# Chapter 1892: Fragments (Part 2)
At this moment, another dream fragment inserted itself into his consciousness.
In the scene, he was also only about ten years old, sitting on either side of Xiao Lie with Xiao Lingxi, listening to his gentle narration:
"Back then, shortly after Che'er was born, the City Lord Situ's daughter was also born. But because the City Lord's wife was unwell, when the child was born, her breath was so weak she was nearly at death's door."
"To save her life, at least the Spirit Xuan Realm cultivation was needed for even a glimmer of possibility. In Liu Yun City, those who had achieved the Spirit Xuan Realm could be counted on one hand, and every single one of them had extraordinary status. If they were to save her, it would damage their own foundation. So even though the City Lord begged bitterly, none of them were moved."
"Only Xiao Ying, at great cost to himself, nearly exhausting all of his profound force, managed to stabilize the vitality of that poor child, allowing her to survive."
"Che'er, this was how the marriage bond between you and the City Lord's daughter was forged. At that time, City Lord Situ was so grateful to Xiao Ying for saving his daughter that he immediately swore brotherhood with Xiao Ying, and announced in front of everyone that his daughter would only ever marry Xiao Ying's son, as a lifelong repayment of heaven's grace."
"Hmph." Xiao Lingxi pursed her lips and gave a very soft snort. "I don't like that Situ Xuan at all. She never pays attention to anyone… not even when she sees Xiao Che."
…
This was also a dream that had appeared before, with exactly the same scene, exactly the same words, only now it had become incomparably clear.
In this dream, the person Xiao Ying saved at great cost to himself was not Xia Qingyue, but Situ Xuan.
The one who was betrothed to Xiao Ying's "son" due to the great life-saving grace was not Xia Qingyue, but Situ Xuan.
…
The dream fragments interwove again. This time, what directly penetrated his consciousness was the figure of a woman.
"Xiao Che, stop right there!"
She was tall and slender, dressed in quite luxurious attire. She looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, but wore heavy makeup, exuding a kind of beauty that belied her age.
To the Yun Che of today, a woman of such vulgar flashiness was not even worthy of the briefest pause of his gaze. But to the young man whose horizons had yet to expand, she possessed a captivating allure that stirred his blood.
At least, when facing her, the Yun Che (Xiao Che) in the scene had a face brimming with tension and nervousness that he tried hard to hide.
"Miss Situ." Yun Che responded politely. This was the first time Situ Xuan had ever spoken to him on her own initiative, and his heart held an excitement and secret joy that was hard to suppress.
The name [Situ Xuan] appeared in his "dreams" again and again.
In his memory, she was the daughter of Liu Yun City's City Lord Situ. Since she lived in the same city, he had naturally seen her before, but for some reason, the impression of Situ Xuan in his memory was exceptionally hazy. He couldn't even recall her appearance.
However, he had never paid it any mind. After all, when these "dreams" appeared, he was already in the Divine Realm. Why would he care about the daughter of a City Lord from his homeland, someone with whom he had no connection?
Especially since it was just a dream.
Now, in this even stranger "dream," he saw Situ Xuan's full appearance with crystal clarity.
In an instant, all his impressions of Situ Xuan seemed to have the clouds suddenly parted, becoming extraordinarily distinct and real.
This sudden clarity brought Yun Che another strange feeling, as if… he had actually never blurred his memory of her appearance at all.
Situ Xuan stared at Yun Che, her eyes filled with undisguised arrogance and contempt: "Do you know what a toad is?"
"…" Yun Che's entire body tensed up. A suffocating feeling of tightness lingered for several breaths before it finally faded with difficulty. He struggled to remain calm, using as flat a tone as he could: "If Miss Situ has something to say, just say it directly."
Although he was only fifteen years old, he had heard too many rumors and whispers in recent years. But this single sentence, spoken directly by Situ Xuan herself, still wounded him so deeply that he nearly broke his composure.
"Hmph." Situ Xuan looked at him from the corner of her eye. "In five months, we are supposed to be married. I, the proper princess of the City Lord's mansion, am forced to marry a complete cripple like you. Do you know how much ridicule I've suffered because of you these past few years?!"
His face began to turn pale. Yun Che bit his tongue fiercely, refusing to let his expression show weakness. "I understand. If you don't want this, you can ask your father to cancel the engagement with my grandfather… It's still not too late."
"Cancel? If I could cancel, would I still have been mocked until now?!" Situ Xuan's voice grew even more piercing. "Your dead father saved my life when I was born. Everyone in the entire city knows that!"
"When my father was hot-headed back then, he swore to marry me to you to repay the debt of gratitude, and he did it in front of who knows how many people!"
"If your father were still alive, there would be many ways to negotiate and dissolve the engagement. But he had to go and die, and the rumor is that half the reason he died was because his vitality was severely damaged from saving me! If my father forcefully cancels the engagement, he'll be cursed as an ingrate for the rest of his life!"
"The lofty dignity of my Situ family cannot be harmed because of you." Situ Xuan spoke slowly and deliberately. "So rest assured, my father won't cancel the engagement, and neither will I."
