Chapter 23: Xiao Clan's Busiest Day

Xiao Clan

"Hnnnn." Xiao Lingxi slowly opened her eyes as she slowly rose from her slumber. She darted her eyes all over the place she was in and recognized that she was back in her room. Then, the memories from last night invaded her mind before she turned beat red.

"Little Che wanted to marry me? No… no… he already has a wife. Will it be okay if I marry him?" "Kyaa… Why am I so worked up?!?" Xiao Lingxi comically beat her head out of embarrassment. She turned her head towards her side table and saw a beautifully written letter alongside a Quincy crest with chains. "This is…."

Xiao Lingxi shed a tear when she read the letter he left for her. "Little Che, you dummy. You could wake me up and say goodbye."

She wiped her tears and saw the Quincy crest necklace. She didn't know the significance of the chain, but it has one thing for sure. "How beautiful…. If Little Che wants me to wear this…." She put on the necklace and hid it behind her clothes. Her Little Che always showered her with gifts, but somehow she felt this particular gift he left for her felt like it was made to protect her.

Xiao Lingxi left her room to find her father, but she saw him near his favorite fish pond in his garden. "Xier…."

"Father…. I assumed he already left?" Xiao Lingxi said with a heavy heart.

Xiao Lie turned towards her daughter. "Yeah….. He gave me this necklace before he left. Looks like he left the same for you."

Xiao Lingxi took the fish food from the nearby table and slowly fed the fish in the pond. She needed a distraction. "Hnnn… Despite all that, he still cares for us."

"Xi'er… Do you think Che'er became a different person?" Her father speaks his mind.

Xiao Lingxi was conflicted. If Xiao Che were the same as he was, he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. However, he left this time, leaving just a letter and a necklace. "I don't know… but somehow I knew Little Che might be someone else. He is Little Che, but just not him anymore. I just knew it. Anyway, I'll freshen up and meet you for breakfast."

Xiao Lie sighs. "Hnnn… The boy caused a big stir last night. Left for his grandfather to clean up."

"Trouble? What trouble did Little Che cause this time?"

"Let's see. Che'er robbed the treasury for your late brother's inheritance for him, blew up its main doors with a single blue fire shot from his hand, shot a lightning strike towards the fourth elder, and threatened to kill the elders if they tried anything. He even held me hostage."

Xiao Lingxi widened her eyes in surprise. "That's not the usual trouble Little Che would cause. I thought the normal ones were like stealing food from the kitchen for his usual recipes or even pranking the elders."

"Well, he did say he was robbing his tax money back." Her father chuckled.

"Pffff…. It looks like there are still traits of old Little Che left in him." With it, Xiao Lingxi left her father to freshen up. Her father was looking at her retreating and sighed. He knew her daughter had this talent for recognizing good people and always trusted her judgment. If she said he became someone else, he had to accept that the Xiao Che that the grandfather knew wasn't the Xiao Che he raised despite him having the same face as his Xiao Che.

The Xiao Che became Yun Che, and as his grandfather, he must accept it.

Xiao Lingxi would usually go to his room to wake him up. Her Little Che would sleep his butt off until the afternoon if she didn't wake him. However, he already left last night. So, why bother going to his room? It won't change the fact that he's gone for cultivation.

Well, one last visit, won't mind.

She walked to his room and prepared to knock but stopped immediately. The aunt scolds herself. Why did she want to knock on the door? Even if she did, her Little Che slept so deep that even if she smacked his face, he would still sleep like a log. However, that moment will not happen as he is not there anymore. She sighs and knocks on it for the sake of formality.

Knock…knock…

"As expected, what am I doing….." Xiao Lingxi's thoughts were interrupted as the door to her room opened. She widened her eyes and saw not Yun Che, who came out from his room but his recently married wife—the shining pearl of the Floating Cloud City.

"Xia Qingyue." Xiao Lingxi murmured as their eyes met.

The former recognized her immediately before she stood and bowed her head to her. "Aunt Lingxi… Yes?"

"Wwww….what are you doing here?" Xiao Lingxi stuttered as her Little Che said the girl left for her sect last night.

