The Xiao Clan bustled on the surface—blacksmiths hammering, servants sweeping, children running under the noonday sun—but beneath that fragile normalcy lay a suffocating tension. Ever since the Yun Che incident a year ago, the entire clan, especially the elders, lived as though they were tiptoeing on frozen lake ice, waiting for it to crack beneath them.
Their "brilliant plan" to cripple Yun Che during the wedding was supposed to raise prestige.
Instead, it burned the clan to ashes.
Their ultimate trump card—Clan Leader Xiao Yunhai—was annihilated. Their secondary shield—Xiao Kuangyun—was humiliated and then obliterated with terrifying ease by Xiao Lingxi and Xia Qingyue's retaliatory barrier.
The clan had been left with one conclusion:
They were utterly powerless.
Ever since then, submission to Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi wasn't a choice—it was survival.
But Xiao Lie was not a forgiving man.
The elders who once mocked him while Yun Che was "disabled" now found themselves ignored, dismissed, or outright avoided. They begged for guidance, for forgiveness, for access to the mysterious sky-blue barrier that protected him and Lingxi that night—yet Xiao Lie didn't even bother acknowledging their existence.
They were not worth his breath.
Still… not everyone in the clan was rotten. Many were innocent—children, women, earnest members with no stake in the elders' schemes. And because of them, Xiao Lie stayed.
Because of them, Xiao Lingxi stayed.
And because of her.
She could have left with Qingyue.
She could have distanced herself from the scar Yun Che's departure had carved into her heart.
But she remained—playing with the juniors, helping the struggling, lifting the entire clan's mood with her gentle presence.
She stayed to protect them all… from the very man she loved.
Yun Che was no longer the boy everyone knew.
No longer the cripple they could bully.
No longer the weakling they could push onto death's path.
He had become a storm.
And everyone feared the day he returned to collect the debts carved into his memory.
Almost half the Xiao Clan had already fled—vanishing overnight with their families, abandoning their homes, terrified that Yun Che would one day sweep through the gates and claim their lives.
Xiao Lie allowed them to go.
But made one thing painfully clear:
"If any of you set foot in this clan again…
I will execute you myself."
Those who stayed behind deluded themselves into thinking that pleasing Xiao Lie or Xiao Lingxi would earn them protection.
But neither father nor daughter even spared them a glance.
These were the same elders who once encouraged the fight between Xiao Yang and Yun Che.
The same ones who delighted in Yun Che's humiliation.
They had no right to seek mercy now.
And as for Xiao Kuangyun…
Xiao Lie knew the truth.
He had not returned in one year.
No message.
No rumor.
Nothing.
He was dead.
The elders trembled whenever the name was mentioned, certain the Black Moon Merchant Guild or the Xiao Sect would come for them. But Xiao Lie knew better—Xiao Kuangyun was arrogant, greedy, and reckless. If Yun Che truly crossed paths with him…
He would not leave even dust behind.
And the watchers Xiao Kuangyun brought? They dared not return to the main sect. Their survival alone was proof of their cowardice and betrayal.
The Xiao Clan was quiet.
Too quiet.
A year had passed.
No signs.
No warnings.
No rumors.
But everyone felt it.
Something was coming.
Like the air tightening before a storm.
Like a silent pressure pressing upon the heart.
The elders were praying Yun Che had forgotten them.
They were wrong.
================================
"Do you think… Xiao Che might come back here one day?" one disciple whispered, glancing nervously toward the city gates. His voice shook, as though even mentioning the name risked summoning a calamity.
"How should I know?" another replied, though his eyes betrayed the same anxiety. "But… the rumors haven't stopped. They say he sliced the peak of that mountain"—he pointed toward the distant summit cleaved cleanly in half—"on the very night of his wedding. I still get chills thinking about it."
"Yeah…" A third disciple swallowed, remembering the terror of that day. "Xiao Che killed two people right there on the spot. No hesitation. Then he killed the clan master and crippled the elder like they were nothing. Just—" He made a cutting gesture across his neck. "Gone."
Silence fell over them.
"If he comes back…" the first disciple muttered, pale. "What are we supposed to do?"
Another disciple scoffed, but it sounded hollow. "You're asking me? You used to bully him more than anyone else."
"Y–you—!" The disciple panicked and clapped a hand over his companion's mouth. "Don't say that out loud! Do you want me to die?!"
He looked around as though expecting Yun Che himself to step out of the shadows and cut him down.
"Let's just hope Clan Leader Xiao Lie can calm him down if he returns. Otherwise…" His voice cracked. "Otherwise, I should've run away with the others a year ago."
Because everyone in the Xiao Clan knew one truth:
If Yun Che returned, the city themselves might tremble…
but the guilty would have nowhere to hide.
================================
Suddenly, the Xiao Clan manor trembled under the heavy tread of dozens of armored boots.
Two dozen soldiers marched into view—every one of them clad in matching embroidered armor, every one of them radiating the oppressive aura of Peak Spirit Profound Realm. Their arrival alone smothered the manor in suffocating silence.
The Xiao Clan disciples paled instantly.
"T–That attire… it belongs to—"
"The main clan."
Voices cracked and throats tightened.
Not a single person present dared to breathe too loudly.
These were not ordinary soldiers.
These were Xiao Sect elites—the kind deployed only when the main clan intended to make a statement.
They formed two long, disciplined rows flanking the entrance of the manor, the air trembling with the force of their combined aura. It was the kind of formation used not for courtesy, but for judgment.
Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi stepped out of the main hall almost simultaneously. Xiao Lie's face was calm, but deep beneath those aged eyes was the heavy weight of inevitability.
The main sect had finally come.
Which meant only one thing:
Xiao Kuangyun never returned.
Yun Che succeeded.
And now the consequences had descended.
Before anyone could fully process the tension, the rhythmic clop of hooves echoed sharply through the courtyard.
A middle-aged man approached atop a spirit horse, flanked by two more soldiers whose auras were far more terrifying than the rest—Earth Profound Realm experts. Even Early Earth Profound Realm cultivators were considered divine beings in a small clan like this.
The Xiao Clan disciples dropped to their knees instinctively, trembling.
"H–He's wearing the same robes as Xiao Kuangyun's attendants…"
"Wait… that man… isn't that—?!"
