Chapter 31: Seven Fairies of Frozen Cloud, Chu Yueli

"Wait a moment! You're not yet ready to leave!"

A voice called from behind, causing Xiao Che to pause mid-step. Xiao Yu Long hurried over, his face stern: "Everyone knows that Xiao Che only recently married—four days ago—when he took as his bride the first pearl of our Summer Cloud City, the Summer family's precious daughter, Summer Qingyue. But you must all remember, why did Summer Qingyue agree to marry Xiao Che? Because the son of the Fifth Elder, Xiao Ying, once saved her life. It was out of gratitude—and to honor the marriage contract from sixteen years ago! But regardless of gratitude or the old vow, the bride should have been given to Xiao Ying's own biological son… not some bastard with no Xiao family bloodline, sprung from who knows where!"

Xiao Yu Long's words struck everyone like a thunderclap. Indeed, Summer Qingyue's marriage to Xiao Che was due to the sixteen-year-old vow, and now that Xiao Che was no longer Xiao Ying's son, this grand wedding was nothing but an error!

Since it was an error, then…

Xiao Che did not look back. Coldly, he said, "Xiao Yu Long, my personal marital affairs are none of your concern."

"No, they are my concern." Xiao Yu Long sneered, his voice ringing out: "Right now, all of Summer Cloud City knows the first pearl was wed to me, the Xiao family. But today, everyone will learn she was married to a bastard raised by the Xiao family for sixteen years—a mockery of our lineage! He is no true heir of the Xiao gate!" His gaze shifted to the silent Summer Hongyi standing behind them. His voice rose a notch: "Summer family patriarch, Yu Long has heard you and Xiao Ying were close, and you gave your daughter to him, perhaps fulfilling your lifelong wish. But now the truth is revealed—this Xiao Che is no son of Xiao Ying, just a ruffian plucked from who knows where. I imagine your heart is equally unbearable now."

Summer Hongyi said nothing, but his face had gone pale.

At last, those who had long resented Summer Qingyue's union with Xiao Che found their chance to vent, their cries rising in chaos:

"Xiao Yu Long is right! Summer Qingyue was wed to our Xiao family, but now we know Xiao Che is no true son of ours—this marriage must be undone!"

"The Fifth Elder knew Xiao Che wasn't one of us, yet he pushed this union… a disgraceful fraud!"

"This worthless waste of a man didn't deserve Summer Qingyue! Annul the marriage, cast him out of the Xiao gate!"

"Summer patriarch! Say something! You've been fooled by the Fifth Elder and Xiao Che for years, letting your daughter's marriage become a joke—aren't you furious?"

…A cacophony of sarcasm, condemnation, gloating, and scorn erupted. The hatred that had simmered since Xiao Che took Summer Qingyue found its outlet, their shouts sharp and jarring. Each person stood with righteous indignation, as if judging a condemned man.

At that moment, Xiao Yunhai spoke, his expression cold: "Xiao Che, we've all heard their words. You have no right to take Summer Qingyue as your bride. To prevent the Xiao family from becoming a laughingstock—and to spare the Summer family further shame—hand over the marriage contract before you leave our gate."

Xiao Che said nothing. He slipped his hand into his sleeve and withdrew a marriage contract—something he had always carried.

Xiao Yu Long saw it and rushed forward to snatch it, but Xiao Che shifted his body, placing the contract into Summer Qingyue's trembling hands.

Summer Qingyue instinctively grasped the document, her eyes widening with a flicker of confusion.

"Our marriage is our own affair—whether to stay or part, it is between us. Even the King of Hell cannot interfere." Xiao Che's voice cut through the chaos, hard and unyielding. Then it softened, his gaze lingering on Summer Qingyue: "For now, I cannot protect this contract. I leave it to you—if you wish to remain my wife, keep it. If you seek freedom… then destroy it."

Summer Qingyue: "…"

Though he had placed the burden and choice in her hands, the loss of male dignity weighed upon him. Yet Xiao Che had no other path.

Watching her clasp the contract tightly, Xiao Che gave a faint smile, nodding. His eyes swept over Xiao Che, Xiao Lingxi, and Summer Hongyi, then turned toward the door. Without looking back, he strode through the gate, vanishing into the distance, a solitary figure.

Xiao Che had always been small, even within the Xiao family—a shadow, a name few noticed. Though his sharp words had impressed some, they could not alter the truth or the decades of perception. Thus, his departure mattered little to them all—only a momentary glee at his fall. Soon, their attention shifted entirely to the contract in Summer Qingyue's hands.

"Miss Summer, I suppose you're furious, knowing the truth?" Xiao Yu Long approached her with a smirk: "Xiao Che deceived our Xiao family for sixteen years, and ruined the Summer family too. But never mind—simply tear up the contract, and all your past will be erased. The entire Summer Cloud City will understand and support your choice. And with your talents, you’ll surely find a husband a thousand times better than Xiao Che."

