Chapter 22: Great Upheaval (Part 1)

Xiao Lixi had just left not long ago when Xia Qingyue returned. Today she had changed out of her red garments, replacing them with a flowing robe of water-blue silk, embroidered with phoenix patterns in light thread, her hair pinned with a jade hairpiece set with blue sapphires, earrings of polished pearls dangling at her ears, a sapphire-blue pearl necklace resting on her pale neck, her exposed throat gleaming like alabaster, translucent as if one could see through to the bones beneath, radiant with an inner light, exquisite beyond measure.

Xiao Che's eyes suddenly brightened, and he stood frozen, utterly transfixed. When a celestial being descends to the mortal realm, is it not this kind of unparalleled beauty that it reveals?

Xia Qingyue stepped through the door, each step as light and graceful as if treading on clouds, her snow-white neck adorned with pearls, beauty reaching its zenith, yet also bearing a haughty, cold dignity that made all who beheld her feel unworthy and degraded. Whoever saw her would never believe she was merely the daughter of a merchant in some remote town—rather, they would think her a divine princess, untouchable by common hands.

Xiao Che was dizzy with vision, his heart overflowing with admiration. The only room where she could change clothes was this very one! He must have been sound asleep at the time, missing her entire transformation into such a wondrous sight! Oh, how could he forgive himself for that!

"The blue robes suit you far better than the red." Xiao Che said, admiring her with genuine praise.

For his compliment, Xia Qingyue showed no reaction. Glancing at the empty soup pot on the table, she walked over and picked it up, intending to leave.

"Is that the chicken soup you made?" Xiao Che asked.

"Undrinkable?" she replied coolly, back to him. Yet deep within her eyes flickered a subtle emotion she herself could not fully comprehend.

"It's delicious. I just realized how skilled you are at making soup." Xiao Che smiled, stood up, stretched, and spoke with mock seriousness: "To repay my wife Qingyue's excellent chicken soup, tonight in bed, I'll give it my all."

"……" Having grown accustomed to his occasional flirtatious remarks, Xia Qingyue replied with a composed expression: "This afternoon, someone from Xiao Zong's side will arrive. The one leading them is Xiao Zong's youngest son, named Xiao Huoyun. The master told me this Xiao Huoyun's spiritual power among Xiao Zong's young generation is only average, his reputation outside is terrible. Yet as the youngest son, he's greatly favored. In Linyun City, no one dares to offend him. Try to avoid meeting him if possible."

"Xiao Huoyun? I understand. Thank you, my wife Qingyue." Xiao Che smiled warmly.

……………………………………

Today was the day Xiao Zong's people would arrive.

The news of their arrival sent ripples of impact far beyond just the Xiao sect—throughout Linyun City, a great commotion arose. Linyun City, in every regard, sat at the very bottom of the Chengfeng Empire, while Xiao Zong stood at its absolute pinnacle. The gap between them was immeasurable. Xiao Zong's people… and their heir, the son of the sect's leader himself visiting here—was this not equivalent to an emperor descending to the most humble village? The entire city was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. Some people, secretly hoping to find a way to associate with Xiao Zong, others felt a deep unease, and upon learning they would arrive this afternoon, all stayed indoors, fearing they might offend their guests. Xiao Zong's people killing them would be no different than stepping on ants beneath their feet. The laws and edicts meant nothing to them.

The courtyards of Xiao Sect were meticulously cleaned and polished, dust-free everywhere. The largest, most luxurious courtyard where Xiao Yungu had lived had been freshly swept and tidied two days prior, all bedding and furniture replaced, while Xiao Yungu himself had moved into the adjacent smaller courtyard. For the past few days, he had personally arranged all the meals. Though he worked himself to exhaustion and a fevered brow, his heart was filled with boundless excitement! For he was certain without a doubt that this time, Xiao Zong would select his son, Xiao Yulong, as the chosen one! When that happened, his son would soar to greatness! And he himself would become the absolute ruler whom no one in Linyun City dares to offend—within hundreds of miles!

Starting from ten o'clock in the morning, Xiao Yungu personally led various elders and attendants to stand at the gate, waiting to greet them. They waited until noon… and then… until nearly five in the afternoon. Finally, a sweat-soaked disciple of Xiao Sect ran back, shouting: "Master! They've come! They've come! That power… it's truly from Xiao Zong!"

All the people were shocked. Xiao Yungu took a bold step forward to the gate, bellowed: "Quick! Notify everyone to prepare! Whoever has done something unworthy of the honored guests shall not escape punishment! All the elders, come with me to meet them at a distance!"

Xiao Yungu sprinted ahead, and when he had reached over a hundred paces, he finally saw four figures walking slowly toward them.

