Yun Che's senses returned in a slow, steady wave. His eyes opened to the sight of Xia Qingyue—sitting in seiza on the edge of the bed, her posture flawless, her expression unreadable. The soft veil of moonlight entering the room framed her like an ice sculpture, serene and distant.
She had been waiting.
He didn't comment on it.
Without a word, he rose to his feet and lifted Zangetsu, strapping the enormous blade across his back with practiced ease. If she intended to leave for cultivation—as she had made so abundantly clear—then she could leave whenever she wanted. He had no interest in clinging to a marriage that neither of them truly wanted.
He stepped toward the veranda, ready to leave the room and seek out his Little Aunt.
Then—
"Wait…"
Her voice—soft, hesitant—brushed against his back.
It was the first time she had spoken to him without cold detachment since the wedding.
Yun Che turned partially, one brow raised in mild surprise. "What is it?"
Xia Qingyue lowered her gaze for a moment before lifting it again, eyes calm yet strangely unsettled. "You said I could leave anytime. Is that truly what you want? To chase me away?"
He crossed his arms loosely. "Shouldn't you already be on your way back to your sect? Isn't that what you came here planning to do? You completed your promise. The marriage is just a formality to you. Nothing more."
Her lips parted, faintly tightening at the edges. "Even so… I am still your wife."
Her tone was calm, but there was a thin crack of hurt buried beneath the ice.
Yun Che exhaled lightly. "In my defense, I don't see you as a wife."
The words landed with sharp finality.
Xia Qingyue's breath stilled. She didn't flinch, didn't recoil—but her eyes trembled, just a ripple, like a pebble dropped into a frozen lake.
He continued, unbothered. "And I'm sure you feel the same. This marriage was never meant to be emotional. Just a debt repayment. If anything, I'm giving you exactly what you want—a clean break."
Silence fell.
She didn't speak.
She didn't object.
But her fingers tightened just slightly on the silk of her robe.
Yun Che watched her for another heartbeat, noting the faint shift in her expression—confusion, conflict, maybe even a trace of… disappointment?
Hard to tell. She was a master of suppression.
Either way, it didn't change anything.
With Zangetsu on his back and his shadow stretching across the veranda, he turned fully toward the door.
"Rest easy, Xia Qingyue. You're free to go anytime."
He stepped forward—ready to leave the room.
But behind him, barely audible, her voice drifted out again, softer than before.
"Then why… didn't you let me go?"
Yun Che eyed her steadily, arms folded across his chest, his gaze neither harsh nor soft—simply certain.
"Xia Qingyue," he began, voice level, "our marriage was born from a promise between your father and mine. I understand perfectly why you accepted it. You married me to fulfill that debt, and to protect the reputations of my grandfather and myself. For that, you have my gratitude. Truly."
He exhaled lightly and looked around the room, almost amused at the irony.
"But after what I did at the wedding, none of that will matter anymore."
Xia Qingyue remained silent. Her stillness was as perfect as frost, but her eyes glimmered faintly.
"You're a good girl," Yun Che continued. "Obedient to your sect. Devoted to your father's wishes. You even requested immunity for me before coming here. And you refused to let me touch you, or to touch me, because your sect would kill me for it. All of that… was to protect me."
The tiniest tremor flickered in her eyes, but she said nothing.
He nodded. "Thought so. Honestly? Any man would be lucky to have a wife that responsible."
Then he tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing with a mixture of respect and cool detachment.
"But for all your beauty, Qingyue… you are cold on the inside. A frozen heart, unyielding to anything outside your path. Exactly what I would expect from the Frozen Cloud Asgard's prized disciple."
Her breath hitched ever so slightly. That identity was a secret.
He wasn't done.
"Yes, I know what you are. A disciple of Frozen Cloud Asgard." He angled his chin upward, as though addressing the shadows. "Even your master has been observing us from afar."
Shock rippled through her eyes. How did he…?
"How I know isn't your concern," Yun Che replied, as though reading her question. "What matters is this: you didn't come to my side when Xiao Yulong challenged me. You didn't defend me. You didn't even try to protect your own husband's life."
Something tightened in her fingers—so small, so quick, that even she might not have noticed.
"If I were the Xiao Che from before the wedding," he continued softly, "I'd have been thrilled just to call you my wife. The city's flower, the unreachable beauty."
His smile faded.
"But the current me? I can't see you like that. Not after today. Being married to you feels like being bound to a block of ice. And I get it—you don't know me. You wouldn't defend a stranger."
Xia Qingyue lowered her eyes. The thought lingered in her mind like a whisper: If I had defended him then… would this moment be different?
Yun Che slowly stepped closer, the room shrinking around the tension.
"If I were still a cripple," he said quietly, "you probably would have kicked me out of this room. And I wouldn't blame you. Your path is cultivation. I respect that."
