Chapter 23

Xiao Lingxi had just left not long ago when Xia Qingyue walked back in. Today, she had changed out of her red clothes and was now wearing a light blue silk dress, embroidered with phoenix patterns. She wore a sapphire hairpin and pearl earrings, and a dark blue pearl necklace adorned her fair neck. Her exposed neck was as white and smooth as snow, almost translucent, as if one could see through to the bones. Her beauty was radiant and absolutely stunning.

Xiao Che's eyes lit up, and he was completely entranced. It was as if a fairy had descended from the heavens, embodying the most breathtaking beauty...

Xia Qingyue walked in from outside, each step as light and graceful as if she were walking on clouds. Her snow-white face and fair neck were beautiful to the extreme, exuding a noble and cold arrogance that made others feel inferior... Anyone who saw her would never believe that she was just the daughter of a merchant from a remote small town, but would think she was a high and mighty princess, untouchable and revered.

Xiao Che was dazzled and deeply moved... The only place she could change clothes was in this room! He must have been sound asleep and missed the great view of her changing clothes! Ah, he simply couldn't forgive himself!!

"The blue dress suits you better than the red one," Xiao Che said, looking at her with genuine admiration.

Xia Qingyue was unmoved by his praise. She glanced at the empty soup pot on the table, picked it up, and was about to leave.

"Was the chicken soup you made?" Xiao Che asked.

"Was it not good?" Xia Qingyue said coldly, her back still turned to him. But in her eyes, a subtle emotion flickered, one that even she couldn't understand.

"It was very good. I just found out that you're also great at making soup," Xiao Che said with a smile. He stood up, stretched, and said seriously, "To thank my wife Qingyue for the chicken soup, tonight, I will... work even harder in bed."

"..." Xia Qingyue was already used to his occasional teasing and said expressionlessly, "This afternoon, someone from the Xiao Clan will come. The leader is the youngest son of the Clan Head, Xiao Kuangyun. I heard from my master that Xiao Kuangyun's cultivation is only average among the young generation of the Xiao Clan, and his reputation is terrible. However, because he is the youngest son, he is extremely favored, and no one in Liuyun City can provoke him. Try to avoid meeting him if possible."

"Xiao Kuangyun? Alright, I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Qingyue wife," Xiao Che said with a smile.

...

Today was the day the people from the Xiao Clan would arrive.

The news of the Xiao Clan's arrival affected not just the Xiao Clan but the entire Liuyun City. Liuyun City was at the very bottom of the Cangfeng Empire in every aspect, while the Xiao Clan was at the very peak. The gap between them was immeasurable. The arrival of the Xiao Clan, especially the Clan Head's son, was akin to the emperor visiting the humblest village. The entire city was enveloped in a tense atmosphere. Some people secretly hoped to find a way to establish a connection with the Xiao Clan, while many others were filled with anxiety and stayed at home, fearing they might inadvertently offend the visitors... To the Xiao Clan, killing them would be as easy as stepping on an ant. Laws were a joke to them.

The Xiao Clan's courtyard was meticulously cleaned, spotless. The largest and most luxurious courtyard, where Xiao Yunhai lived, had been thoroughly renovated and cleaned two days ago, with new bedding and furniture. Xiao Yunhai himself had moved to a smaller courtyard next door. He even personally arranged the meals for the next few days... Though he was exhausted, he was incredibly excited! He was certain that the Xiao Clan would choose his son, Xiao Yulong! Then, his son would rise to prominence, and he himself would become the absolute ruler of Liuyun City... No, the undisputed overlord for hundreds of miles around!

Starting at ten in the morning, Xiao Yunhai personally led the elders and enforcers to stand at the gate, ready to welcome the guests. They waited until noon... and then... the afternoon... until nearly five in the afternoon, when a disciple of the Xiao Clan ran back, sweating profusely, shouting from a distance, "Clan Head! They... they're here!! The people from the Xiao Clan... the aura... it's definitely the Xiao Clan!"

Everyone was jolted, and Xiao Yunhai took a step forward, barking, "Quick! Notify everyone to prepare. Whoever fails to treat the guests with respect will not be spared! Elders, come with me to greet them!"

Running at full speed, Xiao Yunhai finally saw four people walking slowly toward them from a distance of over a mile.

Among the four, the one in the lead was a young man, barely twenty years old, dressed in luxurious attire, of average build, and with an ordinary face, slightly pale and yellowish, looking like someone who had indulged in excess. His appearance was unremarkable, the kind that would blend into a crowd, but his face was filled with arrogance and pride. He walked with his hands behind his back, eyes looking up, not even glancing at the occasional passerby, as if even a brief look would taint his eyes.

