*BAM**BAM**BAM*
"Xiao Long, come out!"
"Hmm?"
I groggily opened my eyes as I heard a voice shouting outside my pavilion.
"I said Xiao Long come out, or I, your grandfather will do it for you!"
'Grandfather? Is this one of the classic Chinese insults?'
I thought to myself before walking out of my small house and towards the pavilion doors.
When I opened them, I saw Xiao Yulong, Xiao Yang, and Xiao Chengzhi. The three musketeers of the Xiao Clan…
"What is it?"
"What did you do to Xia Qingyue!? Why does she want to marry you!?"
"Eeh!? Why would she want to marry me!?" I asked with utter shock. What the fuck!? It's the first time I hear this!
"Exactly you fool! We are going to spar. Once I beat you to the pulp she will change her mind."
Xiao Yulong arrogantly said that. Even if his daddy is gone he still thinks he will be the next Clan Leader.
What a moron. Wait, he wants Xia Qingyue as she would be a good wife for him. She is strong. But isn't she to be taken to the Frozen Cloud?
'This is confusing as hell…I don't understand anything!'
For a second I had a headache, things don't make sense anymore.
"Sure. Let's spar in front of our elders." I said with a shrug.
Xiao Yulong had a bright smile on his face when he heard that.
"That's my nephew! Let's go."
He was happy to hear that I agreed so easily. After all, I don't want to marry her, and at the same time, I don't want to be beaten to a pulp. So either way we need to fight.
A few minutes later my grandfather arrived to see me spar. He walked over. He ordered everyone to take some distance as he wanted to talk to me.
"Long'er, listen to me. These are perilous times. You must give your best in this fight. Even if you don't win you need to show to everyone that you are a great talent as well. I don't know why Xia Qingyue wants to marry you, it's as if Heavens smiling on my line. Don't waste this opportunity."
'More like Heaven is obsessed with me. Why is she even around? Yun Che is gone. So she should disappear as well.'
Thinking about this weirdness for a bit I walked to my side of the ground and waited for Xiao Yulong.
I took my stance, it's the Xiao Sect Wind Arts.
The remaining elders hummed to themselves. When they saw my stance. They are pleased, they should be, after all, this is the OG Xiao Sect Martial Arts!
"Nephew Long advise me!" Xiao Long said that with a smirk. I nodded to him seriously. The guy then lunged at me with his full cultivation base.
He was [Second of Nascent Profound], my grandfather went up from his chair when he saw this. He was about to go and rescue me but I simply sidestepped and delivered my knee to Xiao Yulong's gut.
Since I was able to do this. I had to show my cultivation base.
Just like that my cultivation base went from [Nine of Elementary Profound] to [Third of Nascent Profound].
*OOF*
Xiao Yulong wheezed as he dropped to his knees and assumed the fetal position.
"Uncle Yulong your stance was pathetic. You don't over-extend yourself like this. You made yourself vulnerable to basic attacks like this. Your Xiao Clan martial arts require further training."
As I said that my uncle was wheezing on the ground, trying to breathe.
*Clap**Clap**Clap*
"Long'er! Truly a pleasant surprise!!!" My grandfather, like a missile, appeared in front of me.
He patted my shoulders, there was a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Grandfather, I just focused on my cultivation. Higher Cultivation can earn a lot of distraction. I needed to hide it."
The old man nodded with a serious look. He agrees to anything I say to him by this point.
"As you can see, my grandson is about to marry a Floating Cloud City treasure! He is the strongest in his generation!"
'Oh, I see how it is…'
The elders nodded dumbly then realised that a fifteen-year-old was better than a nearly twenty years old!
He was a genius!!!
"Xiao Li, since your Grandson is the strongest then you should assume the title of Clan Master."
Just like that, I made my grandfather the Clan Leader.
"...Long'er, you can take the 11th pavilion as your own. Xiao Yulong won't be needing it. He will take your old one. He needs to focus on his cultivation after all." The newly minted Clan Leader said with a happy tone. He patted my shoulder once more before looking at Xiao Yulong as if he was trash.
"You heard me. Return to your training nephew. You need much to do."
Xiao Yulong slowly stood up and left the grounds. His two lackeys didn't follow him.
Does this mean the three musketeers are going to be disbanded?
Well, whatever…
"...grandfather, I will visit Xia Qingyue. I had no idea that she wanted to marry me. I want to know how she came to this decision."
My grandfather nodded at me.
"Of course Long'er."
With a nod, I left them. It's time to see what is going on.
~~~~~~???~~~~~~
She watched with curiosity how he had beaten that bastard, Xiao Yulong.
It was a pleasant surprise that Xiao Long is this strong. She has never expected that there will be someone this powerful in her clan.
Seeing that this was the perfect opportunity she decided to approach the new Clan Leader.
"Leader Li, since Young Master Long acquired the 11th pavilion he needs someone who can maintain it. I offer myself to take care of it." She said with a bow.
