Chapter 21: This Is Interesting...

Xiao Che handled the first two dozen needles with ease. However, as sweat beaded on his forehead, his left hand, which held the needle, began to tremble slightly, and his movements noticeably slowed. What had initially taken only one breath per needle now required several. After the thirtieth needle, each insertion took progressively longer.

Had Xia Qingyue looked back, she would have noticed that Xiao Che consistently used his left hand for the needle insertions. He wasn't naturally left-handed, nor was his left hand more adept; rather, it was due to the Sky Poison Pearl reflected in the palm of his left hand.

With each silver needle insertion, the Sky Poison Pearl in his palm would subtly flicker. The Pearl's power silently permeated Xia Qingyue's body alongside the needles. This power was not a toxin; instead, it was a purifying force. The Sky Poison Pearl had the ability to cleanse all poisons in the world, and this "poison" encompassed not only deadly toxins but also harmful or excess impurities within the body. However, this process was distinct from marrow cleansing. Utilizing the Sky Poison Pearl's purifying ability was the primary reason Xiao Che had gone to such lengths to perform acupuncture on Xia Qingyue that day.

Dispelling the cold and clearing her meridians were merely incidental effects and a pretense. His true objective was to "open her profound veins."

A minute passed... then ten... then a quarter of an hour...

Wisps of cold air slowly rose from each silver needle. A full half-hour passed, and fifty-four needles had been inserted into Xia Qingyue's back. Xiao Che's hands finally paused, but only for less than half a minute. Then, he suddenly extended his hands, both moving in unison, swiftly removing each silver needle from Xia Qingyue's back. In a mere flash, all fifty-four silver needles vanished from her body.

Xia Qingyue's jade-like back remained smooth and snow-white, resembling the purest, flawless white jade. Under Xiao Che's exceptionally skilled technique, not a single mark was left behind.

"That's enough..." Xiao Che collected the silver needles and let out a long sigh of relief.

The moment all the silver needles were withdrawn, Xia Qingyue felt as though she had suddenly drifted into paradise. An indescribable warmth and comfort enveloped her entire body, making her momentarily disbelieve that this was her own physical form.

She pulled her clothes back into place and immediately circulated her profound energy. The moment she activated the Ice Cloud Art, she was startled. Her profound energy responded almost instantaneously to her will, circulating within her body with a speed and fluidity many times greater than before.

After nearly four years of cultivating the Ice Cloud Art, she still frequently encountered situations where she couldn't fully master it. Yet, now, feeling the Ice Cloud Art flow within her, she was absolutely certain that her current physical state allowed her complete and perfect mastery. The speed of her Ice Cloud Art cultivation would naturally advance by a whole tier!

Initially, she hadn't held much hope, but faced with this outcome, she was filled with both pleasant surprise and profound astonishment. She was shocked that Xiao Che's words had indeed come true, and the effects seemed even better than he had promised!

She believed that if her master were to see her current physical state, they would undoubtedly be greatly astonished!

"Now... do you believe?"

Xiao Che's voice reached her ear, but it was noticeably hoarse and weak. Xia Qingyue turned from her shock to look at him, finding him slumped weakly against the bed frame. His forehead and clothes were drenched with sweat, and his face was frightfully pale, as if he had just recovered from a severe illness.

Considering the profound energy poured into each needle, a faint pang of pain suddenly arose in her heart—a sensation akin to being pricked by a needle. This feeling caused a slight disquiet in her emotions, as she found herself experiencing an unwarranted sense of sympathy for someone who was merely her husband in name and with whom she had no expectation of a real connection.

"I believe you... I truly believe you are a divine physician." Xia Qingyue looked at him with a complex gaze. "So, you, whom everyone in Floating Cloud City scorned, actually possess such astonishing abilities... But you clearly know I have no feelings for you, and in a month, I will leave you forever. Why would you reveal all this to me? Why grant me such a significant favor, and work so hard... for me?"

A favor... This was truly an immense favor.

"Three reasons," the exhausted Xiao Che panted, yet a broad smile stretched across his face. "Almost everyone looks down on me, and you certainly have every right to do so. Yet, you haven't; instead, you've consistently done your best to uphold my meager dignity. Last night, you went out to find me because you were worried, and you quietly brought me a blanket. I will always treat those who are good to me even better!"

Xia Qingyue was speechless.

"The second reason... you are my wife, after all."

Xia Qingyue parted her lips, but found herself unable to speak.

"The third, and most important, reason..." Xiao Che's smile turned suggestive. "I think you probably look very good after you take off your clothes."

When Xiao Che usually teased her with his impudent remarks, she would always meet him with a cold glare. But this time, looking at his roguish grin on his pale face, she found she couldn't summon any anger.

"Explanation complete," Xiao Che said, extending a hand to point at the medicinal pot he had brought. "Qingyue, my wife, please pour out the medicine from that pot and drink it."

Xia Qingyue gave him a deep look. Without asking what kind of medicine it was, she walked over, poured out the liquid, and drank it in one gulp.

