Chapter 933: The Best Outcome

Given Yun Che's current mental strength, he could remember not just six hundred words, but even sixty thousand, perfectly after a single glance or listen. However, after listening to the words Xiao Lingxi read, which seemed like scriptures or profound techniques, Yun Che's mind went blank. He couldn't recall a single word, and his consciousness felt as if it were drifting. He closed his eyes, and the characters gradually reappeared in his mind, becoming clearer and clearer... But when he opened his eyes again, they were completely forgotten.

"Lingxi, can you understand the meaning of this strange text?" Yun Che asked tentatively.

Xiao Lingxi shook her head. "I can recognize the characters, but I don't understand their meaning at all. Little Che, you don't understand them either?"

Just then, the silver light floating in the air suddenly flickered. All the strange characters rapidly twisted within the light, then re-formed into a ball of silver radiance, flying back into the mysterious black jade and completely vanishing.

The mysterious black jade returned to its previous dormant state, no longer glowing even with Xiao Lingxi nearby. Yun Che reached out, drew the mysterious black jade into his hand, and immediately put it away into the Sky Poison Pearl—ensuring it would no longer come into contact with Xiao Lingxi.

"Little Che, what exactly was that stone?" Xiao Lingxi couldn't suppress her curiosity.

"I don't know. I picked it up in a strange place," Yun Che said casually, then completely changed the subject. "It might just be a soul stone used to record ancient texts a long time ago. Never mind it. Let's go see Grandpa." With that, he took Xiao Lingxi's hand, and they walked together towards Xiao Lie's courtyard.

Xiao Yong'an was already asleep, Xiao Yun and his wife seemed to have gone to pay respects to their parents, and Xiao Hong hadn't returned either. Xiao Lie was the only one in the courtyard. Upon reaching Xiao Lie's courtyard, Xiao Lingxi instinctively tried to pull her hand from Yun Che's, but unexpectedly, Yun Che tightened his grip instead. Amidst her fluster, he led her, still holding her hand, to stand before Xiao Lie.

"Grandpa, I... have something I want to tell you," Yun Che said. Despite having made up his mind and prepared himself, he still felt a wave of nervousness facing Xiao Lie's peaceful expression.

"Ah..." Xiao Lingxi vaguely sensed what was coming; she let out a soft gasp, and her heart rate suddenly quickened.

"Heh heh, Che'er, you've come at just the right time. I also happen to have something important to discuss with you," Xiao Lie said with a chuckle, looking at both of them.

Yun Che was slightly startled and immediately asked, "Something important? What is it?"

"It's about Lingxi," Xiao Lie said, glancing deeply at Xiao Lingxi, seemingly without noticing their clasped hands. He sighed softly. "Lingxi is twenty-three this year, long past the age for marriage. Che'er, you've been married for eight years, but Lingxi has been burdened by me, staying by my side to care for me, and her own lifelong matters remain unsettled. Now that my body and mind are well, Yun'er and his wife are loving, and Yong'an is well-behaved and healthy, my biggest concern is Lingxi's future."

"...Grandpa, what do you mean?"

"Che'er," Xiao Lie said gently, looking into Yun Che's eyes, "you are well-traveled and knowledgeable. You must know many young talents. If there's anyone suitable for Lingxi, please help arrange a match. I will certainly trust whoever you choose."

"Father, I... I..." This wasn't the first time Xiao Lie had mentioned marriage to her, but this time, it was in front of Yun Che, which threw Xiao Lingxi's heart into disarray, leaving her at a loss.

"..." Yun Che's gaze flickered, then suddenly became resolute. He said very seriously, "Grandpa, actually, I've already found that person."

"Oh?" Xiao Lie's eyes slightly wavered.

Yun Che suddenly knelt on one knee before Xiao Lie, meeting his gaze, and said, word for word, with firm conviction, "Grandpa, that person is me! I want to ask Grandpa... to let me marry Lingxi!"

"Little Che..." The words that echoed in Xiao Lingxi's ears were undoubtedly the most thrilling she had ever heard in her life. He had spoken them, in front of her and in front of Xiao Lie, the words she longed for but dared not touch, as if they were forbidden. Xiao Lingxi slowly knelt down as well, her eyes misty, and softly said, "Father, I... In this life, besides Little Che, I would rather... never marry anyone."

She clearly spoke the same words in front of Xiao Lie. As the words left her lips, all her timidity and worries silently dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented sense of warmth and peace within her heart. The outcome suddenly seemed less important the moment she spoke. Having finally expressed the deepest desires of her heart, her entire being felt as if it had undergone a profound sublimation, transformed unlike ever before.

"..." Xiao Lie's face showed none of the shock, bewilderment, disappointment, or anger that the two had anticipated. There was no intense reaction, not even a slight one, only serene calm. A moment later, he simply turned his back and let out a soft sigh.

"Grandpa?" Yun Che looked up.

"Heh heh," Xiao Lie chuckled, his laugh exceptionally gentle. "You two have held it in for so many years. Today, you've finally spoken your true feelings."

Yun Che's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Grandpa, did you already know...?"

"I watched you two grow up. You were inseparable from childhood, your feelings deeply intertwined. After you left Floating Cloud City at sixteen, Lingxi stayed by my side, and I saw how she worried about you day and night, yearning for you morning and evening... That feeling far surpassed the bonds of family affection. From then on, although I didn't know your feelings for Lingxi, I knew hers for you were certainly not mere family affection, but deeply rooted love, a feeling that was completely unleashed once she knew you were not blood relatives."

