A Woman's Heart and Consequences

Jasmine had no idea that Xia Qingyue had seen him. After meeting with Sin Tong, he had forgotten about her, and even before that, he didn't really remember her. He didn't want to get involved with a girl who prioritized power over her loved ones.

He could understand why Xia Qingyue chose to follow her mother to the God Realm, but leaving her father and younger brother alone was simply foolish. Furthermore, Xia Qingyue barely remembered her mother, only fragments from her childhood. But for some reason, the thought of finding her mother and reuniting her family had crossed her mind. And to top it off, Xia Qingyue hadn't even wondered about the fate of her father and brother until she met Yun Che at the Sword Villa Tournament.

For these reasons, Jasmine considered her a hypocrite for abandoning those who loved and cared for her for the sake of her mother, who had abandoned her own family, albeit under the pretense of protecting her. Jasmine even suspected that Xia Qingyue did this not only because of her mother but also because of her unique heart—the Glazed Snow Heart.

Jasmine was now leaving Floating Cloud City. He had accomplished all his goals and earned enough points to buy the Veins of the Lightning Sparrow.

"Stop... there!" A voice called out.

Since the wedding took place near the Xiao Clan and the Xia Clan, there were practically no people in the area. Everyone wanted to see Yun Che and criticize him.

Jasmine turned towards the female voice. There was no one on the street where he was standing. All the shops were closed and the houses empty.

"Who is this?" He felt like he had seen this girl before. She ran up to him, gasping for breath.

"Young master... Miss Xia requests your presence," Ren Ling, a maid of the same age as her mistress, said. She had been raised from childhood with the idea that she would become one of the Xia Family's maids. Because she had become very attached to Xia Qingyue, she was now saddened by her lady's fate, thinking that marrying a cripple was a fate worse than death.

"Requests? Are those her words or yours?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow as he remembered Xia Qingyue. Six months ago, he had talked with her, and she didn't seem like the type to demand and order someone she barely knew. She was not a person who sought power over others.

"Oh... um, yes! Lady Xia didn't tell me exactly what to say to you," Ren Ling thought. "I apologize, young master. Lady Xia didn't inform me of her specific message. I believe it was due to the rush."

Ren Ling spoke calmly and was unfazed by the sight of the handsome boy. She had witnessed Miss Xia's beauty all her life and had grown accustomed to it. However, even she was taken aback by his red eyes, which she tried not to gaze at directly.

Jasmine waved his hand dismissively and turned away.

"Xia Qingyue has an important day today, and I don't want to ruin it." Without waiting for a response from Ren Ling, he vanished, leaving the girl stunned.

Ren Ling looked around, trying to find the boy, but he was nowhere to be found. Surprise filled her eyes. Though Ren Ling wasn't the top genius, she possessed her own talents and had already reached the Advanced Stage of Level 7 at her age. However, because of Miss Xia's radiance, Ren Ling remained in the shadows, and hardly anyone knew anything about her.

"Who is he?" Ren Ling couldn't sense Young Master Jasmine's presence at all. But after contemplating for a moment, she

came to the conclusion that the boy must possess a treasure that allowed him to hide from practitioners of a certain level. After all, a 12-year-old boy couldn't possibly be stronger than her, right?

Meanwhile, Jasmine left the city, and Xing Tong remained lying on the grass, gazing at the sky. She replayed every conversation, every gesture that Jasmine had made in her mind, analyzing them and trying to understand his motives.

Even though her Divine Master power was currently blocked, she still had the spirit of a Divine Master, and no one could manipulate her mind, not even in the God Realm. Especially in this mortal world, where the peak of perfection was considered to be the Highest Stage. For Xing Tong, the practices of this level were as insignificant as dust beneath her feet.

Therefore, Xing Tong quickly dismissed the idea that Jasmine could manipulate her mind. If he possessed a treasure that could affect even Divine Master practitioners, she would have sensed it. With her knowledge as a Star God, she would laugh at herself if she were to be outplayed by a 12-year-old boy.

It took Xing Tong a couple of hours to come to the realization that everything Jasmine had said was not a lie. She wasn't optimistic enough to believe a stranger, but deep down, that little girl who constantly smiled at her mother and brother believed in this young man. Xing Tong was conflicted because of this.

