The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 98: How is it possible?

How is it possible? . . .

As Ning Bi-Luo continued to mull over his encounters with Cha-Eun Xiao, certain puzzling aspects of the situation began to surface in his mind. His recollection of the three men who had been relentlessly pursuing him in the past raised some eyebrows. Despite their relatively low cultivation levels, merely at the first stage of the Grade of Tianyuan, Ning Bi-Luo had found himself in dire straits during that encounter. His own secret martial art had backfired, severely weakening him. If those assailants hadn't been hesitant to engage him directly due to his fearsome reputation, he might have met his demise much earlier.

His enemies had not exerted their full strength against him, yet he had still suffered grave injuries. During his escape, he had crossed paths with Ye Xiao, who had shown him unexpected mercy, pushing him out of harm's way and ultimately saving his life. That face was etched into Ning Bi-Luo's memory, and he would never forget it.

The overwhelming power of the gelid qi had also left an indelible mark on his memory.

However, this time, Ye Xiao had adopted a different appearance, rendering him unrecognizable to Ning Bi-Luo. It wasn't until Ye Xiao disclosed his identity by stating, "I have saved you twice," after rescuing him from Xiu Of The Heavens, that Ning Bi-Luo was certain of his savior's true identity.

As Ning Bi-Luo delved deeper into these events, a series of puzzling facts emerged. There were many peculiarities that seemed to raise questions. The previous encounter on the long street had been Ning Bi-Luo's first interaction with Ye Xiao. At the time, he had been preoccupied with escaping and had protected Ye Xiao from danger. He recalled that pushing Ye Xiao had been relatively easy.

If Ye Xiao had been a peerless cultivator, such a simple act would have been far more challenging. Even though he was weakened during that encounter, the ease with which Ning Bi-Luo had pushed him away suggested that Ye Xiao might not be as formidable as initially presumed.

Regardless of Ye Xiao's actual strength, the crucial point was that he had saved Ning Bi-Luo. He had done so twice, which was more than enough reason for Ning Bi-Luo to feel gratitude.

However, Ning Bi-Luo couldn't help but notice the stark differences between the man he had encountered on the long street and the one who had just saved him. Different appearances, behaviors, and overall demeanors. They seemed like entirely different individuals.

In retrospect, Ning Bi-Luo's realization aligned with the facts. On the long street, Ye Xiao had presented himself as "Feng Zhi-Ling," a persona well-known to Xiu-Er. Consequently, it would have been imprudent for Ye Xiao to adopt the same guise this time.

Hence, he had disguised himself as the true Purple Lotus Master. It was only natural that Ning Bi-Luo would mistake them for the same person given these circumstances.

As he ruminated on these thoughts, Ning Bi-Luo's confusion deepened. He couldn't quell the urge to uncover the truth. Thus, he hurriedly scaled the wall, displaying effortless agility and grace—a testament to the capabilities of a Grandmaster Levels of Tianyuan practitioner.

As the rain continued to pour heavily, Ning Bi-Luo possessed an uncanny ability to discern the direction in which Cha-Eun Xiao was headed. Stealthily, he trailed behind the enigmatic figure, his presence masked by the downpour.

In contrast, Cha-Eun Xiao remained blissfully unaware of his pursuer's presence. He had assumed that Ning Bi-Luo would eventually depart once he had put some distance between them.

However, for Ning Bi-Luo, the capital city had become an increasingly perilous place. Even though he was no longer being pursued by Xiu Of The Heavens, he was still in a precarious position. As a fugitive in the city, he had nowhere to hide.

Cha-Eun Xiao, on the other hand, was convinced that Ning Bi-Luo would choose to sever their connection voluntarily. In his mind, it was a straightforward matter: "You don't wish to serve anyone, so I won't compel you. I've saved you twice without any demands, which clearly means you owe me a considerable debt, while I owe you nothing. So why would you follow me?"

However, Cha-Eun Xiao had miscalculated this time. Even the wisest of individuals, having made a thousand correct judgments, could still err. From his perspective, his dealings with Ning Bi-Luo were concluded, but Ning Bi-Luo harbored doubts. He couldn't reconcile the idea that the two men who had saved him were one and the same. Having been rescued twice and unable to repay his debts, he felt a lingering sense of obligation. This unease ultimately drove him to follow Cha-Eun Xiao.

Unbeknownst to Cha-Eun Xiao, he maintained his customary vigilance. He altered his path on several occasions to ascertain whether anyone was tailing him, only to covertly return to his residence when he felt secure.

