Chapter 15

In the early morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the head of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yunhai, was awakened from his deep sleep by a series of urgent knocks on the door: "Head! Head, are you awake?"

Xiao Yunhai opened his eyes, glanced at the light outside, and frowned, saying, "So early in the morning, what's the matter?"

"It's... it's the Xiao Sect! A letter from the Xiao Sect!" came the trembling and excited voice from outside the door.

"What? The Xiao Sect!?"

This head of the Xiao Clan, a peak figure who could walk with impunity in Liuyun City, was as if stabbed by a sharp knife in the buttocks, jumping up from the bed. His reaction was so intense that he almost fell off the bed. He hurriedly put on his clothes, didn't even have time to tidy his hair, and rushed to the door at the fastest speed, grabbing the Xiao Clan disciple outside and shouting with wide eyes, "You said the Xiao Sect? You mean the Xiao Sect!?"

"Yes! It's the Xiao Sect, without a doubt!" The Xiao Clan disciple swallowed hard and nodded forcefully, then quickly presented the letter in his hand to Xiao Yunhai: "The letter bears the Heavenly Eagle Seal of the Xiao Sect! In the entire Cangfeng Empire, no one dares to impersonate the unique mark of the Xiao Sect."

When Xiao Yunhai's gaze fell on the Heavenly Eagle Seal on the letter, his whole body trembled. He snatched the letter and, with trembling hands, hastily and carefully tore open the envelope, taking out the thin paper inside.

The Xiao Sect, though only one character different from their Xiao Clan, was worlds apart! While the Xiao Clan could barely dominate Liuyun City, it was a completely unknown existence in the Cangfeng Continent. The Xiao Sect, however, was one of the four strongest sects in the Cangfeng Empire, on par with the Heavenly Sword Manor, Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, and Burning Heaven Sect. It was a transcendent existence that the Xiao Clan didn't even have the资格 to look up to.

To put it bluntly, a mere servant in the Xiao Sect might not even look up to the legitimate head of the Xiao Clan.

However, there was indeed some connection between the Xiao Clan and the Xiao Sect. The founder of the Liuyun City Xiao Clan, Xiao Bie Li, was once a member of the Xiao Sect... more accurately, a discarded disciple, rumored to be the son of an elder. However, Xiao Bie Li was the result of the elder's drunken indiscretion, raping a servant girl of the Xiao Sect. From a young age, he was unremarkable in appearance, had extremely poor talent, and was the subject of much gossip, which the elder greatly disliked. When he came of age, his spiritual power was the lowest among his peers, and staying in the Xiao Sect would only bring shame to the elder. So, he found an opportunity to send him to the then desolate Liuyun City, helping him establish the Xiao Clan, and from then on, never inquired about him again, cutting off all ties with the Xiao Sect.

But Xiao Bie Li was always proud of being born in the Xiao Sect. He devoted his life to cultivating spiritual power, hoping to achieve something and one day gain the recognition of the Xiao Sect to return. However, this wish remained unfulfilled until the day he died. After his death, this wish was passed down through generations of the Xiao Clan, becoming the ultimate goal of each generation. Every head of the Xiao Clan hoped to establish a connection with the Xiao Sect through the tiny bit of Xiao Sect blood in their veins, even if it was just a slight connection. However, over the years, no one in the Xiao Clan had ever achieved this wish. The Xiao Sect was like a palace in the sky, impossible to touch.

But today, the Xiao Sect had actually sent a letter! How could Xiao Yunhai not be overjoyed and excited, as if in a dream?

Reading the letter word by word, Xiao Yunhai's face turned red, and his breathing became disordered. He pointed outside with a trembling finger and said in a hoarse voice, "Quick... quick, go and notify all the elders and enforcers to immediately gather in the meeting hall! Tell them there is a matter concerning the future of our Xiao Clan to be discussed... go quickly!"

"Ah... yes!" The Xiao Clan disciple hurriedly responded and ran off.

...

Xiao Che, holding a large red blanket, quietly pushed open the door and entered his room, only to find Xia Qingyue already dressed and sitting by the bed, her beautiful eyes as calm as still water, looking at him without a ripple.

Xiao Che immediately threw the blanket on the table and asked with a straight face, "Wife, up so early? Did you sleep well last night?"

"Tell me where you went last night first," Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, asking calmly.

"Unnecessary," Xiao Che stretched lazily and began to tidy his hair in the mirror, "Because I know you're not interested."

Xia Qingyue: "..."

Although he had spent the night on the back mountain with Xiao Lingxi, he felt surprisingly refreshed in the morning. After tidying his clothes and hair, he restored his perfect小白 face image and said, "Let's go. On the first morning, we must go to greet Grandfather... you wouldn't refuse, right?"

Xia Qingyue didn't speak, stood up, and walked out of the room before him. Xiao Che shrugged and quickly followed.

Xiao Lie always got up very early, and today was no exception. As soon as they entered Xiao Lie's courtyard, they saw him admiring his flowers in the yard. Seeing Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue come in side by side, he smiled warmly, "You're here."

