Chapter 08 - A year worth of scheming (2/10)

The youngest of the pair was a little annoyed about something but tried not to show it while addressing the other.

"Teacher, what do you think about him?

Other than his cultivation, in these months, I couldn't read anything else about him. Although we talked in different situations…"

The teacher didn't answer but thought back about the letter she received from her disciple not long ago and couldn't help being surprised that her disciple asked to examine someone.

Since she started teaching Xia Qingyue, she realized how her disciple could see through anybody's mind and heart in meticulously fine detail with ease. Therefore, she was alarmed by her request.

'Is he a hidden expert…? Nah, that couldn't be possible.'

"His Profound is average, but his bearings are indeed something else. Apart from this, I can't decipher anything about him either."

Xia Qingyue, hearing her teacher's analysis, had shock appear in her charming eyes, but it rapidly subsided before her teacher could spot it.

'From what I heard from Qingyue, even if he recently turned out to be a somewhat interesting person, his background is nothing special.'

"Qingyue, he's just a peculiar character in this backwater city. You don't have to be overly interested in him, you should instead work harder in our art."

Hearing her teacher's stern tone, Xia Qingyue bowed her head and nodded, but she was conflicted inwardly and thought about what Fang Yuan told her weeks before.

'I'm not from this world the same as your mother, and I know where she is.'

After such revelation, Xia Qingyue's heart started to pace faster, her mind was frantic, and she couldn't help but gaze at him, with her mesmerizing eyes filled with hope.

'You can try to demand your teacher to appraise me or check my background, but you will find nothing, or you could even try to coerce me with her backing... However, I know you will not.'

Since they first met without even realizing it, they've spent a lot of time together, and now the young lady couldn't refute his words.

'Do you think you could reach the God Realm by just cultivating at Frozen Cloud Asgard?!'

How did he know about her sect? How much does he actually know about her? In front of him, she felt naked. Nothing escapes his gaze.

'Such a place isn't enough to reach the apex, but if you take my hand, I will let you achieve your dreams.'

He declared with nonchalance, yet it still sounded very domineering, his hand outstretched toward her.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Xia Qingyue was about to reach out to his hand, but Fang Yuan retracted it and turned to leave without saying anything else.

Xia Qingyue's heart was in turmoil. The wall erected by the Frozen Heart Arts she practiced for almost two years crumbled.

As she saw his back leaving, the young man strangely reminded Xia Qingyue of the time her mother left. The feeling that sprouted on their first encounter started to bloom from the meanders of her heart as unwillingness washed away her rationality.

At that time, the young lady felt that if she'd let him go, she would have lost not only the chance to see her mother but even something more important.

Something she could never think of before they had known each other.

She reached out her hand toward his back, which in her eyes at that moment seemed to be able to shoulder the sky if it were ever to fall, giving her a sense of security she'd never felt before.

As if Fang Yuan could read her mind, he halted his steps and, without turning, he told her.

'Within a year, I will make you trust me.'

He then resumed walking, never turning his head, and left her compound.

Xia Qingyue's eyes never left him in such a time frame until his figure faded from her eyesight.

Since then, anytime she remembered the events of that day, the young girl felt something she couldn't pinpoint in herself. She repeatedly tried to understand it, but as she practiced the Frozen Heart Arts, it was something unrealizable on her own.

As she was trying again to figure it out, Xia Qingyue was taken away from her reverie.

"Qingyue, are you sure you told me everything about this young man?"

The young girl raised her head and was faced by her master's questioning gaze.

Xia Qingyue still looked dazed for a couple of seconds before nodding.

The master found her disciple's behavior strange but didn't question anymore.

'Even if there's something that ties Qingyue to this place, it doesn't matter.

I know that cultivation is her top priority. She knows that it's what she needs to do for her to achieve her goals.

And the only thing that ties her up to this place is the "marriage" engagement...'

«．．．☾ Ten months to Xiao Che's death ☾ ．．．»

Entering Lord Xia's office, Fang Yuan found three other people in addition to the owner of the manor.

Uncle Wu and a grey-bearded elder talked business with Lord Xia. Moreover, a young lady was sitting at the unfamiliar elder's side.

The elder exuded an old man next door vibe. He seemed to be in his eighty or maybe ninety. He wore an azure scholar robe and emanated a very calm and gentle aura.

The young lady, at first glance, looked to be about Fang Yuan's age or maybe a year younger. Her silk-like short dark hair fell on her shoulders. She had eyes radiating gentleness and beautiful rosy lips.

Her overall beauty wasn't on par with Xia Qingyue, but the impression she gave of tenderness and purity put her on almost the same level as Xia Clan's young lady. And even counting Fang Yuan's past world standard, she was eye-catching.

She was wearing a light green dress that left a feeling as though her entire body was brimful with the spirit of nature. Her appearance alone could brighten the eyes of others.

Seeing him, the three adults stopped their conversation, whereas the young lady blushed, and she quickly bent her head, trying to hide it embarrassed which surprised the young man.

'Huh? Why she's so bashful?'

Xia Hongyi then urged Fang Yuan to sit down with them.

"Fang Yuan, you finally arrived. Take a seat!"

He nodded, cupping one hand in the other.

"Uncle Xia, it's always a pleasure to be your guest."

Xia Hongyi has undoubtedly not hidden his appreciation for the young man's character and ideas in recent months. When he was free, he constantly invited him for a cup of tea to discuss business or possibly new business ideas.