Her eyes suddenly became mocking. "After all, even if you are a waste, you're not entirely worthless. At the very least, you have a pretty decent face. You're quite qualified to be a kept man."
"…" Yun Che's tightly held composure finally crumbled. His features contorted violently.
"Since I happened to run into you today, I might as well give you an early notice." Situ Xuan squinted her eyes, three parts contempt and seven parts amusement. "In these last few months, you'd better learn how to be obedient. If you learn well, life might be a bit easier for you after we marry. If you don't… if I have to teach you personally, I'm afraid that little crippled body of yours won't be able to take it."
Krak!
It sounded as if his teeth might shatter. In Yun Che's mouth, a gradually thickening metallic taste of blood spread.
"Xiao Che!"
The most familiar shout in his life rang out, like a thread of warm, soft spring water flowing through his heart, carrying away the suffocating, soul-crushing negative emotions.
Seeming satisfied with Yun Che's pained but suppressed expression, Situ Xuan smiled proudly and turned to leave.
Soon, a young girl's figure, like a lightly dancing colored butterfly, arrived at Yun Che's side. She looked at Situ Xuan's retreating back and asked in surprise: "Situ Xuan? Were you just talking to her?"
Yun Che turned his gaze to the girl who was so close to him. The anger and humiliation that had been about to burst from his chest just moments ago dissipated by more than half the moment he saw her jade-like face.
In Liu Yun City, whether within the Xiao Sect or outside it, countless people belittled, despised, and insulted him. He had long since grown accustomed to it.
But he had a grandfather who never gave up on him and cared for him deeply. He had Xia Yuanba, a good friend who protected him with all his might since childhood. And he had the little aunt who accompanied him day and night, who would anxiously search for him if she didn't see him for even half an hour.
Having them in his life was already a luxury and a great fortune. As for others… why should he let them into his heart?
Yes. From childhood to adulthood, no matter what mockery or humiliation he endured, as long as he returned to Xiao Lingxi's side, looked into her eyes, and heard her voice, he would always feel so peaceful and content. Nothing else mattered anymore.
"Mm." Yun Che nodded. "This seems to be the first time she's ever spoken to me on her own. The few times I bumped into her before, she completely ignored me."
"Oh? On her own?" Xiao Lingxi was even more surprised. "Then what did she say to you?"
"She just briefly talked about the wedding in half a year." Yun Che said very casually… He would never tell Xiao Lingxi what Situ Xuan had said. The last thing he wanted to see was Xiao Lingxi angry or sad.
And he could hardly imagine what his grandfather would look like if he found out.
"I see." Xiao Lingxi's voice dropped slightly, and a hint of something she herself hadn't noticed flickered in her watery eyes. "These past two years, there have been many strange rumors in the city. Everyone said that the Situ family would definitely find a way to cancel the engagement. I guess the rumors were all false after all."
"Rumors are just rumors." Yun Che smiled. "The City Lord's family won't cancel the engagement… Situ Xuan said so herself."
"Mm, that's good. Once Father knows, he'll definitely be happy."
Though her lips said this, Xiao Lingxi, who had always been quite angry about the various rumors, couldn't feel happy at all hearing Yun Che's words.
"Then… did you talk to Situ Xuan for a long time just now?" Xiao Lingxi asked. She didn't know why she asked such a strange question.
"Not long, just a little while." Yun Che replied, then immediately added: "Besides, I don't really like talking to her. If it weren't for the engagement, I wouldn't want to marry her. I'd rather stay with Little Aunt for the rest of my life."
"Teehee!" Xiao Lingxi laughed, then lowered her head slightly and said: "Actually, I don't like that Situ Xuan at all. I don't want you to… But this is Father's wish. Only after you two are wed will he be truly at ease."
"Alright, let's go back first." The young girl took Yun Che's arm, a glimmer of anticipation sparkling in her beautiful eyes: "Father has invited a truly amazing doctor this time. Many people call him the 'Divine Doctor.' He will definitely… definitely be able to cure Xiao Che!"
…
The mist cleared. The daughter of Liu Yun City's City Lord Situ, as remembered, was exactly the same as what he saw in this dream.
And these scenes, which clearly belonged to a dream and were not experiences of his own, why were they so… real?
So real, as if they had truly happened before.
The scene that followed was filled with deep red: red tables, red candles, red curtains.
"Xiao Che, today is your wedding day with Miss Situ! The hour is almost here, get up quickly!"
He was called awake by Xiao Lingxi's soft voice by his ear, and then she personally dressed him in the bright red wedding clothes.
"Xiao Che, I just made this porridge. You're weak, and the morning ceremony is so long… You have to drink it all." She brought over a very large bowl of porridge, its fragrance wafting everywhere.
"Alright, alright, alright." Obediently, he picked up the bowl. Without using a spoon, he gulped it all down.
After finishing, he looked at Xiao Lingxi, his eyes becoming somewhat hazy. With a hint of loss, he said: "In the future, I don't know if I'll still be able to eat the food Little Aunt cooks."
"Teehee, it's you who is bringing the City Lord's precious daughter into your home, not you marrying into hers. As long as you want, I can still cook for you every day like before."
