The rest of the evening didn't go so well. Rumours of Xiao Che or Yun Che's return had spread throughout the city, drawing people again to gather in front of the Xiao Clan's gate. Many Xiao Che wannabes had also appeared, claiming to be his followers and demanding entry. However, following Xiao Lie's instructions, no one was allowed to enter the clan. The gates had been destroyed, and Xiao Che's disciples guarded the entrance. With the return of the missing Emperor, everyone was motivated to protect the clan, and no one dared to disobey him.
Xiao Lie, his grandfather, brought him and Retsu to a quiet courtyard for a private conversation. Here, Yun Che fabricated a story about his training as a cultivator. He had been sneaking in and out of the clan unnoticed to secretly train. To explain his absence, Yun Che claimed that the grandson rarely left his room because he feared being bullied. The story even included a fictional place called the Soul Village, where he supposedly received training. The man described it as a secluded, isolated village that refused any association with the outside world. As he spun this tale, his grandfather appeared bewildered by what he heard.
However, Xiao Lingxi remained unusually quiet. Her silence wasn't due to her attentiveness to the story. Instead, she seemed to be studying him for some reason. Yun Che noticed her gaze and attempted to divert her attention by asking unrelated questions, hoping she would speak her thoughts. This way, the reunion progressed, and Xiao Lie felt a sense of pride seeing that his grandson was indeed the Emperor from a year ago. He had constant inquiries, and Yun Che had already formulated his answers. Lying to him this way weighed heavily on Yun Che's conscience, but it was his only choice.
There was one thing he had forgotten, though. During their conversation, an elderly individual accompanied by a man and a woman approached them slowly. Yun Che recognized the elderly man as the Third Elder from before, but the middle-aged man and woman were unfamiliar. Presumably, they were from the Xiao Clan. The elderly person was likely the grandfather of the haughty Xiao Chengzhi. Speaking of him...
The elderly man immediately prostrated himself before Yun Che, followed by the middle-aged man and woman. He spoke, "Honorable clan leader. I pray you to pardon my grandson for his foolish actions. I willingly accept any punishment that may befall him."
"Please forgive our foolish son, clan leader," the man and the woman bowed down as well.
"Forgive? He betrayed the clan for riches and glory. He even tried to harm my daughter. Do you think he deserves a fate worse than death?" Xiao Lie countered.
"Please, clan leader. We didn't know he was going to do this." The Third Elder bows down to him. Before Yun Che became the 'Emperor,' this third elder would force Xiao Lie into anything. Now, the tables had turned as he had to bow down to the old man as he was the new clan leader and the grandfather of Xiao Che himself. Offending either means death.
"Well, had he succeeded, he might have taken you down. Now that he's failed, you're begging for his release. It seems like people like this exist in the world. By the way, is he still tied to that tree?" Yun Che asked mockingly, noticing several disciples had tried to free him from the tree but couldn't break the powerful kido bond around him. This bond was made from Yun Che's current level of Kido and enhanced with Heretic God's powers, making it nearly Level 70. No one here had the strength to break it except Yun Che and Retsu.
The mother began to cry, prostrating before him, hoping he would release her son. Yun Che sighed, frustrated that even in this backward cultivation world, parents still bailed out their misbehaving children despite their serious wrongdoings. The fact remained that her son had betrayed the clan leader and tried to harm Xiao Lingxi. He even attempted to involve the main sect, only for Yun Che to defeat them.
Xiao Lie got up, followed by Yun Che, Retsu, and Xiao Lingxi, heading towards the tree where the still-bound Xiao Chengzhi was. Ignoring the smell of urine underneath him, Yun Che removed the Kido, and Xiao Chengzhi looked at him fearfully. He now regretted doubting his family's claims about Xiao Che, but a traitor was still a traitor. So, Yun Che decided on a punishment worse than death. He directed a lightning kido straight at Xiao Chengzhi's abdomen, permanently turning off his cultivation. His parents and grandfather were horrified but could do nothing as Xiao Chengzhi had already betrayed the clan leader.
"Argh!!!!" Xiao Chengzhi shouted as the charred side of his abdomen burned. His mother tried to help, but he pushed her away. Seeing this, Yun Che just stepped on his head, shutting him up.
Cripple entirely means death.
Xiao Lie banished Xiao Chengzhi from the clan forever. His parents and grandfather were given the choice to follow him or stay, and they chose to remain, recognizing the Xiao Clan as their backbone. It was a harsh reality to accept, and they had to face that they were related to the former Xiao Chengzhi. They would likely face criticism once everything was over.
Should Xiao Chengzhi attempt to report Yun Che to the main sect, Yun Che doubted he'd survive, given the dangers of the wilderness for a non-cultivator, unless he found a way to survive someday.
Yun Che didn't punish the rest of the Xiao Clan because it would only give him satisfaction in killing, something he didn't relish. Additionally, he didn't possess Yun Che's old memories, so he refrained from killing them without reason. With his current strength, he could handle any offender without violence, although he wouldn't hesitate to resort to force if necessary. Moreover, this world wasn't like his original world, where legal actions could be taken against violence.
He wished he could do the same in his original world, but this world seemed to favour the strong, and he liked it.
Dinner went well as Yun Che, Retsu, Xiao Lie, and Xiao Lingxi had their meal together. They were not familiar or friendly with the clan members, who mostly avoided them to avoid Yun Che's wrath due to their treatment of him when he was crippled. It was a miracle that he forgave them, so they wisely refrained from pushing their luck.
Xiao Lingxi quickly became friends with Retsu due to her friendliness. Despite their differences in strength and appearance, Retsu was friendly and easily interacted with others, especially girls, in contrast to her Yachiru counterpart. What amazed them was Yun Che and Retsu's appetite. They could eat the equivalent of a meal for ten people and still keep going. Even the clan members who sent food to their courtyard were astonished.
--------------------------------------------
That night...
Yun Che sat in the courtyard garden while Retsu used the bathroom in his room to take a bath. Since she might be there for a while, he decided to indulge in stargazing momentarily. He was waiting for someone, after all.
A shadowy figure approached his back, and Yun Che remained calm, recognizing the approaching person. It was none other than his Little Aunt, Xiao Lingxi, the counterpart to Megumi in this world. "Little Che? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Just stargazing. It's becoming quite a hobby," Yun Che answered with a playful expression.
"Giggle… It looks like we both share the same interest, huh? Where's Retsu?" Xiao Lingxi giggled.
Relaxing, Yun Che approached her, one hand behind his head. As Xiao Lingxi took a closer look, she admitted that Little Che had matured. He no longer exuded the immaturity he used to. But there was something odd about him.
Before she could react, Yun Che responded to her question, looking directly into her eyes. "She's taking a bath. It might be a while. Do you know how girls like taking long baths? The stars are lovely tonight."
