Chapter 920: In Broad Daylight
"Yong'an, be careful, don't rush... oh careful careful, hehehe..."
Xiao Yong'an moved his tiny hands and feet, crawling quite nimbly back and forth on the wooden couch, occasionally letting out "giggling" laughter. Xiao Lie carefully guarded beside him, afraid he might bump himself if he fell, his face full of joyful smiles.
"Yong'an is truly amazing. It's been less than two months, and he can already crawl this fast." Xiao Lingxi rested her chin on her hands, watching Xiao Yong'an with a smile. Whenever his gaze turned to her, she couldn't help but make a cute funny face.
"Maybe in another two or three months, he'll learn to walk." Xiao Lie said cheerfully. After all, Xiao Yong'an was no ordinary infant. His mother was a princess of the Elf Clan, possessing an extraordinary constitution and talent.
"Ah," Xiao Lie suddenly thought of something at this moment and let out a soft sigh, muttering to himself: "Unknowingly, it's been many months since we left Liuyun City."
Xiao Lingxi: "..."
"Xi'er," Xiao Lie gave Xiao Lingxi a deep look and said, "You're not young anymore. It's time to consider your lifelong matters."
"Ah?" Not expecting Xiao Lie to suddenly bring up this topic, Xiao Lingxi was stunned. She said flusteredly, "I, I, I... I've never thought about such things. I only want to take good care of Father."
"Hehe," Xiao Lie chuckled. "You child, you're too filial. You're always worried about this old man. In those years, my poor health truly held you back. It's been almost eight years since Che'er's first wedding. If I don't marry you off soon, I'm afraid your mother's spirit in heaven will blame me to death."
"In this Demon Emperor City, there are quite a few young masters who fancy you, and every one of them comes from an extraordinary family. Is there any among them you have your eye on? If so, I'll go and put in a good word for you."
"No, no, of course not!" Xiao Lingxi quickly shook her head. Just as she was at a loss, Yun Che happened to walk in: "Grandfather, Little Aunt."
Reinforcements had arrived. Xiao Lingxi immediately stood up and walked over to him: "Little Che, have you recovered from your injuries?"
"I couldn't be better. I just went for a spin outside the city with Ling'er." Yun Che said with a smile, then reached out his arm to Xiao Yong'an: "Yong'an, come to Uncle."
"Oh hahahaha!" As soon as Yun Che reached out, a rough and loud laugh came from outside. Tianxia Xiongtu, his face glowing, swaggered in holding a small wooden horse in his hands: "Good grandson, Grandpa is here to see you! Look what good thing Grandpa brought you!"
Tianxia Xiongtu's roar could be heard far and wide. Xiao Yong'an stopped crawling, pursed his lips, and suddenly burst into loud crying.
Tianxia Diqi heard the crying and rushed in like the wind, picking up Xiao Yong'an and soothing him, not forgetting to scold Tianxia Xiongtu: "Dad! That's the eighth time! Could you keep your mouth shut when you come in?!"
"..." Tianxia Xiongtu stood there awkwardly and smiled apologetically at Xiao Lie: "Old man, look at my memory... Oh oh oh, my good grandson, don't cry, don't cry. Grandpa will be quieter next time."
Yun Che shook his head with a smile and came to Xiao Lingxi's side: "Little Aunt, let's go out first. I happen to have something to discuss with you."
The two walked out of the courtyard. Yun Che looked at Xiao Lingxi's expression and asked doubtfully, "Lingxi, you seem to have something on your mind."
"Father... he must be homesick." Xiao Lingxi said softly.
"Homesick..." Yun Che nodded. "Actually, I've sensed it too. Grandfather has always had deep feelings for Liuyun City. This time, we've been away for so long and so far."
Back then, he had brought Xiao Lie to the Cangfeng Imperial City, which was under Cang Yue's direct care. Everything there was a hundred times better than the small Liuyun City, but in the end, he didn't stay long and insisted on returning to Liuyun City... even though there were many bad memories there. Now, during these months in the Illusion Demon Realm, although he tried to hide it, it was still somewhat evident that his homesickness grew stronger every day.
It seemed that in Liuyun City, there was something he couldn't let go of.
"Actually... rather than saying Father has feelings for Liuyun City, it's more accurate to say he can't forget my mother." Xiao Lingxi said softly.
"Your mother?" Yun Che was stunned.
