Fostering Superior Cultivator . . .
Cha Eun Xiao offered a reassuring smile and elaborated, "In truth, I'm providing you with the opportunity to repay the favor, but not in the way you might expect. By improving yourself, you can perform more tasks for me, thus expediting the repayment of whatever you believe you owe. Consider this: if you enhance your capabilities, you can be more than just a companion willing to lay down your life for me in moments of peril. It's about securing a future where you can contribute more than your life. You've stated it yourself, 'Life is short while the future will never end.' As long as you remain alive, there will come a time when you can fully settle the debts you believe you owe me."
Ning Biluo lapsed into silence, mulling over Cha Eun Xiao's words. In a hoarse voice, he eventually murmured, "You're right."
Stepping forward, he accepted the martial art book, and with each word, he affirmed his commitment. "I hope that I can repay the favor one day in my life."
Cha Eun Xiao sighed, his gaze resting on Ning Biluo. "Ning, you carry a heavy burden of the past. I comprehend your emotions and thought process, but you may not fully comprehend mine. If I require individuals to serve me, I could easily entice numerous accomplished cultivators with wealth alone. Even those who don't covet riches might be tempted by the martial arts I can provide. I've never sought anything from you. I genuinely admire you and consider you a friend. I've never harbored intentions of extracting anything from you. It's that simple. Always has been."
He continued, "If you truly consider me your friend, then the concept of indebtedness should be irrelevant. If you were to help me, and I offered you nothing in return, would you then expect compensation after rendering assistance? The same principle applies in reverse. It's that straightforward."
Ning Biluo lowered his head, his breath heavy as he smiled with self-deprecation. "I am an assassin. I've never had friends. I dare not form friendships. Yet, deep down, I've always held onto the belief that one day, I might have a friend."
Despite his declaration, his eyes gleamed with newfound hope.
"Friend," he whispered. Ning Biluo did not refuse the martial art or challenge Cha Eun Xiao's perspective. Instead, he accepted the notion of friendship with a sense of quiet gratitude.
Cha Eun Xiao's commitment to friendship was unwavering. He held a single, resolute conviction in his heart: no matter the trials and tribulations that lay ahead, he would never betray his friend.
Liu Changjun, a man of few words, received his designated martial art with an entirely different demeanor. His ecstatic reaction bordered on theatrics. "Liu Changjun, this is the martial art I mentioned earlier."
In response, Liu Changjun exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Whoo! Fantastic! Finally! I adore you, my dear! I couldn't eat or sleep, as thoughts of you consumed me. Now, you've finally arrived!"
Accepting the martial art, he began to peruse its contents, displaying a notable absence of any feeling of indebtedness to Cha Eun Xiao. The exchange proceeded with ease and a sense of naturalness.
Had Boss Wan been present to witness this, his astonishment would have known no bounds. He might have contemplated, "Goodness gracious! Who would have thought that the usually reserved Liu Changjun could be such a showman? Truly, one should never judge a book by its cover."
For Liu Changjun, it was a deliberate choice to reveal his true personality. He pondered, "I'm bound to spend the rest of my life following him. I must show him who I truly am. He provides me with martial arts, and I will wholeheartedly cultivate them. That's all there is to it. I don't need to put on a facade of calm and composure. Such pretenses are exhausting."
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but marvel at the diversity of personalities among the three assassins. Zhao Pingtian expressed gratitude, Ning Biluo remained steadfast and resolute, and Liu Changjun was refreshingly nonchalant. Yet, they all shared one common trait: unwavering commitment to their word and a deep sense of duty that precluded any possibility of turning back.
The trio became fully engrossed in their respective martial arts, leaving Cha Eun Xiao to quietly depart Ling-Bao Hall for home. His trust in Master Bai's appearance-altering abilities was substantial, but it had its limitations. Given a bit more cultivation strength, he could have promptly dispelled the illusion. After undergoing numerous battles, he had only recently regained his true appearance. Thus, he was able to return home as Cha Eun Xiao without incident, ensuring his safety.
Two days had elapsed since his departure, and he couldn't help but anticipate a lecture from Song Jue upon his return. However, upon his arrival, Song Jue was conspicuously absent.
This departure was a rarity, as Song Jue had remained a homebody for years on end. The nature of his current expedition remained a mystery, leaving Cha Eun Xiao surprised. Inquiries revealed that Song Jue had been away for two days, prompting further curiosity regarding the purpose of his uncharacteristic journey.
The mysterious nature of Song Jue's sudden departure left everyone in the household perplexed. Two days away, and no one had a clue as to the reason for this unexpected absence.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but express his bewilderment. "Uncle Song is acting strangely. He left without leaving any indications. He's usually a homebody, rarely venturing outside." The circumstances behind Song Jue's departure remained shrouded in uncertainty, and Cha Eun Xiao felt that the only course of action was to patiently await his return.
Upon his arrival at the yard in front of his room, Cha Eun Xiao's senses were immediately assailed by the presence of a fierce, almost tangible sword aura. His eyes were drawn to Bing-Er, who was ardently practicing her swordsmanship.
Each of her cold, calculated strikes released a potent and icy sword aura, filling the air with a palpable intensity. The sound of each strike resonated with an air of solidity.
Cha Eun Xiao was genuinely taken aback by what he witnessed. "How long has it been since I last saw her practicing? How has she improved this quickly?" He couldn't help but marvel at the vast progress Bing-Er had made.
Listening to the rhythmic sound of her sword slicing through the air, he surmised that she had likely reached the Earth Origin Stage. The rapidity of her improvement left him genuinely surprised.
Cha Eun Xiao knew that nothing was more disruptive to a cultivator than an interruption during their practice. As a seasoned cultivator himself, he understood this well. He treaded softly and silently walked into the yard.
Bing-Er, completely engrossed in her practice, wielded a longsword that appeared as though it had been crafted from snow. Her movements were meticulously calculated, unleashing an abundance of snow-white flowers that scattered through the air before gently descending to the ground.
The yard took on the appearance of a winter wonderland as the myriad petals floated down, accompanied by a pervading chill.
The sword radiance gleamed brilliantly as Bing-Er's attire fluttered with her every motion, her hair dancing in the wind. She resembled a celestial maiden gracing the mortal realm, her figure exuding perfection. Her face bore a look of utmost concentration.
Amusingly, as she executed her moves, she couldn't help but purse her lips and puff out her cheeks, as if this peculiar action could somehow imbue her strikes with greater power.
Whenever Cha Eun Xiao had witnessed this idiosyncratic behavior in the past, he couldn't help but laugh, and Bing-Er's reaction was to throw a playful tantrum. However, despite the amusement it elicited, she remained unswayed and continued with her unique practice style.
In the midst of her solemn demeanor, the serious swordplay, the gleaming, frigid blade, and the flurry of petals, her comical habit of plumping up her cheeks created a scene that might have left others in fits of laughter. Yet, Bing-Er was entirely oblivious to the spectacle she unwittingly created.