The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 147: I Was Hit By The Melting Bone Palm

I Was Hit By The Melting Bone Palm . . .

These young men had been adversaries of Cha-Eun Xiao's group for quite some time. Thus, they found it rather perplexing to abruptly change their allegiances. However, when it came to deciding who to befriend or oppose, people needed to weigh their options. As a result, they opted to stick with their current affiliations, at least for the time being.

Cha-Eun Xiao's group made their way back toward the city, the aftermath of their successful confrontation still resonating among them. Although Lan Lang-Lang wasn't the central figure in this encounter, his excitement surpassed that of the main characters. On the other hand, Zuo Wu-Ji remained pensive and withdrawn.

Upon reaching the gates of the Palace of Hua-Yang, Zuo Wu-Ji let out a sigh and began, "I understand it now, Brother Cha."

Before Cha-Eun Xiao could respond, Zuo Wu-Ji swiftly spurred his horse and disappeared without further explanation.

Lan Lang-Lang, feeling perplexed, inquired, "Understand what? What did he mean? Is it some kind of riddle?"

Cha-Eun Xiao rolled his eyes and replied, "He understands, but you don't. Well, we're already at the door of the Palace of Hua-Yang. He should be heading home now. I need to accompany the little princess and check on her mother."

Lan Lang-Lang seemed to grasp the situation and exclaimed, "Ah, I see."

He promptly followed Zuo Wu-Ji's lead and rode off. However, he was intercepted by Cha-Eun Xiao, who inquired, "Wait, how's your scalp condition?"

Lan Lang-Lang grinned and expressed his gratitude, "Thanks to you, it's recovering quite nicely, and I've even got some thick and dark hair growing in. Hahaha... In a few days, I'll be able to take off my hat. I'll make a grand entrance into the world with my brand new look. People will be amazed at my handsomeness! There's nothing more wonderful than this... Xiao Xiao, prepare to be astounded!"

With a sigh, Cha-Eun Xiao remarked, "I knew it was a mistake to hold you back... Off you go, quickly."

Lan Lang-Lang departed, leaving Cha-Eun Xiao to address Su Ye-Yue's curious question. She had kept her eyes on him and asked, "Xiao Xiao, what did Zuo Wu-Ji mean? Did you tell Lang-Lang the truth?"

With a gentle tone, Cha-Eun Xiao replied, "Heh, heh... Zuo Wu-Ji understands now. Since those individuals are destined to be our enemies, there's no harm in taking action against them. It's especially crucial for Zuo Wu-Ji to grasp this concept. Extremely crucial."

Su Ye-Yue responded with a simple "oh."

Although she didn't fully comprehend the situation, even if she had, she likely wouldn't have recognized the significance of Zuo Wu-Ji's newfound understanding. Regardless, she wasn't overly concerned. Her primary focus was elsewhere, and she inquired, "Xiao Xiao, you were quite forceful with them today. I'm worried that this will lead to complications down the road. Their families won't easily let this slide. How do you plan to handle it?"

Cha-Eun Xiao affectionately tousled her hair and offered a comforting smile, saying, "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just stay with your mother for these few days. You don't need to concern yourself with anything. I'll be leaving after a cup of tea."

He grew pensive for a moment and continued, "Regarding the conflict in the south, our people are involved there as well. They'll send me carrier pigeons daily... So, don't worry. Nothing untoward will happen."

Su Ye-Yue gazed at him with a sense of tenderness, her expression contemplative. In a soft voice, she remarked, "Xiao Xiao... Why didn't I realize how amazing you are? I feel like even if the heavens were to crumble, as long as I'm by your side, I wouldn't need to worry about a thing. You always find a way to resolve matters."

As the words left her lips, Su Ye-Yue's cheeks suddenly flushed with color. She glanced downward at her waist and, with a sudden rush of embarrassment, hurried inside the door.

...

Cha-Eun Xiao remained within the confines of the Palace of Hua-Yang, spending time with Princess Hua-Yang. After a lengthy conversation, he departed, accompanied by Song Jue.

Once they had left the palace grounds, Song Jue lowered his voice and expressed his concerns, "Today's confrontation was rather intense, and it has undoubtedly soured your relationship with those individuals and their families. It's not an ideal situation for us right now. With no military leader in the capital, the political faction will surely seize upon this incident to accuse us. Do you have a plan to address this?"

Seated atop his horse, Cha-Eun Xiao gazed ahead with a composed expression and replied, "There are always two sides to a coin. What transpired today could serve as a pretext for the political faction to harass us, but it can also provide us with grounds to retaliate against them. Prince Hua-Yang has departed for battle, and these provocateurs couldn't wait to meddle with us. I'd rather take the initiative to eliminate them than wait for their attack. This will ensure the safety of the military faction in the capital, and we won't have to fear internal strife. It's a golden opportunity to exert our influence in the capital, and I shall be the catalyst."

