Xiao Lie originally had great expectations for the people from the Xiao Sect . The son of the Xiao Sectâs master presumably should be like a celestial dragon god .
However, at first sight, he was instead greatly disappointed . He didnât see the aura, grace, self-restraint, and appropriate loftiness that the direct disciples of a great sect should have . Rather, he only saw condescending arrogance and a tyrannical look in his eyes that left an uneasy feeling . It was just like that of a pampered and spoiled playboy that had grown up among sycophants . But upon thinking carefully, he was also relieved⌠After all, the Xiao Sect couldnât possibly care about this small Xiao Clan . How could they send some âgreat personâ over? The status of âthe son of the sect masterâ was also merely to express a superficial respect to the dead Xiao Zheng .
âDaddy, I just heard them say that you and the clan master headed off to welcome the Xiao Sectâs people . How come youâre back so soon?â Xiao Lingxi had just happened to stop by to deliver food to Xiao Lie . With a face full of curiosity, she asked: âHave the people from the Xiao Sect already arrived? What kind of people are they? Do they have a really frightening aura?â
Xiao Lingxiâs questions reminded him of the elder standing behind Xiao Kuangyun . He nodded: âOf course, the people from the Xiao Sect are unfathomable . However, Xi Er, you should avoid the Xiao Sectâs people as much as possible in the few days that theyâre here . The young man leading them isnât some kind of benevolent person . If you can avoid them, then you should do so . â
âAh?â Xiao Lingxi blinked her eyes in disbelief and then nodded lightly: âI know daddy . In fact, I was already a little bit afraid of them . After all, they are from the Xiao Sect . They must be super super powerful . â
âEven if youâre curious, you should try to stay away from them . â Xiao Lie once again warned . He lightly breathed in and, with a heavy load on his mind, walked into the courtyard .
âDaddy? Why do you look like you have something on your mind? Did something especially big happen?â Xiao Lingxi asked nervously . As a daughter who knew her father well, with just a glance, Xiao Lingxi could see through Xiao Lieâs facial expression .
Xiao Lie froze for a second, and then shook his head: âItâs nothingâŚâ He paused for a moment as he realized that if he didnât say it out loud, then this clever daughter of his may not feel at ease for the rest of the day . He could only slowly respond: âThe Xiao Sect brought a gift called the âProfound Opening Powderâ . From what that Xiao Kuangyun said, this Profound Opening Powder has a great restorative effect on damaged profound veins . SoâŚâ
âAh! It can fix damaged profound veins? Is that true?â Xiao Lie hadnât even finished talking, but Xiao Lingxi was already crying out in excitement . All of the sudden, her small hands tightly clenched the edges of her clothing . Fixing Xiao Cheâs profound veins had always been her greatest wish . These past few years, she had nonstop diligently searched for every possible method with Xiao Lie . Xiao Lieâs words were no different to her than the celestial sound of heaven granting her wish .
âThe effects of the Xiao Sectâs medicine canât be compared to that of ordinary medicine . It may really be able to provide surprising results . â Saying this, Xiao Lieâs expression slowly dimmed: âHowever, the Profound Opening Powderâs most important use is to accelerate the speed of cultivation for a certain amount of time . Right now, the clan master and the rest of them all consider this âProfound Opening Powderâ as a treasure . To convince them to use the âProfound Opening Powderâ on the body of Che Er, whoâs considered a good for nothing in their eyes⌠It truly was a slim hope .
Xiao Lingxiâs expression became sluggish . Xiao Lieâs words were like a pail of cold water that extinguished all of her excitement . She bit her lips and resolutely said, âNo matter how, we must obtain the Profound Opening Powder . Little Che definitely isnât a good for nothing! Heâs the one that needs the Profound Opening Powder the most!â
âIâll try with all my power to fight for it . â Seeing her daughterâs expression, Xiao Lie let out a long sigh . However, in his heart, he was perfectly clear how little hope there was of getting the Profound Opening Powder⌠In other words, it was absolutely impossible .
âŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚ
Nightfall .
âI saw the Xiao Sectâs Xiao Kuangyun today . â
Candle light faintly swayed inside the room . Xia Qingyue sat at the side of the bed and lightly said .
