Guest from the Sky . . .
"Cough! Cough, cough!" Cha Eun Xiao lowered his head, a silent decision forming in his mind. "[This old man is clearly in a foul mood. It's best not to provoke him. I might not be able to confront him directly, but I can always find a way to slip away.]"
"Something went awry over the past two days. Representatives from the Cha Clan in the Qing-Yun Realm paid a visit," Song Jue stated while keeping a scrutinizing gaze on Cha Eun Xiao. "I saw them off myself." His countenance contorted, his lips quivered, and his eyelids twitched.
"Are you injured?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired with surprise, perceiving the evident distress in Song Jue's demeanor.
Song Jue grunted in response. "What's it matter? It's nothing serious."
"Serious or not, you should allow me to examine you," Cha Eun Xiao insisted. He gently seated Song Jue in a chair and began to unfasten his clothes.
As the fabric was lifted from Song Jue's back, Cha Eun Xiao noticed over a dozen welts, reddened and swollen.
"These aren't severe wounds. I just took a few blows...," Song Jue began, but his voice trailed off. "My person was also here..."
"In this condition, how can you claim it's not severe?" Cha Eun Xiao retorted. "You were struck with sticks... Hmmm? 'Your person'? Who are you referring to, Uncle Song? I'm having difficulty following your words. Your explanations are puzzling."
"Humph!" Song Jue offered no further explanations. He simply grunted and fell into brooding silence, his expression growing dark.
Yet, his eyes betrayed a complex mixture of emotions – a sense of relief, reluctance, and bewilderment.
Cha Eun Xiao didn't dawdle. He tended to Song Jue's injuries efficiently. The thought occurred to him that, given his substantial improvement, he could now completely eliminate the concealed wounds that still afflicted Song Jue. "[Why not take care of it tonight...?]
[In case I have to be away for several days in the future, or circumstances force me to leave home...
I won't have to worry excessively.
With the removal of those hidden wounds, Song Jue can attain a level of strength that will break through the constraints of this world's cultivation. He'll be capable of safeguarding himself.
However, what could be troubling Song Jue today? Why?
The Cha Clan's representatives paid a visit? The Cha Clan from the Qing-Yun Realm? What was their purpose?
These injuries from being beaten with sticks, and that cryptic mention of 'my person' – what does it all mean?]"
Cha Eun Xiao made several attempts to extract information from Song Jue, but his inquiries fell on deaf ears. Song Jue remained resolute in his silence, his frustration palpable. In a fit of impatience and annoyance, he finally erupted, "There's nothing beneficial about discussing your family! Why are you so insistent? I don't even know how to convey this to your father. Can you please just stop..."
Cha Eun Xiao's curiosity grew with each unyielding response from Song Jue. He was undeterred and persistent, determined to uncover the truth.
However, Song Jue maintained his tight-lipped stance and refused to divulge anything further. His silence persisted, and he didn't utter another word for the rest of the night. Just before drifting off to sleep, he muttered, "Bastard!"
The target of his insult remained a mystery to everyone present, but it certainly wasn't Cha Eun Xiao. If it had been him, Song Jue would have used the term "little bastard."
As midnight settled in, Song Jue succumbed to unconsciousness once again, this time from a physical assault...
When he awoke, he sensed the surging flow of spiritual qi within his body, a sensation he hadn't experienced in many years. It felt as if a miraculous transformation had taken place, restoring his spiritual qi to its former glory.
"[Have I stumbled upon another stroke of good fortune, similar to the last time?]"
During his previous encounter, he had been only partially cured. It had saved him from death and halted the leakage of his spiritual qi. But this time, he awoke to discover that he had been completely healed while unconscious. The ulcer-like wound that had plagued his bones had vanished.
Song Jue felt a mix of excitement and confusion. "[Who is this individual?
Could there truly be such a capable and benevolent person in the Land of Han-Yang? Someone who would infiltrate our residence just to cure me?
And yet, they left without revealing their identity?!]"
Song Jue couldn't comprehend the existence of such a genuinely kind-hearted individual in the world. He considered discussing this matter with Cha Eun Xiao, but it was late in the night, and he was aware that a young woman was in Cha Eun Xiao's room. He deemed it inappropriate to awaken him at that time, resolving to discuss it in the morning.
In the distance, Song Jue could hear the sounds of people shouting and the tumult of a fight. He ascended to the rooftop and directed his gaze toward Ling-Bao Hall, where smoke billowed and illuminated the night sky with fiery hues.
"Ling-Bao Hall... it seems inevitable," Song Jue muttered, a sense of helplessness in his voice. "There's nothing to be done in these circumstances..."
If he had the choice, Song Jue would have preferred to prevent the collapse of this organization. After all, it had greatly assisted the military in the border war. However, having just recovered, he needed more time to recuperate and regain his strength. It wasn't the right moment to initiate a counteraction. Moreover, he had just returned to his peak condition, making him a vital asset for the House of Cha. Thus, it would be a waste to reveal his true strength for a cause unrelated to him.
Song Jue's hesitation lingered, but he ultimately shook his head, sighed, and returned to slumber.
Had Cha Eun Xiao not laid eyes on the scene before him, he wouldn't have been plunged into annoyance.
…
Simultaneously, in the bamboo forest, an event of world-shaking proportions unfolded within Master Bai's domain.
"What?!" Master Bai's voice resonated, seething with fury.
Startled from their slumber, Wan-Er and Xiu-Er hastily dressed and emerged from their adjacent rooms. They found Master Bai standing on the floor, his gaze locked on an individual before him, his rage palpable.
Rarely did outsiders venture into the bamboo forest, but at this moment, an unfamiliar face stood there.
A stranger!
[Master... Master...]
Both Wan-Er and Xiu-Er were taken aback. [Is Master able to stand?
Could he be healed?]
They entertained the hope that the impossible had been achieved, but their dreams were swiftly shattered. Master Bai ultimately sank into a chair, unable to rise.
His momentary ability to stand was merely a reaction to provocation. It hadn't brought about a miraculous recovery.
What could have ignited such a furious reaction from him? Master Bai was known for his calm and collected demeanor.
Approaching the scene, they positioned themselves beside Master Bai, their expressions a mix of anger and curiosity as they scrutinized the intruder.
The man in question was tall and possessed a striking countenance. His handsome features, framed by long, arched eyebrows that nearly brushed his temples, stood out in stark contrast to the grim world around him. His face exuded an unsettling air, as if it were veiled by an aura of wickedness.
While Wan-Er and Xiu-Er assessed him with growing ire, the man returned their gaze and clucked his tongue. "I trust you heard me clearly. Ah, are these your birds? They're quite lovely. It's no wonder you... Oh, by the way, have you tried 'laying' on them yet, Bai? If you did, it would be a case of human-animal this and that... I believe your parents might reduce you to a pile of minced meat... I offer this advice for your own good."