Xiao Lingxi avoided his gaze, her cheeks reddening as she observed the night sky. "Of course I do, silly. And yes, the stars are indeed beautiful tonight."
"Not as beautiful as you. Stargazing like this always reminds me of you," Yun Che said, playfully employing cheesy pickup lines to tease her, just as the real Yun Che would.
"Yes, you and I used to stargaze," Xiao Lingxi responded with happiness, but her tone suddenly shifted. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she fell silent. Yun Che widened his eyes as his Little Aunt suddenly stopped speaking, enveloping the scene silently. It was unusual, given that she was known to be quite talkative in the novel. Her uncharacteristic silence made him slightly uneasy.
"Little Aunt?" Yun Che attempted to get her attention but remained silent, her expression changing.
She remained quiet for a while, her hand resting on her heart. She had come here tonight to ask the question that had been nagging at her for a long time. Xiao Lingxi had been tormented by uncertainty about whether this Little Che was indeed her Little Che, and tonight, she was determined to get an answer. "Little Che… Can I ask you something serious?"
Yun Che had expected this, as she had been quiet during his fabricated story earlier as if she suspected something. She seemed to have been wrestling with a question for a while now. "You seem like you wanted to ask me something when we talked with gramps earlier. Go ahead and ask..."
Taking a deep breath, she looked at him, the colours in her eyes fading away. "If I ask this... will you tell me the truth?"
"What do you mean?" Yun Che was taken aback.
Then, she dropped the bomb.
"Who are you?"
The question briefly surprised Yun Che, but he maintained his composure and played it cool. "Eh? Little Aunt, what are you talking about? Since I changed my name, I'm your Little Che... or Yun Che..."
Xiao Lingxi wasn't fooled, and she persisted. "Please don't lie to me."
"..." This time, Yun Che fell silent. He tried to come up with a response, but she was already a step ahead.
"Who are you? Are you truly my Little Che, or has someone taken his appearance? Is my Little Che not my Little Che anymore?"
"Little Aunt, trust me, I am your Little Che," Yun Che said calmly, attempting to convince her that he was indeed the real him. However, she remained undeterred.
Xiao Lingxi sighed, realizing that getting him to admit without proper proof would be difficult. She decided to show him. Slowly, she walked away, motioning for him to follow her. "Can you follow me, just for a moment?"
"Little Aunt, where are we going?" Yun Che inquired, but Xiao Lingxi remained silent, walking ahead and signalling for him to follow. At first, he was concerned that this might be a trap and scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger, but everything seemed peaceful. He chose to maintain his cover and followed her. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow observed their departure and trailed them discreetly.
After a while, they arrived at a particular spot, the same one he had brought her to in the past, according to the novel's description. This flower bed and the reasonably large tree were where the real Yun Che used to take her on dates—where he had brought her and where he had released Xia Qingyue for her cultivation.
"This place... I brought you here before. Why are we here?" Yun Che's actions started feeling strange, and he grew uncomfortable. Did she sense something was off? His actions had been odd, but he maintained a solid facade to avoid detection.
Xiao Lingxi remained quiet as she finally stopped behind the tree where they used to sit together. This spot was their private place, where she and Little Che had shared many moments of affection. It was a place where they could be together, just the two of them.
But things were different now. Xiao Lingxi paused near the tree, her hair partially covering her eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold back her emotions. She suddenly dropped to her knees, covering her face with her hands. Yun Che rushed over, concerned, but he immediately understood when he saw it.
A tombstone.
Or rather, a makeshift tombstone. "Was this Little Aunt's mother's grave?" He asked himself. Had someone passed away? Was she grieving for someone? His questions were answered when his eyes fell on the inscription.
'Little Che'
He wanted to react, but the System popped a notification in front of him.
[Congratulations on achieving 'My Grave?' Seen your own grave erected over your supposed death.]
XP: 50000
SP: 10000
[A small picture shows Chibi Yun Che's avatar standing beside his tombstone with a bewildered expression.]
"It wasn't funny."
[It is, actually.]
Yun Che gave up trying to argue with the System. However, the tombstone was something he didn't anticipate. It was carved onto the makeshift tombstone, surrounded by flowers. Judging from the roots and flowers, it seemed to have been there for a long time—perhaps a year at best. Yun Che widened his eyes in shock before turning toward Xiao Lingxi, gently gripping her shoulders. The System's remark had not been amusing, and this prank wasn't either. "What on earth... I didn't die... Little Aunt, if this is your way of getting back at me for not waking you up, then I admit it wasn't funny at all."
Xiao Lingxi continued weeping quietly. After a while, she finally spoke, her tear-covered eyes fixed on him. This time, what she said struck him to the core. "You are not my Little Che. You never were. Your colours aren't even the same."
The person pretending to be Yun Che was hit with a wave of shock. "How did she...?" The question was like a level alerting in his mind. He refused to give up, though, maintaining a calm expression. "... What are you talking about?"
"I never told this to anyone. Not even you or Father knew about this. It was a secret I'd kept hidden. Little Che's colours have been imprinted in my memory from when he was young until he grew up. Light white-bluish—that was Little Che's colour."
"Why are you telling me this?" The man was taken aback. Xiao Lingxi had just blurted out one of her deepest secrets. It might not have been her greatest secret, but it was significant to her. The ability to see someone's soul through colours, determining if they were good or bad, was quite the revelation.
Xiao Lingxi continued her story, her words flowing. "This ability has been more of a curse than a gift. Little Che's colour disappeared on his wedding day on that fateful day a year ago. After he finished lunch, his colour just vanished. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, and I refused to believe that Little Che had died right before my eyes. Father took him to his room while I sought a doctor. I kept telling myself that Little Che was not dead... He couldn't be. Then, he suddenly woke up, but..."
"I sensed a life force from his room. I rushed in, only to see him changed. His colours had transformed completely. I was startled the moment I saw you, but I refused to acknowledge this cursed ability of mine. I pushed it to the back of my mind, ignoring it completely."
"Your colours are a mix of ocean white and red, blue and black. They are powerful and almost demonic. They no longer resemble Little Che's colours. I thought I was seeing things and doubted my ability, but the feeling persisted. I kept telling myself that Little Che was alive, but evidence started to accumulate."
"After the incident with Xiao Kuangyun and Qingyue left that very night, I found myself staring at the necklace you gave me. It held traces of your power from when it protected us. Then, it hit me. Your energy isn't the same as Little Che's. His energy was imprinted so deeply in my mind that it felt like he was with me. However, your energy..."
"And so, I lost it. I cried all night, knowing my Little Che was no longer himself. I kept trying to convince myself that he was alive, over and over again. Even if he was alive, it wasn't his soul anymore. So, my ability was right. This cursed ability of mine... If not for it, I would have believed in you as my living Little Che."
