The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 133: Superior Cultivator, The Eunuch

Superior Cultivator, The Eunuch . . .

Within the grand hall, where an air of celebration hung heavily, there were undoubtedly those who watched the proceedings with a cynical eye. "The king is once again manipulating these naive souls to lay down their lives for him," they might have thought in secret.

Yet, even these cynics knew that the men gathered here would willingly make such a sacrifice for their monarch, with or without his prompting. Still, the king\'s presence this night held significance.

This extraordinary evening had deepened the loyalty of the formidable army, a force akin to an impenetrable iron fortress. These soldiers were not just devoted followers of Prince Hua-Yang; they were also staunch defenders of the Kingdom of Chen. As long as the king and Prince Hua-Yang stood united, they remained unwavering in their loyalty.

Such unity was invaluable.

As the night neared its conclusion, Prince Hua-Yang\'s family emerged to offer toasts, adding a fresh burst of fervor to the festivities. However, it was during this moment that an unexpected event unfolded.

The king\'s gaze fell upon Su Ye-Yue, who had joined the celebration for a toast. He inquired, "Is this the young lady, Ye Yue? My, how she has grown. Ding-Guo, has she already been betrothed?"

Prince Hua-Yang responded with a smile, "Your Highness, how could you forget? My daughter and Cha Nan-Tian\'s son have been engaged for quite some time."

The king acknowledged with a simple "hmm" before rejoining the revelry with the generals. Although the conversation left Cha Eun Xiao with an unsettling feeling, Su Ding-Guo\'s response seemed to put an end to the topic.

Despite his seemingly inebriated and unreserved demeanor, the War God possessed keen intelligence.

After a while, the king and Prince Hua-Yang retired to a private study for an exclusive conversation.

Observing the situation, Cha Eun Xiao noticed that the elderly eunuch remained in the hall. He refrained from mingling with the generals and sat alone in a corner, indulging in solitary drinking. His ability to handle alcohol was evident.

Amidst the bustling crowd, where spirits ran high, the eunuch exuded an air of calm detachment. His demeanor was at odds with the words he had uttered earlier - "I have become impotent."

It was utterly perplexing, and Cha Eun Xiao couldn\'t dismiss it as mere drunken rambling. There had to be a reason for his strange declaration.

Setting Su Ye-Yue aside, Cha Eun Xiao made his way over to the eunuch without a word. He extended a bottle of alcohol toward him.

"You\'re drinking alone. That seems rather lonely. Allow me to join you for a drink," Cha Eun Xiao proposed, a genial smile on his face.

The eunuch raised his head slowly, his dim eyes fixing upon Cha Eun Xiao\'s face. He responded with an enigmatic smile and a voice that, while lacking the usual feminine tone of eunuchs, carried a hint of coldness and softness. "The son of the esteemed General Ye, the foremost of the \'three lords in town\'... Very well. Destiny has brought us together. Let\'s share a drink."

Despite his inebriated state, Cha Eun Xiao scrutinized the eunuch closely. At first glance, he appeared elderly, with stooped posture and graying hair. However, upon closer examination, Cha Eun Xiao couldn\'t help but notice that the eunuch did not truly look that old.

The skin on his face was remarkably smooth and refined, and though his eyes appeared dim, there was an underlying sharpness concealed within. When Cha Eun Xiao attempted to assess the eunuch\'s cultivation level using his spiritual sense, he encountered an unsettling void—a complete absence of vital signs.

This anomaly left Cha Eun Xiao puzzled. The eunuch sat before him, very much alive and tangible, yet his spiritual senses declared otherwise. It was an inexplicable paradox.

The only conceivable explanation for the enigmatic eunuch\'s peculiar aura was that his cultivation level exceeded the limits of what Cha Eun Xiao\'s spiritual senses could discern. It left Cha Eun Xiao perplexed, struggling to reconcile the unassuming appearance of a mere palace servant with the undeniable presence of a world-class superior cultivator.

Intrigued by this enigma, Cha Eun Xiao decided to engage the eunuch in conversation. "May I inquire about your name?" he inquired politely, all the while sipping his drink.

The eunuch, who had thus far been humble and reserved, responded with a courteous smile. "My family name is Wang," he revealed, "You may call me Wang GongGong." His humility remained unchanged, despite the revelation that he was no ordinary palace servant.

"Wang GongGong, please accept another drink," Cha Eun Xiao offered, presenting a fresh bottle of alcohol.