The middle-aged man dismounted with a cold, practiced grace.
"I am Xiao Tian, Fifth Elder of the Xiao Sect."
Gasps erupted throughout the courtyard.
A main clan elder had come in person.
Xiao Lie bowed deeply. Xiao Lingxi followed respectfully behind, though her fingers trembled ever so slightly.
"Xiao Lie greets Elder Xiao Tian. I am the current clan leader of Floating Cloud City's Xiao Clan."
Xiao Tian gave him a once-over, eyes narrowing.
"The current clan leader? What of Xiao Yunhai? He should be the one standing before me." His tone held unquestionable authority—accusation smoothly hidden within courtesy.
Xiao Lie had expected this.
He kept his expression solemn, voice steady.
"The former clan leader, Xiao Yunhai… met an unfortunate end. He provoked an Emperor Profound Realm expert. Both he and his son were slain on the spot."
A ripple of shock coursed through the gathered clansmen.
Xiao Tian's eyes sharpened like blades.
"An Emperor Profound Realm cultivator? In this tiny backwater city?"
"It is not unheard of for mighty cultivators to pass through unnoticed," Xiao Lie replied evenly. "It seems Yunhai overstepped. The consequences were… immediate."
Xiao Tian studied him for a long moment—long enough that the disciples felt the cold sweat trickling down their backs.
Then—
A small, chilling smile tugged at the elder's lips.
"Is that so…?"
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
Because whatever Xiao Lie claimed…
Xiao Tian had not come for explanations.
He had come for answers.
For Xiao Kuangyun.
And for the one who made him disappear.
"That's impossible," Xiao Tian snapped, disbelief flaring across his face. "There are only a handful of Emperor Profound Realm cultivators in this entire empire—and none of them would waste their time in a desolate place like this."
"I am not jesting," Xiao Lie replied evenly. "The warrior appeared to be a hermit who had trained in seclusion for decades. His arrival in Floating Cloud City was… coincidental. My grandson's cousin, Xiao Yang, provoked him and was killed instantly. Xiao Yunhai attempted to retaliate, but he too met the same fate. Even our third elder was crippled for trying to intervene."
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances. Even an elite force from the main clan had difficulty wrapping their minds around it.
An Emperor Profound Realm hermit? Appearing without warning in a backwater town? Killing a clan leader and his son as if swatting flies?
It sounded absurd—yet Xiao Lie's unwavering tone made the lie indistinguishable from truth.
Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed with a mixture of shock and greed.
An Emperor Profound Realm cultivator… roaming freely?
If he could recruit such a man into the Xiao Sect…
Their entire status among the Four Major Sects would skyrocket.
Even if they had to butcher this entire branch clan to appease him, it would be worth it.
But that would come later.
For now, he had another mission—one personally assigned by the sect master.
Xiao Tian's expression hardened into ice.
"Very well," he said. "Let us move on to the true purpose of my visit. Tell me where Young Master Kuangyun is. He came here a year ago to recruit new blood from this branch clan. Since then, he has made no report to the main sect."
Xiao Lie bowed slightly, his expression unchanged.
"He came to Floating Cloud City, yes—but he departed again soon after. His goal was to retrieve my grandson."
"Your grandson?" Xiao Tian frowned.
"Yes. My grandson married the flower of this city a year ago. On the wedding night, he vanished without a trace. Young Master Kuangyun grew… interested in the bride. After she rejected him, he swore to drag my grandson to the main sect to force the divorce."
Murmurs rippled through the gathered soldiers.
Xiao Tian's brows shot up in disbelief.
"Rejected him? Who does this girl think she is? Who is this 'flower of the city'?"
"My granddaughter-in-law, Xia Qingyue of the Xia family," Xiao Lie answered. "Though it matters little now. She left this clan after Xiao Kuangyun's visit. According to Lingxi, she departed to join a sect. She is no longer in this city."
Xiao Tian's lip curled in irritation.
"That Kuangyun… even with a courtyard full of wives, he still had to chase after another woman."
But his frustration gave birth to something else—cold calculation.
And it still didn't answer the biggest question:
Where was Xiao Kuangyun now?
If this "hermit Emperor" really existed…
Then Kuangyun—arrogant, greedy, and insufferably foolish—might have provoked the wrong person.
Which meant Xiao Lie's grandson…
Was likely the last person to see him alive.
Xiao Tian's eyes sharpened like blades.
"Then we will find your grandson," he declared. "Whether alive… or dead. He is the key to what truly happened."
His voice echoed through the manor like a judgment bell, sealing the Xiao Clan's fate.
"It seems," Xiao Tian said coldly, "that you refuse to tell us the true whereabouts of Young Master Kuangyun."
Behind him, the two Earth Profound Realm elites unsheathed their weapons with a sharp metallic ring that sent the entire Xiao Clan courtyard into suffocating silence.
"I have already told you everything I know," Xiao Lie replied, voice steady despite the icy blades now pointed toward him.
"No," a smug voice rang out. "He's hiding something. He's protecting Xiao Che."
Xiao Lie's head snapped around.
"You—"
Xiao Chengzhi stepped forward with a self-satisfied smirk, as if he'd been waiting a full year for this moment.
"Is this true, boy? What is your name?" Xiao Tian demanded.
"Xiao Chengzhi, Elder!" Chengzhi bowed deeply, a spark of greed and triumph flashing in his eyes. Finally—finally—he had a chance to get revenge on Xiao Lingxi… and to leave this "trash clan" behind to join the main sect.
He still remembered being humiliated—slapped by Xia Qingyue, scorned by Xiao Lingxi, crushed by a barrier he could not even scratch. Now? With the main sect behind him? He felt invincible.
"Speak," Xiao Tian ordered.
Chengzhi puffed his chest. "Xiao Che killed Young Master Kuangyun!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"He came here to take Xia Qingyue, but she rejected him. Her attendant—Xiao Lie's daughter, Xiao Lingxi—also humiliated him. They even have a heavenly barrier treasure that deflects attacks from Spirit Profound cultivators!"
The greed that ignited in Xiao Tian's eyes was unmistakable.
"A heavenly treasure…"
"You bastard!" Xiao Lie roared and surged forward—
—but in an instant, dozens of elite soldiers surrounded him, blades at his throat.
"Impudence," one growled.
