บท 203: Chapter 202: Qingyue's Moon Night

"Hmm... saves me the trouble," Yun Che muttered, lowering his eye from the scope of his silenced HDR sniper rifle as he scanned the area of their courtyard from a side of the mountain. Mio had already handled Ling Yun's "problem," sparing Yun Che the hassle of putting another head on his hit list for making a move on his women.

As he turned, a glint in the corner of his eye caught his attention—a masked figure was caught creeping into his courtyard. By now, he had already neutralized three other assailants, but he'd kept this one alive for questioning. The assassin attempted to end his own life, but Yun Che swiftly cast a Sharingan illusion, locking him in place. Earth Profound Realm—peak level, yet still no match for him.

Yun Che smirked as he prepared to get the answers he was after.

"Now, talk," he said coldly, gripping the captured assailant, "What exactly were you people trying to accomplish here?"

"Let me guess—the Heavenly Sword Villa sent you?" Yun Che asked, a spark of disdain in his tone. The hypnotized assailant nodded.

"The sect master ordered us to locate and capture Princess Cang Yue," the assailant confirmed, voice void of resistance under the illusion's influence.

Yun Che's suspicions were validated. "Did he, now? And for what purpose?"

"Unknown. We were commanded to bring her to the compound," the assailant replied dully.

Yun Che's smirk deepened. It was no surprise. The emergence of Shin Yue's powers and her newfound strength had clearly caught attention. "And if we resisted?" he pressed, knowing the answer but still wanting to hear it.

"We were to act covertly. If you or her other allies interfered… we were instructed to silence you all."

So, that was the Villa's plan: abduct Cang Yue, eliminate her protectors, and seize power while the Blue Wind Imperial Family was vulnerable. They intended to use the tournament's competitive chaos as cover, taking advantage of the jealousy and rivalry rampant enough that each sect hired security against potential assassins. Yet, the Heavenly Sword Villa had crossed a line, and Yun Che could see right through it. Their ambition knew no bounds, and they had resorted to underhanded methods without a second thought.

Not for winning but for capturing Cang Yue.

"So, yesterday's events weren't exactly a secret. Understandable," Yun Che murmured, piecing together the fragments in his mind. "But he wouldn't take such steps without a reason. Unless…" A realization struck him. "Did your Grand Sect Master come out of seclusion?"

The hypnotized assailant hesitated, then answered, "Yes."

Yun Che chuckled. "So that's it, then. Thanks for the intel." He wiped the assailant's memory, planting false details about the whereabouts of his other men, ensuring their trail went cold. If his suspicions were correct, his actions had drawn the attention of the Grand Sect Master himself.

Releasing the man, Yun Che mused, "Time to let my agent in the Villa gather what they can." He was referring to his first assassin recruit, whom he'd strategically placed for such occasions. "But I'll need to give it a few days. And security here could use an upgrade," he muttered, slinging his sniper rifle over his shoulder.

"Did you get anything out of him?" Kon asked, popping up onto Yun Che's shoulder with a determined look.

"Sort of," Yun Che replied with a sigh. "Turns out he was targeting Little Yue."

Kon's eyes widened, his tiny body tense. "That scumbag! Trying to mess with Yue-neesan under my watch!" he said, practically vibrating with a mix of anger and excitement.

Yun Che patted Kon's back, smirking. "Relax. She's safe as long as she's with us, and she's got her own ways of keeping them at bay. Still, they have some nerve, thinking they could kidnap her and get away with it."

"They really want a fight, huh? Well, they don't know what's coming," Kon said, pumping his little fists. "Kon-sama's ready to obliterate anyone who tries!"

Yun Che chuckled. "Right. Get in line, mate. Let's head back—we've got everything we need." With that, Kon hitched a ride on his shoulder and they disappeared from the area.

With the Xiao Sect's Grand Sect Master out of the way thanks to the Chu sisters, he anticipated that the Heavenly Sword Villa's master might be next. Afterward, there was still the Burning Heaven Clan to contend with—an encounter he both anticipated and relished, especially since they had something he intended to claim.

Back at the Blue Wind Imperial Family courtyard, Yun Che sensed a familiar presence through his Eagle Vision. "Yuanba, what are you doing here? Weren't you taking Mai and Mei back to the city?"

"I did," Yuanba replied, a bit out of breath. "But I came back to sleep, and my sister showed up earlier at our courtyard. She wanted me to give this to you." Yuanba held out a small spatial ring.

"Ohoo, that cookie came by?" Kon was interested.

Yun Che took it, eyebrows raised. "Couldn't come here herself, huh?" He sighed. "So, your sister stopped by?"