âOh⌠what kind of person is he?â Xiao Che yawned before casually asking with an indifferent look .
âHe is like his name . â Xia Qingyueâs eyebrows drooped as she remembered the look in Xiao Kuangyunâs eyes as he looked at her . A look of disgust passed through her eyes . Her master had told her that of the Xiao Sect masterâs four sons, the other three all could be considered as having dragon-like talent . Only the fourth son was an one hundred percent idiot . However, he nevertheless was doted on the most by the sect master, possibly because he was the youngest and was the legal wifeâs only son . (TL: Kuangyun translates to âwild/violent cloudâ)
âThatâs pretty normal . If you think about it, itâs pretty obvious what kind of people the Xiao Sect would send to this place . But either way, it still has nothing to do with me . At the most, I just have to go tomorrow as a formality . â Xiao Che shrugged as he spoke . His eyebrows suddenly twitched, and his expression sharpened slightly . He raised his head and asked: âQingyue my wife, you said you saw him? Then did he also see you?â
âThatâs right⌠why?â Xia Qingyue raised her eyebrows .
Xiao Che raised his hand to rub his chin, then suddenly said: âYou said before that he was a piece of trash with an exceedingly bad reputation . This kind of trash⌠*sigh*, Qingyue my wife, if I havenât guessed wrong, your master should be near Floating Cloud City, right?â
â⌠How did you know?â A trace of astonishment flashed across Xia Qingyueâs face .
Xiao Che didnât explain . He said with a serious expression: âSince itâs like that, think of a way to communicate with your master . Itâd be best to have her come to this place tomorrowâŚâ After thinking for a moment, his expression once again relaxed: âSince your master is nearby, then I guess there wonât be any big problems . Letâs sleep . â
Xia Qingyueâs delicate brows raised slightly, and she then quietly pondered for a moment . She once again thought back to the expression in Xiao Kaungyunâs eyes as he looked at her this afternoon and finally understood the meaning behind Xiao Cheâs words . Her expression suddenly spasmed, and she unconsciously reached out to pinch the icicle shaped sound transmitting device at her waist .
Seeing Xiao Che preparing to spread the blanket at the corner, her gaze faintly swayed . Her lips continuously moved quite a few times before she finally let out a voice: âCome sleep on the bed . â
âAh?â Xiao Che turned his body towards her and said with wide eyes: âQingyue my wife, what did you say?â
Xia Qingyue immediately turned her face away to hide her current expression . She coldly replied: âIf you didnât hear it, then forget it!â
âI heard it! How could I not have heard it?!â Xiao Che immediately nodded like a chick pecking rice . He threw the blanket in his hand away and quickly threw himself onto the bed, then looked at Xia Qingyue with a happy smile: âQingyue my wife, will you sleep on the inside or outside tonight?â
â⌠. . â Xia Qingyue didnât reply . With a wave of her snowy hand, she extinguished all of the red candle in the space of a second . The room was immediately pitch black, and her heart also secretly let out a sigh . She reached out and pushed Xiao Che to the inside, pulled the blanket over, and covered both of their bodies with it . Laying down sideways with her back to Xiao Che, she said in a quiet and cold voice: âYou donât need to think about it too much . Iâm only doing this to make it more convenient for you to treat my body at three in the morning⌠Youâre not allowed to do forbidden things! Otherwise I wonât ever let you sleep on the bed again!â
âAs you wish, my beloved lady wife!â Xiao Che elatedly spoke as he gave the blankets a tug and sniffed the remainder of the young ladyâs fragrance that was still held in it .
Now, she was being called âwifeâ by Xiao Che several dozen times a day . From the initial sulking up to now, not only did hearing it feel incomparably natural, but also at the same time gave her a kind of indescribable feeling of âI am his wifeâ . This subtle change caused her to be flustered and more so left her at a loss . She closed her eyes and strove to avoid thinking about these things that set her heart into disorder . Not long after, she peacefully fell asleep .
It had unwittingly become three in the morning . This was the darkest time before dawn, and the entire Xiao Clan was peaceful . The only sounds that could be heard were the occasional buzzing of insects .