He stopped in front of her and looked down, expression unreadable.
"But before you go… take this as my wedding gift."
Xia Qingyue lifted her eyes—just in time to see Yun Che vanish and reappear behind her in a single silent movement. Her body froze as his hand glowed with unfamiliar energy. He pressed his palm gently against the center of her back.
A pulse of reaitsu surged through her meridians.
She stiffened, eyes widening as every blocked profound entrance inside her burst open—cleanly, instantly, painlessly. Power flooded her system in a beautiful, overwhelming rush.
She didn't understand.
She couldn't understand.
Her profound veins were… whole.
==================
Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins.
Even spoken silently, the words carried a weight that made the air seem to hum. These were the legendary veins every cultivator in existence dreamed of, fantasized about, and envied from the depths of their souls. The kind of veins that didn't just elevate someone—they rewrote the very rules of cultivation for them.
Heavenly God's Veins were a miracle born once in many eras. With them, a cultivator's profound energy flowed like water through a river with no rocks, no bends, no resistance. Gathering profound energy became effortless; releasing it became absolute; cultivating became transcendent. Those who possessed such veins found themselves operating under laws higher than the mortal world. Their cultivation no longer belonged to the realm of "human."
Most importantly—such veins could not bottleneck.
No walls.
No ceilings.
No limits.
The sort of gift even high-level Monarchs and Tyrants would destroy nations to obtain.
And Xia Qingyue now possessed them, opened flawlessly in a single breath.
Yun Che exhaled slowly, reflecting on how absurdly simple the process had been for him. The system had translated the Heavenly Medicine Manual—normally written in cryptic divine script—into something even a dull mortal could read. The resulting guide was literally titled:
[How to Open Profound Entrances – Newbie Edition]
He'd nearly choked from embarrassment when he first saw the name.
But the contents…
The contents were a miracle.
The instructions allowed him to replicate, with pure reaitsu, what the original Yun Che had done with the Sky Poison Pearl. By channeling his spiritual pressure directly into the center of the body, he could incinerate impurities instantly, cleanse every blocked point, and open all the profound entrances at once—without forcing impurities out through the skin, without the smell, without the pain.
Complete purification in the span of a heartbeat.
It was the kind of technique that would be considered divine heresy if anyone in the Profound Sky Continent ever learned of it.
Yun Che glanced at his palm—the same palm that had just shattered Xia Qingyue's limits and gifted her a future even Frozen Cloud Asgard could never dream of.
========================
"All in one second," he murmured.
A single heartbeat—
That was all it took for him to give a genius something that belonged only to legends.
All fifty-four profound entrances, opened perfectly.
All impurities, annihilated by pure reaitsu before they could even stain her skin.
A second to rewrite her talent.
A second to rewrite her life.
Xia Qingyue felt her body trembling—not from fear, but from the unimaginable surge of purity running through her veins. She had heard of the Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins, whispered only in myths, recorded only in ancient fragments. A power unattainable, unreal, forever beyond reach.
Yet… now they were hers.
Unsealed. Complete. Perfect.
Her husband—no, the man who claimed not to see her as his wife—had given them to her with casual ease, as though granting an absolute genius her throne.
In the Profound Sky Continent, every cultivator was born crippled in one way or another. Most had dozens of blocked entrances, with no way to open them. Even famed doctors could only open five at best—and that alone was enough to cause kingdoms to wage war for their services.
But fifty-four profound entrances…
All of them?
Completely purified?
That was a miracle that defied the heavens.
Even someone with fifty-three open points would never compare. The difference was more than 50%—it was the difference between earth and sky.
And Yun Che… had gone beyond even the Heavenly God's standard.
His reaitsu, the Sky Poison Pearl's latent power in his body, and the system's divine refinement had combined to create a superior version of the Heavenly God's Veins—one even the original legends never described. The veins he gave her weren't just open; they were immaculate, pristine, refined to an extent no mortal, no expert, no sect had ever witnessed.
Xia Qingyue sat frozen on the bed, unable to speak.
Her heart—a heart forged in Frozen Cloud Asgard's teachings, emotionless and cold—wavered.
He gave her something priceless.
And yet…
He stepped back, turned toward her, and bowed lightly.
"My gratitude for trying to protect me," he said softly, "but I feel nothing toward you."
The words struck harder than any palm strike.
"I am sorry I'm not the husband you expected to marry."
Her breath trembled. Her eyes lowered.
He continued, his tone calm, distant… painfully honest.
"If you want to return to your sect, then go. Focus on your cultivation—on the goal you've devoted your life to. With the profound entrances I've given you, your path will be far greater than before."
His gaze lingered on her only briefly.
"Use them. Forge the path you always wanted to go."
Xia Qingyue's lips parted, but no sound came out.