Xiao Lingxi had never seen her mother because she passed away shortly after giving birth to her. He might have seen her, but he was only one year old at the time and had no recollection at all. Not even a vague outline remained in his memory.
"Although I've never seen my mother, I know that Father and Mother had a very special relationship. Father has kept all of Mother's belongings safe all these years. He takes them out and looks at them almost every day. Every time he goes to pay respects at her grave, he talks to her for a very long time. And after all these years, he has never thought of remarrying..."
"..." Yun Che actually knew all this. He had always understood in his heart that if it weren't for taking care of him, who was only one year old, and the newborn Xiao Lingxi back then, he might have truly followed her to the grave. After he became famous and Xiao Lingxi was safe and sound, Xiao Lie suddenly developed an incredibly strong death wish... The reason was that he had no more worries and could finally go to the other world to be with his deceased wife. If he hadn't forced Tianxia Diqi to become pregnant, even if his medical skills were ten times better, he couldn't have saved someone whose heart was set on death.
The depth of Xiao Lie's feelings for his deceased wife was evident.
"The biggest reason Father is so attached to Liuyun City is that it's the place where he and Mother lived together, with all their memories. But at the same time, he can't bear to part with Yong'an, since Yong'an's parents are both here. Ah... what should we do?" Xiao Lingxi shook her head in distress.
"Don't worry. This matter will be resolved very soon." Yun Che said with a confident expression. "In another twenty days, the teleportation array between the Tian Xuan Continent and the Illusion Demon Realm will be opened. And on the Tian Xuan Continent side, there should be people helping to open a teleportation array connecting to Liuyun City. By then, Grandfather will be able to travel between the two places with ease."
"Ah?" Xiao Lingxi exclaimed in surprise. "Really?"
"Of course," Yun Che said cheerfully. "After all, they are the five most powerful sects in the Tian Xuan Continent. If they can't even manage such a small thing, then all those years of heritage would be wasted."
"That's great!" The matter that had been troubling her was suddenly resolved. Xiao Lingxi jumped for joy, then remembered what Yun Che had said earlier: "Oh, Little Che, you said you had something to tell me. What is it?"
"Hmm..." Yun Che thought for a moment, then decided to say it directly: "A few months ago, Xuanyuan Wentian used a special method to take over Fen Juechen's body. From that moment on, they essentially existed in a 'shared body' form. When Xuanyuan Wentian died... it meant Fen Juechen also died."
"..." Xiao Lingxi lowered her head, her expression slightly dim. "I guessed that. I don't know why fate was so unfair to Brother Fen. Although he looked very scary, he really wasn't a bad person. On the contrary, many times, he was kinder than most people."
"When has fate ever been fair?" Yun Che said with melancholy, then immediately changed the subject: "He indeed wasn't a pure villain. But to say he was kind... I think you're the only one in the whole world who thinks so."
"Huh?" Xiao Lingxi parted her lips. "But I really do think Brother Fen was a very kind person. Before I even knew him, he saved me once. Later, he not only saved Liuyun City but protected it for a very long time. He originally wanted to kill Little Che so badly, but in the end, he was willing to let go of his hatred. Later, in the Ice Extreme Snow Domain, he saved us again."
Yun Che looked at her seriously and said, "Actually, none of this has anything to do with whether he was kind or not. It's only because... he liked you."
"Ah?" Xiao Lingxi's beautiful eyes widened, and then she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Still laughing." Yun Che shrugged. "I knew you wouldn't believe it."
"Believe it? No way." Xiao Lingxi said. "How could Brother Fen possibly like me? No, no, with Brother Fen's cold and indifferent personality, there's no way he would like any woman."
"That's why I say, even though you're this old, you're still as innocent as a little girl."
The soul deficiency from the forbidden art of reincarnation had made Fen Juechen's temperament especially eccentric and extreme. He was arrogant to the extreme—Yun Che had experienced that back at the Cangfeng Mystic Palace. If he hated someone, it was an extreme hatred. Conversely, if he liked someone, he would like them to the extreme as well.
Xiao Lingxi had tried her best in her own way to resolve Fen Juechen's hatred for Yun Che, and she had succeeded. But she didn't know that it wasn't because her methods were so brilliant—it was because in this world, only she could make him do so.
This included his possessing dark profound energy but no longer killing innocents, protecting Liuyun City, and saving them in the Ice Extreme Snow Domain... None of it had anything to do with whether he was kind. It was all solely because of Xiao Lingxi.
