You Can Do It! . . .
In the past, the Xiao Monarch had proposed, "Considering that most renowned individuals value their titles, if we were to link both your names together, it's highly likely that those lesser characters would refrain from causing her trouble, fearing your influence."
"Is that so?" Jun Ying-Lian responded.
"In reality, you don't need to go out of your way to protect individuals from the Misty Cloud Palace. Your actions stem from your inherent kindness, that's all," Cha-Eun Xiao inquired.
"That's correct."
"Very well. What are your thoughts then?" Cha-Eun Xiao pondered for a moment before suggesting, "How about 'Misty Cloud Bing Xin-Yue; Broad Heaven Jun Ying-Lian'? How does that sound?"
"Excellent! I love it!" Jun Ying-Lian's face lit up. She exclaimed, "Broad Heaven Jun Ying-Lian. Hmm. By the way, what's your poetic title?"
"I'd prefer to stay out of this," Cha-Eun Xiao replied.
"I believe it would be better if we include your name as well, don't you think? Misty Cloud Bing Xin-Yue; Broad Heaven Jun Ying-Lian; Chaotic Storm Xiao Monarch; A Slight Effort to Conquer the Heavens. It exudes such vigor. Who wouldn't take a step back upon hearing those lines?"
"Forget it. I'm a man, after all. Even though you may not care, we should safeguard the young girl's reputation. Besides, I'm just an individual; I fear I cannot match the great powers supporting you both."
"Very well. Let's see what Yue-Yue thinks. Personally, I don't mind either way."
"Heh heh. Agreed. Let's leave it as it is for now."
On that day, Jun Ying-Lian shared the conversation with Bing Xin-Yue when they met. As anticipated, Bing Xin-Yue promptly declined the proposal, and the matter was left unresolved.
Being the senior disciple of the Misty Cloud Palace, Bing Xin-Yue possessed notable cultivation skills. Despite her gentle nature, her pride and a hint of arrogance, stemming from her association with a prominent sect, were apparent.
While she recognized the benefits of Jun Ying-Lian's proposition, she declined nevertheless. Consequently, the two phrases intended to unite Bing and Jun never truly disseminated throughout the world, resulting in limited public awareness of them.
Several years later, Cha Eun Xiao met his demise in a particular incident. He had never encountered Bing Xin-Yue in person, having only learned of her from Jun Ying-Lian. Surprisingly, fate had brought him face to face with her in the Land of Han-Yang this time.
"She is... her best friend, the sworn sister of... her, the best friend of... her," Cha-Eun Xiao thought as he cleared his throat. Gazing at Bing Xin-Yue, his once displeased expression had transformed into one of kindness and gentleness. "So, this lady is Bing Xin-Yue, the person she frequently mentioned."
"The reason I brought you here is that I want to know precisely what that Purple Sky-Fire is, the one you claimed could cure us," Bing Xin-Yue inquired with casual curiosity. "You mentioned it was the best fire for crafting dan beads. While you might deceive young Chu-Chu, lying to me won't be as simple."
Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly at Bing Xin-Yue's probing. What kind of individual was Bing Xin-Yue?
Though they had never met in person, he had heard Jun Ying-Lian speak about her on multiple occasions. Bing Xin-Yue appeared to be a woman of few desires, seemingly indifferent to most matters. She possessed sharp intelligence and rarely overlooked anything.
Her tendency was such that if she didn't ask about something, it was because she didn't care about it. However, this didn't imply that she lacked knowledge or failed to grasp the truth.
In the current situation, the falsehood he had employed to escape Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's pursuit had evidently piqued Bing Xin-Yue's keen interest. It revolved around a person who mattered deeply to her, which is why she felt the need to unravel the matter.
Confronting Bing Xin-Yue, Cha-Eun Xiao's mind raced as he considered what to say and how to say it to deceive her effectively.
Bing Xin-Yue was not like Wen-Ren Chu-Chu. The latter might harbor numerous hidden intentions, but she was relatively straightforward to deal with. As long as her vulnerabilities were exploited, she could be defeated. Even if she became hostile, it wouldn't pose a significant threat to Cha-Eun Xiao's life. However, Bing Xin-Yue was an entirely different matter. There was likely nothing in the world beyond her awareness. If she discovered Cha-Eun Xiao's deception, she might eliminate him immediately.
Cha-Eun Xiao was privy to many secrets he shouldn't be aware of, and if he ceased to be of use to her, he might meet an untimely demise.
"The Purple Sky-Fire... I must admit it is real," Cha-Eun Xiao admitted with a hint of bitterness. "However, it isn't as miraculous as I portrayed it to be before Chu-Chu. You must understand my situation at that time. I was captured by your disciple and was desperate to escape. Hence, I had to divulge the truth about my ability to cure the ailment resulting from your sect's martial art. In truth, I have no desire to employ my skills for any purpose..."
Cha-Eun Xiao left his final statement somewhat ambiguous, but Bing Xin-Yue grasped its meaning.
She sighed and added, "That makes sense. An innocent man can be falsely accused of possessing something invaluable. If other sects were to discover your true capability to address the Misty Cloud Palace's core issue, you, your entire clan, and all members of your sect would likely face severe repercussions. You might all face annihilation. Even if you were in our custody, we wouldn't execute you, but we might very well detain you indefinitely."
Cha-Eun Xiao felt a surge of alarm as Bing Xin-Yue's words hung in the air. He hurriedly clarified, "Please don't misunderstand. I can only provide temporary relief for the initial stages of your ailment. Handling more advanced stages, like yours, is beyond my capability."
Bing Xin-Yue dismissed his concerns with a casual assurance. "You do have the capability," she remarked calmly. "I've thoroughly examined you and ascertained that you possess the capacity to address my issue. Otherwise, why would I engage in a peaceful conversation with you? Your inner energy is exceptionally robust, something I've never encountered in others. What's truly remarkable is your mastery over both the frigid and pure yang energies."
She sighed and continued, "When the Misty Cloud Palace was originally established, we practiced three distinct martial arts disciplines. The most potent one is the very art I cultivate. However, following a significant conflict, we lost a portion of our martial heritage."
"You lost a portion of your foundational martial art?" Cha-Eun Xiao inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Bing Xin-Yue confirmed, "Yes. Afterward, our ancient masters invested considerable time and effort into restoring the martial art. Eventually, they succeeded."
"Nevertheless, it was never quite the same as the original. Since then, a single imperfection has persisted within our martial art," she added, her captivating gaze locked onto Cha-Eun Xiao. Her words flowed deliberately as she continued, "From that point onward, anyone who pursued this martial art would gain unimaginable power and invincibility, but they would be reliant on the Regeneration Ink Lotus, Regeneration Jade Lotus, and the Renascence Jade Lotus."