The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 540: Extermination!

Extermination! . . .

As Bing-Er hastened toward the Second Prince, a surge of terror gripped him, prompting him to recoil. His immediate surroundings, however, offered no respite, as Cha Eun Xiao swiftly dispatched the guards accompanying the prince, leaving behind a trail of instantaneous death. The approaching gleam of a sword thrust Second Prince into a near state of spiritual despair, causing him to plead, "My lady, please, have mercy! I am..."

Bing-Er harbored an intense loathing for him, rendering his entreaties utterly inconsequential. She remained resolute in her determination to show him no clemency. With a swift, unrelenting kick, she sent the prince sprawling to the ground. Her sword descended upon his throat, and in a flurry of movements, she unleashed a rapid and vehement slap across his visage.

By the time she concluded the relentless barrage of slaps, the prince's countenance bore the telltale signs of an unfortunate transformation, resembling a visage one might associate with a pig's head. In that moment, Bing-Er finally regained her senses, aghast at the spectacle she had wrought.

"Since... Since when did I become so ruthless?" she wondered aloud, bewildered by the ferocity of her actions.

As she pondered this, she felt an inexplicable resurgence of the same murderous intent and brutality that had possessed her earlier. This tempestuous emotion threatened to overtake her, a feeling she struggled to contain. The erratic surges of this sinister impulse had manifested multiple times during the recent tumultuous events, each time leaving her with an unsettling sensation of being a stranger to herself.

It was an unsettling phenomenon, yet as she surveyed the blood-soaked aftermath, her discomfort gave way to a certain grim pragmatism. "Can this change in my demeanor shield me from the negative emotions that arise in battle?" she mused, her mind racing to find an answer.

Before she could delve deeper into her introspection, Mister Hundred Flowers, despite his grievous injuries, staggered toward her with a lecherous glint in his eyes. It was clear he had designs on escaping through the nearby door or perhaps even capturing her.

The sinister intentions reflected in his gaze sent Bing-Er into a frenzied rage. Her latent brutality surged once more, and an intense killing intent seemed to shoot forth from her eyes, a power beyond explanation. Simultaneously, she experienced an unfamiliar sensation.

Fixing her unwavering gaze upon Hua Liushui, she intended to draw her sword and exact justice. However, just as she moved to do so, the power within her eyes burst forth, striking the old man.

The immediate consequence was an exclamation of agony as Hua Liushui plummeted to the floor, his body quaking upon impact. He was utterly incapacitated, unable to rise.

Bing-Er stood in a stunned reverie, perplexed by the inexplicable turn of events. "What... What is happening?" she wondered, baffled by the sudden display of her newfound, inexplicable power.

She tried to rationalize it, convincing herself that her mere gaze hadn't been responsible. Hua Liushui must have been grievously injured, and the exertion of approaching her had exacerbated his condition, causing internal wounds to rupture.

It was the most plausible explanation, the one that made the most sense. She was still coming to terms with her newfound abilities and couldn't quite believe that her eyes alone had this inexplicable impact.

Cha Eun Xiao swiftly intervened, instructing, "Keep several men alive!" As he alighted upon Hua Liushui, he placed a firm, unforgiving foot upon the old man's back. Addressing Ning Biluo and the others, he continued, "We must keep the Second Prince's trusted associates alive, that we may extract valuable information from them."

Ning Biluo responded with a sly smile. "Rest assured, none of them have eluded our grasp. We have every one of them in custody."

Hua Liushui, now groaning beneath Cha Eun Xiao's weight, spat out more blood. His once-lascivious eyes now brimmed with sheer terror as he stared at Bing-Er, his voice laden with astonishment, "You..."

Cha Eun Xiao clenched his hand, seizing a tuft of hair before wrenching his head upward. A sharp, stinging slap resounded as his palm collided forcefully with Hua Liushui's face, accompanied by a resolute declaration, "Shut your impudent, old, lecherous mouth!"

The brutal strike left a visible impact, causing half of the teeth in Hua Liushui's mouth to dislodge and clatter to the ground. The elderly man now appeared significantly more toothless, a considerable portion of his dental faculties forever lost.

With a vociferous shout, Zhao Pingtian and Liu Changjun emerged from the inner chamber, the blades of their swords adorned with traces of fresh blood. Zhao Pingtian, his expression one of disdain, began to recount the situation, "Master, we have systematically eliminated all individuals within Second Prince's Palace. Not a single soul has escaped our vigilance."

Cha Nantian sought confirmation, inquiring, "Were any of them innocent in your eyes?"

Zhao Pingtian's response exuded disbelief as he continued, "Absolutely not, Master. It is quite remarkable. Even the concubines within the prince's harem are disciples of this depraved, old miscreant! What's more..."

He cast a contemptuous glance in the direction of the disheveled prince. "I would never have fathomed that he not only managed a brothel but also willingly embraced his role as a cuckold. This revelation is unlike anything I've ever encountered. With such a ludicrous prince, the Kingdom of Chen's legacy may indeed persist in history. Though I doubt it will be celebrated for any notable achievements, for it appears the prince had a penchant for surrounding himself with a wretched lot."

Liu Changjun chimed in with a hearty laugh, saying, "Indeed, Zhao Pingtian speaks the truth. We spared two young maids, who served as the prince's personal attendants and held vital roles within the Voluptuous Flower Building. It boggles the mind to consider that such individuals were under his employ. It makes one wonder how all the individuals he recruited were of such questionable character."

Zhao Pingtian, however, swiftly interjected, "Enough of this, Liu Changjun. I beseech you, cease speaking on this matter. I have no desire to subject my ears to further distasteful revelations. Spare me the torment of hearing such loathsome tales."

Cha Eun Xiao concurred, stating, "That will suffice. Take him into custody. We shall return and commence our interrogation tonight. Liu Changjun, lead the assassins' team back. Our actions have already drawn ample attention, and I fear the Royal Guards will soon arrive. It would be prudent to avoid any altercation with them."

With a nod of acknowledgment, Liu Changjun affirmed his understanding and departed, his orders rapidly reverberating through the night.

"Head count!" he commanded.

"Affirmative!"

"Two hundred and seventy-five servants and sixty maids, along with seventeen concubines. Two of the maids are alive, while the remainder have met their demise. Confirmed!"

"Verify the count of deceased individuals!"

"Very well!"

"Five hundred guards perished, with no survivors. Confirmed!"

"Double-check, scrutinize their remains for accuracy."

"As you wish."

"Hurry!"

...

"Confirmed!"

"Confirmed!"

"Excellent! Heads in one place, severed body parts in another. Maintain order and do not mar the macabre spectacle!"

"Understood!"

"All of you, withdraw!"

Sounds of rapid departure punctuated the night. The assassins outside dispersed into the shroud of darkness as the first light of dawn began to break.