Chapter 2: Involuntary
At this moment, he wore a bright red wedding gown, and the room was decorated everywhere with "double happiness" symbols and red cloth. These had been personally arranged last night by his grandfather Xiao Lie and his little aunt Xiao Lingxi. This was his usual living quarters, also serving as the bridal chamber for his wedding.
The door was pushed open at this moment, and a light and agile figure hurried in. Xiao Che immediately stood up, smiled, and called out, "Little Aunt, has grandfather returned?"
Xiao Lingxi was a daughter Xiao Lie had in his middle age. Although she was Xiao Che's little aunt, she had just turned fifteen this year, a year younger than Xiao Che. Despite her youth, she was already exquisitely beautiful and moving. Her profound force had stepped into the Initial Xuan Stage, Level 6. Although she couldn't compare to Xia Qingyue, it was still quite impressive, and she was highly regarded within the Xiao Sect.
"Hehe, Che'er, you're awake."
A gentle voice came as Xiao Lie walked in slowly. Seeing Xiao Che already out of bed with a fairly good complexion, his expression relaxed somewhat. Behind him followed two people: one was the steward Xiao Hong, who managed his daily affairs, and the other was Situ Yun, the foremost physician known throughout Liu Yun City.
"It's good that you're awake, and you don't look seriously ill. But let Master Situ examine you just in case. Today is your wedding day—not a single mistake can be allowed. Master Situ, I'll trouble you." Xiao Lie said as he moved aside.
Placing the medicine box he had been carrying on the table, Situ Yun sat across from Xiao Che and pressed his fingers against his pulse. After a short while, he removed his hand from Xiao Che.
"Master Situ, how is Xiao Che's health? Is there anything serious?" Xiao Lingxi immediately asked, her worry and concern evident on her face.
Xiao Lie looked at Situ Yun. Although he didn't speak, there was a hint of gravity in his expression... How could he not have sensed that Xiao Che's sudden unconsciousness earlier was far from normal?
But Situ Yun slowly stood up and said with a light smile, "Elder Xiao need not worry. Your grandson's health is excellent. Not only is there no major illness, but not even a minor ailment. The earlier fainting might have been due to an excess of excitement causing blood to rush to his head. After all, your grandson is marrying the former eldest daughter of the Xia family today, the number one beauty of our Liu Yun City, hahahaha."
Although Situ Yun tried to conceal it, a hint of regret still slipped through in his words. That a proud daughter of heaven should marry a worthless, hopeless piece of trash was truly hard to accept.
"That's good." Xiao Lie let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "I've troubled Master Situ to be dragged over here at this early hour. Old Hong, see Master Situ to the reception hall to rest."
"No need." Situ Yun waved his hand and picked up his medicine box. "Since your grandson is fine, I won't stay. Congratulations to Elder Xiao on soon gaining the finest granddaughter-in-law in Liu Yun City. There must be countless people who envy you. Haha, I take my leave."
"Be sure to come and have a cup of wedding wine. Old Hong, see Master Situ out."
"Che'er, are you really alright? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?" As soon as Situ Yun left, Xiao Lie frowned, still uneasy. The sudden fainting, the sharp drop in body temperature, the dispersion of vitality—none of these could be caused by mere excitement. But seeing Xiao Che now, safe and sound, left him puzzled.
"Grandfather, rest assured. I'm really fine." Xiao Che said with a relaxed expression. Looking at Xiao Lie's worried face and his white hair, his nose couldn't help but sting with emotion.
The Xiao Sect had five elders in total. Although Xiao Lie was the fifth elder, he was the strongest in profound force within the sect. He had already entered the Spirit Xuan Realm, Level 10 five years ago, and had now reached the peak of Spirit Xuan Realm, Level 10. With just one opportunity, he might break through the Spirit Xuan Realm and reach the Earth Xuan Realm, a realm countless profound practitioners dreamed of.