Chengzhi recoiled, but Xiao Tian caught him by the shoulder.
"So," Xiao Tian said slowly, savoring the moment, "judging by how desperately you tried to silence this boy… your grandson indeed murdered the Sect Master's son."
Xiao Lie's jaw clenched, but he did not speak.
"Good. Very good." Xiao Tian turned to Chengzhi. "You will be rewarded handsomely."
Chengzhi bowed again, tremors of triumph shaking through him. "Thank you, Elder!"
Xiao Lingxi's fury snapped. "You lying, shameless—toad—!"
"Silence."
Xiao Tian's killing intent exploded, making her tremble. He stepped forward, eyes gleaming with cruelty.
"Since your clan refuses to cooperate, we will start by questioning your clansmen directly… beginning," he reached out toward her, "with your daughter."
But before his hand could touch her—
Xiao Lie stepped in front of her, arms spread protectively.
"Old man," Xiao Tian sneered, "are you aware that obstructing an elder of the Xiao Sect is punishable by death?"
With a flick of his hand, the elite soldiers tightened their circle, blades gleaming.
Lingxi clutched the blue barrier necklace Yun Che gave her.
Her heart pounded.
The necklace once deflected Spirit Profound attacks effortlessly…
But against dozens of elite soldiers? Against an Earth Profound elder?
She didn't know.
Her lips quivered.
She whispered in her heart:
"Little Che…
Please…
Come back."
===============================
"Ah… Floating Cloud City. Still standing after almost a year."
Yun Che stepped through the city gates, hands in his pockets, tone casual—almost amused. Behind him, Retsu had already set Minazuki down far enough not to cause a scene, and Jasmine had slipped back into his inner world to spectate from the safety of her spiritual couch.
"Ufufuu… such a quaint little place," Retsu murmured sweetly from beneath her veil. "To think this is your rebirth hometown."
Even with most of her face hidden, her voice alone turned heads.
Her kimono—dark white with pale grey florals—was far too elegant, too foreign for this dusty little corner of the continent. The neat braid resting over her chest softened her beauty in a way that felt both nostalgic and new. Without the old scar dictating how she wore her hair, she had chosen this style simply because she wanted to try it.
And it suited her far too well.
Meanwhile, Yun Che—dressed in his modern black tactical gear—looked like he'd escaped from another world entirely. His outfit was simple yet sharp, and ironically, drew almost as much attention as Retsu's beauty.
Both of them ignored the stares.
Unless someone was bold enough to start trouble… then they'd respond in kind.
"Yeah… sort of," Yun Che replied, offering Retsu a sheepish grin.
He didn't have the original Yun Che's childhood memories, but the system had shown him enough. The old Yun Che had been bullied relentlessly—by servants, by merchants, by "young masters," by anyone who needed stress relief. He was beaten so often he developed a trauma of simply walking outside.
Poor bastard.
"In a way, this whole city reminds me of early Naruto," Yun Che muttered to himself. "Nice on the surface… rotten underneath."
If he still had the original memories, every street corner would probably trigger panic attacks.
But he didn't.
These were just stories—someone else's past.
He wasn't here to relive old trauma.
He was here to settle accounts.
Retsu walked closer to him, her sleeve brushing his hand beneath the crowd's view. "Young master… are you nervous?"
"Hah. Me? Nervous?" Yun Che snorted. "After castrating half the Wang Family of Cyan Town? Come on."
Retsu giggled softly behind her veil. "Ufufu… true."
They continued down the familiar streets of Floating Cloud City—unhurried, comfortable, and entirely oblivious to the storm tearing through Xiao Clan just a few blocks away.
But soon…
Very soon…
The past and the present were going to collide.
And Floating Cloud City would never forget the day Yun Che returned.
It was finally his chance to actually look at the city—really look—ever since he flashed past it a year ago like a rogue meteor. This time, Yun Che walked slowly, hand in hand with Retsu, letting the system's navigation map guide him. Retsu, being connected to the system as well, had her own map open, occasionally tilting her head and pointing like a tourist in a foreign land.
Despite being the weakest city in the Profound Sky Continent, Floating Cloud City was undeniably charming.
Sturdy stone walls framed its borders. Colorful stalls and awnings lined the streets like a festival frozen in time. Temples, pagodas, shrines, and little spiritual gardens decorated the landscape. Merchants hawked their goods with lively voices. Children ran past in packs. And the Xiao Clan's manor stood at the far end like the city's proud relic.
If only it weren't stuck in what might as well be the middle of nowhere.
As they walked, Retsu suddenly paused, her gaze locking onto a nearby food stand. Her eyes sparkled.
"Ara… skewers," she whispered, clasping her hands together under her sleeves. "Young master… may I have some?"
"Sure. It's been a while since we had street food," Yun Che replied, ruffling her head. "My Retsu is a glutton."
She leaned into his palm like a spoiled fox.
"Eheee~ I am your glutton, after all."
She was not exaggerating. In the span of thirty seconds, they cleaned out half the vendor's supply. People around them stared—some in awe, some in disbelief, some wondering where such an ethereal beauty even stored that much food.
The vendor himself could only gape. Even with the veil, Retsu's beauty radiated so intensely he instinctively straightened his clothes. He glanced between her and Yun Che before sighing deeply.
"Ah… it's one of you boys again."
"You boys?" Yun Che blinked.
The vendor placed both hands on his hips like he'd been dealing with this nonsense all week. "Another Xiao Che wannabe. You're the tenth one I've seen today."
Retsu tilted her head. "Xiao Che… want-to-be?"
The vendor sighed again—this time long-suffering, the sigh of a man carrying the burden of witnessing too much stupidity.
"Ever since he caused that massive ruckus in the Xia Manor, the younger generation decided he was the coolest thing in the city. Black clothes, spiky raven hair, some kids even carry oversized black-and-white swords made of wood. It's a trend now."
He gestured vaguely at Yun Che.
"Black outfit, modern look, edgy air… yeah, I've seen dozens."
Retsu giggled softly. "Ara… you have a fan club, young master."
"You and me both." Yun Che rubbed his temples. He never expected this. To think the city's most bullied punching bag somehow became… a trendsetter?
The vendor continued, "Never thought the weakest boy in Floating Cloud City would become the ideal every brat tries to copy. Hah… what a world."
