The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 212: How Did He Know?

How Did He Know? . . .

Bing Xin-Yue's revelation weighed heavily on Cha-Eun Xiao's mind. She had just shared the sect's desperate struggle to find Regeneration Lotus, especially the scarcity of Regeneration Jade Lotus and Renascence Jade Lotus, ever since the calamitous event that had befallen their Renascence Saint Garden. They had lost their ability to nurture these precious lotuses and had been forced to prioritize who among them would receive the limited supply of Regeneration Ink Lotus. It was a grim choice, one made to ensure the survival and continuation of their sect.

As Bing Xin-Yue explained their rationale, her voice carried the weight of the burden they had borne for generations. She admitted that no one wanted to die, and given the choice, they would all choose to extend their lives. However, there had to be individuals willing to step forward, to sacrifice their own chances, and set an example for the younger generations. It was the only way for their sect, which had thrived for tens of thousands of years, to endure until the prophecy's fulfillment.

Cha-Eun Xiao found himself in an unexpected predicament. He hadn't anticipated shouldering such a monumental responsibility. He cleared his throat, his expression a mixture of complexity and reluctance. [When did my life become entangled with such a significant destiny?]

He voiced his concerns, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He questioned the swiftness with which everything had unfolded, especially his own involvement. He wondered if Bing Xin-Yue truly believed that he was the one referred to in that prophetic statement. He pointed out that his mention of the "Purple Sky-Fire" had been a casual fabrication. While he possessed both gelid qi and fire qi within his body, it felt recklessly presumptive.

Bing Xin-Yue responded with a smile, remaining silent. In truth, she, too, had been puzzled by the situation. Logic dictated that a stranger who possessed knowledge of their sect's deepest secrets should be eliminated immediately. However, inexplicably, she felt an innate trust in Cha-Eun Xiao, an assurance that he wouldn't bring harm to her, Chu-Chu, or their sect. This perplexing feeling had led her to contemplate her emotions deeply, attempting to understand why she felt this way.

Yet there was another enigma that continued to elude her understanding.

When Cha-Eun Xiao reminisced about a particular incident involving Jun Ying-Lian, it revealed a deeper layer of his character. It was a decision he had made in the past, a choice to prioritize integrity and loyalty over personal gain. He remembered how Sister Jun had once asked for his opinion on a matter, a request he had initially opposed. However, his reasons were far from rooted in the pride of being a member of a prestigious sect. Instead, it was his reluctance to exploit Sister Jun's status to safeguard himself, especially at a time when his own Cha Clan faced imminent danger.

Back then, their sect had been teetering on the brink of catastrophe, and the divulgence of their closely guarded secrets would have spelled a second downfall. Cha-Eun Xiao had been adamant about preventing Sister Jun from becoming collateral damage in his own misfortunes.

In truth, Cha-Eun Xiao recognized the vast disparity in both his cultivation abilities and fame when compared to Sister Jun. He understood that he couldn't match her prowess and influence in the martial world. Therefore, he had declined her request, fortunate that she hadn't pressed the matter further. Eventually, the issue faded from their minds, seemingly forgotten.

But the fact remained that in the entire Qing-Yun Realm, only a scant few individuals were privy to this incident—no more than five and perhaps even just three. Among them were Cha-Eun Xiao himself, Jun Ying-Lian, and the enigmatic Xiao Monarch.

However, the mere mention of the Xiao Monarch's name stirred an old resentment within Cha-Eun Xiao's heart. He harbored a deep-seated animosity toward the man who had once been Sister Jun's lover, an individual he held responsible for the suffering and hardship that had befallen his cherished sister.

It was that man who had seemingly cursed himself with Cha-Eun Xiao's relentless hatred, as if the fervor of his resentment had manifested a tragic fate. Three years later, the rumors had begun to circulate—news of the Xiao Monarch's demise, with no trace of his existence left behind, not even a vestige of his soul.

The day Cha-Eun Xiao received this shocking news, he could hardly believe it. He was acutely aware of the profound love that had existed between the Xiao Monarch and Jun Ying-Lian, and the pain of losing him must have been unbearable for his beloved sister.

Without a moment's hesitation, Bing Xin-Yue confirmed the veracity of the news and hastened to Jun Ying-Lian's side. What she encountered was a broken woman, consumed by grief, her complexion drained of color. It was a stark transformation from the vibrant Jun Ying-Lian she had known.

Over the course of half a month, Bing Xin-Yue tirelessly supported her sister, helping her navigate the unfathomable depths of sorrow. She became Jun Ying-Lian's pillar of strength, urging her to channel her pain into a relentless pursuit of vengeance against those responsible for her lover's death.

With time, Jun Ying-Lian's condition improved slightly, but the loss remained an indelible scar. It was then that Bing Xin-Yue decided to depart the Qing-Yun Realm for the distant Land of Han-Yang, leaving behind the heartache and memories of a love that had been tragically torn asunder.

Initially, Bing Xin-Yue's sole desire had been to spend the remainder of her days quietly in the Qing-Yun Realm alongside her dearest disciple, Jun Ying-Lian. She had wished to live and, if need be, die in obscurity, with the hope that Jun Ying-Lian would find happiness even if she were to pass away unbeknownst to her beloved sister. However, fate had a different plan in store for her, one that would introduce her to an unexpected individual—the very person mentioned in her sect's cryptic prediction.

To her astonishment, this individual turned out to be exceedingly weak, a fact that left her genuinely surprised. She regarded him as weaker than the feeblest of creatures, possibly even an ant, a notion that baffled her.

Yet a lingering question troubled her thoughts: How had this seemingly frail individual come to possess knowledge of the two sacred phrases mentioned in the prediction? The prediction's existence was known to only three individuals, and one of them was deceased. Bing Xin-Yue was certain that her beloved sister, Jun Ying-Lian, would never have divulged such a secret. She, too, was ruled out as the source of this revelation. That left only one possibility—the enigmatic Feng Zhi-Ling.

The perplexing conundrum weighed heavily on Bing Xin-Yue's mind, leaving her lost in a whirlwind of contemplation and confusion. The situation was so bizarre, so utterly inexplicable.

As for Cha-Eun Xiao, he shared her sense of unease and curiosity but refrained from voicing his many questions. He wasn't quite prepared to confront the answers, sensing that they could potentially unravel a web of mysteries beyond his comprehension. So, together, they lapsed into a prolonged and introspective silence that settled uncomfortably in the room, shrouding it in an eerie stillness.

It was Bing Xin-Yue who finally broke the silence, addressing Cha-Eun Xiao with an inquiry laden with intrigue. "Master Feng," she began tentatively, "may I have the privilege of examining the Regeneration Jade Lotus that you have successfully cultivated?"