Chapter 502: Mutual Admiration
"Yun Xiao, let me ask you a question that might be somewhat rude." Yun Che looked at Yun Xiao with a serious expression. "When you usually meet with Seventh Sister, do you always resort to such secret rendezvous?"
"Ah..." Yun Xiao was caught off guard by the question, a look of embarrassment flashing across his face, which then turned into gloom. He sighed softly and said, "As you've seen, the Tianxia Clan looks down on me completely. And Seventh Sister is the only princess of the Tianxia Clan, the most revered pearl of the entire elf clan. They think I am utterly unworthy of Seventh Sister, and if Seventh Sister were to truly be with me, it would even ruin the reputation of their entire family. Initially, they opposed it vehemently, but Seventh Sister's nature is quite stubborn, so they later strictly forbade any contact between Seventh Sister and me. It became increasingly difficult for us to meet. In the past entire year, we've only managed to secretly meet three times, each time having to go at least fifty li away from the city to avoid being discovered... In less than three months, it will be Xiao Yaohou's centennial ceremony of reign, and the Twelve Guardian Clans are all busy with preparations. Seventh Sister and I finally found a chance to meet, but we never expected..."
Yun Che rested his chin on his hand, pondering as he spoke. "Regarding your meeting with Seventh Sister, besides the two of you, is there anyone else who knew... or saw anything?"
"No, definitely not." Yun Xiao shook his head with certainty. "I absolutely would not dare let anyone know. Not only the Tianxia Clan, but even my own clan does not support my relationship with Seventh Sister, and they even mock me behind my back. Even if I didn't care about myself, I have to consider Seventh Sister. I would never let anyone know. And Seventh Sister would certainly never tell anyone else either."
"You and Seventh Sister were attacked, and the assailants went to great lengths to cover their tracks, with a very clear target. It's obvious they had ample preparation." Yun Che said slowly. "If they hadn't known in advance that you would be meeting at that place, they wouldn't have been so thoroughly prepared... Since you're so certain that only the two of you knew about this, the most likely possibility is... when you were transmitting a sound message to Seventh Sister, someone nearby overheard it. As for Seventh Sister, the sound message you sent her was overheard by her Sixth Brother."
"Ah?" Yun Xiao was startled, then shook his head even more vigorously. "That's even more impossible. When I transmitted the sound message, I was in my own courtyard. No one else should have been able to hear it. Even if someone did secretly hear it, it would only be someone from our Yun Clan... Our Yun Clan has never had a major feud with the Tianxia Clan, and given our current low state, we absolutely would not want to offend any clan. How could we possibly do such a thing? Moreover, although those three black-clothed figures concealed their profound arts, if they had been practicing our Yun Clan's profound arts, I would have easily recognized them."
"..." Yun Che nodded slightly, falling silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then his expression lightened. "Perhaps... well, let's not dwell on this for now. The Tianxia Clan will certainly be much more concerned about this than we are. Leave it to them to investigate."
"However, my bigger question is... Yun Xiao, even though the Yun Clan is currently in severe decline, it was once at its peak, and it still belongs to the Twelve Guardian Clans. You, at least in name, are the Young Family Head of the Yun Clan. With such family background and status, you and Seventh Sister are clearly well-matched. Oh no, actually, you even surpass Seventh Sister by a degree. Even stepping back a hundred steps, even if your father were not the Clan Head but an ordinary elder, they wouldn't have opposed so vehemently... to the point of elevating it to a matter of family honor."
Yun Xiao's expression stiffened.
Yun Che glanced at Yun Xiao's expression and continued, "Furthermore, even your own Yun Clan members treat you with an unusual attitude. Take that Yun Hao earlier, for example. His behavior towards you was not merely disrespectful; it was full of verbal sarcasm and humiliation. But judging by your reaction, you seem to have grown accustomed to such treatment... Setting aside your status as Young Family Head, at the very least, your maternal grandfather is the head of the Mu Clan. How could you end up in such a position within the Yun Clan? Is there some hidden reason behind all this?"
Yun Xiao's steps faltered. He lowered his head, a look of deep bitterness spreading across his face.
Yun Che smiled apologetically. "It seems I've asked something I shouldn't have... I'm sorry, please don't take it to heart."
"No," Yun Xiao slowly shook his head. When he looked up, his expression was sufficiently calm. "Anyone who sees my usual situation would find it strange. Actually, the rumors about me are known to almost everyone in Yaohuang City. Brother Yun, you saved my life and treat me as a friend, so there's no need for me to hide anything from you. The reason everyone despises me is... because from childhood to adulthood, I've always been called a 'picked-up bastard' by others."
Yun Che turned his head sideways. "What do you mean?"
Yun Xiao gave a bitter laugh. "What the Yun Clan prides itself on, and what once made it unparalleled among the Twelve Guardian Clans, is its unique Arcane Firmament power. But on my arm, I have never been able to manifest the Arcane Firmament Imprint. Even after my profound force reached the Heavenly Xuan Realm, I still could not awaken the Arcane Firmament."
"In the Yun Clan, as long as one guides with bloodline power, the Arcane Firmament Imprint on the arm can be lit at the age of five. Then, based on the color of the imprint, they determine one's talent and whether to focus on training. When one's profound force reaches the Heavenly Xuan Realm, the Arcane Firmament awakens and can be summoned from then on. This is the bloodline power of the Yun Clan. As long as one has Yun Clan blood, one will definitely possess Arcane Firmament power... there has never been an exception."
"But I have never had it. And this clearly proves that I do not have Yun Clan blood... In the understanding of the Yun Clan, the entire Yaohuang City, and even the Huan Yao Realm, this is an ironclad proof."
