Chapter 139 - Aunt's Influence!
"You're threatening me?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Yes," Mu Lingyi replied with downcast eyes, grief still evident in her gaze.
"Did he have many followers?" Yun Xiao asked again.
"Indeed!" Mu Lingyi growled.
"Must be a motley crew of nobodies then. Why else would they follow a nobody like him? And that includes you, being attracted to trash. What does that make you, a buzzing fly?" Yun Xiao quipped.
"YOU—" Mu Lingyi, fuming, was at a loss for words.
"Victory belongs to the victor, and the defeated should retreat. You lost. If you want humiliation, I won't pamper you," Yun Xiao continued, his tone now cold and detached, a stark contrast to his previous provocative demeanor.
"Just you wait!" Mu Lingyi's eyes filled with tears of blood. Mu Tianshi and Ye Qingli gave Yun Xiao a deep glance before departing, the former responsible for carrying the coffin and the latter pulling their daughter away.
"What? You're actually going to use that crystal coffin? Hahaha!" Chen Mo mocked, breaking into unbridled laughter.
Mu Tianshi's face darkened, but he remained silent. What else could he do? Expose the corpse and take it away? A burial was necessary. The two of them, though appearing calm, were boiling with rage and sorrow inside. They had to bear the brunt of shame, heads low, walking away amidst the curious eyes of the crowd.
"Go to the Grand Temple, I'm heading to the Ancestral Temple!" Ye Qingli said, her voice quivering with emotion.
"Father, Mother! Today's shame and grudges... we must avenge them," Mu Lingyi said, glancing one last time at the dismembered body, memories of the past cutting deep like a blade.
"Don't worry," Mu Tianshi replied, taking a deep breath. "Before the War of Immortals in the Heavenly Realm, Chen Xiao used this despicable tactic—using an expendable Sword Cultivator from the Sovereign Dragon Realm to get rid of humanity's top genius... History will prove that their clan is the greatest sinner of our race."
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Inside the central hall of the Chen Clan, the air grew tense. Bloodstains were quickly cleaned, ensuring no interruption in the auspicious proceedings.
Yun Xiao approached Chen Xi, leaning in and whispered, "I exacted some revenge on your behalf, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Chen Xi replied in a gentle voice, her thoughts inscrutable.
"We didn't exactly agree on that," Yun Xiao noted with a smirk.
"So?"
Yun Xiao paused dramatically, "Well, that'll cost extra!"
"..." Chen Xi just gave him a look, unsure of how to respond.
Their intimate exchange didn't go unnoticed. The guests now eyed the couple differently, whispers swirling through the crowd.
Seated next to Chen Lin, the third eldest of the Chen Clan, was a figure from the Great Dao Pavilion—Zhao Xuanjian. He watched Yun Xiao with interest, turning to Chen Lin, "Hey, that kid playing the fool to lure the opponent into his game... Was this a trap set by you elders knowing Ye Xingchen's temperament or..."
Chen Lin interrupted, "He's only been in the Heavenly Realm for a few hours. How could we have set up a trap?"
Zhao Xuanjian grinned, admiration sparkling in his eyes, "Oh? Then, this lad is something else. Quite clever."
"Indeed, he possesses an exceptional intellect," Chen Lin admitted with a faint smile. "The only drawback is his Sword Cultivator talent mainly lies in his Sword Soul. His progression might be slower. At his current Sovereign Dragon Realm cultivation, he can't shine for our race in the War of Immortals."
Chen Mo interjected with hearty laughter, "My dear sister, if Yun Xiao manages to eliminate Ye Xingchen, that's more than enough! Let Chen Xi handle the War of Immortals." He paused, still caught up in the jubilance of the moment. "For once, I got to enjoy mocking someone without it backfiring."
Zhao Xuanjian chuckled at the mention of progression, a sly look in his eyes. "Sixteen and already at the Sovereign Dragon Realm. Most think he's trained for a decade. Little do they know, it's only been half a month."
