24 - Departure

I wrote this without my usual mindset, I was half dead due to stress when I wrote this...

---

After Itachi was done cultivating he put back his leftover pellets into the Sky Poison Pearl before he left in full speed toward Floating Cloud City. He had forgotten about it due to the fact of meeting Jasmine but he remembered Xiao Kuangyun was the son of the Sect Master of the Xiao Sect. After killing him he was originally going to leave immediately.

It is impossible that the Xiao Sect don't have a way to find out he had died. They might even be sending investigation the moment he killed Xiao Kuangyun. This was the reason Itachi waited to kill him once they were out of Floating Cloud City.

If he died in Floating Cloud City and the Xiao Sect found out, they might investigate the city or make it disappear from the Blue Wind Empire. But since he killed him in the forest near Cyan Forest City, they would of course spend more time in Cyan Forest City instead of Floating Cloud City.

At most they would only Floating Cloud City a little before leaving it alone and searching the areas close to Cyan Forest City. After all, the strongest expert is his grandfather who is only a peak Spirit profound expert, how can he beat an Earth profound expert. Perhaps it might even be blamed on a rival sect, since once they find no information leading to the killer they will be forced to be make assumptions.

Their trust of the other sects will lower and their relations will be strained, which will make them forget of a puny Floating Cloud City.

---

When Itachi made it back to Floating Cloud City, it was already mid day or lunch time. As he expected many of the Xiao Clan were celebrating since Xiao Yulong made it. Although it looked like they were celebrating the other elders faces were ugly as Xiao Yunhai boasted.

Seeing his grandfather and little aunt not a part of it he shrugged and headed to find them. Entering his grandfather's courtyard he found both Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi there. Although his little aunt's eyes were red.

" What if something happened to little che? Maybe the Xiao Sect's people did something to him?" Xiao Lingxi spoke as she sobbed as she hugged Xiao Lie. After all from their perspective he went to confront the Xiao Sect's young master last night and never returned.

Walking in he spoke " Little aunt, grandfather I'm back " He said.

As soon as he said that Xiao Lingxi sprang up and ran up to his arms. "You! I was so worried about you!"

Itachi smiled as he pat her head before he flicked her forehead "I'm sorry little aunt"

After that he ate with them as he explained that he resolved the issue regarding Xiao Kuangyun last night peacefully and was gone because he went to find profound herbs in the nearby mountain which took him from night to morning. After eating he bid farewell as he headed toward to his courtyard.

Once he walked in he saw Xia Qingyue once again drinking tea.

"Oh, you haven't forgotten you are married?" She spoke expressionlessly with a voice of no emotion.

"...No I haven't forgotten, though it doesn't make a difference as you are leaving in a months time" Itachi spoke coolly as he sat opposite to her.

"..." Xia Qingyue chose to remain quiet as she drank her tea. Though she thought of the anomaly who was her current husband.

---

The next day it was as Itachi had expected. Envoys from the Xiao Sect had come to tell Xiao Yunhai that Xiao Yulong had died along with Xiao Kuangyun and the rest. Hearing that Xiao Yunhai looked like he lost the will to live. After all, how can he get revenge if the attacker could kill an Earth Profound Realm cultivator not to mention of of the 4 great powers?

The Xiao Sect envoys had pinned the blame on the Burning Heavens Clan, as the bodies were charred from flames. Not only did they have bad blood with the Burning Heavens Clan but they too used flame arts. So they thought it was most logical it was them

After that the envoys of the Xiao Sect stayed in the city for half a day before they had taken another talent from the Xiao Clan. It was Xiao Chengzi who was the grandson of the third elder.

Although unlike before there were no celebrations, it was because Xiao Yunhai had committed suicide. Xiao Yulong was after all his only son.

The funeral was held on the same day and and ended in the afternoon. Although it was sad most of the guests had some mocking expressions. After all once Xiao Yunhai's son made it to the Xiao Sect he rubbed it in their faces, yet not even a day his son died! Now he had killed himself, truly what bad karma.

--

Itachi along with his grandfather and little aunt were in one courtyard as they all ate their breakfast. Xiao Lie also asked Xia Qingyue to join but she had politely refused and went back to cultivating.