Retsu's eyes sparkled with amusement as she chewed another skewer.
"Young master… they imitate you. Isn't that lovely?"
Yun Che shrugged. "It's… something."
The vendor nodded with authority, then pointed a skewer stick at Yun Che.
"You really do look like the real deal, kid. Good job on the cosplay."
"I am him," Yun Che said flatly.
The vendor didn't even blink.
"Ah yes, of course. And I am the Golden Crow Emperor. Very nice to meet you."
He waved them off and went back to grilling meat.
Yun Che had to fight the urge to laugh. He really didn't want to ruin the surprise yet.
If Floating Cloud City was buzzing now, it was about to explode once they reached the Xiao Clan.
"…"
After thanking the skewer vendor, Yun Che and Retsu continued down the street, both of them silently digesting the absurd reality that the city was full of… mini Yun Ches.
Not metaphorically. Literally.
Youngsters wearing black sleeveless shirts, cloaks, white cloth belts tied around their waists, cheap makeshift boots, and even wooden swords painted black and white. Some even styled their hair in messy raven spikes and walked around with serious expressions like they were reenacting the "Mountain-Slicing Wedding Incident."
Retsu found it cute.
Yun Che found it deeply annoying.
"So even if I wore my full Shinigami attire," Yun Che muttered, rubbing his forehead,"no one would bat an eye."
"Fufufu… they adore you, young master," Retsu teased through her veil.
"Yeah, but I didn't expect to become a fashion trend."
Since Floating Cloud City produced no Sky Profound Realm cultivators, it had long been considered the weakest of the weak. But now? Now that rumors of him being an Emperor Profound Realm expert had spread… every young cultivator wanted to be "Xiao Che, the Ruthless Groom Who Cut a Mountain."
And since Xiao Kuangyun was officially dead, his little cosplay cult collapsed overnight—replaced entirely by Yun Che's.
Great.
Ignoring the fanboys and avoiding eye contact with them at all costs, he and Retsu made their way toward the Xiao Clan manor—intending to slip in quietly and surprise his Little Aunt.
But instead… they found a crowd.
A big crowd.
Dozens of townsfolk clustered outside the manor wall, murmuring and whispering in panic. Soldiers could be seen through the open gates—armored, uniformed, stiff like a well-polished intimidation display.
"What's going on?" Yun Che casually asked a nearby passerby.
The man whispered as if afraid the air itself might report him,
"The Xiao Sect! They sent elite troops! Nearly two dozen Peak Spirit Profound Realm cultivators… and three—yes, three—Early Earth Profound Realm elites!"
Retsu felt Yun Che's eyebrow twitch under the hood.
Another person leaned in from the side.
"Rumor says they're looking for Xiao Che."
"Others say they want to find young master Kuangyun."
"And some think the main sect is here to destroy this clan for offending Xiao Che. Maybe to recruit him!"
More chatter followed—fear, speculation, anxiety.
Yun Che turned his head, noticing the so-called influential families—Yiwen, Situ, Han—standing far back, afraid to even approach the gate.
Not that he cared for any of them.
"But none of them dare to go in… Look at them. They don't even breathe loudly," another passerby murmured.
Yun Che exhaled slowly.
So the news traveled this fast, huh…? Faster than Kurosaki Ichigo running late for class.
He could sense the truth behind the rumors.
Elite soldiers from the main clan—dozens of them—standing inside a weak city like this?
It was an intimidation tactic.
A show of force.
A warning.
Either they were searching for him,
or they were preparing to purge the Xiao Clan.
Either way…
"Well, well…" Yun Che said with a smirk.
"Bringing an entire military unit? Bold. Very bold."
His spiritual sense swept over them.
Peak Spirit Profound Realm… Early Earth Profound Realm…
Pathetic.
Half of Retsu's pinky could wipe the floor with them.
He already regained the raw power of the old Yun Che from a year ago—even without regaining the exact cultivation realms—his Hollowfication and Visored arts alone were overwhelming.
This wasn't a fight.
This was pest control.
He took one step forward.
Retsu silently followed, her veil fluttering as killing intent slid from her presence like silk.
"Shall we greet our guests, young master?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah," Yun Che replied, cracking his neck."It's time we go home. It hasn't been that long."
"Mouuu… a year is a long time," Retsu pouted softly beneath her veil.
By her estimation, Xiao Kuangyun had been dead for nearly eight months.
No wonder the Xiao Sect sent an army—they were desperate.
"That so…" Yun Che muttered, though internally he was already grinning.
This timing was perfect.
Xiao Sect chickens had marched here with their feathers puffed, harassing his Little Aunt and Grandfather?
Then it was time for round two.
Originally, he'd planned to blow the gate off its hinges with one swing of Zangetsu—
you know, for dramatic entrance points.
But even he had to admit that might be overkill.
So he settled for something "civil."
"Well then," he said, stepping forward, "let's knock on the door and see if someone's home."
He gently pushed the crowd aside, Retsu following gracefully behind him like a silent storm with a smile.The moment he emerged from the sea of bodies, every eye locked onto them.
Even the heads of the influential families turned their heads.
"Who are those two?"
"Looks like another Xiao Che wannabe."
"There are dozens nowadays."
"That girl's beauty… is she from a noble family?"
"Heh. A wannabe is still a wannabe. He'll be ignored like the rest."
Yun Che ignored them all.
He didn't know whether to laugh, sigh, or start handing out autographs.
Retsu leaned close. "It appears even the real young master isn't recognized. Not even with all that… cosplay in the city."
"Well, Retsu—" Yun Che smirked, "—we could knock politely.
It's only manners to announce ourselves when we pay a visit."
He stepped directly before the large gate.
Knocked once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Silence.
People snickered softly behind him.
"See? Even the guards ignore him."
"Told you, just a pretender."
Yun Che inhaled deeply—
his right fist slowly drawing back.
Retsu stepped aside with the elegance of a shrine maiden preparing for a divine punishment to descend.
The crowd's expression shifted—
from amusement…
to confusion…
to dread.
Before anyone could shout "STOP HIM—!"
"ANYONE HOME!?!?"
Yun Che cheerfully yelled—
—then swung.
BOOOOOOOM!!!!
The impact detonated like thunder.
===============================
The entire gate blasted inward—
splintering, folding, and flying several meters across the courtyard like scrap paper.
