The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 711: Ashamed!

Ashamed! . . .

Cha Eun Xiao's eyes glistened with a chilling glint. "I believe you understand the consequences if you violate our agreement. You know me well. The worst-case scenario would involve us renouncing our duty to protect anyone. Letting those men perish won't pose much of a challenge, at least not for me. Isn't that right?"

Wenren Chuchu, overwhelmed by her emotions at that moment, didn't fully register the threat embedded in his words. She gazed at Cha Eun Xiao and responded in a hushed tone, "You are an honorable man."

The individuals she sought to safeguard were all her own flesh and blood, her close kin. On the other hand, the people Cha Eun Xiao wanted to protect had no blood ties to him, even though some might consider them akin.

Comparatively, she was the one driven by more self-interest, a fact that was undeniable.

"I am a man," Cha Eun Xiao asserted.

"Yes," Wenren Chuchu concurred, "you are a true man."

She rose from her seat and declared, "Brother Cha, I will honor my promise. You can rest assured."

Cha Eun Xiao affirmed, "I am a man, a genuine man. A man should always keep his word. You know that I do!"

Her smile radiated confidence. "I wasn't entirely certain, but now I have no doubt you will."

With those words, she departed, leaping away and disappearing into the distance.

"You and I shall meet in the Qing-Yun Realm. Commander Cha, take care. Don't forget our agreement. And remember the Regeneration Ink Lotus..."

Her voice dwindled into the distance.

Cha Eun Xiao let out a sigh of relief. What had been a significant source of concern for him, regarding those disabled men who had loyally followed his father, was resolved in a seemingly inconsequential manner. He had been worried about their fate after his father, Song Jue, and he departed from this world. The able-bodied individuals could fend for themselves. The real issue revolved around those who had made significant contributions but were now left with disabilities, their lives bound to end in anguish.

Cha Eun Xiao had contemplated assigning them under the stewardship of Ling-Bao Hall. It was a pragmatic solution, but the men would likely reject such an arrangement. They might have been willing to serve as guards or retainers within the House of Cha, but not in foreign households; it would be an affront to their dignity. Now, with the agreement he'd reached with Wenren Chuchu, he felt a sense of relief.

However, he couldn't help but ponder the conversation he'd just had. Wenren Chuchu had stated, "You are a real man!" There was a certain ambiguity to that statement.

"I am a real man?" Cha Eun Xiao pondered. His mind was immediately inundated with lascivious thoughts. If Wenren Chuchu could see the state of his mind at that very moment, she'd undoubtedly berate him fiercely, knowing he harbored such ignoble inclinations.

His mind wandered back to a past incident when she had indeed reprimanded him for such thoughts, leaving him with a painful memory.

"The girl has left?" Song Jue entered the tent, breaking Cha Eun Xiao's reverie.

He had presumed that Wenren Chuchu was formidable in martial arts, so he hadn't strayed too far, keeping a close eye on the tent. Once he saw her departure, he returned to ensure everything was in order. He believed that Cha Eun Xiao might not be able to defeat Wenren Chuchu; he himself surely couldn't. After all, she was an heir of the Misty Cloud Palace, and she appeared to employ a special technique to conceal her true strength, even from Song Jue, who was of a higher cultivation level.

"She's gone," Cha Eun Xiao confirmed.

"Gone?" Song Jue gazed at him inquisitively. "What did she want?"

"She paid me a visit for a private discussion," Cha Eun Xiao remarked. "Nothing of great significance. It was about preparations and arrangements, unrelated to the ongoing war."

He proceeded to relay the conversation in detail to Song Jue.

Song Jue appeared astonished. "That's all?"

Cha Eun Xiao nodded. "That's it."

"She came all the way to the enemy's encampment this late at night just for that?" Song Jue seemed incredulous. "She came to your quarters, at night, to see you? And for what? To discuss those trivial matters?"

Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brow. "Are those matters truly trivial? They concern the people she holds dearest – her parents and siblings. These are matters of utmost importance to her."

Song Jue scoffed. "Even if it's that significant to her, couldn't she have chosen a more appropriate time or place? Must she visit your room late at night? She needlessly risked so much for all this nonsense?"

Cha Eun Xiao found it perplexing. "Then why did she come? I'd be interested to hear your perspective!"

"I thought you were astute, but you're behaving like a complete fool," Song Jue remarked, a note of disappointment in his tone. "A fool!"

"To see me?" Cha Eun Xiao was bewildered. "Why? What are you implying?"

"To catch a glimpse of your handsome face, damn it!" Song Jue exclaimed, exasperated. "For heaven's sake! You're usually quite clever, but now you're acting like an absolute imbecile. Do you really know nothing about women? You've been with numerous women – one on your left, another on your right. How can you be so oblivious?"

Cha Eun Xiao felt unfairly accused.

"What do you mean by 'been with many girls'? What do you mean, one on the left, another on the right?" he protested.

"I've lived two lives," he thought. "I've only had one experience with a woman, and she was my maid who initiated it, and it happened while I was immersed in cultivating Pure Yang Martial Arts. How could I possibly be knowledgeable about women?"

"I'm living my second life here, and I can't even measure up to the standards of a proper foppish young lord," Cha Eun Xiao lamented, and he implored Song Jue to refrain from mentioning the 'three lords in town.'

Song Jue huffed, "They say the more foolish you are, the more appealing you become to women! Unbelievable..." With an exasperated shake of his head and his hands folded behind his back, he departed. Under his breath, he muttered, "Princess Yue-Er, the enigmatic girl Bing-Er, and now the enemy princess... Truly, what a fortunate scoundrel..."

He continued on his way, sighing deeply.