"Grandfather, little aunt. I want to perform acupuncture in order unlock some of the profound veins in your bodies. May I?" Itachi asked as if it was something normal.

Instantly Xiao Lie began to choke on his food while he looked at Itachi. Xiao Lingxi on the other hand was confused, as although she knew what it meant she didn't think Itachi could do something like that.

"...What are you talking about Che er?" His grandfather said.

" Remember when I said I had chanced upon an opportunity which fixed my profound veins" Itachi said.

"Indeed" Xiao Lie said as Xiao Lingxi nodded. How could he forget such a miraculous event, if he didn't sense that Itachi was in Nascent Profound Realm he might even have thought he was lying.

"What I found were notes of a heavenly doctor regarded as a medial saint. I had received his notes which showed for a method of fixing my veins, along with various other miracles including opening one's profound entrances" Itachi spoke

"Truly?!" Xiao Lie asked

"Yes, see for yourself grandfather" Itachi said as he held his hand to his grandfather. Who in turn had took it and touched his writs before injecting some of his profound energy.

"This! This!" Xiao Lie said as he stood up and took a few steps back.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Xiao Lingxi asked

"54... 54 profound veins!" He yelped

"What?! Is it really true daddy? Then that's great, Little Che can cultivate quicker now!" Xiao Lingxi said happily.

"Please grandfather.... you have been stuck in the peak of the Spirit profound realm long enough." Itachi said " This may bring you a chance for a breakthrough to Earth Profound. Once you have, you will have an extended lifespan"

"This... I don't know if I truly want to" Xiao Lie said hesitantly but suddenly after doing so, Itachi kneeled in front of him and begged him.

"Please grandfather... If not for yourself, for me and little aunt, what of my or little aunt's future children? I want them to experience what it's like to have a grandfather, I have already lost father and its unknown if my biological parents are even alive" Itachi said as he kneeled.

{a/n: ik ik, u all be like 'how un-Itachi like'}

He had done this because he wanted Xiao Lie to live. He has for a long time already known that if not for he or his little aunt, Xiao Lie would have long committed suicide.

Seeing Itachi doing that Xiao Lingxi also followed suite. "Litle what little Che said daddy! I don't want you to die!" She said a bit teary.

"This!" Xiao Lie who looked at the kneeling figures of Itachi and Xiao Lingxi felt pain in his heart. It seemed that he had made these two greatly worried. But deep down he felt warmth as it seemed that he made the right choice and raised them. If he had given up then, and took his own life-No he didn't want to think of such a thing.

"Che er, Xi er... It seems this old man has worried you. Haha! Don't worry I won't be leaving anytime soon!" He said as his eyes watered a bit.

"Then!" Itachi said as he raise his head to meet his grandfathers gave who in turn nodded back at him.

"Very well then. As for Xi er, she too will have to do it." Xiao Lie said

The next 20 minutes or so Itachi had performed acupuncture on them as he quickly opened their profound veins with the help of the Sky Profound Pearl. He opened all 54 profound entrances in turn giving both Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi the Heavenly God's Profound veins.

"I have also found this along with the notes of the medical saint" Itachi said as he handed Xiao Lie the 5 Goldscale dragon transforming pellets and Xiao Lingxi 10 dragon blood pellets.

"This! I cannot take it, keep it for yourself Che er" Xiao Lie said as Xiao Lingxi too tried to give them back.

Itachi merely shook his head as he pushed them back. "Grandfather, these 5 goldscale dragon transforming pellet is rumored to make a Spirit profound expert breakthrough in a single night. Although you are at the Peak of the Spirit Profound realm and their power is diminished it could still help you reach Earth Profound. What's more only True profound and higher can use them"

{a/n: i don't know anything about the pellet, i just wrote bs}

Then he faced Xiao Lingxi and also began to speak "Little aunt, please don't worry I myself still have some. That is you're share" He said as he reached into his pocket and pretended to grab something and took out the three he had left from the Sky Poison Pearl.

Seeing the proof Xiao Lingxi could only sigh and be forced to accept. Seeing that both had accepted Itachi felt satisfied and left as to not bother them as they began to cultivate.

