Chapter 24: Dramatic Change (3)
Xiao Lie had originally held great expectations for the people sent by the Xiao Clan. The son of the Xiao Clan's Sect Master should surely be a figure akin to a divine dragon in the heavens. But upon meeting him, he was greatly disappointed. He did not see the aura, bearing, cultivation, or appropriate pride that a direct descendant of a major sect should possess. All he saw was an arrogance that looked down on everything and a discomforting gloominess in his eyes, the very image of a spoiled brat raised in indulgence and flattery. But upon thinking it over, he soon felt relieved... After all, this tiny Xiao Sect was nothing in the eyes of the Xiao Clan, so how could they really send some "important person"? The identity of "son of the Sect Master" was merely a superficial show of respect for the deceased Xiao Zheng.
"Dad, I heard them say earlier that you and the Sect Leader went out to welcome the people from the Xiao Clan. You're back so soon?" Xiao Lingxi happened to be bringing Xiao Lie his meal, asking with great curiosity, "Have the Xiao Clan people arrived already? What are they like? Are they especially intimidating in their presence?"
Her words reminded him of the old man who followed behind Xiao Kuangyun. He nodded. "People from the Xiao Clan are, of course, unfathomable. However, Xi'er, try to avoid contact with them as much as possible during their stay here. The young man leading them is not a good person. Keep your distance if you can."
"Ah?" Xiao Lingxi blinked in confusion, then nodded lightly. "I understand, Dad. Actually, I was already a bit scared of them. After all, they're from the Xiao Clan—they must be super, super powerful."
"Even if you're curious, try not to get near them," Xiao Lie reminded her again. He took a light breath and walked into the courtyard with a heavy heart.
"Dad? You seem to have something on your mind? Did something major happen?" A daughter knows her father well—Xiao Lingxi saw through his troubled expression immediately and asked nervously.
Xiao Lie was startled, then shook his head. "It's nothing..." He paused, and thinking that if he didn't say it, his perceptive daughter might not rest easy all day, he slowly said, "When the Xiao Clan people came, they brought a gift called 'Tongxuan Powder.' According to that Xiao Kuangyun, this powder has a good effect on repairing damaged Xuan veins. So..."
"Ah! It can repair damaged Xuan veins? Really?" Before Xiao Lie could finish, Xiao Lingxi cried out in excitement, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes tightly. Repairing Xiao Che's Xuan veins had always been her greatest wish. Over the past few years, she and Xiao Lie had been tirelessly searching for any possible method. To her, his words were like heavenly music.
"The pills of the Xiao Clan are far more effective than ordinary ones. Perhaps they can really work wonders." As he spoke, Xiao Lie's expression gradually darkened. "However, the main function of Tongxuan Powder is to accelerate Xuan cultivation within a certain period. Right now, the Sect Leader and the others regard this Tongxuan Powder as a treasure. To get them to use it on Che'er, whom they see as utterly useless... the hope is truly slim."
Xiao Lingxi's expression froze. Xiao Lie's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all her excitement. She bit her lip and said firmly, "No matter what method it takes, we have to get the Tongxuan Powder. Xiao Che is not useless at all! He is the one who needs it the most!"
"I will do my utmost to fight for it." Looking at his daughter's expression, Xiao Lie let out a long sigh. But he knew very well how slim the hope of obtaining the Tongxuan Powder truly was... or rather, it was simply impossible.
...
...
Night fell.
"I saw Xiao Kuangyun of the Xiao Clan today."
In the room, the candlelight flickered faintly. Xia Qingyue sat by the bed and spoke calmly.
"Oh... what kind of person is he?" Xiao Che yawned and asked casually, showing no interest at all.
"Just as his name suggests." Remembering the way Xiao Kuangyun had looked at her, Xia Qingyue frowned slightly, a flicker of disgust passing through her eyes. Her master had told her that among the four sons of the Xiao Clan's Sect Master, the other three were all outstanding talents, but this fourth son was a complete fool. Yet he was the most favored by the Sect Master, perhaps because he was the youngest and the only son born of the lawful wife.
"That's normal. Use your brain for a second, and you can guess what kind of person the Xiao Clan would send to a place like this. But it doesn't affect me anyway. Besides," he said with a mischievous grin, "he probably wouldn't dare to lay a hand on my wife."
Xia Qingyue cast a sidelong glance at him. "You sure are confident."
"Of course. Your husband is the best in the world," Xiao Che said with a straight face.
