# Chapter 22: Dramatic Change (1)
Shortly after Xiao Lingxi left, Xia Qingyue returned. Today she had changed out of her red attire and was instead wearing a water-blue dress embroidered with light phoenix patterns, a sapphire hairpin in her hair, pearl earrings dangling from her ears, and a sapphire necklace around her jade-white neck. Her exposed neck skin was snow-white and crystalline to the point of being slightly translucent, as if one could see through to her bones. Her features were radiant and breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiao Che's eyes lit up instantly, and he stared directly in a daze. A celestial maiden descending to the mortal world—wasn't this exactly what that peerless beauty described?
Xia Qingyue walked in from outside the door, each step light and graceful as if treading on clouds. Her snow-like face and jade neck were exquisite to the extreme, yet also revealed a noble coldness that made others feel inferior... Anyone who saw her would never believe she was merely the daughter of a merchant from a remote small town; they would instead think she was a high and untouchable imperial princess.
Xiao Che watched, utterly dazzled, his heart filled with endless sighs... The only place she could change clothes was this very room! He must have been sound asleep at the time and missed the wonderful sight of her changing! Ahhh, absolutely unforgivable!!
"Blue clothes suit you better than red," he said, looking at her with genuine admiration.
Xia Qingyue showed no reaction to his compliment. She glanced at the empty soup pot on the table, walked over, picked it up, and headed for the door.
"Was that chicken soup you made?" Xiao Che asked.
"Is it bad?" She replied coldly with her back to him, but deep in her eyes flickered a subtle emotion that even she couldn't understand.
"It was excellent. I didn't know you were so good at making soup." Xiao Che smiled as he stood up and stretched. Then he said seriously, "To repay my dear wife Qingyue for the chicken soup, tonight in bed I'll definitely... work even harder."
"..." She was already accustomed to his occasional verbal teasing. Expressionless, she said, "This afternoon, someone from the Xiao Sect will be coming. The leader is the youngest son of the Xiao Sect Master, named Xiao Kuangyun. I heard from Master that Xiao Kuangyun's profound strength is only average among the younger generation of the Xiao Sect, and he has a terrible reputation outside. But because he's the youngest son, he's extremely favored. No one in Liuyun City can afford to provoke him. Avoid meeting him if possible."
"Xiao Kuangyun? Alright, I understand. Thanks for the warning, dear wife Qingyue." Xiao Che said with a grin.
.............................
Today was the day the Xiao Sect people would arrive.
The news of the Xiao Sect's arrival affected far more than just the Xiao Clan; the entire Liuyun City was under a tremendous impact.
In every aspect, Liuyun City was at the very bottom of the Cang Feng Empire, while the Xiao Sect stood at the empire's highest peak. The gap between them was immeasurable. For members of the Xiao Sect—and the Xiao Sect Master's own son—to personally come here was no different from an emperor visiting the humblest rural household. The entire city was shrouded in tension. Some secretly hoped to find a way to form even the slightest connection with the Xiao Sect, while many more were terrified. Learning that they would arrive this afternoon, they stayed home with doors shut, afraid of accidentally offending them... For the Xiao Sect to kill them was no different from stepping on ants. Laws were a joke to them.
The Xiao Clan's courtyard was tidied up inside and out, spotless everywhere. The largest and most luxurious courtyard in the Xiao Clan, where Xiao Yunhai had always lived, had been renovated and cleaned two days earlier, with even the bedsheets, bedding, and furniture replaced. Xiao Yunhai himself had moved to a smaller adjacent courtyard. Even the meals for the next few days were personally arranged by Xiao Yunhai... Although he was exhausted, he was endlessly excited! Because he was utterly certain that the Xiao Sect would choose his son Xiao Yulong this time! Then his son would soar to the heavens! And he himself would become the absolute overlord of Liuyun City—no, of hundreds of miles around—whom no one dared to provoke!
Starting at ten in the morning, Xiao Yunhai personally led all the elders and deacons to stand at the entrance, ready to welcome them. They waited until noon... then afternoon... until nearly five in the evening, when a Xiao Clan disciple finally ran back, drenched in sweat, shouting from a distance, "Clan Master! They're... they're coming!! The Xiao Sect people are coming... that aura—it's definitely the Xiao Sect!"
Everyone shuddered. Xiao Yunhai strode to the door and roared, "Quick! Immediately inform everyone to prepare. Anyone who does poorly and offends our honored guests will not be forgiven! All elders, follow me to welcome them from afar!"
When Xiao Yunhai had sprinted nearly a mile out to greet them, he finally saw four figures walking unhurriedly toward them.
Among the four, the foremost was a young man who looked barely twenty. He was dressed in luxurious clothes, of average build and ordinary appearance. His pale face had a hint of sallow complexion—a typical look of overindulgence. In terms of appearance, he was definitely someone you'd lose in a crowd. But on that ordinary face was written arrogance and conceit. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes looking at the sky, not even glancing at the occasional passersby, as if one more look would dirty his eyes.
