Chapter 44: Redeem Your Sins, Xu Rouguang
The rumor that someone broke into the Finance Director's office took JT by storm. Security investigated as fast as they could while Utility had to help clear the way for the paramedics. Based on Secretary Xu's story, he was busy preparing tea for their guest when he heard strange noises from the office. Before he could get out, the disoriented Huang Tao walked in and passed out in front of him. With the state of the office, it was evident that someone rummaged through the desks.
Of course, the Finance Department was a sensitive faction of any company. The other managers were pulling on their hair in frustration, but the top dogs weren't really that concerned. Xu Rouguang could deceive the others, but he wasn't that good at tricking the Head Security personnel. Based on the report that came in, the rummaging was staged to cover up a real scenario: Huang Tao attacked Xu Rouguang, but the secretary managed to knock him out.
Considering Huang Tao's reputation to the top executives, they just snorted and even gave thumbs-up to Xu Rouguang. Though it would be a PR nightmare towards their investors, at least they managed to have that jackal weeded. Now, they only needed him to stay in the hospital... which was easier than kicking him out of JT.
Liu Qiu heard of what happened and almost fainted where she sat. She hurried back to the office and consoled her poor junior. He didn't seem to be afraid though. Why should he be? The woman who came to him was levels paler and weaker than him, and he even had to be sure to catch her if she fell all of a sudden.
Xu Rouguang and Liu Qiu were collating the documents sprawled all over Lai Mingjie's inner office. The latter was still patting her chest in fright as she kept on checking up on Xu Rouguang. She clicked her tongue and organized everything in her hands. "You should be more careful when you're alone, Rouguang. We should lock the door next time. Of all people to be with on your own..."
"I'm okay, Auntie. I wasn't hurt." Xu Rouguang chuckled, feeling guilty about what happened. He should probably tell her the truth, but wouldn't that be worse?
The day advanced far too slow as everyone came checking up on their saint. Xu Rouguang's guilt kept on piling at every scared face and expression they showed him. Then again, he could remember the screams and faces of those people victimized by that sad excuse. If he had to make things weird and scary for a while to everyone else, it should be okay. It was really important to send that awful human out of this place.
Xu Rouguang walked the path home towards Lai Mingjie's unit. He was thinking about the food he could make for Lai Mingjie or if he could just bring some snacks for the night. After being too close with that old man, the general wished to wash down the smell and filth that pressed against him.
However, he could sense movements behind him. A bunch of thugs had been following him, but they didn't seem to be muggers at all. He took a turn into a dark alley and stopped walking. The general then coldly spoke, "Until when are you planning to follow me?"
"Hahaha! Great, you caught on." A man laughed out as he walked into the alley.
Soon, a lot of them sprouted from the exits of the alley, blocking the lights coming from the cars passing by. However, there was no fear in Xu Rouguang's eyes... only annoyance for running late.
"Don't ask who we are. Just know that you have done something awfully wrong." The leader continued to laugh and intimidate the secretary. He then produced a switchblade, followed by everyone around him. They wanted to make sure Xu Rouguang would beg for his life from them.
"Hmph, then I won't ask." Xu Rouguang turned to face the leader, letting them see the light reflecting off of his cold eyes. He moved his sleeve and dropped his own switchblade. "I wished for you to also not ask for mercy. When I'm done with you, you won't be able to do anything for your boss without thinking about me." He tilted his head a little, smiling widely at them. "I'm so willing to do another awfully wrong thing, you know."
It was unnecessary to detail what happened in that poorly-matched stand-off. It was also unnecessary to say how many of those thugs came and how many went home without getting disemboweled. However, this had caused Xu Rouguang to bathe longer than he planned as he could only remove wounds and liquids. The smell still stuck onto his body.
Midnight struck, and he just managed to sneak in the ward. Before he could open the door, he spied on a white figure standing next to Lai Mingjie's bed. He opened the door with a crack to take a closer look, hoping it wasn't something that attacked Lai Mingjie in his sleep.
The figure was nothing but a beautiful woman with long flowing hair. She was more exquisite than Botangca and lot stunning than him. That smile on her lips was very kind and merciful that made everyone kowtow in forgiveness despite doing nothing wrong. She possessed beauty that could make countries go to war and world leaders lose their minds. However, she didn't daze Xu Rouguang even for one bit.
Her lips curled higher as her dazzling eyes landed on Xu Rouguang. She waved her hand and beckoned Xu Rouguang to come closer. The male didn't object and walked inside, closing the door behind him. The woman then chuckled. "You're late, Xu Rouguang..."
"I'm sorry, you are?" Xu Rouguang was remotely respectful to immortals as they all had a bad secondhand impression on him. These immortals had always hurt Lai Mingjie one way or another, and he loathed them just because they were too weak to even fight off that demon that harmed his Jie. However, something inside him cried for him to be polite towards this woman.
"No need to find out." She then turned to Lai Mingjie who was sleeping on his bed. His brows were knitted again like he was having a nightmare. She lifted her hand and gently waved it, dispersing whatever was in his mind. "You seem to be very lax in making trouble for humans."
"...They find trouble with me. I only serve them what they intend to have." Xu Rouguang saw what she did, knowing that she was someone powerful and could affect Lai Mingjie without touching him. He briskly went next to his Jie and hoped not to engage with this lady.
"Despite being reinstated as a general of the Imperial Army, you still behaved improperly. Don't you know Emodao hated that kind of child of heaven?"
"...Child of heaven?" Xu Rouguang frowned at the lady. Soon enough, he heard the same feminine voice that whispered to him that night in his head. His eyes widened before taking a wild guess. "G-Goddess Nuwa?"
"It's 'Your Eminence' for all the children of heaven." Nuwa hummed as she stared at the general before her. "General Xu, you have lost a lot of your memories, but it doesn't save you from the consequences of your actions." She waved her hand towards the man on the bed. "See how it even implicated him."
Xu Rouguang's eyes dimmed as he cast his gaze on Lai Mingjie instead. "...That Dunzhao said I have done things... sacrificed everything that I had..." He dropped his head. "Possibly my memories, too."
Nuwa shook her head. "I doubt you'd give that away." She then moved towards Xu Rouguang and held the side of his head. "Listen to me, Xu Rouguang. Dunzhao wouldn't be the only one. You made it rain hell on earth again. Emodao will help you find your memories back, but you will have to help yourself fix your mistakes." She started to vanish from sight. "Redeem your sins, Xu Rouguang."
END OF VOLUME 1
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone