Come Across . . .
"Oh my, how do I navigate these intricate relationships?" Wenren Chuchu sighed, her expression mirroring her inner turmoil.
Bing Xinyue's eyes held a myriad of complex and unstable emotions, and a faint flush graced her face. Under different circumstances, Wenren Chuchu, being an astute individual, might have noticed the unusual behavior of her master. However, their current predicament demanded their full attention, leaving no room for such trivial matters.
Both women were deeply ensnared in their own intricate thoughts, unable to extricate themselves from the web of complexities that surrounded them.
Cha Eun Xiao, having departed with a substantial amount of wealth, showed no signs of stopping as he rode straight out of the city gates, headed towards the enigmatic mountain that had seemingly fallen from the sky, ultimately disappearing within its depths.
Simultaneously, another young man dressed in pristine white attire entered the city, casually riding a handsome steed. The soldiers stationed at the city's entrance paid their respects with bows.
"Lord Cha," they greeted him respectfully.
Cha Eun Xiao responded with a warm smile, "You have all worked diligently, my comrades."
As Cha Eun Xiao continued on his way into the city atop his imposing horse, the soldiers engaged in casual conversation. One of them seemed perplexed, rubbing his head thoughtfully. "I don't recall seeing Lord Cha leaving the city all day. Why has he suddenly returned from outside? Have I misremembered? Did I make an error?"
Another soldier responded with a touch of disdain, "You simpleton. How can you ever recall anything accurately? You can't even complete a coherent sentence. Over the past few days, countless people have come and gone through these gates—perhaps more than a hundred thousand. It's impossible to remember them all. Who do you think you are?"
However, the confused soldier remained persistent. "No, no, no. Among the throngs of people passing through, Lord Cha is someone I'd especially notice. I shouldn't forget that. I must have mistaken him for someone else."
"Perhaps Lord Cha left the city yesterday. Besides, you should be more concerned about the possibility of spies among us. Why are you preoccupied with the young lord from the General's family? You've got too much leisure time on your hands!" scolded another soldier, glaring at his comrade with irritation.
"Yes, you're right. I won't think about it anymore," the soldier conceded. In truth, it was a trivial matter, just casual chatter among soldiers.
Cha Eun Xiao paraded through the streets on his imposing steed, exuding an air of prestige reminiscent of one of the town's "three lords." In fact, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the leader of this triumvirate.
As he approached the entrance of the House of Cha, a group of riders converged upon him. Among them were the Crown Prince, the second prince, the third prince, and the youngest prince, Chen Zhi. Zuo Wuji and Lan Langlang were also in tow, forming an impressive cavalcade.
Upon spotting Cha Eun Xiao astride his horse, their eyes collectively lit up.
"Xiao Xiao! What have you been up to lately? Why are you leaving town at this time? You've missed quite the grand event," Lan Langlang eagerly exclaimed as he rushed forward.
Cha Eun Xiao nodded in acknowledgment of everyone. Lan Langlang, overcome with excitement, enveloped him in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground entirely.
Lan Langlang was positively ecstatic, clutching six hundred dan beads—priceless treasures. While these dan beads were excellent for treating injuries, they held limited value for martial experts. Yet, they were invaluable for soldiers on the battlefield, arguably more potent than other supreme dan beads. A supreme dan bead might heal one individual, but a Gold Healing Dan bead could save the lives of three soldiers. It was precisely tailored to the needs of soldiers, making it an evident advantage.
Fearing he might be robbed on his way home, Lan Langlang chose not to venture alone. Given the significance of the dan beads—potentially saving the lives of two thousand soldiers in his army—he decided to accompany the group following the Crown Prince. He cunningly framed it as if they were acting as his personal guards.
Hence, they found themselves unexpectedly encountering Cha Eun Xiao during their journey.
The three princes couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"I had a feeling that one of the 'three lords in town' was missing, but now that they're all here..." one of the princes thought to himself.
"I wouldn't want to get involved in such a hot event," Cha Eun Xiao casually remarked, diverting Lan Langlang's attention away from him. "What if someone were to strike me with a Melting Bone Palm? That would be a real problem. Last time, it had severe repercussions for my father's cultivation. Another occurrence could spell certain death for both him and me!"
As Cha Eun Xiao spoke, the others paid little heed to his words, save for the Crown Prince. After all, the others were not directly affected by the incident. Cha Eun Xiao had been the victim at the time, and his complaint was justified.
The Crown Prince, however, had a change of expression.
Standing behind the Crown Prince, Guan Zhengwen, dressed in flowing robes, was overcome with astonishment. Fear filled his eyes as he glanced at the young man in white before him, a sense of helplessness creeping over him.
"Lord Cha is truly fortunate. You seem to have fully recovered by now, correct?" the Crown Prince inquired with a warm smile. "I still remember visiting you at your home when you were in a coma. And now, you're positively radiant, like a different person altogether. It seems that good men are always blessed."
Cha Eun Xiao responded with a gracious smile. "I should express my gratitude to you," he said. "Thanks to your kindness, I was able to overcome that ordeal. If not for your efforts to save me, I might never have had the chance to see my father again. I might have lost my life. Considering how rapidly I'm healing now, I owe you a debt of gratitude. When we have the opportunity, I'll host a feast to show my appreciation."
The Crown Prince reciprocated with a smile, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss in Cha Eun Xiao's words.
"Is it just my imagination?" he pondered, "or is there something more beneath the surface? I'd rather believe it's just my imagination. If it's not, and my actions are exposed, the consequences would be overwhelming!"