The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 710: Important People!

Important People! . . .

The future remained veiled in uncertainty. The outcome of this battle would only be unveiled at its conclusion, and foresight was a luxury no one possessed.

However, one thing was certain. Even if Cha Eun Xiao could secure victory for the Kingdom of Chen in this particular battle, he couldn't predict which kingdom would ultimately emerge triumphant and conquer the world.

As he contemplated the situation, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but muse, **"When I leave, father, Uncle Song, Ning Biluo, and Zhao Pingtian will accompany me. Can the Kingdom of Chen dominate the world without my father?**

**It's not a guarantee!**

**As long as the Kingdom of Chen thrives, the people I care about will be secure. But what if the Kingdom of Chen is annihilated? That's a possibility in the future!**

**This deal seems like a wise choice?"**

With a firm resolve, Cha Eun Xiao declared, "Alright, I promise."

Wenren Chuchu's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A deal?"

Cha Eun Xiao nodded in agreement, sealing their mutual pact. They exchanged glances, a sense of relief washing over them. Their burdens had been cast aside.

Just as Wenren Chuchu had mentioned, preserving the safety of certain individuals in the world was a straightforward task for them. She was the princess of the Kingdom of Lan-Feng, a position of significance. Cha Eun Xiao, whether as Cha Eun Xiao or Feng Zhiling, could indeed ensure the survival of particular individuals, despite the fact that they belonged to opposing kingdoms. He was free to make such a promise as he saw fit.

"Thank you," Wenren Chuchu expressed her sincere gratitude and emotions.

Cha Eun Xiao posed a question. "One thing I'm curious about: if it weren't for me, whom would you have approached to strike this deal? Surely there are others you could've spoken to?"

Wenren Chuchu appeared puzzled. "No."

She responded, "I saw you, and that's when I conceived this idea... I wouldn't have discussed it with anyone else. I simply can't place my trust in others."

Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback.

**So you don't trust others, but you trust me in this manner?**

**Why?**

**We belong to opposing kingdoms. How can you be so certain about this?**

"Let's uphold our promises. I can finally unburden my mind. As long as one survives, there's always room for dreams and lives," Wenren Chuchu remarked. "I've imposed upon you for quite some time. My apologies, Commander Cha. I won't linger any longer. I shouldn't squander any more of your time."

Cha Eun Xiao calmly inquired, "So you're leaving now?"

Wenren Chuchu scoffed, "Are you, Commander, planning to detain a young girl like me?"

'Commander' and 'young girl' carried certain implications.

Cha Eun Xiao chuckled. "I assumed you came to discuss when you'd withdraw with me. It's disheartening how overly self-assured I've been."

Wenren Chuchu was taken aback, too stunned to respond before Cha Eun Xiao continued, "Don't you think there have been enough casualties already? You sought me out to safeguard the ones you love, to grant them the chance to live. Why not do more for your people?"

Wenren Chuchu sighed and replied, "The decision is not mine to make."

"Can you truly make that decision, either? I know you've generously funded the army as Feng Monarch. You've joined this war to prevent the fall of the Kingdom of Chen. You don't want innocent lives to be lost. However, we're not omnipotent. There are limits to what we can achieve. So, do not harbor such notions, I implore you."

"A great many have died, haven't they? Listen, many have perished!" She appeared downcast as she sighed. "But you know what? Over thousands of years, how many have died in battle every year?"

Her statement held a bitter truth: countless lives had been lost in battles over the millennia. For instance, this year had seen the deaths of ten million men. Multiply that by thousands of years, and the number of lives sacrificed in wars would reach a staggering, almost unimaginable scale—billions upon billions.

They all had their individual purposes, standing firmly in their unique positions, and unwavering in their beliefs. But, in the end, they all met the same fate—death.

As Wenren Chuchu had pointed out, there were things beyond their power, despite their tremendous might. Sometimes, even when they had the capacity to act, the inherent wickedness of human nature hindered them.

Their response was to create lists for one another, each bearing a roster of names.

Wenren Chuchu had entered her father, mother, uncle, and siblings onto her list.

However, when she glimpsed Cha Eun Xiao's list, she was taken aback.

She cast him a perplexed glance, her countenance clouded by complex emotions.

Her list comprised solely of her kin. She hadn't included many names; after all, safeguarding a larger number of individuals would be a more daunting task. Only her father, mother, and her siblings had made the cut, even the half-siblings didn't make the list.

But Cha Eun Xiao's list contained far more names. Zuo Wuji and Lan Langlang were undoubtedly on it, but Wenren Chuchu hadn't even heard of most of the others.

Her intelligence network was highly efficient. If she hadn't come across information about certain names, they must have been of lesser importance. Yet, Cha Eun Xiao had included them all on the list.

"Commander Cha, if you don't mind me asking, who are these people? This is quite an extensive list. The more people in the enemy kingdom you aim to protect, the greater the challenge it becomes!" She pointed to those names and inquired, "Are they close to you?"

"Rest assured, I won't make it overly challenging for you. They're all my father's subordinates. The majority of them are physically handicapped... Protecting them won't be an arduous task for you, Princess. For your kingdom, these men hold minimal significance. They play peripheral roles in the war... Regardless, I don't wish for these men to meet a miserable end on the battlefield."

"I've included their names on this list in the hope that, should the need arise for their protection, you can provide what they require. They've sacrificed a great deal... I don't wish for their lives to culminate in suffering. That would be excessively cruel to them."

In a somber tone, he continued, "I haven't completed the list yet. I can't recall all their names. I'll add more names to it, and no matter what happens, I'll deliver the finalized list to you."

"I'll uphold my end of the bargain, and I trust you'll do the same."