Shockwaves rippled outward, shaking dust from rooftops and sending several guards tumbling.
Gasps. Screams.
The crowd staggered backward like a wave.
The influential families paled white.
Inside the manor, Xiao Sect soldiers snapped into formation on instinct—
hands on weapons, eyes wide.
Xiao Tian, the Fifth Elder of Xiao Sect—
who had been mid-threat, hand outstretched toward Xiao Lingxi—
froze mid-motion.
Everyone turned.
And through the settling dust, two silhouettes walked through the destroyed entrance.
The shockwave of Yun Che's punch rippled through the entire manor like a thunderclap.
Tiles rattled. Dust showered from beams.
The air itself trembled.
Every Xiao Clan member—elders, disciples, servants alike—jerked toward the entrance in alarm.
Even the Xiao Sect elite soldiers—who had been mid-threat, blades drawn toward Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi—froze and snapped into formation. Their expressions turned from arrogant superiority… to utter disbelief.
Someone—someone—had dared to attack the Xiao Clan while the main sect's army was present?
Impossible.
Unthinkable.
Suicidal.
Yet the crumbled ruins of the main gate said otherwise.
Xiao Lingxi's breath hitched.
Her eyes trembled as she stared at the collapsing dust cloud.
Her father, Xiao Lie, stiffened. His calm façade cracked—because he recognized that destructive aura instantly.
The crowd parted instinctively, fear replacing curiosity.
Even the influential families shrank back, their pride shriveling.
And then—
Two silhouettes emerged through the settling dust.
A young man in a white tactical coat, sleeves rolled to the forearms, steps slow and deliberate.
Each tap of his boot echoed like a declaration.
Behind him, a veiled woman glided forward—a goddess veiled in silk.
Even hidden behind the fabric, her elegance was overwhelming.
Her braided hair fell like ink down her shoulder, and her presence silenced the entire courtyard.
The men around them gawked.
Xia Qingyue was said to be the city's number one beauty—but this woman surpassed her by several realms.
She radiated a serenity and maturity that no young maiden could hope to match.
But beauty quickly turned into dread when the young man lifted his chin.
That face.
That smile.
That unshakable, lazy confidence.
The Xiao Clan disciples paled, cold sweat breaking across their backs.
They knew him.
They all knew him.
The man their clan mocked.
The man they bullied without restraint.
The cripple they treated like dirt.
The man who destroyed their mountain, slaughtered their elders, and threatened to erase their entire clan in one breath.
The one they prayed would never return.
"...Xiao… Che?" a disciple whispered, voice cracking.
Another dropped the weapon he was holding.
A third stumbled backward.
The panic spread like wildfire.
He was supposed to be gone.
Dead.
Missing.
ANYTHING but standing right here.
But there he was.
Yun Che smirked faintly, brushing a fleck of gate debris from his shoulder.
"Well," he said lazily, hands in his coat pockets,
"looks like I've picked a pretty bad time to come home."
Behind him, Retsu bowed her head politely, though her killing intent simmered like a quiet storm.
The Xiao Sect soldiers swallowed hard.
Their captains exchanged glances.
Because whoever destroyed a reinforced sect gate with one punch…
…was not someone they wanted to make an enemy of.
And Xiao Tian—the Fifth Elder of Xiao Sect—finally recognized the resemblance from Xiao Kuangyun's reports.
The boy who crippled the young master… the one the city deemed as The Emperor...
…had returned.
Xiao Tian's expression darkened, offended that the young man had not so much as bowed.Instead, Yun Che stood relaxed, hands in pockets, as though surrounded by armed soldiers every day.
The Fifth Elder lifted a hand, and two dozen Peak Spirit Profound Realm soldiers instantly surged forward—circling Yun Che and Retsu with blades drawn.
"Boy," Xiao Tian boomed, voice heavy with authority, "this one is Xiao Tian, Fifth Elder of the Xiao Sect. Do you understand the weight of your crimes? Who gave you permission to destroy the gate of MY sect's subordinate clan? Do you even know who we are?"
Yun Che blinked slowly.
Then sighed.
"No," he said bluntly.
"And I don't care."
Before the elder could explode, Yun Che casually pointed a thumb at Xiao Lie behind him.
"The name's Yun Che. Prodigal son of this clan right here."
The Xiao Clan disciples collectively flinched.
Xiao Lie's eyes widened.
Xiao Lingxi covered her mouth, relief and shock flooding her expression.
"And," Yun Che continued, waving lazily to the crowd:
"Long time no see, Xiao Clan."
The moment he raised his hand—just a little—
several disciples shrieked and stumbled backward, as if the sky itself might fall.
He almost chuckled.
"X-Xiao Che?!"
Xiao Chengzhi's shrill voice cracked through the courtyard.
The same arrogant brat who'd just thrown his entire clan under the bus trembled like a leaf, his bravado evaporating the instant he saw Yun Che's face.
Xiao Tian's brows knitted in disbelief.
"This boy?" he scoffed. "You expect me to believe this child defeated Xiao Kuangyun? He doesn't carry even a shred of profound energy!"
Several Xiao Sect soldiers sneered, scrutinizing Yun Che like he was an insect.
"He's lying."
"He must be."
"A cripple wiping out young master Kuangyun? Absurd."
Their arrogance collapsed the moment Retsu stepped half a pace forward.
Her veiled gaze sharpened.
The air changed.
The pressure suffocated.
Even veiled, even silent—she radiated a killing intent that made armed veterans stagger back, clutching their throats.
But Yun Che didn't even glance at her.
Instead, he stared directly at Xiao Chengzhi.
"…Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
His voice carried no hostility—only annoyance, which somehow made it worse.
Xiao Chengzhi froze.
Then swallowed.
He opened his mouth to answer—
But before he could, a soft chime echoed in Yun Che's mind.
==========================
[Ding….
Name: Xiao Chengzhi
Age: 18
Cultivation: Level 7 (7th Level of the Elementary Profound Realm.)
Position: Grandson of the third elder, Xiao Ze.
Description: Just a nobody who likes Xia Qingyue.
==========================
"Haah… just some kid who used to drool over Xia Qingyue."
Yun Che exhaled with flat disappointment as someone boldly leapt in front of him.
"This one—! This one is the murderer of young master Xiao Kuangyun!"
