Chapter 63: Chapter 54: Ongoing Steelmaking, One Command from the Divine Monk
Another night came and went.
The next morning.
Xu Lei planned to slip out of the Wei residence.
After all, he was now forty-eight years old.
For the past two days, he had been continuously performing Charitable Giving for Shang Rou and Wei Qingning.
Today, he was completely spent.
He had to go back and rest.
This was even after years of having a light schedule and spending most of his time on physical training.
"Sir!"
But to his surprise, Zhang Xiaomai had woken up early to make breakfast herself. "You’re up so early?" she asked.
"Where are you going?
I made something to eat and wanted you to have some.
I wanted you to taste the new recipe I learned!"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei replied, "I have urgent business at the temple, so I must return.
You are too kind, Benefactor Xiaoai."
In the end, Xu Lei ate the breakfast Zhang Xiaomai had made for him before leaving the Wei residence.
He spent two days at the temple, exercising and recuperating.
Then, Xu Lei returned to the Wei residence and generously performed Charitable Giving for Zhang Xiaomai.
"Sir, let me have another one of your children!" Zhang Xiaomai cried out coquettishly.
"Amitabha Buddha. If that is your wish, Benefactor, I would be delighted," Xu Lei replied.
In the past six years, Zhang Xiaomai had only given birth to one more of Xu Lei’s children.
But now that she asked, Xu Lei naturally wouldn’t refuse.
’Another child is another layer of assurance for my successful reincarnation.’
Over the past six years, as turmoil ravaged the land, Xu Lei’s descendants, scattered across the world, had inevitably been affected.
Fortunately, during that decade or so back then, the female Devotees he had given his Charitable Giving to were spread far and wide.
Before this age of turmoil began, several generations of his descendants had already married and started their own families.
And they had been quite prolific.
Thus, despite the impact of the turmoil, the number of his descendants, after some fluctuation, ultimately remained stable.
If the number of his descendants had plummeted without recovering, Xu Lei would have stepped in to end the turmoil long ago.
He probably couldn’t have endured until now.
「Two months later.」
Zhang Xiaomai once again had a son.
The entire residence was filled with joyous celebration.
Many people congratulated Wei Qingning one after another.
They said that despite his slender build and delicate features, he was young and virile, blessed with a continuous line of heirs.
After accepting the crowd’s congratulations, Wei Qingning turned and secretly shot Xu Lei a beautiful, mock-reproachful glare.
Afterwards, she pulled Xu Lei into the secret chamber of the study to help him with his "Crossing the Tribulation."
During these two months, Xu Lei learned that Shang Yin had successfully established the secret military steelworks. It was now continuously producing all sorts of steel weapons and military equipment.
Xu Lei had also gone to visit it once.
Xu Lei was very satisfied with Shang Yin’s efficiency and ability to get things done.
So, Xu Lei merely observed and offered no suggestions.
He simply expressed his approval.
Having received Xu Lei’s approval, Shang Yin’s confidence soared.
As he continued to train his troops, he gradually began to equip his core units with Steel Blades, Steel Spears, Steel Shields, and other steel weapons.
「Three days later.」
On this day, Xu Lei, exhausted from his "Charitable Giving," returned to the temple to recuperate. After a hearty meal, he was practicing his forms, keeping his body in shape.
"Little Divine Monk, help!"
To his surprise, Zhao Xiaocha and Liang Fangying arrived together, their faces etched with anxiety. "Something’s happened to our children!" they cried in unison.
Even though Xu Lei was now forty-eight years old...
...the two of them insisted on calling him Little Divine Monk.
Xu Lei didn’t object.
Hearing their words, Xu Lei’s expression shifted.
After all, their children were the result of his Charitable Giving.
Soon, Xu Lei understood the whole story.
It turned out that the sons of the Liang and Zhao families had gone on an outing together.
To prevent any romantic feelings from developing between their two families, they didn’t allow their sons and daughters to play together.
But they allowed children of the same sex to.
Unfortunately, the two sons had an altercation with the son of the current County Magistrate of Longyuan County.
Specifically, the son of County Magistrate Longyuan was galloping recklessly through a bustling marketplace and nearly trampled a small child to death.