Yuanba nodded. "She said you don't actually need these things anymore, but since they're no use to her either, she thought she'd pass them on."

"Didn't she already give me a spatial sack full of items the other day when we met her and the other Asgardian fairies?" Yun Che asked, recalling their recent encounter.

"Yeah, but she mentioned having a few rare items she forgot to include," Yuanba explained, watching as Yun Che used his system to scan the ring's contents.

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[Ding…]

[Seven Profound Gem Grass]

[Purple Veined Heavenly Crystal]

[Earth Profound Beast's profound core]

[Ding… Apparently these are the items you need to restore broken Profound Veins based on the original novel's information.]

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Yun Che tapped the spatial ring thoughtfully, recalling the significance of the items inside. In the original story, the real Yun Che had mentioned needing these materials to restore his profound veins. But he, in this altered reality, hadn't once brought it up. Did Qingyue piece it together herself, researching tirelessly to discover their purpose? It was a quiet act of devotion he hadn't anticipated.

"No wonder she didn't need them anymore. I can still repurpose these," he murmured, a faint smile forming as he stored the ring away. He exhaled, shifting his attention to the present. "By the way, how long has it been since Qingyue left?"

"She... left a while ago," Yuanba replied, unsure but not entirely surprised.

Yun Che smiled, a bit more knowingly than before. "Hmm... well, thanks. And give her my thanks too. You should sleep early. You're picking up Mai tomorrow again, right?" He grinned, his teasing tone light.

Yuanba blushed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, okay. I will. Good night, brother-in-law!"

As Yuanba headed off, Yun Che turned, his thoughts momentarily distracted by Qingyue's sudden departure. He felt an odd pull to follow her, unsure of what had driven her away so abruptly.

"You're going after her?" Kon asked.

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "Sigh... well, I suppose there's no harm."

Curiosity soon won out over reason. Yun Che closed his eyes, focusing deeply. He activated his Eagle Vision and Eagle Scent, his senses sharpening instantly. His perception expanded, pinpointing Xia Qingyue's figure in the distance. He followed the trail of cold air that seemed to wrap around her like an invisible shroud, threading through the night.

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Xia Qingyue moved quietly along the path over the lake, her thoughts elsewhere as she passed the small pagoda at its center. She had just delivered the final items she'd painstakingly gathered, thinking of what his reaction might be if she presented him with all he needed to save himself. Yet, when she'd finally handed them over, his response had been a mere nod. The memory of that flat reaction stirred a lingering disappointment.

As she walked past the pagoda, heading back to the Frozen Cloud Asgard's courtyard, a voice drifted out, cutting through the quiet. "Leaving without saying goodbye? That's kind of cold. Pun intended."

Xia Qingyue paused, her expression unreadable, and turned. There, leaning against one of the pagoda's pillars with his arms crossed, was Yun Che, her supposed husband in his odd white coat. His face was relaxed, as if he'd been waiting patiently just for this moment. She regarded him with steady, calm eyes, her voice as soft as ever. "What does Sir Yun need from this Qingyue?"

"Sir Yun, huh?" he said, a wry smile crossing his face. "Formal, but I'll let it slide."

Without breaking his gaze, he checked the bolt of his rifle, ejecting an unused, modified bullet that caught her eye as he held it up. "Modified 12.7 x 108mm. Armor and barrier piercing—effective up to 1,500 meters."

Xia Qingyue: …..

He paused, realizing he was explaining too much, and gave an apologetic half-smile. "Sorry, bad habit of ...mansplaining."

Xia Qingyue: …..

Yun Che set down his HDR Sniper Rifle on bipod on one of the benches, and Xia Qingyue's eyes widened slightly as she studied it. The intricate, foreign design was unlike anything she'd ever seen—otherworldly, almost.

"May this Qingyue ask what that is?" Her tone stayed formal, but her curiosity was unmistakable.

Yun Che glanced at the rifle, then shrugged. "Just a 'solid heater'. It's something I made. Can take out a target up to 3,000 meters away—as long as you've got a steady aim."

Xia Qingyue nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing. If Yun Che could create powerful items like barrier necklaces, then producing something even more advanced was clearly within his capabilities. A weapon that could strike from such a distance was nearly unimaginable—but then, another thought struck her.

Unohana Retsu's weaponized parasol. She'd seen her wield it, knowing it contained hidden weapons, layered with lethal surprises in her hands. Could it be that he was the mind behind that creation as well?

Her gaze drifted to Yun Che, her curiosity evident.

