Xie Xiaoyan was, indeed, stunning. Her long, raven-black hair was tied back with a light purple satin ribbon. Her dark brows were arched like distant hills, and long lashes veiled her jet-black eyes. Her skin was snow-white and tender, glowing with a delicate luster. A slender waist, a pert rear, and a pair of long, straight legs all attested to the immense charm of this fourteen-year-old girl.
'She really is a beauty.' A faint ripple stirred in Ling Xiao's heart. 'It must be a lingering obsession from the Ling Xiao who died, right? It seems the 'me' from before was quite fond of Xie Xiaoyan.' Ling Xiao sighed. 'If it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't have been framed so easily.'
Ling Xiao sighed softly, his expression indifferent as he looked at Xie Xiaoyan. "Xie Xiaoyan, have a seat." He glanced at his sister, whose face was as cold as frost, and said, "Yun'Er..."
Ling Yun'Er reluctantly dragged a chair over, dropping it with a LOUD THUD in front of Xie Xiaoyan. She then turned and stormed out, slamming the door with a deafening crash. Clearly, Ling Yun'Er felt that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to resist drawing her sword to kill this hypocritical woman—despite the fact that she was no match for Xie Xiaoyan.
The awkwardness on Xie Xiaoyan's face was fleeting. Her eyes filled with guilt as she looked at Ling Xiao. "I'm sorry. I never thought it would cause you so much harm, I really didn't..." When she heard that the returning General had beaten Ling Xiao so severely he had almost died, Xie Xiaoyan had felt a flicker of guilt. However, that small pang was quickly washed away by the elation of gaining her freedom.
This was because her father, Xie Changting, had personally gone to his close friend, General Ling Tianxiao, and successfully annulled their engagement.
However, as the premier noble academy of the Lanyue Empire, the Imperial Academy was not without its share of calm, intelligent minds. After the incident, a number of people refused to side with Xie Xiaoyan. Instead, they questioned her, cutting straight to the heart of the matter: 'Ling Xiao is a Tier Five Sword Attendant, a full seven tiers below you! How could he possibly force himself on you, a Tier Six Sword Master? And you expect a flimsy excuse like, "His status is too high, I didn't dare resist!" to explain everything?'
Therefore, Xie Xiaoyan felt it necessary to pay a visit to the Ling Mansion. 'I have to dispel this rumor! That's right, it's just a rumor!'
'I have a large Personal Guard. As long as I visit the Ling Mansion just once, my guards will immediately publicize it. I can use this to counter my detractors: "Ling Xiao was injured by his own father, yet I, Xie Xiaoyan, can visit him openly! Aren't there rumors that this isn't what truly happened? Well, look! I'm not the least bit afraid of a face-to-face confrontation!"'
'That way, even if some people still harbor doubts, who would dare claim that I, Xie Xiaoyan, was the one who set the trap?'
Xie Xiaoyan had been called a genius among geniuses since she was a child. Having cultivated to the level of a Tier Six Sword Master by age fourteen, she stood at the very pinnacle of her peers.
Thus, she was unwilling to be a mere pawn. There was an ancient saying on the continent: 'Are princes and marquises, generals and ministers, born to their high stations?' 'Why should I have to suck up to a General just because my family are merchants? What's so great about being a General? Wasn't Ling Tianxiao also from a humble background, climbing to his position step by step through military merit? And now he holds the titles of both Marquis and General!'
Xie Xiaoyan had always believed that she, too, could reach the pinnacle through her own efforts and earn the admiration of all. 'When that time comes,' she thought, 'the Xie Family will be a noble house in no way inferior to the Ling Family!'
Therefore, the marriage alliance with the General's Mansion had to be broken, no matter the cost. 'My destiny—Xie Xiaoyan's destiny—can only be controlled by me! How could I ever be content living in someone else's shadow?'
...
Now that Ling Xiao had seen what Xie Xiaoyan looked like in person, he felt it was enough. Listening to her insincere apology, a surge of anger rose within him. "A single 'I'm sorry' can't undo the harm I've suffered, nor can it wash away the stain on the Ling Family's reputation!"