A storm of emotions, unfamiliar and unwelcome, churned beneath her ice.
He… didn't want her?
Even though he gave her this miracle?
Even though he had every right to demand something in return—
He asked for nothing.
The man she had dismissed as a cripple…
The man she viewed as a burden…
Had turned away without hesitation, without attachment, without expectation.
And somehow…
That hurt more than she imagined.
Yun Che walked past her toward the veranda, his footsteps soft but unyielding. He would have left without another word—but her voice caught him again. This time, it trembled.
"Who are you? You can't cultivate. You've been disabled all your life. Even my master confirmed it. Yet you gave me these Profound Entrances… cleared them as if it was nothing. Just who in the world are you?"
He paused, sighing softly.
Without a word, Yun Che let the Shinigami aura around him fade. The black robe dissolved into particles of light, and in its place—
He stood exactly as he was before the wedding: a beautifully dressed cripple in a red groom's robe.
A powerless boy.
"This…" Xia Qingyue's eyes widened. She sensed his profound aura again—weak, broken, stagnant. The very same level she heard about before the wedding. First level of the Elementary Profound Realm. Her pulse quickened as the realization settled.
The man who obliterated a mountain…
The man whose pressure forced a Sky Profound expert to her knees…
The man who killed a Spirit Profound elder with a wave of his sword…
…was still crippled.
"How…?" She whispered. "It's not possible."
"Let's agree to disagree."
With a faint smirk, Yun Che let the world shift again. Darkness rippled across him like water. His shihakushō reformed with a whispering hiss, Zangetsu settling onto his back. His aura vanished again, swallowed into an endless void.
Xia Qingyue's breath froze.
She tried to sense him—
Nothing.
No profound energy.
No fluctuation.
Not even the breath of life.
Only a bottomless abyss.
What kind of power was this?
"Who—and what—are you?" She asked again, this time with genuine fear threading through her voice.
He didn't look at her.
"Qingyue," he said, "I can't even call you my wife. I don't love you. I don't know you. There is no reason for me to tell you anything… or trust you."
This time, she visibly flinched.
His words landed deeper than she expected.
Much deeper.
Her life had been discipline, coldness, clarity—but this man shook that foundation without even trying. She thought she didn't care for him at all. Yet hearing him dismiss their bond so effortlessly…
Something stung.
"Are you saying…" she whispered, "…that I am not worthy of being your wife?"
Yun Che reached into his robe.
He pulled something out.
She froze the moment she recognized it.
Their marriage certificate.
The one sacred document that bound their lives together.
Yun Che placed it in her hands.
"You fulfilled your father's promise to mine," he said quietly. "Your duty is done. There's no reason for you to remain chained to this skit… this arrangement."
Her fingers trembled against the parchment.
"If you want to leave me," he continued, "burn that certificate. Consider our marriage annulled."
Xia Qingyue grit her teeth so hard her jaw tightened.
She had her answer—
To all the questions she asked him earlier.
He looked at her one last time—not with disdain, but with a strange, quiet sadness.
"I'm grateful for everything you did. For the promise you honored. But… I can't see you as my wife. Truly, I'm sorry."
He turned away.
Xia Qingyue stood there, silent, motionless, the certificate clenched in her trembling hands. She didn't even realize something warm had slipped past her lashes until it fell onto the paper.
A tear.
Her first in years.
Softly, she whispered—barely audible:
"…Am I just a nuisance to you?"
Yun Che didn't answer.
He simply vanished—
Flash stepping out of the room, leaving her alone in the quiet darkness with nothing but her racing heart…
and a burning, unfamiliar ache that Frozen Cloud cultivation never prepared her for.
============================
Yun Che reappeared on the old viewing platform behind the Xiao Manor—a quiet ridge overlooking Floating Cloud City, its lanterns flickering faintly beneath the night sky. The wind brushed softly past him, tugging gently at the black fabric of his shihakushō as he lowered himself onto the wooden floorboards. This place had always been precious to the original Yun Che—where he laughed, sulked, and spent time with his Little Aunt. Now it served as the only corner of peace he could claim.
His mind, however, was anything but peaceful.
Did he hate her?
He traced the memory of Xia Qingyue's expression when he handed her the marriage certificate—the shock, the sting in her eyes, the way her lips trembled ever so slightly. If he hated her, he could have simply burned it himself and walked out. He could have left her with nothing but a cold goodbye. He could have ignored her entirely.
But instead…
He gave her everything she would ever need.
He cleared all 54 Profound Entrances with his own hands.
Purified her body, strengthened her foundation.
Freed her from the guilt of the promise.
Paved the path for her future.
And left the decision of their marriage in her hands.
That wasn't hate.
It wasn't contempt.
It was… something confusing. Something inconvenient. Something he didn't want to name yet.
