Do You Believe It? . . .
Cha Eun Xiao observed the aftermath of the macabre scene, filled with dismembered corpses and the eerie silence that had fallen upon the assassins. Liu Changjun's harsh words, which advocated mutilation and the wholesale slaughter of Cha's entire clan, left many in a state of shock and disbelief.
[His words are beyond harsh,] Cha Eun Xiao pondered, [but his own death is a fitting punishment. To mutilate his body and massacre his entire clan… It's an excessive response.]
Even Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian were taken aback by Liu Changjun's words. They discreetly averted their gazes, distancing themselves from his disturbing rhetoric.
Cha Eun Xiao, perched on the roof, was flabbergasted by the unexpected turn of events.
[Assassins aren't known for being honorable or sacred,] he mused, [and certainly not for advocating such brutality. What's gotten into Liu Changjun? He's usually so reserved, and yet he unleashes this torrent of gruesome suggestions now? I'm genuinely surprised.]
Fortunately, Wan Zhenghao was absent from this unsettling display. If he had witnessed Liu Changjun's outburst, it might have shattered his perception of the man.
In the shadows, representatives from various prestigious sects watched the scene unfold with grave expressions.
"It's a good thing we didn't intervene," one of them remarked, still visibly shaken.
"I wonder how much poison Cha Eun Xiao had at his disposal. It's truly a dreadful toxin."
"I doubt he has much left. Otherwise, he wouldn't resort to such bluffs."
"That's true. Creating such an overpowering poison must be an arduous task. If it were easy, we'd have heard of it by now."
"Then, in your estimation, how many more times can he use it?"
"One more time at most," the confident responder said. "Perhaps he's already depleted his supply. If I were Cha Eun Xiao and had plenty to spare, I wouldn't resort to bluffing."
The assassins in the courtyard were rendered speechless. Their gazes fixed upon the dismembered remains strewn across the ground. These were their elite comrades, brutally dispatched in a single, horrifying strike.
Cha Eun Xiao stood unmoving on the roof, offering his apologies for the fright he had caused. He acknowledged the potency of his poison, but expressed remorse for its overwhelming nature.
Assassins below stared at the figure on the roof, incredulous at his audacity to apologize.
[Sorry?] they thought. [You're apologizing after turning us into a massacre? What would you do if you weren't sorry?]
"You can relax now," Cha Eun Xiao continued, addressing the remaining assassins. "There won't be much of this poison left. I've used it all up. From now on, we'll have to engage in combat the traditional way, with swords and fists. To those who didn't get a taste of my poison, I apologize. It's a challenging substance to create, and I've exhausted my supply."
Assassins cursed silently in response.
[Do you take us for fools?] they seethed. [Why would you reveal your supposed lack of poison? This venom has a limited effective range, and you're just trying to lure us in again, aren't you? You want us to regroup so you can strike us all at once. We're not falling for it!]
The assassins were far from convinced by Cha Eun Xiao's apology. Their skepticism was palpable.
[Do you think we're that naive?] they thought, [If we were to believe that, we'd be utterly foolish!]
Cha Eun Xiao's words, "People who don't have the luck to try my poison, I can only say sorry to you," drew their ire.
[What on earth is this nonsense?] they fumed.
Their perception of Feng Monarch had undergone a dramatic transformation. Previously, they knew him as a wealthy and accomplished master dan-maker who presided over Ling-Bao Hall. But now, they were presented with a different facet of his character. He was no longer just a rich dan-maker; he was an utterly terrifying figure.
It was often said that true success was not a matter of luck, and Cha Eun Xiao exemplified this saying. He had earned his reputation through his exceptional abilities, particularly his poison skills. His cultivation level, though not exceptionally high at Sky Origin Stage, was formidable. With his proficiency in creating supreme dan beads and his mastery of lethal poisons, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Cha Eun Xiao's poison skills allowed him to create an aura of fear that transcended mere martial prowess. He could effectively defend himself against enemies, even if only for a few moments, and in that brief time, he could unleash devastating poison attacks, smiling as he did so. With his proficiency in creating and using supreme dan beads, he could quickly heal himself and emerge from battles relatively unscathed.
The assassins knew that it would be nearly impossible to kill such a formidable adversary, and it was no wonder that the bounty on his head was substantial. Beheading Cha Eun Xiao was no small feat, and none of the thousands of assassins dared to take that daunting first step.
Despite their numerical advantage, the assassins were paralyzed with fear. None of them were willing to be the first to charge into the fray, knowing that the super poison was waiting for the foolhardy. The potential outcome was grim, and none wished to be its first victim.
However, Cha Eun Xiao was not one to simply stand still. He announced the commencement of the battle and urged caution among his adversaries.
"The fight begins. Be cautious, all of you. Anyone who obstructs me will meet their end!" he declared.
With those words, Cha Eun Xiao's black robe billowed, and he surged into the crowd like a thunderstorm. In an instant, the battle erupted, and the sounds of combat reverberated through the courtyard. Two assassins were swiftly dispatched, bloodied and sent flying by Cha's formidable skills.
The skirmish was in full swing, and the assassins had no choice but to engage the formidable and enigmatic Feng Monarch.