Chapter 36: My Name is Yun Che
Cloud? Xiao Che was visibly moved. In the Cang Yun Continent, his master had given him the surname Yun as well—a truly wonderful coincidence.
"Aside from knowing that your birth father's surname is Yun, I know absolutely nothing else about him—not his name, nor where he came from. Xiao Ying met your father during his travels through the Cang Feng Continent many years ago. At that time, your father saved Xiao Ying's life when he was attacked by a powerful profound beast. The two of them traveled together afterward, found a deep kinship, and when they parted, they swore brotherhood."
Xiao Lie tilted his head slightly, as if recalling the scene from those days. With a reminiscent tone, he continued, "When Xiao Ying returned, he spoke of your father with nothing but praise. He said your father was not only handsome and elegant in appearance, with a bold and unrestrained nature, but his talent was also astonishingly extraordinary—a true dragon among men. At that time, Xiao Ying's talent was unmatched in Liu Yun City, yet he frankly admitted that his own talent paled in comparison to your father's. I once asked him dismissively what realm your father had already reached, but Xiao Ying just smiled without answering, saying that even if he told me, I wouldn't believe it."
"I know my son's character better than anyone. He never spoke falsehoods. Your father was definitely an absolute genius in his youth, having reached an incredibly astonishing level of profound strength at such a young age. And yet, a dragon among men like him was willing to swear brotherhood with Xiao Ying, whose profound strength was so low at the time—that truly speaks to his breadth of heart and magnanimity. No wonder Xiao Ying never stopped praising your father, even taking pride in being able to call him his sworn brother."
"Later, Xiao Ying married and had a child... Two months after the child was born, he met your father again... and your mother as well."
At this point, Xiao Lie's emotional fluctuations changed noticeably. Xiao Che held his breath and listened silently, without uttering a word.
"...But at that time, your father and mother were drenched in blood, holding you who was also covered in blood. You were probably only about two months old then, unconscious in your mother's arms. When Xiao Ying stopped them and led them to a hidden place, they were covered in wounds from head to toe, and their profound energy was nearly exhausted. They only stayed for a short while before insisting on leaving, because the people pursuing them were far too strong—strong enough that the entire Liu Yun City couldn't hope to resist them. Staying would only burden Xiao Ying."
"Xiao Ying couldn't make them stay. He also knew in his heart that if even the couple couldn't withstand their enemies, he had even less right to try. And at that moment, he saw a deep resolve to die in both your parents' eyes... Clearly, your father and mother had already reached the end of their rope during their escape, with no hope left of escaping their murderous pursuers alive. So Xiao Ying, using the excuse of wanting to hold you... secretly switched his own son—my grandson—into your bloodstained swaddling clothes... and hid you inside his own son's wrappings."
Xiao Che's gaze trembled violently. Xiao Lingxi let out a soft cry of "Ah!"
"...At that time, your parents were anxious to flee. When they took the carefully wrapped infant from Xiao Ying's arms, they had no time to closely inspect whether it was their own son. After your parents left, Xiao Ying came to me, knelt down, and begged for my forgiveness. He said he was still young—if he lost one son, he could still father many more—but if you died, then his sworn brother, your father, would be left without descendants, and no one would avenge him."
"Although my heart ached as if pierced by ten thousand arrows at the time... how could I bear to blame a son who was so loyal and righteous? So, besides us father and son, no one knew that my grandson had been replaced by you. You were only two months old and had suffered severe injuries; it took a full half-month before you finally stabilized. The reason your profound veins were crippled was obviously due to the trauma you sustained back then. In a pursuit of that level, for your injuries to only damage your profound veins without endangering your life was already a stroke of immense luck."
Xiao Lie's voice paused briefly, and his face showed a barely restrained expression of deep pain. His hands clenched tightly. "Less than half a month later, Xiao Ying was assassinated. All his meridians were shattered, and he died. When I heard the commotion and rushed over, he had only a wisp of breath left. He told me that his assassin was the same person who had been chasing your parents. That person had somehow learned that someone had seen Xiao Ying sheltering a young couple covered in blood, holding an infant. The assassin came to coerce Xiao Ying into revealing where your parents had fled. But before he breathed his last, Xiao Ying was actually smiling, because what the assassin said at least proved that... he hadn't found your parents. Perhaps they were still alive!"
"..." Xiao Che's heart surged with an unstoppable tidal wave of emotion. Looking at Xiao Lie's snowy white hair, his heart ached as if it would split apart. The pain of losing a son, the pain of losing a daughter-in-law—no one knew that even his only grandchild, his last bloodline, had long since been lost. The child at his knee was the one who had been exchanged for his own grandson's life. No wonder his hair had turned white in middle age... Under such successive blows, an ordinary person would not only have white hair—they might have already collapsed.
