The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 58: The Girl’s Temper. Beat Him Up!

The Girl's Temper. Beat Him Up! . . .

As Cha-Eun Xiao continued to monitor his own condition, he couldn't help but ponder the unusual energy flow within him. He had expended a significant amount of power while treating Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, yet he felt remarkably invigorated instead of fatigued. He delved into his spiritual consciousness, discovering a surprising development within the previously empty Yin Space of the nine Spaces—it now contained a faint cyan fog.

To his astonishment, the cold qi expelled from the girl's body had not been completely eradicated by the East-rising Purple Qi; instead, it had been absorbed by the Spaces. In essence, the cold qi turned out to be the very energy the Yin Space required.

This revelation left Cha-Eun Xiao both deeply surprised and elated. He had anticipated that his treatment would be a thankless endeavor that would drain his energy, never imagining the substantial reward it would yield.

Had it not been for this fortuitous discovery, he might never have identified the nature of this Yin qi.

With this newfound understanding, Cha-Eun Xiao found himself eagerly anticipating the opportunity to treat Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's master. Given that she was the master of this young girl, her cultivation level was likely much higher. In simple terms, treating her would yield a much larger quantity of Yin qi than what he had obtained from Wen-Ren Chu-Chu.

Thinking along these lines, Cha-Eun Xiao informed her, "If you can't find me the next time you come, just head to the Northern General's House. You'll figure out how to contact me once you get there..."

He needed to make it more convenient for her in order to acquire more Yin qi, even though this convenience came with its fair share of complications.

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu offered a gentle smile. "You do have ties with them. During the auction, you were clearly at odds with the Mu Clan the entire time. I suspected you might be connected to the Cha Clan... and it seems I was right."

Cha-Eun Xiao responded with a hint of gloom, "Being overly clever isn't necessarily a virtue for a young lady..."

Hearing this, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu let out a sigh and spoke softly, "Do you think I want to be this astute and concerned about everything? I wish someone else could handle those matters for me..."

Silence fell between them for a prolonged moment.

Cha-Eun Xiao sat on the edge of the bed, while Wen-Ren Chu-Chu stood by the window, gazing outside. Cha-Eun Xiao studied her from behind.

"I apologize if I offended you earlier," Wen-Ren Chu-Chu said somberly. "My initial intention in inviting you to the Kingdom of Lan-Feng was to acknowledge your skill in alchemy. I never anticipated owing you such a substantial debt."

Gradually, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's voice regained its earlier tranquility.

Cha-Eun Xiao remained silent.

"But I suppose it was fortunate that I came up with that plan... otherwise, who knows how long we would have struggled before finding a solution to dispel the cold qi... It was a fortunate twist of fate," Wen-Ren Chu-Chu added with a half-smile.

"One does what one must. You needn't dwell on it," Cha-Eun Xiao replied impassively.

"Feng Zhi-Ling..." Wen-Ren Chu-Chu began hesitantly. "When my master seeks your treatment, will it also require this... intimate contact?"

Cha-Eun Xiao was perceptive and noticed something unusual in her inquiry, but he didn't delve too deeply into it. He couldn't fathom her thoughts in any case. "Yes. The reason we must proceed in this manner is likely because my cultivation isn't advanced enough to utilize the Purple Sky-fire externally. I need physical contact to connect my qi with yours... To reach the point where I can use the Purple Sky-fire externally, I must at least attain the Grandmaster level of Tianyuan, which would enable me to ascend to the Qing-Yun Realm."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's slender figure suddenly trembled, and she exclaimed, "You... You actually plan to leave this realm and ascend to the Qing-Yun Realm?"

Cha-Eun Xiao didn't understand the source of her sudden agitation. He responded with astonishment, "Do you mean that I'm incapable of surpassing the limits of this world and advancing to a higher realm?"

"Well, no... I didn't mean that. It's just..." Wen-Ren Chu-Chu grew flustered and her blush extended down to her neck. Her voice became as soft as the buzzing of mosquitoes. Even with Cha-Eun Xiao's ultra-sensitive hearing, he couldn't quite make out the last two words she uttered.

"Brother Feng... Now that you've fulfilled your part of our agreement, I'll keep my promise and set you free," she said with a melancholic and despondent tone.

Cha-Eun Xiao furrowed his brow and couldn't help but wonder about Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's tone. Did she regret their agreement? Was she contemplating reneging on her promise to set him free?

But Wen-Ren Chu-Chu quickly dispelled his concerns. She spoke softly, explaining her situation, "Don't worry, my words carry no ulterior meaning. It's just that after you leave, I have to abandon my previous plans and return to my kingdom immediately." She paused before continuing, "In three months, I'll be back with my master. I hope you'll have a surprise for us then."

