The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 53: I Can Cure It. Beg Me First!

I Can Cure It. Beg Me First! . . .

Cha-Eun Xiao shifted the conversation, his eyes glinting with mischief. "By the way, I wonder if Lady Chu-Chu knows that there is a restriction regarding the usage of the Renascence Jade Lotus? You see, the Renascence Jade Lotus is only effective on a virgin body..."

He couldn't contain his amusement, his smile broadening. "It's rather unfortunate, you know. For a woman to reach the level where she can utilize the Renascence Jade Lotus, well, the most conservative estimate for someone to attain that level is three thousand years... And if she's still a virgin by then... I don't know if she's lucky or miserable. Haha, haha..."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's patience finally wore thin. She leaped to her feet and seized Cha-Eun Xiao's clothing, lifting his entire body as she brought him closer to her face. Her voice was low and menacing as she threatened, "You dare to laugh again, and I'll show you the consequences!"

Her eyes were filled with murderous intent, and she was consumed by embarrassment and anger.

Cha-Eun Xiao, hanging helplessly in her grip, struggled to breathe but couldn't help laughing heartily. "Hahahahahaha... Of course, I dare to laugh. Why wouldn't I? Lady Chu-Chu, your current wrath is truly something to behold. But, do you truly dare to kill me?"

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu glared at him, her eyes burning with hatred and various other complex emotions. She breathed heavily, causing her bosom to rise and fall like tumultuous ocean waves—an enchanting sight capable of stirring any heart.

With Cha-Eun Xiao suspended in front of her chest, he couldn't help but glance downwards, maintaining his indifferent tone as he commented, "It seems Lady Chu-Chu must be a stunning beauty... Those fair breasts..."

"Ahh!" Startled, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's hands jerked, flinging Cha-Eun Xiao far away from her. She hastily adjusted her disheveled clothes.

Cha-Eun Xiao landed heavily on the floor, wincing in pain as he cracked his bones. Despite his injuries and blocked cultivation, he couldn't help but laugh uproariously. "To witness such a youthful sight! Even if I had died from that fall, it would've been worth it. Hahahahaha..."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's embarrassment had tinted her neck red. She glared at Cha-Eun Xiao, now fully incensed. It wouldn't have been surprising if she had decided to tear him apart and devour him.

However, she remained still for an extended moment before breaking into a coy smile, twirling her long bangs. Her demeanor transformed as she spoke demurely, "Brother Feng... You're truly a despicable person. My hand almost slipped and killed you just now..."

If she had reacted with anger, fury, or even by rushing over to beat him senseless, he wouldn't have been surprised, let alone frightened. However, her swift transition from anger to a demure smile sent shivers down Cha-Eun Xiao's spine despite the warmth in the room.

"This girl can calm down so quickly in such a situation. She's definitely not an ordinary person," Cha-Eun Xiao mused.

He brushed off the dust from his clothes and stood up with a limp, appearing somewhat tattered yet entirely at ease. He wore a peaceful smile as he said, "Is that so? It's a shame you don't have the courage to kill me."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu regarded him with a complex expression, her voice laced with curiosity and frustration. "Who are you? Just who the hell are you?"

"I'm a dan-maker. And a dan-maker is supposed to know more than most, especially in the field of medicine," Cha-Eun Xiao replied matter-of-factly. "Coincidentally, this field happens to be your current request. So, you really don't have the guts to kill me."

Cha-Eun Xiao had managed to chip away at Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's composed demeanor, causing her to react uncharacteristically due to her growing anger. She found herself in a perplexing situation, unable to take action against the restrained prisoner before her.

How did it feel to be incapable of dealing with a helpless captive? It was a sensation that defied easy description—a blend of extreme annoyance and frustration.

"What do you mean?" She let out a deep breath and forced a gentle smile. "Please explain."

"Firstly, remove my restraints. Being tied up is making me uncomfortable," Cha-Eun Xiao said nonchalantly. "I need to use my martial arts to recover as quickly as possible."

Without waiting for Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's response, he continued, "Oh, and I believe there's a high probability that I can help the person you're trying to save overcome the ten-year crisis, with or without the Regeneration Ink Lotus..."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's eyes lit up, and she bit her lip in anticipation. "Is that true? What about ten years from now?"

He shrugged casually. "Well, that would depend on my mood. You see, I'm sure you're aware that the Regeneration Ink Lotus you possess is already turning gray. In other words, it's about to transform into a Regeneration Jade Lotus..."

"However, this transformation is relatively fast, taking at least one to two hundred years. You have a mere ten years before it's needed. If the lotus doesn't become a Regeneration Jade Lotus within that time, the person you're caring for will face a single fate—death."

