The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 222: Who Is Following Me?

Who Is Following Me? . . .

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's brows furrowed in contemplation as her thoughts swirled in confusion and helplessness. The tangled web of emotions left her pondering her true feelings. Inwardly, she questioned herself, *Do I have feelings for this man?*

She was unable to provide a definite answer to her own queries. Her internal dialogue continued, *I'm not entirely sure... Do I? I honestly have no idea. He holds immense significance for our sect, yet in this world, he stands as my adversary... I can't bring myself to end his life, nor can I allow myself to feel affection for him... What should I do?*

Her mind was a labyrinth of intricate emotions, leaving her deeply perplexed.

Meanwhile, Bing Xin-Yue's thoughts were equally complex. Both women stood in silence, lost in their individual contemplations.

Bing Xin-Yue weighed her options, considering, *Perhaps it's time for me to return to the sect for a while. After tending to my own ailment, I should visit Sister Jun. I need to inquire about her well-being and, more importantly, ascertain who else she may have divulged our private matter to. How could such a personal affair have spread to the Land of Han-Yang?*

She remained quietly absorbed in her thoughts, eventually letting out a sigh. "Using Yin and Yang energies to cure the illness should indeed be a viable solution... But why does it have to involve a man?" Her words were tinged with uncertainty.

The observer on the roof was poised to descend but hesitated. She muttered to herself, "Ling-Bao Hall? Feng Zhi-Ling? Yin and Yang? Curing illness?" Her eyes displayed a myriad of conflicting emotions. "Skin to skin..." Her voice trembled with complexity.

With a subtle shake, her black robe transformed into a wisp of ethereal smoke, and she vanished into thin air. It was a remarkable display of martial prowess that bordered on the transcendental.

For Cha-Eun Xiao, the day he left Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's concealed residence was marked by incredulity. He couldn't fathom why they had allowed him to depart without a struggle, without negotiation, and without pursuit. His perplexed thoughts whirled, *Why did they release me so easily? Why didn't they capture me? Why didn't they attempt to strike a deal with me? I simply walked out, and they made no effort to stop me. What is happening here? This makes no sense.*

His feigned anger towards the ladies had played a part in his escape strategy. He considered it a gamble to test the boundaries of their patience and tolerance. Remaining by their side meant enduring the monotony of repeated discussions on the same topic, and he yearned for an escape.

Ultimately, his bold move had worked, allowing him to extricate himself from an exceedingly perilous situation. He couldn't help but marvel at his good fortune, *What's going on? I made it out.*

Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he reflected on the ease with which he had escaped from the Misty Cloud Palace. The nagging feeling of suspicion lingered as he made his way to the Ling-Bao Hall.

Throughout his journey, Cha-Eun Xiao remained vigilant, his senses on high alert. He entertained the possibility that the Misty Cloud Palace might have allowed him to leave with the intention of tracking him down later, to unravel the mystery of his identity and his connection to the Ling-Bao Hall. Despite his best efforts to employ his spiritual awareness and sensitivity, he found no trace of pursuit.

Two plausible explanations crossed his mind. Firstly, it was conceivable that the Misty Cloud Palace cultivators were simply too powerful to be detected while trailing him. Despite his own weakness, he dismissed this idea, as Bing Xin-Yue, the strongest among them, would likely underestimate his abilities. The second, simpler explanation was that no one was following him at all.

"Why would no one follow me?" Cha-Eun Xiao pondered, feeling a growing sense of unease.

With a mixture of relief and caution, he opted to spend the night within the secure confines of the Ling-Bao Hall. The night passed in silence, and by the following afternoon, no one had approached him. His initial apprehension began to wane.

As he prepared to leave the Ling-Bao Hall, however, an unexpected shiver ran down his spine, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding gripped him. It was as if an invisible presence watched his every move, an unsettling awareness that something was amiss.

Cha-Eun Xiao trusted his instincts, and in this moment, they screamed that he was being observed. His proximity to the Grade of Tianyuan made it impossible for him to dismiss this unease as baseless fear. He knew someone was watching him, someone with far greater strength, rendering him unable to detect them directly. He concluded that it must be a member of Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's sect, intent on uncovering his true identity.

His thoughts raced, *This can't be Bing Xin-Yue; otherwise, I would have sensed her due to our previous encounter. But who could this observer be? I had no idea their sect possessed such formidable cultivators. Are they not concerned about provoking my ire?*

As Cha-Eun Xiao continued on his path, his mind raced with possible explanations for the mysterious presence he had sensed. Perhaps, he considered, there was a third possibility at play. Could it be that a supremely skilled grandmaster cultivator was observing him from a considerable distance? This hypothetical figure might have cast a fleeting glance in his direction, yet that glance had been enough to send shivers down Cha-Eun Xiao's spine. If this were true, it meant that there existed a cultivator capable of unsettling him with just a glance from afar, indicating a mastery of at least the sixth level of the Grade of Daoyuan.

Deep in thought, Cha-Eun Xiao pondered the situation. "Regardless of the circumstances, one thing is clear—I am indeed under surveillance," he concluded. "It could be a passing cultivator who merely caught a glimpse of me, or perhaps it is someone intentionally keeping tabs on me. Either way, if I return to the House of Cha, I risk exposing myself."

With a calm exterior that belied his inner turmoil, Cha-Eun Xiao made a swift decision. The realization that he was being observed hadn't taken him by surprise; he had half-expected it. His expression remained unchanged as he casually strolled along the sunlit street, arms crossed over his chest.

In a distant, shadowy corner, an enigmatic figure observed Cha-Eun Xiao's every move. She muttered to herself, "This must be the elusive Feng Zhi-Ling... but why is he moving so slowly?" Her gaze remained fixed on him as he walked from south to north along the street. At one point, he halted and rubbed his head, only to turn around and walk back in the direction he had come.