The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 799: What Do You See?

What Do You See? . . .

"To attain such an achievement at my age, one must wonder how many battles, how many deaths, and how many trials one must overcome. It's an experience unique to me. Only those who have lived it can truly comprehend," Cha Eun Xiao contemplated, his voice filled with the weight of his past.

Zhan Yunfei remained silent for a moment before responding, "You're absolutely right. I forgot that you're not originally from this realm. You may be young, but ascending from the lower realm to the Qing-Yun Realm requires exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and the ability to endure countless hardships that defy imagination."

"Indeed," Cha Eun Xiao acknowledged. "That's why I was able to pose those questions to the girl. What she revealed to me, however, is deeply troubling."

"Oh?" Zhan Yunfei inquired, intrigued.

Cha Eun Xiao explained, "It's horrifying. I was so disturbed by her answers that I don't even have the courage to delve deeper into this matter."

"Really? How so?" Zhan Yunfei's expression grew more serious.

Cha Eun Xiao elaborated, "Consider this: the girl mentioned that there were several others who resembled her, but they were 'weeded out.' We can deduce what that means. It implies that she is the one who most closely resembles Xiao Mufei's daughter, that she's the best candidate."

"What they desire from this girl is the demise of Xiao Mufei. Nothing more, nothing less. We're dealing with an enormous number of people similar to her—seventy-nine thousand five hundred ninety-six, to be exact. That means there are almost a hundred thousand assassins akin to her."

"Each of these assassins has a specific target. They are all meticulously designed to eliminate particular individuals."

"These children have been raised from a young age. They can resemble anyone's wife, daughter, son, or closest disciple. Essentially, they could be anyone."

"I suspect they all share the same purpose in life: to take the place of the individuals they resemble. It would be impractical if the real people were still alive; there would likely be strong resistance if someone tried to impersonate them."

"The moment they have an efficient assassin prepared to replace a person in the world, the real individual must vanish. Only when they're gone can the assassins step in to execute their mission."

Cha Eun Xiao's explanation, although intricate and multifaceted, was comprehensible to Zhan Yunfei, who attentively listened and acknowledged, "Impressive. Please continue."

"Consider the assassination attempt on Elder Xiao as an example," Cha Eun Xiao proceeded. "Everyone was suspicious of the staged carriage wreck, the elderly man feigning death, and the weeping girl, except for Elder Xiao. It was an obvious trap. However, Elder Xiao entered it knowingly. This confounded everyone. After all, Elder Xiao was an experienced individual. How could he have missed the ploy?"

"The truth is, Elder Xiao saw through the trap the moment he laid eyes on it. I was right there with him. At first, he remained composed, his intention being to send someone to eliminate the inept assassins. However..."

"The name 'Rongrong' struck Elder Xiao to the core. It touched the most tender part of his heart. Despite recognizing it as a trap and knowing that the girl was an assassin with no connection to his daughter, save for the same name and a similar face, he still succumbed to it. The girl bore a striking resemblance to his daughter, and that's all that mattered to him."

"What happened afterward is straightforward. Elder Xiao was struck. Fortunately, I possessed something that could combat the Nine Destination Dark. Otherwise, Elder Xiao would not have survived. It was a meticulously executed assassination attempt aimed at killing him."

"Even after sustaining an injury, Cha Eun Xiao implored others to allow the girl to depart safely. He generously provided her with numerous resources, ensuring she could live a peaceful life in the future. It showcased his kindness, but it also unveiled a chilling truth about the organization behind the assassination. Regardless of their target's power, they could invariably succeed."

"This was why they invested such substantial resources and time in nurturing these assassins. They exploited the vulnerabilities of people's hearts and harnessed profound emotions to carry out their killings—a sinister and insidious form of assassination that preyed on human weakness."

"It's alarming that such an organization exists in the world. They are characterized by their patience and opulence. Their activities are not just incredible but also ruthlessly effective. It's evident that they harbor sinister intentions."

"Another aspect of this organization that deeply concerns me is its sheer scale. They boast over a hundred thousand assassins."

Cha Eun Xiao pondered further, "Consider how many individuals must be trained and supported to maintain such a formidable force. The numbers are staggering."

"The assassins they are grooming are all tailored for specific targets—prominent figures within the realm. Investigating the backgrounds of these renowned individuals is no small feat; it's likely to draw their attention. These men are formidable characters, often hundreds of times more cautious than the average person. Thus, we are dealing with an intelligence network composed of over a hundred thousand individuals."

"It's evident that a formidable intelligence force backs this organization. It must be larger, more potent, and more sophisticated. This intelligence network undoubtedly extends across the entire martial world, if not the entire realm."