--

A month had passed since Itachi had opened the profound entrances of both Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi.

Some of the events that had occurred in the past month was Xiao Lie breaking into the Earth Profound Realm which shocked the whole Floating Cloud CIty! It had been decades since their city had an Earth Profound Expert.

The Xiao Clan were elated and tried to give him the position of the new clan head, but Xiao Lie refused. He didn't bother with the clan anymore nor the politics of Floating Cloud City. All the time he spent now were dedicated to cultivation and instructing Xiao Lingxi or drinking tea with Itachi.

Not only did Xiao Lie become an Earth Profound Expert but even made it to the 2nd realm of Earth Profound. The reason being the pellets Itachi had given him coupled with the increase of cultivation speed from his opened profound entrances.

Xiao Lingxi, had also made breakthroughs the past month. She had now broke through and made it to the 1st of Nascent Profound. Which was also because of her new Heavenly God's Profound veins and the dragon blood pellets. Though she only made it seem as though she had a cultivation base of 8th of Elementary Profound.

Itachi had also broken through the past month. He had broken through to the 10th of Nascent Profound Realm but stopped there. He did so because he wanted to consolidate his realm while he also began training his body. He had done basic body strengthening exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, squats and running. All that with his profound energy sealed along with kicks and punches against a boulder.

Even though he had trained for a month he was still not even close to being enough to open the first gate of the eight hidden gates. But even so he wasn't impatient as he knew that those who had trained in the eight gates had dedicated themselves to training their body and spent years doing so.

--

After Itachi had finished doing his body strengthening exercises he changed his clothes and headed back to his courtyard where he had once again spotted Xia Qingyue. The past month they only had light conversations which was no real progress from their first meeting.

"You are leaving tomorrow?" Itachi asked as he walked in.

"Indeed" Xia Qingyue replied "I also see you are planning on leaving"

"...Yes, I want to explore the Blue Wind Empire" Itachi stated as he went and sat on a chair.

"... You are but a cripple. The outside world is dangerous, do you really think it would go so smooth traveling?" She asked as she gazed at Itachi.

Itachi merely closed his eyes as he leaned back against the chair before giving his reply "...Indeed, the outside world is very dangerous. But it is merely your assumption that I don't have a way to defend myself"

Hearing that Xia Qingyue narrowed her eyes slightly "Oh, and you do?"

Itachi only opened is eyes to meet hers but he didn't answer her question. In fact he answered by asking another question of his own " Do you know your whole body is plagued with cold qi?"

"..." Hearing the question she only opted to stay quiet.

" This must be a side affect of your sects cultivation technique. Due to the side affect you wake up every day at three in the morning while for the next half hour, your entire body would be ice cold, and your four limbs sore" Itachi said as he gazed at her once again shocked face.

"How do you know?" Xia Qingyue asked coldly. After all it was one of the secrets of her sect and she only found out about such a flaw when her master accidently said it.

Itachi merely ignored her as he spoke " Do you want me to heal you?"

Now Xia Qingyue was really shocked. After all her master told her that there was no such treatment for it and would only have to wait until the cold qi leaves the body on it's own. She looked at him before asking " And why would you offer such a thing?"

"As a farewell gift. After tomorrow both of us are destined to never meet again." He said expressionlessly

"...very well" She said.

...

Xia Qingyue now laid in bed as she thought of what had transpired earlier in the afternoon. She gazed at the moon before she turned her head to see Itachi sleeping peacefully as he was in a cross-legged position.

In the afternoon, Itachi had done what he had said and healed her. She no longer felt cold qi in her body and now felt warm. It had been four years since she had felt such a sensation.

'What a strange person' She thought as she gazed at Itachi before drifting to sleep.

When she woke up the next day Itachi had already left and by the bed she laid in was her and Itachi's marriage certificate. Though unlike before it was torn in half, with the other piece missing. All that was left was half of the original with her name on it, the other half with Itachi's name were torn out and nowhere to be found.

---

a/n:

I don't really know what to do with Xia Qingyue in my fic. I mean should I kill her off? Or make the mc befriend her? I don't have a fukin clue, I mean she really ain't needed right now.