Yun Che: "..."
"The news that I had no Arcane Firmament Imprint was spread by someone unknown when I was five years old, and it became known throughout the city. Later, when I couldn't summon the Arcane Firmament at the Heavenly Xuan Realm, it was even more widely publicized. During that time, the entire Yaohuang City was buzzing with the rumor that I was not the son of my parents... And the most serious part is that I was brought back from the Tian Xuan Continent by my parents when I was a child. The Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor both died at the hands of people from the Tian Xuan Continent. The Demon Emperor Seal and the Reincarnation Mirror were also lost due to the invasion from the Tian Xuan Continent. The people of Yaohuang City have always harbored a deep hatred for the Tian Xuan Continent. And I, this 'bastard from the Tian Xuan Continent,' wherever I go, I encounter cold stares, contempt, and even insults and hatred..."
Yun Xiao did not continue. Yun Che listened quietly, able to feel how Yun Xiao had gotten through these years... Before the age of sixteen, Yun Che himself had spent his time in the mockery and contempt of others due to his crippled profound veins. But Yun Xiao was even worse off; what he had endured was far, far heavier than what Yun Che had experienced.
And thus, he understood well what Yun Xiao's state of mind must have been like all these years... The two of them were both people toyed with by fate.
The Huan Yao Realm had no reason not to hate the Tian Xuan Continent. How could Yun Xiao, who most likely belonged to the Tian Xuan Continent, be welcomed by the people here... even if he bore the title of Young Family Head of the Yun Clan? And how could the esteemed Tianxia Clan be willing to marry their only princess to such a person? It was truly not just a matter of status superiority or inferiority, but genuinely involved the clan's reputation and dignity...
Perhaps, if it weren't for the Yun Clan, the matter of Yun Xiao's bloodline could have been concealed. But unfortunately, it was the Yun Clan... The Arcane Firmament was an irrefutable ironclad proof.
"Your parents... do they treat you well?" Yun Che asked softly.
"My parents treat me very well." Yun Xiao nodded gently, a warmth flashing in his eyes. "Because of the Arcane Firmament, even I deeply doubted my own bloodline. But my parents say that I am their biological son. Facing the overwhelming doubts, they never conceded, and from childhood to adulthood, they have protected me with infinite care, never allowing me to suffer even the slightest grievance. Otherwise, given the hatred Yaohuang City holds for the Tian Xuan Continent, I might not have survived to this day."
"So, for the sake of your parents, you have been training desperately, willingly enduring all criticism and unfair treatment without ever resisting?" Yun Che said.
Tianxia Diqi had said that Yun Xiao had never received many resources from childhood to adulthood. Yet with ordinary talent and scarce resources, he had cultivated to the Half-step Overlord Xuan Realm at the age of twenty-two! In the seven kingdoms of the Tian Xuan Continent, that was the highest of achievements, even surpassing Feng Xiluo, who had once been called the number one among the young generation of the seven kingdoms!
It was easy to imagine how hard he had worked in cultivation all these years... or rather, how desperately.
"Mm." Yun Xiao nodded slightly, clenching his teeth a little. "I am the grandson of the Demon King, the son of Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou... I will never let them lose face, nor will I cause them trouble. In the future, if truly difficult times come, even if I have to risk my life, I will use my power to protect my parents well!"
As he said this, he noticed that Yun Che's gaze was somewhat unusual. His expression stiffened, and he asked nervously, "Brother Yun, will you also... look down on me because of all this?"
"Of course not." Yun Che shook his head without a moment's hesitation. "On the contrary, I admire you even more, and even... I should truly be grateful to you."
"Ah? Grateful to me?" Yun Xiao was stunned.
"Haha," Yun Che laughed heartily. He reached out and placed his hand on Yun Xiao's shoulder. "Yun Xiao, after we meet Senior Yun, how about we become sworn brothers?"
"Ah... ahhh?!" Yun Xiao's mouth fell open, his face full of disbelief. "Sworn... sworn brothers? M-me... with... Brother Yun?"
"That's right." Yun Che smiled. "Well, I admit that saying this suddenly is indeed a bit abrupt. If you're not willing, then forget it."
"No, no, no, no... it's not that!" Yun Xiao quickly waved his hands, so agitated that he stammered. "This... Brother Yun is so formidable, and I... you've seen and heard it all, I'm simply... how could someone like me be worthy of being brother with Brother Yun..."
"So by that logic, you also think you're unworthy of Seventh Sister?" Yun Che interrupted him.
"I..."
"Don't sell yourself short." Yun Che patted his shoulder, his eyes firm and sincere. "You are worthy of Seventh Sister, worthy of the identity of the Young Family Head of the Yun Clan, and even more worthy of becoming sworn brothers with me. All these years, you've been bearing many things alone. After we become sworn brothers, we will naturally share hardships. I will shoulder everything together with you. You want to be with Seventh Sister; I will help you work towards that. You want to protect your parents; I will protect them together with you. If anyone bullies you or your parents again... I will collect old and new debts for all of you!"
Yun Xiao's eyes trembled, his emotions surging and unable to calm for a long time. Growing up, he had lived every day under the strange gazes of others. His identity sounded noble, but not to mention young masters of other clans, even the servants of the Yun Clan were unwilling to get close to him. Yun Che's words and determined gaze struck his heart far too powerfully. When he opened his mouth, his voice had become choked: "Brother Yun, I..."
Yun Che knew that after all, he and Yun Xiao had only met for the first day. Saying such things suddenly would be hard for anyone to digest immediately. He smiled and said, "First, take me to see Senior Yun. We can talk about the rest later."
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