# Chapter 15: Xiao Yulong's Probe
After Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue finished their breakfast, Xiao Lie hurried back, his face filled with an unprecedented solemnity, along with some shock that had yet to fully dissipate.
"Grandfather, what happened?" Xiao Che quickly stood up and asked.
"A major event, one that can be said to be a heaven-shaking matter for the Xiao Sect." Xiao Lie said, but his tightly furrowed brows then relaxed: "However, it probably doesn't have much to do with us."
"A heaven-shaking matter? What is it?" Xiao Che was even more puzzled.
"It's the Xiao Clan."
"The Xiao Clan?" This time, not only Xiao Che, but even Xia Qingyue turned her head.
"Just half an hour ago, the Sect Master suddenly received a letter from the Xiao Clan. The letter said that a group of people from the Xiao Clan would soon arrive here, and the one leading them is the youngest son of the current Xiao Clan Master, Xiao Juetian!" Xiao Lie said slowly.
"..." This news made Xiao Che silent for a moment before he said, "If this is true, it seems somewhat unreasonable. Although our Xiao Sect originated from the Xiao Clan lineage over a hundred years ago, the Xiao Clan has always looked down on our Xiao Sect. There has been no contact for over a hundred years, and no one in the Xiao Clan would even care about this tiny Xiao Sect. Why would they suddenly send people here? If they have some scheme... the Xiao Clan's power covers the heavens, what could they possibly scheme from us? And if they wanted to bestow favors, that's even more impossible."
Xiao Lie shook his head and said, "Of course, there is a reason. The founding ancestor of our Xiao Sect, Xiao Bieli, was effectively expelled from the Xiao Clan because his talent was too poor. His father was Xiao Zheng, an elder of the Xiao Clan's Law Enforcement Hall. Not long ago, Xiao Zheng passed away. When a person is near death, what they think about is no longer the fame and fortune they pursued all their lives. He remembered that he still had a son like Xiao Bieli, whom he hadn't seen in over a hundred years, and felt guilty. So he left a dying wish, hoping that the Xiao Clan would find the descendants of Xiao Bieli's lineage after his death, choose the one with the best talent among the younger generation, and bring them back to the Xiao Clan for training. This was to make up for his neglect and expulsion of Xiao Bieli back then."
Ordinary people live only a hundred years, but when one's profound force reaches a certain level, living a few hundred years is not a problem at all. It is said that after breaking through the King Xuan Realm, one's lifespan can reach a thousand years. After hearing Xiao Lie's words, Xiao Che first pondered, then understood. No wonder the Xiao Clan would suddenly come to their door; there was a reason like this. It seemed that the deceased Xiao Zheng still had a certain status in the Xiao Clan, enough for them to respect his dying wish. He also understood why Xiao Lie said it had nothing to do with them. "Choose the one with the best talent and bring them back to the Xiao Clan for training"... This "best talent" had absolutely nothing to do with him, Xiao Che.
But, one could imagine how surging the thoughts in the hearts of the other elders must be after receiving this news. Brought back to the Xiao Clan for training? What did that mean? If one of their sons or grandsons was chosen and brought back to the Xiao Clan, it would be like a mud earthworm transforming into a golden dragon in the clouds overnight! The direct lineage they belonged to would also soar to the heavens along with them. Not just in the Xiao Sect, but in all of Liu Yun City, they could walk sideways without any restraint. If anyone dared to disobey, just bringing out the words "Xiao Clan" would make even the City Master not dare to let out half a fart.
Xiao Lie's expression looked very calm, but the disappointment he was trying hard to hide still couldn't escape Xiao Che's eyes. Within the Xiao Sect, there was no one who didn't hold a longing for the Xiao Clan, and even he himself had felt that way until today. And this arrival of people from the Xiao Clan was undoubtedly the closest opportunity since the Xiao Sect's existence, because at least they could truly and directly come into contact with people from the Xiao Clan. Others in the Xiao Sect might harbor some faint hope, but only Xiao Lie didn't even dare to have hope. Because no matter how you looked at it, the person the Xiao Clan would choose wouldn't be Xiao Che.
Xiao Che opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort his grandfather, but after a long internal struggle, he couldn't utter a single word. The state of his profound veins was clear for all to see; no matter how beautifully he spoke, what use would it be?
"Although this probably has nothing to do with us, it's still good. The Xiao Clan might be as vast as the heavens, but even if we went there, we'd only be at the very bottom. How could that compare to being free and peaceful here in Liu Yun City?" Xiao Lie smiled freely and sat down at the dining table. "Come, accompany your grandfather to finish breakfast."
……………………………………
Walking out of Xiao Lie's courtyard, Xiao Che immediately felt that the entire atmosphere of the Xiao Sect had changed significantly. At this time of day, many people would usually be doing morning exercises, but when he looked out now, there were only sparse figures, and most of them were walking quickly, their faces filled with excitement.
"It seems everyone wants to latch onto the high branch of the Xiao Clan. But is a sudden rise to heaven really a good thing? They don't stop to think that even if they did go to the Xiao Clan, they'd probably just be the lowest level of small fry." Xiao Che said indifferently.
"Jealous?" Xia Qingyue said expressionlessly.
"Absolutely not!" As soon as he said it, Xiao Che realized that the Xia Qingyue beside him was a disciple of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, which was in no way inferior to the Xiao Clan. He could only curl his lip and say, "You're different from them... forget it, pretend I didn't say anything."
