First Encounter

Just like that, a week has passed. Everyone was close to getting done and the celebration was about to begin.

Throughout this week, Jiao Heng focused on his cultivation and helped out Xiao Lingxi as well as a payment for his stay here.

He met her father, Xiao Lie on his stay here and no surprise, he allowed him to stay due to him helping his grandson.

Although he's not able to help Xiao Che in cultivation, it was not the case for Xiao Lingxi.

She was at the 6th Level of Elementary Profound Realm a week ago but now? She's at the 8th Level.

She reached two levels in just a week much to her surprise. 

Jiao Heng on the other hand is currently at the 10th Level of Elementary Profound Realm. Xiao Lingxi didn't know which realm he was originally from and assumed it was normal.

If she had known that he just started cultivating a week ago, then she would've been shocked by his talent.

Aside from his own cultivation, the cultivation of his Nine Character Secrets are going well. The secrets that he's cultivating have made a breakthrough and he's now currently in a bottleneck.

He guesses that he needs to reach the Nascent Profound Realm to remove it.

"Just another breakthrough and I will finally be able to use profound energy." Jiao Heng muttered.

He's currently sitting crossed leg under a tree. Xiao Lingxi isn't with him as she's busy with the upcoming wedding.

From what he heard from Xiao Lingxi, the Nascent Profound Realm is the stage where a cultivator can finally wield profound energy.

This is confirmed by her father.

"Wonder what profound energy feels outside the body?" He held his chin in thought. He's familiar with stuff like chakra or Ki but profound energy? He didn't really know how it functions.

One of the things he needs to study.

"Jiao Heng!" As he was deep in thought, he heard Xiao Lingxi's scream of help and her coming towards him with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Jiao Heng stood up and rushed to her side. 

"X-Xiao Che… h-he—!" 

Hearing that, Jiao Heng's eyes widened. 

It's time.

—

"He should be fine now." Jiao Heng replied while putting the blankets on Xiao Che's body.

After hearing her help, they immediately rushed together to Xiao Che's room.

Surprisingly, there was nothing wrong about Xiao Che when he checked his pulse. From the looks of it, he just passed out. 

Xiao Lingxi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. She then proceeded to explain what happened and by the end of her explanation, tears started spilling for her eyes.

"I-I did know how it happened to him." 

"There, there. Don't cry now. Xiao Che's life isn't in danger." He wiped the tears in her eyes with his sleeves and comforted.

Most people wouldn't probably believe her story but he does. He had read the original plot after all.

From the looks of it, the poisoning happened and Xiao Che is now dead.

The one who'll wake up soon is now Yun Che.

As for why he didn't prevent it? He wouldn't know what happened if he did.

Would it make Xiao Lingxi happy? Judging by her personality, yes. 

What about the Ancestral Goddess and the Mirror of Samsara? He didn't know and he's not interested in finding out.

"Ugh…. Little aunt." After some time, 'Xiao' Che woke up.

"Che'er!" Seeing this, Xiao Lingxi rushed to his side and hugged him.

"I'm fine, little aunt. I'm strong, you know." He pointed to himself with a smile.

"Cough… it's a good thing you're awake. You have your little aunt worried there." Jiao Heng cleared his throat and explained.

"Hahaha, is that so? Thank you for helping Brother Heng." 'Xiao' Che stood up and cupped his fist at him.

Jiao Heng raised his eyebrow hearing that. Not because he called him brother but because of how Xiao Lingxi didn't notice any change from his personality.

Seriously, how is that even possible?

"Since you're alright. I'll be leaving you two." Jiao Heng patted his shoulder and left.

"Wait! I'll come with you too. I need to call my father." Xiao Lingxi removed herself from the bed and went out with him.

Seeing them leaving, 'Xiao' Che looked around before muttering,

"I'm Xiao Che of the Xiao Clan. I will be married today to Xia Qingyue of the Xia Clan."

"But didn't I already die? Is what happened in Azure Cloud Continent just a dream? That's not right. I still remember how to heal people." 

Xiao Che shook his head before looking at his palm to see a green mark flashing.

"T-This! The Sky Poison Pearl! C-Could it be that I reincarnated and it fused with my body?" After coming to a conclusion, 'Xiao' Che bit his tongue and muttered.

While he was thinking to himself. Jiao Heng seperated with Xiao Lingxi and continued his cultivation.

"Almost there." Jiao Heng took a deep breath.

*Boom*

"Yes! Finally at the Nascent Profound Realm!" He exclaimed. 

He can finally wield profound energy!

—

"Xiao Lingxi. There you are!" Jiao Heng called her out.

"Jiao Heng?" She looked at him with surprise. 

After separating with him, she called her father to check on her nephew. Thankfully, he just passed out. It must be because of the pressure and nervousness.

They are currently outside and looking at Xiao Che who was being carried by a horse towards his soon-to-be wife.

"Is there something wrong?" Jiao Heng asked.

"N-Nothing! It's just…"

"Just what?"

"Why does my heart feel heavy? I'm supposed to be happy but for some reason, I'm not." She said with her hands holding her chest.

"I don't know…" He knows but it's useless to tell her.

Xiao Lingxi gave him a forced smile before looking at Xiao Che who was talking with Xia Qingyue's father, Xia Hongyi.

"Xiao Che. Take care of those rumors for my daughter." Xia Hongyi said before parting his shoulder.

Xiao Che nodded hearing it before going inside the house to meet the bride.

Seeing this, Jiao Heng left and resumed practicing. He already knows what's going to happen so it's better for him to focus on increasing his strength first.