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded in understanding. "I look forward to our reunion," he said, though his tone lacked any particular enthusiasm.

However, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu seemed irked by his indifferent response. Annoyed, she blurted out, "Do you want to see my true face?"

The question caught Cha-Eun Xiao off guard, and he raised an eyebrow. "There's no need to see your face," he replied curtly. "I'll pass."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's body quivered with frustration, and she couldn't help but think, [What's the use of him seeing my true face anyway?]

She stood by the window in silence for a while longer before turning around, her expression now icy.

"In that case, we have an agreement," she stated flatly. "Brother Feng, let me walk you out."

"Are you really just letting me go like this?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked, somewhat surprised. He wondered if she wasn't concerned he might renege on their deal or try to evade them.

"Why are you lingering? Do you want to stay here forever?" Wen-Ren Chu-Chu retorted, her usual demeanor momentarily replaced by an uncharacteristic burst of anger.

Cha-Eun Xiao was now more confused than ever, finding it hard to grasp this girl's fluctuating moods. He sighed inwardly and mused, [Women are truly enigmatic creatures. In any case, I've just resolved a significant issue for her... But now, she's suddenly acting unfriendly. There's a saying that describes this well: Women are the most difficult beings to understand in this world!]

With that thought in mind, he sighed again and followed Wen-Ren Chu-Chu out.

When they reached the door, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu paused and retrieved a jade box from her garments. She handed it to Cha-Eun Xiao with a stoic expression. "Here's the Regeneration Ink Lotus."

Cha-Eun Xiao accepted it eagerly, holding it in his hand. His eyes darted around, clearly indicating his eagerness to depart.

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu gritted her teeth once more in frustration. [What a jerk. Couldn't he at least pretend... Can't he act a bit reluctant to leave? After all, I've been taking care of him all day, and he even touched me. Does he really need to leave so hastily?]

Summoning her resolve, she growled, "Feng Zhi-Ling, you better remember this. Giving you the Regeneration Ink Lotus is a huge gamble for me! If you ever lose it or ruin it... I'll... I'll... I'll skin you alive, piece by piece!"

Cha-Eun Xiao shook his head and chuckled, "Lady Chu-Chu, if you remain so violent, who would want to marry you in the future?"

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu was still fuming but then blushed once again.

"Just go already," she snapped.

A gust of wind swept by, lifting her robes and tousling her long hair. Her tall, slender figure appeared as if it might be carried away by the breeze at any moment. Yet, her eyes betrayed a sense of solitude and loneliness.

"Goodbye," Cha-Eun Xiao said, realizing he couldn't linger any longer.

"Hold on!" As she watched him hurry off, Wen-Ren Chu-Chu clenched her teeth. This unromantic man was driving her to the brink of frustration.

"What is it now?" Cha-Eun Xiao turned back, puzzled by her sudden change of heart.

"I just have one more question," Wen-Ren Chu-Chu said, taking a deep breath. "Feng Zhi-Ling... Is this your true face?"

She hadn't originally planned to ask this question but had brought it up on a whim. Her frustration had led her to wonder, [Is my face disguised? Could he be concealing his true appearance too?]

It was a fleeting thought, and she didn't expect much from the question.

Cha-Eun Xiao paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully before asking, "Lady Chu-Chu, is the face you're wearing now your true face?"

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu was caught off guard by the unexpected question. She blinked in surprise and stammered, "What do you mean?"

He chuckled, raising his hands in a gesture of understanding. "Think about it, Lady Chu-Chu. We both have our secrets, don't we? It's just that we've never questioned each other."

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's slender form trembled slightly, and she muttered, "So, you're not showing your true face either."

But then, her shock transformed into anger. She felt used and realized that she hadn't even seen his real face. Her fury grew with every passing thought, culminating in an ear-piercing accusation. "You lied to me!"

Cha-Eun Xiao was taken aback. "Lied? I never lied to you. What are you talking about?"

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu stormed toward him, her face contorted with anger, and began to pummel him relentlessly. She clenched her teeth with each punch, shouting, "Feng Zhi-Ling, you dare lie to me! Feng Zhi-Ling, you lied to me!"

Her punches grew stronger as if she were venting all her pent-up frustrations. Her fiery temper and emotions found an outlet in her punches.

Despite his initial astonishment, Cha-Eun Xiao soon found himself at the receiving end of a flurry of blows. He was defenseless against her relentless assault and could do nothing but stand there in dumbfounded disbelief.

He couldn't help but feel utterly unjustified in this situation.