His words were tinged with determination.

Song Jue, however, wore a perplexed expression and raised a valid concern, "Your plan may sound straightforward, but how exactly do we execute it? While they did approach us first, your actions were rather extreme. You nearly beat that young man to a pulp."

A sly smile graced Cha-Eun Xiao's lips as he replied, "My plan will hinge on my father's power. Let's see just how influential he is."

He winked at Song Jue and added, "Uncle Song, you understand what needs to be done, don't you?"

Song Jue was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what exactly Cha-Eun Xiao was alluding to. He couldn't help but think, "What on earth am I supposed to understand?"

Nonetheless, since Cha-Eun Xiao had mentioned it, Song Jue presumed it must be within his capabilities. He just didn't have a clear idea of what that entailed. Lost in thought, he attempted to devise a plan. "I'm just a cultivator. My strength lies in combat. Why don't I eliminate those individuals tomorrow? It might take me the entire night to finish the job, but even if our actions are eventually exposed, I still have my brother Cha by my side. The king won't dare to take action against me. I believe this must be Xiao's plan; otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned his father."

With newfound confidence in his interpretation, Song Jue's heart brimmed with hatred and a surging desire for vengeance. He began to strategize how he could efficiently and discreetly execute this mission later that night. While he contemplated which targets to prioritize, they arrived at the entrance of the House of Cha.

A crowd had gathered in front of the residence, composed of individuals from the Revenue Minister's faction, Wang Da-Nian's associates, and representatives from the House of the Right Prime Minister. They had all converged here because their young masters had been allegedly mistreated. Although they didn't dare to take direct action against Cha-Eun Xiao, they aimed to extract an admission of guilt from him, which they could then use to accuse him before the king the following morning.

Song Jue's nostrils flared, his hatred intensifying as he thought, "These scoundrels are truly shameless and infuriating... I'll collect their lives for good."

At that very moment, an unexpected event unfolded before their eyes. Cha-Eun Xiao, who had been silently observing the gathering crowd, suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed from his horse. With a resounding thud, he hit the ground and immediately lost consciousness, his body contorted in an unusual posture, as if all his bones had suddenly abandoned him. It was as if a lifeless sack of flesh had fallen to the ground.

He appeared utterly limp and lifeless, his body slouched in a way that suggested complete helplessness. The sudden turn of events left Song Jue in a state of immediate distress. He believed that Cha-Eun Xiao had been covertly attacked, prompting him to dismount from his horse and hastily rush to his side. Attempting to maintain his composure, Song Jue began assessing Cha-Eun Xiao's condition meticulously. The assembled crowd, equally bewildered by the situation, watched in stunned silence, their collective curiosity piqued.

Having eagerly awaited Cha-Eun Xiao's return, the crowd had only just begun to approach him with accusatory intentions when he suddenly turned pallid and unsteadily tumbled from his horse. The fall appeared genuine, devoid of any pretense or theatricality. It left those gathered utterly perplexed.

Speculation ran rampant among the onlookers. Some harbored dark thoughts, insinuating that Cha-Eun Xiao, who had a reputation for bullying others, was actually a coward. They believed that the overwhelming pressure of the crowd, gathered to confront him, had caused him to lose his nerve and fall from his horse.

Song Jue, however, was primarily concerned about Cha-Eun Xiao's well-being. He carefully supported him, only to discover that his body lacked its usual rigidity. His muscles felt unusually slack. Filled with anxiety, Song Jue cried out, "Cha-Eun Xiao! What's happened to you?"

His genuine concern for Cha-Eun Xiao was evident in his tone and demeanor. As Song Jue observed Cha-Eun Xiao's eyes flicker open briefly and then close again, he was left utterly perplexed. What could Cha-Eun Xiao be trying to convey?

In a barely audible voice, Cha-Eun Xiao's words reached Song Jue's ears, "Have you forgotten about the Melting Bone Palm?"

A surge of realization coursed through Song Jue. This was Cha-Eun Xiao's plan unfolding before his eyes, a brilliantly orchestrated ruse. It had successfully diverted any accusations and provided them with a pretext for counteraction. They were now at liberty to take any action they deemed fit against their opponents.

At that moment, Song Jue comprehended why Cha-Eun Xiao had mentioned his father earlier. His elder brother was undeniably powerful, but Cha-Eun Xiao, too, was demonstrating his own prowess.

Song Jue immediately feigned distress, shedding crocodile tears and lamenting loudly, "My lord! What's befallen you? Oh, no, young master..."

With Cha-Eun Xiao's head hanging limp and lifeless, he convincingly feigned unconsciousness. Song Jue continued to assess him anxiously, his hands trembling with feigned fear. Suddenly, he cast his gaze upon the perplexed crowd and bellowed, "Who did this? Who is responsible for breaking my young master's bones?"

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