Xiao Chengzhi shrieked with the triumph of a rat who thought it had cornered a tiger.
Retsu's veiled eyes narrowed.
"Ara…" she breathed softly.
The situation was getting uglier by the minute.
Accusing her young master of murder—
somehow, she felt it wasn't even the accusation that annoyed her.
It was the smugness in Chengzhi's voice…
and the way his eyes kept drifting toward her, hungry and disgusting.
Retsu remained the same shy, gentle, and slightly clumsy girl, and it was her aversion to killing that restrained her. Had she even a fraction of Yachiru's instinct, she would have already acted on those murderous impulses. Retsu kills with purpose—Yachiru kills without hesitation.
Little did she know, Yun Che did kill Xiao Kuangyun—just not in the typical, boring, blade-to-throat way.
Hollows were much more creative.
"Chengzhi!!!"
Xiao Ze, the third elder, practically coughed blood.
He knew—
heknew—
exactly what kind of monster he had warned his grandson about.
"You fool! Did I not tell you—!?"
But the boy ignored him completely, seeing only the chance to lick the boots of the main sect.
"Xiao Che! You'll never escape today!!"Chengzhi trembled with excitement, imagining Yun Che beaten bloody…and Retsu dragged into the Xiao Sect's grasp.
It was clear from the way every soldier and even Xiao Tian's gaze lingered on Retsu's figure…
They wanted her.
Badly.
Retsu felt it all.
Every lustful stare.
Every filthy thought.
Her fingers twitched.
Her aura fluctuated.
But before her killing intent overflowed—
Yun Che gently squeezed her hand.
She blinked.
The warmth of his touch traveled up her arm, grounding her, soothing her rage.
He gave her a calm, reassuring smile.
She blushed instantly.
And then…
Yun Che raised a hand.
Not in a martial pose.
Not forming a seal.
But to flip Xiao Chengzhi off.
Retsu blinked in confusion—she'd seen the gesture when Jasmine tried it on him—but the surrounding clan members gasped, unsure whether to laugh or faint.
Chengzhi stared dumbly.
"What… what does that even mean?"
Yun Che didn't even bother answering.He simply switched his middle finger to his pointer finger…
…and aimed.
BZZZT!!
A thin white strap of reiryoku shot out like lightning—
wrapping Xiao Chengzhi midair like a lasso, spinning him around—
—and SLAMMING him into a tree.
He was instantly cocooned, arms and legs bound, mouth sealed shut.
Only muffled squeals could escape.
The courtyard went dead silent.
Yun Che dusted his hands.
"Shut up, junior," he said casually.
"The adults are talking."
His tone.
His posture.
His laziness.
This wasn't arrogance.
This was someone who had already decided—
None of them here were worth getting serious for.
Even Xiao Tian stumbled back half a step.
The courtyard froze.
Every soldier—two dozen Spirit Profound elites—watched in horror as a single boy flicked a finger and bound a cultivator mid-sentence. None of them even saw the movement. None of them could have dodged it.
Xiao Tian's expression snapped from arrogance to razor-sharp alertness.
"Form up!" he barked.
The soldiers flooded forward, surrounding Yun Che and Retsu. Their killing intent filled the courtyard like steel needles. Civilians backed away. The Xiao Clan disciples trembled.
Xiao Tian drew his blade, eyes fixed on Yun Che.
"You… is it true?" His voice trembled despite his effort to sound authoritative. "Did you kill young master Kuangyun?"
Yun Che pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah," he said flatly.
"He's buried back in Terralingua. I even left the shovel there. You want it back?"
The soldiers murmured in outrage. Xiao Tian's aura flared.
"You… do you grasp the gravity of your crime?" he hissed. "You murdered the son of the Xiao Sect's master!"
Yun Che raised an unamused brow.
"Let me guess the script." He pointed lazily.
"You try to kill me.
If that fails, you threaten to slaughter my family.
If that fails, you beg, scream, or run.
Did I miss anything?"
Xiao Tian snarled.
"Xiao Che, you are hereby detained for the murder of young master Kuang—MEN, ARREST HIM!"
Dozens of cultivators lunged—
—only for Yun Che to turn to Retsu with the most relaxed smile in history.
"Retsu? Would you do the honors?"
"Hai~~~"
Retsu closed her eyes, glowing with her signature angelic smile.
Every man around her fell in love for half a second—
—and then hell descended.
BOOM.
A monstrous spiritual pressure crashed down.
Invisible. Crushing. Absolute.
Two dozen elite Spirit Profound Realm soldiers were slammed to their knees.Xiao Tian collapsed instantly, forehead grinding into the dirt, trembling violently.The ground cracked beneath the force.
Even outside the clan walls, people felt the shockwave and staggered.
Xiao Chengzhi…
…who had been loudly calling for Yun Che's execution minutes earlier…
…wet himself.
Audibly.
"Th-th-there's more than one…? Another monster…?"
someone whispered from the crowd.
None dared to speak louder.
Retsu tilted her head, smiling placidly.
"Ara ~~~~ To kneel from such a low-level pressure… so weak, as you say, young master."
Every Xiao Clan member nearly vomited blood.
Low level? LOW!?
This pressure alone felt like a mountain falling on their spines.
Yun Che patted Retsu's head.
"That's my girl."
Then, casually—far too casually—he raised a hand.
A massive, cloth-wrapped blade materialized in his grasp.
Zangetsu rested on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
But to everyone watching…
…it felt like a guillotine had appeared in the sky.
Xiao Tian's voice cracked.
"You… The main sect won't let this go!"
Yun Che gave him a deadpan stare.
"Main sect?" He shrugged.
"Let them come. I'll dig another grave next to Kuangyun."
Several soldiers nearly fainted.
Even Retsu felt a little warm inside.
This was her man.
Xiao Tian trembled beneath the pressure.
His forehead dug into the dirt.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
"…Please… magnanimous emperor… spare our lowly lives…" he croaked.
"We swear—we swear on our souls—we won't trouble this clan again!"
The soldiers behind him echoed that promise in broken, shaking voices. All arrogance, pride, and ego had evaporated the moment Yun Che unwrapped Zangetsu.
The moment that monster appeared.
Yun Che tilted his head, bored, almost disappointed.
"Swearing on your soul? Cute."
