The Heavenly Mystery! . . .
Wan-Er couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy wash over her as she lowered her head, her thoughts running deep. [Master Bai is undoubtedly a remarkable individual - intelligent, well-educated, but there's a certain aspect of human kindness... It seems to elude him, even after all these years...]
Master Bai, though initially silent, eventually broke the quietude with a comment that shifted the conversation. "Su Ding-Guo is on the verge of departing. Look at his army; he truly is an exceptional general."
Wan-Er responded thoughtfully, "The army is thriving under his command. He's earned the title of a War God. The King of the Kingdom of Chen is a wise ruler, and the kingdom is currently at the peak of its power. I believe that if we aim to overthrow them once again, it will prove far more challenging than our previous endeavors."
Master Bai contemplated this for a moment before speaking gently, "All of my past adversaries were at the height of their power."
Wan-Er, her voice filled with resignation, uttered softly, "If we hadn't intervened, Su Ding-Guo would have undoubtedly emerged victorious with ease, crushing his foes like dry weeds and rotten wood."
A cold smile tugged at the corners of Master Bai's lips as he remarked blandly, "Is everything in order?"
Wan-Er reassured him, her tone gentle yet confident. "Everything has been arranged as per your instructions. You need not worry."
Master Bai nodded in acknowledgment, his expression inscrutable.
He then brought up another matter, a hint of concern in his voice. "What about that individual, Red In The Sky? Is he still missing?" He furrowed his brow, his tone remaining stoic. "I find it difficult to believe that someone of his formidable cultivation would simply perish here in the Land of Han-Yang..."
Wan-Er nodded in agreement, offering her insights. "I have a suspicion that he is deliberately evading us. Perhaps there are circumstances compelling him to remain hidden from our view. I am currently looking into it."
Master Bai's demeanor shifted, his eyes flashing with an unsettling crimson hue. He spoke blandly, "I have this unsettling feeling that I am being betrayed..."
Wan-Er was taken aback by the revelation. She knew that her master's instincts were rarely wrong. Could it be that Red In The Sky had betrayed them?
Master Bai continued, refocusing the conversation. "Tell me everything about Cha-Eun Xiao," he requested, his tone calm but resolute. "I want to hear it all, without omitting a single detail."
Wan-Er, momentarily surprised, hesitated before responding, "Cha-Eun Xiao?" She had just provided a comprehensive account of Cha-Eun Xiao's background. Why was Master Bai suddenly interested in him? Was Cha-Eun Xiao more important to him than the ongoing war or the mystery of Red In The Sky?
Master Bai clarified, "Oh, I mean Cha Eun Xiao, the Xiao Monarch."
As he spoke, his fingers tapped rhythmically on his leg, a sign of his deep contemplation.
Wan-Er quickly pieced it together. Her master must be referring to the Cha Eun Xiao in the capital, not Cha-Eun Xiao. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to suddenly delve into the Xiao Monarch's story.
She looked at Master Bai, a hint of confusion in her gaze. Why did this seemingly frivolous young man hold such significance in her master's heart?
Master Bai, catching her perplexed expression, clapped his knee gently and shared his thoughts, "I've always had this nagging feeling that something isn't right about this foppish lad, Cha Eun Xiao. The Xiao Monarch's demise was shrouded in mystery, and I can't help but wonder if there might be a connection between these two 'Cha Eun Xiaos.' Could they possibly be..."
Wan-Er attempted to offer some perspective. "I don't doubt your instincts, but the Xiao Monarch was relentlessly pursued by three major factions. Under those dire circumstances, it's inconceivable that his soul could have escaped. You've considered this countless times before; revisiting it may not be necessary..."
Master Bai, however, persisted, speaking gently, "Heh, heh. I am revisiting it. I simply can't shake the uncertainty, especially after encountering this Cha Eun Xiao..."
Suddenly, a glint of cyan light flashed in his eyes as he continued in a soft tone, "The Cha Eun Xiao residing in the General's House practices martial arts with a cold attribute... It's noticeably different from the Xiao Monarch. If he were truly the Xiao Monarch, he would possess that 'distinctive trait,' and his aura would exude warmth."
Wan-Er's nod was filled with an underlying sense of confusion. [Master Bai is typically resolute in his decisions. Why is he so fixated on this particular subject? This Cha-Eun Xiao is an entirely different individual from the Xiao Monarch. Countless people share the same name... It's not prudent to dwell on this matter so persistently.]
Master Bai, however, wore a troubled expression, his brows knitted in deep contemplation. He muttered in dismay, "Nine cycles of reformation, nine recastings, nine tumultuous storms, nine narrow escapes from death, and the offering of nine billion souls to the Heavenly Mystery... Yet, it vanished the moment it manifested in our world..."