The young man then grinned at Ying Wu.

"Uncle Wu, I see that by now, you are used to your new responsibilities."

Thanks to Fang Yuan and his past merits, Uncle Wu became Lord Xia's right arm.

And because of the massive amount of paperwork in the first months in his new role, he was always distressed.

"Well, if my 'Peerless Inventor nephew' didn't drop all the paperwork on me, I would have been better!"

Underlining his nephew's new title, Uncle Wu started to laugh at which the direct interest laughed too.

Fang Yuan then directed his gaze to the unknown party.

"Greetings, this little one is..."

Before the young man could finish the sentence, he was interrupted.

"Good, good, good! Even having acquired status, you are always respectful towards previous generations. It seems like Ying Wu wasn't boasting about you."

After his sentence, both he and Xia Hongyi started laughing, while uncle Wu nodded proudly.

"Nowadays, who doesn't know you in Floating Cloud City? I'm Xiao Lie, the Fifth Elder of the Xiao Clan and this is my daughter, Xiao Lingxi."

The young lady stared at Fang Yuan before officially introducing herself to him.

"Greetings, this young lady's name is Xiao Lingxi."

Fang Yuan nodded, showing an enigmatic smile that made her blush once again.

"I've always heard of the distinguished Fifth Elder of the Xiao Clan, the strongest expert in the city.

And obviously, I heard about Fairy Lingxi, one of the most beautiful ladies of our Floating Cloud City. However, it seems her fame doesn't do her justice."

Hearing Fang Yuan's remark, the young girl, who has never been complimented so brazenly in front of her father before, started fidgeting in embarrassment.

Soon after, the adults engaged in a conversation with Fang Yuan regarding the city economy. Strangely, Elder Lie even talked about the power struggles that were occurring in the Xiao Clan, which startled the young man.

'Why is the Elder Lie sharing such information with me? What's his play?'

As Fang Yuan was deep in thought, Xiao Lingxi couldn't help but stare at him.

The young man, when he noticed it, smiled inwardly.

'Well, let's not waste this opportunity...'

Consequently, now and then, he asked her questions about herself or shared anecdotes, smoothly having a small chat and making her open up to him.

As they chatted and got closer, the young lady noticed that even if from time to time the young man praised her look, she couldn't find any perversion in his gaze or tone and that only increased the excellent impression she had of him.

'He is really different from the other guys I've met before… He's kind to others like little Che, but in contrast to little Che, Fang Yuan has great charisma and a solid backbone…'

Xiao Lingxi didn't know, but she was already in the palm of his hand, on her way to be conquered by him.

With his past life experience and knowledge, how can Fang Yuan not be able to sweet-talk a naive dense girl into his bed when he wants to?

Several of his former world's friends even nicknamed him Smooth Criminal as he made it look so easy to leech off women.

As they were talking and having a pleasant time, the young man asked Lord Xia a question.

"Is this meeting by any chance to provide the Xiao Clan with some of my inventions?"

Xia Hongyi, hearing his question, coughed awkwardly before taking on a serious tone.

"There is a particular reason why Elder Lie wanted to meet you personally..."

'Uh? Before Yun Che's "awakening" did anything of importance happen?

Or maybe my presence has already changed the canon, well, it isn't that I give a fuck about it.'

"As you see Elder Lie has a beautiful daughter, and even a nephew who will be married to my Yue'er."

As Lord Xia said 'beautiful daughter', Fang Yuan winked at Xiao Lingxi, who had been staring at him since before. The young girl's face reddened at his sudden action as she quickly averted her eyes.

The young man found it refreshing to tease Xiao Lingxi, but it wasn't just for this that he assumed such conduct with her.

'I need to build a friendly relationship with Xiao Lingxi since it could come in handy in many ways.

For example, to memorize the layout of the Xiao Clan's manor, I need it for my plans. Despite befriending Xiao Che is not certain I would have access to most areas.

And obviously, I need her to read "that" thing for me.'

Their eyes' interaction had undoubtedly not escaped Elder Lie's eyes, but he said nothing about it. Fang Yuan then nodded in acknowledgment to Xia Hongyi then gazed at the Xiao Clan's Elder.

"Yes, I encountered the latter before when I went to see Yuanba, and we chatted a bit, and he seems to me to be a fellow with solid values."

Xiao Lie was pleased about what the young man said. However, he sighed as he thought about his grandson's personality.

After that, he exchanged a gaze with Xia Hongyi, hinting that he will take over the discussion from here.

"My daughter will soon be of age to get married, and unfortunately, in recent years, I have not found a suitable partner for her."

Xiao Lingxi was flustered by her father's approach to the discussion and tried to argue.

"Huh?! F-Father! I-I know you told me before, but it's too sudden!?!

But Elder Lie dismissed his daughter's outburst with a glance that made the young lady hang her head down in embarrassment.

Hearing him, Fang Yuan was dumbfounded. He could never have foreseen such a development.

'Wait, wait, wait.

Don't tell me the old man is about to...'

The young man then sighed inwardly as he glared at the young lady.

'Now I understand Xiao Lingxi's initial shy behavior.'

Xiao Lie then took a dignified expression.

"Would you like to take my Xi'er as your wife?"

Alternative titles: 'Meeting his first wife?', 'The Scheming Demon didn't see that coming'