Behind him was an old man in black, his face as calm as water. Following him were two young men in black, each with a silver eagle embroidered on their shoulders.

Xiao Yunhai took a deep breath, quickened his pace, and approached, clasping his hands together, bowing respectfully, "May I ask if the four of you are the honored guests from the Xiao Clan?"

The young man in the lead stopped, glanced at them indifferently, and said with half-closed eyes, "Yes, I am Xiao Kuangyun of the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Yunhai's demeanor became even more respectful, and he said with great reverence, "It's really the four honored guests! What a relief! We have been waiting for you. I am the current Clan Head of the Xiao Clan in Liuyun City, and the five behind me are the most respected elders of the Xiao Clan. We are deeply grateful and honored that the four honored guests have come all this way for us."

"Enough with the pleasantries," Xiao Kuangyun said, glancing at the five elders indifferently and lazily waving his hand. "Lead the way."

"Yes, yes! Please follow me." Xiao Yunhai nodded hurriedly, bowed, and led the way back to the Xiao Clan.

"May I ask who this senior is?"

"Xiao Moshan," the old man in black said coldly, his face devoid of emotion, like a corpse.

Xiao Yunhai dared not speak further, feeling a chill. He could gauge Xiao Kuangyun's cultivation, but he sensed no cultivation from Xiao Moshan. This meant either that Xiao Moshan had no cultivation, which was impossible, or that his cultivation was far beyond his own, far beyond his ability to detect.

When they returned to the Xiao Clan, a large crowd was already gathered at the gate. Seeing Xiao Yunhai's respectful demeanor, they were startled and their eyes fell on the arrogant young man. They rushed forward, vying to greet him.

"May I ask if you are the young master from the Xiao Clan?" a middle-aged man with a plump figure asked respectfully.

"Who are you?" Xiao Kuangyun glanced at him with a half-closed eye.

"I... I am the City Lord of Liuyun City, my name is Situ Nan. I heard that the honored guests from the Xiao Clan have arrived, so I... I came to welcome you," Situ Nan's voice trembled, and sweat beaded on his forehead. As the City Lord of Liuyun City, he had met many important figures, but none of them were even a speck compared to the young master of the Xiao Clan. This arrogant young man, though unremarkable in appearance, could destroy him with a single word.

"I am Yuwen Ba, a longtime friend of the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan. I came... to pay my respects to the young master of the Xiao Clan and to present a small gift," the head of the Yuwen family, a family as renowned as the Xiao Clan in Liuyun City, hurriedly stepped forward, holding a small, exquisite jade box.

Xiao Kuangyun glanced at the jade box and waved his hand at the two men behind him, "Take it."

One of the men stepped forward and took the jade box without expression.

Seeing that the young master of the Xiao Clan had accepted his gift, Yuwen Ba's face lit up with joy. Others who wanted to establish a connection with the Xiao Clan also rushed forward, presenting their gifts... Xiao Kuangyun accepted them all without hesitation, then said indifferently, "You can all step back. It's getting late. We'll discuss matters tomorrow."

"Yes, yes! Young Master, you must be tired from your journey. After you rest, we'll come to pay our respects tomorrow," City Lord Situ Nan nodded hurriedly.

The crowd dispersed.

Xiao Yunhai and the five elders respectfully led Xiao Kuangyun into the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yunhai said, "The four honored guests from the Xiao Clan must be tired from your journey. Would you like to rest for a moment? The guest rooms are ready."

"No need. I'm not that weak," Xiao Kuangyun glanced around the Xiao Clan, his lips curling in undisguised disdain. "If it weren't for Elder Xiao Zheng's passing, I wouldn't even know this place existed. I heard that the ancestor of this place was a waste driven out by our Xiao Clan. But even a waste, being from the Xiao Clan, can still be a tyrant in such a place. After so many years, to have developed to this extent, it's not bad."

"Yes, yes, thank you for your praise, Young Master."

Faced with Xiao Kuangyun's blatant contempt and disdain, Xiao Yunhai nodded repeatedly, not daring to contradict him in the slightest.

"Respect for the dead is paramount. I came here to fulfill Elder Xiao Zheng's last wish. The purpose is already clear in the letter. Tomorrow morning, gather all the members of your clan in this courtyard, not a single one is to be missing. I will personally select someone to take back to the Xiao Clan." As he said the last sentence, Xiao Kuangyun's head was held high, as if he were issuing a decree to the world.

...

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