ATG: God of Shadows

Xiao Family

Xiao Lie had already told Xiao Yunhai about what had conspired in the hall while returning back to the Xiao clan. The only thing that he hid from him was the rewards he would be getting. He only told him that Alex would take Xiao Lingxi as his disciple as a compensation for the annulment of the marriage contract.

Xiao Yunhai was surprised at this.

'This is indeed a good outcome as through Xiao Lingxi, we would get the support of an Emperor level cultivator and our Xiao Family would surely rise. Moreover, it would have been a waste for a genius like Xia Qingyue to marry a cripple like Xiao Che.'

He did not let his joy come to his face, lest Xiao Lie becomes angry at him for mocking the situation.

Xiao Yunhai just pretended to comfort Xiao Lie and soon they returned to their clan area.

Xiao Lie directly took Xiao Che and Xiao Lingxi to a private room and explained everything.

Xiao Che was heartbroken after hearing this. To him, Xia Qingyue was the only hope to be someone greater than a trash in a small clan, the title of the husband of the most beautiful girl in the city would have done the job. But now, that was gone too.

Seeing Xiao Che's despair, Xiao Lingxi comforted him, "It's okay Che'er, me and father are here for you."

Xiao Che looked at his aunt. She was one of the few people who cared about him. He also truly cared for her. But this wasn't just a familial care. His feelings for her had long surpassed the familial sense. But, the same could not be said for Xiao Lingxi.

But he was confident that with the amount of care Xiao Lingxi did for him as her nephew and a low age gap, he could easily make her fall in love with him. 

Although his marriage with the genius girl could not happen, at least he could spend the rest of his life next to his little aunt.

Or so he thought until he heard Xiao Lie's next words.

Xiao Lie spoke again, "As compensation, the expert from the Xia family's side has promised to take Lingxi as his disciple."

Xiao Lie kept quite about the other conditions as he did not want them to know about Xiao Che not being his biological grandson. And as for the Purple Veined Divine Crystal, he intended to use it to in exchange for finding a cure for his grandson's condition.

Xiao Che was stunned to hear that. If that was true then he would lose his second choice too. All in a day. He did not want that to happen, so he argued,

"But grandfather, how could any expert from the Xia family be worthy of taking little aunt as her 

disciple. They are just a bunch of businessmen. Moreover, you are one of the strongest cultivator in the entire Floating Cloud City. How could anyone be more worthy of teaching little aunt than you."

Xiao Lingxi also looked at her father with a hope as she did not wish to leave her family. She did not have any aspirations of becoming stronger. All she wanted in her life was to stay by her father's and nephew's side, taking care of them.

But Xiao Lie's next words surprised them, 

"The person is not a member of the Xia family. But that does not matter as that person is an Emperor level Cultivator. Moreover, he is nearly the same as Che'er. His future is definitely going to be boundless."

Xiao Che was too stunned to speak, an Emperor level expert at his age? He had never heard of anyone with a similar talent!! Even the top genius of their city, his fia--ex-fiance now, is at Nascent Profound Realm!

Xiao Lingxi on the other hand did not know much about the cultivation world. Knowing that Lingxi is not going to accept this, Xiao Lie said, "He's so strong despite being so young. He will definitely grow into a being we could only dream of even seeing. Maybe, one day he would be capable of treating Che'er. And, he would only do so if you are close to him Lingxi."

Xiao Lie did not mean anything bad by this. He knew she loved them too deeply to leave them. So, he just wanted to motivate his daughter enough so that she leaves her mental restraints that came to be because of them.

Xiao Lingxi, on understanding what her father said, immediately agreed,

"I understand father. If this is what it takes to cure Che'er, then I will do it."

Xiao Che did not say anything as he was hesitant to do so. On one hand, he wanted Lingxi to stay with him, while on the other hand, he wants to use her to be able to cure his condition.

While this was happening, Xiao Yulong, the son of the Xiao clan leader got to know about this. He immediately asked his father to ask for Xia Qingyue's hand in marriage on his behalf.

But his father not only denied him but also told him about the Xia family being under the protection of an Emperor level Cultivator, so that his son doesn't mess around them.

Frustrated, Xiao Yulong decided to take out his frustration on the source of all this mess, Xiao Che.

He began to spread the news around and soon enough, all the citizens of Floating Cloud City came to know about the cancellation of the marriage contract between Xia and Xiao families.

Most of the people were happy with that as they had long been against the idea of their Goddess being married to a trash who couldn't even cultivate.

With this, Xiao Che's reputation went even more downhill, people changed his name from 'trash' to 'The rejected trash. Moreover, he went to Xiao Che to rub it off more under the pretense of comforting his cousin, causing Xiao Che to feel even more mental pressure.

Moreover, this wasn't where things were going to stop.