An audible sigh pierced through the chatter. It was Han Jingli, a notable figure in the realm.
"What concerns you, Minister Han?" Zhao Xuanjian teased.
Han Jingli replied, gravely, "You all might be happy, but without Ye Xingchen in the upcoming War of Immortals, our younger generation is in peril."
Zhao Xuanjian smirked, "What if Yun Xiao and Chen Xi take the lead?"
Han Jingli, a tad sarcastically, said, "Chen Xi, perhaps. But expecting this young Sword Cultivator to carry the weight? He'll be crushed."
"Minister Han, there's one thing where I beg to differ from you," Zhao Xuanjian declared.
"And what might that be?"
Zhao Xuanjian replied, "I always avoid mocking others. That way, no one gets to make a fool out of me. Keeps my dignity intact."
Han Jingli, visibly annoyed, shot back, "Are you implying I lost my dignity today?"
"From the moment the Galaxy grade Sword Soul appeared, didn't you?" Zhao Xuanjian ruthlessly pointed out.
Silence from Han Jingli. The implication was clear. He felt humiliated already. That said, wherever the head led, the ass would follow. He was the Ye Royal Family's loyal lapdog. So, how could he possibly have a favorable view of Yun Xiao.
"So be it..." Han Jingli shook his head with a sigh. Then, he looked back at Yun Xiao and said in a mocking tone, "Wisdom is a strength. But on the path of cultivation, real power is what counts. Even the renowned Sword Emperor has limitations. And this Yun Xiao? He's a lowly mortal whose family aren't even qualified to attend his own wedding. Yet, you all treat him as a treasure?"
Indeed, the only figure seated at the front of the wedding hall, the place where the bride and groom normally paid respects to their parents, was Chen Xiao. Yun Xiao was completely alone. It was clear he was completely reliant on the Chen Clan and had no influence of his own!
By the time Han Jingli finished speaking, the hall seemed to regain its composure as the wedding resumed. But just as the ceremony was about to progress, a soft and seductive voice echoed from the sky, "Who said he has no family qualified to be here?"
The crowd looked up. From the heavens, a burst of pink light descended.
A collective murmur arose, "A Sword Cultivator?"
With one glance, Yun Xiao spotted her—a woman gliding atop a six-foot pink Sovereign Sword! She gracefully stowed her sword mid-air, drifting down to stand before him. As eyes met her, many in the crowd blinked in admiration.
She was a vision in pink, her tall and curvaceous form complemented by her figure-hugging dress. Long wavy hair cascaded down her back, her eyelashes were enviably long, and her face was enchantingly beautiful. One could argue she was a rare beauty among beauties.
Yun Xiao's gaze slid slightly downward, noting how her dress seemed barely able to contain its occupant.
"It's the type of melons that Creator likes the most!" Red Moon exclaimed with excitement.
"Shit, keep it down, will you?" Yun Xiao retorted, feeling a headache coming on. This woman's figure was as striking as that of Zhao Xuanran!
However, while Zhao Xuanran exuded a holy aura, this woman was naturally seductive, capturing hearts with her misty, flirtatious eyes and inviting lips. She appeared slightly more mature than Zhao Xuanran, like a ripe peach, and, crucially, she was a Sword Cultivator!
"Su Lianlian?" As she approached, whispers of her name echoed around the hall, suggesting she was a renowned figure. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the woman named Su Lianlian gracefully approached Yun Xiao.
"The Heavenly Realm has three sword lineages. I'm the head of one of them. From now on, consider yourself under my protection. Sound good?" She asked, smiling softly as she gazed deeply into Yun Xiao's eyes.
"I've been waiting for you," Yun Xiao replied with a slight smile.
"Oh, is that so?" She responded with a coquettish grin, extending a delicate hand to adjust Yun Xiao's collar. Her tender fingers brushed unintentionally against his neck and face, sending a tingling sensation through him.
"Then let them know," she whispered with a smirk, "I'm your aunt."
