Chapter 28: Tales of Fire Thunder Mountain City

The preparations at the Hanlin Academy were complete. Boca, Dark, Money, and the Demonic Snake had also arrived. Although the Dean knew that someone was trailing Boca and the others, he could sense from Boxing the exact same ability possessed by Boca, deducing that this follower must have been dispatched by the Headmaster of Botai School. Choosing to turn a blind eye, the Dean acted as if he had noticed nothing, allowing Boca, Dark, Money, and the Demonic Snake to depart with Zhuang Xiaotong, the Pheasant, Shang, and Kongcheng. From afar, Boxing offered a tribute to the Dean, which the Dean accepted, before Boxing led Hadang, Youzan, and the Five Blossoms in pursuit of Boca and his party.

Leaving aside the pursuit led by Boca and the others following in the footsteps of Han Tianyue, back at the Fire-Thunder Mountain City, ever since Han Tianyue's departure, Lei Qiaoer frequently ascended the eastern city wall to gaze out toward the east. For she knew that Han Tianyue was somewhere out there in the east. "Han Tianyue, you must find your wife! I offer you my blessings from here!"

City Lord Lei Ce watched his beloved daughter gaze longingly toward the east day after day, a nameless sorrow churning in his heart. Meanwhile, his current wife, Lei Xin, once again approached him with tearful complaints. "Lord City Lord, can it be that you truly care nothing for the three of us?"

The young boy, Lei Xiner, and the little girl, Lei Ping'er, looked up at City Lord Lei Ce. Throughout their lives so far, neither of them had ever spent any time playing with their father. How desperately they wished for their father to hold them in his arms and play with them just once.

Yet City Lord Lei Ce only barked, "Can't you see how busy I am right now? Be off with you at once!"

Lei Xin had no choice but to lead her son Lei Xiner and daughter Lei Ping'er away. This was the one-hundredth time—the one-hundredth time City Lord Lei Ce had turned them away. Looking down at her son, Lei Xin said, "Mother has failed you!" Today happened to be Lei Xiner's seventh birthday, and his dearest wish was simply to spend the day with his father. Yet City Lord Lei Ce had dismissed them under the pretext of pressing official duties.

Lei Xiner, however, comforted her: "Mother, it's alright. With you, me, and little sister, the three of us together are enough!"

Lei Qiaoer stepped down from the eastern wall, remembering the birthday of this half-brother of hers. Though she held no affection for them, as an elder sister, Lei Qiaoer had gone out into the main street to purchase a Thunder Spirit Bead for Lei Xiner. The Thunder Spirit Bead was a precious artifact capable of self-protection while also enhancing one's thunder-attribute powers. Because Lei Qiaoer was the apple of City Lord Lei Ce's eye and the city's most admired beauty, the merchant did not overcharge her, quoting a price of three hundred coins—still a considerable sum.

Knowing that the standard price of a Thunder Spirit Bead was normally one silver coin, and that she was only being charged three hundred coins out of deference to her status, Lei Qiaoer handed the exact amount directly to the shopkeeper and turned back toward the City Lord's Mansion.

Upon returning to the mansion, she happened to see Lei Tianmai walking toward her. Greeting him, Lei Qiaoer asked, "Uncle Tianmai, why are you out and about?"

As for the Tear of the Elves given by Han Tianyue, ever since Lei Tianmai had consumed it, his soul collapse had ceased entirely, though he still remained incapable of recalling his past memories. As for Lei Qiaoer, Lei Tianmai retained a faint impression of her, but whenever he tried to force his memory, a piercing agony would wrack his head.

"Qiaoer, did you go to the eastern city wall again today?" Lei Tianmai asked with paternal concern.

Lei Qiaoer simply smiled without answering.

At that moment, City Lord Lei Ce approached with a beaming smile, calling out, "My precious daughter, you're back! Come quickly and see who this is!"

Surprised by the City Lord's unusual cheer and wondering who the guest might be, Lei Qiaoer hurried over. Raising her gaze, she looked up in astonishment. "Why have you returned?"

"I never imagined that after a few years apart, Qiaoer would have grown even more beautiful!" The visitor was a young man of around twenty, attired in a fine silk military uniform.

"And I never imagined that after all these years, Brother Jinzhe would still be so smooth with his words!" The man was Lei Jinzhe, a childhood companion who had grown up alongside Lei Qiaoer. A few years ago, his entire family had vanished from the city without a trace. His sudden reappearance came as quite a shock to her.

"Over all these years, how have you, Leidong, Leicong, and Leimin been?" Lei Jinzhe inquired.

"Leidong married Leimin, but Leimin has already passed away. As for Leicong, no one knows where he has gone now," Lei Qiaoer recounted. Lei Jinzhe sighed softly, "How tragic that Leimin died so young. How is Leidong doing nowadays?"

With a cold, melancholic sigh, Lei Qiaoer replied, "Leidong originally wished never to marry again, but now his uncle is forcing the issue. I expect he will be taking another wife in a couple of days."

Seeing that Lei Qiaoer was deeply engaged in conversation with her childhood friend, City Lord Lei Ce and Lei Tianmai quietly withdrew.

