The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 100: Tough Time For The Salesroom

Tough Time For The Salesroom . . .

Ning Bi-Luo observed Cha-Eun Xiao's calm demeanor and realized that there was no hint of anger or displeasure in his voice. It was a peaceful conversation, and it became evident to Ning Bi-Luo that Cha-Eun Xiao genuinely didn't care about the situation.

[He can be indifferent, but can I be too?]

Ning Bi-Luo remained on the rain-soaked roof for an extended period. Eventually, he let out a sigh and took off, flying away.

In the darkness, Cha-Eun Xiao smiled and muttered to himself, "As an assassin, he's quite charming. However, he underestimated me. If I were the type to always seek benefits, I wouldn't have risked my life to save him, would I?"

"Furthermore... If the No. 1 assassin becomes my servant... he won't be the No. 1 assassin anymore. He might even fail as an assassin... A change in one's faith can weaken one's strength..."

"So, I'll never impose on you to repay the favor."

"Have a safe journey, my friend."

Cha-Eun Xiao quickly fell asleep, as the recent events had left him thoroughly exhausted.

...

The following day, at the Ling-Bao Hall Salesroom.

Ling-Bao Hall had been exceptionally busy in recent days, particularly since the arrival of the big boss. The atmosphere in the hall was fraught with tension and anxiety.

Master Guan, Guan Wan-Shan, was enduring a particularly trying time. He had eagerly anticipated Feng Zhi-Ling's arrival.

The big boss, the formerly rotund Wan Zheng-Hao, had significantly shed weight during this period due to his restless pacing. In fact, it might be more appropriate to describe his movements as "rolling" rather than "walking."

Whenever he encountered Guan Wan-Shan, he would grab him and inquire, "Has Feng Zhi-Ling arrived? Is he here yet? No?"

If he saw Guan Wan-Shan ten times a day, he would pose questions about Feng Zhi-Ling at least twenty times.

Once he released Guan Wan-Shan, he would add, "Why hasn't he come yet? When will he arrive?"

During their conversations, he would sporadically interject other questions, but the one about Feng Zhi-Ling was the most frequently repeated.

"Could he have met with an unfortunate fate?"

"Why hasn't he arrived yet? What's keeping that scoundrel?"

"Why isn't he here yet? Do you have any idea what's delaying him? Has he fallen victim to some illness?"

"I'm contemplating sending someone to check the brothels. What do you think?"

"Why hasn't he arrived? Explain it to me..."

Guan Wan-Shan found himself increasingly burdened by these repetitive inquiries, leading to painful headaches. It was not an exaggeration to say that anyone subjected to such relentless questioning would be driven to the brink of madness, with diminishing IQ as a result.

Guan Wan-Shan pondered that if his boss persisted in this manner, he might indeed lose his sanity. [Feng Zhi Ling... He isn't my son, is he? How could I possibly know when he will arrive or why he hasn't yet? You keep asking me these questions. Whom should I ask in return? Explain? What on earth can I explain? What insights do I possess to provide an explanation? Explain my ass!

But... I can't refuse my boss, can I?]

Every time he painstakingly answered these meaningless and repetitive questions, he felt as though he were on the brink of madness. Perhaps the next time, he would genuinely lose his mind...

At this moment, all Guan Wan-Shan desired was to escape whenever he spotted the big boss. Yet, given the confines of the salesroom, there were few places to hide. Escaping the relentless inquiries of his boss seemed impossible.

Day after day, the big boss, Wan Zheng-Hao, grew increasingly restless. Instead of encountering Guan Wan-Shan, he rushed to Guan Wan-Shan's quarters, shouting in urgency, "Has he arrived? Any news? When will he be here?"

Failing to locate Guan Wan-Shan, he instructed everyone in the salesroom to find him, exclaiming, "Fetch Master Guan for me immediately!"

At times, Guan Wan-Shan was indeed brought before the big boss.

And then, the big boss commenced his relentless inquiry, "Has he arrived? Any news? When will he arrive?"

Each time he heard these questions, Guan Wan-Shan felt as though he was subjected to a malevolent incantation. His face turned pallid, and his gaze became vacant and fixed. At times, he wished for a swift end.

He yearned to exclaim, [For heaven's sake! You repeat the same questions eight hundred times a day. Do you find it amusing?]

However, he had rehearsed these words in his mind a million times and still lacked the courage to utter them aloud.

He served under the big boss, Wan Zheng-Hao, and refraining from being disrespectful was imperative. He had to respond to the boss's inquiries with decorum!

In truth, the big boss, Wan Zheng-Hao, was even more distraught.

His inner turmoil was so profound that he contemplated self-inflicted harm.

