Chapter 12: Qingyue's resolve?

Yun Che returned to his senses, and he opened his eyes. He saw his wife Xia Qingyu sitting in seiza or Japanese kneeling on the bed. It appears that she was waiting for him to wake up. The man remembered about her going to leave for cultivation. Without saying a word, he stands up and puts Zangetsu on his back. If she wanted to leave, she could leave anytime. It was time for him to meet his Little Aunt. Walking to the veranda, he heard her voice calling out to him.

"Wait…." Her gentle voice called out to him.

Hearing that, Yun Che turned his head.

"Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be back to your sect by now?" He looked towards her. He was expecting her to be gone since there was no reason for her to stay. Yun Che started to think she'll leave him since he was considered 'armed and dangerous. Run for your life.' Then again, she's here right in front of him.

"Are you keen on chasing me away? I am still your wife." She sounded cold but somehow hurt in the process.

"In my defence, I don't see you as a wife." He spoke, and Xia Qingyue felt a sting.

He eyed her. "Xia Qingyue, our marriage was based on the promise between your father and my father. I understand you married me to fulfil that promise and protect my reputation alongside my grandfathers. You have my gratitude, but I assure you. After what I did at the wedding, it won't matter anymore."

"You're a good girl, following your sect's order and fulfilling your father's promise. So far, you even asked for immunity for me. You even refuse to touch or let me touch you to protect me from your sect's wrath. Am I right? All to protect me?"

"…" Xia Qingyue kept quiet.

"Thought so. It's bliss to have someone like you as a wife. But you might be beautiful in the eyes of the world, but you are cold on the inside. That's what I expect from a genius disciple of the Frozen Cloud Asgard." Xia Qingyue looked at him thoughtfully. Her being the disciple was ideally disclosed, but Yun Che knew it.

"Yes, I know of you, a disciple of the Frozen Cloud Asgard.' Even about your master, who is observing us from afar."

"How did he..." She thought in her mind after hearing such a statement.

"How I knew it is none of your concern. What pains me was you didn't come to my stead when Xiao Yulong challenged me to a duel. Even if you didn't engage in protecting my reputation, It would hurt me the most if my wife didn't care about her husband's life. If I were myself before the wedding, I would be so happy that I get to marry the flower of my city. However, the current me? I don't see you as such. It is like marrying to a cold block of ice. Well, it was understandable. You barely know me. You won't defend someone you just knew." Yun Che spoke.

Xia Qingyue listened to everything. Suppose she protected him back at the wedding. Will her encounter right now be different?

"If I am still a cripple, you probably kicked me out of the room. I understand that. I understand your path was more toward cultivation." He said while slowly moving towards her. What if the original Yun Che didn't have the Sky Poison Pearl or the Heavenly Medicine Manual? Should his relationship with her worsen?

"Before you go, take this as my wedding gift." He spoke as Xia Qingyue looked at him and saw Yun Che disappearing towards her back. She saw his hand glows with unknown energy before pressing something on her back's centre. She wanted to escape but felt something in her profound veins instead. All of the blocked Profound Entrances in her body were instantly unlocked. It made her whole and burst with power.

She didn't understand what was happening.

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Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins.

Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins were the veins every cultivator dreamt of achieving. Having these veins means that the person's speed of profound cultivation, flow, gathering, and release of deep energy is brought to a higher level, as if they work under different laws, allowing one's profound veins to ascend to a realm above 'human'. There would also be no limit to any profound skill practised, and they will never hit a bottleneck in deep strength.

Using the system, he understood the incomplete part of the Heavenly Medicine Manual. Well, only a part of it. It was written in the language of the gods but simplified by the system for him to comprehend it. A portion of it explains clearing profound entrances.

He did so during his meditation, and the system scanned the Heavenly Medicine Manual and gave him specific instructions for clearing profound entrances. More like giving him the [How to Open Up Profound Entrances – Newbie Edition.] Which made him sweatdrop for a moment.