Wang GongGong waved his hand in polite refusal, displaying remarkable self-restraint. "I\'m truly not adept at drinking," he demurred.

Feigning inebriation, Cha Eun Xiao reached out and briefly clasped Wang GongGong\'s hand. "Come now, just one more cup," he insisted.

However, Wang GongGong remained resolute in his refusal, causing Cha Eun Xiao to release his grip and laugh. "Very well," he conceded, "I won\'t press the matter. I\'ll find someone else to share a drink with."

With that, Cha Eun Xiao departed, leaving Wang GongGong deep in contemplation. As he watched Cha Eun Xiao\'s retreating figure, a newfound sharpness flickered in Wang GongGong\'s eyes. He was perplexed by Cha Eun Xiao\'s ability to single him out within the crowded hall and his eagerness to share a drink. Was it due to keen observation alone?

In turn, when Cha Eun Xiao turned away, he experienced a revelation. During their brief contact, he had discerned a latent strength within Wang GongGong\'s arm, masked by outward frailty. His skin, seemingly withered and soft, concealed a remarkable toughness that intrigued Cha Eun Xiao.

A rough estimation of Wang GongGong\'s true power began to form in Cha Eun Xiao\'s mind. It was clear that this eunuch surpassed the capabilities of Guan Zheng-Wen, the man from the Crown Prince\'s Palace. Wang GongGong occupied a realm far beyond those Cha Eun Xiao had encountered in this world, even rivaling the mysterious Xiu Of The Heavens.

In the grand hall, the revelry continued unabated. Wang GongGong maintained his composed vigilance, while the king and Prince Hua-Yang engaged in a private discussion within the study. Meanwhile, Su Ye-Yue seized the opportunity to lead Cha Eun Xiao out of the hall and into the tranquil garden of the backyard.

Cha-Eun Xiao gazed at Su Ye-Yue thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting concern as she addressed him. "I mean... You are not drunk, are you?"

In response, Cha-Eun Xiao waved his hand dismissively, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Absolutely not. Look how good I am with drinks..."

A wry smile tugged at Su Ye-Yue\'s lips as she quipped, "Oh no. My mother told me, ninety percent of the people who keep telling people they are not drunk and how good they are at drinking are, in fact, drunk."

Chuckling, Cha-Eun Xiao defended himself, "Heh, heh... What she said is correct, but it is taking a part for the whole though. Besides, don\'t forget the ten percent. Why can\'t I be one of the ten percent?"

Su Ye-Yue raised an eyebrow playfully. "That\'s worse. The rest of the ten percent all passed out already."

Undeterred, Cha-Eun Xiao continued to argue, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "That\'s not true. I am not drunk. I just had a little bit of that liquor, and you took me out of it. How could I possibly get drunk? My drinking capacity is outstanding though…"

"Fine. Alright. I believe that you are not drunk. Stop bragging then…" Su Ye-Yue replied, her tone indicating her displeasure. They strolled among the blooming flowers in silence for a while before she spoke in a hushed tone, "I don\'t know why… But I don\'t have a good feeling about my father\'s departure. He has been through many battles before. But I have never felt how I feel now…"

Cha-Eun Xiao attempted to console her. "Don\'t worry. He will be fine."

Frowning, Su Ye-Yue persisted, her concern deepening. "I am serious. I never had this feeling before when my dad was going to battle. It was like he was just going out of home for a while and hanging around… And then he would just come back. But this time, I have a totally different feeling. Completely different."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly as she continued, "And my mom. She was wakened by a scary dream the other night. She has been troubled for quite a while now…"

A sense of foreboding settled over Cha-Eun Xiao as he listened to her words.

[This is not normal.

Could there be an impending tragedy in this battle?

They are the women of the Cha Clan, and Cha Nan-Tian has faced numerous battles in his life. Yet, his daughter and wife had never experienced this level of fear before. Why is it different this time?

What does this premonition signify? What does it portend?

Could it be mere unfounded anxieties? Are their worries unfounded?

No, certainly not.]

Cha-Eun Xiao held a steadfast belief—people often had a peculiar intuition about their closest family members. It was difficult to explain, but it held true.

Most importantly, that intuition was usually right.

Now, Su Ye-Yue was sharing her anxieties with him, and it weighed heavily on his heart.

"I don\'t dare to tell anybody about this… Not even my mom," Su Ye-Yue confided in him, her eyes searching his. "Cha-Eun Xiao, what do you think… Is anything bad going to happen?"