As she talked, the person pretending to be Yun Che remained quiet, listening to her words. Nothing in the novel had prepared him for this situation. Xiao Lingxi could see someone's soul through colours, and it seemed that there were people in this world he couldn't deceive by simply adopting Yun Che's appearance.
Xiao Lingxi continued to speak. "I was falling apart. I maintained my composure in front of Father and the clan members, but when I was alone, I wept. Eventually, I had to accept that he was gone, even if his body remained. A year has passed, and I've come to terms with the fact that he's dead."
"Even though you might not be the Little Che I remember, you protected us when needed. After you returned, I even forgot that you weren't Little Che. I kept hugging you, missing you, even after I learned he had died on his wedding day. I treated you as though you were still alive."
"But now... I want to know one thing." She looked up at him on her knees, locking her gaze onto his as if begging. "Please... tell me. Who are you, truly?"
"….." The person pretending to be Yun Che remained silent, his mind working on a way to escape this situation. Xiao Lingxi's expression remained dejected, and she raised her gaze as though looking at something—or someone.
"Sister Retsu, please stop hiding. I can see your colours from here," Xiao Lingxi declared, shocking the imposter. He had been confident in Retsu's stealth ability, but he had never expected her to be detected so easily. The person who was Retsu she had caught snooping descended slowly from the tree branch above them before landing next to them with a guilty expression.
"I'm sorry, Sister Lingxi. I apologize as well, Young Master. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I..." Retsu began to make an excuse, but Xiao Lingxi interrupted her flatly.
"Sister Retsu, yours are white with a mixture of black. Both colours are in balance, as if you have another soul inside you. A Yin and a Yang surrounded by crimson red and dark orange. To be able to hold these colours, I don't know if my mind can handle knowing who you two are or what you two are..."
It was now Retsu's turn to be speechless. Her sworn sister could see deep into her dormant soul. Scratch that. She could even see Yachiru's soul.
"Ara…interesting…. This woman can see me as clear as day, Retsu-chan," Yachiru's voice sounded inside Retsu's mind, but she was too shocked to listen.
Seeing her expression, 'Yun Che' calmed his fiancée down by gently holding her shoulders. "Calm down, Retsu. I knew you were following me, but I didn't expect all of this...," he said, his voice soothing.
Retsu took a deep breath, slowly exhaling to indicate that she was calm, though still shocked. She turned to her fiancé. "Young Master, what is going on?"
As for the man himself, he internally asked the System, "System, is there any way out of this?"
[Ding…. Based on the novel information, she is the 1000th reincarnation of the Ancestral God of this world. The version of her in this world had the technique activated when she was born, and it came from her dormant powers.]
[It would be wise to tell her the truth, as the System cannot mask your lies. She might be unable to detect the System, as it lies dormant within your soul, but she can see you for who you are.]
Reading this, Yun Che realized he couldn't hide or lie anymore. This girl's ability was too potent; she sniffed him out, but not the System. So, the truth might not be a bad idea.
Seeing that both of them were quiet, Xiao Lingxi looked down as if she was ready to accept her fate. "If knowing about you two is too much, then please... make it painless," she said, tears gushing out her eyes and closing them, seemingly awaiting her death.
Both 'Yun Che' and Retsu were in shock. Retsu's expression pleaded with him not to end this woman's life, but the imposter's intention was never on that path. Slowly approaching the dejected Xiao Lingxi, he lowered himself, kneeling before her, followed by his partner. "Forgive me, Little Aunt, but I refuse. However, you do deserve to know the truth. Please, stop doing this. I don't have the heart or the slightest intention to do what you think I will do. I do know you, just not how you know me."
Xiao Lingxi opened her eyes as the person before she chose not to end her life for silence. Instead, his tone changed. Her question might be answered after all as she heard him. "What do you mean? You knew me?"
"*Sigh... You told me your secrets, and I'll tell you mine." Yun Che nodded toward Retsu, who covered the area with a Kido barrier. Whatever he said after this would remain within the barrier.
Xiao Lingxi's wariness increased as she observed their actions. So be it if he intended to provide the request to protect his true identity. At least she now knew who was behind the facade of Little Che, and she could die with closure. However, this was not what he had in mind. "So, you aren't Little Che, are you?"
"*To tell you the truth, I am your Little Che, just not the one you knew." Yun Che sighed, realizing that playing the amnesia card was out of the question since she could see the colours of the soul.
"I don't understand."
He decided that honesty was the best approach since lying was no longer an option, so he continued, "Do you believe that there are infinite universes out there? Many versions of me, you, and Retsu?"
"I still don't understand."
"Let me explain in a way you can grasp, even if it sounds unbelievable. There are parallel worlds to the one you live in. A world where your Little Che is alive and well after the wedding, and it's where you don't possess this ability of yours. There's even a world where you died during the wedding from eating the poisoned lunch, setting your Little Che on a path of vengeance. In some worlds, gramps was the one who died from the lunch, or even a world where Xia Qingyue was the one who consumed it. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
Xiao Lingxi tried her best to understand. At first, his story seemed absurd, but his colours didn't indicate any deceit. Could this be the truth? Was this individual indeed a version of Little Che from another world? A different iteration of their world? It was difficult for her to comprehend or believe.
"Some worlds aren't bound by the current time. They could be in the past, present, or future. Some worlds advance normally, some regress, while others become fantasies, magical, or technologically advanced civilizations. There are even worlds where you're not a cultivator but a chef attending a cooking school in the future, and your name isn't Xiao Lingxi. So, I am him, but not him from this world. I come from a different world, and in that world, my name isn't Xiao Che or Yun Che."
"So, you asked me who I am. I didn't anticipate this. You're the one who easily saw through me, and no amount of lies can conceal it." The man smiled as he lowered his guard, preparing to tell the ultimate truth.
"Even if you lied, I would still know. My ability detects the pulse within the soul. I knew you were lying when you told me you were Little Che. So, who are you?"
"So, that's how it is." The imposter spoke internally. No wonder she detected his lies. That might cement her claims that he is not who she thought he was.
This time, he wouldn't refer to himself as Yun Che, as that was not the whole truth. He took a deep breath and said, "In this world, I am Yun Che, but I am Yuuki. Yukihira Yuuki. A parallel version of your Little Che from a different world."
"Yuuki..."
"Yukihira is my family name, and Yuuki is my given name. I am an alternate version of Yun Che in this world. In my original world, I died due to a foolish mistake, so I crossed to a parallel universe and ended up here, taking over the body of this world's Yun Che. As for the original Yun Che, he, unfortunately, passed away a year ago. I apologize for not revealing this earlier."
