The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1058: Something Wrong

Something Wrong . . .

As Han Bingxue observed from the sidelines, he couldn\'t help but stare at Xuan Bing in astonishment. He questioned her, "Why did you throw my boss?"

He couldn\'t fathom that Xuan Bing, given her considerable power, would inadvertently make such a blunder. In his eyes, her actions seemed deliberate.

However, Xuan Bing found herself with no time to clarify matters to the befuddled Han Bingxue. Instead, she merely rolled her eyes and retreated a few dozen meters, settling into a meditative posture. She remained motionless, almost as if she had never moved in the first place.

While her demeanor appeared composed, her heart raced. She felt a sudden softness wash over her entire being. If she hadn\'t concealed her face behind the silk mask, a faint flush might have been visible on her cheeks, as though she were under the influence of a potent intoxicant. Even her eyes held a mesmerized gaze.

[Master...](I imagine she\'s thinking to herself here.)

She felt utterly captivated.

A sense of regret began to creep in.

[Does my happiness lie in being a dominant figure who commands the world, or in being the devoted companion of a beloved man?]

Between these two entirely disparate options, which were beyond comparison, any ordinary person would opt for the former.

Yet, the powerful cultivator who had conquered realms and dominated the world—Xuan Bing—found herself stricken with uncertainty, a sense of inner turmoil, and doubt.

She even regretted that her true feelings had stirred within her too early.

In other words, deep down, she was inclined toward the latter option.

Xuan Bing\'s personality was completely distinct from her alter ego, Bing-Er. While it was unexpected, it remained unreasonable to consider the latter option.

Xuan Bing had a challenging upbringing. Orphaned at a young age, she endured a difficult childhood. Her mentor had recognized her potential early on, and under their tutelage, she had experienced substantial growth. Nevertheless, Xuan Bing was the sole individual who comprehended the immense hardships she had faced in her journey. On multiple occasions, her life had hung in the balance, and the road to her present status had been perilous.

Risking life and limb was an inherent part of life in the martial world, even more so for a woman.

Throughout her existence, Xuan Bing had faced a profound lack of care. Even under her mentor\'s guidance, she had never felt truly cherished. Her mentor\'s high expectations of her had precluded displays of warmth or affection.

Despite her understanding of her mentor\'s lofty demands, she couldn\'t help but feel a sense of regret and sorrow, causing her to falter and withdraw.

If Xuan Bing were to reflect on the happiest moments in her life, they would undoubtedly be the days when she lost her memory. Though it was a brief span, she had been grievously wounded, leaving her in a far weaker state than ever before. Yet, during those days, she had experienced a freedom to laugh heartily and savor unwavering care while accompanying Cha Eun Xiao.

She felt loved.

The young lord possessed intimate knowledge of her preferences.

He never treated her as a mere servant, but rather as his sister and confidante, even more.

The fond memories of that period in her life had etched a sweet flavor onto her heart. Every night, following those dreams, she yearned more and more for the taste she had lost.

When she had left that place, when she had parted ways with that man, the sweet sentiment she held dear had slipped away.

However, when she encountered Cha Eun-Xiao once more, the warm feeling she had longed for returned, eliciting excitement within her. She couldn\'t bear to leave it behind. She couldn\'t simply relinquish it.

Nonetheless, Cha Eun-Xiao grew increasingly skeptical of her. His inquiries, whether unintentional or deliberate, fueled her disquiet.

Her composure was rattled.

"Bing\'er!" Cha Eun-Xiao suddenly shouted, his eyes flickering open in a state of confusion.

Startled, Xuan Bing overheard his exclamation, and she promptly averted her gaze, her heart aflutter.

Unfortunately, Cha Eun-Xiao, who had just regained consciousness, completely overlooked this overt gesture. Han Bingxue\'s attention was unwaveringly fixed on Cha Eun-Xiao, and even if he had noticed the situation, he would have remained utterly oblivious to its implications.

With a gradual, almost theatrical sweep, Cha Eun-Xiao opened his eyes and was greeted by the heartening sight of Han Bingxue\'s visage hovering just centimeters away. Their faces were separated by a mere ten-centimeter gap.

Or perhaps, if one were to be less generous, it was less than ten centimeters.

Although the proximity was tolerable, what made it somewhat awkward was the fact that Han Bingxue was holding him tightly in his arms, his voice trembling with anxiety as he uttered, "Boss! Are you alright? Boss, how are you feeling? Don\'t scare me! What do I do if you die?"

Cha Eun-Xiao nearly blacked out once more upon hearing Han Bingxue\'s embarrassing words.

His memory served him with recollections of Bing\'er cradling him in her arms while he was lost in a bewildered stupor. How, then, did he now find himself peering into Han Bingxue\'s anxious eyes?

To compound his discomfiture, Han Bingxue continued to beseech him with fervent concern.

Cha Eun-Xiao struggled to contain his astonishment and embarrassment. He had almost wished he could remain in his coma, if only to escape the awkwardness.

Han Bingxue, for his part, had no inkling of the impression he was making. His only focus was on displaying his heartfelt solicitude for Cha Eun-Xiao.

Cha Eun-Xiao, his eyes nearly bulging in disbelief, averted his gaze and sighed inwardly, [I can hardly tolerate your incessant prattling… Seriously, can\'t you just express your concern without spewing saliva all over my face?]

[It feels like a drizzle on my face… What in the world are you doing?]

[Washing my face? Clearing my thoughts?]

"Just hush now. I\'m fine..." Cha Eun-Xiao averted his gaze with a look of helplessness and added, "And please, do put me down."

Han Bingxue promptly lowered him to the ground and urged, "Boss, quickly use your martial arts to check your internal condition. Inspect your injuries."

Cha Eun-Xiao rolled his eyes and inquired, "Who caught me when I was falling?"

Xuan Bing, standing nearby, responded matter-of-factly, "Who else but your loyal brother?"

Although Han Bingxue wished to interject, he sensed an overpowering surge of energy approaching. With a tremor, he stated, "Yes, Boss. I caught you."

Cha Eun-Xiao gazed at him skeptically. "Really? It was genuinely you?"

Han Bingxue grinned and confirmed, "Yes, truly."

Looking up at Han Bingxue, Cha Eun-Xiao extended a hand and touched Han Bingxue\'s chest, muttering to himself, "Was it truly you? Did you really catch me? I\'m not so sure... Something feels off... It\'s not quite the same..."

Han Bingxue\'s facial expression appeared contorted. He appeared as though he wished to laugh but was unsure whether to indulge the urge. A perplexing emotion stirred within him.

While Han Bingxue\'s words had already verged on the embarrassing, Cha Eun-Xiao\'s actions pushed them to a new level of awkwardness.

Witnessing Cha Eun-Xiao\'s conduct, Xuan Bing was consumed by an overwhelming sense of fury.

[What are you trying to touch, you scoundrel?]