Three Sighs . . .
It was often said that there was no one under the Human Realm Upon Heavens whom Cha Eun Xiao couldn't persuade. The statement held true, as evidenced by the current situation.
Eun Xiao finally opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Ling Wuxie for an extended moment before he let out a sigh and said, "Today, Brother Ling, thanks to your efforts, I'm willing to engage in this conversation. If it were anyone else, I would have remained unyielding."
"Since you've shown such sincerity, let's continue our discussion for a few more minutes. However, it's crucial that you understand, no matter what unfolds, the final decision rests with me."
Ling Wuxie nodded in agreement.
The faces of Wan-Er and Xiu-Er brightened with newfound hope.
They had been on the verge of despair, having not anticipated that Xiu-Er's casual comment would lead to such a predicament. It nearly jeopardized everything.
In the worst-case scenario, they might have been responsible for ruining their master's life, an unforgivable offense. Even if they were subjected to countless deaths, it wouldn't absolve them of their regret.
Ling Wuxie had been diligently offering everything they had, giving Cha Eun Xiao the upper hand. Though they had contemplated stopping him on several occasions, they refrained. They recognized that while Ling Wuxie's approach might have seemed simple and naive, it had successfully prompted Cha Eun Xiao to speak. Despite their intelligence, they hadn't contributed anything substantial to the discussion.
Indeed, they had come to seek assistance. Forcing their way to maintain control over the conversation might have succeeded with others, but dealing with Feng Zhiling, a man of immense pride, would have only resulted in failure.
Ling Wuxie may have appeared humble and foolish, but the promises he made wouldn't truly cost the Chaotic Storms much. They had planned to resolve the divine punishment issue for Feng Zhiling. His death concerned them more than it did him. Freeing Bing Xinyue and safeguarding his friends and family were relatively straightforward. As for the Chaotic Storms withdrawing from the martial world, they had already begun the process of leaving this realm. Even if people begged them to stay, they wouldn't.
In their view, the promises Ling Wuxie had made were relatively easy to fulfill, with the exception of two aspects. The first was the pledge of ninety-nine unique treasures, which held great value, but compared to Master Bai's health, it was insignificant. The second was the open-ended commitment to provide whatever Cha Eun Xiao might request. The Chaotic Storms believed that Feng Zhiling, a local figure in the Land of Han-Yang, wouldn't know of anything particularly challenging to acquire. In their estimation, he wouldn't surpass the limits of the Qing-Yun Realm. [How difficult could it be to obtain what he might suggest?]
With these considerations, they realized that Ling Wuxie's tactic of ceding the initiative had been wise. The two ladies eventually saw him as a shrewd individual. He had likely been playing the fool all along. Such a close friend to their master couldn't be ordinary!
"First and foremost, let's discuss safety," Cha Eun Xiao calmly stated, "Lord Ling has mentioned it. I need to know the extent of your capabilities in defending against the divine punishment. Can your efforts provide protection at fifty percent? Eighty percent? Or can you ensure complete defense?"
"This is of utmost importance. If you can't safeguard at least fifty percent, then let's conclude this conversation before it consumes any more of our time."
Cha Eun Xiao spoke with gravity.
In truth, there would never be a dan divine punishment, as long as there were sufficient materials. He could simply retrieve the dan beads from inside the Space. What divine punishment would threaten him then? However, he had no intention of rejecting the opportunity to acquire more treasures. He aimed to ask for more, to secure a better deal.
Defenses against divine punishment were undoubtedly valuable. To manage the divine punishment for fifty supreme dan beads, they would need to offer dozens of treasures. Only a fool would reject such an opportunity.
With this treasure trove, Cha Eun Xiao would be akin to having multiple lives at his disposal. He was secretly delighted at the prospect of making Heaven Seizing Dan for the House of the Chaotic Storms. Yet, he couldn't reveal his happiness to them. Inwardly, he longed for their swift departure, hoping they would leave the very next day or even today.
However, he had to maintain his composure. This was perhaps the only chance he'd ever get in his lifetime, and he couldn't afford to squander it. If he failed to secure the best possible deal now, he would never forgive himself.
Ling Wuxie hesitated upon hearing Cha Eun Xiao's words. Wan of the Clouds and Xiu of the Heavens were equally pleased about the potential deal but sighed inwardly. They had effectively ceded all initiative to Cha Eun Xiao, letting him dictate the terms.
For the House of the Chaotic Storms, which had long been known for its arrogance and fearlessness, this situation was unprecedented. They were like a lamb on the platter, ready to be carved and consumed according to someone else's wishes. They were rendered powerless to resist or retaliate.
Cha Eun Xiao sighed after contemplating for a considerable duration. His sigh conveyed deep unwillingness, as if he were burdened by the world's sorrows and had no choice but to endure the suffering.
His frown deepened as he stared into the distance, and he remained silent for an extended period. Then, finally, he began to move his lips. Onlookers were eager to hear his response, but he sighed once more. This sigh was even more laden with frustration and complaints than the previous one, as if he were experiencing the cumulative weight of countless miseries.
People couldn't help but sigh along with him, and even those not involved in the conversation felt a sense of impending doom.
This level of sighing was typically reserved for those teetering on the brink of despair.
"Brother Feng, why the deep concern? Let's have an open conversation. We're willing to do whatever we can. Just let us know," Ling Wuxie had to prompt him, serving as the guide for the main character's lines.
Wan-Er and Xiu-Er were not suited to this role, and Cha Eun Xiao's continued sighing would only exacerbate the situation.
"Moreover, we need you to speak plainly," Ling Wuxie added. "Tell us what you require. We're here to assist you."
Cha Eun Xiao's third impending sigh was averted, much to the relief of those present.