The beauty wondered for a moment before she gave her an answer. "I…. I am married to Yu… I mean Xiao Che, after all."

"Didn't you leave for cultivation last night? Little Che told me that you left last night."

Xia Qingyue shook her head. "I decided to stay for a moment to settle a few things."

"I see…" Xiao Lingxi looked around, and she was right. He wasn't there anymore, and she looked down in sadness. "So, there's no trace of him left?"

"He didn't bring any of his clothes. He didn't bring anything with him. He just took off." Xia Qingyue replied, and both stood awkwardly until the beauty herself broke the silence. "Aunt Lingxi, would you like to come in?"

"Eh? I shouldn't. It is your room, and Little Che…."

"I don't mind." Xia Qingyue replied, and Xiao Lingxi entered the room. It was the same as she saw when he fainted. It even had his scent, although mixed with Xia Qingyue's own. She always woke him up but didn't realize the day had come, and he was gone.

They stood there in silence before Xia Qingyue broke it. She had some questions that needed to be answered, and the only person she could talk to was the person her husband was close with. "Is it true that he was poisoned?"

"Hnn… He was… I never expected the person Little Che looked up to was the one poisoning him. Then, when he woke up, he changed. He's not the man I used to know or used to be. Do you know he tried to fight me when I met him again with a doctor?" Xiao Lingxi chuckled, and Xia Qingyue just stared at her. Then, the former asks, "What about you, Xia Qing…."

"Just Qingyue…" The beauty shortens her name.

Correcting herself, Xiao Lingxi asked, "So, what about you? Before you married Little Che, what was your impression of him?"

At first, Xia Qingyue wanted to keep to herself, but she needed more information about her husband. So, she'll try to answer her questions. "I know very little of him. I know he is a person with a disability that this clan bullied and was delighted to marry me. However, it was not the same when I saw him at the wedding. I remember some parts of him when I was little. I didn't remember much other than seeing him beaten up, knowing nothing I could do."

"Why so?" Xiao Lingxi asked.

"I was forbidden to leave the house as my father said my beauty was too much for people to handle. He was worried people might follow me home. When I started cultivating, I became the dazzling pearl of the city. Aunt Lingxi, what kind of man was Xiao Che.…?"

Xiao Lingxi thinks for a moment before she smiles. "He was flirty, a big idiot, and always smiling. Even if he's beaten up, he still smiles. That smile makes you want to protect him yourself. I even started cultivation so I could always protect him. I never knew that he was hiding his powers all this time. Seeing his ruthlessness makes me wonder how long he carried this kind of vengeance in his heart. Little Che won't even hurt a fly, but…."

"He was indeed different. That Yun Che." Xia Qingyue spoke, unaware she called him by the name he proclaimed himself last night.

"Yun?" Xiao Lingxi instantly turned her head. Her Little Che never mentioned being a Yun before.

"He proclaimed himself as Yun when he left last night. I may not know the reason."

As Xiao Lingxi heard, she was conflicted. It is either he's cutting ties with them or cutting ties with the clan. Even if he became a different person, he still loves her. She and her father. Should they leave the clan, will he begin his vengeance quest?

Then, her eyes turned toward Xia Qingyue. He did leave her behind. Did something happen between them? If her little Che left her here, it must be for a reason. That doesn't mean she left her on her own. Looking at her, hopefully, she spoke, "Qingyue, if you don't mind. Do you want to be friends with me?"

"Friends?" Xia Qingyue was quite surprised.

"Hnnn… I can tell you more about Little Che, but I am sorry I couldn't tell you more about his cultivation. It was indeed mysterious, and should you meet him again, you can tell me all about it."

"I had never had a friend before. The only ones I know were my father, brother, and ..." Xia Qingyue stopped at the last moment as if she refused to say the last word. Xiao Lingxi seemed to not mind about the last part and nodded her head with excitement. "We could be best friends."

Xiao Lingxi understood the feeling of growing up without a mother since Xia Qingyue was the same as her. She'll stick by her as motherless girls like them had to stick together.