Xiao Lie was only fifty-five years old and possessed peak Spirit Xuan Realm strength, yet his hair was already completely white. Every time he saw that white hair, Xiao Che's heart ached.
The reason for Xiao Lie's white hair in middle age was known to everyone in Liu Yun City. His only son, Xiao Che's father Xiao Ying, was once hailed as the number one genius of Liu Yun City. He broke through the Initial Xuan Stage at seventeen, reached the Entry Xuan Stage, Level 5 at twenty, and directly broke through the Entry Xuan Stage to reach the True Xuan Stage at twenty-three, shaking the entire Liu Yun City and becoming the pride of the Xiao Sect, as well as Xiao Lie's pride. Almost everyone believed that by middle age, Xiao Ying would be the most qualified to inherit the position of sect master.
But unfortunately, perhaps heaven was jealous of geniuses. Only a month after Xiao Che was born, Xiao Ying was suddenly assassinated. Coincidentally, a few days before that, Xiao Ying had expended a great deal of profound force to save a daughter of the Xia family. When the assassination occurred, he couldn't even muster half his usual strength and ultimately died. His wife, in her grief, severed her own heart meridian to follow him in death. Under such a tremendous blow, Xiao Lie's hair turned white overnight. Nine months later, Xiao Lingxi was born, and his wife, worn down by the long-term pain of losing her son, passed away from depression a month after Xiao Lingxi's birth.
After losing his son and then his wife forever, one could imagine how Xiao Lie had gotten through those years. That snow-white hair contained unspeakable pain, sorrow, and hatred.
And to this day, Xiao Lie still hadn't found out who had killed Xiao Ying.
Later, he poured all his hopes onto Xiao Che... But the cruel reality of his damaged profound veins became another thunderbolt in his life.
However, facing this hopeless grandson, Xiao Lie never showed the slightest disappointment or resentment. On the contrary, he cared for him deeply, almost to the point of indulgence. In his view, having his profound veins damaged from birth was already an injustice of fate. What Xiao Che deserved least was condemnation, indifference, and ridicule; instead, he needed more love to make up for it. Over the years, he had been constantly seeking various pills that might repair the profound veins. But damaged profound veins were like the lifeline of profound force; they weren't so easily repaired.
Having such a grandfather, Xiao Che, though growing up under the indifferent or even mocking gazes of others, still felt fortunate.
Looking at Xiao Lie's white hair, Xiao Che's gaze gradually grew firm... Since heaven had given him a chance to be reborn and granted him memories of two lifetimes, then even if only to bring a bit more comfort to his grandfather, he would live a life of vigor! What did it matter if his profound veins were damaged? He was the successor of the Medical Sage! As long as he found the right medicinal herbs, in just three short weeks, he could fully restore his profound veins.
"Since you're fine, that's what matters." Seeing his state, Xiao Lie finally felt at ease. He glanced at the light outside and said, "The time is almost here. Che'er, prepare yourself well. I'll go arrange the wedding procession... By the way, do you want to ride a horse or... take a sedan chair?"
If it were yesterday's Xiao Che, he would have answered "sedan chair." Though he was the grandson of an elder, aside from that status, he was practically worthless, and the gap between him and Xia Qingyue was as vast as heaven and earth. On the way to pick up the bride, he would undoubtedly be subjected to countless pointing fingers and endure endless jealousy, mockery, and regret. If he showed his face in public, the feeling would be unbearable. But today's Xiao Che just smiled faintly: "Of course I'll ride a horse! Grandfather, don't worry. No matter how noble Xia Qingyue is, she has long been destined to be the bride of our Xiao family. I will bring her back openly and honorably, and I will not lose face for Grandfather."
Xiao Lie's expression froze for a moment, as if he hadn't expected Xiao Che to say such words. Then a warm smile appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly. "Good."
That single word carried a long-lost sense of relief. Xiao Lie stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him.
