Promise? Why Did You Save Me? . . .
Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but revel in his acting skills. He thought to himself, [Thank goodness I played my part so convincingly. Even if the deceased Purple Lotus Master were alive, he wouldn't have been able to craft a purple lotus better than mine...
Otherwise, my cover would have been blown, wouldn't it?]
Cha-Eun Xiao sensed that the situation had taken an unexpected and peculiar turn ever since he revealed the purple lotus.
Xiu-Er appeared notably more cautious as she inquired in a hushed tone, "I didn't know who you were... It was rumored that you were relentlessly pursued by the unparalleled Xiao Monarch in the Qing-Yun Realm. After that, you seemed to vanish from existence... Many believed you were..."
Cha-Eun Xiao shook his head solemnly, his face contorted with bitterness. He responded, "The Xiao Monarch is indeed the most formidable figure in the Qing-Yun Realm. I am clearly no match for him. In fact, had he not relentlessly hunted me like a madman, I would never have ended up in this realm... Oh."
As he spun his fabricated tale, his heart raced.
[She's aware that I hunted down the Purple Lotus Master?
This is strange!
Who is this Xiu-Er? And who is the master pulling her strings? Where do they hail from?
Why have I never encountered their names?
There are only a handful of individuals who possess knowledge of those events... Anyone in the know is a prominent figure in the world... Yet, I have no recollection of a Master Bai from the House of Chaotic Storm. It's... incredibly perplexing!
Unbelievable!
Furthermore, her demeanor towards me lacks fear or reverence.
Evidently, she doesn't fear the Purple Lotus Master!
Why is that? Even in the Qing-Yun Realm, there are likely no more than 200 people who would dare to address the Purple Lotus Master in such a manner. I doubt any of those 200 individuals is named Bai.
She may be a mere servant, but she exhibits no fear of the Purple Lotus Master...]
Cha-Eun Xiao was taken aback. [This is bound to complicate matters down the line!]
Xiu-Er had now confirmed his identity as the Purple Lotus Master.
After all, her thought process aligned with Cha-Eun Xiao's. [In the mortal world, only the master, Wan-Er, and I are privy to knowledge of the Purple Lotus Master!
It would be impossible for anyone else to possess this information.
Moreover, no one would be able to recite the catchphrase used by the Purple Lotus Master.]
With a smile, she continued, "It's a pleasure to meet you in person. I have some good news for you... Your nemesis, the Xiao Monarch, was hunted down and slain by the three factions three months ago!"
"What the hell!"
The exclamation burst forth from Cha-Eun Xiao's lips.
This time, he wasn't feigning surprise; he was genuinely astonished.
[How does this young woman possess such knowledge?
She even knows that I was killed?
What in the world is happening?!
Could there be some kind of communication link between the Qing-Yun Realm and the mortal world?
This is utterly unbelievable!]
To Xiu-Er, the Purple Lotus Master's surprise was quite reasonable. After all, the Xiao Monarch was renowned for his arrogance and peerless martial prowess. Such an invincible figure wouldn't have easily met his demise.
Xiu-Er herself had struggled to believe the news until she had confirmed it three times.
"The Xiao Monarch... He... He actually died..." Cha-Eun Xiao's expression was a complex blend of mourning, regret, and perhaps even a touch of hatred. Yet, it was primarily characterized by an indescribable emptiness, much like what the Purple Lotus Master would have displayed if he were still alive and heard the news.
Observing Cha-Eun Xiao, Xiu-Er felt increasingly certain that she was indeed in the presence of the Purple Lotus Master.
"He actually died... Heh heh heh..." Cha-Eun Xiao laughed with a sorrowful tone and continued, "How could he have died so soon?"
In Xiu-Er's interpretation, his words meant, 'How could he have died before I had a chance to exact my revenge and kill him myself...'
Disdain flickered briefly in Xiu-Er's eyes as she thought, [You're nothing more than a failure who was hunted by the Xiao Monarch and fled to this lower realm... Yet you dare dream of revenge? That's nothing but a foolish fantasy. If you truly sought vengeance, why didn't you return to pursue it? You lack the courage to venture back to the Qing-Yun Realm. Do you still consider yourself the Purple Lotus Master...]
Of course, she didn't dare to vocalize these thoughts. The Purple Lotus Master, though insignificant to the Xiao Monarch, was someone she absolutely shouldn't provoke.
Xiu-Er lowered her voice and inquired, "Are you injured?"
Cha-Eun Xiao became instantly cautious and responded coolly, "If I weren't... why would I be in this place? It's a rather somber tale of mine. However, I believe I'll be departing soon."
