Chapter 37: I am Yun Che

Yun? Xiao Che was deeply moved. On the Azure Cloud Continent, his master had also given him the surname Yun. What a strange coincidence.

"Apart from knowing your biological father's surname is Yun, I know nothing else about him – not his name, nor where he came from. Xiao Ying met your father when he was traveling the Azure Wind Continent. Your father saved Xiao Ying's life when he was attacked by a powerful profound beast. After that, they traveled together, found themselves kindred spirits, and became sworn brothers before they parted ways."

Xiao Lie tilted his head slightly, as if recalling the past, and reminisced: "After Xiao Ying returned, he described your father to me, praising him endlessly. He said your father was not only handsome and elegant, but also uninhibited and magnanimous, with incredibly astonishing talent – a true dragon among men. At that time, Xiao Ying's talent was unmatched in Floating Cloud City, yet he confessed that his own talent was utterly insignificant compared to your father's. I once asked him, somewhat dismissively, what realm your father had reached, but Xiao Ying just smiled and said nothing, implying that even if he told me, I wouldn't believe him."

"Of course, I understand my son's character best. He never lies. Your father was undoubtedly a super genius back then. At a young age, his profound strength had already reached an astonishing level. For such a dragon among men to be willing to become sworn brothers with Xiao Ying, who had weak profound strength at the time, shows his magnanimity and breadth of spirit. No wonder Xiao Ying always praised your father, and even felt honored to be his sworn brother."

"Later, Xiao Ying married and had a son... Two months after his child was born, he saw your father again... and your mother."

Xiao Lie's emotions clearly shifted at this point. Xiao Che held his breath, listening in silence.

"...But at that time, your father and mother were covered in blood, holding you, also covered in blood. You were only about two months old then, unconscious in your mother's arms. When Xiao Ying stopped them and brought them to a hidden place, they were both severely wounded, their profound strength almost completely depleted. They only stayed for a short while, insisting on leaving because their pursuers were too powerful – so powerful that Floating Cloud City couldn't possibly contend with them. Staying would only drag Xiao Ying down."

"Xiao Ying couldn't keep them. He knew that if even the couple couldn't resist their enemies, he certainly wouldn't be able to. At that moment, he saw deep resignation in your parents' eyes. Clearly, your father and mother were at their wits' end during their escape, no longer hoping to survive their pursuers. So, Xiao Ying used the excuse of wanting to hold you... and quietly, he placed his own son, my grandson, into your blood-stained swaddling clothes... hiding you within his own son's swaddling."

Xiao Che's gaze trembled violently, and Xiao Lingxi gasped.

"...At that time, your parents were desperate to escape. When they took the securely wrapped infant from Xiao Ying's hands, they had no time to closely examine whether it was their own son. After your parents left, Xiao Ying came to me, knelt, and confessed his 'sin'... He said he was still young and could have many more sons if he lost one, but if you died, then his sworn brother, your father, would have no descendants. And there would be no one to avenge him!"

"Though I felt as if countless arrows had pierced my heart at that moment, how could I bear to blame such a righteous and loyal son? So, apart from us, father and son, no one knew that my grandson had been replaced by you. You, being only two months old at the time, had suffered injuries and took a full half-month to finally recover. The reason your profound veins became crippled was clearly due to the injuries you sustained then. Given the level of pursuit you faced, it was a miracle that your injuries only damaged your profound veins and didn't endanger your life."

Xiao Lie's voice paused slightly. His face showed a profound sadness he struggled to suppress, and his hands clenched tightly. "Less than half a month later, Xiao Ying was assassinated, his meridians shattered, and he died. When I rushed to him, he still had a faint breath. He told me that his assassin was one of your parents' pursuers. That person had somehow learned that he harbored a young couple, covered in blood and carrying an infant. The assassin was there to force him to reveal where your parents had fled... Before Xiao Ying died, he smiled, because what the assassin said at least proved... that your parents hadn't been found by them, and perhaps were still alive!"

A tempestuous surge of emotion churned uncontrollably within Xiao Che's heart. Seeing Xiao Lie's head of white hair, his heart ached, on the verge of breaking. The pain of losing a son, the pain of losing a wife – no one knew. Even his only grandson, his last bloodline, was already gone. The child he had raised was another's son, exchanged for his own grandson's life. No wonder his hair turned white in middle age. Under such a relentless series of blows, an ordinary person would not just have white hair... they might have collapsed long ago.