Then again, reading them enabled him to accomplish what the original Yun Che did using only his reaitsu. With it, he can instantly clear the profound entrances by shooting his reaitsu directly into his target's body. By pressing his hand at the centre of his target's body, the man can clear any impurities by decimating them internally without expending them throughout their bodies. This way, he can remove them without dealing with the stench of the contaminants once he clears them.

All in the span of a second.

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Xia Qingyue heard such wonders but wondered about having them as her own. Now, her husband granted it. With it, her cultivation will skyrocket.

He turned towards her and bowed. "My gratitude for trying to protect me, but I don't feel anything towards you. I am sorry I am the person you expected to marry."

"If you want to go back….then go. Focus on your cultivation and hone your skills. You have your own goal, don't you? With the Profound Entrances I gave you, use them to forge your path. " He spoke while Xia Qingyue still kept her mouth shut.

He slowly walked past her towards the veranda, and she spoke again, earning his attention. "Who are you? You can't cultivate. You had a disability this whole time. My master was sure of it, but you grant me these Profound Entrances? Just who in the world are you?"

"Will this be enough for you?" Yun Che deactivated his Shinigami mode and reentered his human mode. He wore the same wedding attire before he transformed into a death god.

"This…" Xia Qingyue scanned his body again, and she shocked herself again. He indeed had a disability. Moreover, his cultivation was the same as she heard—the first level of the Elementary Profound Realm. Then, her mind clicked. What is he to be able to use that kind of power back in the wedding with this crippled body?

"How… it's not possible." She expressed her disbelief.

"Let's agree to disagree." He spoke a famous movie quote while transforming back to his Shinigami state. This time, Xia Qingyue failed to gauge his strength. It was void, as if he had no profound aura at all. Then, what kind of power he cultivates?

"Who and what are you?" She asked again with a severe expression.

He avoided the question entirely. "Qingyue, I can't even call you 'my wife' or someone I love. I am sorry. There's no reason for me to tell you or even trust you with it."

Xia Qingyue wanted to pry more, but after what he said, she was conflicted again. After hearing those words, a part of her wished to return to the sect and get it over with. However, another part felt a sting. This man doesn't even see her as a wife. So, whatever questions she asked him, he might throw them out of the window.

"Are you saying I am not worthy of being your wife?" She spoke with a stoic but hurt in her tone.

The husband pulled something from his outfit before giving it to her. She slowly took it, and she widened her eyes.

Their marriage certificate. The only thing that bounds them together.

Yun Che continues his last talk to her, "You fulfilled your father's promise to my father. There's no reason for you to continue this skit. If you wanted to leave me, then burn that certificate. Do so, and consider our marriage annulled."

Xia Qingyue gritted her teeth. She had her answers to her previous question.

"I am grateful for doing it all for your father and me, but I am sorry. I can't see you as a wife. Truly, I am sorry." He looks at her before turning around. Xia Qingyue looked at him without realizing it and felt something running down her cheeks.

"Am I just a nuisance to you?"

He didn't answer her question before executing his flash step away from his room.

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Yun Che reappears at his usual meeting place with his Little Aunt. It was a small viewing platform on the top of the hill behind the Xiao Manor. Still, in his black shihakushou, he sat down. He thought about his action just now.

Did he hate her?

Did he despise her?

If he did, he could leave her and destroy the certificate alone.

Instead….

He encourages her to pursue cultivation, cures her Profound Entrances, purifies her body, and leaves her the certificate. He said those things, so she had a reason to go now. He wanted her to pursue her cultivation to find her long-lost mother. He wanted her to grow strong to reunite with her family together, even if he had to sacrifice his happiness.

Yun Che started to wonder about his feelings toward Xia Qingyue. She was a beauty that could turn the whole world upside down. But a beauty with a cold heart was the type of beauty he hated the most, and she was married to him. All he wanted was to smash her iced cold heart of hers. Fill her with love so she could be happy with him, with cultivation, and in pursuing her goal.

He gave her a choice whether to divorce him or not. He was someone who valued relationships. Political marriage can sometimes end better or not. It makes the marriage's value like it was nothing. All he wanted was a happy marriage, and the one he got right now was far from it. He understands many things for his current 17-year-old—perks of rebirthing from a middle age man.

