The Inquiry Commences . . .
After carefully retracting his finger, Cha-Eun Xiao found himself fixated on the newly formed cracks before him. The sheer magnitude of the damage he had inflicted with a mere tap left him utterly astounded.
It was truly unbelievable that such significant destruction had been wrought by the mere flicker of his finger's power—a fraction of the gelid qi, casually harnessed.
Silent contemplation enveloped him for a brief moment, his thoughts meandering through the newfound potential of the gelid qi as a protective force. However, questions lingered on the horizon, and he couldn't help but ponder, "What should be my next course of action?"
In the midst of his contemplation, faint noises emanated from beyond the front door, drawing his attention. Without delay, the steward hurriedly approached, concern etched on his face. "My lord," he began, "the government office of Chen-Xing City has dispatched a delegation, seeking your cooperation in an investigation. It appears to be related to the case of Mu Cheng-Bai's demise."
Cha-Eun Xiao maintained his composure and responded calmly, "Please admit them and guide them to the antechamber, offering them tea."
With a nod of acknowledgment, the steward promptly departed to carry out his instructions.
Cha-Eun Xiao, taking a moment to groom himself, proceeded toward the antechamber. As he entered, he was met with the sight of three men clad in official uniforms, seated and sipping tea. The atmosphere was laden with tension, an unmistakable air of discomfort and apprehension surrounding them.
After all, they were entering the residence of the Northern General, embarking on an investigation that involved the young lord of the house—a situation fraught with unease.
Every member of the household, seasoned ex-soldiers, cast an imposing gaze upon learning the purpose of the officers' visit. Their countenances shifted, emanating an intimidating aura as their latent intent to protect their lord surfaced prominently.
Their eyes conveyed a clear message—unfriendliness.
The three officers, in response, were overwhelmed by trepidation. They felt as though they had unwittingly stumbled into a den of ravenous tigers. The discomfort was palpable, and they came perilously close to trembling uncontrollably. Beads of perspiration adorned their foreheads, and the threat of losing control over their composure loomed large.
As Cha-Eun Xiao approached leisurely, a collective sigh of relief swept over them. They silently offered gratitude to the heavens for his timely arrival.
"Lord Ye!" one of the officers rose from his seat, but his legs betrayed him, and he swiftly resumed his place. The mental strain of resisting the emanating killing intent of the ex-soldiers had drained him, rendering him powerless in that moment.
Cha-Eun Xiao, maintaining an air of nonchalance, inched toward a chair and settled into it, adopting a semi-reclined posture devoid of any rigidity. He casually raised one leg, not bothering to cross it, allowing it to dangle over the armrest.
His demeanor was conspicuously unimpressive, his eyes dulled and devoid of spirit, exuding an air of indulgence.
The officer, observing this, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking, "Look at this young man... I truly don't know what to make of him. The general must have faced quite the dilemma in raising a son like him."
"Indeed, Lord Cha-Eun Xiao, we are merely following orders and harbor no intentions of causing offense," the officer spoke humbly, his tone conveying respect. "There is a matter that necessitates your attention."
"Very well, please proceed," Cha-Eun Xiao replied, tilting his head lazily as he nonchalantly scraped the dirt from beneath his nails.
The officer hesitated for a moment before broaching the topic, "It concerns the untimely demise of Young Lord Mu Cheng-Bai. I believe you may be familiar with this matter."
"Mu Cheng-Bai? Who is that? Have we crossed paths?" Cha-Eun Xiao raised his head, a perplexed expression clouding his features.
It was audacious of him to feign ignorance about Mu Cheng-Bai, and those present couldn't help but wonder if Cha-Eun Xiao was weaving an ill-timed jest.
Clearing his throat, the officer, who happened to be the leader among the trio, exhibited a flabbergasted look and continued, "Allow me to clarify, Lord Mu Cheng-Bai was the individual with whom you engaged in a confrontation several days ago. It is widely acknowledged that you exhibited great courage on that occasion and emerged victorious. Your valor was indeed commendable."
Cha-Eun Xiao adopted an air of feigned realization, "Ah, that rascal! He dared to pilfer from me; hence, he earned himself a thrashing. Hmm? What? He's deceased? Excellent! Who brought about his demise? I must reward the one responsible..."
Suddenly, a spark of intrigue gleamed in his eyes, "Wait a moment. Are you suggesting that I played a role in his demise? Oh, I see... After our altercation, he returned home, and his injuries worsened, leading to his death, correct? In that case, I am the inadvertent executioner? Ahahahaha, my prowess knows no bounds! I am truly formidable..."
His demeanor was entirely narcissistic, devoid of any signs of unease.
The officer was rendered momentarily speechless, coughing to regain his composure before responding, "There appears to be a misunderstanding... On that fateful afternoon, he was discovered deceased in the forest... That's all."
"What? I did not dispatch him?" Cha-Eun Xiao sighed in disappointment before erupting in anger, "Blast it all! Why wasn't it my hand that ended him? That scoundrel sorely vexed me, and I genuinely contemplated hiring mercenaries to deal with him! Humph! How dare he? He ought to have grasped the authority I wield in Chen-Xing City! He should have recognized my magnificence and the folly of crossing paths with me! He was poking the king's lion and swiping teeth from a tiger's maw! It's almost too simple for him to meet such a fate!"
