Fortunate . . .
If there was someone Han Bingxue disliked, he remained entirely mute when in their presence. But if he happened to like someone, like Cha Eun Xiao, the notorious Xiao Monarch, he would embark on an endless tirade, only ending when Cha Eun Xiao, in exasperation, resorted to physical violence.
In this particular instance, he was not entirely certain about the timing. While he longed to inform the Black Calvary Alliance and the Grey Wolf Group about Cha Eun Xiao's survival, he hesitated, realizing the potentially dire consequences for his close companions.
Cha Eun Xiao was troubled by Han Bingxue's current state, which seemed to be a volatile mix of obstinacy and paranoia. Rational arguments appeared incapable of swaying him, as Han Bingxue refused to heed any voice except that of Xiao Monarch himself.
If Cha Nantian, or even Li Wuliang, were to reason with Han Bingxue, stating, 'Let's temporarily set aside our quest for vengeance against Cha Eun Xiao and formulate a plan,' Han Bingxue would probably engage them in combat.
Inquisitive, Han Bingxue turned to Cha Eun Xiao, saying, "I'm aware you may not want to reveal your true identity, but I'm genuinely curious. How did you come to know who I truly am? I'm certain we've never met prior to today."
His eyes were filled with questions, focused squarely on Cha Eun Xiao. In response, Cha Eun Xiao chose to meet Han Bingxue's gaze, smiling as he spoke, "Brother, should you meet an untimely end, the Frost Ninefold Heaven's Art will vanish, becoming nothing more than a name in history."
Frost Ninefold Heaven's Art!
The name elicited an immediate reaction from Han Bingxue. He stood up abruptly, locking eyes with Cha Eun Xiao. "You... you are..."
Before he could finish his thought, something interrupted. With a sharp sound, an individual descended from the skies and landed in the valley. This newcomer fixed a piercing gaze on both of them.
With a contemptuous sneer, the intruder began, "Shadowless Assassin? Heaven may be slow, but its retribution is certain. You might have eluded us for a while, but not for long. Haha... I'm surprised. You're known as a solitary assassin, yet here you are with a companion. Good, now I can capture you both at once, saving me quite a bit of time."
Draped in a cyan robe, and bearing a long sword, the newcomer's attire clearly marked them as a member of the Saint Sunlight Sect.
Before the conversation could progress further, more figures descended from the skies, three of them, to be precise. "Brother Zhou... this place... Wait! Shadowless Assassin?"
The four disciples of the Saint Sunlight Sect had stumbled upon their prey, and their faces were illuminated by expressions of surprise and delight.
To them, this was an incredible opportunity. The legendary Shadowless Assassin, a living nightmare, was before them. However, his pitiable condition and his seemingly young friend, Cha Eun Xiao, a seemingly inexperienced cultivator, had taken them by surprise.
The four disciples shared a common assessment. Though Cha Eun Xiao's cultivation was quite impressive for his age, they were convinced that he was simply an inexperienced youth. It wouldn't be too difficult to subdue him. In their eyes, Cha Eun Xiao was no different from any other inexperienced cultivator.
All four shared a common certainty: the simultaneous elimination of Shadowless Assassin and his youthful companion was a foregone conclusion.
Han Bingxue, however, grew irritated. He had been on the brink of uncovering Cha Eun Xiao's true identity and unraveling the mysteries that had long eluded him. But the untimely arrival of the four foolish disciples of Saint Sunlight Sect had upended his plans. They were acting as if they had already emerged victorious.
Cha Eun Xiao gazed at the four men, discerning their misguided jubilation. He couldn't help but smile. "I suppose we'll have to put our conversation on hold until next time."
Han Bingxue maintained a cold countenance and responded, "It won't be long. I'll make quick work of them."
The four men before him were hardly a challenge. The most formidable among them was a mere Level Two Dao Origin Stage cultivator, an easy target for Han Bingxue, even at just fifty percent of his full strength.
A cultivator at fifty percent power in the Level Nine Dao Origin Stage remained incredibly potent. They could effortlessly contend with those in the Level Seven or early Level Eight stages, highlighting the considerable disparity between stages. Cha Eun Xiao himself had been subjected to the bullying of higher-level disciples before reaching the Dream Origin Stage, emerging victorious despite sustaining numerous injuries.
However, following his ascension to the Dream Origin Stage, even at its initial level, he had successfully bested other disciples in the same stage. This demonstrated the considerable gulf in strength between stages.
Currently, Han Bingxue was operating at fifty percent power, rendering him a formidable adversary.
Despite this, the four men before him were positively jubilant. They were eager to engage in combat as soon as possible. Unfortunately for them, they were about to learn a lesson in humility and the harsh consequences of underestimating their opponent.
The oldest among the four addressed Han Bingxue, his words rife with sadistic glee, "Shadowless Assassin, look at the state you're in. Don't resist; surrender."
He wore an expression of ruthless brutality, revealing his delight at the unfolding events. Inwardly, he rejoiced, realizing that an unprecedented opportunity lay before him. This was the chance of a lifetime, and he intended to seize it.
He continued, tauntingly, "Do you recall how you eluded our grand elders that day? Remarkable luck, indeed. But bear in mind, you were struck by the Scorching Palm Strike. The scorching energy will annihilate your ice qi. If you believe luck still favors you and you wish to continue resisting, we have no objections. We all yearn for an opportunity to battle a formidable cultivator with our own fists."
The arrogant dismissal of Cha Eun Xiao was evident, as they had entirely disregarded his presence. Frustrated, he couldn't help but think, "Are they blind? There are two of us here. Han Bingxue may not be in peak condition, but I'm fully prepared for a fight. Isn't that evident?"