"Anyway, I have nowhere else to go," Xing Tong sighed, deciding to wait until tonight. She didn't know why, but there was a glimmer of hope in her heart that Jasmine's words about their fateful meeting were true.

Late in the evening, Xia Qingyue sat on what she thought was a small bed, covered with a red bedspread and blanket. She was currently in the small house where Xiao Che lived.

After arriving at the Xiao Clan, Qingyue had gone through with the marriage ceremony, but throughout the entire time, her gaze constantly wandered towards the guests' seats, frequently pausing at the entrance door to the hall. She acted like a mechanical puppet, searching for the person she was waiting for.

Time passed, yet her maid, Ren Ling, had not returned.

"Perhaps he doesn't want to see me?" Qingyue watched the sunset through the window until she sensed Ren Ling's aura.

"Miss Xia..." Ren Ling began in a whisper, looking around and sneaking into the house like a thief.

"Where is he?" Qingyue got up from the bed without even glancing at Ren Ling.

"...," Ren Ling was about to respond, ready to scold the young master for his arrogance, as countless young men desired to meet Lady Xia. However, upon noticing that Qingyue had truly lost her usual composure, Ren Ling swallowed her prepared words. "M-Miss... the Young Master refused... to meet you."

Qingyue shifted her gaze towards Ren Ling. Her worried eyes regained their icy coldness.

"Refused?" Her voice carried a cold tone. It was evident that she was angry, and her ice aura began emanating from her body.

"Y-Yes!" Ren Ling stammered, nodding her head quickly.

"Tell me exactly what he said. Word for word, and don't you dare lie!"

Even without being told this, Ren Ling would never dare to lie to her mistress. She proceeded to recount everything: her search for him, finding the young master, attempting to invite him, his refusal, and his subsequent disappearance as if he were a ghost.

"...he truly possesses a treasure that allows him to vanish like that!" Ren Ling concluded. As far as she knew, such treasures were invaluable

even in the Imperial City! If it weren't for that, Miss Xia, I would have brought him by force!" Ren Ling exclaimed, unable to suppress the hint of jealousy in her voice regarding the treasure in Jasmine's possession.

"...," Qingyue stood still in the middle of the room, her expression unchanged. Ren Ling fell silent, realizing that her mistress was deep in thought, and she tried not to disturb her.

After a few minutes, Qingyue sensed Xiao Che's aura approaching the house. She calmly sat back down on the bed.

"Ren Ling, you may leave. Try not to attract any attention," Qingyue instructed, her voice composed.

"Yes, Miss Xia!" Ren Ling bowed deeply and quietly slipped out of the Xiao Clan's residence. Since the elders and other guests were occupied in the banquet hall, Ren Ling had no trouble leaving unnoticed.

"Xia Qingyue has a great day today; this prince doesn't want to spoil it..." Qingyue whispered to herself, repeating Jasmine's words in her mind. Ignoring the peculiar noises outside, including the sound of someone urinating nearby (which was actually Xiao Che relieving himself after consuming alcohol from the Sky Poison Pearl), Qingyue contemplated her conclusion, which was most likely incorrect.

"...is he jealous?" A faint blush spread across her face, and her heart started to beat irregularly.

Lost in her thoughts, Qingyue remained seated on the bed until the scent of alcohol wafted into the room, accompanied by Xiao Che's unsteady footsteps as he entered.

She disregarded Xiao Che's presence and continued to sit on the bed with her eyes closed, pondering Jasmine's words.

Xiao Che approached her with a lecherous grin and spoke in a crude tone, "Hehehe, my wife... I've been waiting so long to possess you... come on... let's use this wedding chamber..."

Suddenly, Qingyue opened her eyes and casually waved her right hand.

An irresistible force of coldness propelled Xiao Che out the door. He tumbled to the ground, almost toppling a stone table situated in the middle of the yard beneath a small tree.

As a cripple devoid of profound strength, Xiao Che experienced intense pain in his buttocks from the fall. Struggling to his feet and rubbing the affected area, he entered the house and protested, "Crap! I was just joking! Why are you so ruthless? I'm so weak, and yet you hit me so hard... you'd think you planned to kill your husband!"