Yun Che leaned back and looked up at the night sky, quietly exhaling. Xia Qingyue was stunning enough to turn nations upside down—her beauty could make a man forget to breathe. But her heart was ice. Cold, distant, untouched. The kind of beauty he hated most. A beauty without warmth felt hollow, like a flawless statue that could never reach back.
And yet…
She risked her sect's wrath to protect him.
She swallowed the humiliation of marrying a cripple.
She tried, in her own rigid way, to shield him—even if her methods were clumsy.
He didn't want to destroy her.
He wanted to break that ice—shatter it apart—
and fill it with warmth, with love, with purpose.
He wanted her to smile genuinely, to live freely, to chase her dreams without fear or chains.
Even if he wasn't part of that dream.
Even if he had to sacrifice any chance at his own happiness to make it happen.
So he gave her a choice—divorce him, walk her own path, and reclaim a future that belonged to her alone. He valued relationships. He valued bonds. A marriage built on political convenience or old promises felt worthless to him—like a chain, not a blessing.
He wanted a marriage where love mattered.
Where mutual affection mattered.
Where two people met as equals, not obligations.
What he had with Xia Qingyue right now… was nothing like that.
The irony wasn't lost on him. A soul reborn from a middle-aged warrior stood inside the body of a 17-year-old boy—yet his heart understood things most people his age never could. He knew what a hollow marriage could become. He knew the weight of duty, expectation, and heartbreak.
He didn't want that life for her.
He didn't want that life for himself.
As he sat beneath the stars, Yun Che closed his eyes. He didn't regret what he'd said. He didn't regret freeing her. But a part of him wondered…
If she chose to stay.
If she chose him—
not out of obligation,
not out of gratitude,
but out of her own free will…
Would he be able to refuse her?
He didn't know.
And that uncertainty was the very thing that made him sigh softly, resting his arms across his knees as the night wind whispered around him.
"Little Che? Why are you here?"
The moment Yun Che heard that gentle, familiar voice, the storm inside him stilled. He turned around, and there she was—Xiao Lingxi—small, fiery, and the only person in this world who could call him by that name without it sounding wrong.
"I…" He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, Zangetsu resting lazily against the railing beside him. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to stargaze."
Even in Shinigami mode, even wrapped in the aura of a walking calamity, Yun Che still looked like her Little Che. But the fear in her eyes lingered—fear from having seen him annihilate the Xiao Clan's head, cripple an elder, and execute two young masters without a heartbeat's hesitation.
"Little Che," she whispered, her voice trembling, "who… and what… are you?"
Her question was simple. Her eyes were not. He saw everything in them—fear, confusion, hurt, worry… and affection. Affection so stubborn it refused to die even after seeing him bathed in overwhelming power.
Yun Che took a breath. "I'm the Xiao Che you've always known," he said steadily. "I just… never told anyone I could cultivate."
He lied without hesitation. What else could he do? "System-reincarnated-shinigami" wasn't something she needed to hear.
Lingxi's lower lip trembled.
"You could cultivate… all this time?" she whispered, staring at him as tears gathered in her lashes.
"It wasn't a big deal—"
Pinch.
"OW—!!" Yun Che jerked his hand away. "Little Aunt! What was that for?!"
"For being an idiot!!" she snapped, pinching him again for good measure. "Why didn't you tell me?! Why did you swing that giant sword and cut a mountain?! What if it hit someone?!"
"Oh boy…" Yun Che thought, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He literally vaporized a manor gate, decapitated a mountain, and turned a wedding into a battlefield—and her concern was whether he accidentally nicked a passing merchant.
But it felt good.
Warm.
Normal.
Like home.
"And why are you out here?! It's your wedding night! You should be with Qingyue, not stargazing! And it's dangerous! What if profound beasts appear? Or bandits?! What would you do if you ran into them, huh? Didn't I tell you not to come here alone?!"
"Is she seriously scolding me like this… after what she saw?" Yun Che thought. But he couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips.
"Little Aunt, it's fine," he said, attempting confidence. "If any beasts show up, I'll just blast them with my sword."
Bad move.
Her eyes widened. "Oh? You're arrogant now?!"
Pinch.
"OWWW—OKAY OKAY OKAY—!!"
After several rounds of pinching, scolding, lecturing, and more pinching, Yun Che ended up kneeling in perfect seiza, head bowed like a shameful disciple.
"Yes, yes, I get it," he said quickly. "Little Aunt, I'm sorry. Next time I won't dare."
"There is no next time!" she huffed, arms crossed, cheeks puffed adorably with indignation.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered obediently.
Xiao Lingxi finally released a breath, her shoulders easing. She looked at him—really looked—and all the fear she carried began to melt away. Maybe he was powerful, maybe he was terrifying, but he was still her Little Che… the boy she cared for more than anyone.