"I see." Xia Qingyue could only nod. She knew she wouldn't meet Xiao Lingxi again once she started cultivation. If she became friends with her, she might cause her trouble and never see her after she left. "I really shouldn't."

"Don't worry. Even if you go for your cultivation later, it doesn't change that we're friends." Xiao Lingxi spoke with a smile. She then stood up before going towards the door of the room. "I'll freshen up first, then pick you up for breakfast. That Little Che was supposed to be the one who escorted you, but he left instead. What kind of husband is that?"

Xia Qingyue kept to herself before looking at the door after Xiao Linxi went out. "Xiao Lingxi, no wonder you are so close with her. She's friendly even to someone like me. Unlike…." Xia Qingyue spoke to herself as she sat on the edge of the bed, looking towards where he sat last night. Then, her eyes darted toward the wedding decorations in the room. When she saw the 'double happiness' sign, she sighed. "I am a nuisance."

She feared she might cause Xiao Lingxi trouble if she continued with this.

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Today could be said to be the Xiao Clan's busiest day.

Early in the morning, the Xiao Clan entrance was already densely crowded. All of the influential families of Floating Cloud City could be seen here, and their heads represented them. Although there were many present, none dared to be loud. They all whispered to one another in the smallest voices possible, fearing they would disturb the essential guests in the Xiao Clan.

It was the day that Xiao Lie Yun Che's grandfather took the mantle of becoming the clan head of the Xiao Clan after his power rose due to Yun Che's influence. Most came by to meet the hidden dragon hiding within the Xiao Clan, and Xiao Lie greeted them courteously. Some even shamelessly came and wanted to offer their daughters to become the dragon's concubine, but their beauty was outshined when Xia Qingyue emerged from the clan alongside Xiao Lingxi.

She had an exquisitely graceful posture and a complexion that was alluring enough to conquer a city and the world. The people there acted as if they saw an incomparably beautiful river fairy slowly walking toward them. It was especially true for the young men, who stood there with glazed eyes and wildly beating hearts. Some even had drool unconsciously streaming down the corners of their mouths.

Some were jealous that this beauty was indeed married to that dragon. Some won't even dare to call him a disabled person anymore, and because of it, people's opinions of her and him change overnight.

The remaining clan was shocked as they saw Xia Qingyue come with Xiao Lingxi, but no Xiao Che was present. He left last night, pulling a breath of relief from the rest of the surviving clan. The man decimated three core members and crippled an elder, which inducts fear among the people within the family. After feeling his Spiritual Aura, no one would dare to provoke him, and he somehow left after robbing the treasure last night.

However, his wife was still here, and offending her meant offending him.

In the original novel, Xiao Che stays within the clan until the day he is chased from it after Xia Qingyue leaves for the Frozen Cloud Asgard. To save his marriage, he gives this certificate willingly, as the clan would pester the main character to give it up to dissolve the marriage between him and Xia Qingyue. They even bothered her to the point that her master had to interfere to save them. Ultimately, they were forcing the man into fleeing into the night. Now, because of his recent stunt, none would dare to go against or even talk to her. It earned her a position that surpasses even Xiao Lie. Xiao Lingxi was the only one friendly to her.

Within the clan, Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi became members whom people won't dare to offend. Now, Xia Qingyue has just joined them.

People within the clan didn't know the existence of her master and were most deadly afraid of her because of Yun Che. The man who can decimate a mountain does not have the disability of the Floating Cloud City, but he is the hidden sleeping dragon that the city dares to provoke. After news travel around the city, those who used to bully him become deadly afraid. Merchants, other clans, and even gangsters won't longer dare to provoke the Xiao Clan. Some of them started quacking as they used to treat Xiao Che with contempt. Some even used to beat him up for fun. Despite all that, the family somehow used his latest influence to bolster themselves, but everyone within the city knew the dragon himself wanted to settle a grudge with them.

Unlike the original route, Xia Qingyue's time within the clan was reasonably quiet, and her master didn't even need to do a thing. The only difference was that people were sucking up to her, so she was annoyed with them. She even refused concubine offers, although it was different in the original story, where she would encourage him to find one. Most of it came from the Xiao Clan itself as they tried to use her to stop Yun Che's vengeance in the future, which she entirely ignored.