"Little Che? Why are you here?" Yun Che turned around. Someone always called him that, and that someone was someone he cared about.

"I…" Yun Che scratched his head. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to stargaze." Yun Che was still in his shinigami mode. He even had Zangetsu resting on the wooden railing. His little Aunt just looked at him, seeing him and remembering what he had done this morning. She was even wary about him. Still, he was her Little Che. Seeing him in his Shinigami Mode, Xiao Lingxi started to ask him.

"Little Che, who and what are you?" She spoke with a severe tone. Without hesitation, the man before her killed their current clan leader, Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang. He even crippled their second elder.

All without hesitation. Xiao Lingxi admitted that deep down, she was downright scared of him.

"I am the Xiao Che that you always knew. Well, I could cultivate. I didn't tell anyone." He said with confidence. At the same time, he lied. He couldn't even cultivate. He just had the system. Besides….He can't tell her that, can he?

"You could cultivate?.... Little Che could cultivate." A tear was rolling down her cheek. She started to cry from the revelation. All this time, she had to treat him daily, being beaten by her clan member. She wasn't sure whether he was enduring but couldn't expose his true power. Maybe he finally had enough today and blew his top.

"Little Aunt, it's no big deal…I… "He moved right next to her and immediately held her shoulder to comfort her. But instead, Xiao Lingxi pinches his hand…."Owowowowowow…." Yun Che pulled his hand and blew on the sore spot.

"Why was that for?!?" He exclaimed.

"Little Che, you idiot!!!.... Why didn't you tell me you could cultivate? Why did you destroy that mountain? Don't you know it's dangerous to swing your sword that way, and you could've hurt someone?"

"Ohhh, man.." Yun Che thought in his mind.

"Why are you out here? Tonight is your wedding night. You aren't with your Xia Qingyue consummating your marriage but came out here to stargaze?!" Xiao Lingxi grabbed Xiao Che's arm, an angry pout on her face. "Don't you know that it's dangerous here? From time to time, profound beasts will come out; sometimes, bandits will come here when it's this dark. What would happen if you carelessly ran into them? I have often told you that you can't come out here, even during the day, if your grandfather or I are not by your side. You actually… did not listen to my words!"

"Is this girl for real?" He spoke from within as she saw him pulverize an entire mountaintop. However, it's nice seeing her treating him like she always was.

Xiao Lingxi angrily pinched Xiao Che's arm as punishment as she talked. "Ah! It hurts, it hurts!" Xiao Che hurriedly yelled and apologetically said, "Little Aunt, I know I'm in the wrong. Next time I definitely won't dare."

"And besides….Profound beast? Bandits?...if I met them, I'll blast them away with my sword." He spoke with a confident tone, but it just added fuel to the fire.

"You're arrogant now?!??" She immediately pinched his arm harder. After a few rounds of scolding and pinching, Yun Che sat in seiza position, apologizing to his Little Aunt.

"That's more like it… There's not allowed to be a next time!"

"Yes, ma'am." He nodded while sitting down. Yun Che observed the girl before him. Despite seeing him acting like a tyrant this afternoon, she didn't care about all that strength. All she cared about was the man before her, the Little Che she always cared for.

He grins at her before saying, "Thanks, Little Aunt."

"Eh?" She shot him with a confused look. Then, he replied, "For treating me like always. I was afraid you were afraid of me, but I was worried for nothing."

She blushed before turning and avoiding his gaze. "Muuuu…. No matter how powerful you'll be…... You'll always be my Little Che."

"Then… Little Aunt, why did you come here? It's this late already." Yun Che asks, trying to change the subject.

"I…" Xiao Lingxi's voice lowered, her eyes appearing a bit hollow. "I don't know why, but I couldn't sleep tonight. Then I saw that the stars were bright tonight, so I wanted to come to the lookout to take a look."

Yun Che looked up at the sky and then said with a smile. She joined him before she spoke, "In the past, Little Che and I would frequently sneak out here at night to enjoy the evening wind and look at the stars… And would frequently get caught and scolded by grandfather."