Yuuki concealed that he was responsible for extinguishing Yun Che's original soul. He couldn't confess that he accidentally caused his death by merging his soul with Yun Che's, much like a fly colliding with a windshield. He believed hiding this truth was necessary, as revealing it could devastate Yun Che's aunt, who was already grieving his loss.
"Little Che is gone, and you've taken his place," Xiao Lingxi said, her bangs covering her eyes. Retsu and Yuuki braced themselves for her potential anger, expecting her to blame Yuuki for supplanting her beloved Little Che. However, Xiao Lingxi surprised them by smiling momentarily and then regaining her composure. She had faith in her ability to sense truths and lies and could tell that Yuuki's story was genuine. She chose to hear his side of the story calmly.
Observing her serene smile, Yuuki voiced his surprise, "You're taking the news remarkably well. I expected anger or blame for taking Little Che away from you."
Xiao Lingxi's calm expression persisted as she replied, "I accepted his death a year ago after Xia Qingyue left the estate. I mourned his loss and hid my sorrow from Father. When I saw you today, alive and well, I forgot that you're not Little Che. My initial reaction was out of habit. He sacrificed himself so you could live."
"I owe him for granting me this chance at life." Yuuki smiled as he put his hand on Retsu's shoulder. Reminding him that it was that sacrifice that allowed Retsu to be here.
"What about Sister Retsu?" Xiao Lingxi asked, as she had never seen such a woman before. To be able to accept Yuuki means she already knew about him.
As for Retsu's origin, he decided to be truthful about it. Not entirely, but the truth non the less." She's not from this world and wasn't supposed to exist here. She wouldn't have been summoned if I hadn't taken over this body."
"Summoned?" Xiao Lingxi widens her eyes. How could he summon such a woman here?
"I owe Young Master my life for bringing me here. Without his call, I would have been trapped in a nightmarish existence or Hell, suspended by my arms for all eternity."
"Hell?" Xiao Lingxi went in a round of shock. Was Retsu brought from Hell? How?
"It's not something you need to know, but just understand that Little Che's sacrifice brought me here. Xiao Yang and Xiao Yulong caused his demise. I took their lives in retaliation for ending this world's Xiao Che. Then, I brought Retsu here a few months later. We owe him our lives. Now, what aside from sensing my soul gave me away?"
Xiao Lingxi decided not to inquire further about Retsu's arrival, focusing on the revelation. "You referred to Father as 'gramps,' unlike Little Che's term' grandfather.' You've also abandoned your flirtatious manner, as Little Che used to tease me endlessly. You speak as if you have no recollection of certain events, and some of the past stories you shared never occurred. Your feelings towards Xia Qingyue changed drastically, from adoration before the wedding to resentment afterwards. Your swift acquisition of new powers and the necklace and soul issues."
Yuuki widened his eyes as he never knew Xiao Lingxi was this observant. "I thought I had covered all my tracks but was careless."
Xiao Lingxi was about to call him, but she suddenly stopped as she slumped into a depressed state again. "I guess I can't call you Little Che anymore."
"You can if you want, but it might stir painful memories. So, I'll refrain from calling you Little Aunt as well. I'm sorry for becoming a stranger to you."
Xiao Lingxi's dejected look was evident, as losing the endearing titles felt like losing a cherished part of her connection to Little Che. "Little Che is truly gone."
"I'm sorry, sincerely." Yuuki apologized as the memory of Yun Che was slowly dissipating from her.
Xiao Lingxi stood up slowly and hugged Yuuki, ignoring that he was someone else. She pressed her ear to his chest. "His blood still flows, and his heart still beats. His will and essence remain within you. You protect Father and me, just as he would have. Seeing you here is like having Little Che alive again, even if he's not the same soul. You're still my Little Che or my Little Yuuki, regardless of who you are. I am still your Little Aunt. I choose to trust you, as my ability trusts you."
He hugged her back. Thankful that she accepted him. "Thank you, Little Aunt. So that you know, I'm a bit older than you."
"Heh, I'm still your elder." She smiled in his hug as she calmed herself down. Although the man before her doesn't have Little Che's soul anymore, he is still him. That was enough to convince her that he was alive and well.
"Young master, you previously mentioned that Sister Lingxi has a counterpart in a future world. What's her name there?" Retsu wisely shifted the topic, aiming to lighten the mood.
Yun Che offered a sweet smile in response. "Her name there is something like Tadokoro Megumi. Maybe I can call you Megu-chan, as it bears a similar meaning to your name."
Quite a coincidence.
"Megu-chan?" Xiao Lingxi tilted her head in confusion. The other version of her has a very unique name.
"Megu-chan, it has a nice ring, Young Master." Retsu happily agreed.
"The name Megu means 'love' or 'blessing.' Your name also signifies' love', so it's like calling you by your name in our language. I mean, the language from our world. The -chan part is just an honorific to refer to you in a cutesy way," Yuuki spoke teasingly.
"Cute?" Xiao Lingxi blushed and continued, "That's quite a coincidence. It might feel strange initially, but I'll try getting used to being called Megu-chan. Let's keep it private so Father doesn't catch wind of it. Speaking of Father, should we tell him?"
At first, he should think about telling the old man, but he scratches that. "I don't think it's necessary. Gramps has already lost his son, wife, and real grandson. Knowing he still has me might bring him some solace, even if different. Let's let him continue believing that way until he passes."
She nodded in understanding. There's no need for her father to share her grief. She moved on almost a year ago. Xiao Lingxi refused to see her father carry the same suffering. "I see... Thank you for sharing your true name or the name from another world."
"It's the least I can do. You deserved to know the truth, given your unique ability." He pats her head, reassuring her.
"I'm unsure if this ability is a blessing or a curse. If I could, I'd gladly rid myself of it. Then, I wouldn't have found out about Little Che, and you wouldn't need to hide the truth. I'd live a lie for the rest of my days."
"Living with a bitter truth is better than dwelling in the sweetest of lies."
Giving the final word, Xiao Lingxi decided that she would no longer dwell in the sorrows of her Little Che. She will move on with her life and accept that her Little Che is another person she might need to get to know. "Hmm... enough about him. I've moved on and continued living for you, Father, and myself. I never knew about the world you came from."
"Likewise, Young Master." Retsu sounded as well as she never knew her young master's past life.
Sitting both girls down on the flower bed, he recounted his former life's world. "It's an advanced world where technology is commonplace."
"Technology?" Both Xiao Lingxi and Retsu sounded.
"It refers to things that make human lives easier. In my world, technology has progressed to the point where we can do almost anything."
"Technology has reached that level?" Xiao Lingxi spoke in astonishment.
Seeing her interested, he pressed on with his story. "Yes, it means humans in my world can't cultivate, but they live in a world where their lives are comfortable. I'm grateful to have been reborn in this world, where such technology is considered nonexistent."