However, she gained something as well. At first, she was awkward that Xiao Lingxi came to her every morning to wake her up and take her for breakfast. She wasn't used to it, but she had been waiting with her for the past few days and even got up early to wait for her. She was not the friendliest of people, but Xiao Lingxi somehow bonded with her. Since she was always beside Xiao Lingxi, none of the younger generations dared to approach her.

For the first time, she gained a friend. She was quiet most of the time, as Xiao Lingxi was the only one talking. She learned a lot about the man she married, like what he used to be, his usual hobbies, his favorite dishes, and much more information she didn't gain before her marriage. But, Xiao Lingxi did inform her that these traits or information would not be the same if they met him again. The former was sure that the Little Che she knew differed from the current Little Che.

Xiao Lingxi somehow knew about it. All she told Xia Qingyue was the current Little Che's 'color' wasn't the same as he used to have. Xia Qingyue just listened to her as she had a hunch, but if she didn't meet him head-on, she couldn't confirm it.

Other than bonding with Xiao Lingxi, Xia Qingyue would elevate her cultivation further during the waiting time within the Xiao Clan. The gift she received from her husband that night was too valuable. She was able to further her cultivation and thus achieve the First Level of Narscent Profound Realm with the minor resource she has. With all entrances opened, she gained what the cultivators of the world would kill to obtain.

The Heavenly God Spiritual Veins.

Even her master was entirely shocked. Her body was clear of impurities as if it had been wiped out. From what she heard from her master, it would take countless years for cultivators to open up the entrances and clear up all the impurities would take more. Some died before even reaching the last point of the profound entrances. It was not the same for her as she cleared both in a single night. After Xia Qingyue underwent Yun Che's one-hand Reaitsu cleansing, her physique and face significantly changed. Ignoring her physique, her complexion had become more delicate, rosy, and luminous.

He made her even more beautiful than before; she realized it when many looked at her. Even her brother and father said she looked somehow different.

Now, she realized the value of the gift she received from him. Should her relationship blossom, what more could she gain from him?

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A few days later, the Xiao Clan was again in its busiest moments. Only this time, It was because its distinguished guest, Xia Qingyue, was staying for this moment. It was the day she wanted to pay her debts to her husband's gift. He gave her a clue that someone would come for his grandfather and aunt, including her. She didn't know whether he told her to test her loyalty to him or inform her. She wanted to protect Xiao Lingxi as she was now her first friend.

"Young Master Xiao has arrived! !"

At this time, a loud and clear shout erupted from the front of the crowd. The crowd immediately quieted as everyone's eyes turned towards the source of the sound, wanting to glimpse the elegance of the Xiao Sect's members. Not long after, a luxuriously dressed young man with a proud demeanor walked over through the crowd. Xiao Moshan was not more than half a step behind him, and Xiao Lie was in front, personally leading the way.

Under Xiao Lie's guidance, Xiao Kuangyun walked up the erected platform and sat on the seat of honor in the middle. He swept his gaze over the Xiao Clan members beneath him with a haughty look, like an emperor overlooking his subjects. Then he turned towards the current clan leader's seat but didn't see the current leader Xiao Yunhai but somehow someone he didn't expect, Xiao Lie, who had escorted him just now. The latter didn't appear as courteous as he expected as he was calm, so it annoyed Xiao Kuangyun.

"You… what are you doing here? Where is the clan master?" Xiao Kuangyun asked Xiao Lie, who stood at the clan master's seat.

"My deepest apology, young master Xiao. The clan leader, including his son, lost his life a week ago in an unfortunate accident."

"Unfortunate accident? What kind of blasphemy is this?" Xiao Kuangyun started to become annoyed.

Xiao Moshan approached him and said, "It is true, young master. I've procured information that an Emperor Realm cultivator was present during the wedding of Xia Qingyue and the clan's cripple Xiao Che. The emperor decimated Xiao Yunhai and killed his son. He also crippled the fourth elder and killed his grandson."