As she spoke, her smiling face slowly dimmed. She said softly: "But Xiao Che, after you start your own family, you'll definitely spend less and less time with me."
"How could that be!" He immediately raised his hand and swore: "I just guaranteed to Little Aunt yesterday: after marrying Situ Xuan, I won't forget Little Aunt just because I have a wife. I won't reduce the time I spend with Little Aunt, and I'll still come whenever Little Aunt calls, just like before!"
He would never forget Situ Xuan's attitude and words toward him.
This wedding was more about fulfilling his grandfather's wish and upholding his late father's reputation.
As for what would happen after the wedding, and what rumors would follow, he was no longer afraid. Because as Xiao Lingxi said, he would still be in the Xiao Sect, and Xiao Lingxi would still be by his side.
"Big Brother! Big Brother!!"
This was Xia Yuanba's voice. Soon after, he came rushing in, full of excitement.
"Yuanba, you actually woke up this early?" Yun Che said with a smile.
"Hehe! Today is your wedding day, of course I have to come and help." Xia Yuanba's face was full of excitement.
In the scene, the fifteen-year-old Xia Yuanba was very handsome in appearance, his figure still somewhat slender. His skin color wasn't very dark, and ordinary people wouldn't notice anything unusual about it.
But with Yun Che's current level of perception and eyesight, he could faintly see a strange, metallic glimmer beneath his fair complexion.
The majestic light deep within his eyes, as he grew older, had become more restrained… and yet more soul-piercing and startling.
"Uh… hey, what does it feel like to get married? You don't seem all that excited?" Xia Yuanba asked.
"Not really any feeling, so there's nothing to be excited about." Yun Che stared at Xia Yuanba very seriously for a moment, then suddenly said: "You're this excited early in the morning. I don't think it's just because of my wedding, is it?"
"Hehe," Xia Yuanba's eyes gleamed. "Actually, there's good news. My father invited a friend who is a mentor at the New Moon Mystic Palace a while ago, hoping to get me into the New Moon Mystic Palace through him. But to our surprise, that mentor senior said that with my talent, I could directly enter the Cangfeng Mystic Palace."
"Oh! That's great! This is a huge occasion for our entire Liu Yun City!" Yun Che said sincerely. Amidst his joy, deep within his heart surged a profound envy and gloom.
For the Yun Che of today, with Xia Yuanba's talent and extraordinary physique in the dream, it wasn't just the Cangfeng Mystic Palace… Even in the Divine Realm, even in the King Realms at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, it would cause a massive stir.
But for the Yun Che in the dream, even the New Moon Mystic Palace was an unattainable fantasy.
"Hehehe…" Xia Yuanba couldn't hide his excitement. "I've been so excited I haven't slept well for two days. Once I enter the Cangfeng Mystic Palace and become stronger and stronger, let's see who dares to bully you anymore!"
"This matter is still a secret for now. Father said to keep it quiet to avoid complications. Only you know right now… Oh, by the way, speaking of which, I've heard a lot of bad rumors these past two years. Everyone says that City Lord Situ will definitely cancel the engagement and betroth Situ Xuan to your Xiao Sect's young master, Xiao Yulong."
Yun Che: "…"
"When I heard those rumors, I was really angry, but I didn't dare tell you. But now, those rumors have been disproven on their own." Xia Yuanba laughed heartily. "The people who spread those rumors must have faces swollen up several times bigger by now."
"Where there's smoke, there's fire." Yun Che smiled with a semblance of nonchalance. "But it's alright. I've gotten used to it long ago. For a cripple like me to have a friend like you, and to be able to marry the City Lord's daughter, is already a gift from heaven."
"Compared to that, your matter is the real cause for celebration. The day you officially enter the Cangfeng Mystic Palace, I bet the entire city will… will… will…"
His voice suddenly became soft and weak. His expression began to twist in pain, and his pupils rapidly turned gray… darker… darker…
Then his entire body fell stiffly backward.
"Big Brother? Ah! Big Brother!" Xia Yuanba rushed forward and caught his falling body. "Big Brother? What's wrong… Big Brother!!"
His pupils gradually faded. The world was quickly drifting away. He could hear Xia Yuanba's voice, but could not answer.
"Xiao Che? Xiao Che… Wake up! Don't scare me… Xiao Che!!"
Just before his consciousness completely faded, the last thing he heard was Xiao Lingxi's shouts.
Outside the scene, Yun Che watched as Xiao Lingxi held him, dressed in red, crying her heart out, her voice cracking with grief.
Tears soaked the red clothes. Pain was filled with despair…
Then, at this moment, the scene came to a complete standstill.
This was also a dream that had appeared before. The difference, once again, was between blur and clarity.
In his memory, he died on the day of his wedding with Xia Qingyue.
In the dream, he died on the day of his wedding with Situ Xuan.
Yun Che opened his eyes.
Light flooded into his vision. In front of him was the familiar courtyard. At the tip of his nose, the familiar scent.
He woke from the dream, but this time, everything in the dream was no longer blurry and hazy.
Every scene, every face, every sound—he remembered them all with absolute clarity.