And that boy was kneeling in front of her right now, letting her pinch his arm red because she was worried.
He looked up at her and smiled softly.
"Thanks, Little Aunt."
That single line—warm, gentle, and so unmistakably him—made her eyes waver.
Powerful or not…
Shinigami or not…
This was still her Che'er.
And nothing could change that.
"Eh?" Xiao Lingxi blinked at him, puzzled by his sudden gratitude.
Yun Che gave her a small, earnest smile. "For treating me the same as always. I thought you'd be afraid of me after what happened today… but I guess I worried for nothing."
Her cheeks instantly flushed, and she turned away, hiding behind her hair. "Muuuu… No matter how strong you become… you'll always be my Little Che."
Yun Che chuckled softly at that. She always knew how to ground him.
Then he tilted his head. "Little Aunt, why did you come here? It's already so late."
"I…" Her voice lowered as her eyes dimmed, a hint of exhaustion slipping through. "I don't know. I just… couldn't sleep. My heart felt uneasy. Then I noticed the stars were bright tonight, so I thought I'd take a look."
Yun Che followed her gaze upward. The night sky was breathtaking—an endless canvas of glittering silver.
Lingxi quietly stepped closer, standing beside him as she whispered, "In the past, Little Che and I used to sneak out here all the time… to watch the stars, feel the wind… and of course, get caught and scolded by Grandfather."
"Hm." Yun Che nodded gently. He didn't have those memories, but hearing them warmed something inside him.
A peaceful silence settled—until Xiao Lingxi clenched her fists, eyes trembling.
"Little Che," she whispered. "Why… why did you kill Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang? And… why did you kill the clan master?"
Yun Che exhaled slowly.
She deserved the truth—at least as much as he could give.
He looked at her carefully, weighing her fragile expression. Could he tell her they murdered the original Xiao Che? That they would have done worse to her?
"And… when you killed them…" she whispered, stepping back a little, "you looked… scary."
The fear in her eyes stabbed deeper than any blade.
"Little Aunt…" Yun Che took one step toward her—but she flinched, instinctively retreating.
That hurt.
So he stopped, breathed deeply, and instead leaned back on the railing, letting the cool night wind ease the tension. He made his voice softer, calmer, warmer—like before.
"If I didn't kill them," he said gently, "who knows what future trouble they would've caused? They humiliated me on my wedding day, insulted us, tried to kill me. I only returned the favor."
He explained the Murdering Heart Powder, how Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang plotted his death, how he fainted and would have died if she hadn't found him.
Her face paled as she listened.
Then Yun Che added, "And honestly… Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang always tried to flirt with you. So maybe I was a little jealous too."
Her cheeks went scarlet.
He smiled faintly, before her next question came, voice trembling:
"And… the clan leader and the second elder?"
Yun Che's gaze hardened, though his voice remained steady. "The clan leader's death was an accident. My sword energy was unstable, and I needed to release it before it exploded. He happened to be the idiot standing in front of me, swinging his sword and trying to kill me. Wrong place, wrong time."
Lingxi swallowed.
"As for the second elder…" Yun Che's tone dropped a octave, dark and cold. "I crippled him because he—and several others—planned to sell you and Xia Qingyue to Xiao Kuangyun. To curry favor with the main clan."
Xiao Lingxi's eyes widened in horror.
"It wasn't just them," Yun Che continued. "Xiao Yulong and Xiao Yang were part of the same plan. And no one—" his voice sharpened, "no one lays a hand on my Little Aunt."
She gasped softly, covering her mouth, her eyes starting to fill with tears.
"So yes," Yun Che finished, looking at her with sincerity and a gentle smile, "I ended them before they could hurt you."
The night wind blew softly between them.
Lingxi's heart pounded.
He hadn't killed out of cruelty… or madness…
He killed to protect her.
Her fear began to melt—replaced by something warm, painful, and confused all at once.
And for the first time since the wedding…
Xiao Lingxi stepped closer instead of away.
Xiao Lingxi stared at him, trembling. Every word he spoke struck her like a hammer.
Sell her?
To Xiao Kuangyun?
And Yulong… Yang… involved?
Her stomach twisted, but one thing remained firm—if her Little Che said it, then it was true. He had never lied to her. Not once.
Still, her voice wavered.
"Little Che… how do you even know this?"
Yun Che kept his expression calm despite the lie forming behind his eyes.
"I heard them," he said smoothly. "They talked about it a few days ago. As for Yulong and Xiao Yang poisoning me—idiots really should stop plotting murder out loud in the forest."
Lingxi blinked. "But… you hardly ever leave your room."
He almost winced.
Her mind raced, assembling explanations he never intended.
Did he stay inside because he was pretending to be weak?
To listen?
To protect himself?
To endure everything alone?
