Chapitre 10: Xia Qingyue
When Meng and Xiao Lingxi were looking at the stars in quite an awkward atmosphere without anyone saying anything, Meng couldn't help but look away from her and cringe. He was really too unfamiliar with such a romantic-like atmosphere, however, mainly it was because two of them were just polite to each other yet there was such a romantic atmosphere. Probably none of them was interested in another in that way which is why it made it so much awkward for Meng.
"Little aunt, brother Su Meng! What are you guys doing here?" Suddenly Xiao Che approached them and saved Meng from this particular situation.
"Brother Xiao Che, good timing, your little aunt was just done showing me around so you have one less job to do! You can go back with your little aunt and enjoy the rest of the night." Meng said with a faint smile, he was able to see from Che's slightly worried expression that he probably likes his aunt more than he should so he decided to leave them alone and not meddle in their affairs.
"Eh? What will brother Su Meng do?" Xiao Che sounded a bit surprised by his reply which probably also made him feel slightly bad so he asked.
'Su Meng looks like a good person...If I will have a chance in the future, I will help him repair his profound vein.' Xiao Che thought with a faint smile.
"Xiao Che, don't ignore me! What about your wife? Shouldn't you be with her?" Xiao Lingxi asked worriedly as if she was causing him only trouble.
"Since brother Xiao Che is here, he must have a good reason to be here, let's not bother ourselves with small details. As for me, I will probably sleep outside, I am already accustomed to it and Clan Master Xia would probably want me to remain here with his daughter even though I can't protect her, haha. I hope you won't mind me staying on the Xiao clan's land." Meng said with a self ridiculing smile.
Xiao Lingxi quickly commended him for his dedication and Xiao Che agreed while offering him a room where he can sleep but Meng just politely refused before he lightly bowed to them and left towards the small forest inside Xiao's manor. Meng still had a bit of trouble adjusting to how large is this manor and its numerous courtyard, despite all of that, this Floating Cloud City was the smallest city of Blue Wind Empire. Meng couldn't help but feel his adventurous mood slightly rising up. He was curious about what is out there, however, for that, he would need to become even stronger.
All of this made him think of this as some sort of game, when that thought appeared in his mind, he couldn't help but release an amused smile while looking at the full moon.
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When Xiao Che left Xia Qingyue alone in his room, he never expected that another woman would appear in front of Xia Qingyue. That woman was her master and someone who was using the same icy profound arts.
Both talked for a bit regarding the Frozen Cloud Asgard which was one of the 4 major sects of the Blue Wind Empire. Xia Qingyue also inquired about Xiao Che's damaged profound vein but her master told her that it's most likely impossible to repair it as they were damaged very early in his life.
"Qingyue, can you tell me something about that fellow who came here together with your father?" Her master asked curiously.
"? His name is Su Meng and his profound vein was also damaged, however, his profound vein should be possible to repair since he used to be in the fourth stage of Elementary Profound Realm. Why does master ask about him?" Xia Qingyue was slightly surprised by her master's question but she still answered and added a few more details she knew from her father.
"Despite having damaged profound vein, his personality seems quite laid-back, however, that's not what surprised me. During your escort from Xia Clan to Xiao Clan, he was practicing some kind of footwork technique without using any profound energy." Her master explained with a thoughtful expression and furrowed brows.
"What? That's...impossible. I have taken a look a few times and to me, it looked like he was just taking slow yet large steps." Xia Qingyue was startled by this information since she has been observing Xiao Che the entire time and Su Meng was walking right next to him.
"This is indeed strange, even with my cultivation, I could only see afterimages of him taking small numerous steps before stopping for a moment."
Her master's words shocked Xia Qingyue even more despite showing a little response in her expression.
"If he is so skilled, why is he working for my father? Could it be that he is just acting like a cripple while he is hiding his strength?"
"I don't think so, I believe that his profound vein is damaged. I am going to leave for now and pick you up in one month, I won't go far away so if you want to investigate that boy, I will be nearby in case he will try anything however you should be careful, he is quite a mystery in my eyes."
