Chapter 37

Listen to the clouds? Xiao Che was deeply moved. On the Cangyun Continent, his master had given him the surname Yun, which was also Yun. It was truly a wonderful coincidence.

"Besides knowing that your biological father's surname was Yun, I have no other information about him, such as his name or where he came from. Xiao Ying met your father during his travels on the Cangfeng Continent. Back then, your father saved Xiao Ying's life when he was attacked by a powerful mystic beast. They then traveled together, became close friends, and swore brotherhood when they parted ways."

Xiao Lie slightly tilted his head, as if recalling the situation back then, and reminisced, "After Xiao Ying returned, he described your father to me, praising him endlessly. He said that your father was not only handsome and had a free-spirited personality, but also possessed an extraordinary talent, truly a dragon among men. At that time, Xiao Ying's talent in Liuyun City was unmatched, but he admitted that compared to your father, his talent was nothing. I once asked him what realm he had reached, but Xiao Ying just smiled and said that even if he told me, I wouldn't believe it."

"I know my son's character best. He would never lie. Your father was definitely a super genius back then, reaching an extremely astonishing realm of mystic power at a young age. Such a dragon among men was willing to swear brotherhood with Xiao Ying, who had low mystic power at the time, which shows his broad-mindedness and magnanimity. No wonder Xiao Ying always praised your father and was proud to be his sworn brother."

"Later, Xiao Ying married and had a child... Two months after the child was born, he met your father... and your mother."

Xiao Lie's emotions clearly changed at this point. Xiao Che held his breath and listened silently.

"… At that time, your father and mother were covered in blood, holding you, who was also covered in blood. You were probably only two months old and were unconscious in your mother's arms. Xiao Ying stopped them and brought them to a secret place. They were all over injuries and their mystic power was almost depleted... They only stayed for a short while and insisted on leaving because the people chasing them were too powerful, so powerful that even the entire Liuyun City couldn't stand against them. Staying would only burden Xiao Ying."

"Xiao Ying couldn't keep them, and he knew that the enemies they couldn't stand against, he also had no chance against. At that time, he saw deep determination to die in their eyes... Clearly, your father and mother were at the end of their strength, no longer hoping to escape and survive... So, Xiao Ying used the excuse of holding you... secretly, he placed his own son, my grandson, in your blood-stained swaddling clothes... hiding you in his son's swaddling clothes."

Xiao Che's eyes suddenly trembled, and Xiao Lingxi let out a soft cry.

"… At that time, your parents were in a hurry to escape. When they took the well-protected infant from Xiao Ying, they didn't have time to check if it was their own son... After your parents left, Xiao Ying found me, knelt before me, and confessed... He said he was still young and could have many more children if he lost one, but if you died, his brother, your father, would have no descendants. His revenge would also be unfulfilled!"

"At that time, I was in deep pain, but... facing such a loyal and righteous son, how could I bear to blame him? So, except for us father and son, no one knew that my grandson had been replaced by you. You, who were only two months old at the time, were injured and took half a month to recover... The reason your mystic veins are crippled is clearly due to the injuries you suffered then. In such a high-level pursuit, the fact that your injuries only affected your mystic veins and not your life force was already a great fortune."

Xiao Lie's voice paused slightly, his face showing the effort to suppress his deep pain, and his hands clenched tightly: "Less than half a month later, Xiao Ying was assassinated, his entire body's meridians shattered to death... When I heard the news and rushed over, he still had a last breath. He told me that the person who assassinated him was the one chasing your parents. That person had somehow gotten the news that someone saw him sheltering a young couple covered in blood, holding an infant. The assassin came to force Xiao Ying to reveal where your parents had fled... Before Xiao Ying died, he was smiling because the words of the assassin at least proved... your parents had not been found and might still be alive!"

"…" Xiao Che's heart was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotion, looking at Xiao Lie's white hair, his heart ached... The pain of losing a son, the pain of losing a wife, no one knew, even his only grandson, his last bloodline, had already been lost. The one he had under his care was someone else's child, exchanged for his grandson's life. No wonder he had white hair in middle age... Under such a series of blows, even a person with an ordinary mindset would not just have white hair... perhaps they would have already fallen.

Xiao Che sadly realized today that the root cause of all this was himself!!

If it weren't for the exchange of the real "Xiao Che" for his own life, how would Xiao Ying have been assassinated? How would Xiao Ying's wife have followed him in death? How would Xiao Lie's wife have died of depression? How would Xiao Ying's son have become a laughingstock? They would have been safe and happy, and with Xiao Ying's unparalleled talent in Liuyun City and his father's unparalleled mystic power and reputation, his status in the Xiao family would be extremely high, perhaps even the head of the Xiao family. Xiao Lie wouldn't be looked down upon, but would be highly respected, and the other four elders wouldn't dare to bully him, they would be as obedient as mice in front of him...