Then, Yun Che produced a small spatial ring from his pocket—the one Yuanba had given him. "You know, you could've just handed this over yourself," he said, holding the ring out to her. "Or kept it. You know I don't need it, right?"

"This Qingyue didn't want to intrude," she replied smoothly. "And she had no reason to keep them."

"Fair enough…" Yun Che nodded, letting the silence fall between them. It stretched on for a moment, almost awkwardly, before she broke it.

"Is Aunt Lingxi well?" she asked, her tone softer.

He leaned against the railing, nodding. "She's doing well. Sends her regards. She's well-protected with Grandfather. Looks a little different after her recent breakthrough, but she's happier than I've ever seen her."

Xia Qingyue nodded as she realized he had likely secured so much protection that her involvement would hardly matter. A tinge of frustration flickered within her, but she kept her composure.

Yun Che observed her closely, sighing. "I see you're well taken care of," he said, breaking the silence. "With the way the Asgardians treat you, you're like the prized pearl—everyone has to respect you, whether they want to or not."

Xia Qingyue said nothing, her gaze unwavering but her expression unreadable. Silence stretched between them, the atmosphere thickening with every moment. Five long, quiet minutes passed before she finally spoke. "If you don't mind Qingyue asking, how did you restore your profound veins?"

Yun Che shrugged casually. "Magic."

She looked at him with a flicker of irritation at the evasive answer. Seeing her reaction, he added, "I came across something that helped me combine my old powers with a new force I unlocked. So… poof. Magic."

Disappointment clouded Xia Qingyue's face, her eyes briefly betraying a sense of hurt. Once again, he was keeping her at a distance, unwilling to let her see beyond the surface.

"….."

"That was a poor attempt of explaining, but in other words… all's well that ends well, I guess," Yun Che remarked casually.

Xia Qingyue stayed silent, sensing that any further questions would only be met with more of his evasive answers. After a pause, Yun Che's expression grew a bit more serious.

"I want to ask you something," he began. "Our marriage certificate… the one I gave you that day… do you still have it?"

Without a word, Xia Qingyue lifted her snow-white hand and brushed her fingers over her ring. In a smooth motion, she produced a thin, undamaged marriage certificate, carefully encased in a clear crystal. With a graceful flick of her hand, she sent it toward Yun Che, who caught it gently. It was flawless, perfectly preserved, just as it had been when he gave it to her.

He glanced at it and then returned it to her, his gaze softening. "You still kept it." A trace of admiration slipped into his voice. Aunt Lingxi had once mentioned the significance of this gesture. Although the certificate couldn't prove that Xia Qingyue harbored any deep feelings, it was clear she had guarded this last symbol of his dignity, even after his departure. Her protection of it, even without him needing it, said more than any words.

The marriage certificate's very existence was a silent proclamation that, despite time and distance, their bond had endured. He couldn't help but think, with some relief, how lucky he was that neither Retsu nor Mio were here to witness this—they would undoubtedly have torn it apart in a heartbeat, or worse, demanded a duel to settle the matter.

Xia Qingyue's voice broke through his thoughts, calm and steady. "You gave it to me on that day."

"Then, do you remember what I said when I gave you the marriage certificate?" Yun Che's gaze was steady, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

Xia Qingyue remained silent, her expression unreadable.

He continued, "I told you to destroy it if you wanted nothing to do with me. You didn't have to be part of the charade anymore. My reputation was already in shambles when I revealed myself, and so was yours. Going through with it was like marching to our own slaughter. I did it to get back at the Xiao Clan, but you… you did it to honor a promise. We were never on the same page back then, were we?"

Xia Qingyue's shoulders tensed slightly, recalling that fateful day, the revelation of his true strength, and the shock it had caused.

"You could have torn up that certificate," he said, "ended our connection properly, and entered the Frozen Cloud Asgard unburdened. So why did you keep it? Why go out of your way to protect something that tied us together? I thought I gave you every reason to hate me."

Xia Qingyue hesitated, her gaze dropping. "This Qingyue… cannot answer this question."

Yun Che nodded slowly. "Right… I suppose I already have my answer." He leaned back against one of the beams, glancing up at the moon.

"Honestly," he continued, "when I left that day, I thought you'd destroy the certificate without a second thought. After all, the man you were meant to marry was Uncle Xiao Ying's son. But you already knew by then I wasn't truly his son—just an outsider, a so-called 'bastard picked up off the street.'" He laughed softly. "I was never the man you were supposed to marry."

Silence stretched between them, thick and unresolved.