"Hm." Yun Che responded as he didn't remember any of Yun Che's childhood. He once read about this part. It was a moment of silence, and he noticed his Little Aunt was anxious. She took a deep breath before she spoke, "Little Che. Why did you kill Xiao Yulang and Xiao Yang? Also, why did you kill our clan master?"

Yun Che looked at her thoughtfully. Can he tell her that they killed the real Xiao Che?

"And….When you killed them, you looked scary." Little Aunt lowered her head, remembering the event during the wedding.

"Little Aunt....." Yun Che tried to approach her, but she backed away a little. Her expression was downright fear.

He relaxed before looking towards the night sky and creating a comfortable environment so his Little Aunt didn't feel any fear of talking to him. "If I didn't kill them, who knows what will they do in the future? Humiliate me in my wedding, insulting and trying to kill me. I did it to avoid future trouble." Yun Che then explained to her about the murder powder this morning. How Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang plot to kill him. How he fainted, and if his Little Aunt didn't find him, he'll die, so he returned the favour.

"Besides, Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang always tried to flirt with you. You can say I am a little jealous." He added and saw Xiao Lingxi's blushing expression.

"The clan leader and the second elder?" She asked again.

"The clan leader's death was quite unfortunate. The energy in my sword was quite unstable, so I had to release it. He was standing in front of me in an attempt to kill me. He was just in the wrong place and time. As for the second elder, I crippled him because he and a few other elders wished to sell you and Xia Qingyue to Xiao Kuangyun of the main clan to curry favour with him. The same goes for Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang. They, too, had the same plan, but no one messes with my Little Aunt. So I ended them before they could do so."

Xiao Lingxi couldn't believe her ears. Some of the elders are going to sell her to Xiao Kuangyun. Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang are part of this as well. She didn't know whether it was true, but her Little Che will never kill for no reason. She trusted him her whole life, and she believed his story.

"How do you know about this?" She asks him and doubts how he knew all this fact.

He formed a story to hide the system's trivia. "They discussed this a few days ago, and I overheard them. As for Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang's scheme to kill me? They must stop speaking their plans out loud in the forest behind the manor. They wanted to kill me because of their jealousy of Xia Qingyue."

"You heard? You never ventured out of your room." Xiao Lingxi doubted once more. She remembered her Little Che stayed most of the time in his room. Whether out of pure laziness, recuperating from beatings or just being ashamed of not being able to cultivate. Then, she wonders. Is this why he stayed most of the time? He let himself beaten up by his clansman, so he had reasons to stay and develop in his room.

Little that she knows, it was pure coincidence.

"Little Aunt, look at me. I heard everything across the clan about how the family hated me for marrying Xia Qingyue, how they planned to curry favour with Xiao Kuangyun and finally, how they would back Xiao Yulong up when he was messing with me at my wedding. Right now, part of the clan wanted to prostrate to me. Some clanswoman wanted to become my concubine or bed maid to soothe my anger." He said while using the system to enhance his hearing sense.

"No!! You can't accept those women. If they dare approach you, I'll ask father to expel them." Xiao Lingxi shouted before holding his arm to her chest.

Then, she sits closer to him. "Those bastards Yulong and Yang, hmph…they deserved to die after all. Trying to kill my Little Che." After growing up with him, she trusted him with her life. She sat beside him as if trying to protect him from another assassination attempt. That escalated quickly.

"One moment there she was scared of me, and then poof…She trusted me. She does love me. No matter what I've become, she still loves me." Yun Che silently thought.

"You are an angel," he exclaims softly.

"What was that?" she suddenly turned her head towards him.

"Oh, nothing.." Yun Che tried to hide his embarrassment. "Ehem…back to the real question…What are you doing here?" Yun Che is trying to change the subject again.

"I thought I'd see how it felt to come out by myself to stargaze… Because in the future, I might not be able to stargaze with little Che."

Yun Che was quiet. He came here to fulfil his promise to meet her and break the news of his departure tonight. She probably thinks he is married and has responsibilities to his wife. Yun Che immediately got up and held her waist.