Xiao Ying used his son's life to save him... but it made him and his entire family suffer an exceptionally cruel fate.

But for these sixteen years, Xiao Lie never vented any anger or resentment on this "culprit," instead showing him boundless, pure love, even when he knew his mystic veins were completely crippled and he would never achieve anything. Perhaps, a grandfather showing such love to his own grandson is natural, but to someone else's child, and the root cause of his family's destruction, this required a truly great heart...

Xiao Che's heart trembled, his nose stung... Like father, like son. Such a great old man, no wonder he had a loyal and righteous son like Xiao Ying. He and his biological parents owed them so much that they could never repay it in a lifetime.

Xiao Che's hands gripped the edge of the stone table tighter and tighter. Looking at the sorrowful Xiao Lie, he didn't know how to express his gratitude to the man he had called grandpa for over a decade. After a long time, he said with a trembling voice, "Grandpa, I... I... your kindness, I will... I will..."

"Ha ha," Xiao Lie smiled gently and said lovingly, "Che, you grew up under my watch, though not my biological grandson, in my heart, you are no different from my own grandson. You also said that even without blood ties, we are always family. Since we are family, these are all things that should be done, I don't need your gratitude or repayment. As long as you are well in the future, even if I am confined here for life, I will have no regrets."

Xiao Che's mouth closed, unable to express his gratitude, and after a while, he nodded heavily. Yes, he is my grandpa, now... forever! When he is around, I will take good care of him, and when he is gone, I will mourn properly and do everything a grandson should do.

Seeing his appearance, Xiao Lie nodded in satisfaction and continued, "You must want to know more about what happened back then. However, Xiao Ying didn't tell me much about your parents. As for why they were pursued, Xiao Ying only told me it was because they possessed a 'Xuantian Treasure.' He also told me that 'Xuantian Treasure' is a terrifying 'taboo' that must never be mentioned to outsiders."

Xuantian Treasure? Xiao Che firmly remembered this name.

"After your parents left, for the next sixteen years, there was no news from them. I thought if they were still alive, they would have discovered that the child they took was not their own and would have returned to exchange their child... But year after year, I still didn't wait for them. However... this doesn't mean they are definitely not in this world... The pendant around your neck, I told you from a young age never to take it off, because it was the only thing you wore when Xiao Ying exchanged his son for you. If your parents are still alive, it might be the key to recognizing you..."

Indeed, if they were still alive, they would have returned to Liuyun City to exchange their child. But after sixteen years without returning, the possibility of them still being alive... was extremely slim.

But if they were really still alive, then, would the child Xiao Ying's son also still be alive?

The night grew darker, approaching the time when the Star-Hidden Grass would lose its effect, and it was time for Xiao Che to leave.

"Grandpa, Auntie... I have to go." Although he was extremely reluctant, he had to say this with a hoarse voice.

Xiao Lie nodded, glanced outside, and said, "Leave early, if they discover you, it will cause a lot of trouble."

"Ah? You... you're leaving?" Xiao Lingxi looked up as if electrocuted, her hands tightly gripping his.

Feeling the deep reluctance in Xiao Lingxi's eyes, Xiao Che's heart ached... He desperately wanted to take Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi away with him... But in his current state, how could he take them away? Even if he left, what could he do to protect them in the outside world? Instead, they would have to protect him...

He stood up, held Xiao Lingxi's hand, and looked into her eyes, saying each word clearly, "Auntie, I have to go... but don't worry, I will come back, within three years, I will definitely come back! At that time, I will make those who wronged you suffer a thousand times over... I will make the entire Xiao family kneel and beg you to leave this Siguoxia!!"

---

The night grew darker, gradually approaching the time when the Star-Hidden Grass would lose its effect, and it was time for Xiao Che to leave.

"Grandpa, Auntie... I have to go." Although he was extremely reluctant, he had to say this with a hoarse voice.

Xiao Lie nodded, glanced outside, and said, "Leave early, if they discover you, it will cause a lot of trouble."

"Ah? You... you're leaving?" Xiao Lingxi looked up as if electrocuted, her hands tightly gripping his.

Feeling the deep reluctance in Xiao Lingxi's eyes, Xiao Che's heart ached... He desperately wanted to take Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi away with him... But in his current state, how could he take them away? Even if he left, what could he do to protect them in the outside world? Instead, they would have to protect him...

He stood up, held Xiao Lingxi's hand, and looked into her eyes, saying each word clearly, "Auntie, I have to go... but don't worry, I will come back, within three years, I will definitely come back! At that time, I will make those who wronged you suffer a thousand times over... I will make the entire Xiao family kneel and beg you to leave this Siguoxia!!"