A realization softened her face—and broke his heart a little.
Then Yun Che continued, voice lowering.
"Little Aunt, listen to me. From the day they heard I was marrying Qingyue, half the clan wanted me dead. The other half wanted to lick Xiao Kuangyun's boots. And today? If I allowed it, every elder would crawl and bow at my feet."
He snorted.
"Some of the women even thought about becoming my concubines to soothe my anger."
"No!!" Lingxi exploded before she even realized she'd moved. She threw her arms around his and hugged it to her chest, eyes blazing. "They can't! If they try, I'll ask Father to kick them out immediately!"
He blinked.
Then she scooted even closer, her small body pressed against his arm protectively.
"Hmph… those bastards Yulong and Yang," she muttered, cheeks puffing in anger. "They deserved to die. Trying to hurt my Little Che…"
Her grip tightened, as if shielding him from the world.
Yun Che froze.
Just hours ago… she had flinched from him, terrified of the monster he showed the city.
But now?
Now she clung to him like she always did—as if the power he wielded didn't matter.
As if the person he was to her mattered more than anything.
One moment scared… the next, protecting me again.
She really does love me. No matter what I become… she still chooses me.
A warmth spread through him—something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Without thinking, he whispered, "You are an angel."
"What was that?" Xiao Lingxi suddenly whipped her head toward him, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Oh—nothing." Yun Che coughed, trying to bury the heat creeping up his neck. "Ahem… anyway, back to the real question. What are you doing out here this late?"
Lingxi lowered her gaze, fingers nervously twisting at the fabric of her sleeve.
"I…" A soft breath escaped her lips. "I thought I'd try stargazing by myself. Because… in the future, I might not be able to do it with Little Che anymore."
The quiet sadness in her voice hit him harder than any sword.
Yun Che froze.
He came here precisely to meet her—to tell her he would leave Floating Cloud City soon.
But hearing her say she might lose him…
It hurt more than he expected.
He stood abruptly and before she could react, he slipped an arm around her slim waist.
"Little Che! W-wait—what are you doing!?" she squeaked, squirming as he lifted her effortlessly with one arm, the other holding Zangetsu over his shoulder.
"Hold on tight," he said with a gentle smile.
And then—SWOOSH.
The world blurred.
Flash Step.
Xiao Lingxi gasped, clinging to him for dear life as the landscape streaked past at a speed no Floating Cloud cultivator could ever match. Somewhere far behind them, a woman in white desperately attempted to chase, her movement skill straining but failing to keep up. She could only follow Lingxi's faint aura, shocked beyond belief.
When they finally stopped, Xiao Lingxi's legs nearly gave out.
They had arrived at a small hilltop—a secluded haven of soft grass and quiet breeze. The moonlit view of Floating Cloud City stretched beneath them like a painting.
A place untouched. Peaceful.
A place meant only for them.
Yun Che sat down, leaning back on his hands.
Lingxi hesitated only a moment before settling beside him, shoulder touching his. The night wind brushed gently past them, carrying the scent of grass and moon-white flowers.
Yun Che spoke first—soft, sincere.
"Little Aunt… I may be married now, but I won't forget the person who stayed by my side all my life. The one who scolded me, fed me, patched me up, protected me, and kept believing in me."
He turned, meeting her eyes.
"Xia Qingyue may be beautiful… but she will never compare to you."
"You're beautiful both inside and out. And it's a blessing to have you with me."
Lingxi's eyes widened, her breath caught.
He continued, voice warm and steady.
"You and Grandfather are the most important people in my life. You stood by me when the whole clan turned against me. So even if I'm married now… you won't ever lose me. Just like I hope I never lose you."
Lingxi's lips trembled—then curved into a radiant smile.
"Hehe…" She wrapped both hands around his arm and hugged it tightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "As expected… my Little Che is the most well-behaved… the most obedient…"
Her voice softened into a whisper.
"And still the Little Che I love most."
They talked for a long time—about childhood mischief, sneaking out past curfew, stealing pastries from the clan kitchen, getting caught by Xiao Lie, and all the dumb, wonderful little moments they shared.
Yun Che didn't actually share those memories…
But thanks to the system's database logs, he remembered them well enough to laugh with her.
And somewhere in between her gentle laughter and the way her eyes softened in the moonlight, he felt it—
A warmth blooming in his chest.
Real Yun Che… I'm sorry, he thought silently.
Your heart never stood a chance. I'm stealing her from you.
Then he inhaled.
Time to drop the bomb.
"Little Aunt… I…"
His voice trembled slightly—something rare for him now.
"I want to explore the world. Now that I can cultivate, I want to grow stronger… strong enough to protect you. So… let me ask you this."
He turned toward her.
"Little Aunt… would you let me go?"
The wind slowed. Even the insects seemed to pause.