Among the four, the one leading was a young man, barely twenty, dressed in fine clothes, of average build and plain features, his pale face tinged with yellow, bearing the countenance of one who had overindulged. In terms of appearance, he was the kind of man you'd lose in a crowd—yet on this ordinary face was written pride and arrogance. He walked with his hands behind his back, eyes cast upward, giving not even a glance to passersby, as if even looking at him would soil his eyes.

Behind him walked an old man in black robes, his face as calm and composed as still water. Then came two other young men in black, each wearing on their shoulders a silver embroidered eagle design.

Xiao Yungu took a deep breath, quickened his pace, and bowed respectfully: "May I ask, are your four excellencies guests from Xiao Zong?"

The young man ahead stopped, looked them over with a lazy gaze, half-closed eyes: "Indeed, I am Xiao Zong's Xiao Huoyun."

Xiao Yungu's posture instantly became even more respectful and trembling: "Truly your four excellencies! We have been waiting so long! I am the current master of Xiao Sect here in Linyun City, and behind me are these five most esteemed elders of our sect. Your four excellencies have traveled so far to visit us—we are deeply grateful and anxious."

"No need for such fuss." Xiao Huoyun casually brushed past the five elders, then lazily waved his hand: "Lead the way."

"Yes, yes! Please." Xiao Yungu nodded eagerly, bowed deeply, and led them back into Xiao Sect.

"May I ask who this senior is…"

"Xiao Mao Shan." The old man in black said calmly. A face devoid of any emotion, as lifeless as a corpse.

Xiao Yungu dared not speak. In his heart, he felt a chill. Xiao Huoyun's spiritual power he could still sense, but from this Xiao Mao Shan, he detected not the faintest trace of spiritual energy. In such a situation—either this Xiao Mao Shan possessed no spiritual cultivation at all, which was obviously impossible, or his spiritual power was so far beyond Xiao Yungu that he couldn't even perceive it.

Back at the gate, a large crowd had already gathered. Seeing Xiao Yungu's humble posture up ahead, they were startled, eyes all fixed on the proud young man in the center, and rushed forward one after another in deference.

"May I ask if this gentleman is indeed a son of Xiao Zong?" A plump middle-aged man rushed to the front, bowing respectfully.

"Who are you?" Xiao Huoyun glanced at him with one eye half-closed.

"I am the governor of Linyun City, surname Wu, having heard of the honored guests from Xiao Zong's arrival, I… I have come to pay my respects." By the end, his voice trembled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. As governor of Linyun City, he had encountered many important figures, but none in the presence of Xiao Zong's son—not even a single bow. The man before him seemed ordinary, but to kill him would be no more difficult than snapping one's fingers.

"My name is Wu Bao, a longtime friend of Xiao Sect's master, I have come… I have come to pay respects and present a modest gift, hoping Xiao Son might accept it." Another prominent figure from the Wu family in Linyun City also stepped forward, respectfully holding a delicate jade box.

Xiao Huoyun glanced at the jade box, then waved back at the two men behind him: "Keep it."

The man behind him immediately stepped forward, taking the jade box without expression.

Seeing that Xiao Zong's young master had accepted his gift, Wu Bao beamed with joy. Others wanting to associate with Xiao Zong also surged forward in a rush, presenting their gifts one after another. Xiao Huoyun received them all without hesitation, then, with one eye half-closed, casually said: "You all step aside. It's getting late. If there's anything, we'll discuss it tomorrow."

"Yes, yes! Xiao Son has traveled so far, surely he's tired. We'll come pay respects again tomorrow after he's rested." The governor bowed eagerly.

The crowd finally dispersed.

Xiao Yungu and the five elders respectfully guided Xiao Huoyun back into Xiao Sect, Xiao Yungu stepping forward: "Your four excellencies, having traveled such a long way, perhaps you should rest first? Our guest rooms are ready."

"Not needed. My bones aren't that frail." Xiao Huoyun glanced around the courtyard, sneered, revealing an undisguised disdain: "If it weren't for Master Xiao Zhe's passing, I wouldn't even know this place existed. They say the ancestors here were expelled by our Xiao Sect as trash, but even trash from Xiao Sect, once discarded, could still become a king in this place. After so many years, to have developed into this… it's not bad, I suppose."

"Indeed, your excellency, we humbly thank you."

Facing Xiao Huoyun's open disdain and contempt, Xiao Yungu could only nod gratefully, daring not to argue a single word.

"The deceased was a great man. I myself came here to fulfill Xiao Zhe's final wishes. The purpose has already been explained in the letter to you. Tomorrow morning, gather all your people here in this courtyard—none may be missing. I will personally select someone to take back to Xiao Zong." When he said this, Xiao Huoyun lifted his head high, as if issuing a divine decree to bless all under his domain.

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