"Xiao Yulong has been killed?" Xiao Kuangyun was shocked and turned towards Xiao Lie. "Who is this emperor?!?"

"It is his grandson, Xiao Che." Xiao Moshan pointed at Xiao Lie.

"You…. You dare kill a member of your clan?!?"

"It was my grandson who ended his life. If you wanted to deal with him, find him yourself. I merely took the mantle of Clan Head as a replacement." Xiao Lie calmly reply to Xiao Kuangyun. At first, he wasn't sure whether replying this way would incur Xiao Kuangyun's wrath, but his grandson seemed to know him well. So, he asked him to provoke him into finding his grandson.

"You.. dare.. question me back?!?" Xiao Kuangyun wanted to give the order to restrain Xiao Lie, but his eyes turned toward the distance, and he immediately had his jaws on the floor. He saw the appearance of the goddess herself sent from the heavens. A beauty rivals all the women in the city, surpassing the women he slept with and owned. She even had the charming demeanor of a flowery swan.

It was the beauty the whole city had been talking about. The beauty who married a disabled person. Xia Qingyue.

Xia Qingyue alongside another beauty. She might not have heavenly beauty, but her looks are not bad. She might be this Xia Qingyue's attendant.

Xiao Kuangyun suddenly had his heart flutter. Now, he found two more targets to have in his massive harem. He instantly planned to have Xia Qingyue become his favored wife, and this girl beside him could become his concubine. Still, this Xia Qingyue is currently married to Xiao Che. The so-called emperor, the clan, proclaimed about.

He refuses to believe a disabled person could be an emperor. It might be a ruse planned by this remote clan. Good, more the reason to steal his wife from him.

"Beauty Xia Qinyue, this young master heard you are married to that disabled person. It must be a terrible fate for you to have. Then, let this young master save you from that horrible fate. Let me save you and that attendant of yours." Xiao Kuangyun spoke with a hint of lust.

"I refuse." The reply was cold and instant.

Surprised, he looked at her with an angered expression. "You… I offered you a chance at salvation."

"I said I refused. I am a married woman and a wife to Xiao Che. You dare call my friend an attendant?" Xia Qingyue spoke with a cold tone. However, Xiao Lingxi widened her eyes as Xia Qingyue called her a friend. She had a slight smile on her face.

"You…. Good… if you won't submit. I'll just forcefully take you!!" Xiao Kuangyun dared to jump straight at Xia Qingyue to take her forcefully. Xiao Lie watched as he trusted his grandson's gift for his aunt. If his statement is true, he has nothing to worry about. Xiao Kuangyun heard her cultivation was almost at the Peak of the Elementary Profound Realm, and he was in the Nascent Profound Realm. A much different than hers. It'll be heaven's life if he manages to secure this beauty.

Before he could get close, Xia Lingxi stood in front of her. If Xia Qingyue calls her a friend, she'll do whatever it takes to protect her as she is Xiao Che's wife. Xiao Kuangyun smiled sinisterly. He'll subdue the attendant and take the mistress.

However…

Xiao Lingxi closed her eyes, and her neck started to glow before Xiao Kuangyun realized it. He was already sent back to the hall's side, shocking the members of the Xiao Clan. His body slams on one of the hall's pillars, creaking a shockingly large crack.

Xia Qingyue's master, Chu Yueli, was nearby and about to interfere. It means she had to reveal herself to the Xiao Clan, but the moment she saw that glow, she halted herself as she was speechless. The clan members' eyes didn't look at the poor young master but fixed on Xiao Lingxi and Xia Qingyue.

The entire hall had its jaw dropped as they saw what had happened. A blue dome now exists with two inside and strange glittery blue markings on the floor. Some strange markings also exist on the barrier, which thoroughly protected them. Xia Qingyue widens her eyes the same as her master. She had never seen this blue barrier with strange markings before. "Aunt Lingxi, this is…"

Xiao Lingxi was no different from her. She pulled out the necklace from her clothes, which was glowing. "Little Che's necklace. It protected us."