As soon as Xiao Lie left, Xiao Lingxi immediately stood in front of Xiao Che, her lips pouting, her eyes carrying a hint of displeasure. "So it turns out you were so excited you fainted. I was worried and scared for nothing. You and Xia Qingyue have barely met a few times. So you've always liked her that much... Well, I guess it makes sense. She is the number one beauty of Liu Yun City, after all. Hmph!"
Xiao Che quickly waved his hands. "How could that be! Although Xia Qingyue is very beautiful, Little Aunt is much prettier than her! If I fainted because of her, then with Little Aunt by my side every day, I would have fainted who knows how many times in this life."
"Hehe..." Xiao Lingxi's barely composed expression immediately crumbled, and she broke into a smile. "I knew you'd say something like that to cheer me up. But still, even if Xiao Che fainted from excitement because he was about to marry her, it's fine. After all, Xia Qingyue is so beautiful, the universally recognized number one genius of Liu Yun City, and the Xia family is the wealthiest in Liu Yun City. Countless people dream of marrying her. But in the end, she's marrying my Xiao Che."
As she said this, a hint of pride appeared on Xiao Lingxi's face. Then her gaze gradually became distant, and her voice softened. "It just feels so fast... Xiao Che is getting married now..."
"Thump, thump." A knock sounded at the door, followed by the old and steady voice of Xiao Hong. "Young Master, the auspicious time is almost here. It's time to go to the Xia family to pick up the bride."
"Ah... so soon?" Xiao Lingxi glanced at Xiao Che's attire and grew a bit anxious. "Uncle Hong, wait just a little longer. It'll be ready in a moment."
With that, she moved in front of Xiao Che, and her soft hands began to quickly straighten his wedding gown. "This outfit is so troublesome. With what happened earlier, everything's all messed up again. Stand still for a moment. It'll be done soon."
A pair of snow-white, delicate hands hurriedly smoothed his turned-up collar and retied the loose sash. Her movements were a bit clumsy but incredibly focused and earnest. Xiao Che watched her silently, and his gaze gradually grew hazy...
He was about to marry Xia Qingyue today, but whether she was truly willing to marry him, he knew full well. If it weren't for the agreement made years ago between his father Xiao Ying and Xia Qingyue's father Xia Hongyi, Xia Qingyue wouldn't even bother to look at him, let alone marry him. The only people in this world who truly cared for him were his grandfather Xiao Lie and his little aunt Xiao Lingxi before him.
When he was young, Xiao Lingxi stuck to him like a piece of candy. Wherever he went, she followed, impossible to shake off. If she couldn't see him for even a moment, she would cry loudly. When Xiao Che was ten years old and was confirmed to have damaged profound veins, Xiao Lingxi seemed to grow up overnight. She understood the consequences of damaged profound veins and realized the meaning of her identity as "little aunt." She began to train her profound force rigorously, determined to protect her nephew Xiao Che, who would be stuck at the very bottom of the Tian Xuan Continent for life.
Having experienced the twenty-four-year "Nanke Dream" on the Cang Yun Continent, Xiao Che felt more acutely than ever how precious and rare Xiao Lingxi's kindness to him was.
Xia Qingyue would soon become his wife, but she would be like the cold moon in the sky—visible but untouchable.
If he could marry a girl like Little Aunt, how perfect would that be... Such a thought uncontrollably appeared in Xiao Che's mind.
The complicated wedding gown was finally arranged. Xiao Lingxi let out a small sigh of relief, then stood on tiptoe and reached up to straighten the slightly messy hair on Xiao Che's forehead. As she rose on her toes, her delicate, jade-like face was suddenly inches away from Xiao Che's. In her eyes and expression was clearly imprinted the tender fragility unique to a young girl, stirring a desire for love and protection. Her two pretty lips were slightly pouted, soft and luscious.
As if possessed, Xiao Che's head suddenly lowered, and his lips lightly touched Xiao Lingxi's pink lips...