Xiao Lingxi didn't answer at first.
Her tiny hands tightened on her dress.
She knew—one day—he would leave. That was the fate of all cultivators: to wander, grow, and risk everything for strength.
But knowing it didn't make hearing it easier.
Her voice was a whisper.
"Little Che… are you really leaving? What about your… your wife?"
"She'll join a sect soon enough," Yun Che replied calmly. "Her life is cultivation. Mine will be too. We'll walk separate paths."
He didn't reveal Qingyue's true circumstances.
Better she stayed a distant beauty—an unreachable figure—not someone Lingxi needed to compete with.
Lingxi bit her lip. Hard.
She couldn't trap him here. That would chain him—hurt him. After today's display, powerful sects would seek him out. Beautiful women would surround him. He would shine brighter than Floating Cloud… brighter than she ever could.
But she only had one request.
She clung to his arm, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
"Little Che… please…"
Her voice cracked.
"Please come back to me when you can. When you've become strong. Don't… don't forget me."
Yun Che turned fully toward her—and pulled her into his arms.
His embrace was warm. Steady. Sure.
"Little Aunt…" he whispered into her hair.
"When I am ready… I promise I'll return to you."
He took her shoulders gently and looked her in the eyes.
"And I'll marry you."
Boom.
Her entire mind blanked.
"E-EHHHH!?" she squeaked, face instantly red. "L-Little Che! I-I was only joking before! I didn't mean you should really… I mean—you have Qingyue, and I— and you— and—"
Her words dissolved into incoherent panic.
Yun Che intertwined their fingers.
"Little Aunt… I'm serious."
His voice was soft but resolute.
"I may already be married, but I want to marry you too. Not out of obligation. Not because of teasing."
He brought her hand to his chest.
"Because I love you. Because I want you with me. Because you deserve happiness. And because… you were the one who asked me first."
He arched a playful brow.
Lingxi's face went scarlet.
"I—I—I didn't mean— I wasn't— I—"
She buried her face in his shoulder to hide the steam coming out of her ears.
Finally, with a tiny, trembling voice, she whispered—
"P-Please… take good care of me…"
Her heart thumped so loudly he could practically feel it through her robe.
And deep down—beneath embarrassment, fear, and relief—
She was happy.
Truly, deeply happy.
Yun Che smiled faintly as Xiao Lingxi slept against his shoulder. The proposal had been impulsive—reckless even—but the emotion behind it wasn't fake. Whether love grew tomorrow or ten years from now didn't matter.
He would make it real.
If anime fans ever see this, he thought wryly, they're gonna riot. I just proposed to Megumi-chan… and she said yes.
Not the real one, of course.
But close enough to stir memories he didn't expect to carry.
Lingxi, still smiling even in sleep, curled slightly against him as if trying to hold onto his warmth. Yun Che gently laid her down on the soft grass, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. The peaceful expression she wore—pure, trusting, content—hit him harder than any slash or spell today.
She really is too precious…
He sat beside her, leaning back on his palms as he gazed at the stars overhead. For a moment, the world felt quiet again.
A soft sound of fabric brushing against grass made him turn.
Xia Qingyue stood several meters away, half-hidden in moonlight. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes…
They lingered on Lingxi and Yun Che longer than necessary—an emotion tightening inside her chest, one she had never encountered before.
Something unpleasant.
She forced it down and composed herself.
Then she approached.
"You showed up…" Yun Che said without looking surprised, rising to his feet. He sensed her aura long before she arrived.
"I came to tell you…" She hesitated, a rare thing for her. "My sect's recruitment begins tonight. My master is already waiting for me."
"I know." He nodded casually. "You should go. After tonight, you won't find me here anymore."
Her lips parted. He didn't even ask why she came. Didn't ask if she planned to stay. Didn't ask anything.
She swallowed quietly before speaking again.
"Is it true… you killed those people because of this morning's incident?"
"Yes." Yun Che answered bluntly. "They 'killed' me, so I killed them back. If you're going to take a swing, you better finish the job. They didn't."
Qingyue's brows tightened. He spoke about death with no hesitation… yet with complete clarity.
"And you crippled that elder… because he wanted to sell me to Xiao Kuangyun?"
Yun Che didn't look at her, merely adjusting Zangetsu on his back.
"You. And my Little Aunt." His tone sharpened. "I don't let anyone touch what's mine. Not even for politics. I removed the trouble before it grew legs."
For a brief heartbeat—just one—her chest warmed.
He… protected her?
But just as the warmth bloomed, Yun Che's next words extinguished it instantly:
"But mostly for Lingxi. She's the one they really target."
A faint sting formed in her chest before she could stop it.
Xia Qingyue lowered her gaze, then gathered herself. "I can protect them," she said quietly. "If you want… I can stay until Xiao Kuangyun returns to the Xiao Sect. I can also search for rare items. Something that may restore your Profound Veins."