"I'm not even Xiao Ying's real son. That's the truth," Yun Che said, his voice quieter, as though he were speaking more to himself. "I'm not even the man you were supposed to marry. That guy…" He hesitated, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he shook his head. "No matter. I'm just… some guy washed up in an alternate reality."

Xia Qingyue's curiosity sharpened. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, watching him intently.

"You don't need to know." Yun Che's response was quick, almost dismissive.

Beneath her calm facade, a flicker of frustration surfaced. He was deflecting every question, every chance to connect. "Why are you evading this question? Am I not worthy of such answers?" she pressed, her voice cold but edged with something deeper. "Am I not your wife?"

Yun Che's gaze dropped for a moment, his tone turning distant. "Like I said, I'm not the man you were supposed to marry. I'm just… a substitute."

Her eyes narrowed, a determined edge now in her voice. "Then who are you, really? Are you Yun Che, or are you someone else?"

He paused, the air around them heavy with the weight of unspoken truths.

"If Aunt Lingxi were here, she could answer that question easily," Yun Che said with a faint smirk. "She saw through me from day one. Funny, that girl's something else."

"Enough dodging. Who are you?" Xia Qingyue demanded, her frost aura flaring, filling the air around her with a chill that matched her piercing gaze.

But Yun Che didn't respond immediately. His attention shifted, his eyes narrowing as he glanced into the distance. His sudden stillness made her watch him warily, her frustration momentarily softened by curiosity.

"Seems this meeting will have to be cut short," he said finally, slinging his sniper rifle over his shoulder. "Thanks for the items. I'll put them to good use."

Without warning, he turned as if to leave. Xia Qingyue stepped forward instinctively. "Wait." She hesitated. "This Qingyue requested one last question. Just one—and don't dodge it."

He sighed but nodded, pausing just outside the pagoda.

"Have you ever used your full strength in any of your battles?" she pressed, her voice firm. "You're not in the True Profound Realm, are you?"" she asked, her voice low, eyes steady on him.

"Never, I just masked my strength just like you. Peak of True Profound Realm, that's your strength when we wed right?" he answered simply, with a slight smile. This cause her to be silent. Her strength was properly masked at that time. How could he tell with absolute detail?

There is more to him than meets the eye.

"Then, your strength at that time?" Xia Qingyue asked with serious expression.

Yun Che tried to remember before he answered "Back then, I can't measure it properly due to lack of profound veins. If I could gauge, around Peak Emperor Profound Realm."

"...." A silence lingered as she absorbed this. The level of restraint he must be exercising—she could only guess at his true power. But just as he turned to leave, she spoke again, "Wait…."

Yun Che stopped, letting out a resigned sigh. "I thought you said one last question."

She hesitated, but her eyes met with quiet resolve. "If everything you say is true… who are you, truly?"

Yun Che smiled, his expression both casual and knowing. "It's already getting late. The matches start again tomorrow. Best to rest up. You should be heading back now."

Xia Qingyue's gaze remained sharp and unwavering, her tone as cold as ever. "You promised you wouldn't dodge. Don't make Qingyue repeat herself."

He met her gaze with a moment of quiet intensity, then his lips curled into a small, almost melancholic smile. "That... who knows?"

With that, he vanished, his flash step leaving only a faint whisper of air in his wake. Xia Qingyue stood alone, forcing herself to stillness as she calmed the frustration and curiosity still stirring within her. Yun Che was a mystery wrapped in layers she'd yet to understand, and every question seemed only to lead her further into that mystery. She drew a deep breath, knowing that unless he chose to reveal himself, her questions might continue to go unanswered. But one thing was certain: their next encounter would reveal more than he had let on tonight.

Xia Qingyue's feet barely touched the ground as she moved, her figure gliding effortlessly through the air, her snowy white attire billowing in the wind like a drifting cloud. There was a cold precision in her every movement, and yet her mind was far from calm. She hadn't gotten the answers she had hoped for, but more than that, she had learned something else.

Yun Che…Xiao Che... None of them is his real name. The certainty settled in her mind like an unshakable truth. The way he had evaded her questions, the cryptic responses, the lingering air of mystery—there was no doubt in her heart. This man, whoever he truly was, was hiding something far greater than what anyone had seen or even imagined. Intelligence and knowledge beyond what she knew.

The answers that eluded her now hung in the air between them, tantalizing and maddening in their silence. She would find the truth, one way or another. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but there was no time to lose in speculation. The next time their paths crossed—whether in battle or in confrontation—she would be ready to uncover what lay beneath the surface.

For now, the only thing left to do was return to Frozen Cloud Asgard, but even in the cold night air, her mind was burning with a single question that refused to fade:

Who is Yun Che, really?