Chapter 17 Exchanging Pointers

• "Hm? What's wrong, Brother Yulong?" Xiao Che scrambled to his feet, frightened.
• Xiao Yulong revealed a stiff and ugly smile as he shook off the shattered remnants of the wine cup from his hand. "It's nothing. I wasn't careful and lost control of my strength."
• Xiao Yang didn't look any more well compared to Xiao Yulong. He looked as if he had just been fed a pile of rotten food. He hurriedly interjected, "I got it! It's definitely because you had another breakthrough with your arcane powers. Growth of one's arcane powers through a breakthrough can occasionally cause it to go out of control."
• "So that's how it is!" Xiao Che seemed to have an epiphany. "You had another breakthrough, Brother Yulong? Congratulations! I heard you reached the third level of the Arcana Stage three months ago. You've broken through again! You truly are the ace of our generation. There's no way the Xiao Sect wouldn't pick you."
• Xiao Yulong's facial muscles seemed to twitch at that. He got to his feet and suppressed the roiling turmoil in him before forcing a smile. "You flatter me, Xiao Che. It's true that I just had a breakthrough. My arcane powers experienced a surge. I have to go stabilize right away. I'm unable to stay to entertain you any longer…"
• "It's okay! It's okay!" Xiao Che waved and nodded knowingly. "It's more important for you to stabilize your arcane powers, Brother Yulong… I won't intrude any further. Thank you, Brother Yulong, for your generous invitation. I shall be the first to congratulate you when the Xiao Sect picks you."
• Xiao Che then politely made his exit with Xiao Yang pretending to leave alongside him. The latter quickly returned to Xiao Yulong's side after Xiao Che was no longer in sight. What greeted him was Xiao Yulong's sullen expression.
• "Brother… This…" Xiao Yang gulped as he approached Xiao Yulong with great trepidation.
• "Argh!" Xiao Yulong let out a thunderous roar as he swept the wine and tea cups off the table in a fit of rage. He then kicked and knocked over the stone table. His hands were clenched as he panted heavily. His eyes burned with hatred and jealousy. "Didn't you say… Xia Qingyue…would never allow a punk like Xiao Che to touch her?!"
• Xiao Yulong rarely lost control of his emotions. His current state sent shivers down Xiao Yang's spine. "Xiao Che… Xiao Che must've made it up! Xia Qingyue couldn't possibly have any feelings for that brat!"
• "Bullsh*t!" Xiao Yulong growled. "Is there anything I don't know about that trash? Do you think he can lie to my face? Do you take me for a blind fool?"
• Xiao Yulong had considerable foresight and vision. He had known Xiao Che for sixteen years and believed he knew everything about him. He firmly believed that nothing could escape him when it came to his inferior's lack of arcane powers, his cowardly nature, or his mood. When Xiao Yang asked him that question, he showed no signs of trickery.
• Xia Qingyue was the woman that he had vowed to have. He had only allowed them to marry because he was helpless to stop it. He was also wholly convinced that even if Xia Qingyue married Xia Che, she would never give herself to him. It would make things convenient for him. What he hadn't expected was for Xiao Che to have already had a taste of Xia Qingyue on the very day of his marriage!
• The anger in him, along with his jealousy and resentment, was nearly enough to cause him to explode.
• Xiao Yang stood with his neck shrunk back. Xiao Yulong had been the one slated to become the next clan master. He had always been loyal to him with no way out now that Xiao Yulong was most likely going to be a member of the Xiao Sect.
• Xiao Yulong was still panting heavily. It wasn't hard to imagine how much the incident had hit him. "Where did Xiao Che go after he left?"
• "The…the East Court. He may have…gone to the kitchen," Xiao Yang answered cautiously.
• Xiao Yulong raised a brow, a dark cloud hanging over his features. He muttered under his breath, “I always thought that Xia Qingyue was an exceptionally beautiful and talented woman with the dignity and aloofness that other women didn't have. To think that even the most despised of the Xiao Clan members could catch her interest!”
• Xiao Yulong snorted coldly and left the courtyard with a fierce flick of his sleeve. Xiao Yang was just about to follow when he realized where Xiao Yulong wanted to go and stopped in his tracks. He wiped the cold sweat off of his forehead.
• After Xiao Che left Xiao Yulong’s courtyard, he made a beeline for the kitchen to pick up some breakfast. He then made his way to Xiao Lingxi’s courtyard. If anyone got close, they would be able to hear him muttering to himself, “Xiao Yulong should be heading straight for my place now. Oh… I wonder if my darling wife Qingyue will break his leg? Maybe she'll break both… Hmm, perhaps three?"
• Xiao Lingxi's door was securely shut. Xiao Che knocked on the door. "Aunt Lingxi, I brought breakfast."
• Xiao Che walked in the moment the door opened before it shut behind him with a resounding bang.
• Xiao Lingxi was sprawled against the table, her hands resting below her chin. Even her eyelids were drooping. She looked thoroughly weak and listless. Xiao Che placed the food on the table, then waved his hand in front of her face. “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
• "Ngh…" Xiao Lingxi let out a whimper and buried her face in her hands the moment Xiao Che mentioned 'last night'. "You're still talking about that…? Xia Qingyue brought us the blanket. She saw everything… What are we going to do…? I feel so humiliated. Hnngh…"
• "You're overthinking this." Xiao Che massaged his temples and sat by her side. "Don't worry about it. You’re my aunt. What’s wrong with us sleeping while snuggling together?”
• "It's exactly because I'm your aunt…" Xia Lingxi frantically shook her head. "Also… your hand was on my…on my… Ah… She definitely saw it all! What if she tells someone…? What should I do…?"
