Crow Mouth . . .
Revised and expressed in a third-person point of view:
Cha Eun Xiao was in a rather smug mood as he spoke, "One can cross swords with anyone, but not with this small entity! However, you, on the other hand, earned this. You took advantage of me earlier, and you genuinely believed yourself to be unparalleled. Well, what's your next move? It's time to adjust your behavior," he exclaimed with a sly smile.
His taunts continued, "You were just defeated by a feline creature... Hahaha," he laughed heartily and added, "Han Bingxue, do you comprehend the gravity of this situation? You are inferior to a cat... Haha..."
Han Bingxue's mouth curved with annoyance, and his blue eyes reflected his frustration. He was on the verge of losing his composure.
Eun Xiao's words stung with truth. Han Bingxue, despite his desire to retort, found himself at a loss for words. After all, he had been soundly thrashed by a diminutive cat, while the feline remained unscathed. What defense could he possibly offer?
What indeed?
Eun Xiao relished the situation and urged his horse forward. As he did, he observed his companion, Darky, direct a mocking gaze toward Han Bingxue while emitting a disdainful neigh. The horse's mockery was evident; it seemed to be laughing heartily at Han Bingxue.
Indeed, Darky's laughter was human-like, with its mouth wide open.
Darky's thoughts seemed to suggest, "This man dared to provoke my boss? Hmph, he's fortunate to still be breathing!"
"Damn it! Your cat bullied me, and even your horse is ridiculing me! I can see it! The horse is genuinely laughing... I can see it clearly!" Han Bingxue exclaimed, his mouth agape as he pointed at Darky, trembling with shock.
He was completely flabbergasted.
"Why... How has he become so enigmatic since his return to life? His cat is like a demon... Even his horse is so peculiar... It's unbelievable... I can't... believe this..." Han Bingxue muttered in astonishment.
Eun Xiao scoffed and squinted at him, an expression of ignorance on his face. He seemed to think, "Enigmatic? Hmph. There are numerous things you remain unaware of..."
Resuming their journey, Han Bingxue adopted a more composed demeanor. Eun Xiao recognized that his companion didn't wish to attract undue attention while on the road. The last thing Han Bingxue wanted was for anyone to see his face in its current state. He'd rather face death!
Clearly, he was quite narcissistic.
As they reached a mountain pass, they, along with their loyal companions Erhuo and Darky, all cast their gaze skyward. The clouds overhead were tumultuous, exuding an overwhelming and oppressive aura.
Eun Xiao inquired, "Who could it be? This is a formidable power, whoever they are."
Han Bingxue wore a grave expression as he responded, "Boss, this is no ordinary individual. This has to be one of those 'monsters' people speak of."
Eun Xiao nodded in agreement. Even in his previous life, he knew that this presence was far more potent than Xiao Monarch. This individual surpassed the strength of the three grand elders, Thunder, Wind, and Cloud, combined.
Indeed, this was one of the most influential figures in their realm. The combined might of the three grand elders could barely contend with this mysterious presence, the equivalent of challenging Wu Fa, the realm's top cultivator.
As a resounding thunderclap filled the air, a dark cloud approached them swiftly. By the time they noticed it, the cloud had already drawn close, revealing a person clad entirely in black who stood proudly at its zenith, overseeing all life in the realm.
It was a sight to behold, akin to a vision of unparalleled beauty.
In the span of a second, the enigmatic figure passed overhead, sending an intense chill through the surroundings. Eun Xiao, despite his tolerance for cold, couldn't help but shiver.
Han Bingxue exclaimed, "That's the Great Elder Xuan Bing..." His eyes widened in awe. "Xuan Bing has been causing quite a stir lately. What could be her purpose this time? She's already brought several major sects to their knees. Whoever has crossed her path now is in for a world of trouble."
Eun Xiao, on the other hand, displayed less interest. For him, Xuan Bing held no significance. He had never crossed paths with her, nor did he wish to do so. In his previous life, he had been haughty and unwilling to subject himself to potential mockery, particularly from someone stronger than him, especially a lady. His life would be simpler without such encounters.
"Let's keep moving. This isn't our concern. If it were, she would have confronted us already," Eun Xiao urged as the cloud continued to drift away. Han Bingxue remained lost in thought, muttering to himself about the situation.
However, the unexpected occurred. Suddenly, the dark cloud reversed course and descended upon them, carrying with it a suffocating aura.
Cha Eun Xiao gasped and then forcefully pulled Han Bingxue several dozen meters away, desperate to escape the suffocating pressure bearing down upon them.
Once they found themselves standing on solid ground, an ominous mass of dark fog materialized before them. Inside the dense shroud, there appeared to be a figure, but their view was obstructed, rendering it impossible to discern any features.
The gender, stature, and even the identity of this enigmatic figure remained shrouded in mystery. The one thing they were absolutely certain of, however, was that the source of the overwhelming suppression emanated from this person.
Xuan Bing had returned, and she had descended upon them.
Han Bingxue was on the verge of tears.
He cast an incredulous glance at Cha Eun Xiao and thought, "Heaven above, Boss, why did you have to utter those words? She actually came down to confront us now..."
"You truly have the tongue of a harbinger of misfortune. It must be the highest level of ill luck," he mused. "Now that she's here, what on earth should we do?"
Cha Eun Xiao shared Han Bingxue's surprise. "Why in the world is she descending upon us? We have no connection to her whatsoever. Could it be because of what I just said?" he wondered. "Is she attempting to frighten us to death?"
Within the murky fog, Xuan Bing rolled her eyes, casting her gaze first upon Cha Eun Xiao, then upon Han Bingxue. Suddenly, she exuded a tremendous wave of murderous intent that extended skyward.
Han Bingxue was utterly terrified. Without hesitation, he straightened up and activated his spiritual energy to its fullest extent, as if preparing for a battle to the death. He was resolute and ready to face his fate head-on.
Both Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue, however, were acutely aware that contending with this legendary figure, the Great Elder Xuan Bing, would inevitably lead to their demise, regardless of their efforts.
Surprisingly, the fog loomed before them, but for a significant stretch of time, nothing occurred.
The murderous intent ceased only to surge again, suggesting that Xuan Bing was wrestling with the decision of whether or not to end their lives.