The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 455: I Am a Good Man

I Am a Good Man . . .

Terror had gripped the assassins as they watched the macabre spectacle, with blood splashing in all directions under the casual steps of Feng Monarch. He created a rhythm of morbidity with each footfall, blood spattering and darkening the already grim landscape. His demeanor, however, was far from that of a remorseless killer. Instead, he seemed lost in thought, almost wistful. "This sight reminds me of some verses, a lifestyle I hold dear."

The assassins listened, their thoughts a tangled web of emotions.

"What kind of life does he find appealing?" they wondered.

"As I gaze upon blossoms born and withered, I fear nothing. The shifting clouds may come and go, and I care not whether to stay or to depart..." he continued, speaking with the grace of a scholar. "It is this leisurely existence that I cherish the most."

The assassins were torn between disbelief and a cold dread.

"You've turned this place into a river of blood and a mountain of corpses," they thought. "And now you speak as if it's a tranquil scene, as if you're a recluse leading a life of leisure."

Yet, an unsettling realization began to take hold in their hearts.

A man who kills with visible rage might be terrifying, but a man like Feng Monarch, who took the lives of thousands while discussing life philosophies with the ease of a casual observer, struck a different chord of terror within them.

"This man is invincible!" they silently acknowledged.

Feng Monarch's steps continued, and he noticed several severed heads lying amidst the blood-soaked ground. He paused, his gaze resting upon the decapitated heads, and he sighed. "Life is a struggle, my friends. From birth, people strive tirelessly to become accomplished cultivators, overcoming countless hardships. Yet, in the end, it is so easy to meet one's demise..."

He cast his eyes upon the assassins, his words laden with sincerity. "It teaches us the importance of choosing the right path. Sometimes, you must keep your vision clear and your temper cool. Don't let your desires blind you. The pursuit of wealth may lead to your own undoing. Do you not concur?"

Silence reigned among the assassins. Those who stood closest to Feng Monarch took cautious steps backward, their faces drained of color.

"I am, by nature, a kind-hearted man," Feng Monarch lamented. "I abhor violence and try to be fair in my dealings. I extend my kindness to all... My heart is gentle, truly. I have no desire to harm anyone. In fact, I worry about squashing ants when I sweep the floor, and I always use a lampshade to prevent moths from flying into the flame..."

He spoke with a tone of compassion, and the assassins were trembling. They glanced at the nightmarish tableau before them, then back at the man who professed his gentleness and aversion to violence.

Their bewilderment and unease grew, akin to a stampede of a hundred thousand alpacas trampling their hearts.

"You've left us utterly speechless," they thought, their gazes fixed upon him.

Feng Monarch continued, a veneer of indifference veiling his chilling resolve. "You brought this upon yourselves... My head holds substantial value, I am well aware. Regardless of its worth, it should be sufficient to quell your avarice."

"Your greed, however, is worth far more."

"While my head carries significance for me, in your hearts, your heads are of greater value than mine to me... But your insatiable greed has placed your lives in peril. Even if you amass great wealth, what good is it if you do not live to enjoy it? Moreover, riches can never compensate for the loss of your lives."

"I spare no mercy for individuals of your ilk. When I strike, I do so without hesitation."

Cha Eun Xiao walked with an air of nonchalance, his hands casually resting behind his back. There was no hint of the formidable cultivation abilities he possessed; he moved at the pace of an ordinary man, deliberately unhurried.

As he advanced toward the ring of assassins who had encircled him, a sense of pandemonium gripped them. In the presence of Feng Monarch, their chaos was palpable.

The assassins before him, realizing the impending threat, strained to retreat. It became evident that their lives depended on their distance from Feng Monarch, who was no longer just an adversary they sought to eliminate but rather an embodiment of death itself. He had transformed into a grim reaper capable of extinguishing their lives with a mere gesture.

Where Cha Eun Xiao tread, the assassins scattered. None dared to remain within a ten-meter radius of him. An expanse of vacant space stretched out before him, a path ten meters in width, leading Cha Eun Xiao directly to the gates of Ling-Bao Hall.

His gaze was steadfast, directed ahead. Not a single assassin dared to challenge his unyielding march.

"At first," he began to speak as he walked, his tone devoid of emotion, "there were countless individuals harboring the desire to end my life. I comprehended their motivations, yet I was filled with dread. I found myself grappling with the weight of being branded an enemy to the entire world."

Cha Eun Xiao continued, his words casting a pall of unease upon those who heard them. His voice, though seemingly indifferent, reverberated with the ominous resonance of death.

"Feng Monarch," they thought, "his very utterances hold the power of death."

"But then," he continued, "I underwent a revelation... a complete transformation of thought. If the world wishes to see my demise, I shall ensure that the world too faces its own demise. You aspire to end my life for the sake of your own future happiness. Well, I can end all of your lives to secure a future of my own. Is that not reasonable?"

A faint smile crept across Cha Eun Xiao's lips. "In reality, is six billion truly an exorbitant sum? The one who claims my life shall acquire the entire fortune. As for the rest, their best-case scenario is survival, with no prospect of greater reward. Is that not the case?"

"That's the crux of it," he said, blandly smiling. "People wish to sever my head, and the only recourse I have is to sever theirs in turn. That's the extent of it."

Cha Eun Xiao paused, his smile unwavering. "I've contemplated further. Those who offered a bounty for my head might just as well have bounties on their own. And I've realized that no other entity in the world can extend more substantial rewards than I can."

"Following this night, Ling-Bao Hall will issue bounties," he declared, his stance perched atop the wall, his hands still nonchalantly behind his back. But as his eyes scanned the courtyard, his expression shifted.

Clearly, things had taken an unexpected turn.

Cha Eun Xiao's gaze fell upon the lifeless bodies of assassins strewn about the yard, but not all was as he had anticipated.