The calm figure under the light revealed a dignified male in his late youth with an aura of an Half-step Dao-Master. He was Xiao Yunhai's friend, and also Xiao Ming's present 'cousin' - Bai Qing.
Bai Qing had fostered himself deep within the illusion of this pseudo family and he couldn't but help feeling regret towards their parting soon. Xiao Ming in their eyes was a beloved son of the Bai Clan, although he was a mortal, they never took it into consideration.
"Cousin Qing, why will the behemoths of the Shen Clan chase their way here for a little fry like me in Moon Drifting Town.... I really have grown so terrifying" Xiao Ming could not help but smile bitterly as he berated himself.
"Little Ming, you are too bothered on nothing... The Shen Clan aren't here for trouble as you presume but for something even bigger" Bai Qing replied with a smile and whispered a few words to Xiao Ming. Xiao Ming however just rolled his eyes a little in shock. He couldn't control his laughter as he spoke in a muffled tone.
"Are you serious? Common Cousin Qing, I'm still a little young for this 'marriage' stuff, when the time is right, I'll see to it myself" Xiao Ming responded with a slight furrow of brows. The news was quite strange that the lofty Shen Clan could actually bring their daughter for marriage to him.
"Little Ming, the fiancée you'll be putting up with is none other than the genius Scioness of the Red Cloud Sect - Miss Shen Wu. That's a beauty even cultivators dream of to possess, it might be really hard on you, but no one understands what Father is planning. " Bai Qing spoke with an expression of his concern over the matter.
"This..... I never really expected Uncle Xiao would go this far!" Xiao Ming was stunned out of his senses. Most of his shock stemmed from the willingness of the Shen Clan to actually marry out their talented daughter to Xiao Ming. This proved that the relationship between both clans must have gone beyond the world 'familiar'. Besides, he knew what sort of existence he would be getting entangled with, however all he felt was only shock but no fear, this was his fate since his Eldest Uncle had set this up for his 'good'.
It was known that in the entire Clear Water City, the Shen Clan were one of the supreme powers and had a terrifying background. They were one of those clans who survived the baptism of the ancient times. Their history traced down to their ancestors, the powerful Immortal Essence Emperors who had ruled from the days of the former Ancient Luo Dynasty.
To Xiao Ming, this was an extreme act of spoiling, he was actually going to marry a promising and proud phoenix of the Shen Clan.
"Uncle Xiao, you're really cruel with your pampering. You are actually willing to grant me marriage to such a noble phoenix of the Shen clan. This is simply giving chickens the grace to ascend the heavens " Xiao Ming thought with a bitter smile. For now, he could only pick up the challenge. That proud phoenix was going to be a tough nut to crack and he was looking forward to his experience with her.
Xiao Ming was unaware that since his last statement, his face had become a mess of expressions. Bai Qing could only shake his head at the sight of this. After being with Xiao Ming for a decade now, he understood the lad even more. He was helpless as he could not figure out his father's outright decision to make Xiao Ming's marriage so extravagant while he was still a 'mortal'. All efforts and arguments to stop the crazed decision only ended up as fuel for Bai Yunxiao's obstinacy.
The only way out was better not called such as it was even graver than the present plight. Usually, the best way to resolve such an incident would be to annul the marriage between both parties. But, the Shen Clan were a proud entity and they would not take such injury to their reputation lightly. Alas! he'd only place Xiao Ming and the Bai Clan in a complete mess. Not only would the clan suffer a possible threat of elimination from the gargantuan powers behind the Shen Clan, Xiao Ming would have to withstand the assaults of different kinds of assassinations to regain back the Shen Clan's face.
"Little Ming, it's no problem now, you surely can handle that Shen chick right?" Bai Qing asked with faint amusement to reduce the tension. It was only now that Xiao Ming jolted back and realized he had been immersed in his thoughts. He had even forgotten Bai Qing who was close by.
"Yeah... Cousin Qing is right, it's not like she is actually some devouring beast. She also wouldn't dare to be so overbearing in the Bai Clan's territory" Xiao Ming responded with a faint smile on his lips. Without hesitation, both headed towards the Mystic Snow Pavilion, the meeting place.