The officer remained flabbergasted, his thoughts racing, "He truly speaks without restraint! That was the Mu clan's heir and the crown prince's brother-in-law! He couldn't have chosen a more formidable adversary. Yet here he is, boasting as if he faced no consequences... If Mu Cheng-Bai were still alive, it would likely have been Cha-Eun Xiao who met his end..."
Licking his lips, the officer prepared to speak, but Cha-Eun Xiao continued irately, "A commendable deed! Do you have any leads on the perpetrator? Have you identified them? I intend to reward this individual. They have been of great assistance to me, sparing me precious time. How could I not express my gratitude?"
The three officers were rendered speechless yet again, silently contemplating, "Why have we come here if we've already discovered the culprit?"
"Lord, I beseech you to recount the events of that day in meticulous detail. We must compile a report for higher authorities," the officer sighed wryly, finally disclosing their true purpose.
"A report? For what reason? You don't suspect me of orchestrating his demise, do you?" Cha-Eun Xiao narrowed his eyes, feigning incredulity. "I did entertain the notion of ending him, but someone evidently beat me to it... Humph, if only the scoundrel were still alive, I would personally have seen to his demise!"
The officers were left utterly speechless.
Eventually, they exerted considerable effort to persuade him, with the assistance of the steward, who provided a modicum of assistance. Grudgingly, Cha-Eun Xiao proceeded to provide a detailed account of the events that had transpired that day. As he recounted the instance when he had punched Mu Cheng-Bai, he became so animated that he rose from his seat, reenacting the confrontation with vivid enthusiasm. He meticulously demonstrated each move—punching, kicking, evading, leaping, and landing on Mu Cheng-Bai—as if narrating an enthralling duel between two masterful combatants.
In the end, Cha-Eun Xiao endeavored to paint a narrative wherein he, Lord Cha, had valiantly and unwaveringly battled as a supremely powerful, handsome, and refined world-class expert cultivator. In contrast, Mu Cheng-Bai had suffered a merciless thrashing, akin to a drowning mutt, until the magnanimous Lord Cha chose to spare his pitiful existence.
As he recounted this elaborate tale, those in attendance couldn't help but feel a sense of incredulity wash over them. His words evoked a collective unease that seemed to hang in the air.
After all, who among them was unaware that he had fled the scene, tail between his legs, during that very confrontation? His audacious retelling of events portrayed him as a grand hero, a portrayal met with nothing but disdain in their hearts.
"I see... We have grasped the situation comprehensively now. We shall promptly relay this information to our superiors," the officer interjected, clearly eager to make a swift exit.
"Hold on! Why the rush? I haven't finished my story yet," Lord Cha protested, unwilling to let them slip away so easily.
"We have gleaned a clear understanding of the situation, Lord Cha. You are a diligent individual, and we believe it would be best for you to seek some rest," the officers hurriedly replied as they made their escape from the General's House, as if fleeing from certain doom. They called out over their shoulders, "We may need to trouble you again in the future, Young Lord Cha..."
"Very well," Cha-Eun Xiao responded indifferently, remaining sprawled on his chair.
The servants escorted the departing officers, leaving only the steward behind.
"This situation is rather peculiar," the steward mused, a perplexed frown creasing his brow. "I had expected they might take you into custody for questioning, but instead, they conducted their inquiries here, in your own residence. It's rather unconventional..."
Cha-Eun Xiao emitted a soft scoff and calmly explained, "It's merely the delicate dance of political power at play. With the other princes all grown and vying for the throne, two of them have already established formidable influence within both the government and the martial clans. The crown prince finds himself in jeopardy of losing his position. Why would he risk antagonizing a powerful military force like us over a deceased brother-in-law?"
"Furthermore," the steward chimed in with a smile, "our favorable reputation precedes us."
Cha-Eun Xiao nodded in agreement, "Indeed. To the crown prince, Mu Cheng-Bai was a brother-in-law in life, but now that he's departed, he's just a lifeless body. That's all... Hiahia, hiahiahia..."
He chuckled slyly, saying no more as he retreated to his backyard to resume his cultivation.
"Nevertheless, something still feels amiss..." The steward's smile faded, and he murmured softly, "The crown prince is unlikely to let this matter rest so easily... Could there be further repercussions from him?"
Anxious, he clasped his hands behind his back, continuing, "The message to the general should have passed through Huang-Long Guan and reached the desert by now. It will take a maximum of two days for the message to reach the general, and at least another six days for a response... If anything goes awry within these eight days..."
He heaved a deep sigh, hastily departing the room. He instructed the guards to heighten security, especially during the night, and to maintain a vigilant watch.
"While those in the government may exercise restraint and caution, those hailing from the martial clans are an entirely different challenge to guard against," he stated with an air of anxiety.
His eyes betrayed his apprehension, and he concluded somberly, "The coming months may very well be marked by tumultuous events."
The steward, who had consistently exuded an air of composure, now found himself plagued by cold beads of sweat upon his brow. The task of safeguarding his young master felt increasingly precarious and uncertain.