Xiao Li for a second looked curious about this.
"Why not? You know how to take care of such things. You may do it Lingxi."
Internally Xiao Lingxi slightly sneered. She can see how jovial the old man is. The girl knows that he is enjoying that another Elder's daughter is going to be downgraded to mere servant level.
Though this was good. She will have protection against that bastard Yulong. Her very bones are telling her that it was that bastard who killed her little Che.
She can't forgive him for that. Maybe Xiao Long will help her get strong so that she could kill that bastard herself!
For a second she looked extremely sad but then she shook her head and walked to the 11th pavilion. She needs to make it presentable to her new Master.
~~~
"Young Miss. Xiao Long is here to see you."
Xia Qingyue's whole body shook. She didn't expect such a rapid response from him!
The girl quickly became nervous. She stood up on her feet and her profound energy washed her over. Removing whatever dirt was on her clothes.
She followed her maid Dongling to her house. As she was getting closer the more nervous she was.
When she saw him sitting on a chair next to a table, there was a cup of warm tea that he had been enjoying.
"Dongling, you may leave."
The maid nodded before walking out of the room. Leaving the pair alone.
…
…
…
For a few moments, it was extremely quiet, this only grinds her nerves as she was wondering what he was thinking.
"Tell me, why? Why me out of all Xiao Clan? Why even ask to marry into my Xiao Clan? With your talent, you could join a greater clan than my Xiao Clan." He asked her with deep curiosity.
Xia Qingyue thought for a while. She can't tell him that she watched him for years…
"...I saw your training… you train more than anyone in the whole of Xiao Clan, and my father is indebted to Xiao Clan. It is only natural that I wish to marry into the Xiao Clan."
She said that quite smoothly. The girl was quite proud of how it came out.
"...I see. Are you sure though? I am not that special."
Her eyebrow twitched for a bit when she heard that. Sure you are not…if he is not special then all the people in Blue Wind Empire are talentless farmers.
Though she will be a good future wife and she won't say anything on this front.
"I am VERY sure. Qingyue wishes to be your wife." She said that while standing up and giving him a respectful bow.
She won't let this incredible opportunity get wasted.
"...this…well… *Sigh*..."
Seeing that he didn't blindly accept her proposal, she quickly got nervous.
"...Qingyue promises to be a proper wife to you, Xiao Long." She said that with a panicky tone. Which made him look weirdly at her.
"...Since you insist…" He said with a resigned tone.
Hearing how he gave up on resisting. This made her extremely elated.
"Many thanks for accepting my proposal."
Once again he sighed and slowly got up from his seat. He got in front of her. He was nearly a whole head taller than her.
"I assume it won't be hard to ask my future wife to show her face to me?"
Xia Qingyue swiftly shook her head and removed her veil.
For a second he gulped down seeing her, this made her extremely happy that he likes her looks. She doesn't care about her looks but if it's to make her future husband happy then she is happy as well.
His hand slowly went to her cheek. His actions made her self-aware of the situation. She started to blush. Which again, made Xiao Long look slightly weird and mesmerised by how beautiful and cute she looked.
Though she quickly started to fiddle with her robes.
"Is there something that matters?"
"...C-Can….Qingyue hug you?" She asked him with a deeply embarrassed tone.
Her question got him even MORE confused.
"...Sure…"
After hearing that the girl instantly went in and hugged him. He could feel her marshmallows getting squeezed by his chest.
It was something else…
"...Qingyue…has an offer…" After a while, she took a step back. While she didn't show much on her face she was indeed happy with the current situation.
"...What kinda offer?"
"...You are an alchemist…my father could sell your things to the wider public this way you would have money to buy greater resources. I asked him before, could he arrange such things to be done anonymously."
His eyes widened for a second.
"...This is a great suggestion."
Once again she nearly smiled to hear how her offer was received positively.
"...We can arrange this in a few days."
She nodded at him, then she decided to push things a little bit further.
"...and…umm… when can Qingyue start training under you?" She asked him almost bashfully.
He raised his eyebrow at her.
"When you are my wife."
His answer made her internally bitter, but she respected his wishes.
"...Then do you want this to happen?" She asked him with some eagerness.
"This is something our parents can arrange. The date doesn't mean much to me."
Xia Qingyue swiftly nodded at him, this is good. Because her father doesn't care about the details, he will listen to what she has to say.
"Qingyue understands. I will speak with Father about this."
"Good, in the meantime I will see you in a few days." As he said that he stroked her cheek with his hand while his thumb stroked her lips. Such actions made her blush like a tomato.
"In the meantime focus on your cultivation." He pulled his hand away and offered his other hand which she took with some confusion.
That moment she felt that something had dropped on her palm.
He smiled for a bit before walking out of the room. The black-haired girl looked at her hand. She had several green pills!
Her eyes glittered when she saw them.
