The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 202: I Need To Speed Up

I Need To Speed Up . . .

A mysterious figure, tall and slender, materialized before the Crown Prince as though emerging from the shadows. His penetrating gaze remained fixed on the Crown Prince, an air of aloofness about him. "Your highness," he began coolly, "your role as the Crown Prince is your sole concern. Matters concerning the Mu Clan, whether conducted humbly or aggressively, are our affairs alone."

He went on to impart a somber perspective, "Historically, kingdoms have rarely endured beyond five centuries; they inevitably meet their downfall. In stark contrast, the eight noble clans have withstood the test of time, persevering for thousands of years."

With an unyielding tone, he addressed the Crown Prince, "Individuals like yourself in our clan would have been tasked with menial labor, such as cleaning toilets."

The Crown Prince's dark countenance did little to ruffle the tall man's indifference. He shifted his attention to the Crown Princess, instructing her, "Your duty is to remain at this imbecile's side and monitor him. We require nothing more than his ascension to the throne."

"Yes, Uncle," the Crown Princess replied dutifully.

"In coming to Chen-Xing City, our objectives extend beyond settling the Mu Clan's dispute with the House of Chaotic Storms," the tall man explained. "We also aim to procure valuable treasures during the auction. Additionally, we will exact vengeance upon General Cha Nan-Tian's son, Cha-Eun Xiao, to avenge your brother."

His words carried an unmistakable tone of determination, as though iron colliding with iron, resonating powerfully through the air.

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle," the Crown Princess expressed her gratitude through tearful eyes, bowing respectfully.

…

Cha-Eun Xiao returned home before the break of dawn, clutching a jade bottle containing a small quantity of liquid. With a mere whiff, he recognized the unmistakable scent of Cyan Fruit Poison, the very toxin that had claimed the life of the previous occupant of his body, the true Cha Eun Xiao.

He had learned from Wang Da-Nian that the poison had originated from the Crown Prince's Palace. However, Wang Da-Nian possessed no knowledge beyond the poison's origin in the upper realm. Furthermore, the one who had dispatched Wang Da-Nian to poison Cha-Eun Xiao was not the Crown Prince himself but rather Mu Cheng-Bai, who had met his demise at Cha-Eun Xiao's hands long ago.

Cha-Eun Xiao was taken aback and somewhat displeased by the revelation. It hadn't occurred to him that he had inadvertently avenged the former 'Cha Eun Xiao' long ago. However, the satisfaction of this realization was tinged with unhappiness.

As Cha Nan-Tian undertook the grim task of eliminating potential witnesses, he had refrained from targeting individuals affiliated with the Crown Prince due to his respect for the king's authority. This decision had ultimately spared Wang Da-Nian.

This time, however, Wang Da-Nian's entire family had become collateral damage, serving as an outlet for Cha-Eun Xiao's lingering anger. Recent days had weighed heavily on him, and he found himself in desperate need of catharsis. He reasoned, [Why allow them to continue existing when their presence serves only to exacerbate my misery?]

Under the shroud of night, Cha-Eun Xiao had infiltrated Wang Da-Nian's residence, subjecting him to various torturous methods until the truth behind 'Cha Eun Xiao's' demise was finally unveiled. In the face of such brutal interrogation, even the most steadfast individuals would be hard-pressed to conceal their secrets.

Yet the anger still festered within Cha-Eun Xiao, its source remaining frustratingly unharmed—the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, he couldn't yet exact his revenge on the man.

Following this dark episode, Cha-Eun Xiao decided to visit the Ling-Bao Hall salesroom. With twenty-five days remaining until the auction, there was still ample time to prepare. The hall was under heavy security, receiving support from both the royal house of the Kingdom of Chen and the military forces. This formidable alliance ensured the protection of the Ling-Bao Hall and far surpassed that of the royal security group.

Under such rigorous safeguards, even someone of Cha-Eun Xiao's capabilities would find it challenging to infiltrate the salesroom covertly. He anticipated that access would become increasingly restricted as the auction date approached. The arrival of numerous super cultivators would inevitably raise security concerns, making it difficult for an unrecognized figure to enter the Ling-Bao Hall unnoticed.

Wan Zheng-Hao eagerly awaited his Monarch's arrival, his anticipation having grown over the past three years. The sight of Cha-Eun Xiao felt akin to encountering a living deity.

"Liu Chang-Jun, how are things progressing?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked as he reclined in a chair.

"We're making steady progress, with some notable achievements," Liu Chang-Jun replied, his admiration for Cha-Eun Xiao evident. Whenever he encountered Cha-Eun Xiao, whether as Cha Eun Xiao or Feng Zhi-Ling the Monarch, he couldn't help but feel a profound sense of respect. It was akin to gazing at an insurmountable mountain, acknowledging the impossibility of reaching its peak. The source of this sentiment remained a mystery to him.

