All Settled . . .
Was the Sky Origin Stage cultivator, who had displayed equal prowess to Zhao Pingtian during the confrontation, merely a pawn following orders?
The true extent of the House of the Chaotic Storms' power remained an enigma. Just how many forces were lurking behind the scenes?
Cha Eun Xiao had fulfilled his mission for the night—to keep Zhao Pingtian away from Feng Monarch. He had succeeded in that endeavor.
He inquired, "Where are the men from the five noble clans?"
Long Tianyun, sincerely impressed by Feng Monarch's astute actions, spoke up, "Feng Monarch's wisdom and intelligence are truly exceptional. In just a few exchanges, he averted a major crisis. We are genuinely awed."
His words were heartfelt, devoid of flattery.
Feng Monarch's actions throughout the night had indeed been brilliant and impressive. He had meticulously considered every possible reaction and outcome, executing a series of well-thought-out moves to wrest control of the situation entirely.
Ye Xiao modestly replied, "I'm honored."
Long Tianyun sensed Cha Eun Xiao's thoughts and explained, "We followed your instructions to stay hidden. Boss Wan was concerned that our presence might attract the attention of the major sects and exacerbate the situation, so he kept us out of sight."
Cha Eun Xiao understood this reasoning. Money had a powerful influence over assassins, but the major sects might not be as swayed by financial incentives. This difference illustrated the contrast between sects and assassins.
However, understanding the rationale was one thing; taking the necessary actions was another. Cha Eun Xiao advised seriously, "The crisis within Ling-Bao Hall has subsided, but it has yet to unfold for you. Stay vigilant, Master Long."
Long Tianyun nodded solemnly and replied, "We will remain alert."
Cha Eun Xiao continued, "Good. Ning, Zhao Pingtian, Liu Changjun, the three of you, along with some men, should head to the royal palace. If any conflicts persist there, lend your assistance in restoring order."
"Yes."
"Monarch, the Crown Prince's Palace, the various government departments, and the National Treasury are all under attack. What should we do about them?" Wan Zhenghao raised the concern.
Cha Eun Xiao pondered for a moment and then instructed, "Ning, proceed to the royal palace. Zhao Pingtian, head to the National Treasury. Liu Changjun, make your way to Minister Zuo's residence. It's possible that the people from Boundless Lake have settled there, but do not engage in combat with them. As for General Lan's residence, the young lord is not present, so there should be no immediate threat. Send someone to check it. Oh, and Prince Hua-Yang's palace—dispatch a group to ensure his safety. The other locations are of little concern to us."
Cha Eun Xiao felt indifferent toward the Crown Prince's Palace and the residences of other princes. He harbored no intention of aiding them, secretly wishing for their misfortune. He had no inclination to extend a helping hand to these individuals.
At last, Cha Eun Xiao began to sense a semblance of relief. Though it appeared as though he had effortlessly manipulated the events of the night, he was well aware of the internal turmoil he had experienced. The mental and physical exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
Amidst the citywide chaos, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but entertain a tempting yet impractical notion. What if he possessed tremendous power within the nation? He quickly dismissed the alluring but unattainable idea, retreating to a chair to rest and recover his inner energy.
Assassins remaining at Ling-Bao Hall commenced the arduous task of cleaning up the aftermath. Inside and around the premises, the grim tableau of carnage was ubiquitous. Piles of lifeless bodies resembled mountains, while the ground was awash in a gruesome sea of blood. The stench was overwhelming, enough to induce nausea. It was akin to a nightmarish depiction of hell.
As the morning fog gradually dispersed, the night's darkness yielded to the light of day.
Long Tianyun stood in quiet contemplation next to Cha Eun Xiao for a while, his curiosity finally breaking the silence. "Feng Monarch, I suspect... You've devised a solution to resolve all of this?"
Cha Eun Xiao remained with his eyes closed and replied in a placid tone, "Half of it."
Long Tianyun's cautious nature prompted him to retort, "I don't believe that. I think you possess a method to address this situation comprehensively."
Cha Eun Xiao was intrigued by Long Tianyun's assertion. "Oh? What makes you say that?"
With a thoughtful expression, he opened his eyes and fixed his gaze upon Long Tianyun.
Speaking solemnly and softly, Long Tianyun articulated, "Money."
"Money?" Cha Eun Xiao raised an eyebrow, as if contemplating the idea.
"Money can sway both commoners and elites alike," Long Tianyun elucidated. "It is something that the great men may disregard, but for most individuals in this world, it wields considerable power. When accumulated in substantial amounts, it can even incite chaotic storms."
He maintained a cautious watch over Cha Eun Xiao's reaction as he cautiously conveyed his perspective.
Cha Eun Xiao nodded slowly in agreement.
Long Tianyun's analysis was astute. It aligned with Cha Eun Xiao's own contemplations.
Money!
On his way to Ling-Bao Hall in the dead of night, he had also pondered this concept. The crisis at hand was profoundly serious, driven by the tempting reward placed on his head. In essence, money was the instigator of this dire situation.
The most prosaic of elements, money, had given rise to a formidable predicament for him.
However, the twist lay in the fact that his adversaries possessed wealth, and so did he. Ling-Bao Hall had amassed wealth over thousands of years, rendering it rich enough to make the entire world envious. In fact, its riches outstripped those of any of the three kingdoms in the realm.
Given these circumstances, if he allowed others to employ money as a weapon to dismantle Ling-Bao Hall, wouldn't the once-wealthiest establishment in the world be reduced to a laughingstock?
The very thought was inconceivable to him.