• "You can rest assured that she won't tell a soul. Besides, you are my aunt. What's the big deal if I accidentally touched your breasts while we slept," Xiao Che said matter-of-factly.
• "You… Shut it!" Xiao Lingxi shook her head even more forcefully, her cheeks were flushed red. The reason she had acted that way last night was because they had been alone. She had been in a state of confusion. Simply thinking about it convinced her that she had gone off the deep end.
• “I’m absolutely certain. She won't tell anyone even if she did see us. She's not going to think in that direction to begin with… Alright, eat your breakfast or it’ll get cold,” Xiao Che comforted her, amused. A woman’s heart was, after all, different from a man’s.
• “Oh…” Xiao Lingxi finally lifted her face and began to tearfully eat the breakfast that Xiao Che brought.
• Just as Xiao Che expected, Xiao Yulong headed straight to his small courtyard. When he stepped inside, he immediately found Xia Qingyue.
• Xia Qingyue was calmly standing beneath the pomegranate tree in the center of the courtyard with her arms raised. Her expression was serene yet serious. It was clear that she was cultivating her arcane powers. Her long, dark hair naturally spilled past her shoulders, reflecting the glow of the morning light. Her tranquil eyes which were as clear as crystals sparkled in a dreamlike luster. She was dressed in red garments that revealed her faintly discernible curves, contrasting her creamy, white jade-like skin.
• This was also the first time that Xiao Yulong came face-to-face with Xia Qingyue's peerless elegance at such a close distance. The rest of the world seemed to have lost its color with her at its center.
• Xia Qingyue's expression remained unchanged with Xiao Yulong's arrival. She stared straight ahead as she blandly uttered, "Xiao Che isn't here."
• Her voice was cold and indifferent, yet was as sweet and comforting as that of a fairy. Xiao Yulong only then returned to his senses, but there was no way to suppress the stunned and infatuated look in his eyes. He immediately adjusted himself to show off his best state and bowed. “Hello, Miss Xia. I am Xiao Yulong, Xiao Che’s elder brother.”
• Xia Qingyue was not an excessively cold and haughty person. The man's mild language and courteous posture caused her to glance at him. It wasn't as if she hadn’t heard of the name Xiao Yulong. After all, he was the son of the current master of the Xiao Clan. Just as she was preparing to politely respond, she noticed the overwhelming infatuation in Xiao Yulong’s eyes… and his obscene desires!
• Her refined eyebrows twitched. Any trace of goodwill for his polite behavior and refined appearance turned into disgust. Despite Xiao Che frequently angering her with how uncouth he was, she never saw any trace of obscene desires in his eyes. Xiao Yulong on the other hand…
• Xia Qingyue’s emotionless voice took on a more cold edge. She repeated herself. “Xiao Che isn't here."
• Xiao Yulong didn't seem to care about Xia Qingyue's apparent indifference. He simply nodded. "That's indeed a bit of a coincidence. Your reputation precedes you, Miss Xia. This is far from being a wasted trip for me."
• As he spoke, Xiao Yulong’s movements, facial expressions, and voice all took on a quality that showed off his charm. He was confident that he was thousands of times stronger than Xiao Che. If Xia Qingyue could fall for Xiao Che, how could she resist him if he put forth the effort?
• "I'm in the middle of cultivating right now. Do forgive me for not being able to receive guests." Xia Qingyue’s eyes were calm, but her voice began to carry a tinge of annoyance.
• A truly beautiful woman could delight the eyes regardless of their posture. Xia Qingyue, the fairy who gained a human form had his eyes smoldering. The jealousy in his heart burned hot… Such a heavenly being had become Xiao Che's wife and had her purity plucked! It was simply… a complete waste. It was unacceptable and unforgivable!
• “I heard that Miss Xia has just turned sixteen this year, but has already cultivated to the tenth level of the Nascent Arcana Stage. I've almost admired you. You fascinate me. I believe you'll be much stronger than me by the time you reach my age." Xiao Yulong collected himself as he spoke gently, "There might only be one level between the tenth level of the Nascent Arcana Stage and the first level of the Arcana Stage, but it is still quite hard to bridge that gap without a proper method. I may not be as gifted as you, Miss Xia, but I still have some insight toward breaking through the Nascent Arcana Stage. Why don't we exchange a few pointers?”
• Xiao Yulong then stepped forward with a smile, he gathered his arcane powers before reaching for Xia Qingyue’s own.
• Xia Qingyue was without a doubt, astonishingly talented, but she was still only in the Nascent Arcana Stage. Xiao Yulong was already at the third level of the Arcana Stage. He definitely had the qualifications to guide her… At least, that was what he believed.
• There was a flash of anger in her eyes when he reached for her with a lecherous look in his gaze. She immediately reached out and pushed him away.
• Xiao Yulong was overjoyed when he saw Xia Qingyue unexpectedly holding out her hand. He was just about to grab her when he suddenly felt a force ruthlessly slam into his stomach. He was sent flying before he could even make a sound. He was flipped in the air before he fell head-first to the ground. His two front teeth were knocked free on impact.
• Xiao Yulong’s standing in the Xiao Clan was high. Any woman that married into the Xiao Clan on the receiving end of his sexual harassment wouldn’t harm a hair on his head even if she could overpower him. Xia Qingyue, however, was different. The Polar Deity Temple had her back. Even if she beat him until he fell flat on his face, once her status as a disciple of the Polar Deity Temple came to light, Xiao Yunhai wouldn't be able to complain. He would instead be forced to apologize with a smile on his face even if she took Xiao Yulong's life.