He also wasn't interested in seeing the drama inside. 

"Move, Battle and Forward." Reviewing the current secrets that he's using. He tried combining it with his profound energy.

On his stay here, he borrowed some books in order to fill the gaps in his knowledge.

It wasn't some secret sect techniques but common ones, like breathing techniques, control of profound energy, etc.

Jiao Heng practiced for a few hours while the wedding was happening.

He didn't notice that it's nighttime.

"Cultivation is addicting." He said before standing up. He didn't even know how much time passed and just immersed himself in cultivation.

No wonder those people can sit on their ass for years and not get bored.

But it's different for him, he's time conscious and if possible, he doesn't want to waste any time.

At least, not until he becomes the absolute strongest.

He took a walk to stretch out his body. As he was walking, he came across the sleeping figures of Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Che.

"Huh? What a coincidence. To think I'll bump into them." As he was getting closer, he noticed a figure walking towards them.

""Huh?""

Looking at each other, the girl with white veil and white robe asked with hostility.

"Who are you?" 

"Jiao Heng. I'm here because I saw Xiao Lingxi." He pointed at the sleeping Xiao Lingxi.

"You know her?" The girl asked in surprise.

"Yes? She's my friend." 

"I see…"

"So who are you?" Jiao Heng returned the question. He already has a pretty good idea of who she is but he just wants to make sure.

"Xia Qingyue…" The girl hesitated first before telling her name.

"Xia Qingyue? Then that means…" He pretended to be surprised before looking at Xiao Che, her current husband.

She gave him a cold look before saying, "Don't say a word." 

"... Are you ordering me?" He wasn't the type to be offended easily but looking at her expression, he couldn't help but be annoyed.

Does she think that he's easily bullied?

Xia Qingyue didn't reply but instead, tried to pressure him with her cultivation base.

"I see now. No wonder Xiao Che left you in your bed." Instead of being scared, he taunted her even more.

"You don't do your duties as a wife properly." 

After hearing it, Xia Qingyue's eyes flashed with anger before rushing at him with her hands outstretched.

She wasn't planning on killing him. She just wants to teach him a lesson.

She may not look like it but she was angry after seeing her supposed husband spending time with a different woman other than her.

It didn't help that this guy was rubbing it in front of her.

'1st Realm of Nascent Stage as well?' He thought while looking at the incoming Xia Qingyue.

Using his own cultivation base and secrets, he easily dodged her attacks before grabbing her outstretched arm and pulled her into a flying armbar.

Seeing this strange move of his, she tried to use her profound energy to get off from him but to her surprise, she was dragged down to the ground instead.

*Crack* 

Xia Qingyue winced in pain, she could feel her arm being stretched. 

Meanwhile, Jiao Heng looked at her with amazement, specifically her arm.

"Holy shit. I didn't expect to do that on the first try." He muttered while pulling her arm, causing her to grunt in pain.

"L-Let go!" She groaned.

"Only if you calm down first." Hearing this, Xia Qingyue stopped struggling. 

After some time, Jiao Heng slowly removed himself from her arm before backing away.

Xia Qingyue also stood up before looking at her arm.

That really hurt just now. 

Jiao Heng looked at her surprise. Because of their fight earlier, her veil was now removed.

She has sparkling purple eyes, her jade skin couldn't be hidden by the night. In fact, it even made her beauty more noticeable. 

Despite seeing this, Jiao Heng didn't let down his guard.

Xia Qingyue touched her face in surprise. It seems that her veil fell off when she was on the ground.

Realizing this, she gave Jiao Heng a glare. 

"What? Don't be an unreasonable woman. You're the one who attacked me first." He frowned after seeing her expression.

"Hmph." She looked away. Although she suffered just now, she was holding back her cultivation base. 

If she unleashed her true cultivation, she could easily defeat this man in front of her. 

At least that's what she believed.

Jiao Heng didn't know what she's thinking.

"Do you have a blanket?" 

"Huh?" Xia Qingyue looked weirdly at him.

Jiao Heng rolled his eyes and pointed his thumb at the sleeping nephew and aunt.

"They'll get cold.."

"Oh." Xia Qingyue nodded in daze. 

She went back to their room and handed him a blanket which he took.

Seeing him covering both of them, Xia Qingyue snapped and pointed at him.

"You! Who are you? I have never heard of someone from the Xiao Clan who's on the 1st of the Nascent Profound Realm. From your looks, you are someone who's not in their twenties." 

Xia Qingyue is gifted with extraordinary talent. Not just in cultivation but even her memory. As far as she remembers, she never heard of Jiao Heng or someone with white hair and blue eyes from the Xiao Clan.

With those features, she wouldn't even need her eidetic memory to remember such a person.

Especially those eyes.

"Can you lower your voice? You're going to wake them up." He replied with an annoyed tone.

"I'm a guest from the Xiao Clan. You can say I was traveling and stumbled upon the city. If you don't believe it, you can ask Xiao Lie." 

Xia Qingyue looked for a few moments before nodding. 

"I see."

Jiao Heng was surprised to see this. Then he remembers that Xia Qingyue can actually see if people are lying or not.

"Well, that's done. Don't bother them and me." Since there's nothing to do now. He started walking away to continue practicing.

Xia Qingyue looked at him for a few moments before turning her attention to the sleeping Xiao Che and Xiao Lingxi.

For some reason, despite saying to Xiao Che earlier that she'll not marry anyone in this life, seeing him together with his aunt made her heart a little sour.