My Woman! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao certainly anticipated what Xiu-Er was going to say when she uttered the words, "if he takes these twenty..." The implication was unmistakable.
Master Bai, having recovered nearly fifty percent of his strength through the fourteen dan beads, planned to distribute the remaining twenty among the three of them. Whether two or four dan beads went to each of the two ladies didn't matter. In any case, these twenty dan beads would undoubtedly bring his recovery to completion.
Thus, Master Bai's request for fifty dan beads appeared unnecessary, as they now had around twenty surplus beads. However, he had not been greedy when he made this request. He calculated that having a minimum of forty Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads would suffice to restore his full strength. He also accounted for the two ladies, expecting they would need at least four beads each. Fifty had merely been a safety measure.
What he didn't know was that Feng Zhiling, now known as Feng Monarch, could produce the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads so rapidly. This unforeseen efficiency left them with an unexpected surplus.
Taking the first dan bead from Feng Zhiling, Master Bai discovered that the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan bead was considerably more potent than he had anticipated. Now, twenty extra dan beads were on hand.
If Cha Eun Xiao were to bring up the topic of these twenty additional beads, the agreement could be prematurely concluded, and neither House of the Chaotic Storms nor Ling-Bao Hall would fault him. This additional supply was of immense value to Master Bai, as the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads were highly coveted in the Human Realm Upon Heavens. Twenty of these beads would deter anyone from challenging them.
Nevertheless, Cha Eun Xiao played the role of an unwitting party. Instead of mentioning the surplus, he made a commitment to complete the remaining dan beads within three days, which filled Xiu-Er with both astonishment and elation.
Expressing her gratitude, she declared, "House of the Chaotic Storms deeply appreciates your immense favor. We shall now take our leave."
Xiu-Er harbored no desire to prolong the conversation. Recognizing Cha Eun Xiao's astute nature, she feared that he might discern further details. Her foremost concern was ensuring that Master Bai was never made aware of the truth.
As they departed, Cha Eun Xiao watched their retreating figures with a smile. He was well aware of the truth, but his unwavering commitment to keeping promises compelled him to provide all fifty Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads, regardless of any potential repercussions in the future. He valued integrity above all else.
With their departure, Cha Eun Xiao returned to his thoughts.
Master Bai stood in a bamboo forest, his figure shrouded in white garments and crowned by a golden hat. His countenance resembled carved jade, his eyes profound as if containing an entire universe. He inquired, "Are you saying... that after you divulged the information, Feng Monarch did not mention the surplus dan beads?"
Cha Eun Xiao noticed that Master Bai's recovery was progressing rapidly, with the man gradually returning to his prime state. This transformation occurred swiftly, and Master Bai's experience seemed to be growing along with his recuperation.
When Xiu-Er reported the unexpected surplus of dan beads to Master Bai, she wore a pallid expression, clearly aware that she had made a grave mistake.
Master Bai, however, remained composed and tried to reassure her. He acknowledged that Cha Eun Xiao wouldn't hold the surplus against him and was quick to offer Xiu-Er words of encouragement. "That's alright," he said with a smile. "Feng Zhiling won't be fixated on this matter. You haven't made the situation worse, Xiu-Er. Why are you feeling so timid now? Remember, you are Xiu of the Heavens!"
Grateful for the light-hearted response, Xiu-Er shared her self-reproach. "I truly shouldn't have mentioned it. It concerns Master's future after all. I shouldn't have acted so recklessly."
Master Bai playfully chided her, "You silly girl. Even if Feng Monarch decides not to create the remaining dan beads for me, what difference would it make? Who on earth would dare to renege on a debt owed to me? You're fretting over a trifling matter. If anyone should be reprimanded, it's me for underestimating my own master!"
Xiu-Er considered his words and eventually came to agree. There were scarcely more than ten individuals in the entire universe who would dare to break a promise to Master Bai. Feng Zhiling was certainly not one of them, and even if he were so foolish as to do so, the consequences would be far from what he anticipated. She chuckled, feeling her earlier concerns dissipate. "You're absolutely right," she conceded.
After Xiu-Er and Wan-Er retired to their room, Ling Wuxie raised an objection. "That's not true. While there may not be many people who would dare to break a promise to you, Feng Zhiling is probably one of them!"
Master Bai, however, smiled and responded, "Of course, Feng Zhiling dares to challenge me in such a way. Even if you don't, he does."
"Why can't I say that, then?" Ling Wuxie questioned, still feeling a bit irked about not having had the chance to speak earlier.
Master Bai explained his decision, saying, "You can always speak the truth, anytime and anywhere. But consider how saying that would have affected Xiu-Er. She would have been saddened for a long time. Xiu-Er is my woman, and even if she errs, I will shoulder the responsibility. If a man can't make his woman happy and only lets her live in sorrow and guilt, he's a terrible man."
Ling Wuxie's face flushed as he realized the wisdom of Master Bai's words. He raised his hands and conceded, "Alright... You're right... I was wrong..."