He implied that his injuries had either significantly improved or fully healed.
Xiu-Er glanced at him and remarked, "Very well. Why do you wish to save this man?"
Cha-Eun Xiao replied cryptically, "I have my reasons for saving him. Regrettably, I find it inconvenient to disclose them to you. Would you be willing to do me a favor in return? What are your thoughts?"
Xiu-Er smiled and said, "Since the Purple Lotus Master has given his word, I will step back. If this bloody Ning Bi-Luo doesn't wish to join us, it should be acceptable for him to join you. However, now that you're in the mortal realm and appear to be returning to the upper realm soon, I wonder if you'd be willing to do me a favor as well?"
Cha-Eun Xiao frowned, "A favor? As a form of repayment? I'd rather not owe anyone. Go ahead."
"I don't dare to request repayment from you directly. I merely wish to ask for your assistance with a matter that I haven't yet decided upon. I'll come to you once I've made up my mind..." Xiu-Er smiled. "If you agree, I will depart immediately."
Cha-Eun Xiao was increasingly convinced that both Xiu-Er and her master, Master Bai, were not ordinary individuals.
To make a request of the renowned and ruthless Purple Lotus Master was audacious in itself...
"You mean you don't currently have anything specific that requires my assistance? I won't make such a promise!" Cha-Eun Xiao shook his head firmly. "If it turns out you want me to do something I should never do or simply wish to have me end my life for your amusement, how can I honor such a promise? The foundation of any agreement is that both parties consider it equitable. Do you truly believe you have the right to demand anything from me in this manner?"
A cold gleam shone in Xiu-Er's eyes. [This Purple Lotus Master appears to despise me due to my lower cultivation level. I will settle the score with him sooner or later for this.] Despite her anger, she maintained her smile and replied, "You've misunderstood me. My request won't put you in an uncomfortable position. At most, it will involve eliminating a target."
"It's not a difficult thing... to kill a person... In this world, even killing a king is an easy job," Cha-Eun Xiao declared, adopting an air of confidence. "In that case, I will say yes, since your request is just that simple."
[Today, I just need to free myself from all of this. You can go to the Purple Lotus Master if you want him to fulfill his promise, assuming you can even find him...]
"You are a straightforward man. I will leave Ning Bi-Luo to you then," Xiu-Er responded calmly. Her white attire billowed in the breeze, and with a quick flash, her sword disappeared, leaving her standing there, slender and tall, with no visible weapon.
"If you have the time, please visit the House of Chaotic Storm to converse with our master. He would be delighted to meet you," Xiu-Er suggested with a smile. When she mentioned 'master,' there was an evident pride and restraint in her tone.
Cha-Eun Xiao deduced that this Master Bai held a higher position than the Purple Lotus Master.
With a warm smile, he replied, "Once I've fully recovered, I will certainly pay a visit to Master Bai and Lady Xiu-Er."
"You will be welcomed anytime. It's quite challenging to have a conversation with an old friend in this mortal world..." Xiu-Er's attire seemed to float as she gracefully ascended into the air. She moved backward, speaking gently with a serene smile. "See you soon."
A stream of white silk whisked her away, and suddenly, in the midst of the rain, an immaculate white bridge materialized, creating the illusion of a path leading to the edge of the world.
Xiu-Er's slender figure traversed the bridge in the sky. She appeared to move slowly, but in reality, she was traveling at a rapid pace. Her pristine white attire remained untouched by raindrops or dirt, maintaining its immaculate purity. She arrived as pure and white as she departed, disappearing into the rain.
She didn't even spare a glance at Ning Bi-Luo.
Her white attire remained unblemished.
Beneath the relentless downpour...
...
Cha-Eun Xiao approached Ning Bi-Luo, who sat on the floor, staring at him with intense fear. He questioned, "Who are you? What is the Purple Lotus Master? Why did you save me? What do you want?"
Ning Bi-Luo had earned the title of the No.1 assassin in the world, but that accolade only applied to the mortal realm. He was entirely ignorant of the Qing-Yun Realm.
"You just fired off four questions in a row. You really can talk without pause! Well, you don't need to know who I am or where I'm from. I'll only tell you one thing: I saved you simply because I could. That's all," Cha-Eun Xiao replied indifferently. "Can you move?"
Gritting his teeth, Ning Bi-Luo placed his hands on the floor and struggled to his feet. He took a deep breath and responded, "Of course! My legs and arms are perfectly fine. Why wouldn't I be able to move?"