The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 23: A Plethora of Doubts Exposes the Underlying Chaos

A Plethora of Doubts Exposes the Underlying Chaos . . .

Wang Xiao-Nian's head hung low as he finally mustered the courage to confess.

"It was... uh... because of me... I told him about Cha-Eun Xiao..." he admitted, his voice filled with guilt and remorse.

The Crown Prince maintained his composure, his voice calm and collected as he probed further. "I see. Mu Cheng-Bai initially didn't know Cha-Eun Xiao. You harbored resentment against Cha-Eun Xiao for extorting you, and when you saw him, you incited Mu Cheng-Bai to confront him. Is that correct?"

Wang Xiao-Nian could hardly muster the words but managed to stammer out, "Y-yes... Your Highness..."

As Wang Xiao-Nian spoke, he could feel the frosty gaze of the Crown Princess, causing him to tremble with fear.

"Continue," the Crown Prince urged.

"And then they argued... and Cha-Eun Xiao suddenly... he hit Lord Mu... He knocked Lord Mu down to the ground... Then Lord Mu ordered his guards to retaliate... and Cha-Eun Xiao ran away... and Lord Mu and his guards pursued him..."

Wang Xiao-Nian's face drained of color, and beads of sweat formed on his brow as he recounted the events.

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The Crown Prince furrowed his brow, his tone laced with doubt. "Cha-Eun Xiao struck Lord Mu and brought him to the ground... From what I understand, Cha-Eun Xiao is one of the 'three foppish lords.' He's perceived as a fool, living a frivolous life with no purpose... Lord Mu, on the other hand, had attained the pinnacle of the Grade of Renyuan... and he had two guards with him."

He fixed Wang Xiao-Nian with a skeptical look. "Are you certain that Cha-Eun Xiao managed to overpower Lord Mu and bring him down?"

Wang Xiao-Nian continued to stammer as he replied, "Y-yes, Your Highness... Th-that's what happened..." His voice trembled, and he felt on the verge of collapsing. He couldn't help but question the cruel twist of fate that had led him to this moment.

If it weren't for his scheme to exact revenge on Cha-Eun Xiao, would Lord Mu have met such an untimely end? In his eyes, Cha-Eun Xiao, that useless waste of a man, deserved punishment, but now, while Cha-Eun Xiao had emerged unscathed, the young Lord Mu, undeserving of such a fate, had met his demise instead.

Wang Xiao-Nian felt as though he was the victim of some divine prank. The situation seemed utterly surreal.

The Crown Prince nodded in understanding. "Very well, please continue."

Tears streamed down Wang Xiao-Nian's face as he sobbed, "Your Highness, I know nothing about what happened next... I... I went home..."

The crown princess couldn't contain her fury as she lashed out at Wang Xiao-Nian. Her voice dripped with bitterness and anger.

"You started all this... You forced my brother into this fight... And while he was fighting against Cha-Eun Xiao, you actually just went home? And now that my brother has been killed, you dare to tell me that you don't even know how it happened?!" Her words were filled with venom, as if she wanted to tear him apart.

Wang Xiao-Nian, overcome with fear, cried like a baby. He felt as though his very soul was trying to escape his trembling body. "I... I... Lord Mu wanted to kill Cha-Eun Xiao, and he told me to hide from the public... I... There was nothing I could do, Your Highness..."

The crown princess had had enough. Her anger boiled over, and she immediately ordered the royal guards to take Wang Xiao-Nian away and behead him. Wang Xiao-Nian, upon hearing the verdict, promptly lost consciousness.

The crown prince, on the other hand, was more composed. He waved his hand and furrowed his brow, expressing his dissent. "Wang Xiao-Nian was merely the instigator. There's no need to execute him. Besides, if we kill him, it might force his father, Wang Da-Nian, who leads the royal guards, to turn against us. Furthermore, I believe there are still many unknown details surrounding Mu Cheng-Bai's death."

The crown princess, still seething with anger, couldn't comprehend the notion of uncertainties. "What possible uncertainties could there be? Cha-Eun Xiao is nothing more than a foolish, foppish lad. He couldn't possibly have the ability to kill Mu Cheng-Bai!"

The crown prince pondered for a moment before saying, "We need a thorough investigation. There might be a third party involved that we're not aware of in this case."

His eyes gleamed with a realization. "This case warrants a meticulous inquiry."

The crown princess, fueled by her desire for revenge, was unwavering. "Cha-Eun Xiao must be held accountable! I won't let my brother's death be in vain! He must pay for it with his life!"

The crown prince, however, wore a bitter smile as he explained, "We must consider the bigger picture. Cha-Eun Xiao may be insignificant, but his father, Ye Nan-Tian, commands a formidable army and guards the northern border. He is the backbone of our kingdom and holds almost kingly power in the north. Moreover, the world is currently in turmoil, with neighboring kingdoms in a state of madness. Wars erupt frequently, and our princes are constantly defending our kingdom. To kill the son of a great general during such a volatile period is not a wise move."

The crown princess's expression soured. "Chen Bang-Guo! You say we can't do this, and we can't do that! Are you suggesting that we should let my brother's death go unpunished?"