"Necklace?" Xia Qingyue's eyes were on the five-point necklace. Her husband made this? More the curiosity to know more about him.

"He gave me this before he left last week. I thought it was an accessory he gave me, but…" Xiao Lingxi replied, but their conversation was interrupted by Xiao Kuangyun, who was shouting under the cracked pillar, somehow injured.

"You!! Where did you get that treasure?!?" Xiao Kuangyun shouted, and his attendants were in shock. Even his guardian wasn't spared. Now, all of them suddenly had a hint of greed in their eyes.

A barrier that can repel any attack that comes to it.

Xiao Lingxi and Xia Qingyue kept quiet, angering Xiao Kuangyun.

"Men, get them!!!" Xiao Kuangyun ordered his attendants to get to them, but they met the same fate as the barrier absorbed their attacks and rebounded them back to the attacker. Initially, the barrier was supposed to function as a natural Quincy barrier, but Yun Che transferred his Reaitsu into the modified Quincy Spirit Necklace. That can manifest the effects of the Blutz barrier as it uses his Quincy Blood Reaitsu as its catalyst. He modified the necklace through the system as he explored its wonders during the year with Zangetsu. Using his SP, he purchased two barrier necklaces with the same properties and gave them to his grandfather and Little Aunt, knowing that Xiao Kuangyun would get them.

Now, it finally protected his little aunt and wife.

"You dare…!!!" Xiao Moshan, who was the guardian of Xiao Kuangyun, shouted. He also tried to attack the barrier but was sent back to the same fate as the attendants. All attacks can be repelled as long as they are below Level 50.

"Xiao Kuangyun." Xia Qingyue spoke, earning everyone's attention. She wanted to stop this skit before Xiao Kuangyun used the main clan's power to harass Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi. If he did, she might need her master's power to stop him but risking offending the Xiao Sect.

"I have a proposal for you. You are risking yourself against my master should you continue this. If you can find my missing husband, we'll happily leave him and come to your side." Xia Qingyue spoke while showing them the marriage certificate of them.

"Qingyue!" Xiao Lingxi was about to protest, but she saw the look in the former's eyes and knew something. Xia Qingyue won't betray Xiao Che. She knew what he was capable of. Everyone knew as well. She was now playing with Xiao Kuangyun's ego to send him to his doom by meeting Xiao Che himself.

Cunning….

"Hahaha!! Then, I wanted that treasure as well. A treasure that can repel the attack of even Spirit Profound Realm cultivators." Xiao Kuangyun seemed to have taken the bait.

"Young master Kuangyun, let's stop this. The treasure was given to us by Xiao Che for my daughter. Should you find him, you can ask him to give it to you." Xiao Lie spoke with a calm tone. He seemed to get what Xia Qingyue was planning and boasted about the young master's ego. The rest of the clan was surprised. That Xiao Che gave Xiao Lingxi a priceless treasure?

To protect her.

"Good. You three better prepare yourselves if I manage to bring Xiao Che here. Xia Qingyue, if you dare run away when I find him, I'll execute him in the name of justice." Xiao Kuangyun's attendants lift him before leaving the clan as fast as possible to find this Xiao Che and force him to watch as he violates his wife and aunt. He couldn't get the treasure even if he wanted to, as that barrier was strong. Now, the greed of having his wife and aunt and that barrier clouded his fear, and he focused on finding Xiao Che.

The remaining clan members breathed the air of relief when the young master left but suddenly had fear in their eyes. Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi just offended the young master, and the barrier can only protect them should the main clan retaliate.

Xiao Lie kept calm as the elders shouted at him as he disrespected the main clan's young master. He ignored them as he approached his daughter and Xia Qingyue. The barrier deactivated itself the moment it didn't sense any potential threats.

Xiao Lingxi suddenly has fear in her eyes. "Father… what happens if that Xiao Kuangyun comes back?"

Xiao Lie heard about him from his grandson and decided to trust him. "He won't. Xiao Che did say a lot about him. He was the one who told me to play with his ego. Showing the barrier means Xiao Kuangyun won't say anything to the main clan in hopes of obtaining it. He will be the main clan's power if he can obtain this barrier, you and Xia Qingyue. If he did request the help of the main clan, the barrier necklace wouldn't go to him. His greed would be his demise."