"At least for now." He spoke quietly.
They shifted the conversation to the advanced technological world Yuuki came from, shocking both Xiao Lingxi and Retsu with descriptions of the lifestyle and progress. They couldn't believe that humans in his world didn't cultivate but lived in a society where technology reigned supreme. Despite the astonishment, Yun Che was grateful to be reborn in a world where such advanced technology was yet to emerge.
Telling his Little Aunt like this meant a lot to him. He could finally share his secret with someone other than Jasmine.
-----------------------------------
[Ding…. Secret's Out? Achievement achieved – Share your ultimate secret with someone you trust.]
XP:50000
SP:10000
[A Chibi version of Yuuki looked delighted alongside a Chibi version of Xiao Lingxi and a Chibi version of Retsu.]
--------------------------------
Then, Xiao Lingxi looked like she remembered something. "Xia Qingyue would be shocked if she knew the man she married isn't who she thinks he is."
Retsu suddenly lost her calm as she heard a piece of information that she wished she had misheard but was a reality. "Married? Young master! You're married?!?"
"Well... I suppose the cat's out of the bag." Yuuki spoke while hiding his guilty expression. This method wasn't the way he wanted to break the news to Retsu.
"Yes, he married Xia Qingyue when Little Che was poisoned. So, it wasn't Little Che who married her. It was you." Xiao Lingxi spoke with an innocent expression, unaware that she had caused significant confusion on Retsu's side.
"Ugh... How could I not know about this?" Retsu tried her best to accept that the man she loved was indeed married to this woman known as Xia Qingyue. It was unforgivable that she took the man from her.
Slowly petting her head, Yuuki gave her a reassuring hug. "Sorry, Retsu. I didn't find the right time and place to tell you. Besides, it was a promised marriage between her father and my adoptive father, or Yun Che's foster father. Sigh. It's confusing to keep switching between our identities like this."
As he let her go, Retsu was momentarily confused and understood something. It was a promised marriage between him and her. "Young master, are you not willing to be married to her?"
Yuuki sighs deeply as Xiao Lingxi and Retsu look at him anxiously. He lies down on the flower bed, looking at the stars as he contemplates his life. "Well, does it even hold any meaning anymore? Imagine going through a rebirth and then being forced into a wedding that day, knowing that the girl married you for a reason, not for love. I created a scene during my wedding, tarnishing her reputation and mine. The promise was fulfilled, and now we can do what we want. I offered her my 'wedding gifts' by assisting her with her cultivation. Then, I gave her the wedding certificate. If she wanted a divorce, she could destroy it. Then everything would be as it is."
"Did she destroy it?" Xiao Lingxi asked as she understood why he was with her that night. Xia Qingyue had it rough as the man who once adored her now became the man who hated her.
Yuuki shrugs his shoulder while lying down. "I have no idea. I left the room after revealing I was not the man she was meant to marry. She didn't love me. She knew nothing about me. I wondered why I went through with it only to ask her to leave. Sometimes, I feel like a jerk for doing that. It's not the beginning story I expected. I resented her for what she would become, and I guess I didn't think things through. Probably because of the accumulating stress."
Then, he got up and petted Retsu's head once more. How did he have the galls to tell her he loved her, and now she knew he had a wife somewhere in the snowy mountains? Now, how would Retsu feel about it? She might consider him a cheating scum pursuing another woman instead of winning his wife. "I'm sorry, Retsu. It's not that I didn't want to tell you..."
Instead, she gave him a peck on his cheek and smiled sweetly to reassure him that she was okay with it. "It's alright, young master. I'm still the woman who dedicates herself to you. I truly love you from the bottom of my heart. I always have, and I always will. If you're married, we'll find a way to compromise with your wife, especially since I've heard that having more than one wife is common."
"Are you sure you're okay with it?" Yuuki was confident that his wish to marry his anime crush would've ended there if Retsu wasn't willing to. This girl is the angelic side of her.
"Hai~~~, It was my dream to have a family full of sisters with the man I love, but I would have disliked it if I had never met this Xia Qingyue. It is quite unsettling for you to be married because of a promise you didn't make. I hope I can meet her one day."
"Fair enough... I'm not willing to have an affair behind anyone's back. I'm quite against it. (Although, technically, I already am.)" Yuuki pets Retsu's head again, and she immediately melts into it. However, he might need a plan should Retsu decide to go to Yandere on Xia Qingyue if things go south. Knowing that popsicle, it might go south quickly. He wouldn't want Retsu to run after the poor girl with a kitchen knife while screaming 'he's mine' all the way.
"But it bothers me that I'll never be your first wife. I had hoped to be the first one you married." Retsu spoke again with a dejected expression.
"Are you sure? Nothing happened that night. Maybe you'll have a chance?" Yuuki spoke the truth with a teasing expression.
"Wait, so you didn't consummate your marriage that night? Someone's little Yang is still intact." Xiao Lingxi was teasing him as well. What goes around comes around.
"Of course not. I wanted to be with someone I truly love." Yuuki bashfully blushed as he just admitted that he was a full-blown virgin.
Hearing this, the dejected Retsu came back to life. It means she is still likely to become his proper first wife. "Poof... Young master, you're quite the romantic. Then, I'll make sure no other woman takes that from me. Not even her..." As she spoke, her aura became temporarily sinister.
Yuuki and Xiao Lingxi sweatdropped as they knew who she was referring to. Retsu might hide it well, but it was apparent that she was jealous of Xia Qingyue. Yuuki slowly hugs her by the shoulder, and the sinister girl becomes happy. Now, a feeling of jealousy envelopes Xiao Lingxi.
"Look at you two, now you two acting like I'm not even here." The latter puffed her cheeks.
"Oops... sorry about that, Little Aunt." This time it was Xiao Lingxi's turn to receive the headpat. She admitted it felt good, as if his touch was magic. No wonder Retsu likes headpats from him.
"I haven't forgotten that you proposed to me that night." Xiao Lingxi blushed.
Yuuki stopped his headpats as he remembered that he did propose to the girl back then. "Uh, I'm pretty sure I did that sincerely." However, he did that while impersonating Yun Che. In reality, he didn't love her.
"Then, we'll become sisters in the future, Megu-~~chan," Retsu spoke simultaneously, pulling poor Xiao Lingxi into a bear hug.
Xiao Lingxi smiled as if she might marry her Little Che. No, marry Yuuki in the future. "We will if he proposes to me again as yourself, not as former Little Che. You can't do it now, can you?"
"You know you can tell if I'm lying, right?" Yuuki replied as she was indeed correct. The current him didn't see her as a wife candidate for now. However, he'll be sure to learn to love this girl.
"Sometimes, my ability comes in handy." Xiao Lingxi grins.
"Give me some time. One day, I can propose to you as myself, not Little Che."