His face grew pallid as he continued, his voice laced with frustration, "I have invested so much in this endeavor, only to face such a result. How can I come to terms with this?"
Wan-Er mirrored her master's solemn demeanor. A shared sense of regret passed between them, though the nature of their feelings differed. Master Bai's predominant emotion was regret, whereas Wan-Er felt a profound sense of disappointment.
The tale of the Heavenly Mystery had endured through countless generations, a story that spanned hundreds of thousands of years. It was said to encompass an enigmatic cosmic secret—a phenomenon that lay beyond the bounds of the known universe.
This mystery was something no one had ever witnessed—a concept that transcended human comprehension. As the eons passed, it evolved into a captivating legend, acquiring the name "Heavenly Mystery."
Despite its allure, nobody could describe its appearance, location, or nature. Yet, there existed a universal understanding that whoever managed to attain it would ascend to the position of Dominator of the Ethereal Firmament—an enticing prospect.
However, it had always remained a myth, an enigma with no physical presence. No one had ever claimed to have seen it.
Master Bai's journey into the unknown began with the fortuitous discovery of a relic fragment that transported him to a mysterious realm. There, he acquired prodigious abilities and learned certain truths about the Heavenly Mystery. He also uncovered a method to bring this enigmatic entity into the mortal realm.
From that point on, Master Bai had dedicated himself relentlessly to this cause. He descended from the higher realms to the mortal world, overcoming numerous trials and tribulations. He incited chaotic storms, overturned kingdoms, and was willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to transgress the laws of nature and beckon the Heavenly Mystery.
Decades ago, his relentless efforts, spanning thousands of years, had finally yielded results. On that fateful day, the very stars in the heavens quaked, time itself descended into chaos, and the world was plunged into tumultuous storms, with blood staining the skies. In that moment, the Heavenly Mystery materialized.
Yet, at the exact instant of its arrival, it vanished without a trace, leaving Master Bai with no understanding of its form or whereabouts. He knew only that he had succeeded in bringing it to the mortal realm, but its ultimate destination remained shrouded in mystery.
Now, he sought to sacrifice kingdoms and countless lives once more, hoping to invoke the Heavenly Mystery once more. Uncertain of the method that would yield success, he felt compelled to explore every possibility, eager to discover its current location.
Simultaneously, he harbored a gnawing fear—that someone else had seized it before him.
"How many years of suffering and sacrifice... may have ultimately benefited others," Master Bai mused, his gaze drifting casually towards the bamboo forest as he muttered.
In an instant, his eyes brimmed with a palpable malevolence.
"Here are all the records about the Xiao Monarch." Wan-Er said.
"Read. Hmm. Wait." Master Bai was actually hesitating. He stayed silent for a while and then said, "Wan-Er. Wait… Well… Do you think it is possible that this Cha Eun Xiao was faking the way he looked at you with dirty intentions?"
Wan-Er was stunned.
[Why do you want me to be so concerned about this foppish fool? I am really so speechless about this. What you suggested was surely impossible.
How… How do I answer this?]
Master Bai was lost in thoughts. He spoke gently, "When a guy sees a girl. He will just have a few reactions. First, he can't wait to keep looking at the girl. That's reasonable affection. Second, he may get lost in it. He will look back to the girl even he has walked out a long distance. He is probably thinking about something dirty… Third, he looks at the girl like he wants to rip off the girl's clothes immediately. He has the eyes of wolves.
That's why people called this kind of men, Se Lang (Lang means wolf). [1]
Hearing this, Wan-Er had already blushed. She affectedly said, "Master~"
Master Bai smiled and said, "I am not done yet. There is a fourth kind. It is the super Se Lang. Well… How can I describe that eyes properly… Well, in his eyes, he was already on top of the girl's body and fxxking her…"
"There is one more though. He will act like he is noble when he sees a beauty. He will walk pass that girl with an indifferent face. But in fact, he is trying to make the girl look at him. If the girl didn't see him, he will glance at the girl secretly. This kind are mostly scholars. They obviously want 'it', yet doesn't dare to show their desires…"
Master Bai looked at Wan-Er smilingly, "Which one do you think Cha Eun Xiao was to you?"
Wan-Er was flustered, yet she knew it was an important question. She had to think carefully before she answered it, so she took a long while to think. And then she said, "Cha Eun Xiao must be that kind… which cared a little about you, but… but still…"
She gritted her teeth and said, "Still couldn't wait to rip my clothes off… It was full of carnality."