These measures would have sufficed to elude most individuals in this world, including formidable cultivators like Xiu Of The Heavens. However, they were insufficient to shake off Ning Bi-Luo.

Ning Bi-Luo ranked among the most skilled trackers and infiltrators in existence. He could seize even the tiniest window of opportunity to disappear and elude pursuers, even when confronting adversaries of superior strength.

With the same logic in mind, it was child's play for him to trail those whom others might fail to trace. He excelled not only as an assassin but also as an adept tracker.

And yet, Ning Bi-Luo was taken aback by what he discovered. Throughout the pursuit, he became increasingly convinced that his savior wasn't a top-tier cultivator, as he had initially assumed. Instead, the individual's cultivation was shockingly inferior to his own, even falling short of the Grade of Tianyuan.

This revelation led him to revisit the circumstances surrounding his two rescues. How was it possible that someone with such a low level of cultivation had managed to save him from formidable Grade of Tianyuan cultivators on two separate occasions?

This was the first mystery that confounded him.

A second enigma presented itself. Ning Bi-Luo noticed that Cha-Eun Xiao exhibited an extraordinary degree of caution, surpassing even his own meticulousness. Despite the torrential rain, Cha-Eun Xiao was absolutely certain that no one was tailing him. Yet, he changed directions numerous times, nearly eluding Ning Bi-Luo on multiple occasions.

In fact, Ning Bi-Luo did lose sight of him briefly, but his acute spiritual awareness, coupled with his extensive tracking expertise and significantly restored strength, allowed him to quickly regain his quarry. Had he been lacking in any of these three aspects, he would have been left trailing in the wake of Cha-Eun Xiao.

Thus, he reached a conclusion: "In this world, there is no one besides me who can persistently follow him. Others would undoubtedly fall behind. That is an irrefutable fact."

Ning Bi-Luo couldn't help but speculate aloud, "Well, maybe there is another individual out there who possesses tracking skills similar to mine... Red In The Sky, perhaps. Who knows?"

His words were tinged with uncertainty as he tried to fathom the mystery of Cha-Eun Xiao's elusive movements. He considered himself an unrivaled expert in the art of tracking and surveillance, and the idea of someone else being on par with his abilities seemed unlikely. In his mind, Cha-Eun Xiao was proving to be as slippery as a loach and as cunning as a fox.

Eventually, Ning Bi-Luo watched as Cha-Eun Xiao entered the House of Cha, and his surprise knew no bounds.

"Could this guy actually be from General Cha Nan-Tian's house?" he pondered, his disbelief evident. With the determination of a seasoned stalker, he silently followed Cha-Eun Xiao into the compound.

The rainy night offered ideal cover for an adept shadow, and Ning Bi-Luo effortlessly made his way to the roof above Cha-Eun Xiao's room. There, he crouched, ready to observe.

Inside his room, Cha-Eun Xiao initially felt a sense of relief, believing that the situation was resolved. He contemplated reverting to his true appearance, but an inexplicable unease nagged at him. It was as if someone were watching him, and this discomfort gnawed at his senses.

"What's wrong? Am I being followed?" Cha-Eun Xiao wondered aloud, his thoughts racing. Acting on instinct, he bolted out of his room and onto the roof with remarkable speed.

As he scanned the area, he locked eyes with a bewildered Ning Bi-Luo, who lay on the roof like a befuddled intruder.

Cha-Eun Xiao was stunned by the sight, a mix of disbelief and self-reproach swirling in his mind. "Oh, it's you!" he exclaimed, feeling slightly dizzy.

His own astonishment was mirrored in Ning Bi-Luo's eyes. The renowned stalker hadn't anticipated Cha-Eun Xiao's return to the roof, and he remained in a prone position, seemingly dumbfounded.

Cha-Eun Xiao chided himself inwardly, reflecting on the meticulous caution he had exercised throughout his journey. "I was so careful the whole way back, and yet I missed this guy," he mused, frustrated with his lapse in vigilance. He longed to regain the formidable strength of his previous life and overcome such challenges effortlessly.

With a sense of determination, they both retreated to Cha-Eun Xiao's room, their silence enveloping the space. The relentless rain outside made staying outdoors untenable. When Cha-Eun Xiao realized that it was Ning Bi-Luo, he set aside his earlier wariness and invited him inside.

Ning Bi-Luo, still trying to make sense of the situation, hesitated before finally accepting the offer. He gingerly seated himself in a luxurious chair and struggled to find the right words.

"This... Is this your residence?" he stammered, his incredulity evident.

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded in confirmation, his mind filled with its own whirlwind of questions and intrigue.