With a coy smile, Su Lianlian brushed Yun Xiao's face and, before anyone realized, had taken a seat next to Chen Xiao.
There was a collective gasp from the crowd.
"Why are you all staring? Get on with it," Su Lianlian said to Chen Xiao in her melodious voice.
"Poaching right out in the open? You're quite daring." Chen Xiao glared at her.
"What do you mean by poaching? Anyone who cultivates the sword is mine. If anything, you're the one doing the stealing. I didn't even ask for a dowry. You should be thanking me," she retorted.
"..." Chen Xiao was at a loss for words. After a moment, he then turned to the guests and announced, "That's right, she is my son-in-law's aunt. From now on, my family and the Three Great Sword Tombs are in-laws. Pay your respects."
The guests were shell-shocked.
"The Three Great Sword Tombs have always remained neutral in the affairs of the Heavenly Realm. And now they've chosen to side with the Sword Emperor?"
"This means they're joining the Chen Clan!"
"Yes, and the Supreme Marshal accepted their allegiance right away."
Such a union was previously unthinkable! And Yun Xiao was at the center of it all.
"Su Lianlian must've been here the whole time. After seeing Yun Xiao take down Ye Xingchen, she must've thought it was the perfect time to reveal herself," someone whispered.
"The Supreme Marshal is gutsy, accepting their support so openly," another guest added.
Not everyone would dare to accept the allegiance of the Sword Cultivators. Everything made sense, considering their shared interest against the demons. And just like that, a brief exchange altered the political landscape of the Heavenly Realm!
Yun Xiao, out of the blue, gained an aunt. And it seemed he'd soon have two more aunts watching over him, given Su Lianlian was the youngest leader of the Three Great Sword Tombs. With their backing, they might not be as powerful as the Chen Clan, but his position would certainly be a lot more stable.
This small interlude had sent ripples through the hearts of those present. Despite the ceremony not yet starting, the events of the prelude were enough to shake the entire Heavenly Realm. Compared to that, the wedding itself was a mere formality.
Chen Xi, with a red veil over her head, was inscrutable to Yun Xiao. What followed was a blur of traditional rituals—bowing to the heavens, then to the elders of the bride and groom, and finally to each other as husband and wife. They were then ushered into the bridal chamber.
Then came the feast! Chen Xi retreated to her room first, leaving the Supreme Marshal to guide Yun Xiao in a ceremonial round of toasts to the mighty figures of the Heavenly Realm.
In a mere half an hour, Yun Xiao had met more luminaries than most would dream of in a lifetime. His eloquent speech won him the praises of many of the Supreme Marshal’s peers.
"Congratulations, Supreme Marshal. Your son-in-law is a gem. Handsome, brilliant, and so talented, especially his cultivation." Han Jingli said sarcastically as he offered a toast. It was evident he couldn't help one last dig. With Mu Tianshi and Ye Qingli gone, he was basically alone in enemy territory, putting him in an awkward position.
“Yun Xiao, strive hard and perhaps one day you'll earn the approval of Minister Han." Chen Xiao chuckled with a casual smile, parrying Han Jingli's verbal stab effortlessly.
Beside them, Su Lianlian whispered, "Supreme Marshal, your patience and tolerance sure is amazing. To be so polite even to a buffoon."
"Just a jester in the court," Chen Xiao remarked, moving onto the next toast.
As night fell and the banquet neared its end, Yun Xiao was feeling the effects of the wine, his handsome face flushed.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze carried a familiar scent, and a hand landed on his shoulder. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with his newly-minted younger aunt. Her cheeks were rosy from the wine, and with her hands on his shoulders, she cooed, "Come visit the Three Great Sword Tombs tomorrow. Your older aunts are eager to meet you."
"Alright." Yun Xiao nodded, finding his new aunt's boldness a bit overwhelming.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Su Lianlian caressed his face again, whispering suggestively, "Take it easy in the bridal chamber tonight. Save some energy for tomorrow's sword trials."
His face turned a shade redder. "Energy... Right, got it!"
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