In the darkness, from Xiao Lingxiâs courtyard came a light *creak* sound and, following that sound, the securely closed house door slowly opened . A petite shadow slowly snuck out and, after peering at the surroundings for a while, quickly ran fled outside .
The shadow hadnât been able to step outside the courtyard gate when a tall, gray figure suddenly dropped from the sky, landing in front of her . The sound of a girlâs cry of alarm rose up, then soon after came a solemn voice, lowered with great effort: âXi Er, where are you going this late at night?â
âAh! Da⌠daddy!â The greatly frightened shadow pulled down the shroud covering her face, revealing a lovely and touching girlâs face . It really was Xiao Lingxi . Looking at the Xiao Lie that had suddenly appeared in front of her, her soul shook momentarily . âI⌠I⌠IâŚâ
âAh!â Xiao Lie let out a long sigh, then said in a low voice: âXi Er, you want to go steal the Profound Opening Powder, right?â
âI⌠IâŚâ Xiao Lingxi lowered her head as she faltered .
âYou are my daughter . How could I not know what youâre thinking in your heart?â Xiao Lie once again let out a long sigh and then patted his daughter on her shoulder . âAfter you left me this afternoon, I thought you had a strange look in your eyes . I felt uneasy, so I came here to stand guard⌠Sure enough, you had the thought to go steal the Profound Opening Powder⌠Xi Er, you really are too willful . Do you know how dangerous this is? That Profound Opening Powder isnât something ordinary . It is a gift from the Xiao Sect . If your tracks were discovered, then it would be in the Xiao Sectâs jurisdiction . At that time, if the those four from the Xiao Sect decide youâre guilty, not to mention me, thereâs no one in this Floating Cloud City that could save you . â
Xiao Lingxi lowered her head and bit her lips . âI⌠I know all of that . But⌠but⌠Little Che is too pitiful . Heâs clearly a good person, yet is always laughed at by people, looked down by people, and treated as trash by everyone . If he could fix his profound veins, then he wonât be ridiculed anymore . He wouldnât fall short of anyoneâŚâ
Xiao Lie opened and closed his mouth, a look of remorse flashing across his face .
âI always wondered, why Xiao Che was the one with the deformed profound veins, and not me⌠This world is really too unfair to him⌠Daddy, did you know? Whenever I see Little Che being laughed at, and that he still tries to adopt a uncaring look and instead come comfort me, my heart is filled with so much unease⌠If I could fix his profound veins, even if I have to become a thief⌠even if I receive the penalty of death, I would still be willing to do it a hundred timesâŚ
As she talked, Xiao Lingxiâs eyes were already filled with tears . She covered her face with her hands and finally couldnât help but start sobbing .
A violent spasm passed across Xiao Lieâs face . As he looked at his sobbing daughter, his heart was also grieving . He quietly consoled: âXi Er, I know you are wholeheartedly doing this for Che Er . But, you doing this, leaving aside the consequences, Xiao Yunhai didnât give that box of Profound Opening Powder to anyone after receiving it . He should be carrying it on his body . With your strength, how could you steal anything from Xiao Yunhai? Listen to me, go back and sleep . Concerning the Profound Opening Powder, I will spare no effort to think of something . Even though I havenât argued about anything these few years, among the this Xiao Clan, I, on the whole, still have a voice . Obtaining the Profound Opening Powder isnât necessarily a completely hopeless cause . You arenât allowed to do this kind of silly thing in the future . If something really happened to you⌠who will take care of and protect Che Er afterwards?â
Xiao Lieâs last sentence gently struck Xiao Lingxiâs soft heart, leaving her heart with a sudden, lingering fear⌠Thatâs right! If I didnât succeed, was caught, and received a large punishment, what would happen to little CheâŚ
âI⌠I understand . â Xiao Lingxi removed her black clothing and dropped them to the side . She wiped the tears from her face and said in with a guilty face: âDaddy, Iâm sorry . I did a stupid thing and had you worry again . Iâll obediently go sleep now and wonât do something like this again⌠Daddy, you should quickly go back and rest⌠I promise I wonât go steal the Profound Opening Powder . â
â*Chuckle*, itâs good as long as you listen . â Xiao Lie nodded his head and smiled warmly . But before leaving, he still worriedly picked up black clothing on the ground and took it with him .