After chatting with Lei Jinzhe for a little longer, Lei Qiaoer suddenly remembered Lei Xiner's birthday gift and hastily excused herself. "Jinzhe, I have matters to attend to. Let's talk more another time."

Lei Jinzhe nodded in assent.

Lei Qiaoer walked briskly toward Lei Xiner's quarters, where she found Lei Xin and Lei Ping'er seated inside.

At her absolute worst toward Lei Xin, Lei Qiaoer had merely addressed her as "Aunt." Today, however, being Lei Xiner's birthday, she forced a polite tone. "Aunt, you're here. Little sister, you're here too. Little brother, older sister bought you a treasure!"

Lei Xiner showed no interest whatsoever in the Thunder Spirit Bead. Even when Lei Qiaoer placed it right in front of him, the boy refused to even spare it a glance.

From the side, Lei Xin pleaded, "Lei Qiaoer, I'm begging you—please help me bring the City Lord here, won't you? Xiner is already this old, yet his father has never once looked at him!"

Lei Qiaoer glanced at Lei Xin, then down at Lei Xiner and Lei Ping'er. In truth, they were truly pitiable figures. Nodding, she said, "I will help you this once. But from now on, you two must obey me and never stray into mischief or bad habits."

To their utter astonishment, Lei Qiaoer agreed so readily. Lei Xiner and Lei Ping'er leaped for joy, crying out, "Sister, we will always listen to you from now on and be good children!"

Lei Qiaoer walked straight to the chambers of City Lord Lei Ce and demanded, "Lord City Lord, are you aware that today is Lei Xiner's birthday?" Ever since her mother's death, Lei Qiaoer had never once addressed City Lord Lei Ce as her father, preferring to refer to him simply as the City Lord.

Lei Ce cast a glance at her and replied, "I know."

"Then why aren't you going to spend time with him?" Lei Qiaoer demanded angrily.

"Didn't you used to despise them?" Lei Ce countered.

Lei Qiaoer retorted, "Yes, that's right, I do despise them! But this is all your fault! If you hadn't treated my mother that way back then, would she have died? Would my uncle have acted as he did? I will never forgive you for as long as I live! But Lei Xiner and Lei Ping'er are still my younger brother and sister, and they want you to go and see them!"

Lei Ce stared at her for a long moment before saying, "Since you don't mind, I will go."

Watching the retreating figure of City Lord Lei Ce, Lei Qiaoer felt tears stream uncontrollably down her face. She whispered inwardly, "Han Tianyue, I love you. For your sake, I am willing to change. But why does my heart hurt so much?"

As for Leidong, he was currently at Leicong's residence. Following Leicong's abrupt departure, Aunt Leihuoyan had been consumed by agonizing grief, while Lei Xiang bellowed, "From this day forth, I no longer have such a son!" Yet looking upon Uncle Lei Xiang and Aunt Leihuoyan, and bearing the responsibility as a descendant of the Heavenly Thunder lineage, Leidong found himself at a loss as to how to refuse Uncle Lei Xiang's arrangements.

"I'm sorry, Leimin. This time, I truly cannot fail my uncle and aunt." Under Lei Xiang's arrangements, Leidong was to be married in two days' time. As for the identity of the bride, Leidong had no heart to inquire; as long as his uncle and aunt were happy, his own mind would be at peace.

"Leidong!" A young man in a fine silk military uniform stepped into the room.

"You are..." Leidong studied the man, finding his features vaguely familiar, yet unable to place his name.

"Lei Jinzhe!"

"Ah, Jinzhe! It's you! Where on earth have you been all these years?" Leidong asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

Lei Jinzhe laughed and replied, "You know how it is—my parents deal in the Thunder Spirit Bead trade, so we've been drifting from place to place. We happened to be visiting Fire-Thunder Mountain City around this time, so I wanted to come and check in on you all."

"Ah, wonderful! Judging by your fine attire, you must have made a tidy fortune!"

The two friends chatted idly, discussing current events and worldly affairs. Lei Jinzhe mentioned that he had traveled to many places, most recently visiting the Underground Trading Center. At that moment, his parents were lingering at the Underground Trading Center, waiting for the appearance of the Central Heaven Tripod—one of the legendary Nine Heaven Tripods—hoping to catch a glimpse of its magnificent form. Since Lei Jinzhe himself had no interest in such artifacts, he had decided to come to Fire-Thunder Mountain City instead.

What followed next in Fire-Thunder Mountain City was entirely predictable and hardly bore further narration. Ever since Lei Qiaoer had laid eyes on Han Tianyue, she could never banish him from her thoughts. Lei Jinzhe, who had initially harbored romantic intentions toward Lei Qiaoer, soon realized she was entirely indifferent to him, prompting him to cut his visit short and depart immediately after Leidong's wedding.

With Lei Jinzhe's departure, Fire-Thunder Mountain City returned to its former tranquility. This peaceful routine gradually smoothed the edges of Lei Qiaoer's restless heart. Watching the sun and moon rise over the eastern horizon, she let the days drift by, one after another.