Under Xiao Lie's gaze, Xiao Che quickly reached out and grabbed Xia Qingyue's small hand. Her hand was soft and smooth, and perhaps due to her cultivation of the Ice Cloud Technique, it was slightly cool. Xia Qingyue's whole body stiffened, and she was about to forcefully shake Xiao Che off, but when she met Xiao Lie's eyes, she could only endure it and let Xiao Che hold her hand as they walked toward Xiao Lie.

Her father always respected Xiao Lie, and so did she. She could show no affection for Xiao Che in front of him, but if she forcefully shook off his hand in front of Xiao Lie, it would be unimaginable how displeased Xiao Lie would look.

This despicable bastard...

"Grandfather, you're up so early again today," Xiao Che, holding Xia Qingyue's hand, walked over and naturally bowed to Xiao Lie.

"Qingyue, greet Grandfather," Xia Qingyue gently bowed, her posture graceful and dignified. Her small hand, which had never been held by a man before, was now held in a rather despicable and shameless manner, making her both angry and helpless. If she wasn't worried that the fluctuation of her spiritual energy would be detected by the old man with peak Spirit Realm strength, she would have frozen Xiao Che with the Ice Cloud Technique.

"Hehe, you two are also up early," seeing Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue looking very intimate, Xiao Lie's face showed satisfaction, "Che, Qingyue, although getting married at sixteen is indeed a bit early, it has finally resolved one of my concerns. Qingyue, you should know Che's situation. To be honest, this marriage does indeed put you at a disadvantage. However, our family will do our best to make up for it. Now, my greatest wish is to see you two live a stable and peaceful life."

Before Xia Qingyue could respond, Xiao Che interjected, "Grandfather, what are you saying! I, Xiao Che, am your grandson. There is no woman in the world I am not worthy of, so how could I put her at a disadvantage? Since she has entered the Xiao family, the most basic thing is to respect Grandfather and serve me well. If she does anything wrong, I will divorce her and find a better one, Qingyue wife, right?"

"..." If Xiao Lie wasn't standing in front of her, Xia Qingyue would have frozen Xiao Che's mouth with the Ice Cloud Technique.

"Ha ha ha ha." Xiao Lie laughed heartily, shook his head helplessly, and looked at Xiao Che affectionately, "You, you, Qingyue just entered the family, and you're already bullying her. Qingyue, don't listen to him. Che has always been a smooth talker. Since you haven't eaten yet, let's go and have breakfast. Old Hong has already asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you. Come, let's eat together."

"Okay, Grandfather... by the way, should we call Auntie Xiao?"

"She's always been a heavy sleeper. Don't disturb her so early."

Sure enough, the table in the room was already set with three freshly prepared breakfasts. Xiao Che's hand never let go, pulling Xia Qingyue, who was trying to maintain a natural expression, to sit side by side at the table. Xiao Lie sat opposite them, and just as his buttocks touched the chair, a hurried footsteps and a series of heavy breaths were heard from outside:

"Fifth Elder! Is the Fifth Elder here?"

"What's the matter?" Xiao Lie turned around, his brows slightly furrowed.

"The... the head's order, please all the elders immediately go to the meeting hall. There is a matter concerning the future of the Xiao Clan to be discussed, and you must go immediately!"

"..." Xiao Lie stood up, grabbed the outer robe handed by Xiao Hong, and said to Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue, "It seems there is some urgent matter. You two eat first, no need to wait for me."

In Xiao Lie's memory, there had never been such an urgent summons so early in the morning. He put on his clothes and quickly left.

As soon as Xiao Lie left, Xiao Che's hand quickly left Xia Qingyue's, and his body "swooshed" backward. He frowned and said seriously, "Qingyue wife, you're so smart, you must understand that I held your hand just to make Grandfather feel reassured and happy, with no other intentions. Although I didn't ask for your opinion beforehand, you wouldn't be angry or opposed, right?"

Xia Qingyue's face gradually turned icy, and she said coldly, "If you dare to touch my body again, I will not be nice to you."

"Hey! You're overreacting!" Xiao Che glared at her, his face full of frustration, "It was just holding hands, and you actually got angry... We are a legitimate couple. Even if you married me just to repay a debt, we are still a couple. As a couple, touching hands is normal... no, it's expected! You've been cold and distant since you married me, and on our wedding night, you didn't even let me sleep in the same bed. Now, just holding hands, you're so angry... Oh, what kind of wife did I marry? It's worse than marrying an empress..."

"..." Xiao Che's personality was increasingly making Xia Qingyue feel at a loss. Initially, she found him calm and proud, but gradually, she realized he had an extraordinary and even mysterious nature, giving her the impression that he was not a sixteen-year-old boy but a man who had experienced much of life... except for the occasional display of his despicable nature.

And now, this despicable man, who had clearly invaded her, showed no sign of remorse and instead acted like a spoiled child, complaining and whining, making her, the victim, seem like the one at fault. She felt a bit helpless and