Close behind him was an old man in black, his face as calm as still water. Behind them were two more young men in black, with silver eagle patterns embroidered on their shoulders.
Xiao Yunhai took a deep breath, quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, leaned forward respectfully, and asked cautiously, "May I ask if you four are the honored guests from the Xiao Sect?"
The young man in front stopped, glanced lazily at them, half-closed his eyes, and said, "That's right. I am Xiao Kuangyun of the Xiao Sect."
Xiao Yunhai's demeanor became even more respectful. With exaggerated deference, he said, "So you really are the four honored guests! Excellent! We have been waiting for a long time. I am the current clan master of the Xiao Clan in Liuyun City. Behind me are our five most respected elders. We are extremely grateful and honored that four honored guests have traveled so far for our Xiao Clan."
"Spare me the nonsense." Xiao Kuangyun swept a casual glance over the five elders, then waved his hand lazily. "Lead the way."
"Yes, yes! Please." Xiao Yunhai quickly nodded, then bowed slightly and personally led the way back to the Xiao Clan.
"May I ask this senior's name..."
"Xiao Moshan." The black-clad old man said flatly, his old face expressionless like a corpse.
Xiao Yunhai dared not speak further, a chill in his heart. He could vaguely sense Xiao Kuangyun's profound force level, but from Xiao Moshan, he detected not a trace of profound force. Either Xiao Moshan had no cultivation—which was obviously impossible—or his profound force was so far beyond Xiao Yunhai's that it was beyond detection.
When they returned to the Xiao Clan, a large crowd was standing at the entrance. Seeing Xiao Yunhai's respectful posture, their hearts tightened, and their gazes locked onto the arrogant young man. They swarmed forward eagerly.
"May I ask if this is the young master from the Xiao Sect?" A middle-aged man with a plump figure rushed to the front, speaking with utmost respect.
"And you are?" Xiao Kuangyun half-glanced at him.
"I... I am the city lord of Liuyun City, named Situ Nan. Hearing that honored guests from the Xiao Sect were arriving, I came specifically... specifically to welcome you." Situ Nan's voice began to tremble by the end, and cold sweat beaded his forehead. As the city lord of Liuyun, he had met many important figures, but none of them were worth a damn compared to a Xiao Sect young master. This arrogant-looking man before him had an unremarkable appearance, but killing him would be as simple as a single word.
"I am Yuwen Ba, an old friend of Clan Master Xiao. I came specifically... specifically to behold the presence of the Xiao Sect young master, along with a modest gift. I hope young master Xiao will accept it." The head of the Yuwen Clan, which rivaled the Xiao Clan in Liuyun, also hurried forward with a respectful face, holding a small, exquisite jade box.
Xiao Kuangyun glanced at the jade box, then waved to the two behind him. "Take it."
One of them immediately stepped forward and accepted the jade box expressionlessly.
Seeing that this Xiao Sect young master had actually accepted his gift, Yuwen Ba was overjoyed. Others who wanted to form a connection with the Xiao Sect also rushed forward eagerly, presenting their own lavish gifts... Xiao Kuangyun accepted them all without refusal, taking everything. Then he squinted and said casually, "All of you, withdraw. It's getting late today. Whatever it is, we'll discuss it tomorrow."
"Right, right! Young Master Xiao has traveled a long way and must be tired. After you rest, we'll come to pay our respects tomorrow." City Lord Situ quickly nodded.
Only then did the crowd disperse.
Xiao Yunhai and the five elders respectfully led Xiao Kuangyun into the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yunhai stepped forward and said, "The four honored guests from the Xiao Sect have traveled far and must be weary. Would you like to rest a while? Elegant quarters have been prepared."
"No need. I'm not that delicate." Xiao Kuangyun swept his gaze over the Xiao Clan grounds, curled his lips, and revealed undisguised contempt. Then he said flatly, "If not for Elder Xiao Zheng's death, I wouldn't even know this place existed. I hear the ancestor here was a waste expelled by our Xiao Sect. But no matter how much of a waste, he was still from the Xiao Sect. Even a waste rejected by the Xiao Sect can still play the tyrant in a place like this. After all these years, managing to develop to this level is... passable."
"Yes, yes. Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Xiao."
Faced with Xiao Kuangyun's blatant contempt, Xiao Yunhai nodded repeatedly in thanks, not daring to contradict him in the slightest.
"The dead are to be respected. I came personally to this place to honor Elder Xiao Zheng's last wish. The purpose was already made clear in the letter I sent you. Tomorrow morning, gather everyone in your clan in this courtyard—not a single one missing. I will personally select someone to take back to the Xiao Sect." As he spoke the last sentence, Xiao Kuangyun lifted his head high, as if issuing an imperial decree blessing the entire world.
————————————
Our WeChat platform is currently running an event where you can win prizes by posting makeup-free photos. Those interested can participate →→→→ Our WeChat platform: [huoxingyinli99]z