Xia Qingyue ignored him. She took a step forward, and although it was a very slow step, her entire figure had already surpassed Xiao Che by seven or eight body lengths. With another step, she left him even further behind. Xiao Che stopped in his tracks, looking at Xia Qingyue's graceful yet illusory figure with great surprise, murmuring, "Could this be the legendary 'Ice Dance Snow Steps' of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace? This woman's profound force is definitely not just the Initial Xuan Realm."
"Oh! Isn't this little brother Xiao Che!"
A voice came from the right. Xiao Che turned his head and saw Xiao Yang walking towards him. Normally, Xiao Yang would look down his nose at him and wouldn't even deign to acknowledge him. Taking the initiative to greet him was a first in history.
"Brother Xiao Yang, you're up early." Xiao Che turned around and greeted him with a friendly face.
"What a coincidence. I was just about to look for you, and I ran into you here." Xiao Yang walked over, chuckling.
"Brother Xiao Yang has something to discuss with me?" Xiao Che looked very surprised.
"Yeah," Xiao Yang nodded. "Actually, it was Brother Xiao Yulong who asked me to call you. He said that you're the youngest among us, yet you're the first to get married. As fellow brothers of the sect, we should at least give you a small celebration. Plus, there were too many people at yesterday's wedding banquet, and we didn't get to drink enough. So I thought I'd take this morning to have a little drink and some breakfast together. What do you think? Got time?"
Inviting someone to drink early in the morning. Looks like Xiao Yulong's patience is pretty average. Xiao Che sneered inwardly. He knew exactly why Xiao Yulong wanted to see him. On the surface, he put on an expression of being flattered and said excitedly, "Brother Yulong really asked for me? Of course! I have time! Since Brother Yulong called me, how could I not have time! So... shall we go now?"
Xiao Che's expression made Xiao Yang sneer and scorn inwardly. He nodded and said, "Of course, let's go."
Xiao Yulong's courtyard was at least four or five times larger than Xiao Che's, luxuriously arranged, and even had dedicated maidservants.
In the northern part of the courtyard, there was a square pavilion. On the round table inside, wine and refreshments were already laid out. Xiao Yulong raised his wine glass, a gentle and warm smile on his face. "Brother Xiao Che, you have married the brightest pearl of our Liu Yun City. Let me offer you my congratulations again. As your elder brother, it seems I need to work harder too."
"Thank you, Brother Yulong." Xiao Che quickly raised his glass as well, his face flushed with excitement. "Actually... actually, my marriage is a trivial matter not worth mentioning. The one who truly deserves congratulations should be me congratulating Brother Yulong."
"Oh?" Xiao Yulong looked puzzled and smiled. "Congratulating me? I'm afraid I don't quite understand."
Xiao Che said with a serious face, "Doesn't Brother Yulong know that the Xiao Clan is about to send people here to pick the one with the best talent among the younger generation and bring them back to the Xiao Clan for training? Among the younger generation of our Xiao Sect, who can compare to Brother Yulong in terms of talent, status, appearance, and character? So the one who will be taken back to the Xiao Clan this time is definitely Brother Yulong. That is the greatest joy of all."
"Yes! That's right! The one chosen by the Xiao Clan this time will definitely be Big Brother! With Big Brother around, no one else should even think about it." Xiao Yang quickly chimed in. His own talent was only slightly above average in the Xiao Sect. Regarding this matter of the Xiao Clan, knowing his own worth, he didn't dare to have any ideas. The most likely candidate in the Xiao Sect was undoubtedly Xiao Yulong. And he had been following Xiao Yulong all these years. If Xiao Yulong could enter the Xiao Clan, it would be nothing but beneficial for him. He even began to feel that flattering Xiao Yulong all these years had been the most correct choice.
Xiao Yulong, however, shook his head and said modestly, "You flatter me too much. Our Xiao Sect has many excellent brothers and sisters. In terms of profound force, I am lucky to be number one, but as for talent, I dare not say. However, I will strive for it. Come, Brother Xiao Che, a toast to your joy yesterday."
Although his tone was very casual, deep in Xiao Yulong's eyes, there was a madness more fervent than anyone else's.
After a glass of wine, Xiao Che's face turned flushed. Xiao Yang leaned in at this moment and said with a smile, "Brother Xiao Che, the woman you married yesterday is the number one beauty of our Liu Yun City. That fortune really makes us brothers green with envy. How was the bridal chamber last night... hehe, it must have been quite something, right?"
Xiao Yulong raised his wine glass, a smile on his face, but his gaze was fixed on Xiao Che's expression and eyes, waiting to see an embarrassed look on his face. But at the moment Xiao Yang finished speaking, Xiao Che's eyes lit up, and a lewd grin that all men understood appeared on his face. He leaned his head toward Xiao Yang, lowered his voice, and snickered, "That's right! Hehehehe... Brother Xiao Yang, let me tell you, women are all the same. Xia Qingyue usually looks like a proud peacock, but once she's on the bed, she's a complete slut! The sounds, the feeling—it's not just great! Hehehehe..."
As Xiao Che spoke, he squinted his eyes, his face flushed, and wore an expression of complete ecstasy.
Crunch...
The wine glass in Xiao Yulong's hand was crushed directly, the shards scattering all over the table.