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While Meng was sitting on the ground and leaning against the tree with closed eyes, he suddenly opened them and quickly stood up.
"Miss Xia, do you require something from me?" Meng asked and lightly bowed to her.
"..." Xia Qingyue just silently looked at him and continued approaching him unit she was close enough and released her killing intent while thrusting her palm towards Meng's torso.
"Miss Xia?!" Meng quickly covered his face with his hands while trying to take a step back but he stumbled and fell down on his butt. However before he fell down, he felt cold energy invading his body as if trying to investigate what is going on inside his body.
"...I apologize, I just wanted to try something due to my cultivation." Xia Qingyue lightly bowed to Meng however her voice was still calm and could also be called quite cold.
"No, no, it's alright. I was just startled, I apologize for such a pathetic display, haha." Meng stood up and said with a silly smile while scratching the back of his head.
'His profound vein is truly damaged so how did he...How did my profound energy got ejected out of his body so quickly? I was able to check his profound vein however when it was about to touch one of his organs, my profound energy was rejected by it. Is his body somehow special? Maybe he is a rare talent without even being aware of it, unfortunately, he is too old to start again...16 years old starting again from the first stage of Elementary Profound Realm is too hard, no matter how big of a genius he can possibly be.' Xia Qingyue thought while observing Meng.
"Not at all, you were able to detect me even though you were sleeping. You are quite skilled despite not being able to cultivate." Xia Qingyue said, most likely meant as praise.
'Why haven't I felt his heartbeat to increase despite facing my killing intent? Maybe I was just mistaken since my profound energy got ejected too quickly...' Xia Qingyue thought.
"I don't deserve such a compliment from you, Miss Xia. I am used to living outside and when one's strength is only so-so, he must rely on his experience and personal skills instead of cultivation." Meng politely explained.
'Trying to fool me with a fake killing intent? Hmph! Even if you truly tried to kill me with that palm attack, I wouldn't have been hurt. Looks like she is beginning to be suspicious of me however it should be impossible for her to perceive anything...if my thinking is right, her master should be around. She just checked my Profound Vein and the only time I used anything suspicious was during the escort, the cloud steps to be precise. Hopefully, she won't get suspicious how quickly her cold energy got ejected since it got too close to my enhanced organs.'
"...You won't ask about that?" Xia Qingyue asked while pointing her delicate hand at the bits of ice on Meng's clothes.
"I believe that if it were something I should know, Miss Xia would have already told me. If Miss Xia doesn't tell me on her own, obviously, I shouldn't bother her with such questions." Meng said with a smile and his eyes closed while gently brushing the ice off his clothes.
Xia Qingyue kept quiet while observing him, however in truth, she was slightly moved by him. The way he talks, she couldn't help but appreciate it. He was polite however he wasn't kissing anyone's ass and even though she just released her killing intent on him, he was completely calm like a pond of still water.
"...Frozen Cloud Asgard" Even Xia Qingyue couldn't believe that she has just said that. It's just that talking to Meng was extraordinarily calming and making her head completely clear. However, despite losing her posture for a split second, she decided to take advantage of it and observe his reaction.
"?! Frozen Cloud Asgard?! Is miss's father aware?!" Meng's eyes widened before he exclaimed while keeping his voice as low as he could.
'No wonder there is someone who can notice me practicing Cloud Steps when that person is most likely from one of the 4 major sects. I didn't expect such a plot twist but neither am I too surprised since I was suspicious of her the moment she didn't let Xiao Che touch her hand. Her cultivation is much higher than the tenth stage of the Elementary Profound Realm.'
Meng's not too exaggerated reaction made a good impression on her and she no longer regretted telling it to him. He wasn't freaking out neither was he completely calm and the first worry he has is whether her father is aware of that. At this point, Xia Qingyue had no idea what to think of Meng. If he was truly a good person or if he was harboring ill feelings to her father.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone