Chapter 15 The Xiao Sect's Letter

• The day was just about to break when the head of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yunhai, was woken from his deep sleep by urgent knocks on his door. "Sir! Sir! Are you awake?”
• Xiao Yunhai opened his eyes, took a glance at the lack of light outdoors, and asked with a frown, “What's going on? Why are you here so early?"
• "It's… It's the Xiao… Xiao Sect! The Xiao Sect sent a letter!" A trembling yet excited voice could be heard from the opposite side of the door.
• "What? The Xiao Sect?!"
• This head of the Xiao clan, one of the most powerful people in Cloud City, bounced up from his bed. His violent reaction nearly had him falling off the bed. He scrambled to put on his clothes and didn't even bother to straighten his hair before hastily throwing the doors open to grab the disciple from the Xiao family that was outside. His eyes were wide as he bellowed, “You said the Xiao Sect? The Xiao Sect?!”
• “Yes! It’s definitely the Xiao Sect!” That Xiao Clan disciple swallowed hard as he forcefully nodded before presenting the letter in his hand to Xiao Yunhai. “It has the eagle seal of the Xiao Sect! No one would dare forge the Xiao Sect’s insignia in the Tucame Empire.”
• Xiao Yunhai trembled when he laid eyes on the eagle insignia on the letter. He grabbed it and hastily yet carefully tore it open with shuddering hands to reveal the paper contained within.
• The Xiao Sect’s name only had a one-word difference compared to the Xiao Clan, and yet that one word meant the difference between heaven and earth! The Xiao Clan barely counted as a leading presence in Cloud City. It was simply a nameless existence within the Aderon Cloud Continent. The Xiao Sect, however, was one of the four most powerful sects in the Tucame Empire! They shared the same prestige as the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Polar Deity Temple, and the Burning Heaven Sect. They were an existence that the Xiao Clan could not even hope to reach.
• Bluntly speaking, a menial servant in the Xiao Sect would not even think highly of the Xiao Clan's master.
• There was, however, still a connection between the Xiao Clan and the Xiao Sect. That was because the person that founded the Xiao Clan of Cloud City one hundred and sixty years ago, Xiao Bieli, was someone of the Xiao Sect… More accurately, he was a discarded outcast. There was also a rumor that he was the son of one of the elders at the time. Xiao Bieli was the result of that elder's drunken escapades where he raped one of the Xiao Sect’s servants. He grew up with unimpressive looks and lacked aptitude. Furthermore, he attracted a large amount of gossip, causing displeasure to the elder. Upon reaching adulthood, his arcane powers were at rock bottom when compared to his peers. Allowing him to remain in the Xiao Sect would only bring the elder further humiliation, which led him to seek an opportunity to send him to the rural Cloud City and helped him establish the Xiao Clan. He then paid no more attention to Xiao Bieli and cut off all contact between them.
• Xiao Bieli, however, was proud of having been born in the Xiao Sect and spent his entire life painstakingly cultivating his arcane powers in hopes of one day achieving something and returning to the Xiao Sect after earning their approval. Yet, his wishes remained unfulfilled. After he died, his desire was passed down through the generations and became the Xiao Clan's ultimate goal. Every generation's clan master hoped that they would be able to rely on their minuscule blood ties to the Xiao Sect to establish a relationship, no matter how fragile, with the Xiao Sect. Yet, the Xiao Clan never produced a single soul that could realize the wish. The Xiao Sect was like a castle in the sky for them. It was a place that they could never hope to reach.
• The Xiao Sect had actually taken the initiative to write a letter this time! It was only natural that he was ecstatic.
• Xiao Yunhai’s face was completely red after he read the contents of the letter. His every breath grew erratic. He jabbed a trembling finger outside and hoarsely commanded, "Go… Go notify the elders to gather at the main hall at once! Tell them we have to discuss big news concerning the future of the Xiao Clan… Now!"
• "Ah… Yes!" The disciple immediately raced off in a frenzy.
• ………………………………………………
• Xiao Che cautiously opened the door with the red blanket in hand to find that Xia Qingyue was already sitting by the bed, awake and dressed. Her beautiful eyes were as calm as water as she watched him.
• He haphazardly tossed the blanket aside and acted as if nothing had happened before calmly asking, "You're up early, my darling wife. Did you sleep well last night?"
• "You're not explaining where you were last night?" Xia Qingyue questioned placidly as she narrowed her eyes.
• "That's not necessary." Xiao Che stretched and began to straighten his hair in front of the mirror. "Because I know you're not interested."
• Xia Qingyue fell silent. "..."
• He might've fallen asleep in the rear mountains with Xiao Lingxi last night but his spirits were unusually high when he woke up. He straightened out his clothes and hair to act the part of a charming man before he stood up to leave. “Let’s go. We have to go pay our respects to Grandpa on the morning of the first day… This, you won’t refuse, yes?”
• Xia Qingyue stood up without another word and stepped out of the door ahead of him. Xiao Che shrugged before he trailed after her,
• Xiao Lie had always been an early riser, and today was no exception. As soon as they entered Xiao Lie’s courtyard, they were greeted by the sight of him watering his plants. He gently smiled when he caught sight of them. “You're here."
• Under Xiao Lie’s watchful gaze, Xiao Che reached out and held Xia Qingyue’s hand. The woman's hand was soft and smooth, yet also cool to the touch. Perhaps it was because she was trained in the Icy Cloud Art. She visibly stiffened. She noticed Xiao Lie’s gaze right before she was about to yank her hand free from Xiao Che's grip, and had no choice but to tolerate it. She allowed Xiao Che to walk up to Xiao Lie while they were hand-in-hand.
• Her father had always been respectful of Xiao Lie. She was no different. She couldn't show Xiao Che a shred of affection, but if she were to shake him off before Xiao Lie, she could only imagine how displeased the man would be.
• This despicable buffoon…
• "Grandpa, you're up early again." Xiao Che led Xia Qingyue over and greeted Xiao Lie with the courtesy of a junior.
• "Greetings, Grandfather." Xia Qingyue bowed. Her posture was poised and dignified. Xiao Che left her both angry and helpless through his underhanded methods. It had been her first time being led by the hand. If it weren’t for the fact that her vital arcane energy would be detected by the elderly man at the apex of the Soul Arcana stage, she would have definitely used the Icy Cloud Technique to freeze Xiao Che.
• "Haha, you're both up early as well." Xiao Lie was delighted to see how intimate they were. Che Er, Qingyue, marriage at sixteen might be early, but it has finally settled one of my concerns. You should already know about Che Er’s condition, Qingyue. This marriage must be aggravating to you but we will do our best to make it up to you. My only wish is to see the two of you peacefully live your lives."
• Before Xia Qingyue could respond, Xiao Che cut in. "Don't say that, Grandpa! I'm your grandson. There is no woman in the world that I'm not a match for. Where did we wrong her? It's only natural for her to come to pay her respects to you and take care of me. If she doesn’t do it right, I’ll divorce her and find a better wife. Don’t you agree, Qingyue?"
• “…” If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Lie was standing right before them, Xia Qingyue would definitely have frozen Xiao Che’s mouth shut with a gust of the Ice Cloud Fairy Technique.
• "Hahahaha." Xiao Lie burst out laughing, shook his head helplessly, and looked at Xiao Che dotingly. "Oh you, Qing Yue had only just joined our family and you're already bullying her. Don't listen to his nonsense, Qingyue. This brat has never been honest. It's so early. Neither of you has eaten yet, no? Xiao Hong already had the kitchen send over breakfast. Come, let us eat together."
• "Yes, Grandpa… By the way, should I get Aunt Lingxi to join us?"
• "She's always been one to sleep in. It's still early. Let's not disturb her."
• The dining table inside was indeed set with three portions of breakfast. Xiao Che never let go of Xia Qingyue's hand as he dragged her in, who was trying her best to act natural, as they sat close to one another. Xiao Lie began to take his seat opposite them. He had only touched his seat when a flurry of footsteps rushed in, accompanied by a rough gasp.
• "The Fifth Grandmaster! Is the Fifth Grandmaster here?"
• "What is it?" Xiao Lie frowned.
• “Clan… Clan master’s order. All elders are to immediately make their way to the main hall to discuss news relating to the future of the Xiao Clan. You must make your way there immediately!”
• "..." Xiao Lie stood up, grabbed the coat Xiao Hong handed over, and spoke to Xiao Lie and Xia Qingyue. "It seems to be an urgent matter. The two of you can go ahead. No need to wait for me."
• There had never been a time in Xiao Lie's memory when such an urgent summoning order was issued so early in the morning. He draped on his coat and immediately left.
• Xiao Lie had only just left, but Xiao Che immediately let go of Xia Qingyue's hand. He also jumped back as he raised a brow. He spoke with a straight face, “Qingyue, my dearest wife, you're very clever. You must understand the reason I held your hand. It was to give Grandpa peace of mind. I absolutely do not have any other intentions. You're not going to lash out just because I didn't get your permission, right?
• Xia Qingyue’s expression had indeed turned ice cold. Even her words were cold. "If you dare touch me again, I won't be polite about it."
• "Hey! Aren't you going a little too far?!" Xiao Che glared at her. "You're this angry just because we held hands…? We're still an actual couple. Even if you married me to repay a kindness, we're still husband and wife. Since we’re a married couple, it’s normal for me to touch you… That's just how it's supposed to be! You’ve been married to me less than a day and yet you've been indifferent. You wouldn’t even let me sleep on the same bed on our wedding night. Even hand-holding angers you… What kind of wife did I marry? It’s practically even worse than taking an empress for a wife…”
• “…” Xia Qingyue was at a loss. He seemed aloof and cold when she first met him. He didn't seem ordinary and even seemed almost mysterious. He always gave her the feeling that he wasn't a sixteen-year-old, but rather an adult man with years of experience through the wringer… Save for his uncouth nature that revealed itself whenever he wasn’t careful.
• Even though he clearly had overstepped, he continued to act as if he had done no wrong. Instead, he brazenly complained like a kid, turning her from the victim to the villain. It left her dumbfounded and unsure of how she was supposed to react. Even the anger roiling in her had unwittingly dissipated.
• "Forget it. Let's eat," Xia Qingyue murmured powerlessly.
• "Are you saying you're not angry anymore? Hehe, that's more like it. Come, let's eat!" Xiao Che immediately climbed across the table and then sat back down by Xia Qingyue's side and thoughtfully placed a slice of mung bean cake on his wife's plate.
• "..." Xia Qingyue began to suspect that the request she had made to her teacher to stay by his side for one month was both an erroneous and dangerous decision.