The two sons from the Liang and Zhao families, however, had studied some martial arts. They had trained since they were young, and with their well-off family backgrounds, they were well-nourished, strong, and healthy.
Being hot-blooded youths, they immediately stepped in to right the wrong.
They saved the child.
But in doing so, they caused the County Magistrate’s son to be thrown from his horse!
He fell to the ground and was injured!
He was badly injured!
As a result, the sons of both the Zhao and Liang families had been thrown in jail.
"Amitabha Buddha. I see."
After hearing the story, Xu Lei immediately said, "Those who are brave and righteous should be rewarded for their good deeds.
They must not be allowed to suffer injustice and die bearing a grudge.
You two benefactors, take this Token of mine. Go down the mountain at once and head to the Wei residence.
When the Wei Family sees this Token, they will receive you.
Then, explain the situation to them.
They will send people to help you and resolve everything.
Also, relay my words. If the son of County Magistrate Longyuan was truly acting so arrogantly and tyrannically...
...and if County Magistrate Longyuan truly abused his power, twisted right and wrong, showed a reckless disregard for human life, and framed righteous men...
...then it is time for Longyuan County to have a new County Magistrate!"
After all, Longyuan County was now within the territory governed by Shang Yin.
In this era, with the world divided and seven powers vying for supremacy, military authority reigned supreme.
’What’s a County Magistrate of Longyuan? Just some local administrator.
Getting rid of one and replacing him is a trivial matter.’
Given Xu Lei’s current status and influence with Shang Yin, dealing with a mere County Magistrate of Longyuan was an insignificant task.
Zhao Xiaocha and Liang Fangying were both stunned.
They hadn’t expected Xu Lei to speak with such authority!
But they didn’t dare disbelieve him.
After all, Xu Lei was their last hope.
Soon, they took the Token and went down the mountain.
Upon seeing the Token at the Wei residence, they were indeed greeted immediately and respectfully.
After they explained the situation, a member of the Wei Family took them straight to the military barracks.
There, a military officer also welcomed them respectfully before immediately sending a carrier pigeon to Longyuan, ordering the local garrison to take control of the County Magistrate’s Office and protect the sons of the Zhao and Liang families!
Then, a large escort of soldiers brought the two women straight to the Government Office in the Prefecture City.
The Prefect turned pale with shock, his face covered in cold sweat.
After learning the situation, he also immediately sent a carrier pigeon to Longyuan to suspend the County Magistrate of Longyuan from his duties.
Only then did the two women, Zhao and Liang, return to Longyuan County, escorted by a large entourage of prominent figures.
The matter was quickly investigated.
The sons of the Zhao and Liang families were immediately acquitted and released.
County Magistrate Longyuan was immediately stripped of his official post!
The son of County Magistrate Longyuan was sentenced to death!
The old mother of the former County Magistrate Longyuan knelt outside Liang Fangying’s home all night!
The official wife of the former County Magistrate Longyuan knelt outside Zhao Xiaocha’s home all night!
Both knelt for hours on end, refusing to rise, begging for a single word of forgiveness.
The relatives of Zhao Xiaocha and Liang Fangying, as well as their husbands’ families, were all completely stunned.
They couldn’t imagine what kind of powerful figure the two women had sought help from.
They had no idea they possessed such terrifying connections!
"How is this possible?"
"A single sentence from the Little Divine Monk actually holds such power?"
Zhao Xiaocha and Liang Fangying also felt their heads spin in disbelief.
They had always felt that Xu Lei was extraordinary.
After all, with the title of Divine Monk, he couldn’t possibly be mediocre.
But they had thought he was just a man detached from the secular world!
After all, most of the time, Xu Lei was holed up in his temple.
Asking him for help had been a last, desperate prayer—an attempt born of hopelessness, with little real expectation of success.
They never imagined that Xu Lei wouldn’t even have to leave the mountain.
With just a simple Token and a verbal command, he had actually forced the highest official of a County Government Office to step down!
Even though County Magistrate Longyuan’s family had considerable connections of their own, their entire clan had now been forced to bow their arrogant heads to the very dust.