Xiao Lingxi slowly hugs him again, feeling his heart or warmth. "You know, even though you're no longer Little Che, your warmth still feels like his. Maybe I've started to like you for you. You protected me even without knowing anything about me. Maybe it started as a responsibility after taking over this body, but thank you. To you and Xia Qingyue."
"Anytime. Though I might call you Megu-chan privately, you're still my Little Aunt. Speaking of Xia Qingyue, I thought she left that night." The subject shifted to Xia Qingyue, who had left last year before he achieved his Bankai. Throughout the novel, he often asks himself if Xia Qingyue won't bother with Xiao Lingxi. So, why did she stay?
"She was supposed to, but she stayed for a few days. Coincidentally, until the day Xiao Kuangyun visited the clan. She was there to protect me and my father. We even became friends." Xiao Lingxi replied.
"Xia Qingyue has friends? I never expected that ice-cold popsicle had a heart."
"That girl... she would do something like that despite my advice. She probably wanted to protect you and gramps in my place after I warned her that Xiao Kuangyun was after both of you. That's why I gave you and gramps those necklaces. Despite what I did to her, I never expected her to stay."
Hearing his story, Xiao Lingxi admits he went quite overboard on her dear friend. "You were quite harsh on her."
Yuuki sighs. "I don't know, Little Aunt. I don't know whether it was the stress of dying in my previous life, feeling like it happened just yesterday. Being stuck in a black void for who knows how many years and then suddenly being forced into a marriage with a girl I don't even know or love, all for the sake of a promise. I don't know which was worse. Killing Xiao Yulong, Xiao Yang, Xiao Kuangyun, and even the unfortunate clan leader Xiao Yunghai, perhaps that was the release I needed."
Remembering the day, Xiao Lingxi was afraid of him when he showed his scary face. "It was pretty frightening, though."
"Still, I didn't expect Xia Qingyue and you to become friends."
Retsu was listening and concluded something about Xia Qingyue. She was a cold-hearted cultivator who married Yuuki for a promise. Somehow, she decided to stay behind and protect Xiao Lingxi and her father against this Xiao Kuangyun. "What led her to do such things, young master?"
"I don't know. That icy popsicle of a girl is quite unpredictable sometimes. Maybe it was because of the 'wedding gift' I gave her? It wasn't much." Yuuki recounted that night.
"Young master, what's a 'popsicle'?" Retsu tilted her head.
"And what about this 'wedding gift'?" Xiao Lingxi was more curious about it. She knew about the preparations before the wedding, and her little Che didn't prepare anything. He leaves it to the clan.
"This... now that you know about me, consider it a token of my secret identity and an advanced wedding gift from me." Yuuki pressed his Little Aunt's palm, and she suddenly felt his spiritual power flowing through her. Then, she felt as if an unknown weight had been lifted.
"Little Che... What is this?"
"Heavenly God Spiritual Veins?" Yuuki said it like it was nothing.
Xiao Lingxi was entirely shocked. Those veins are the vein of the gods that no one in this world would have. "Those… those veins are the veins of the legend! Even powerful sects in the world aren't blessed with one."
"You're in luck. Now you have it like Xia Qingyue and me."
"I have it as well, Megu-chan. Mine is a modified version, but it came from the young master." Retsu giggled.
"This...How… How in the world did you do it?" Xiao Lingxi went in a round of shock as he gave the gift of the gods like it was nothing. He just touched her palm and purified her body using whatever he sent into her body. It didn't even leave any sense of impurities behind. All of them just vaporized.
Yuuki winked at her and said, "I have my ways, Little Aunt. Think of it as methods from where I came from. I told you that I'll give you an advance wedding gift."
Xiao Lingxi blushed. Now, she gained two wedding gifts from him. The necklace and the vein of the gods are Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins. These things alone could amplify her cultivation by tenfolds. "Muuu… now I have no choice but to marry you."
"Mouuu… you two acted like I am not even here." Now, it was Retsu's turn to pout. Seeing this, Yuuki just laughed while Xiao Lingxi giggled.
Then, she slowly smiled as she remembered her dear friend before she left. "Despite all that, Yuuki. Xia Qingyue probably cares about you more than you know. She accepted the wedding for a reason. If she didn't care about me, she would have left me at the mercy of Xiao Kuangyun. Even though you protected me, she was there with and protected me. I'm starting to think the girl isn't what you thought she was."
Yuuki just looked at her and remembered the day he kicked Xia Qingyue out. "But she didn't marry me. She married the guy she thought she married, and that thought alone makes me feel like I'm just a substitute."
"Give yourself some time. You'll meet Xia Qingyue again one day, right? Patch things up and properly introduce yourself and Retsu to her. Your real self..." She reassured him.
Yuuki suddenly felt shivers down his spine. "How would a wife feel when you just come to her and introduce your husband's new fiancée? It's like asking for trouble..."
Xiao Lingxi bonked his head. "Little Yuuki, the perspectives from your old world aren't necessarily applicable in this world. If you haven't tried, you won't know."
Retsu giggled at their antics. "Ufuuu, it looks like the young master got a stern talking-to from Megu-chan. But I'm not sure about Xia Qingyue yet. I haven't met her, so I can't say I like her. But I like Megu-chan, though."
"Don't worry. You'll meet that popsicle in the future. Besides, I won't introduce a fiancée to you or Xia Qingyue without anyone's approval. It would be best if you were friends with her first. If you don't like the woman we will meet in the future, then I will not pursue her. I trust your instincts as a woman." Yun Che spoke to Retsu and Xiao Lingxi with a soft tone. A harmonious and happy family is created when the woman accepts another into her family. If she doesn't, it might lead to bad blood later. So, if Retsu dislikes someone he introduces, he can only see that woman as an acquaintance and will not pursue her.
Retsu was happy once more that her young master considered her opinion before accepting another woman. She admitted it was odd that her young master was married and still pursued her. However, he is not the type to flirt around with other women and wants to build a happy family for himself and her. She knew deep down that he wanted to mend his relationship with this 'Xia Qingyue' as their meeting didn't go well.
One day, she'll meet her and talk one-on-one as his woman. If she's the first wife, then she should have the qualifications to be one. If not, she might not be suitable to be with her young master.
Yuuki gave Retsu a gentle pinch on her cheeks, causing her to smile beautifully while turning towards her new Little Aunt as the man hugged her again. "Then again, thanks, Little Aunt. You do care for me despite not being the one who raised me."
"You might not be Little Che anymore, but you're still Little Che to me. Alive and well." Pinching his cheek, Xiao Lingxi gave him a sweet smile as well.