The crown prince sighed, "We must prioritize the investigation. Rushing to judgment and executing Cha-Eun Xiao without giving him a chance to explain would be a mistake. It would mean we lose our only lead and let the real murderer escape. That would truly render your brother's death in vain."

"Fine! I'll await the news then!" The crown princess huffed and left, her fragrant scent trailing behind her. She turned back at the door and shouted, "Wang Xiao-Nian deserves no mercy!"

The crown prince, once his wife had departed, clapped his hands and inquired, "How is the investigation proceeding?"

A man in black entered humbly and reported, "The overall account matches Wang Xiao-Nian's testimony. However, there is something peculiar."

The crown prince furrowed his brow, his curiosity piqued.

The man continued his report, his tone measured and serious. "First of all, the witnesses claimed they saw Cha-Eun Xiao knocking down Mu Cheng-Bai. It's perplexing because Cha-Eun Xiao simply doesn't possess the capability to do so."

He paused, choosing his words carefully before continuing. "Upon examining Mu Cheng-Bai's body, I discovered something unusual. His dantian was wounded. However, we all know that the fatal blow was the one to his back, which was remarkably clean."

The crown prince nodded, absorbing the information. "So, what you're saying is that Mu Cheng-Bai's dantian was deliberately blocked, allowing Cha-Eun Xiao to knock him down. Whoever did this must be a world-class elite cultivator."

The mention of a world-class elite cultivator made the crown prince contemplate the implications. Such a figure held immense power and influence in the martial world.

The man in black proceeded, "Furthermore, when Mu Cheng-Bai chased after Cha-Eun Xiao, the latter didn't get very far. He hid behind some debris after turning a corner, and once he saw Lord Mu and the two guards run past, he went home. Many witnesses can confirm this."

It appeared that Cha-Eun Xiao had skillfully misled the onlookers into believing he had escaped, a deception that had worked flawlessly.

The crown prince, growing more intrigued and puzzled, inquired further, "What else have you uncovered?"

The man in black replied, "There are still numerous unknown factors. I can't fully decipher the sequence of events yet. However, I can tell you this: the fatal wounds inflicted on all three of them were exceptionally clean. Both guards were cut simultaneously, and one guard's wrist was completely shattered. From this, I deduced that the murderer disarmed one of the guards and killed both simultaneously. It's a feat that even an accomplished cultivator at the peak of the Grade of Diyuan couldn't easily accomplish. The murderer appears to be more... like a true swordmaster, perhaps of the Grade of Tianyuan."

The man in black hesitated, visibly uneasy, as he mentioned the possibility of a Grade of Tianyuan swordmaster.

The crown prince raised an eyebrow, seeking confirmation. "A swordmaster of the Grade of Tianyuan... Are you certain of this?"

"Yes, Your Highness," the man in black replied, bowing his head respectfully.

There was a moment of silence as the crown prince contemplated the implications. "So... Cha-Eun Xiao may not be involved in this at all?"

The man in black hesitated briefly before responding, "It's uncertain, Your Highness."

The crown prince leaned back, lost in thought. "If there is indeed a third party responsible for Mu Cheng-Bai's death, who could it be? And what would be their motive?" His voice carried a hint of unease, reflecting the complexity of the situation.

The man in black remained silent, understanding that these questions didn't have easy answers. The case was shrouded in variables and uncertainties, making it a perplexing puzzle.

With his eyes half-closed, the crown prince issued his orders in a calm but decisive manner. "Begin the investigation with Cha-Eun Xiao. Focus all your efforts on this matter."

The man in black, who had served the crown prince for years, recognized the subtle shift in his master's demeanor. He knew that the appearance of calmness on the surface belied a burning intensity within the crown prince's heart. It was a lesson he had learned well during his time by the crown prince's side.

However, he couldn't comprehend why the crown prince had specifically instructed him to suspend all other ongoing cases. The man in black couldn't shake the feeling that, in the near future, the capital might witness a surge of violence and bloodshed that would paint the city in dark, ominous shades of red.

Unspoken words lingered in his mind. He understood that although Cha-Eun Xiao might not be the culprit behind Mu Cheng-Bai's death, the investigation would be far from straightforward. Besides the princes, there were eight influential noble clans that might have had reasons to desire Mu Cheng-Bai's demise. These thoughts weighed heavily on his heart, but he dared not voice them to the crown prince.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, Cha-Eun Xiao was seated in a cross-legged position, relishing the sensations of growing strength within him. The increasing qi in his dantian brought him immense satisfaction, a feeling every cultivator yearned for.

However, his peaceful cultivation was interrupted when the steward entered his room with a soft cough, prompting Cha-Eun Xiao to open his eyes.

"What is it?" Cha-Eun Xiao inquired, his brows furrowing in mild irritation.

The steward appeared surprised by Cha-Eun Xiao's cultivation posture but maintained his composure. "My lord, there is something that requires your confirmation."

Cha-Eun Xiao's attention was instantly captured by the question posed by the steward. It was asked with such tranquil sincerity that it left him momentarily stunned. In the steward, Cha-Eun Xiao had discovered a character of intriguing complexity, far from a simple servant.