"In essence, even if I help you navigate the ten-year crisis without the Regeneration Ink Lotus, you'll still confront the same situation a decade from now because you won't have the means to expedite its transformation within that timeframe."

He raised a finger, grinning. "But I have a solution."

"You can? You can accelerate the lotus's evolution?" Wen-Ren Chu-Chu asked eagerly.

"But," he added, his expression turning serious, "if I remain restrained like this, I won't be in the mood to share it with you. Even though I know the solution, I might not be able to recall it."

Cha-Eun Xiao humphed, adopting a self-satisfied expression that seemed to say, 'I'm absolutely blackmailing you.'

"I can cure it, but since you've treated me this way, I won't. You'll have to beg me."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu struggled to control her rage, her teeth itching in frustration.

He smiled provocatively, picking up his cup. "By the way, this tea is quite good. You should have more, Lady Chu-Chu."

She bit her lower lip, her eyes locked onto him. Then, she adopted a sweet smile and spoke softly, "Brother Feng, keep in mind that I saved your life and have been nursing you with water and medicine for the past few days. Will you deny my favor?"

But Cha-Eun Xiao wasn't buying it. "I don't quite agree with your interpretation, Lady Chu-Chu. I sense a certain 'forceful repayment of favors' intent in your voice. Moreover, when you claim to have saved my life, let's not forget that the person who found me had no intention of killing me. If he did, given his extraordinary strength, I wouldn't have stood a chance. I'd have been long dead."

He continued, "Furthermore, if someone else had discovered me, they might have treated me as an honored guest. Not everyone would treat a supreme dan-maker with such disdain. All you've done is provide me with water and medicine, which is the bare minimum one would expect. Even if they don't treat me like royalty, they certainly wouldn't have restricted my freedom in such a discourteous manner."

"Treat me like royalty?" Wen-Ren Chu-Chu glanced at his unremarkable face, her urge to spit on it growing stronger.

"I saved you, but you don't seem grateful. That's one thing," she said with irritation. "Now you want royal treatment? What kind of person are you? Do you have no shame?"

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's sweet smile was wearing thin, and she declared, "Brother Feng, could you please share your solution first? If it truly works, I swear to release you immediately, apologize sincerely, and promise never to restrict your freedom again."

"Are you sure?" Cha-Eun Xiao looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"I promise," she affirmed with seriousness.

"But I don't trust you," he replied with a cough, wearing a leisurely smile.

"You!" Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's almond-shaped eyes widened in exasperation.

"Only women and small-minded men are hard to get along with. I'm not sure if you're small-minded, but I'm pretty sure you're a woman!" Cha-Eun Xiao remained relaxed as he continued, "And you don't even meet me with your true face. Tell me, even if you break your promise, what can I do about it?"

"There's a chance that once you get the prescription from me, you'll just kill me and bury me instantly. Then you'll start making a fortune with my prescription..." He waved dismissively, "People in the martial world can be dark and sinister. I need to protect myself. No matter what, I must ensure I have an exit."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's anger flared again, her chest heaving as she looked at Cha-Eun Xiao with wide-open, furious eyes. Her elegant demeanor and sweet smile had vanished. She shouted indignantly, "How can I be compared to an ordinary woman? I am from the Lan-Feng Kingdom..."

She abruptly stopped, realizing that she was about to reveal too much. Her anger intensified, and she hissed, "How can I gain your trust?"

Cha-Eun Xiao waved it off. "Never mind. A dignified man like me can't be bothered with the fussiness of a little girl. I'll acknowledge that you've served me to some extent, so I'll share my prescription with you in return. Only I can proceed with it; you won't be able to learn it even if you know what it is."

"You..." Wen-Ren Chu-Chu was utterly speechless.

As she gazed at Feng Zhi-Ling before her, she felt a seething rage stuck in her throat, something she couldn't swallow or spit out. She wished she could stuff a pair of filthy, unwashed socks that had been worn for hundreds of years into his loathsome mouth.

"Since you weren't concerned about telling me, what was the point of your earlier words? To intentionally infuriate me?" she snapped. "And what do you mean by I served you to some extent? Could you be any more audacious? You behave this way and dare to call yourself a man? Contemptible, impudent, uncouth, and paltry—those words suit you perfectly!"

"Based on my estimations..." Cha-Eun Xiao peered at Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's expression and continued, "The person you're trying to save must be facing this crisis due to a special martial art she's been practicing. This martial art has been passed down for generations but is fundamentally flawed. The Regeneration Ink Lotus, the Regeneration Jade Lotus, and the Renascence Jade Lotus happen to be the materials that can correct these flaws."

"Despite its defects, this martial art is incredibly potent and easy to advance in. Even a novice can potentially dominate a certain realm," he added, observing Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's darkening expression. He spoke deliberately, "It seems you're aware that I'm not discussing the Land of Han-Yang."