"This was only the first treatment. To maintain your current state going forward, you'll need a total of seven 'adjustments.' For the next six days, you'll need one each day. The best time is 3 AM, as that's when the yin energy is strongest, yielding the most effective results. Of course, the decision to continue is entirely yours."

Having said this, Xiao Che wearily closed his eyes. His physical stamina was indeed severely overdrawn; he was not feigning exhaustion.

"You should rest well," Xia Qingyue said softly, her gaze growing even more complex. She walked towards the door and quietly closed it behind her.

Standing in the courtyard, Xia Qingyue raised her hands and looked at her palms, her eyes distant and hazy.

What kind of person was he, really?

At the very least, I had always misjudged him... and so had everyone else in Floating Cloud City.

After Xia Qingyue left, Xiao Che's body completely slumped onto the bed, lying diagonally and unwilling to move. He occasionally mumbled to himself...

"Phew... my current physical condition is too poor. Just opening profound veins, and I nearly collapsed from exhaustion..."

"If Master knew I actually had her take off her clothes, I wonder if he'd be so enraged he'd jump down from heaven to teach me a lesson... After all... I could perform acupuncture through clothes at thirteen... and with my eyes closed through clothes at fifteen... Phew... time to sleep..."

Since receiving the letter from the Xiao Sect, the entire Xiao Clan had been continuously immersed in an exceptionally peculiar atmosphere. The Clan Master, elders, and deacons worked diligently from dawn till dusk each day, preparing for the reception, meticulously avoiding any oversight. The younger generation, meanwhile, cultivated with fervent intensity, as if injected with a stimulant, dreaming of achieving a sudden breakthrough in these few days to increase their chances of being admitted into the Xiao Sect.

However, none of this seemed to concern Xiao Che; he was arguably the most idle person in the entire Xiao Clan.

That day, in the Xiao Clan's back mountains.

This was a graveyard established by the Xiao Clan in the back mountains. Most deceased Clan members were buried here.

Xiao Lie stood quietly before a tombstone, his white hair, laden with age and sorrow, gently fluttering in the wind. The whistling wind carried a mournful quality.

The name 'Xiao Ying' was carved on this tombstone.

"...Ying'er, I know your lifelong dream was to fulfill our ancestor's wish, return to the Xiao Sect, and revitalize our abandoned branch. Now, such an opportunity has finally arrived, but... it's sixteen years too late."

Xiao Lie's gaze was hazy, and he stood rigidly, murmuring seemingly unconscious words...

"I know that even after all these years, you still have so many concerns... Che'er's profound veins were crippled from birth. Perhaps that's for the best; although he's destined for an ordinary life, by living idly, he'll avoid conflict and enmity. Now, Che'er is also married; I hope he can live a stable life from now on. Although he is not my biological child, he was saved by your lives and your own son's life. I will do everything in my power to ensure his safety..."

A faint snapping sound reached Xiao Lie's ears, startling him. He instantly snapped out of his daze, turning his head to softly demand, "Who's there?"

Following his call, Xiao Yulong's figure emerged from behind the thick, ancient tree at the center of the graveyard. He clearly paused upon seeing Xiao Lie, then took a few steps forward and performed a standard junior's salute. "Yulong greets the Fifth Elder... I didn't expect the Fifth Elder to be here. Has Yulong disturbed you?"

Xiao Lie's gaze flickered. He had been lost in sorrow moments ago, briefly dazed, and hadn't noticed anyone approaching. He wondered if Xiao Yulong had overheard his recent murmuring. Frowning, he asked, "Yulong, what are you doing here?"

Xiao Yulong quickly explained, "The envoy from the Xiao Sect will arrive tomorrow. Father believes this is a momentous occasion that will alter the Xiao Clan's destiny, and we ought to inform our deceased great-grandfather, so he sent me here... I apologize for inadvertently disturbing the Fifth Elder; Yulong is at fault."

"Then did you hear what I was just saying?" Xiao Lie's voice suddenly turned cold and hard, and an invisible surge of power pressed down on Xiao Yulong.

How could Xiao Yulong possibly withstand the aura emanating from a peak Spirit Profound Realm expert? His face paled, and he quickly shook his head. "Yulong has only just arrived. If the Fifth Elder hadn't spoken, I wouldn't have even noticed you, much less heard anything you said... If the Fifth Elder prefers not to be disturbed, Yulong will depart immediately!"

Seeing no flaw in Xiao Yulong's expression, Xiao Lie felt a slight easing in his heart. He withdrew his profound energy, and his expression softened. "Never mind, it's nothing. The Xiao Sect envoy will arrive tomorrow, and you are the most likely to be chosen. When that happens, you will be the greatest hope for revitalizing our branch."

Xiao Lie nodded at him, then turned and departed, no longer lingering.

After he left, Xiao Yulong's expression gradually became subtle. He tapped his right hand on his chin, frowning and as he murmured, "Could it be... If that's true, this is quite interesting..."