"I am curious, though. Why did you choose Retsu as your fiancée?" Xiao Lingxi asked him with a curious expression. Retsu, however, had the same expression as hers. She was wondering why he wanted her to be his fiancée. Did he find something special about her? She didn't mind becoming his servant, but living with unrequited love would be painful, even for her. She had experienced enough as an emotionless killing machine back then. Now, she wanted to experience more as a person. Also, Yachiru probably wouldn't like it if he liked her only for her body.
Xiao Lingxi was curious. Why did he love this woman more than Xia Qingyue? Was it because of mere sweet words? Her heavenly body? Her doubts were answered as soon as the man himself responded to that question.
Yuuki pats Retsu's head again as he begins his reason. "Well, Retsu is the most unique woman from my previous world. She has a quirky side but is the most beautiful when focused on her goals. In my previous world, Retsu was the most proficient healer, a woman with eight thousand techniques and the death's sword. She is a beauty with the calmness and gentleness of an angel, but she can be as fierce and violent as a demon. Something that I've loved for a long time." He spoke, and Retsu started blushing as she lightly beat him, embarrassed by his words.
"I chose her not because of her beauty or skills. I chose her because she would protect her loved ones and do whatever it takes to ensure their safety. So, she's someone I want to entrust my life to, just as she has entrusted her life to me. I want to be the one she trusts, as she trusts me with her secrets, flaws, and all. She's become one of the people I want to treasure and protect forever. And I know she would do the same for me."
Retsu felt butterflies inside. She was both happy and embarrassed. Both Xiao Lingxi and she were astonished by his sincerity. He wasn't lying, and this reason was enough to show that he truly loved her. Though the latter was more embarrassed, those words held significant sweetness and truth. It was something she couldn't handle at the moment. Her face slowly turned as red as a tomato, shedding her previous calm and ladylike demeanour from her past life. Now that she was young again, she could thoroughly experience her more emotional side. "Mouuuu… young master, please, that's embarrassing."
"And she's adorable, to the point that you forget she's a deadly swordswoman." Yuuki teased his fiancée.
"Young master!! Mouuuu…" Retsu was genuinely embarrassed.
"You're right. Retsu is adorable." Xiao Lingxi joined in the tease as well.
"Megu-chan!!" Retsu sank further in shyness as both Yuuki and Xiao Lingxi teased her.
Then, they all joined a laugh as Xiao Lingxi pet Yuuki's head. "Ufuu… then, you've chosen a fine woman as your fiancée."
"You're not a bad one yourself, Megu-chan. We'll be sure to become sisters in the future." Retsu said as she hugged the bewildered Xiao Lingxi. This interaction alone showed that she accepted Xiao Lingxi as a sister, but the man himself wasn't ready to see her as such. He allowed her time to sort out her feelings for now. In other words, he just met her, and telling her he loves her as a woman wouldn't be right.
"If only Yuuki here proposed to me. I practically pestered Little Che countless times to marry me, but this guy proposed to me like it was nothing. It was smooth and direct."
"I am planning to, for real, Little Aunt." They all shared a laugh before Yuuki, or Yun Che, as he decided to identify himself, stood in front of the actual Yun Che's makeshift grave, clasping his hands together, followed by the other two. This time, they prayed and thanked the real Yun Che for giving life to him and Retsu. His sacrifice made their existence possible. While assuming his identity this way wasn't ideal, he believed his aunt should know about his passing.
With a sense of closure, Xiao Lingxi could finally move on from her old Little Che. She now had someone new to care for. He might not be the Little Che she had known, but she would care for him just as she had cared for her original Little Che, as he lived on through him or his body.
"Little Aunt, do you want to come with Retsu and me to the cultivation world?" Yun Che expressed his desire to return to the Floating Cloud City. This way, he could ensure her safety without fearing anyone harming her. Moreover, he could get to know her better if she stood beside him.
Xiao Lingxi pondered for a moment before declining. "Yuuki, you know I could never leave my father here on his own. Besides, I've grown fond of the children here and couldn't abandon them either. Some are good kids, and you've let go of seeking vengeance on the Xiao Clan. You might have ways for me to grow stronger, but I've never been interested in pursuing the martial path. I just wanted to spend my life with you. I started cultivating in the first place so I could protect Little Che, and now that you're stronger than me and Little Che has passed on, I don't feel the need for that anymore. If I were to come with you, I'd likely be in the way."
Retsu holds both of her hands. "But, Megu-chan, both of us can protect you."
Yuuki's joining in as well. "Retsu's right. I can help you cultivate faster. I can..."
Xiao Lingxi shook her head and gently pressed a finger to his lips, smiling at Retsu. "Retsu, Yuuki, this is my hometown and yours. I want both of you to consider this place your home and come to visit me. Besides, Yuuki here promised to marry me. Then, let this place be your home, where I'll always be waiting for you, Retsu, and Xia Qingyue."
She let go and gazed at the stars. "This is where I was born; my father is now an old man. Deep down, he's still waiting for his real grandson to recognize his origins and come home. He's been waiting all this time. I want to stay here with my father until his last days. Once that day comes, I promise I will follow you two."
Yuuki fell silent once more. He was aware of his other half in the third continent. If the story hadn't changed significantly, it meant that he was alive and well, under the care of either him or the real Yun Che's parents. He sighed, knowing he couldn't force her freedom of choice. His Little Aunt wanted to be with the old man until his dying days. So be it. While he couldn't bring her with him, he could at least guarantee her and his grandfather's safety in this city. That was sufficient if the current Xiao Clan was loyal to his grandfather. He would set up a Kido barrier to protect this clan, just in case something happened in the future.
Having reached an agreement, he hugged Xiao Lingxi again, thanking her for accepting the current him as her Little Che. He was surprised she didn't lash out or blame him for the actual Yun Che's death. She accepted everything and moved on. This moment might have been tearful a year ago, but the girl seemed to have already cried enough. Her Little Che would never return, but he would do his best to care for her, just as the real Yun Che once did.
If she didn't want to go with them, that was fine, but that didn't mean he couldn't help her start her cultivation journey on a higher level.
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After tonight, Xiao Lingxi will probably be able to sleep well with a sense of closure. Other than Jasmine, she's the first person who truly knows the real him. Ultimately, he decided not to reveal his Shinigami secret, as this revelation about his true self was enough for her to process. He can tell her about it if the opportunity arises in the future.
After escorting her back to the clan's quarters, she hugged him before retiring to her room. Whether as Yuuki or Yun Che, he felt like the hug was more intimate than before. Could it be that she's starting to accept him? Only time will tell.
However, he had another matter to address. Leaving both of them beneath the stars in his courtyard, Retsu turned toward him with a blush on her face. "Nee, young master. Now that we're in a romantic relationship, can I sleep beside you tonight?"
Yun Che was taken aback. He suddenly felt a surge of nervousness, which then quickly subsided. He recognized the feeling, but it was pushed aside by something to address the current situation, as if he was forced to calm down. "Are you sure about this?"