"Therefore, I was very worried. What I worried about wasn't your former 'aunt and nephew' relationship, but that Lingxi's feelings might be unrequited, leading to a lifetime of sorrow." Xiao Lie raised his head slightly and closed his eyes. If Yun Che and Xiao Lingxi could have seen his expression at that moment, they would have seen a faint smile.

The two were momentarily stunned. Xiao Lingxi said, somewhat disbelievingly, "Father, you really... you really don't... mind at all?"

Xiao Lie shook his head slightly, smiling faintly. "You are similar in age, not blood-related, and both my most cherished children. After hearing your words today, I couldn't be happier, so how could I mind? Though I, Xiao Lie, may have lived an ordinary life, I have never been pedantic."

"Then... then all your recent talk about my marriage was... was for...?"

"Because I couldn't help but worry," Xiao Lie sighed lightly. "I know how deeply devoted you are to Che'er, but Che'er... his standing is already too high. The women around him are either empresses of a nation, or emperors of the Illusory Demon Realm, or Phoenix Divine Maidens... Compared to them, you are as ordinary as dust. Although Che'er cares for you as always, I was deeply concerned that with so many extraordinary women around him, he wouldn't develop romantic feelings for you, leaving your devotion unfulfilled. So, I used this as a test... Heh heh, Che'er's resolve when he knelt just now, and the worry and nervousness in his eyes, let me know that my worries all these years were unnecessary. My last remaining concern has finally been resolved."

"Father..." Xiao Lingxi covered her lips with her hand, tears slowly trickling from the corners of her eyes.

"Grandpa, don't worry," Yun Che said, taking a deep breath and suppressing his excitement. "I will take care of Lingxi for my entire life."

"Heh heh, if it's you, I can be completely at ease about Lingxi's future. However..." Xiao Lie sighed softly. "Although you two are not blood-related, the world is full of foolish people, and gossip can ultimately be fearsome. If you ever wish to marry, choose the Illusory Demon Realm."

"Alright." Without hesitation, Yun Che agreed firmly. He looked at Xiao Lingxi, who was also secretly watching him. Their gazes met, and they both smiled. They had always thought that Xiao Lie was the reason they had to suppress their feelings, but today they learned that the greatest obstacle between them had always been themselves.

Today, Yun Che had been prepared for the worst possible outcome, yet what he received was such a beautiful, almost surreal result. The obstacles he and Xiao Lingxi had previously dared not touch simply vanished in an instant.

***

Illusory Demon Realm, Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.

The aura of the flames was noticeably weaker than during his last visit.

Yun Che arrived at the end of the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, and the Golden Crow soul-shadow appeared amidst the scattering golden light. "Yun Che, what brings you here this time?"

Yun Che looked up and asked directly, "Golden Crow Soul, have you ever heard the name 'World-Defying Heaven Manual'?"

"World-Defying Heaven Manual?" The Golden Crow Soul snorted heavily. "This Venerable One has never heard of it. From its name, it seems to be a profound art. Hmph, to dare call itself 'World-Defying' is quite presumptuous."

"Even you haven't heard of it?" Yun Che looked astonished, then disappointed, and murmured, "That's too strange... What exactly do those characters record?"

"You seem to be troubled. Where did you hear the name 'World-Defying Heaven Manual'?" the Golden Crow Soul asked.

"No, I didn't hear it," Yun Che said, taking out the mysterious black jade. "It came from this." He then thoroughly explained to the Golden Crow Soul the strange connection between Xiao Lingxi and the mysterious black jade, and how it had revealed the unusual characters.

"Such a thing exists!?" After listening to Yun Che's account, the Golden Crow Soul showed a level of astonishment far greater than Yun Che had anticipated.

"Draw the characters for this Venerable One to see."

"Alright!"

Yun Che closed his eyes and concentrated. It took him a long time for the twisted, strange characters to surface in his mind. He then extended a finger and, using Golden Crow Flames, drew the topmost four peculiar characters in the air... these were the four characters meaning "World-Defying Heaven Manual."

It took him dozens of breaths to finally complete the drawing. The four strange characters, formed from flames, floated in the air. The Golden Crow Soul's golden gaze shone upon them for a moment, then retracted.

"Golden Crow Soul, could it be... that you don't recognize these characters either?" Yun Che asked with a frown.

"Never seen, never heard," the Golden Crow Soul replied.

"Then... why would Lingxi recognize them? I'm certain she's never encountered these characters before, and she herself doesn't know why she recognizes them; she was also quite alarmed." Yun Che lightly gripped the black jade in his hand. "Could it really be, as I made up to comfort her, that this black jade liked her aura, thus establishing a connection and silently building some kind of soul link with her, which is why she suddenly recognized these characters?"

"The Xiao Lingxi you mentioned, what is her cultivation level, and what profound art does she cultivate?" the Golden Crow Soul asked solemnly.

"Well..." Yun Che said with a slight hint of embarrassment, "Lingxi isn't skilled in the profound way. Her profound energy is only at True Profound Realm Level Seven, and the profound art she cultivates is the Soaring Eagle Art, practiced by the Xiao Sect she was born into, which is a very low-grade profound art."

"..." The Golden Crow Soul fell silent, then said indifferently, "Leave this place for now, and bring her before this Venerable One."