The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 165: You Are Too Needy!

You Are Too Needy! . . .

It had been a mere day since Cha Nan-Tian's departure from the north, and the news had already reached the king. He held in his hands the letter delivered by the Million Miles Eagle and let out a long sigh.

In his heart, the king had held onto a sliver of hope that Cha Nan-Tian might prioritize the country's needs and choose to remain in the north. Though he knew it was akin to a dream, he couldn't help but wish for it. Now that the stark reality confronted him, he could only sigh in resignation.

By his side stood the three princes, and they all listened carefully to the king's words.

"For all these years, Cha Nan-Tian's house has remained relatively secluded, despite the potential opposition from other noble clans," the king began. "But now, things have taken a different turn. The change coincided with your growing rivalry."

He continued, "If anyone were to tell me that Cha-Eun Xiao's misfortune had nothing to do with any of you three, I wouldn't believe it."

"Your eagerness for the throne may have played a part in the fact that a centuries-old Kingdom of Chen now teeters on the brink due to the actions of a general's son."

The king's voice grew more intense as he spoke, "If the kingdom crumbles, what will be left for this throne? You are still vying for the throne, but if the kingdom falls, do you believe you will even have the right to kneel before it?"

With a deep voice, the king concluded, "Leave this place if you understand."

The Crown Prince and his brothers hurriedly departed, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

"Do you think you will even have the right to kneel before this throne?" Those words echoed in their minds like thunder, overwhelming them.

The king was well aware of the conflicts among his three sons. He had taken action against some officials but had refrained from condemning the princes directly. However, his words now served as a clear warning.

The three princes stood outside the palace, watching as reports arrived one after another at the Cheng-Tian Hall of the Royal Palace. They scrutinized the faces of each bearer, hoping to find a glimmer of positivity. Any victory, no matter how small, would signify a chance of winning the larger war and would uplift the spirits of the kingdom.

Yet, all the bearers were harried and bore expressions of sorrow.

All four battlefronts were faltering simultaneously.

It was an incredibly dire situation. They understood the necessity of buying time in the war, but they were clueless about how to achieve it.

The Kingdom of Chen, a dominant force in the Land of Han-Yang for generations, seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse within a matter of days. Perhaps the kingdom had narrowly averted the fate of complete downfall.

A few days ago, the king had made a proclamation that the Kingdom of Chen would defy the historical trend of collapsing dynasties. Now, it seemed like a cruel jest to everyone in the kingdom.

The catalyst for the current crisis was none other than a notorious and reckless young nobleman.

In the study room of the palace, the king, burdened by his duties, pondered the dire situation. After reviewing numerous reports, he furrowed his brow and issued an order, "Send a contingent of elite inner hall guards to the General's House. They are to protect Cha-Eun Xiao and ensure his safety until Cha Nan-Tian returns."

"Understood," came the prompt response from outside.

Gazing at the war reports with a mixture of frustration and sadness, the king muttered, "Even if you harbor intentions to oppose me, I... I must allow you to see your son one last time."

He let out a heavy sigh.

"Even if you don't truly regard me as your brother, I have only formed brotherly bonds once before. If you choose to leave, I won't stand in your way. But if you remain... Brother, if your son perishes, will you stay?"

Sorrow weighed heavily on the king's countenance.

The cause of this turmoil was a frivolous young man—Lord Cha, Cha-Eun Xiao—who likely had no inkling of the magnitude of trouble he had stirred up.

Thanks to the assistance of his Uncle Song, he had not confined himself to his chambers, feigning illness as instructed. Instead, he lounged in the opulent surroundings of the Ling-Bao Hall, savoring the sensation of being treated as a monarch.

In the kingdom, the headlines were dominated by news bearing titles like "Cha-Eun Xiao's Life Hangs in the Balance! Cha Nan-Tian Returns!" The second most pressing news concerned other external forces launching attacks on the Kingdom of Chen. Thirdly, an unexpected figure, Monarch Feng Zhi-Ling, had emerged in the Ling-Bao Hall Salesroom.

What made this development even more intriguing was that Monarch Feng Zhi-Ling was virtually unknown in the kingdom. No one could have predicted that the formidable Ling-Bao Hall, a long-standing power in the realm, would abruptly welcome a new leader—the Monarch. For years, Ling-Bao Hall had remained unrivaled in its dominance.

