Chapter 23: Dramatic Changes (Part 1)

Soon after Xiao Lingxi left, Xia Qingyue returned. Today, she had changed out of her red dress and into a flowing, water-blue silk gown, subtly embroidered with phoenix patterns. A sapphire hairpin adorned her hair, pearl earrings dangled from her ears, and a sapphire bead necklace graced her slender neck. Her exposed skin was snow-white and luminous, almost translucent, as if one could see through to the bone. Her beauty was radiant and exquisite.

Xiao Che's eyes suddenly lit up, and he stared, dumbfounded. Was this not the very definition of a celestial being descending to the mortal world, a peerless beauty?

Xia Qingyue walked in from the doorway, each step light and graceful, as if she were treading on clouds. Her fair complexion and slender neck were exquisitely beautiful, radiating a nobility and cool arrogance that made others feel inferior. Anyone who saw her would not believe she was merely the daughter of a merchant from a remote town, but rather a high-ranking, untouchable imperial princess.

Xiao Che was utterly captivated, his heart filled with countless emotions. This was the only room where she could change clothes! He must have been fast asleep at the time, missing the magnificent sight of her changing! Ahh, it was simply unforgivable!!

"Blue clothes suit you better than red," Xiao Che said, admiring her with genuine praise.

Xia Qingyue remained unmoved by his compliment. Glancing at the empty soup pot on the table, she walked over, picked it up, and was about to leave.

"Did you make that chicken soup?" Xiao Che asked.

"Was it not good?" Xia Qingyue said coldly, her back to him. However, a subtle emotion, one she herself couldn't comprehend, flickered in the depths of her eyes.

"It was delicious," Xiao Che said with a smile. He stood up, stretched, and then said seriously, "To repay my wife Qingyue for her chicken soup, tonight in bed, I will... be even more diligent."

"..." Xia Qingyue was already accustomed to his occasional verbal teasing. Expressionless, she said, "This afternoon, someone from the Xiao Sect will arrive. The leader is Xiao Kuangyun, the youngest son of the Xiao Sect Master. My master told me that Xiao Kuangyun's profound cultivation is only average among the younger generation of the Xiao Sect, and his reputation outside is extremely bad. However, because he is the youngest son, he is extremely favored, and no one in Flowing Cloud City can afford to offend him. Try to avoid meeting him if possible."

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

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

The news of the Xiao Sect's impending arrival affected not just the Xiao Clan, but the entire Flowing Cloud City. Flowing Cloud City was, in all aspects, at the very bottom tier of the Azure Cloud Empire, while the Xiao Sect stood at its highest peak. The difference between them spanned countless levels. For people from the Xiao Sect—especially the Sect Master's son—to personally visit was akin to an emperor visiting the humblest of rural homes. The entire Flowing Cloud City was enveloped in an atmosphere of tension. Some subtly anticipated, hoping to somehow forge even a slight connection with the Xiao Sect. More, however, felt anxious, and upon learning of their afternoon arrival, stayed indoors, fearing they might inadvertently offend the visitors. For the Xiao Sect members to kill them was no different than stepping on an ant. Laws, to them, were a joke.

The Xiao Clan courtyard, inside and out, was meticulously cleaned and spotless. The largest and most luxurious courtyard in the Xiao Clan, where Xiao Yunhai had always lived, had been thoroughly renovated and cleaned two days prior; even the bedsheets, quilts, and furniture were replaced with new ones. Xiao Yunhai himself had moved into a small courtyard next door. Even the meals for the next few days were personally arranged by Xiao Yunhai. Though exhausted and flustered, he remained incredibly excited at heart! This was because he was absolutely certain that the Xiao Sect would choose his son, Xiao Yulong, this time! By then, his son would soar, and he himself would become the undisputed overlord of Flowing Cloud City—no!—of hundreds of miles around, a figure no one would dare to offend!

From ten in the morning, Xiao Yunhai personally led the elders and deacons to stand at the entrance, ready to receive them. They waited until noon... then afternoon... until almost five in the afternoon, when a Xiao Clan disciple finally ran back, drenched in sweat, shouting from afar, "Sect Master! They're... they're here!! The people from the Xiao Sect have arrived... that aura... it's definitely the Xiao Sect, no mistake!"

Everyone trembled. Xiao Yunhai strode outside the gate and roared, "Quick! Immediately send word to prepare. Anyone who fails to treat our esteemed guests with proper respect will not be forgiven! Elders, come with me at once to greet them!"

Xiao Yunhai sprinted, running over a mile to meet them, until he finally saw a group of four approaching leisurely in the distance.

Among the four, the leader was a young man, barely twenty years old, dressed in luxurious attire. He was of average build with an unremarkable face, which was pale with a hint of sallowness, bearing the appearance of someone who had indulged excessively. In terms of looks, he was absolutely the kind of person who would get lost in a crowd, yet his ordinary face was brimming with arrogance and conceit. As he walked, his hands were clasped behind his back, and his eyes were directed skyward. He didn't spare a glance for the occasional passersby, as if even a fleeting look would contaminate his eyes.

