The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 668: I Am Off!

I Am Off! . . .

Cha Eun Xiao knew that if this information spread, the consequences would be dire. It was a scandal too disgraceful to bear. The mere thought of her rival, Xue Danru, discovering the truth sent shivers down her spine. What slanderous words might her rival unleash?

"A shameless, filthy, and indelicate harlot! I still recall the day you showed me your virginity mark. Where is it now? Where is your virtue? Deny it if you dare, but you are utterly shameless. I truly admire your audacity!"

These scathing remarks reverberated in her thoughts, adding to her growing unease. She imagined the awkward encounter with her rival, and it overwhelmed her. The idea of facing Xue Danru, the judgment, the scorn—it was almost too much to bear.

"You are simply my fated calamity," she muttered while looking at Cha Eun Xiao on the floor.

The murderous intent that had consumed her heart had waned, leaving her more contemplative.

But then her gaze fell upon the headless bodies strewn about the vicinity.

The surging murderous aura returned with a vengeance.

This time, her ire was not directed at Cha Eun Xiao. She no longer sought to suppress it.

"You wretches! Representatives of two great sects, two mighty factions!" The fury in her eyes grew intense. "How dare... how dare you... how dare you dare to disrupt my cultivation."

"You damn miscreants! You are deserving of death!"

With a sudden surge of determination, she rose to her feet, ready to ascend to the Qing-Yun Realm and take vengeance upon the men from the two factions.

Yet, she hesitated, her thoughts returning to Cha Eun Xiao. Her decision shifted once more.

Turning back to him, she reached out, placing her hand gently on his chest and channeled pure spiritual energy into him.

As he neared recovery, she tapped his forehead with a finger and murmured, "Forget it. I don't want you to see me..."

Her face reddened, and she gazed at his handsome visage. "I... I am leaving. I am leaving for good this time."

She took a few steps away but couldn't resist the urge to return. Gazing at him as though it were their last encounter, she leaned down and lightly kissed his lips.

Her face turned crimson, her embarrassment palpable. She scanned her surroundings, ensuring that no one had witnessed their brief moment, then quietly departed.

Her delicate fingers brushed Cha Eun Xiao, her mind wandering to the dan beads he had placed into the bottle. The memory of his caring gesture brought warmth to her heart.

[Master, Bing-Er is departing...]

[No, let it be Bing-Er... Well, my name is Xuan Bing, after all. So, you can still call me Bing-Er!]

[At any rate, we may never meet again in the future, I presume?]

After some time, a streak of white light shot into the sky like a bolt of lightning, then vanished without a trace.

After a while, Cha Eun Xiao awoke.

Upon opening his eyes, he sensed a profound change. It was as if he had been revitalized, his body brimming with energy.

[Wasn't I severely wounded? Wasn't I on the brink of death?]

[Why...]

[My body feels... invigorated! This must be my peak condition...]

Confusion swirled within him as he leaped to his feet.

[What's going on? Shouldn't I be surrounded...]

[Right!]

[I was in the midst of battle!]

[Where are the enemies?]

Cha Eun Xiao surveyed the mountain surroundings, a sense of eerie emptiness engulfing him. It was as if he had awakened within a dream.

"Why is there no one here?"

"What is happening?"

"Where did everyone go?"

In a world where these individuals were regarded as invincible, their absence seemed surreal. The eerie quietness left him bewildered. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

His keen observations eventually led him to a disturbing revelation. After a meticulous examination, he discovered bloodstains on the ground, evidence of a fierce conflict that had occurred recently.

"There was indeed a battle. Someone tried to erase the traces. I must have lost consciousness due to my injuries. A supremely powerful figure intervened, eliminating Du Qingpeng and the others. But who possesses such incredible strength?"

His brow furrowed, perplexed by the mystery. Then, concern for Bing-Er gripped him.

"No! How is Bing-Er? Although the unknown figure eliminated Du Qingpeng and his men, Bing-Er may still be in danger."

Driven by this thought, Cha Eun Xiao abruptly turned and descended the mountain peak with the urgency of a gale. He hastened into the cave, hoping for a glimpse of her.

The cave appeared unaltered, the Soul Gathering Array still in operation, and the spiritual stones undisturbed. But Bing-Er was nowhere to be found.

"Where is Bing-Er? Why is she gone?"

His anxiety mounted as he considered various possibilities, including the chilling thought of her being kidnapped.

Wait. He then realized that if someone had the capability to take Bing-Er, they would not have let him go so easily.

Cha Eun Xiao scoured the area surrounding the cave but found no trace of Bing-Er's whereabouts. Returning to the cave, he sat where she should have been, forcing himself to think rationally.

Despite his best efforts, he remained perplexed. The events that had unfolded during his unconsciousness left him in a state of confusion. He sat there, his mind a blank canvas.

Then, an unexpected discovery shook him from his stupor. His gaze fixed upon words etched onto the cave wall, the message scratched onto the stone surface. It appeared that the writer had initially been dissatisfied with the wording and had rewritten it multiple times.

"Memory back... I am off..."

Cha Eun Xiao stared at the message, baffled and utterly confounded. "What does this mean? What could it possibly signify?"

"The men are gone, missing... likely deceased. Could Bing-Er have driven them away? Perhaps she eliminated them?"

But a gnawing doubt remained. "Bing-Er... she's so frail. How is that even possible?"