Chapter 26: A Robbery?

Chapter 26: A Robbery?

In Xianzhou Luofu, Xuan Ye Avenue.

White Heng stood in the square in front of the theater, holding a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer with citrus, strawberry, and hawthorn flavors in his left hand. At this moment, he stared at the enormous sculpture of a human figure in the center of the square, lost in thought.

"This is me? This is really me?"

As the landmark of Xuan Ye Square, the sculpture of White Heng was placed right in the center. Yet White Heng couldn't connect this abstract artist's work with himself at all. Moreover, he used to have long hair, but now he sports short hair, so it's no wonder no one recognized him on the way.

However, the truth was, seven hundred years had passed since Luofu. Most people who knew him back then were likely to have reached the age of demonic shadow. Even if they hadn't fallen into demonic shadow, seven hundred years was enough time to forget a lot of things.

"Ying Xing, Kyokuryu, Dan Feng are now missing, and Bai Heng is sealed in the dungeon. I wonder if the current General Jing Yuan still remembers me." A hint of loneliness flashed in White Heng's eyes.

But soon, the theater's opening bell dispelled this feeling of loneliness.

White Heng followed the crowd into the theater, waiting for the play to begin. The wait wasn't long, just a short incense stick's worth of time, before the curtain rose to reveal a series of well-known plays from Xianzhou.

One scene depicted the recent events in Luofu, where the Great Lord of Extinction attempted to use a star core to overthrow Luofu. White Heng had heard of this event when he was at the Interstellar Astronomical Society, but he hadn't delved deeply into it.

Now, through this new play script performed in the theater, he gained a better understanding of the whole affair. Of course, dramatic works are often artistic embellishments and should be taken with a grain of salt. However, the characters depicted in the play couldn't be fabricated entirely.

"The Star Dome Train... Star Core Expert???"

"Who is this? Ying Xing? Ren? Did he become a star core hunter?"

"Dan Feng? Did he return to Xianzhou?"

"Wait, who is this... Master's sister? Isn't she in demonic shadow?"

The entire play left White Heng sweating profusely. Although his official purpose in coming to Xianzhou was to research and collect information about the Imperial Bow and the Apothecary, the company wouldn't act aimlessly, and neither would the Interstellar Astronomical Society.

The reason for his sudden dispatch to Luofu at this time was undoubtedly related to the appearance of the Great Lord of Extinction's Illusion. He hadn't anticipated that Illusion's appearance would involve so many forces. 

What was most crucial was that these forces were all connected to him. The current General Jing Yuan of Luofu was his senior brother. The former Sword Master Kyokuryu, who was nominally a prisoner of the Xianzhou Alliance, was his master. The Star Core hunter Ren and Dan Heng on the Star Dome Train, from the Akivili, were his close friends. Their current states were also linked to White Heng.

Even Illusion might be considered a colleague of his, since seven hundred years ago he had become one of the seven resident envoys of destruction under Nanuk, aside from the seven Great Lords of Extinction. The appearance of an envoy of destruction was likely to attract the attention of the other six Great Lords.

Perhaps Illusion might even sense a familiar aura from him.

The last time at the "Black Tower" space station had shown White Heng that the simulation could impact reality. If these people had not left Xianzhou Luofu, he might experience a reunion after seven hundred years.

After the play about the Great Lord of Extinction Illusion ended, the theater also staged several epic historical stories from Xianzhou, with the final performance being about him and Kyokuryu. White Heng wasn't sure which act of the play it was or familiar with the scenes being portrayed. 

Yet, watching the interactions between the two actors, he didn't feel the awkwardness he had expected. Instead, it reminded him of the more than ten years he had lived with them.

Yes, seven hundred years have passed...

This was the last play of the evening. After the host walked out and announced the successful completion of the performance, White Heng followed the crowd out of the theater.

Approaching midnight, Xuan Ye Avenue was still brightly lit. There were even Cloud Riders and a young girl in the street, performing acrobatics and selling crafts. White Heng couldn't help but comment:

"Seven hundred years have passed, and the Cloud Riders' business has expanded so much?"

...

He didn't linger long at the theater entrance. Since it was late, he decided to find a lodging for the night. 

He crossed Xuan Ye Square and walked along a less crowded street with fewer shops, which was quieter and more suitable for rest at this hour. 

However, after walking for a short time, he suddenly felt a chill spreading from his sleeve to his neck. Frost had also formed on the lanterns of the surrounding shops.

Faintly, White Heng sensed a cold presence approaching from behind.

Clang!

He gripped his unnamed sword with one hand, deftly rotating the hilt to block the sudden sword strike coming at him...