The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 725: Peerless Affectionate Guy?

Peerless Affectionate Guy? . . .

Meng Chuanshi shook his head with a heavy heart, releasing a deep sigh. "Commander Cha had set aside everything, even the kingdom itself, for the sake of the princess... Did he never contemplate the possibility of facing the King's wrath in the Kingdom of Chen? Of course, he did! How could he not? However, even with that knowledge, he still undertook this monumental act for you, Princess. It underscores the depth of his love for you..."

General Meng continued to sigh until a pervasive aura of menace washed over him. Looking up, he met Wenren Chuchu's cold, unrelenting gaze, which sent shivers down his spine.

His voice trembled as he offered a hasty apology, "I didn't mean to offend, Princess. In reality, there's no need for concern. Commander Cha's contributions to his kingdom have been so substantial that the King is unlikely to exact any punitive measures. It would only weaken his own forces..."

He mistakenly believed that Wenren Chuchu was fretting over Cha Eun Xiao's safety, not realizing the true nature of her emotions.

Wenren Chuchu's cold expression only grew colder as she departed. Her opinion of General Meng plummeted, although she refrained from subjecting him to further humiliation.

She couldn't help but wish that his words were accurate, that Cha Eun Xiao's love for her was as fervent as he made it seem. It would have warmed her heart. Yet, she knew this was far from the truth. Her anger toward him swelled because he had played a game with her and used her as an excuse to retreat.

In reality, Cha Eun Xiao had wanted to withdraw from the very start. He didn't want to prolong the conflict and desired to conserve his forces. His troops were weary, and he craved an excuse to leave the battlefield.

He had taken advantage of Wenren Chuchu's obstinacy to create the pretext for a retreat. Even if she hadn't issued the threatening words, he would have found an alternative excuse to withdraw. The outcome would have been the same.

It was all an elaborate ruse.

The infuriating part was that he had made himself appear noble and virtuous, while also dragging her down into the mud. The world now believed he had retreated out of love for her, and she couldn't convince anyone otherwise.

As Wenren Chuchu left the wall, she was acutely aware of the strange, bewildering gazes of the soldiers. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger, and the ire in her chest swelled. If her anger could manifest as fire, it would dwarf the blaze Wenren Jianyin had set in Iron Peak, and not even Cosmic Hades could extinguish it.

One thing she knew for certain: she had etched her name into the annals of history, forever a legend in her kingdom.

However, she also lost her chasteness...

Cha Eun Xiao completely ruined it!

"Cha Eun Xiao!" When she finally returned to her room, she burst with anger. "You scoundrel! You! This will not end!"

Cha Eun Xiao was leading the army, swiftly making their way back to the capital.

The soldiers followed in complete silence, a somber and eerie atmosphere surrounding the army.

None of them understood the reason for the retreat, but they unwaveringly obeyed their commander's orders.

Even if Commander Cha had indeed retreated because of the beautiful princess, they would willingly comply with the decision. They were prepared to do anything for their beloved commander, even if it meant sacrificing a hard-earned victory.

The success on the battlefield had elevated Cha Eun Xiao's status to legendary proportions among his troops.

"I must say, young man, you are truly an enigma," Song Jue commented with a puzzled expression. "I... I genuinely can't fathom your motives. If you didn't want to continue the fight, why use that as an excuse?"

He was, of course, one of the very few individuals who were aware of the true reason behind the retreat.

Cha Eun Xiao huffed, "Uncle Song, don't you think it's better this way?"

Song Jue was taken aback.

The issue extended beyond Cha Eun Xiao's decision to withdraw from the war. It included the act of returning the previously conquered towns to the Kingdom of Lan-Feng. Cha Eun Xiao hadn't stopped until they reached the first line of defense of the Kingdom of Chen, known as Valley Pass. There, they began recruiting the local populace to repair the fortifications.

Commander Cha had restored the situation to its pre-war state.

In the eyes of others, Cha Eun Xiao's actions were perceived as a favor to the beautiful princess. However, for the Kingdom of Chen, the concessions were considerable.

Cha Eun Xiao had willingly relinquished land and a hard-earned victory for the sake of a woman. It was seen as a romantic gesture, and he was indeed regarded as a man of passion.

"Oh, Commander! You didn't even fear death for the sake of a woman's smile!"

Prior to the war, Valley Pass had been a territory of the Kingdom of Chen. Beyond Valley Pass was an area that was unclaimed or recognized as the shared land of both kingdoms. To the west lay the Kingdom of Lan-Feng.

Cha Eun Xiao's actions effectively erased the events of the war, returning everything to the status quo before the conflict began. The bridges were bridges, the roads were roads, and it was as though nothing significant had occurred.

However, the toll of this war on the world was substantial.

Countless resources, manpower, and wealth had been squandered. While the Kingdom of Chen remained largely unscathed, thanks to its victory and the support of Feng Monarch, the other two kingdoms were set back by a decade.

The Northern Grasslands suffered the most as the Grassland Tribes faced near-extinction. The impact of this conflict would be felt for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

As for Cha Eun Xiao, he simply disappeared, vanishing without a trace. Nobody knew his whereabouts.