Xiao Lingxi had never truly understood Fen Juechen, because the Fen Juechen in front of her and the one in front of others were two completely different people.
No matter how powerful a man is, there will always be one woman who becomes the greatest nemesis in his life. Xiao Lingxi was Fen Juechen's nemesis. But at the same time, she had brought redemption to him, who had offered his soul to darkness, in the final moments of his life. At least when his soul dissipated, he wasn't filled with hatred or hysteria, but was exceptionally peaceful and calm.
It was just that Xiao Lingxi was completely unaware of all this.
"Little girl?" Xiao Lingxi pouted and said unconvincedly, "What a disrespectful child. I'm your little aunt. In front of me, you're the little one."
"You're only my little aunt in front of Grandfather. Right now, you're just my Lingxi."
Yun Che suddenly turned around and hugged Xiao Lingxi tightly. Amidst her startled cry, he pressed her against the wall beside them, his body slowly leaning against her soft chest.
"Ah—Little Che, you... what are you doing..." Xiao Lingxi instinctively shrank back, looking nervous.
Yun Che slowly brought his face closer, his breath gently brushing against her cheek: "Before I came in just now, I heard Grandfather talking to you about marriage. You're not... really thinking of getting married, are you?"
"...That's right." Xiao Lingxi's beautiful eyes shifted, and she said seriously, "I'm twenty-three this year. If I don't get married soon, no one will want me."
"No!" Yun Che's expression turned stern. "You're not allowed to marry anyone! You're not allowed to like anyone!"
"Hmph," Xiao Lingxi turned her face away. "Then if I can't marry anyone else, will you marry me?"
Will you marry me? —Eight years ago, on the day of his grand wedding with Xia Qingyue, the same words had been spoken, but the emotions behind them had subtly changed.
"If you weren't my little aunt, I would definitely marry you." Yun Che looked into her eyes and said with a smile... It was also on that day, the night of his wedding with Xia Qingyue, that he had sat with Xiao Lingxi on the back mountain watching the stars, and he had unconsciously spoken this vow.
"..." Xiao Lingxi had never forgotten those words. She stared blankly at Yun Che, and her eyes suddenly became misty.
"And now, you're no longer my little aunt, but my Lingxi." Yun Che said with a smile.
Xiao Lingxi gently bit her lower lip, her body trembling slightly: "Then do you dare tell Father that you want to marry me?"
"I dare not..."
"I knew you wouldn't dare." Xiao Lingxi said quietly.
"Indeed, not yet. But very soon..." Yun Che revealed a mysterious smile. "Very soon, I'll dare to say it openly in front of Grandfather."
"Huh?" Xiao Lingxi's beautiful eyes rippled with sparkling light. "Very soon?"
"Yes, very soon. But first..." Yun Che's gaze suddenly turned dangerous. "I need to make you clearly understand one more thing."
"What? What..."
"And that is... I am not a little child!"
"Ah—" Xiao Lingxi let out a startled cry, but before she could finish, her fragrant lips were forcefully kissed by Yun Che. All her sounds turned into powerless whimpers. At first, she instinctively struggled, but soon her struggles grew weaker and weaker until her whole body went limp against Yun Che's chest. She closed her beautiful eyes, letting him take what he wanted.
Yun Che's hand gently brushed, and in one swift motion, he deftly untied all her sash and jade clasps. His hand went straight in, slipping past her inner garments, sliding up along her slender waist like a willow, and grabbing onto a soft, plump, tender mound of snow...
"Mm..." Xiao Lingxi let out a startled moan, her beautiful eyes widening. They were still on the path of the Yun family, with bright sunlight shining down on them. She never expected Yun Che to be so bold here. She hurriedly broke free from his lips, panting heavily, her delicate brows trembling nervously. But she couldn't escape the demonic hand wreaking havoc inside her clothes. The soft, fragrant jade that she herself was too shy to touch was being recklessly kneaded into various shapes.
"Now, do you still say I'm a little child?" Yun Che whispered in her ear.
Xiao Lingxi buried her head deep into his chest, her delicate face flushed like sunset clouds. She didn't dare look into Yun Che's eyes, and let out a soft whimper like a little animal: "Little Che... you... you've become... so bad... ah!"
With another startled cry, he lifted her undergarments, and her tender breasts were exposed to the air. Though not very full, they were flawless like jade, like two white jade bowls inverted on her chest.