For some reason, Xie Xiaoyan suddenly felt that the Ling Xiao before her was a stranger, even sparking an inexplicable sense of fear within her. 'Is it just because I have a guilty conscience?' Xie Xiaoyan forced the thought from her mind, telling herself that those destined for greatness can't be concerned with trivialities. Then, with a look of utmost sincerity, she said, "I know you'll hate me for the rest of your life, Ling Xiao, but I had reasons I couldn't ignore. I can only say how sorry I am for the harm this has caused you... As for Uncle Ling, I... I will go apologize to him as well!"
"Enough. Hate you for a lifetime? You're not worthy." Ling Xiao shot Xie Xiaoyan an indifferent glance. "You've achieved your goal, Xie Xiaoyan. I must admit, you're quite the schemer, very shrewd. But you had best remember this: one day, I will make you pay for the slander you've heaped upon me and the Ling Family—with interest. Now, you may leave."
In his past life, although Ling Xiao had been focused solely on cultivation, he was by no means a saint. If he were, he wouldn't have secretly hoped for a sect elder to fail their heavenly tribulation just so he could swoop in and collect their treasures.
Ling Xiao saw through a woman like Xie Xiaoyan in a single glance. She was only here to seize the moral high ground. No matter what they said to each other today, the moment she walked out of the General's Mansion, all the speculation surrounding her would vanish.
Because she was not afraid of a confrontation.
'The old me, with nothing but cultivation on his mind, wouldn't have cared about personal reputation. But since I've inexplicably arrived in this world and taken over this body, I can't afford to ignore the reputation of the General's Mansion and the Ling Family!'
'I am not your match right now, so I will bide my time.'
Ling Xiao had immense confidence in himself. 'Before long, the world will see a brand new Ling Xiao. And as for you, Xie Xiaoyan... there are plenty of ways to make you admit the truth with your own mouth.'
'Fortunes rise and fall. Someday, I will repay every bit of the humiliation the Ling Family has suffered—doubled.'
Seeing Ling Xiao's caustic words, Xie Xiaoyan finally dropped her disguise and her expression turned cold. "Ling Xiao, if you had been this sensible from the start, I wouldn't have had to resort to such a tactic. And another thing..." Xie Xiaoyan suddenly beamed, adding lightly, "If you truly have the ability to make me tell the truth... I'll be waiting." She had almost blurted out, 'If you had that kind of ability, I would have even preferred to marry you,' but she swallowed the words. 'Because that's impossible, isn't it?'
'Today, I have seized the moral high ground. The Ling Family can't use its power to retaliate against my family. From now on, no one can stop me, Xie Xiaoyan, from soaring to the heavens! By then, even if the Ling Family wants revenge, what could they possibly do?'
'A shallow woman. Aside from her looks, she has no other redeeming qualities.' Watching the triumphant glint she couldn't hide in her eyes, Ling Xiao sneered inwardly and curled his lip in disdain. He then yelled toward the door, "Show our guest out!"
Xie Xiaoyan shot Ling Xiao a complicated look before rising to leave. She had achieved her goal, yet she felt a little lost. Why was the Ling Xiao who had always been so meek and timid in her presence so forceful today? It was as if he had become a completely different person, radiating a coldness that seemed to come from his very bones. She could tell that even though his injuries were mostly healed, his cultivation level hadn't improved in the slightest.
When he looked at her now, his eyes held none of their former adoration and passion. Instead, his expression was one of... disdain. 'What right does he have?' A sudden, overwhelming rage washed over Xie Xiaoyan. The feeling of being looked down upon—especially by a good-for-nothing like Ling Xiao—left her utterly humiliated and furious.
If she had been facing General Ling Tianxiao, Xie Xiaoyan wouldn't have dared to feel such anger. But to see this kind of forceful attitude from a loser like Ling Xiao... 'What right... what right does *he* have?'
However, the moment she stepped out of the General's Mansion and felt the warm sunlight on her skin, her mood instantly brightened. She watched the cheerful birds hopping and chirping among the lush, leafy branches, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air. When she opened them again, her gaze was resolute. 'I'm free! Yes! From now on, no one can ever again bind my wings and stop me from soaring!'