The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 454: Hero? Devil?

Hero? Devil? . . .

Cha Eun Xiao detonated two poison beads simultaneously, and he channeled his East-rising Purple Qi to accelerate the fog's expansion at an alarming pace. This sinister cloud of poison extended far wider than his previous attempts.

Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but marvel at the efficacy of the poison beads. If he possessed an ample supply of them, the annihilation of the assassins would be a straightforward task.

Amidst the chaos, a sudden cry pierced the air, filled with tears and regret. "I am poisoned! I am poisoned... I won't survive this... I regret..."

The distraught man sobbed profusely, his face smeared with tears and mucus as he clawed at his own body, unable to cease the torment.

Others joined him in their frenzied scratching, their eyes consumed by madness. They swung their weapons wildly, crying out that they could no longer bear to live, and in their desperation, they turned on their fellow assassins. Blood sprayed as knives and swords cut through flesh, reducing their comrades to mere fragments.

However, this frenzy only persisted briefly before they too succumbed to the unrelenting itch, dropping their weapons and succumbing to the relentless urge to scratch.

The itch penetrated deep into their bones, overpowering their rational thoughts and driving them to madness. Those poisoned could no longer think of anything else; they had to scratch.

Those fortunate enough to have escaped the poison acted as if they'd seen ghosts, retreating in haste and trembling. Those who lagged behind were trampled by their panicked companions, watching the gruesome spectacle unfold before them.

One assassin, driven to madness by the poison, shrieked, "Let's die together," as he scratched frantically and ran towards the unpoisoned crowd that was retreating.

"Why should you escape this? I am dying, and you're still living. Why?" He screamed incoherently, blood-smeared and wild-eyed as he charged towards those who had evaded the poison.

In an instant, a flash of swordlight severed the man in two, the poison having failed to kill him but the blade succeeding without hesitation. It was the work of Yin Yucheng, his face drained of color, trembling, and his voice quavering as he shouted, "Your own misfortune brought you here. How dare you attempt to take others with you? You deserve to die!"

Although Yin Yucheng had been considered a cowardly bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong, his actions were praised by all the assassins present. The man who had tried to bring others down with him, knowing he was doomed, was seen as utterly despicable.

In the end, over eighteen hundred lifeless bodies lay strewn across the courtyard. The scene was nightmarish, a vision of hell that grew more horrifying with each passing moment. Fear drained the color from everyone's faces.

Cha Eun Xiao stood resolute at the precipice of this hellish tableau, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a cold and composed expression, as if waiting for the living to draw nearer.

Dawn was approaching, and the wind rustled his black robe. The assassins witnessed the coldness etched across his face and trembled. To them, he resembled a demon from the depths of hell.

As assassins, they had witnessed myriad forms of cruelty in the world, some of which they had perpetuated themselves. But in this moment, they collectively shared the same feeling – a profound terror that surpassed any horror they had ever known, a terror embodied by Feng Monarch.

These men had come with a singular purpose – to kill Cha Eun Xiao. Yet, even amidst their lethal intent, they couldn't help but acknowledge the man's deep-rooted sense of duty and patriotism. He was undeniably a man of righteousness.

When his homeland was in dire need, he made a staggering seventy billion donation to bolster its defense. When Ling-Bao Hall faced imminent peril, he stood alone to confront the most formidable power in the world, single-handedly taking on a legion of assassins.

Such actions painted him as a true hero, though not the conventional hero found in tales and legends. Traditional heroes clung to their reputations and would rather die than tarnish their heroic image. Cha Eun Xiao, however, was not bound by such concerns. He was a hero to his own people, a figure of unparalleled valor, but in the eyes of his enemies, he was an enigmatic and merciless demon, a bloodthirsty slayer, a malevolent force that could make even the bravest tremble.

He was, in essence, a formidable adversary, a devil inciting fear in the hearts of all who crossed his path.

In just three waves of his hand, Cha Eun Xiao had dispatched over three thousand assassins to their deaths. Their bodies lay scattered, not a single one remaining intact. He had transformed the world into a nightmarish landscape, yet he regarded it all with indifference. His expression remained unaltered, his demeanor cold and detached.

Such unwavering resolve and composure were beyond the realm of an ordinary man's capabilities.

"I believe I mentioned this earlier. Anyone who seeks to end my life will pay a price higher than they can fathom. You wish to kill me; I understand. I will return the favor. In time, you will come to comprehend my perspective, just as I understand yours," he calmly remarked. With these words, he resumed his advance, lifting his foot and striding forward.

His path led him further into a landscape tainted with blood, a nightmarish tableau of death and destruction. Yet, Cha Eun Xiao's demeanor remained unfazed, as though he were strolling through a pristine garden. Surrounded by assassins, he walked with an air of nonchalance, his hands clasped behind his back, as if he were on a leisurely walk through a sunlit paradise.

Beneath his feet, rivulets of blood splashed into the air, but he paid it no heed.