"And he sent himself to the other world should he meet Xiao Che." Xiao Lingxi continued. She was surprised that her Little Che had planned this far ahead.

"…." Xia Qingyue became speechless. Does it mean her husband planned this before he left? She only says those things as an act since she and her master can protect them, but Xia Qingyue realizes that she coincidently played a small part in his scheme of sending that Xiao Kuangyun to him.

Now, her debts were paid, and his closest were safe if they had that barrier. Then, she suddenly felt a sting as he gave her the Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins, but somehow envied her friend for not getting the barrier necklace. It might show her that he didn't see her as family. She stayed within the clan to protect her friend and father, but her husband watched her with the barrier necklace. In the end, despite what he did to her, he still saved her, whether it was a coincidence. She didn't even need her master to show herself.

"Yun Che, just who in the world are you?" Xia Qingyue spoke to herself as everyone from the hall dispersed after the skit. How powerful is he to be able to create this kind of barrier?

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That night…..

"Do you have to leave?" Xiao Lingxi spoke with apparent tears in her eyes.

Xia Qingyue nodded before looking at the teary aunt calmly and stoically. "Hnnn…. Thank you for the hospitality, Aunt Lingxi. Thank you for protecting me."

"Muuu… You're Little Che's wife and my nephew-in-law. You're also my close friend. It's only natural friends protect one another. Also…." Xiao Lingxi took off the Quincy Blutz necklace and gave it to Xia Qingyue.

"Aunt Lingxi." Xia Qingyue was surprised that Xiao Lingxi would give her the barrier necklace—her priceless treasure and his gift to his aunt.

"Keep it. You need it more than I do." Xia Qingyue was about to take it, but she closed Xiao Lingxi's hand and pushed it to the latter's heart.

"No… I'll ask Yun Che later. He gave this one to you, and I wish to earn one for myself. I still haven't earned the right to be his wife yet." Xia Qingyue spoke as she wanted to earn her own from him instead of taking Xiao Lingxi's necklace.

"Are you not close with Little Che?" Xiao Lingxi asked, and Xia Qingyue shook her head.

Xiao Lingxi smiled as she understood what Xia Qingyue was going through. No wonder he left his room that night to stargaze. "He'll come around. Little Che might be different, but if he cares for you, he'll care for you. If he hates you, he'll divorce you, but he didn't do so, right?" Xia Qingyue widens her eyes. He did pass the marriage certificate to her to make that decision. Could he be putting on an act so she hated him and she could focus on cultivation? Xiao Lingxi continued. "If you wanted him to see you as his wife, earn his attention and show him."

"…." Xia Qingyue kept to herself as she didn't know how to get his attention. Charm and beauty won't work as her beauty during the wedding didn't even earn a bit of attention from him, and her communication skill is awful.

Xiao Lingxi holds her friend's delicate hands. "Will we see each other again?"

"….." Xia Qingyue couldn't answer, but Xiao Lingxi smiled as she spoke, "We'll always be friends. We might be rivals in Little Che's affection, but you'll always be my only friend."

"Aunt Lingxi…. Thank you for being willing to be my friend." Xia Qingyue lowers her head to her. She never once had any friends other than her brother and father. Those are the only people who associate with herself. Now, she gained a husband and a friend. The beauty was uncertain about the former but dead certain about the latter.

"Farewell, Qingyue. Should you see Little Che in the future, give him an elbow to his rib." With it, Xiao Lingxi sends her friend off with a teary smile. Xia Qingyue felt a sting in her cold heart. She never thought Xiao Lingxi cared for her so much. She might never see her again; one day, she'll ascend while she continues to stay here. Her master was already waiting, and it was time for her to go.

"Aunt Lingxi, I am sure we'll meet again." She silently spoke before leaving with her master toward the snowy region. Now, she silently hopes to meet her again and finally meet that husband of hers.

"The summit of the empire." Xia Qingyue vows to be as strong as she can to face him and prove herself to him.