Chapter 23: Dramatic Changes (2)
"Yes! Tomorrow morning, everyone in the Xiao Clan will assemble right here, and I guarantee that not a single person will be missing." Xiao Yunhai quickly assured him.
"Very good! Our time is precious—we only have tomorrow, and I don't want any unexpected incidents." Xiao Kuangyun said indifferently, then tilted his head. "Since you've come, and you're the descendants of the esteemed Elder Xiao Zheng, you should at least bring some gifts. Xiao Ba, present the gift."
The person addressed as Xiao Ba stepped forward, expressionlessly placing a wooden box in front of Xiao Yunhai. Xiao Yunhai accepted it with trembling hands, his face full of fear and gratitude. "Th-thank you for the generous gift from the Xiao Sect. We are truly and immensely grateful."
"The item inside is called 'Tongxuan Powder.' It can unblock and nourish the profound veins, greatly increasing one's cultivation speed for a certain period. It also has excellent restorative effects on profound veins damaged from various causes. Even in our Xiao Sect, this is considered a very decent pill."
The implication... even in the Xiao Sect, it's a decent pill, so in this place, it would be at the level of a celestial pill.
"It also has excellent restorative effects on profound veins damaged from various causes"... This sentence caused Xiao Lie, who had been silent all along, to jolt violently, a strange light flashing in his eyes. But then he let out a silent sigh, and his expression dimmed.
Xiao Yunhai carefully put away the wooden box and said with a face full of gratitude, "Since it's a pill from the Xiao Sect, its effects must certainly exceed our wildest imaginations. Young Master Xiao's great kindness leaves our Xiao Clan at a loss for how to repay it... Well, since Young Master Xiao doesn't need rest, how about we have someone take you and your companions for a tour around our Xiao Clan, or even Flowcloud City? Although this is just a small town, there are some places that might catch your eye."
Seeing that Xiao Kuangyun didn't shake his head, Xiao Yunhai quickly reached out and pulled Xiao Yulong over. "This is my son, Xiao Yulong. He's about the same age as Young Master Xiao. How about letting him show you around?"
Xiao Yunhai's intention was very clear—to make Xiao Yulong familiar to Xiao Kuangyun as soon as possible, thereby increasing the chances of him being taken back to the Xiao Sect. If he could win Xiao Kuangyun's favor, he might even gain his patronage within the Xiao Sect, allowing him to rise quickly...
"I am Xiao Yulong. It is the greatest honor of my life to witness the magnificence of the honored guests from the Xiao Sect." Xiao Yulong stepped forward, his expression humble.
Xiao Kuangyun glanced at Xiao Yulong, nonchalantly. "Fine, then take us around. I've been in big places for too long; seeing a small place isn't so bad. All of you, disperse. I don't like being followed by too many people. When I need you, I'll find you."
"Yes, yes!" Xiao Yunhai quickly nodded in agreement. "If you need anything, feel free to command anyone here. Yulong, be sure to take good care of the honored guests."
"Yes, Father."
Xiao Yunhai and the Fifth Elder respectfully withdrew. The Xiao Sect people had arrived later than anticipated, so the official business naturally had to be postponed to tomorrow.
Xiao Yulong stood beside Xiao Kuangyun, slightly bowing his waist in a relatively submissive posture, a smile on his face. "Young Master Xiao, although Flowcloud City is small, it has just about everything one could want. Would Young Master Xiao like to first see the scenery, sample the cuisine, or... admire the beauties?"
Seeing the ambiguous smile on Xiao Yulong's face, Xiao Kuangyun's eyes lit up, and a lascivious grin appeared on his own face. "As a man, what do you think we should go see first?"
Looking at his sallow face, how could Xiao Yulong not know what kind of person he was? He chuckled and said, "Young Master Xiao is clearly a real man! And since you're a real man, of course, you should go see what a real man likes! Although Flowcloud City is small, our city's Tianxiang Pavilion is famous far and wide. Many people even travel hundreds of miles just to visit it. Why don't we start there?"