"Little Che! What are you doing!?!" Little Aunt struggles as Yun Che holds her tight while carrying Zangetsu on the other.

"Hold on…." He activated Flash Step or Shunpoo towards a familiar place. At the same time, a woman figure was watching nearby and heard everything in Xiao Lingxi and Yun Che's conversation. She decides to follow him but can't keep up with his fast movement speed even though they have their rapid movement art. She could only follow because she could detect Xiao Lingxi's profound aura.

Xiao Lingxi was quite shocked about his speed. It was faster than any other clan members. She tried to ask how he did it, but Yun Che just gave her a vague answer.

Anyway ….

The destination was a small hilltop covered by soft and tender grass. Yun Che and Xiao Lingxi leaned against each other shoulder to shoulder, bathing in the occasional evening wind, their hearts at peace. It was a peaceful place and a zone where no one would interrupt them.

"Little Aunt, I may be married, but I will never forget the one friend I grew up with—the one who is always with me until the end. Xia Qingyue might be pretty, but she will never compare to you. Little Aunt was pretty in on the inside as well as on the outside. It's a blessing for me to have you by my side."

"Because Little Aunt and grandfather are the most important people in my life. You two stood by my side until today. Little Aunt, I promise you, even though I'm now married, you won't ever lose me, just like I hope never to lose you."

"Hehe…" Xiao Lingxi happily smiled, her hands hugging Yun Che's arm. She rested her head on his shoulder. "As expected, my Little Che is the most well-behaved, obedient."

They chat, remembering their mischievous act, sneaking out, and mostly their moments together. Yun Che remembers those moments well using the system's trivia. The real him was slowly developing feelings for his Little Aunt and silently apologizing to the real Yun Che for stealing her from him. It's time to drop the bomb.

"Little Aunt….I…" Yun Che began…. "I wish to explore the world. Now that I can cultivate, I wish to become stronger to protect you, so let me ask you this. Little Aunt, would you let me go?"

Xiao Lingxi was quiet, too quiet. She knew one day he was going to leave. It's the nature of a cultivator. To explore the world, keep getting more robust, and protect his loved ones. But the price of power always comes with a price.

"Little Che, are you leaving? What about your wife?"

"She plans to join a sect later on. As for me, I'll forge my path. She's the city's dazzling pearl. She won't be confining herself here." Yun Che kept a secret about Xia Qingyue. That way, her image of her will be as it is.

Xiao Lingxi was conflicted. She knew she could never keep him here. Forcing him here would halt his development. After his stunt this morning, various powers would come and recruit him. Even if he rejected, he was still going off alone and maybe meeting far more spectacular women in the future. Once that happens, they'll outshine her. She was willing to let him go.

On one condition….

"Little Che, please…please….. Come back to me when you have a chance, when you have become strong. Don't forget me…." She holds his arm and looks him with tears in the eye.

Yun Che looked at her seriously and slowly hugged her. "When standing in the grand apex of the world one day. I promised I'll return to you and marry you." There, he said it.

"Ehhhhh!!!!!….Little Che, I was joking about marriage all the time. You have Qingyue, you....you.…you." She was flustered as she never expected Yun Che to propose immediately.

Yun Che holds her hand. "Little Aunt, I am serious. I may be married, but I want to marry you as well. It isn't about cheating or unfaithfulness. I want to be with you, and I want to protect you. I want to give you a reason to come back here. Besides, you are the one asking to be married." Yun Che looked at her teasingly. Xiao Lingxi was red as a tomato, and she was so flustered.

She tried to gather he wits and…." Please take good care of me," she said in embarrassment. Deep down, she was happy. She was pleased.

Yun Che smiled. He knows the promise and proposal were on a whim, but he'll develop those feelings one day. If the man married her now, it'd be the same as his marriage as his one-sided marriage. They continued talking until Xiao Lingxi fell asleep on his shoulder. He laid her down and looked at her smiling face.