"Ah... no..." Xiao Lingxi hurriedly brought her hands to protect her chest, looking around nervously: "Someone... might see us..."
Ordinary people could never escape Yun Che's perception. He smiled like a big bad wolf about to devour a little lamb: "Don't worry. If anyone dares to look, I'll gouge out their..."
Before he could finish, he suddenly felt a gaze sweep across his back from behind. He turned his head like lightning and saw, in the sky behind him, a petite and exquisite young girl floating there silently, expressionlessly looking at him. The colorful long dress she wore refracted rainbow-like radiance under the sunlight.
Xiao Yaohou!
"Ah!!" As Yun Che turned his head, Xiao Lingxi also spotted Xiao Yaohou. She let out a sharp cry and frantically pulled down her clothes. The blush on her face spread instantly to her neck. She was so mortified she almost cried.
Never in her life had she been so embarrassed—being violated by Yun Che in broad daylight... and being seen by someone.
"Caiyi, you... came." Yun Che turned around, trying to put on a smiling face. "Haha... the weather... is really nice today."
She had already pulled down both her inner and outer garments, but Xiao Lingxi still kept both hands protectively in front of her, not daring to look at Xiao Yaohou. She kept her head low and didn't even forget to secretly pinch Yun Che's waist.
"You two... must have important things to discuss... I... I'll be going now."
After saying that, still holding her chest, she ran away as if fleeing.
Xiao Yaohou: "..."
"Well... Lingxi and I..."
"No need to explain." As soon as Yun Che opened his mouth, Xiao Yaohou cut him off with displeasure, saying coldly, "Do you think we're fools? Did you really think we were completely unaware?"
"Uh...?" Yun Che was slightly dazed.
"I came today to tell you two things." Xiao Yaohou's expression didn't seem different from usual, but there was a hint of irritation in her words. "First, the location of the teleportation array. I plan to set it up in the Yun family's detached residence. After weighing many locations, only this one is the most convenient and reassuring."
Yun Che thought briefly and nodded firmly: "Hmm, good choice. As expected, my Caiyi is the smartest wife."
"Second thing..." Xiao Yaohou slightly turned her face away. "Your injuries are mostly healed. Starting tonight, move back to the Demon Emperor Palace!"
"Hehe," Yun Che flew to Xiao Yaohou's side and said grinningly, "Caiyi, I knew you must be missing me. I was just about to tell my parents that I want to move back to the Demon Emperor Palace... Oh, I want to bring Ling'er along too. Let her stay at the Demon Emperor Palace at night from now on."
"..." Xiao Yaohou's gaze shifted. "You still haven't explained to us what's going on with Ling'er."
"This..." Yun Che said with a troubled expression. "It's not that I don't want to explain, but it's really hard to explain. I'll tell you when the time is right. For now, Ling'er holds the key to curing your life-threatening condition. That's why I want her to move into the Demon Emperor Palace."
"?" Xiao Yaohou raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled about how Ling'er curing her was connected to whether she lived in the Demon Emperor Palace. But she didn't press further.
"Oh, Caiyi, I was just about to go to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley. Do you want to come with me?" Yun Che said with a straight face, but his hands suddenly circled around her chest and gave her soft breasts a firm squeeze.
"Mm..." Xiao Yaohou let out a soft cry that only appeared in front of Yun Che. She quickly dodged away, nervously scanning her surroundings, then let out a sound that seemed angry but was too soft, and flew far away, afraid that if Yun Che's beastly nature took over, she would end up like Xiao Lingxi.
The warm, soft sensation lingered in his palms for a long time. Yun Che looked at his hands and muttered to himself: "As expected of the Immortal Fat and Jade Liquid, the effects are becoming more and more obvious. Hmm... should I get some for Lingxi too..."
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[I have to seriously complain about something (if I don't, I'll explode) — Read carefully: "ling"! "ling"! "ling"! Three water drops, such big water drops! It's pronounced "ling," second tone! Not "leng"! Not "leng"! Not "leng"!! It's "Xiao Lingxi"! Not "Xiao Lengxi"!]
[I let it slide the year before last, I endured it last year, but this year, the backstage messages are still full of "Xiao Lengxi"!! Leng your sister! From now on, if anyone smacks "Xiao Lengxi" in my face, I will definitely have a talk about life with your Chinese teacher — if your Chinese was indeed taught by a Chinese teacher!]
[Phew! Feeling refreshed instantly!]