"Hmm, excellent. Keep up the hard work," Cha-Eun Xiao said in a measured tone. "Once you've successfully overseen your current operation and have amassed over ten thousand subordinates, I will reward you with the secret of becoming the king of assassins. It's the ultimate technique in the world of assassination. An assassin king must possess such power."

His sharp gaze bore into Liu Chang-Jun's eyes as he spoke. He noticed a distinct change in Liu Chang-Jun's demeanor—complete compliance. Cha-Eun Xiao wasn't entirely sure why, but he couldn't help but feel pleased. Perhaps it had something to do with Liu Chang-Jun's uncanny ability to perceive hidden truths.

"The king of assassins," Liu Chang-Jun murmured, trembling with excitement. He ventured, "May I ask... what is its name?"

Cha-Eun Xiao replied matter-of-factly, "It's called... One Sword Through The World."

Liu Chang-Jun took a deep breath, his face flushed with exhilaration. His hands shook as he tried to calm himself down. One Sword Through The World—a name he'd only heard in myths from the Land of Han-Yang.

Legend had it that there was an assassin from long ago who had mastered this martial art and become the number one assassin in the Land of Han-Yang within three years. In a decade, he surpassed the limits of cultivation and departed for the upper realm, leaving behind a legacy that became legendary in the world of assassination.

While in the Land of Han-Yang, there was no target this assassin couldn't eliminate. He completed assassination missions with ease. Even after his departure, countless Assassin Kings emerged, but none could rival his prowess. He remained a legend, an inspiration to all assassins.

"I need you both to accelerate the growth of my personal forces, including the intelligence and assassination units," Cha-Eun Xiao stated coolly. "What we're doing now is progressing too slowly."

He stressed, "Too slow."

"Yes, sir," Wan Zheng-Hao and Liu Chang-Jun responded in unison, bowing slightly. Cold sweat trickled down their backs as they felt the weight of his urgency and resolve.

"I'm not interested in your assurances," Cha-Eun Xiao said as he accepted the carefully prepared medical materials from Wan Zheng-Hao and stood. "What I want are results. In the coming days, I won't be around. I'll return after the auction begins. Make sure everything I've instructed is completed."

Both men assured him once more.

With that, Cha-Eun Xiao fell silent and disappeared.

Alone, Wan Zheng-Hao and Liu Chang-Jun exchanged glances, pondering their enigmatic leader's sudden urgency. Wan Zheng-Hao couldn't help but wonder aloud, "What's gotten into our boss? Why the sudden rush? Could he be losing his mind?"

Liu Chang-Jun's expression remained stern as he replied, "Be careful with your words, Mr. Wan. We don't need to understand why. Our sole concern is to carry out our tasks diligently. Nothing else matters."

Wan Zheng-Hao clenched his jaw, his thoughts a silent curse.

Ever since the enigmatic assassin had joined them, he had maintained a perpetually cold demeanor toward Wan Zheng-Hao. Wan Zheng-Hao had attempted to establish a rapport with him, but he was at a loss about how to do it.

The only instances when they exchanged words were during Liu Chang-Jun's occasional financial requests. These conversations were exceedingly straightforward. Liu Chang-Jun would simply extend his hand and say, "I'm running low on funds."

That was it.

It seemed as though nothing else held any significance to him.

Wan Zheng-Hao often felt an urge to shout, "Your financial woes are none of my concern!"

However, Liu Chang-Jun would stand there, hand extended, his gaze piercing like swords aimed at Wan Zheng-Hao's throat.

With no choice, Wan Zheng-Hao would hand over the requested funds.

What left Wan Zheng-Hao flabbergasted was that, regardless of the amount he received, Liu Chang-Jun would spend it all within a single day. If he returned with any money left, Wan Zheng-Hao would suspect him of being an imposter.

Liu Chang-Jun's relentless spending was driving the expansion of the assassin network at an unprecedented rate. The intelligence network resembled a sprawling spider's web, and Wan Zheng-Hao found himself recruiting statisticians on a near-daily basis to keep up.

Though Wan Zheng-Hao was well-off and not particularly frugal, what irked him was Liu Chang-Jun's apparent indifference when he looked at him. It was as though Liu Chang-Jun regarded him not as a person, but as a mark or a source of income.

Wan Zheng-Hao couldn't help but think, "Such a detestable disposition. I suppose you're meant to be an assassin. Any other profession simply wouldn't suit you. You're destined to remain an assassin for life."