Ling-Bao Hall officially declared that the Monarch occupied a position even higher than Wan Zheng-Hao.

This signified a changing of the guard at Ling-Bao Hall, an announcement that reverberated throughout the kingdom.

"Alright. These are the plans for the upcoming auction," Cha-Eun Xiao nonchalantly informed Wan Zheng-Hao, who seemed positively elated.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent! This is marvelous!" Wan Zheng-Hao exclaimed in excitement. "With these exquisite items, I'm going to empty the pockets of all those wealthy folks. Otherwise, what's the point of being in this business? I'd be wasting my life."

"How much do you think we'll make?" Cha-Eun Xiao inquired.

"Well, it's a bit hard to predict," Wan Zheng-Hao replied, his eyes fixated on the displayed items, his breath quickening. "These items are of an exceptionally high caliber. They'll undoubtedly fetch us a tremendous sum."

Cha-Eun Xiao casually probed further, "I understand that. Can you give me a rough estimate?"

After pondering for a moment, Wan Zheng-Hao offered, "All of these items alone should bring in at least several billion. This estimate excludes any treasures and priceless materials."

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded, seemingly satisfied. "That will do."

Wan Zheng-Hao looked at him with admiration and a tinge of embarrassment. "Master Feng, you truly have a broad perspective. You know, what you're about to earn in one go is equivalent to what I could earn in ten years."

Cha-Eun Xiao expressed surprise, "Really? That little?"

Ling-Bao Hall had long enjoyed a reputation as a prosperous establishment. Cha-Eun Xiao, however, harbored doubts about whether the treasures he had acquired were truly enough to pique the interest of the hall's boss, Wan Zheng-Hao. After all, Wan Zheng-Hao had faithfully served Gu Jin-Long for over a millennium, and while he might be considered a mere servant, he was a thousand-year-old servant at that.

["He asked me, 'How can you earn just that little?' In comparison to billions of currency?"]

Wan Zheng-Hao was taken aback by the revelation. He looked at Cha-Eun Xiao with eyes wide, as if on the verge of tears. "Well... What would you expect me to say to that?"

Cha-Eun Xiao's voice carried a hint of seriousness as he replied, "I can only tell you that what you mentioned isn't a substantial amount."

Wan Zheng-Hao was incredulous. "Master Feng, you can't be serious, can you? I was talking about several billion, and that's excluding the treasures and materials."

With a sigh, Cha-Eun Xiao said, "You know, there are things you simply can't grasp."

He couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

[It seems I underestimated Gu Jin-Long's narrow mindset. Despite serving him for so long, Wan Zheng-Hao's knowledge remains grounded in the mortal realm. He fails to comprehend that many things in the Qing-Yun Realm are worth far more than billions in this world.]

"Wan, don't dwell on it too much. As you gain more experience, you'll come to understand," Cha-Eun Xiao reassured him. "Let's put the auction discussion aside for now. Listen, don't you think that with our capabilities, it's a waste to focus solely on auction business?" He gestured toward the map of the Land of Han-Yang spread out by Wan Zheng-Hao. His expression grew serious. "We plan and strategize, yet our earnings are meager. You're the head of Ling-Bao Hall, yet you reacted this way when you heard a figure in the billions. It shouldn't be like this."

Wan Zheng-Hao was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.

[For most people, several billion would be an astronomical sum they'd never see in their lifetime. Yet for my new boss, it seems like so little...]

Wan Zheng-Hao spoke with a bitter smile, "Master Feng, why did you say that? We... I mean, Ling-Bao Hall caters mainly to martial forces in the Land of Han-Yang... It took me a thousand years to achieve what I have. I don't have any other interests except making money."

He sighed. "I've always aimed to maintain a balance—ensuring that official forces appreciate our presence while avoiding becoming a target. I've always been afraid of potential repercussions if we push our limits too far. I wouldn't want to see that happen."

Cha-Eun Xiao's tone remained neutral as he posed a question, "What if I were to tell you that from now on, whatever we undertake will yield only positive outcomes? How would you feel about that?"