People of the Cha Clan! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao had previously thought that Han Bingxue excelled at pretentiousness, capable of seamlessly slipping into a pretentious act at any moment. However, his encounter with Cha Liangchen had changed his perspective entirely. Han Bingxue's pretentiousness appeared utterly crude in comparison to Cha Liangchen's masterful performance. Cha Liangchen was a true virtuoso when it came to pretense. It was as if the art of pretense was ingrained in his heart, his soul, and his very bones—an instinctive talent honed to perfection.
Cha Eun Xiao marveled at the level of pretense Cha Liangchen had achieved, and he couldn't help but compare it to Han Bingxue's much more conspicuous efforts. The contrast was stark, with Cha Liangchen's subtle and refined pretense being a world apart from Han Bingxue's. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but appreciate the mastery of this art.
The third young man among the group expressed his frustration, longing for a focus on more serious matters. He emphasized the need to collect medicinal herbs for their clan and acquire the necessary credits. Failure to do so would lead to dire consequences, as they would be overshadowed by Cha Chengzong and his associates in the following month. Cha Liangchen responded with a smile, "If that indeed occurs, it will be as your name suggests, Naihe, meaning 'a place where nothing can be done to help.' Hahaha."
His jovial response masked a degree of concern. Evidently, he wasn't entirely confident in their ability to gather sufficient medicinal herbs.
The three men were introduced as Cha Liangchen, Cha Meijing, and Cha Naihe. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but find their names somewhat unusual, with "Liangchen" and "Meijing" standing out as particularly peculiar. The combination of their names, when said together, sounded like a line from an old Chinese play. Cha Eun Xiao imagined what it would be like if they had a brother named "Tian" to complete the line. The thought made him cringe, and he pondered the strange names within the Cha Clan.
As the conversation continued, it became clear that Cha Naihe had pointed out a pressing issue, but Cha Liangchen's interest was primarily directed toward Cha Eun Xiao, Han Bingxue, and Xuan Bing. While he maintained a facade of maturity and attempted to engage in polite discourse, his true intentions were evident to the three visitors. It was clear that he sought their support, even though his approach was inadvertently provocative.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but express his disdain as he asked, "Cha Clan must be a prominent clan in the Town of Cha, and you are undoubtedly the young lords of the Cha Clan. How have you ended up in this situation?" His words dripped with sarcasm and were a direct provocation. Cha Meijing and Cha Naihe were visibly enraged, falling into Cha Eun Xiao's cleverly set trap.
However, Cha Liangchen's eyes lit up, and he genuinely smiled at Cha Eun Xiao's frankness. He acknowledged the truth in Cha Eun Xiao's words and expressed a sense of shame. He conceded that while the Cha Clan possessed numerous exceptional cultivators, it had not achieved the status of an overlord. Cha Eun Xiao's directness and sincerity resonated with Cha Liangchen, who recognized the need for a more in-depth discussion.
When Xuan Bing heard Cha Liangchen describe the Cha Clan as not yet an overlord, she was taken aback. Even Misty Cloud Palace, a formidable organization, refrained from using such a term to describe itself. Cha Eun Xiao maintained his patience and steered the conversation further, skillfully coaxing information about the Cha Clan's current situation.
Cha Liangchen continued, stating, "The Cha Clan is the dominant power in this region, and we inevitably have our share of adversaries. Some details I cannot disclose to a stranger. However, upon our first meeting, I sense a camaraderie among us. We are friends, and friends should be honest with one another. So, I don't see any harm in sharing more about my clan."
Cha Meijing and Cha Naihe couldn't quite comprehend Cha Liangchen's actions, but they chose not to intervene. Instead, they observed from the sidelines, ready to assist if needed.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel that they were taking an incredibly bold and perilous gamble. Their willingness to confide in strangers was risky, given the limited information they possessed about their new acquaintances.
Cha Liangchen went on to provide an overview of the Cha Clan's internal structure. He explained that there were six branches within the clan, each with its own role and influence. The first branch, which used to be the main force of the Cha Clan, had declined in power due to an old case and subsequent resignations. The second and fourth branches currently governed the clan's affairs, while the fifth branch was associated with the second, forming a more extensive group. On the other hand, the sixth and fourth branches formed an alliance to challenge the dominance of the second and fifth. These two coalitions had been engaged in a long-standing feud characterized by intense conflicts and ruthless tactics.
Cha Liangchen belonged to the third branch of the Cha Clan, which had previously been linked to the first branch. However, when the first branch declined, so did the third. The other four branches took advantage of this decline, oppressing the third branch, which, while stronger than the first, remained in a precarious position.
Cha Eun Xiao began to piece together the puzzle of the Cha Clan's internal politics and the rifts that had formed among its branches. The first branch's downfall, in particular, seemed to be closely related to his father's history. It was apparent that the power dynamics within the Cha Clan were complex and fraught with conflict.