"You, kid, you know the ropes." Xiao Kuangyun finally looked at Xiao Yulong properly, curled his lip, and said, "Let's go."
Xiao Yulong moved his feet and led the way. Just as they were about to set off, a beautiful figure of a young girl suddenly appeared in Xiao Kuangyun's line of sight.
The girl's figure was graceful and alluring, perfectly proportioned. From a distance, her posture was so exquisite it was almost indescribable. Beneath her sky-blue long dress, the outline of her slender, lovely legs was faintly visible. As she walked slowly, her skirt fluttered slightly, revealing her lithe and well-defined figure from time to time. The perfect curves of her waist, chest, and hips were breathtakingly beautiful, exuding an unparalleled, soul-stirring charm and an air of proud, transcendent grace.
Xiao Kuangyun's mouth fell wide open. He stood there completely stunned, his eyes fixed on the ethereal figure in the distance. In his trance-like state, he almost thought he was seeing the legendary Luo River Goddess. Seeming to sense his gaze, the girl turned her face, gave him a cold glance, then turned back and walked into the courtyard. Her face, in that brief sideways glance, imprinted itself into Xiao Kuangyun's vision, making his whole body tremble as if every bone had turned to jelly.
Even long after Xia Qingyue had disappeared from his sight, he still hadn't snapped out of it.
When Xia Qingyue had appeared so inopportunely, Xiao Yulong's heart had "sunk" with a thud. He had prayed she wouldn't be seen by Xiao Kuangyun, but unfortunately, she was—and she had elicited the reaction most men had upon first seeing her true face... no, even more exaggerated. His heart began to twitch violently... In this tiny Flowcloud City, how could any woman Xiao Kuangyun set his eyes on ever escape? And once he did, it also meant that Xiao Yulong himself would never have a chance with Xia Qingyue in this lifetime.
But immediately, he gritted his teeth, stepped beside Xiao Kuangyun, waved his hand in front of his face, and whispered, "Young Master Xiao?"
"That girl... who is that girl? Who is she?" Xiao Kuangyun's expression was agitated, and his voice trembled with excitement. "In this world... there is actually a woman this beautiful! All my wives and concubines... every woman I've ever played with... none of them together can compare to her... A fairy... She's simply a fairy!"
Xiao Kuangyun was so excited he was incoherent, his gaze burning so hot it seemed ready to ignite. Xiao Yulong composed himself, put on a smile, and said, "Her name is Xia Qingyue. She is the number one beauty of Flowcloud City. Truly a fairy-like figure."
"Xia... Qingyue. Xia? Does that mean she's not from the Xiao Clan?"
"That's right!" Xiao Yulong nodded, his eyes narrowing, his words clear and distinct. "She is not from our Xiao Clan. She's the daughter of Flowcloud City's wealthiest merchant. She married into the Xiao Clan just three days ago, wed to Xiao Che, the grandson of the Fifth Elder."
"What? She's already married?" Disappointment flickered across Xiao Kuangyun's face, then instantly transformed into a fiercely intense jealousy and lust. "Married! And to someone from your Xiao Clan! This is utterly outrageous! How could a fairy like her be worthy of being matched with a mere grandson of some elder in your Xiao Clan!"
"Yes! Young Master Xiao is absolutely right!" Xiao Yulong immediately chimed in agreement. "A fairy like her should only be matched with a dragon among men like Young Master Xiao. But Young Master Xiao may not know this: the man she married, although he's the grandson of an elder, is the number one waste of our Xiao Clan... Since childhood, his profound veins have been crippled, and even now, at this age, he's only at the Initial Xuan Realm, Level 1. He is nothing but a disgrace to the Xiao Clan."
"Wh... what?" Xiao Kuangyun's face turned ashen, his hands trembling. "A beauty like this married a piece of trash like that! This is unforgivable... unforgivable!"