"Hnnn… I've dreamed about sleeping next to you. Suppose you're okay with it. I mean, I can always sleep with Jasmine." Retsu kept her gaze downcast while playing with her hair.
Yun Che smiled gently and decided he wouldn't take advantage of her. He sensed no apprehension from her and understood that she wanted to be close to him. The former was confident she wouldn't mind if Yun Che decided to 'touch' her, although such actions might invoke Yachiru's wrath. He resolved to proceed with her wish since his mind was clear that night. He replied, "Next to me? Uhhh… Sure… I've wanted to hold you in my sleep."
"Really? Yatta!" Retsu squealed with excitement as they entered his room, which was consistently kept clean and devoid of the previous wedding decorations. She changed into her sleeping Yukata before settling onto the bed beside him. Yun Che found it unusual that neither seemed inclined toward more intimate actions nor exhibited the usual blushing nervousness. It was as if those impulses were entirely blocked for some reason. Retsu beamed at him with a lovely smile as she snuggled into his arms, nestling her head against his chest.
"Goodnight… young master," Retsu softly spoke, looking at him with affectionate eyes. She could never have imagined that the man who summoned her would become her lover and fiancé. Now, she'll sleep next to him. One step closer to becoming his lawful wife. It might take time, but she would wait for his proposal someday.
"Goodnight to you too, Retsu," Yun Che smiled softly before kissing her forehead gently. She immediately drifted into slumber, a serene smile gracing her face.
After a while, Yun Che opened his eyes and stroked Retsu's sleeping head. He found it hard to believe that the enigmatic beauty, Unohana Retsu, was now sleeping in his arms. A heavenly beauty whose mere presence had led to the downfall of empires, she was now his lover and fiancée. One day, she'll be his wife.
However, something had been bothering him for a while. "It's strange; despite sleeping beside Retsu, neither of us feels that desire. It's as if we seek the comfort of each other's presence and the solace of sleep."
[Ding… The System prevented you from feeling your carnal lust by force calm your emotions.]
"Wait..what?" Yun Che was about to ask, but the System immediately gave an ultimatum on him.
[No sex before marriage.]
"Why?!" He shouted in his mind due to not wanting to wake the sleeping beauty up.
[Ding… If you do so, you didn't respect her as a woman and just wanted her for your lust comfort.]
"I respect, value, and treasure her, but people can find comfort and compatibility in sex. Some even wanted to use it to advance their relationship."
[Ding… Are you saying she is not compatible? Are you that 'someone' who uses it to advance a relationship?]
"No... I…" The System hit him into a corner.
[Ding… Then, let nature runs its course. The System will not let you use your old-world thinking in this world. If you do love her, shower her with it or marry her. It doesn't have to be 'that.' She loves you for who you are. Do not betray that trust. You are the System's host, and you are not some people who use sex as an advancement.]
Yun Che was taken aback. He admitted that he had harboured specific hopes, but an unexpected sense of calm suddenly extinguished them. As he gazed at the smiling Retsu, who was now peacefully sleeping in his arms, he realized he didn't want to jeopardize their genuine love for each other. The System's message had struck a chord. The woman in his embrace was someone he had admired for so long, someone he had yearned for, and yet, was he contemplating reducing their connection to something so trivial? Such an act wouldn't be a step forward in their relationship; it would simply be an indulgence for both. Ultimately, he acknowledged that pursuing such an avenue wouldn't yield any positive outcomes beyond fleeting physical pleasure that would last mere seconds.
The System's intervention was undoubtedly for a significant reason. Could the System be aiming to protect either him or Retsu? Eventually, he yielded to its wisdom because he recognized that the System's intervention was justified. His feelings for Retsu were genuine, and he was unwilling to jeopardize their relationship by allowing the mentality of his previous world to influence his actions here. The problematic cultural norms of his previous world should remain there as they had no place in this world. This moment wasn't some kind of adult Hanime where physical intimacy could resolve everything.
"Your words do hold weight. Alright, I never intended to engage in those activities without being properly committed, without marriage. I want to ensure that both Retsu and Yachiru understand that my intentions go beyond their physical presence. Let's approach this the right way," he responded. He was resolute in his decision, not only because he cared for Retsu but also to avoid any misconceptions that might lead Yachiru to seek retribution for any harm caused to Retsu.
[Ding… Don't worry. The System has developed a counter way for you and Unohana Retsu to suppress your humanistic lust. This way, you two can enjoy being in each other's arms, even in bed.]
"So, I didn't feel anything when I slept beside her. Then again, I enjoy hugging her aside from thinking about bad things."
[Ding… Your hidden 'urge' for her will be unlocked if you marry Unohana Retsu or any women you choose. Her 'urges' as well will be suppressed alongside yours. Please be ready when the shackles are unlocked in the future after your marriage.]
It might be a while, and then he should level himself up to a point they could keep up. Their food appetite was huge, which might be a good preparation before the wedding. It was a good safety measure for both of them. "A safety measure indeed. I don't know whether I should thank you or curse you."
[Ding… you welcome. Also, this is to prevent the System from punishing you for using that 'weapon' of yours as you please. Would you want the System to disable it permanently or make you feel utmost pain instead of pleasure? Or worse, chopping it off.]
"Uhhh…No…."
[It applies to your future fiancées as well. Remember, lust is not love. You are mature enough to understand that.]
"Fine…. It might be a while, but let's make the wait worthwhile."
[Ding…. Calmness is a new system feature that applies to you and your fiancée Unohana Retsu. It will be applied to your System based women in the future. It doesn't just suppress your lust. It enables you to achieve a calm state of mind and suppress your emotions should the need arise. It also enables you to enhance your reflexes and hyper-processing thinking. More updates will come in the future.]
Yun Che widens his eyes. A calmness technique that hyper processes information and reaction? How powerful is that? It gave them this much in exchange for suppressing his carnal emotions. It even suppressed other non-combative emotions like fear or happiness. "Wow…..Does it have any name? This countermeasure or skill of yours."
[Ding… No, for now. The System will tell you once the skill has been completed. It is a system-based skill, after all. You are currently using a beta version of it.]
"I see…. Then beta version it is." Yun Che nods his head before descending into a deep sleep. He admits that hugging Retsu was the best feeling, and it helps him sleep better like this. The System was developing a new skill for him in exchange for suppressing his carnal desires. Why did the System care so much for him?
He'll think about it tomorrow.
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[Ding… achievement achieved.]
[Ding… Achievement 'No Horny' achieved. It looks like you might stay a virgin for a while.]
HP:50000
XP:10000
A system window shows a chibi version of him being made into a 'no horny' meme from his original world where a baseball bat bonked his head.
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*Scream internally….