Those anime fans are going to be so pissed if they see this. Yun Che was proposing to Megumi-chan. Not the real her, but she looks like she and she accepted. She was happy even in her sleep. He continued sitting up and observed the stars.

Xia Qingyue observed them from afar. She never saw him so happy with that girl. She saw him with an expression she had never seen before, and with the girl was his aunt. When she looked at them, deep down, she had this twisting feeling that made her uncomfortable when looking at the two of them.

Xia Qingyue immediately shook it off and regained her composure. She slowly approached them from behind. She wanted to tell Yun Che that its time for her to return for the sect's recruitment, and her master was waiting.

"You showed up…."

Yun Che slowly got up and turned to her. He knew her reason for coming here but didn't want an answer. He just gave his blessing. "You should leave with your master. After tonight, you won't find me here anymore."

Xia Qingyue looks at her husband. She wanted to say something.

"Is it true you killed those people because of this morning?"

"I was 'killed' by them, so I blew my top and killed them back. They had the galls to poison me just because of their jealousy of me marrying you. How dumb."

"Then, you cripple that elder because he wants to sell me to this Xiao Kuangyun?" She secretly felt gratitude for him being willing to cripple an elder just because he wanted to sell her to Xiao Kuangyun.

"You, along with my aunt. I am not going to let them sell you and her. I did it to avoid future trouble, but Xiao Kuangyun is still coming later. If other elders try to be funny, I might warn them later." She suddenly frowns. So, in the end, he was doing it for his Little Aunt.

Xia Qingyue was quiet for a moment, and she wanted to help him for defending her despite what she did to him at the wedding. "I can protect your aunt and grandfather from him if you want. I can stay here until that Xiao Kuangyun returns to the Xiao Sect."

"…."

"I can search for some rare items. It might restore your Profound Veins. Consider it repayment for helping me. My master can protect your aunt and grandfather. Just until he…."

Yun Che just raised his hand and shook his head. "How kind of you, but like I said, don't bother yourself with me anymore. You already cause enough trouble as it is. Just go. You're just wasting time. If fate wills it, we'll meet again at the summit of the empire."

Xia Qingyue was quiet for a moment. Then, with a cold but torn expression. She spoke, "…. Are you chasing me away? So, I am a nuisance to you."

He didn't say anything, but he saw it. A shiny drop on Xia Qingyue's beautiful face as she nods and leaves reluctantly, still holding the certificate.

"Qingyue…"

Yun Che looked at her retreating. It didn't feel as good as the man thought, and she still holds the marriage certificate. She was reluctant to divorce him.

Now, he felt guilty despite not saying anything about that last remark.

"I feel like a jerk." Yun Che turned around and somehow regretted his objective.

Is it because if she did divorce him, the promise would be void? Or did she refuse to divorce him? Right now, Xia Qingyue thinks that her husband hates her. It was understandable, but she couldn't shake that feeling off. She wipes her tears and returns to her unsympathetic character.

She saw her master, Chu Yueli.

"Are you ready to go?"

She nods silently. Inside her cold heart, the image of Yun Che slowly forms. With that, she had a resolve. Aside from cultivating to find her mother, she had another goal. The goal was…..

Win back Yun Che's heart.

Xia Qingyue couldn't do so if she just wished for it. She had to do something. Then, she did something she thought she would. She turned towards her master. She spoke with a slight sense of determination. "Master, can we stay for a few days more?"

"But, you said he was going to leave tonight?" Her words spark a little doubt in the Asgardian master, Chu Yueli. Her beautiful eyes curl upwards.

"Hnnn… Just for a few days." Xia Qingyue replied.

"I don't see the significance of doing so." Chu Yueli only complied with her wish. She requested that any of her wishes be complied with as a condition she returned to the Frozen Cloud Asgard.

Xia Qingyue nodded her head before looking towards the direction she came for. The man she married was a mysterious one. She somehow understood that he chased her so trouble won't follow him and her, but she won't leave until she had repaid the gifts he had left for her. He said that Xiao Kuangyun might return later to the clan, and if he left tonight, he might cause harm to her.

She and her master would protect them even if her husband didn't like them.