The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 334: Contradictory Mind

Contradictory Mind . . .

Wenren Chuchu stood before the door, her gaze filled with profound disquietude.

"Maybe he will never come back after stepping out of this door today. Perhaps he will even... vanish from this world?" The thought weighed heavily on her heart, an acute pain throbbing within her.

The intensity of her anguish drained the color from her face, causing her heart to convulse in agony. She tightly shut her eyes, as if attempting to shield herself from the disconcerting reality.

"Escape..." Bing Xinyue was also unsettled, her voice trembling. She muttered, "Escaping... could be the right course of action."

Wenren Chuchu's closed eyes were moist with two teardrops tracing down her cheeks. She knew that remaining would serve no purpose.

"It's clear that Master has some special feelings for him. It's evident to me!" She couldn't deny the emotions she observed. "She claimed that our sect needs him, but it's an excuse. Her true desire is to ensure his survival. I can't expose this truth. I don't want to. However, the pain of staying here any longer is unbearable. I don't wish for his demise, nor do I desire the loss of this hard-earned opportunity for my kingdom. I don't want to be on the opposing side. I must depart. I must escape while it's still an option. By leaving, I will provide relief for Master. She will assist him... She will..."

Wenren Chuchu sighed heavily, her eyes reflecting a maelstrom of emotions. She turned to face Bing Xinyue and uttered, "Master, I'm taking my leave."

Bing Xinyue was taken aback by the resolve in her disciple's eyes. She found herself under her disciple's gaze for the first time, her beloved disciple's eyes brimming with intricate sentiments.

It was a gaze that infused her with guilt and unexplained anxiety. It made her feel like a thief who had pilfered something precious from her disciple.

Her lips trembled with unspoken words. She yearned to say, "Chuchu, don't fret. I won't take anything from you..." That was what she genuinely wished to convey, but the words remained locked within her.

Speaking those words would be tantamount to an admission, wouldn't it? Uttering them would mean she couldn't see Cha Nantian again. Her heart was a whirlwind of confusion, leaving her uncertain about what to say or do.

Her inaction went unnoticed as her disciple silently departed. It wasn't until later, after her thoughts had cleared, that she realized Wenren Chuchu was packing her belongings. She had been crying or perhaps struggling not to cry.

Bing Xinyue felt a deep ache within her. When Wenren Chuchu completed her preparations and turned to her master with an innocent smile to bid farewell, Bing Xinyue couldn't help but say, "Chuchu, don't worry."

Wenren Chuchu smiled but feigned ignorance. "What are you talking about, master? Why should I worry?"

Taking a deep breath, Bing Xinyue looked into her disciple's eyes and affirmed, "What belongs to you will always be yours. No one can take it away."

Wenren Chuchu's smile disappeared, and her cheeks turned pale as if made of paper. She nodded and replied, "Master, I understand. I'm off now. Please take care."

With that, she turned and swiftly left, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye. Only a faint sound echoed – a solitary teardrop striking the doorsill.

Bing Xinyue gazed at the tear on the doorsill, a poignant reminder of the pain her disciple was experiencing. She could sense the turmoil and inner conflict in Wenren Chuchu's heart.

"Two kingdoms, billions of lives, countless fires and beacons. You have your responsibilities, but I have mine too. I wish I could be an ordinary girl willing to risk anything for her love, her happiness... but I can't," she contemplated. "Because I am Wenren. I am Wenren Chuchu."

Meanwhile, Zuo Wuji stood by the window in the study, his delicate eyebrows knitted in a deep frown. The situation in the capital appeared calm, yet beneath that veneer of tranquility lurked unsettling undercurrents. Those who understood the true state of affairs were gripped by fear, dread, and shock. Zuo Wuji was among them.

"If a turmoil of such magnitude truly unfolds here, I fear... the capital of the Kingdom of Chen will be awash with rivers of blood! Horrific scenes will be everywhere," Zuo Wuji sighed, his gaze directed towards the heavens.

"If the capital falls, no matter how well we fare in the four battles, our kingdom will crumble."

In recent days, he had been accompanying the young prince. It appeared as if he was enjoying himself, but upon closer inspection, Zuo Wuji realized that something was amiss. Following the conclusion of the auction, he discovered that the situation was not as it seemed.

After several days of investigation, he was astonished to find that, despite the kingdom amassing considerable wealth and restoring its security after the auction, it had unwittingly plunged into a crisis even graver than before.

Ever since the auction commenced, disturbances had been accumulating within the Kingdom of Chen. While the auction had concluded, this tide showed no signs of receding. With each passing day, more and more concealed ripples emerged beneath the placid surface.

It was akin to a dormant volcano lurking beneath the city of Chen-Xing. Events had grown increasingly enigmatic and unpredictable.

What was once an opportunity had now lost its luster. It may still be an opportunity, but the Kingdom of Chen was sinking into an even direr predicament. Oddly, it appeared as if the kingdom had reaped a bountiful financial harvest.

Zuo Wuji suspected that a formidable force was orchestrating these events behind the scenes. This mastermind had carefully crafted their plans and employed Ling-Bao Hall's auction as a means to an end.

Whoever this puppeteer was, they were truly fearsome. Their terrifying aspect was in how they manipulated everything in plain view. No one could halt or evade their scheme—everyone was compelled to comply with their wishes. Even if they recognized it as a descent into hell, they had no choice but to leap in, as if they had dug the pit themselves.

The decision to conduct the auction through Ling-Bao Hall was an excellent one. It was a grand undertaking for the benefit of the country.

The entire Kingdom of Chen had reaped the rewards of this auction.

The Kingdom of Chen, inferior in strength to its surrounding foes on all four fronts, faced the prospect of a protracted war. Extensive funding was an absolute necessity—needed for materials, provisions, armaments, steeds, medicinal supplies, and much more.

Moreover, the continuous conflict had ignited throughout the Kingdom of Chen, and the populace required financial aid.

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