Today, Xiao Che discovered with grief that the root cause of all this tragedy was none other than himself!!
If it hadn't been for the exchange of the true "Xiao Che"'s life for his own, why would Xiao Ying have been assassinated? Why would Xiao Ying's wife have followed him in a suicide pact? Why would Xiao Lie's wife have died from depression? Why would Xiao Ying's son be a waste that everyone mocked? Their family would have been safe and harmonious. With Xiao Ying's unmatched talent in Liu Yun City, and with his father's unparalleled profound strength and prestige in the city, Xiao Ying's position in the Xiao Sect would certainly be extremely high—perhaps he would even be the sect master. Xiao Lie would not have been looked down upon; instead, he would be held aloft. The other four elders would not dare bully him; they would be as docile as mice before him.
Xiao Ying had saved him by sacrificing his own son... yet in doing so, he had brought an exceptionally cruel fate upon himself and his entire family.
Yet for these sixteen years, Xiao Lie had never vented any anger or resentment on him, the "root cause." Instead, he had shown him unreserved, pure love—even after learning that his profound veins were completely crippled and he could never amount to anything in this life, his heart remained unchanged. Perhaps for a grandfather to treat his own grandson like this is only natural. But to treat another man's son—the very source of his own family's ruin—with such kindness requires a heart and breadth of spirit that is truly extraordinary.
Xiao Che's heart trembled, and his nose stung. Like father, like son. With such a great elder, it was no wonder he had a son like Xiao Ying—so loyal and righteous. The debt they owed him, and his birth parents owed him, could never be repaid in a lifetime.
Xiao Che's hands gripped the edge of the stone table, his fingers tightening more and more. Looking at the grief-stricken Xiao Lie before him, he didn't know how to express his gratitude to this man he had called "Grandfather" for over a decade. After a long time, he spoke in a trembling voice: "Grandfather, I... I... your kindness, I will... I will..."
"Hehe," Xiao Lie smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection. "Che'er, I've watched you grow up since you were little. Although you are not my blood, in my heart, you have long been no different from my own grandson. You yourself once said that even without blood ties, we would always be family. Since we are family, this is only right. I don't need your gratitude or repayment. As long as you are safe and well in the future, I will have no worries, even if I am locked up here for the rest of my life."
Xiao Che's lips parted and closed, but words of gratitude could no longer escape his throat. After a moment, he nodded heavily. Yes, he is my grandfather. Now... and forever! When he is here, I will honor him with filial piety. When he is gone, I will wear mourning clothes and fulfill every duty a grandson should.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Lie nodded with gratification. He continued, "You must want to know more about what happened back then. But regarding your parents, Xiao Ying didn't tell me much. As for why they were being hunted that year, Xiao Ying only said it was because they possessed a 'Mystic Heaven Supreme Treasure.' He even warned me that the words 'Mystic Heaven Supreme Treasure' were a terrible 'taboo' that must never be spoken in front of outsiders."
Mystic Heaven Supreme Treasure? Xiao Che memorized that name firmly.
"After your parents left that time, there was no word from them for the next sixteen years. I once thought that if they were still alive, they would surely discover that the child they took was not their own, and they would return here at a safe time to exchange back their son. But I waited year after year, and still they never came. However... however, that doesn't necessarily prove they are no longer in this world. That pendant around your neck—I've told you since you were little never to take it off. Because it was the only thing on you when Xiao Ying exchanged his son for you. If your parents are still alive, it might become the key for you to recognize each other..."
Indeed. If they were still alive, they would surely return to Liu Yun City to exchange back their child. But to not return for sixteen full years—the possibility of them still living was... exceedingly slim.
But if, by some chance, they were still alive, then the son of Xiao Ying who was taken away back then—could he still be alive as well?
The night grew darker, gradually approaching the time when the star-hiding herb would lose its effect. It was time for Xiao Che to leave.
"Grandfather, Little Aunt... I have to go now." Though filled with reluctance, he forced out these words he did not want to say.
Xiao Lie nodded, glanced outside, and said, "Leave here as soon as possible. If they find you, it will be another huge trouble."
"Ah? You... you're leaving?" Xiao Lingxi jerked her head up as if struck by lightning, her two hands gripping him tightly.
Feeling the deep reluctance in Xiao Lingxi's eyes, Xiao Che's heart ached. He desperately wanted to take Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi away with him. But in his current state, what did he have to take them away from here? Even if they left, in the outside world, what could he use to protect them? Instead, they would be the ones protecting him.
He stood up, took her hands in his, looked into her eyes, and said word by word, "Little Aunt, I must go. But rest assured, I will return. Within three years, I will definitely come back! When I do, I will return every injustice and pain you have suffered a millionfold upon those people. I will make the entire Xiao Sect kneel and beg you to leave this Repentance Gorge!!"