He placed a palm on the cloth-wrapped hilt.
Every Xiao Clan disciple flinched.
The last time Yun Che touched that sword… a mountain peak was erased.
And now he was standing inside the clan, smiling while the blade hummed ominously.
Retsu, beside him, gently tightened her grip on her own sword—though Yun Che's hand on hers reminded her to hold back. There was no point in killing these worms. Not unless he willed it.
Yun Che lowered his gaze at the groveling elder.
"You said you swear on your soul."
He tapped Zangetsu's edge against the ground.
"But how do I know you won't come crawling back here like rats as soon as I turn around?"
Xiao Tian swallowed hard.
"S-sir… we… w-we swear on our profound veins! On our future! On our clan!"
Yun Che let out a cold laugh.
"Che'er…"
"Little Che…"
Yun Che turned—his gaze softening instantly.
There they were.
Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi, pushing their way through the terrified crowd, relief flooding their expressions.
"Little Aunt… Grandfather…" Yun Che's voice dropped, warm and gentle—so different from how he'd spoken to the Xiao Sect moments ago.
Xiao Lie hurried forward, anxiety written across his weathered face.
"Che'er," he said urgently, "I know you carry hatred for the clan… and I will not stop you from getting justice. But please… let the main sect go this time. If you kill them, they may retaliate against us—the clan, the city, its people. They may not dare face you, but they will take vengeance on others."
Yun Che blinked.
"…Who said I was going to kill them?"
Xiao Lie froze.
Even the surrounding clansmen stared wide-eyed.
"You… won't?" Xiao Lie's voice trembled in disbelief.
"Nope," Yun Che replied casually, rolling his neck. "Just giving them a little… reassurance."
Before Xiao Lie could ask—
Yun Che's eyes shifted.
The whites darkened to blood-scarlet.
A single tomoe spun lazily around his pupils.
The Sharingan bloomed.
"S-senior… what are—?"
Xiao Tian didn't finish the sentence.
BZZT—
A soft pulse of energy erupted from Yun Che's eyes like ripples through still water.
Instantly, every Xiao Sect soldier—from peak Spirit Profound all the way up to Xiao Tian—went slack-jawed, their eyes turning blank and glassy.
Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi flinched.
Retsu watched with a serene smile, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
One breath passed.
Two.
Thud.
The first soldier collapsed to his knees.
Thud—thud—thud.
Within three seconds, the entire elite force—including Xiao Tian—fell unconscious in perfect unison.
Yun Che exhaled lightly, dusting off his hands.
"Alright, Retsu. Release the pressure."
"Hai~"
Retsu replied sweetly, removing the crushing suppression like turning off a lamp.
A moment later, Xiao Tian groaned, slowly pushing himself up.
The soldiers woke in waves, blinking, confused but eerily calm.
The elder rubbed the dust from his robes, cleared his throat, and spoke with surprising politeness:
"I see. It appears that young master Kuangyun traveled to the Cyan Mountains in search of an expert. We will continue the search there before calling off our investigation."
He bowed deeply.
"My apologies for disturbing the Xiao Clan on this fine day."
Yun Che flashed him his most obnoxious grin.
"Send my regards to your sect master, okay?"
"Of course."
Xiao Tian cupped his fists respectfully.
"We wish the clan prosperity. Farewell."
The soldiers followed suit, bowing to Xiao Lie, then to Yun Che, before marching out of the manor in orderly silence.
As if nothing at all had happened.
As if they hadn't been groveling in terror moments ago.
As if they had chosen to leave peacefully of their own free will.
Only after they were gone did Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi snap out of their daze.
"…Che'er," Xiao Lie whispered, voice full of disbelief, "w-what did you do?"
Yun Che grinned, stretching his arms lazily.
"I changed their minds."
Yun Che said it with absolute casualness, but the truth behind those words was anything but simple.
The Sharingan still tingled faintly behind his eyes—its first true test in this world.
He had taken a gamble, slipping basic illusions directly into the minds of Xiao Tian and his soldiers.
It wasn't sophisticated—nothing close to Kotoamatsukami—but it was enough to overwrite their memories just long enough to send them on a wild goose chase.
Xiao Kuangyun is alive.
Xiao Kuangyun is somewhere in the Cyan Mountain Range.
There is no need to bother the Xiao Clan.
A simple, clean loop.
And it worked only because these people had no mental defenses at all.
If they had…
Yun Che would've been forced to silence them permanently.
Thankfully, they didn't.
Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi stared at him, dumbfounded. They saw the brief flash of crimson in his eyes… and moments later, a group of elite sect soldiers simply turned and walked away like obedient puppets.
Their Little Che—
could control minds.
Xiao Lingxi's eyes welled up before she even realized it.
"Little Che!!"
She launched herself into him, arms wrapping tight around his waist, burying her face in his chest as though afraid he'd vanish again if she let go.
Yun Che caught her instinctively, smiling softly.
Retsu watched the scene quietly.
Warmth. Relief.
Family.
For the first time, she understood why Yun Che spoke of them with such gentle fondness. This was his reincarnated world's family—the people the original one clung to even at the lowest point of his life.
Xiao Lie stepped forward, wiping the moisture gathering in the corner of his eyes.
"Che'er… my good grandchild… you've grown so much." His voice cracked. "A whole year… and you finally returned."
Yun Che chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head."It was a long trip… but I couldn't stay away forever."
Xiao Lingxi gave his chest a small, angry thump.
"Idiot Little Che! Sniff… You disappeared without telling me anything! I couldn't sleep for days! You should've woken me up before running off!"
"Ahaha… sorry, Little Aunt," he said with a sheepish grin.
But Xiao Lie's expression suddenly shifted—serious, heavy, anxious.
He took a step closer.
"Che'er… I must ask you…"
He swallowed.
"Are you here only to visit… or… have you come seeking revenge?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
The crowd behind them tensed.
Even the elders who once mocked Yun Che went pale.
Yun Che blinked.
Then laughed.
"Relax, gramps."
He reached out and gently patted Xiao Lie's shoulder, eyes soft.
"I didn't come here to level the clan. I'm not here to burn this place down. I'm just here to visit you and Little Aunt."
He leaned sideways.
"Oh… and sorry about the gate."
Xiao Lie stared at him—speechless.