It was the first time she offered help voluntarily.
"My master can safeguard your aunt and grandfather until—"
Yun Che raised a hand.
"No need. You've done enough."
Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
He continued, voice steady and cool, "You don't need to involve yourself with my affairs anymore. You already created enough trouble just marrying me."
A sharp exhale slipped from her nose.
His eyes lifted to meet hers—cold, distant, unreadable.
"Go. Focus on your cultivation. Chase your goal. Don't waste time worrying about me."
"…"
She didn't know why it hurt so much.
She shouldn't care.
She shouldn't feel anything.
And yet…
He ended it with a faint smile—not of affection, but of closure.
"If fate wills it," he said softly, "we'll meet again at the summit of the empire."
Something inside Xia Qingyue trembled.
Not from fear.
From something she didn't have a name for.
Xia Qingyue stood there, frozen between pride and hurt. Her voice trembled despite its cold veneer.
"…Are you chasing me away?
So… I truly am nothing but a nuisance to you."
The question didn't demand an answer—she already believed she knew it.
Yun Che didn't respond.
And that silence…
That silence was the blade that cut deepest.
A single tear—so small it could have been mistaken for dew—slipped down her flawless cheek. She lowered her head, hiding her expression behind that shimmering curtain of hair before she turned.
Still holding the marriage certificate in both hands, fingers trembling ever so slightly.
She walked away.
Not with her usual icy grace, but slowly… reluctantly… as if each step forced her heart to fracture just a little more.
"Qingyue…"
Yun Che whispered her name when she was out of reach, the guilt slamming into him harder than any spiritual pressure wave.
He had meant to free her.
To give her a clean break.
To sever a cold marriage she didn't want.
But seeing her leave with the certificate still clutched in her hands… seeing the tear she tried to hide… made him feel like the worst kind of bastard.
"I feel like a jerk…" he muttered, raking a hand through his hair.
He had accomplished his objective—but for the first time, it didn't feel good. Something twisted uncomfortably in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was regret, confusion, or something dangerously close to pity.
Or maybe something else entirely.
He didn't know.
But Xia Qingyue… she believed he hated her now.
"Great... my marriage failed on the first night. Great way to start my life in this world."
===============================
Xia Qingyue wiped the tear from her cheek harshly, as though she refused to acknowledge that it had ever existed. Her cold façade rebuilt itself with each step until her expression regained its usual impassive serenity.
She approached her master.
Chu Yueli took one look at her eyes—the faint redness around them—and her brows narrowed in subtle concern.
"Are you ready to go?"
Qingyue nodded silently.
But inside her chest, chaos brewed.
The image of Yun Che—his cold words, his distant gaze, the moment he turned away—burned itself into her thoughts. And instead of fading, it only embedded deeper.
He gave her everything.
He pushed her away so she could cultivate freely.
He saved her reputation.
He protected her from being sold like cattle to Xiao Kuangyun.
He opened all fifty-four Profound Entrances for her—an act no mortal, no genius, not even their sect's greatest doctors could have achieved.
And he dismissed it all as "nothing."
Inside her ice-cold heart… something began to thaw.
A tiny, unbearable crack.
She suddenly understood:
She didn't want to leave like this.
Her fingers curled around the marriage certificate.
Resolve ignited.
I will repay this debt. Completely.
I will not let our last interaction be hatred.
I will not leave until I earn back what I threw away.
She drew a breath.
"Master," she said quietly but firmly, "can we stay for a few days more?"
Chu Yueli blinked. "Qingyue, this morning you said he planned to leave tonight."
"I know." Qingyue looked down, clutching the certificate. "Just a few days."
Chu Yueli studied her disciple for a long moment. Her beautiful eyes narrowed—not in anger, but in sudden understanding. "Is this… about that boy?"
Xia Qingyue's lips parted, but no sound came out.
She didn't deny it.
Chu Yueli's tone softened. "We will stay. As I promised, whatever you wish will be granted before we return to Asgard. Also, you will tell me everything you know about him."
Qingyue bowed her head. "Thank you… Master."
She turned toward the direction Yun Che had gone, her expression serene once more—but her heart anything but.
He chased her away thinking he was freeing her.
But she wasn't leaving.
Not yet.
As long as the threat of Xiao Kuangyun and the Xiao Sect loomed, Yun Che's family would be in danger.
And even if he didn't want her help…
Even if he thought she was a nuisance…
Even if he refused to look at her…
She would protect his family.
She would repay her debts.
She would earn back the right to stand before him.
And slowly—quietly—she made a final vow:
One day…
You will look at me again.
Not with coldness.
But with warmth.
And when You do…
I will no longer be the girl who let you face the world alone.
I will be someone worthy of walking beside him.