Xia Qingyue's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She lightly shook her head, then gracefully rose and walked to the table. With a wave of her hand, she extinguished all the red candles in an instant. The room plunged into darkness, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out, pushed Xiao Che toward the inside of the bed, pulled the blanket over them both, and lay down with her back to him. Her voice was cool. "Don't overthink things. I'm only letting you sleep here so you can help me regulate my body at three in the morning... Don't do anything you shouldn't! Otherwise, you'll never sleep on the bed again!"
"As you command, my dear wife!" Xiao Che pulled the blanket up, inhaling the lingering fragrance of a young girl's body, and said contentedly.
Now, Xiao Che called her "wife" dozens of times a day. From the initial anger, she had grown not only accustomed to it but also felt an indescribable sense of "I am his wife." This subtle change made her uneasy and bewildered. She closed her eyes, trying not to think about things that disturbed her peace, and soon fell into a tranquil sleep.
Time passed unknowingly until three in the morning, the darkest hour before dawn. The entire Xiao Sect was silent, with only the occasional buzz of mosquitoes breaking the stillness.
In the darkness, a faint "creak" came from Xiao Lingxi's courtyard. The tightly shut door slowly opened, and a small, shadowy figure poked out. After looking around for a while, it darted outward swiftly.
But before the shadow could step out of the courtyard gate, a tall, gray figure suddenly descended from the sky, landing right in front of her. A girl's startled cry rang out, followed by a low, serious voice: "Xi'er, where are you going so late at night?"
"Ah! D... Dad!" The startled shadow pulled down the cloth covering her face, revealing a delicate and lovely girl—it was Xiao Lingxi. Seeing Xiao Lie suddenly appear before her, she panicked. "I... I... I..."
"Alas!" Xiao Lie let out a long, deep sigh. In a low voice, he said, "Xi'er, were you going to steal the Tongxuan Powder, weren't you?"
"I... I..." Xiao Lingxi lowered her head, stammering.
"You are my own daughter. How could I not know what's on your mind?" Xiao Lie sighed again and stepped forward, patting his daughter's shoulder. "When you left me this afternoon, I noticed something off in your eyes, so I was worried and came to keep watch... Sure enough, you were set on stealing the Tongxuan Powder... Xi'er, you're being far too reckless. Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? That Tongxuan Powder is no ordinary thing—it's a gift from the Xiao Clan. If you're discovered, you'll be provoking them. Then, when the four Xiao Clan members want to punish you, not even I, nor anyone in all of Liuyun City, could save you."
Xiao Lingxi kept her head down, biting her lip. "I... I know all that. But... but... Xiao Che is too pitiful. He is so good, yet he's always laughed at, looked down upon, treated like a waste by everyone. If he could repair his Xuan veins, then he wouldn't be mocked anymore. He wouldn't be inferior to anyone..."
Xiao Lie opened his mouth, a pained expression flashing across his face.
"I often think, why did Xiao Che's Xuan veins get destroyed, and not mine... This world is far too unfair to him... Dad, do you know? Every time I see Xiao Che being mocked, yet he pretends he doesn't care and even comforts me, do you know how much it hurts me... If I could repair his Xuan veins, even if I had to become a thief... even if I were punished to death, I would do it a hundred times over..."
As she spoke, tears welled up in Xiao Lingxi's eyes. She covered her face with both hands and finally couldn't help sobbing.
Xiao Lie's face showed deep emotion. Watching his daughter weep, his heart ached as well. He gently consoled her, "Xi'er, I know you're doing this entirely for Che'er. But aside from the consequences, that box of Tongxuan Powder—Xiao Yunhai took it and didn't give it to anyone else; he probably keeps it on his person. How could you possibly steal something from Xiao Yunhai with your ability? Be good, go back to sleep. I'll do my best to find a way regarding the Tongxuan Powder. Though I haven't competed for anything over the years, I still have some say in this Xiao Sect. It's not entirely hopeless to obtain it. Don't do such foolish things again. If something really happens to you... then who will take care of and protect Che'er in the future?"
Xiao Lie's last words gently struck Xiao Lingxi's soft heart, making her suddenly feel a surge of fear... Yes! If I fail and get caught, and am severely punished, what would Xiao Che do...
"I... I understand." Xiao Lingxi removed the black clothes she was wearing, tossed them aside, wiped the tears from her face, and said guiltily, "Dad, I'm sorry. I did something foolish again and made you worry. I'll go to bed now and won't try anything else... Dad, you should go back and rest too... I promise I won't steal the Tongxuan Powder anymore."
"Haha, that's good to hear." Xiao Lie nodded and gave a gentle smile. But before leaving, he still picked up the black clothes from the ground and took them away, just to be safe.