Since witnessing Xiao Yu Long's ugliness, Summer Qingyue had grown to loathe him. Now, her voice was ice: "Did you hear your husband's words? This is our private matter—no outsider's interference!"

Xiao Yu Long's face drained of color—as did many others'. They had assumed Summer Qingyue would tear up the contract without hesitation, forced by duty and gratitude. Yet here she stood, agreeing with Xiao Che, decisive and unyielding. His name for her—"husband"—shattered their expectations. Xiao Yu Long's face turned a sickly green, his plans crumbling. With Xiao Che exiled, Summer Qingyue was, in theory, no longer tied to the Xiao family. They had no right to force her.

Xiao Che's eyes held a flicker of light, softening as he looked at Summer Qingyue. Xiao Zong pressed his hand to his heart, the Xiao family chanting his name—she had spoken for him, even if the outcome was uncertain. She had upheld his final dignity.

Even Xiao Lingxi, who had long harbored inexplicable resentment toward Summer Qingyue, felt a grudging gratitude.

Summer Hongyi, silent until now, nodded slowly, a hint of respect in his expression.

Xiao Kuangyun's face darkened. If Summer Qingyue didn't tear the contract, he’d need to go to great lengths to claim her. Behind him, Xiao Man Shan—a strict deputy abbot of the Xiao Sect’s Discipline Hall—would not tolerate such behavior. Xiao Kuangyun had come to protect him and monitor his actions, ensuring he didn’t tarnish the sect’s reputation. Xiao Man Shan might tolerate his frivolities, but never a woman’s seizure.

Yet the mighty Xiao Zong, sect patriarch, would not be swayed by a Summer family maiden. He scowled, his voice like thunder: "This is not yours to decide! This marriage affects the Xiao family’s honor, and the Xiao sect’s reputation. I, Xiao Zong, the world’s most honored monk, will not let anyone defile us! Xiao Ba, destroy that contract!"

"Yes! Young Master!"

Xiao Kuangyun’s forced justification rang out, strained and hollow. No one dared challenge him. Xiao Man Shan stood motionless. Xiao Ba obeyed, leaping from the platform with a sudden, violent motion, racing toward Summer Qingyue, his eyes locked on the contract in her hands.

Xiao Zong intervened. Who could stop him in Summer Cloud City? Just as all expected the contract to be torn, a gust of wind—cold as winter—swept down from the sky.

*Whoosh!*

Xiao Ba barely touched the ground before being hurled backward, crashing onto the platform, shivering uncontrollably. His body was coated in a thin layer of ice.

The sudden turn of events drew gasps. Xiao Man Shan’s closed eyes snapped open, his gaze darting upward—then a voice, clear and icy, echoed from the heavens: "How surprising—our Xiao sect has grown bold enough to interfere in my brother’s marital affairs! Who gave you the right?"

The sky was azure, with wisps of cloud. A woman in white robes hovered above, her eyes like frost. Her beauty was otherworldly—snow-white skin, crimson lips, jade bones, exquisite and pristine, like a celestial maiden from the moon palace, or a solitary ice lotus untainted by the mortal world.

Though her face was visible, her age was indistinct—perhaps twenty, perhaps thirty, perhaps ten. A shimmering aura of ice surrounded her, like a fairy’s breath, ethereal and divine.

The sky’s beauty left the crowd speechless. Then a trembling voice called out:

"Xuan… Xuan Du… Xuan Du!"

The shout struck like a thunderclap, jaws dropping, eyes bulging. All eyes turned to the woman in the sky—she floated effortlessly, no tools, no flying beast, just her own power. To achieve "Xuan Du Xu Kong," one must reach the Tian Xuan realm!

The woman above was none other than the legendary… Tian Xuan realm!

"Frost Cloud Seven Immortals!" Xiao Man Shan murmured, his body tensing, fear flickering in his eyes.

"What? What did you say?" Xiao Kuangyun, entranced moments before, jolted upright. Frost Cloud Seven Immortals! Belonging to the Frost Cloud Divine Palace, their rank just below the palace matron—seven women whose power even their father feared. The weakest among them had reached Tian Xuan; the strongest, said to be nearing half-step King Xuan.

Their presence had long kept the Xiao sect under siege. Three consecutive Proud Cloud Rankings, all lost to the Frost Cloud Divine Palace.

"Young Master, she is the fifth among the Frost Cloud Seven Immortals—Zhu Meilu. I don’t know why she’s here… but do not offend her. Ten of me and mine combined couldn’t defeat her!" Xiao Man Shan whispered. Xiao Kuangyun knew exactly who she was—a man-eater, greedy as ever. If he showed her favor, the consequences would be dire!

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