"...Many thanks, my future husband."
She disappeared from the room with extremely rapid speed and went swiftly to see what these pills do!
~~~
When I left Xia Manor I took a deep breath. What just happened made me more confused than ever…
Xia Qingyue has not a single drop of coldness in her system. She didn't cultivate Frozen Cloud arts at all. Then her fascination with me… shouldn't she be focusing on her mother?
Once again I sighed and massaged my forehead. I am walking blindly In this world. Nothing is like canon at all!
For a bit, I wondered what I should do.
In the end, there is only one certain answer, and that is that I need to train and grow stronger.
Realising what I need to do I start to walk towards Xiao Clan grounds.
Everyone's behaviour is different, like day and night. Before this, I was just another disciple, now I was a Young Master…
And that is reflected by everyone.
The City knows who I am… since the cultivation base is now at [Third of Nascent Profound]. Everyone looks with respect.
It's even worse in Xiao Clan. The guards and other disciples look with awe. The females look hungrily like I am a slab of meat.
All my fifteen years of work being invisible was gone. This was… annoying…
That moment I remember blushing Xia Qingyue… it was the only thing that made me not get angry. The girl was like a cat…a very famous cat…
Once I was in my new pavilion I started to explore the grounds.
The view was incredible, I could see the mountain in the distance. There was a pond with fish inside of it. The house was like a manor Instead of a house. With a multitude of rooms to be used for… whatever.
"Young Master?"
My eyes bulged out when I saw Xiao Lingxi dressed in servant clothes, respectfully bowing to me!
This was…
…
…
…
What the fuck!?!?
"...Lingxi?"
"...What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound and look not too shocked or freaked out.
What is the Ancestral Goddess reincarnation doing here!?
"Clan Leader Li assigned me as your maid. I will take care of all your needs." She said that nonchalantly.
'That doesn't sound sexual at all!' I thought sarcastically. Now that I think about it… isn't she, my aunt two lines removed? That makes her quite a distant relative…
For a second I stopped thinking about it.
"...I see…well, then I will be in your care."
She gracefully nodded. There was a small smile on her lips.
"Do you wish to eat dinner? Or a bath?"
She asked quite simply. The girl sounds almost like a wife… damn…Yun Che was quite lucky…I guess having Lingxi has drained him of whatever luck he had left.
Though thinking about all that makes my head hurt…should he be draining luck from Xia Qingyue!? Ugh…whatever!
"Let's have something to eat."
"...As you wish." She once again nodded at me.
"Is there anything you want specifically?"
Thinking for a bit, I shrugged at her.
"Surprise me Lingxi. I will be exploring the pavilion while you cook."
She nodded before leaving with a bow.
The girl was good. Xiao Lie raised an impressive girl. Sadly… I never knew him in person…the old man, while talented, was quite a softie… not fit for this world.
After seeing her walk to the kitchen I proceeded to explore the grounds. Checking the manor, feeding the fish… then walking around and checking the trees. They all are decorative and don't have any other use except to look nice.
Around twenty or so minutes later the black-haired girl approached me once again.
"Young Master, do you wish to eat in the dining room or outside?"
Thinking for a bit, I decided to ask her.
"What do you think?"
She looked confused for a second.
"You do know that I was living on my own after starting cultivation. I don't have preferences in such things."
"...This…it depends…" For a second she was not sure what to say.
"I suppose we can eat inside since it would be faster."
"...Y-Yes as you wish! The meal is coming in a few minutes, Young Master!"
I frowned for a second… Young Master? I tried to dodge this bullet for several years… Now I am one…
Damn it Qingyue!
As she said that I was in the dining room a few minutes later.
The girl prepared an array of food that looked nice.
"...Impressive. You know your way around the kitchen."
"...My thanks…" I could hear her voice was quite heavy. It's impressive how she is holding herself together.
'Being a reincarnation of that being she naturally didn't care about cultivation as she was the apex of the cultivation…but that will end up biting back in your ass when you are at the bottom of the ladder.'
Lingxi is barely midway through [Elementary Profound] and she looks gorgeous… the perfect target to become a toy for a Young Master.
"...Young Master… I was wondering…"
"That you want to join me at the table?" I chipped in from the side which made her deflate like a balloon. She had a pouty angry look on her face.
"...No…I mean…"
"Just join me at the table and let's talk."
For a second she looked like she had an internal battle before joining me by sitting down in front of me on the other side of the table.
"...I wish to ask, how you became this strong this quick…"
I look seriously at her for a bit. She looked quite anxious seeing how I looked at her.
"That depends on how loyal you are to me. If you are mine, then I won't hold back and make you strong. If there is an alternative reason for this then I may give you some tips as you will be busy keeping my place tidy." I said with a matter-of-fact voice. While starting to eat.
Xiao Lingxi had a thoughtful look as she was thinking about something before she decided to give her answer.