Close behind him followed an old man dressed entirely in black, his expression as calm as still water. Behind them were two more young men, also dressed in black, each with a silver flying eagle emblem embroidered on their shoulders.

Xiao Yunhai took a deep breath, quickly approached, clasped his hands together, bowed forward, and asked respectfully and cautiously, "May I ask if the four of you are esteemed guests from the Xiao Sect?"

The leading young man stopped, his gaze casually sweeping over them. With half-closed eyes, he said, "That's right, this young master is Xiao Kuangyun of the Xiao Sect."

Xiao Yunhai's posture immediately became even more respectful, and he said with trepidation, "So it truly is the four esteemed guests, how wonderful! We have been awaiting your arrival for a long time. I am the current sect master of the Xiao Clan in Flowing Cloud City, and these five behind me are the five most respected elders of the Xiao Clan. For you four esteemed guests to travel so far for our Xiao Clan, we are immeasurably grateful and humbled."

"Enough with the pleasantries," Xiao Kuangyun said, casually glancing at the five elders, then lazily waved his hand. "Lead the way."

"Yes, yes! Please," Xiao Yunhai nodded repeatedly, then, bowing slightly, personally led the way back to the Xiao Clan.

"May I ask who this senior is..."

"Xiao Moshan," the old man in black said indifferently. His aged face was devoid of emotion, like a corpse.

Xiao Yunhai dared not speak further, a chill striking his heart. He could still gauge Xiao Kuangyun's profound cultivation, but from Xiao Moshan, he couldn't detect a single trace of profound energy. This situation meant either Xiao Moshan had no cultivation at all, which was clearly impossible. Or, his profound cultivation far surpassed his own, beyond his ability to perceive.

Upon returning to the Xiao Clan, a large crowd had gathered at the entrance. Seeing Xiao Yunhai's respectful demeanor in front, their hearts sank, and their gazes unanimously fell upon the arrogant young man. They then vied with each other to come forward.

"May I ask if this is the young master from the Xiao Sect?" a corpulent middle-aged man who rushed to the front asked respectfully.

"Who are you?" Xiao Kuangyun asked, half-lidded eyes casting a sidelong glance at him.

"I... I am the city lord of Flowing Cloud City, my humble name is Situ Nan. Hearing of the esteemed guest from the Xiao Sect's arrival, I specifically... specifically came to welcome you." Situ Nan's voice began to tremble towards the end, and a line of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. As Flowing Cloud City Lord, he had met many important figures, but all the important figures he had met were insignificant in front of the Xiao Sect Young Master. This arrogant-looking man before him was not impressive in appearance, but killing him would be as easy as speaking a single word.

"My humble self, Yuwen Ba, a long-time friend of Sect Master Xiao, has specially come... specially come to admire the distinguished demeanor of the Xiao Sect Young Master, and offer this humble gift. I hope Young Master Xiao will graciously accept it." The head of the Yuwen family, whose family was as renowned as the Xiao Clan in Flowing Cloud City, also hurried forward, his face respectful, holding a small, exquisite jade box in his hands.

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

One of the men behind him immediately stepped forward and, expressionlessly, took the jade box.

Seeing that this prominent young master of the Xiao Sect had actually accepted his gift, Yuwen Ba's face was filled with delight. Others who wished to form a connection with the Xiao Sect also scrambled forward, eagerly presenting their grand gifts. Xiao Kuangyun accepted all gifts without refusal, then, with a sidelong glance, said casually, "You may all withdraw. It's getting late today. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

"Indeed! Young Master Xiao must be exhausted from his long journey here. We will come to pay our respects again tomorrow, after Young Master Xiao has rested," City Lord Situ quickly said, nodding.

Only then did the crowd disperse.

Xiao Yunhai and the five elders respectfully led Xiao Kuangyun into the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yunhai stepped forward and said, "The four esteemed guests from the Xiao Sect must be weary from your long journey. Would you like to rest a while first? Elegant accommodations have already been prepared."

"No need, I'm not that fragile," Xiao Kuangyun said. His gaze swept over the Xiao Clan, his lips curling into an undisguised sneer, and then he said indifferently, "If Elder Xiao Zheng hadn't died, I wouldn't even know such a place existed. I heard that the ancestors of this place were discarded by our Xiao Sect, but even if they were trash, they still came from the Xiao Sect. Even the trash discarded by the Xiao Sect can become overlords in a place like this. To have developed to this extent after so many years, it's... passable."

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

Faced with Xiao Kuangyun's blatant scorn and disdain, Xiao Yunhai merely nodded repeatedly in thanks, not daring to offer the slightest rebuttal.

"The deceased are to be honored. My personal visit to this place is to fulfill Elder Xiao Zheng's dying wish. The purpose has already been clearly stated in the letter to you. Tomorrow morning, have everyone in your clan gather in this courtyard; not one person is to be missing. I will personally select individuals to take back to the Xiao Sect." As he spoke the last sentence, Xiao Kuangyun's head was held high, as if he were issuing a divine decree that would bestow blessings upon the world.