door. Immediately afterward, Han Li’s voice came from outside.

“Young Master, we’ve found the information you wanted.”

“Come in,” Lei Yan called out. He slowly stood and shook his somewhat stiff body several times.

Han Li and Han Yi pushed open the door and entered. As soon as he stepped inside, Han Li handed over the documents in his possession.

“Young Master, everything you asked for is recorded here.”

Lei Yan accepted the documents and skimmed through them rapidly.

“So that man’s name was Hong Fei. Dong Jiu, I wonder whether you possess the strength to take revenge now.”

After storing the documents in his demonic artifact, he looked at Han Li and Han Yi.

“I’m leaving Hundred Medicines Hall now. What do the two of you intend to do?”

“Young Master, we wish to continue following you. From the moment you left the Lei Residence, we were no longer members of the Lei Family. We became your guards instead. As long as you do not drive us away, we will be your guards for the rest of our lives.” A resolute glint flashed through Han Li’s eyes.

“This subordinate is willing to follow Young Master,” Han Yi echoed.

Lei Yan greatly admired the Lei Family’s methods of training its guards. With a faint smile, he said, “Make your preparations. We’re leaving immediately.”

Han Li and Han Yi acknowledged him. Although they had gone without rest for an entire day and night, they did not utter a single complaint.

After making a simple preparation, Lei Yan led Han Li and Han Yi away from Hundred Medicines Hall.

“He’s finally gone.”

Xiao Lin let out a sigh of relief. The pressure Lei Yan had brought him was simply too great. Only after Lei Yan departed did he truly relax. At the same time, he began wondering what opportunity Lei Yan had been referring to.

Three fine steeds galloped along the main road. To accommodate Han Li and Han Yi, Lei Yan had no choice but to travel by horseback toward the Ghost Poison Sect. Without stopping, they spent two full days on the journey before Lei Yan finally returned to the familiar Ghost Poison Sect.