"A woman like that should belong to me, Xiao Kuangyun! How could she be worthy of a piece of trash from the Xiao Clan!" Xiao Kuangyun's jealousy blazed, and with a low roar, he strode straight toward the small courtyard where Xia Qingyue had just entered.
He had only taken two steps when an old, weighty voice sounded behind him. "Young Master, the Sect Master sent you out this time as a form of training. He specifically told you not to do anything that would bring dishonor to the sect's name—especially forcibly taking another's wife or daughter."
Xiao Kuangyun stopped in his tracks, his face full of burning desire and unwillingness, but he obediently halted.
Xiao Yulong glanced in surprise at the old man named Xiao Moshan... It seemed he was not just accompanying and protecting Xiao Kuangyun, but also watching over him. One sentence was enough to cow even Xiao Kuangyun. Moreover, from his words, it was clear that Xiao Kuangyun had already done many such things—stealing other men's wives and daughters.
Xiao Yulong's eyes flickered, and he quickly caught up to Xiao Kuangyun, lowering his voice. "Young Master Xiao... if you're interested in Xia Qingyue, you don't necessarily have to resort to force. There are many ways."
"Ways? What ways?" Xiao Kuangyun turned his head, his eyes blazing as he stared at him.
Xiao Yulong immediately leaned in and whispered rapidly in his ear. When he finished, Xiao Kuangyun's eyes suddenly lit up, and a lascivious, eager grin curled at the corner of his mouth.
"I only just got this information and haven't told anyone. I never thought it would come in handy for Young Master Xiao—what a perfect turn of events." Watching Xiao Kuangyun's ugly, lecherous smile, Xiao Yulong felt disgust in his heart, but on his face, he obediently echoed the smile.
"Very good. Excellent." Xiao Kuangyun nodded slowly.
"It seems Young Master Xiao has quite the fondness for beautiful women. Actually, in our Xiao Clan, Xia Qingyue is not the only beauty." Xiao Yulong lowered his voice even further. "The Fifth Elder, Xiao Lie, has a daughter. She's only fifteen this year, but she's already grown into a stunning, nation-toppling beauty—almost as beautiful as Xia Qingyue... Would Young Master Xiao be interested?"
"Fifteen... almost as good as that fairy just now?" Xiao Kuangyun's eyes bulged, emitting a wolfish gleam.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Yulong knew exactly what to do next. He moved closer to Xiao Kuangyun and whispered again, "If Young Master Xiao is interested, this one is even easier to get. The method is even simpler, just..."
Xiao Yulong leaned in and whispered in Xiao Kuangyun's ear once more.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha..." Xiao Kuangyun burst into wild laughter, the lechery in his eyes growing even stronger. "When I get back, I really should thank my old man properly for letting me run into two peerless beauties at once... This trip was definitely not wasted."
He turned his gaze to Xiao Yulong and nodded slowly. "Your name is... Xiao Yulong, right?"
"Yes, yes! I am Xiao Yulong." Xiao Yulong's face was filled with excitement, as though Xiao Kuangyun remembering his name was an immense honor.
"You, you're good. Very good. If both matters are handled successfully, when we return to the Xiao Sect, you'll stay by my side." Xiao Kuangyun said with narrowed eyes.
"Ah!" Xiao Yulong's whole body trembled, his eyes widening in excitement. After a moment of reaction, he "plopped" down on his knees before Xiao Kuangyun and heavily kowtowed. "Yulong thanks Young Master Xiao for this great kindness! If I can stay by Young Master Xiao's side, I will be loyal to the death and serve Young Master Xiao with all my heart!"
This outcome made Xiao Yulong's heart pound with ecstatic excitement... Being brought into the Xiao Sect was already a heaven-reaching blessing. But staying by the side of the Sect Master's son was an entirely different concept—something Xiao Yulong had never even dared imagine before.