"But… but the bullies, the cruelty, the years of abuse…" he murmured weakly. "Che'er, those people treated you—"
Yun Che cut him off with a shrug and a wry smile.
"Honestly? I'm kind of over it."
How could he explain?
He didn't carry the original Yun Che's memories.
He didn't carry that pain.
Those people never wronged him—only the boy whose body he now possessed.
And if he killed them for sins he never personally suffered…
he'd be no better than the cold-blooded monsters he despised.
"They're assholes," Yun Che admitted to himself, "but killing them for grievances that aren't mine? That's not my style. I don't need to stain my hands with pointless blood."
He lifted a hand and poked Xiao Lingxi's forehead.
"I have better reasons to come home."
Retsu smiled softly behind her veil.
This man…
Her man…
was far gentler than the world deserved.
These people feared him.
And honestly, that was enough.
There was no need to storm the clan "guns blazing"—not when some members were innocent, not when his grandfather and Little Aunt still lived here, and especially not when Retsu would judge the entire clan based on his actions. Whatever the original Yun Che had suffered… those memories weren't his. Slaughtering innocents over someone else's pain was pointless.
The system had warned him before: killing without cause would cause it to penalize him.
Yun Che didn't intend to become a monster or more like scared being penalized by system for unjust killing.
Xiao Lie watched his grandson's expression soften, and relief washed over the old man's face like a tide retreating.
"Che'er… thank you."
His voice trembled as he placed a warm, weathered hand on Yun Che's head.
Around them, members of the Xiao Clan—many trembling moments earlier—now sagged with weak-kneed relief. Some even wept. They truly believed today was their last day of life. Instead, they were spared—not because they deserved it, but because the young man they had once bullied refused to become a butcher.
Yun Che gently loosened Xiao Lingxi's arms from around him, then reached for Retsu's hand and brought her forward.
He coughed softly, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Grandfather… Little Aunt… While returning from my training grounds, I brought someone important. Someone I am engaged with before I completed my training."
He scratched the side of his face awkwardly.
"This is Retsu. She's my partner… and my fiancée."
Silence.
Then—
"Eh?"
Retsu froze completely, her brain short-circuiting.
Fiancée?!
Had he really just said that??
They hadn't even shared their first kiss yet!
Her heart exploded into fireworks, and for a split second, she nearly leaped onto him like a fox who finally caught her human. But she caught herself—barely—and forced her hands into a ladylike fold as she bowed deeply.
"G-Greetings… dear grandfather, sister Lingxi."
Her voice trembled with sweetness.
"I am Unohana Retsu. I may be inexperienced in many ways, but… please take good care of me."
Xiao Lie blinked, stunned by her beauty, grace, and overwhelming gentleness.
Then the realization struck him—
His grandson didn't bring home a girl.
He brought home a powerhouse.
Probably a Throne-level powerhouse.
The old man immediately bowed back.
"The honor is mine, Lady Unohana. This old one is Xiao Che's grandfather. Thank you for looking after my grandchild."
"Ah—no, no, please!"
Retsu flustered instantly, waving her hands and bowing even lower as if trying to sink into the ground.
"J-Just Retsu is fine! Dear grandfather mustn't bow to me!"
Yun Che chuckled helplessly on the side.
There she was—his Retsu—switching from serene goddess to clumsy sweetheart in an instant.And somehow, that made the scene even more endearing.
Even Xiao Lingxi, normally wary of beautiful women near her Little Che, couldn't help staring in awe.
This woman…
This unbelievably gorgeous, polite, soft-spoken woman…
was now her future sister-in-law? or sister wife?
Lingxi swallowed.
(I–I can't compete with that…)
Xiao Lie was stunned.
A year ago, his grandson married Xia Qingyue—a ceremony destroyed before it even began. Now he returned not only stronger but with another fiancée? A woman who, even veiled, radiated celestial beauty rivaling Qingyue herself?
It was difficult for the old patriarch to process.
Xiao Lingxi, realizing she needed to greet her soon-to-be sister-in-law, hurriedly bowed.
"Ah—yes! I–I am Xiao Lingxi, Little Che's aunt. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady—"
Before she could finish, Retsu gently caught her wrists.
"Mouuu… please, sister Lingxi, no bowing."
Her voice was soft, sweet, and earnest.
"Just call me Retsu. I am no lady of noble birth. I am simply an ordinary cultivator… and his fiancée."
She finished by looking at Yun Che from behind her veil with a blush so warm it could melt iron.
Then, without hesitation, she slipped her hand around his arm, hugging it tightly—claiming him in full view of his clan.
Xiao Lingxi's mind blanked.
(…she's gorgeous.)
Not just gorgeous—ethereal.
Her braided hair framed her face like a goddess descending among mortals. Her posture, movements, and manners were flawless. Her body… well-developed. Mature. Alluring. Perfect.
Xiao Lingxi suddenly felt like a faded ink portrait standing beside a painting of living, breathing moonlight.
And then—
She's my Little Che's fiancée?! Already?!
Jealousy poked her heart like needles.
She remembered the day Yun Che proposed to her—a childish promise spoken before everything changed. Part of her always wondered if he still felt anything for her. Seeing him return with a woman like Retsu… it stung.
But at the same time—
Yun Che turned toward her, eyes soft, and pulled her into another warm embrace.
"And how have you been, my Little Aunt?"
Lingxi's breath caught.
He hadn't changed at all.
Even if he was different—stronger, calmer, more mysterious—his warmth toward her remained the same. He didn't push her away. He didn't forget her. That alone soothed the jealousy in her heart.
Retsu watched the two with a gentle smile.
Seeing family—real, loving family—was rare for her. In her previous life, she had lived as a weapon, a healer, a murderer, an outcast… but never as someone's daughter, sister, or cherished relative.
This was her chance.
Her chance to have a home. A family. Sisters to laugh with. A grandfather figure to rely on.
And a husband.
But inside, a tiny spark ignited—a quiet, unwavering determination.
She would not lose the position of Yun Che's number one woman.
Not to Xia Qingyue.
Not to Jasmine.
Not even to Xiao Lingxi.
She would share him, yes.
But she would reign at his side as his beloved.
And as she held Yun Che's arm tighter, her eyes—hidden under her veil—smiled with both tenderness and the gentle steel of a woman who had already decided.