You Are Fooled . . .
Cha Eun Xiao found it rather strange to address her as "Miss." It felt like he might be mocking or ridiculing her with such a title. However, his surprise grew when, after calling her "Miss Xuan," Xuan Bing didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. She didn't object, and she certainly didn't become angry.
[Oh?]
[Does this mean... she accepts it?]
Cha Eun Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over him. [It appears that Great Elder Xuan Bing is quite an unusual individual. How peculiar!]
If he were Han Bingxue, Cha Eun Xiao would probably think that Xuan Bing had fallen in love with him. However, he was not Han Bingxue; he was simply an inexperienced young man with no romantic encounters to speak of. No matter how conceited Cha Eun Xiao could be, he couldn't fathom the idea that this formidable female cultivator might harbor any romantic interest in him.
That would be the biggest joke in the world!
Nonetheless, the question remained in his mind. [Why? How? There must be a reason for this.]
Xuan Bing, a woman who held sway over the entire realm, before whom nobody dared to even breathe heavily, allowed Cha Eun Xiao to address her as "Miss Xuan," an unconventional title. This perplexed Cha Eun Xiao for a considerable amount of time.
"Cha Jun, what's your relationship with Han Bingxue?" Xuan Bing squinted at Cha Eun Xiao and slightly bit her lip.
"Well," Cha Eun Xiao responded cautiously, "we're brothers. Sworn brothers."
"Liar! How could that be? That's preposterous!" Xuan Bing wasn't one to mince words.
Cha Eun Xiao was thrown into a state of shock once again.
[Heavens... dear sister... grandmother... my great-grandmother... please, do you have to label me a liar every time I answer your questions? Can I ask you something? What must I say to prove I'm not lying?]
"You've only recently entered this world," Xuan Bing continued. "Han Bingxue is not a good man, and he's known for being a loner. Moreover, he's vastly more powerful than you. Why would he acknowledge you as a brother? Sworn brother?"
Cha Eun Xiao scratched his head and replied, "I don't know, but I'm certain he's my brother!"
"Ah, you're new to the martial world. You don't comprehend how cunning people can be in this realm. Perhaps he's merely keeping you close for some ulterior motive. He might be flattering you to obtain something he desires. I doubt there's anything about you that genuinely interests him, but something related to you might be the allure. Otherwise, why would he consider you a brother? Kiddo, you're as naive as the other youngsters. A few words from him and you're easily convinced. I'm afraid you might end up manipulated by him."
Xuan Bing was speculating, but the more she spoke, the more plausible it seemed. Eventually, she concluded, "Han Bingxue is no good. He must have an undisclosed agenda for sticking with you. He's not genuinely kind to you. I'm sure of it."
Cha Eun Xiao opened his mouth but couldn't find any words to respond. Xuan Bing had made a valid point. Normally, Han Bingxue had no reason to be close to a young man who had only been in this world for half a year and was as feeble as an ant compared to him. Unless Han Bingxue was acting irrationally or had some hidden motive for their relationship.
Xuan Bing's argument was compelling.
Perhaps Cha Eun Xiao possessed something that Han Bingxue desired, or perhaps he had a connection to something coveted by him. But that was merely conjecture. The real situation was far from ordinary.
"He's married, so he wouldn't be interested in you. Or perhaps you're a clue that leads to a hidden treasure?" Xuan Bing continued her speculative musings. "Maybe you know the whereabouts of a priceless treasure, or you can lead him to a concealed location or a supremely influential figure. There must be something he desires."
"In any case, he's getting close to you because he wants something from you that he won't reveal. You fool! You must be deceived!" Xuan Bing confidently concluded.
Cha Eun Xiao was left speechless.
[Han Bingxue? Deceive me?]
[Would he dare?]
[How could he dare?]
[This is...]
[There's no way to explain this to her. I can't tell her that I am Xiao Monarch, Han Bingxue's superior.]
[If I were to reveal that, the most likely outcome would be Xuan Bing waving her hand and turning me into a pile of flesh and blood in an instant!]
As Xuan Bing spoke, a palpable aura of murderous intent slowly emanated from her. She spoke coldly, "That scoundrel Han Bingxue. He actually has the audacity to involve you... Hm, a young man who has only recently arrived in this realm. This is vile and wicked. He is beyond forgiveness... He deserves to die..."
She was evidently preparing to take action. "Wait here. I will catch up with him and exterminate that vile piece of garbage! How dare he... How could he... Humph... How could he do this? He has brought shame upon all cultivators in the realm!"
It seemed like a noble cause. She was about to confront Han Bingxue, ready to eliminate the man who had "brought shame upon all cultivators in the realm."
Such an offense was worthy of death. She had every reason to kill him for it.
Cha Eun Xiao was terrified. He couldn't afford to hesitate any longer or contemplate his own frailty when it came to stopping Xuan Bing. He rushed forward and opened his arms to block her path. "Stop! Stop! It's not what you think! Han Bingxue and I are truly sworn brothers! We're genuine brothers..."
"I'm not being emotional. I'm speaking the truth. I mean it... Miss Xuan, I appreciate your concern. Han Bingxue has no ill intentions toward me. It's the truth!" Cha Eun Xiao was drenched in sweat due to his anxiety as he attempted to persuade her.
He knew that it would be effortless for her to eliminate Han Bingxue, as easy as a simple wave of her hand. If he delayed even for a moment, he might lose his brother forever. Han Bingxue might become a lifeless, cold body at the hands of Xuan Bing's assault, or he could lose his soul and meet a complete demise.