Seated behind Xue Lian a man sipped quietly, from his mug. He wore a white robe trimmed with black along its edges, his long brown hair neatly tied and styled.
He had a certain aura around him, like a master of some profound and hidden technique.
Xue Lian turned to face the man. "And who might you be?" he asked calmly, though a faint threat laced his tone.
"Haha!" The man began to laugh, at the funny joke that Xue Lian had just made. "…who am I? haha. very funny… Xue Lian, haha… very funny."
Xue Lian's eye widened at the mention of his name. 'He knows me?' He thought.
The young man who looked like he was in his thirties stopped laughing and regained his composure.
"Please get my brother here a good meal with meat inside." He ordered, and suddenly the waiter boy bowed and sprinted off.
"Who are you?" Xue Lian asked again, as he was about to move to where the man was seated.
However, the strange man finished drinking quickly, stood up and went to Xue Lian's instead.
/Thud!/
"I don't think that's the right question you should be asking me… brother." the strange man spoke with a cold tone, gazing at Xue Lian with a piercing expression, after he sat down at his from.
'Brother?' Xue Lian thought. 'Is he saying he's one of my brothers.'
'Last night before I slept, I thought really hard about what my life here was like, and I was able to get something from the former Xue Lian's memories. I am an orphan who was adopted by the Wu Clan leader, and I am currently on of his four children. Two boys before me, and a girl after me. I am known as his third son. That's what everyone called me.
I was seen as a mere runt, a lost cause. No talent, no gift, not even able to cultivate. This brought disgrace upon my adopted father, shame. And in a way for me not tarnishing his image, he sent me away.
To a place where I wouldn't be known as one of the sons of the Wu Clan. He said he was doing it for my own benefits. I should live in the world and see what it has to offer. Hmph. My guess is that he just didn't want to be disgraced by his son.
However, as the journey began, some people began to find out about who I was, after I began living in that isolated building. And after I was recognized, most people try to get me to give them my wealth. I was weak and vulnerable. The past Xue Lian, that is.
I am sure those people who killed the previous Xue Lian, was probably because he refused to give them what he owns. However, that's the past now. A new Xue Lian has been reborn, and no one is going to dare shut him up.
So for this man before me, if he really is my brother, then he should be the second son of the Wu Clan… Wu Yucheng.'
"Oi… are you listening to me?" Wu YuCheng uttered, waving his hand at Xue Lian's face.
Meanwhile, Xue Lian blinked a couple of times before returning back to himself.
"What are you doing here?" Xue Lian asked, with a cold and piercing tone, as if saying that he didn't like his presence.
"Wow come on." Yucheng exclaimed, his hand surrendering. "…there's no need to show me that expression. I'm not the one you should be angry at. I know you are not happy father pushed you away. However, I do have good news from him."
Wu YuCheng smiled. He had this face of a calm and cheerful person, his eyes showcasing friendship and love. However it was all a disguise.
An act.
Xue Lian gazed deeply into Yu Cheng's eyes. He could see it. He knew what he was like.
'There it goes again.' he thought. 'Although I don't have much memory of him from my previous owner. However, I do feel this familiar sensation. It's his charm, the one he usually use when he wants people to feel that he is a righteous person, like a good prince. However you can't fool me with that. It looks like even though, the former Xue Lian wasn't able to cultivate, he was still able to see pass your nasty mask.'
"And what is this good news?" Xue Lian fired, his eye still piercing.
Yucheng gazed upon his brother, he had a strange feeling. 'Xue Lian doesn't normally talk like.' he thought.
'If I remember correctly, when father sent him away, he was more than happy to leave. He even told me, he wanted his own life, and to not be seen as someone from one of the higher ranking clans. And even more, not even as a lovable son, rather disgraceful. He willingly decided to leave, even after father proposed that deal.
But why now? Why is he giving me that look? Has he changed his mind? Does he think that father made the wrong choice?'
"So?…What is this message from… father?"
Xue Lian was curious, he didn't known much about his father… yet, from the previous Xue Lian's memories.
He only had that feeling, that his father never truly resented him. 'So what message as he passed onto me now? What's the good news?'
"You are to be wedded.".
**Shocked**
The words came out from Yu Cheng's mouth like a sprinting wave.
Xue Lian's face was stunned, the air was hard, thoughts cleared. The message wasn't expected.
Yu Cheng gazed upon at Xue Lian, he could see the puzzled expression in his eyes, and so he knew he had to explain further.
"It was, father's Idea. He said if you don't have what it takes to cultivate, then you have to find a woman whom you could collect Qi energy from."
As the words left his mouth, scenes of what had occurred the previous night at Xue Lian's home popped in his head.
The thought of the actions he did with… Yi Fei.
"He says if both your Yang and the woman's Yin energy merge, maybe you will be able to gain some of her Qi energy." Yu Cheng spoke softly, he made sure to explain in a detailed manner, leaving nothing behind.
However, thoughts began swirling through Xue Lian's head. He wondered if Yu Cheng was referring to all that had happened the previous night.
He didn't feel any Qi energy flowing inside him.
Although, the main thing was never done that night, he never actually had sex with her, so that must be a good start.
"Are you saying I have sex with a lady, for me to gain Qi energy?" Xue Lian asked with a straight face.
"Yes. It is believed when both a man and a woman have a special relationship during intercourse, they both share their Qi energy against one another, releasing their Yang and Yin. This is known as Dual Cultivation. It's a ritual that was practiced long ago, however it had been banned for many years. Though, it is rumured, it's still practical by some people… in secret."
Xue Lian was taken aback, upon hearing this, his gaze shifted, slightly away from Yu Cheng. He never expected such a thing to be.
'Sharing Qi energy during intercourse? Never would have guessed.'
Xue Lian turned back to Yu Cheng, a slight smile on his face. It was brief, however with that one second of existence it was seen.
"So?… what do you think? Are you up for it?"