He had made an astounding decision to retain an invaluable treasure, safeguarding it in his possession for three millennia. Yet he had never recognized its true worth. Whenever it came up for auction, he fervently wished for it to be sold.

For three thousand years, no one had expressed interest in acquiring it. Even when it was purchased on several occasions, it was promptly returned. This had greatly distressed him because he believed it was a curse intended to humiliate him.

In reality, this very treasure had propelled him to his current exalted status. It was unequivocally a boon for him. Why had he been so eager to rid himself of it?

Had he lost his sanity...?

Now that it was finally sold, he had come to realize that it was an invaluable supreme treasure.

This revelation was nothing short of a colossal tragedy.

Upon learning the truth, he nearly considered ending his own life right then and there.

To him, such thoughts were not unusual...

It was common knowledge that Ling-Bao Hall adhered to a tradition of generational inheritance. Regardless of who assumed the role of big boss, they were required to adopt the name Wan Zheng-Hao.

This tradition was deeply ingrained in the fabric of Ling-Bao Hall.

However, only Wan Zheng-Hao himself was privy to the truth.

All those inheritors were, in fact, the same individual—Wan Zheng-Hao himself. The inheritance was merely a fa?ade.

No one else was aware of this secret.

"It's fortunate that no one knows the truth. Otherwise, I'd be thoroughly disgraced this time... I must retrieve the Cosmic Hades," Wan Zheng-Hao muttered anxiously.

[I might meet my end if I don't recover it promptly.

There's a deadly assassin I should never cross paths with watching me every day...]

In his chamber, a middle-aged man observed Wan Zheng-Hao's anxious pacing and spoke nonchalantly, "Pacing about won't help. Wan Zheng-Hao, you cunning scoundrel. You've held onto such a priceless treasure for so many years and never once informed me."

Wan Zheng-Hao perspired profusely from fear, his muscles trembling as if engaged in a macabre dance. He uttered weakly, "I truly didn't know its worth, did I... I believed it was merely a worthless item that continually brought me shame... Ah, I was utterly blind..."

The middle-aged man sneered and remarked, "I've gone to great lengths to keep you alive. I've imparted secret martial arts to you, extending your life. I've aided in establishing your Ling-Bao Hall as the number one salesroom in the entire realm... Wan Zheng-Hao, and this is how you repay me?"

Wan Zheng-Hao was exceptionally fearful as he pleaded, "Please, I implore you... I was ignorant of the true value of the Cosmic Hades. It's undeniable... Had I been aware, I wouldn't have auctioned it off so frequently, would I? I wouldn't have sold it for a mere few million silver bars, would I? Its true value lies in the hands of exceptional masters like yourself. Furthermore, had I known you desired it, I would've gladly presented it to you as a gift. Even the smallest token of your favor would've held greater worth than billions of gold in the mortal world... There's no way I could be so foolish..."

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow and mused, [He's making a valid argument.

It's akin to a piece of dark gold being dismissed as mud by an ignorant pauper... someone who doesn't appreciate its beauty and value, mistaking it for feces...]

"Any updates?" he then inquired. "About that individual... Feng Zhi-Ling?"

Wan Zheng-Hao felt a wave of despair wash over him upon hearing the question.

Lately, he had posed the same query to Guan Wan-Shan numerous times, and in turn, the middle-aged man had queried him an equal number of times. What Guan Wan-Shan experienced was akin to what he felt.

While Guan Wan-Shan was overwhelmed by the repetitive inquiries, Wan Zheng-Hao was tormented by threats... These were distinct experiences.

"Not at the moment," Wan Zheng-Hao responded despondently, fully aware of the middle-aged man's next words.

"Why do you still lack any information..."

"When will you have any news..."

"How much longer must I wait? Do you comprehend the amount of time you've wasted for me..."

These phrases had been uttered hundreds of times in recent days, to the point where Wan Zheng-Hao could recite them in reverse.

- Bang! - Suddenly, the door swung open. The next instant, the elderly Guan Wan-Shan burst in with the enthusiasm of a seventeen-year-old, shouting excitedly, "Th-that... he... he has arrived!"

The two men in the room were simultaneously shocked.

Their eyes widened as they gazed at the elderly man, who appeared as if he had taken an aphrodisiac. They were left dumbfounded.

The room they occupied was off-limits to anyone else. While Guan Wan-Shan held a prominent position within Ling-Bao Hall and was aware of the room's existence, he typically refrained from entering it. What could have prompted him to act otherwise?

Guan Wan-Shan continued to shout and pant, clutching his knees. Despite his momentary excitement, he grew tired; after all, he was an elderly man. His face turned red, not from vigorous exertion, but from excessive excitement.

[Thank goodness! The days of enduring the same questions eight million times a day are finally over...

That individual... Feng Zhi-Ling has finally arrived!]