Only today did Xiao Che tragically realize that he was, in fact, the root cause of all this suffering!

If he hadn't exchanged the true Xiao Che's life for his own, 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 ridiculed waste? Their family would have been safe and joyful. With Xiao Ying's unmatched talent in Floating Cloud City and his father's unparalleled profound strength and reputation there, Xiao Ying's standing in the Xiao Sect would undoubtedly be extremely high, perhaps even as the Sect Master. Xiao Lie would not have been scorned but respected, and the other four elders wouldn't dare bully him; they would behave like mice in his presence...

Xiao Ying saved his life with his own son's life... yet in doing so, he subjected himself and his entire family to an extraordinarily cruel fate.

Yet for these sixteen years, Xiao Lie had never vented any anger or resentment towards him, the 'culprit'. Instead, he showed him unreserved, pure love, even after learning that his profound veins were crippled and he would never amount to anything in this life. His affection remained unchanged. Perhaps a grandfather's love for his biological grandson is natural, but to show such profound love to another's son, especially one who was the root cause of his family's devastation, required truly immense magnanimity...

Xiao Che's heart trembled, and his nose tingled with emotion. Like father, like son. Such a great old man, no wonder he had a son like Xiao Ying, who valued loyalty and righteousness so much. The debt he and his biological parents owed them could never be repaid, not in a lifetime.

Xiao Che's hands gripped the edge of the stone table, his fingers clenching tighter and tighter. Looking at Xiao Lie, whose face was filled with sorrow, for a moment, he didn't know how to thank the man he had called 'grandfather' for over a decade. After a long silence, he finally spoke in a trembling voice: "Grandfather, I... I... your kindness, I will... I will... my whole life..."

"Heh heh," Xiao Lie smiled gently and said affectionately: "Che'er, I've watched you grow up since you were little. Although you're not my biological grandson, in my heart, you're no different from him. You yourself said that even without blood ties, we are always family. Since we are family, all this is as it should be. I don't need your gratitude or repayment. As long as you are well in the future, even if I'm confined here for the rest of my life, I'll have no worries."

Xiao Che's mouth closed, unable to voice his gratitude. After a long moment, he nodded heavily. Yes, he is my grandfather, now... and forever! While he is alive, I will honor him properly. When he is gone, I will mourn him, fulfilling all duties a grandson should.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Lie nodded with contentment and continued: "You surely 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 'Profound Sky Divine Treasure'. He even warned me that the phrase 'Profound Sky Divine Treasure' was a terrible 'taboo' and should never be uttered in front of outsiders."

Profound Sky Divine Treasure? Xiao Che committed the name to memory.

"After your parents left that year, there was no news of them for sixteen years. I used to think that if they were still alive, they would surely realize the child they took was not their own, and would return here at a safe time to exchange for their son... But I waited year after year, and they never came. However... this doesn't necessarily prove they're no longer in this world... The pendant on your neck, I told you from a young age never to take it off, because it was the only item you wore after Xiao Ying exchanged his son for you. If your parents are still alive, it might become an opportunity for you to recognize each other..."

Indeed, if they were still alive, they would surely have returned to Floating Cloud City to retrieve their child. But after sixteen whole years with no return, the possibility of them still being alive is... incredibly slim.

But what if they truly were still alive? Then, would Xiao Ying's son, the one they took, still be alive as well?

The night grew darker, and the Star Concealment Grass was nearing the end of its effectiveness. It was time for Xiao Che to leave.

"Grandfather, Little Aunt... I should go." Though extremely reluctant, he forced himself to utter the words he didn't want to say, his voice strained.

Xiao Lie nodded, glancing outside, and said: "Leave here quickly. If they discover you, it will cause a lot of trouble."

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

Feeling the deep reluctance in Xiao Lingxi's eyes, Xiao Che's heart ached. He yearned to take Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi with him... But in his current state, what could he rely on to take them away? Even if they left, what could he use to protect them in the outside world? On the contrary, it was they who were protecting him...

He stood up, grasping Xiao Lingxi's hand in return, and looking into her eyes, he said, word by word: "Little Aunt, I must go... But rest assured, I will return. Within three years, I will definitely return! By then, I will repay the grievances and pain you've endured a thousandfold upon those people... I will make the entire Xiao Sect kneel and beg you to leave this Profound Punishment Gorge!"