Chapter 27: Bonds and Boundaries
The trio—Xiao Chen, Xiao Rongyu, and the trembling servant—strode swiftly through the Xiao Family Court. Their steps halted before a towering building that stood isolated from the rest. It was the Ancestral Patriarch's Residence, an ancient structure adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, a symbol of the family's once-glorious lineage. The walls were deep jade green, streaked with veins of gold, shimmering faintly under the sunlight. The enormous double doors bore the Xiao Family crest—an ancient dragon soaring amidst clouds. This was a place of reverence, a place where few dared to tread without summons.
Upon stopping, the group stepped inside. The interior was vast and spacious, lit by soft golden lanterns that lined the high ceilings. Mahogany pillars stood like silent guardians, their surfaces smooth and gleaming, engraved with celestial patterns. The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, and every step echoed against the polished stone floor.
Xiao Chen led the way but halted, turning towards the servant, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Lead the way."
The servant flinched, bowing his head quickly. "Y-Yes, Young Master," he stammered and hurried ahead.
Xiao Chen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he turned toward the unusually quiet Xiao Rongyu. "Rong... What's wrong with him? Am I that scary?" His voice, though calm, carried a hint of curiosity.
"Tsk," Xiao Rongyu clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Why're you asking me? With those cold eyes, that emotionless tone, and that intimidating yet detached aura of yours... Of course, these servants will be scared of you. What else did you expect?"
"Intimidating aura…?" Xiao Chen muttered inwardly, surprised. He never once considered himself frightening. Where was this coming from?
Turning his gaze back to Rongyu as they continued walking down the endless hallway, he hesitated for a moment before asking, his tone losing its usual aloof edge, "Are you… scared of me, Rong?"
"As if…" she scoffed, waving her hand as if brushing off the very notion. "No matter how cold or… unearthly your aura gets, I'll never be scared of you, Brother Chen."
Hearing her words, Xiao Chen unconsciously straightened his back, and a rare, warm smile spread across his face—soft and genuine. Yet, like smoke, it vanished the moment the servant's trembling voice interrupted.
"We… We are here…" the servant announced, stopping in front of a grand door decorated with golden dragon carvings. The heavy atmosphere of the place grew even denser, pressing down on them.
However, Xiao Rongyu caught that fleeting smile, and for a brief moment, her heart fluttered. The petty annoyance she held toward him melted away instantly—how could she stay angry at him?
The servant bowed low, his hands trembling slightly. "This… This is the Patriarch's chamber. I… I dare not enter. Shall I take my leave, Young Master…?"
"Yeah, yeah. No need to be so formal," Xiao Chen replied casually, waving his hand as if shooing off a stray animal.
The servant, relieved, quickly turned and hurried off as though running for his life—his pale face betraying the fear he dared not voice.
"Haha, look at how scared he is, Brother Chen. You're really something. I swear, if he'd stayed any longer, he might've pissed his pants," Xiao Rongyu teased playfully, grinning as she turned to glance at him.
But Xiao Chen did not respond. Startled, she looked at him again, only to find his expression detached—yet, it wasn't his usual indifference. His mind was elsewhere, eyes shadowed with a rare hint of nostalgia and nervousness.
Seeing him like that, Xiao Rongyu was taken aback. Since when had she last seen such an expression on his face? Even during their childhood days, Xiao Chen had always carried himself with unwavering confidence. Where was this coming from?
Her eyes narrowed as her mind raced. She suddenly recalled something—ever since Xiao Chen returned from his solitary journey a year ago, everything about him had changed. He had chosen to build his own house, moving out of the Patriarch's Quarters without hesitation. From that day, he became someone else—mature, aloof, mysterious.
Yet now, standing before the door of this chamber, Xiao Rongyu remembered… Xiao Chen was still just fifteen. No matter how cold, no matter how composed, physically or mentally—his emotions toward his father, his only family, remained strong.
Meanwhile, outside the family quarters, the servant burst out of the hall, his breath ragged, his face pale and drenched in cold sweat.
"Y-Young Master Chen…" he muttered under his breath, his body trembling uncontrollably. "That… That presence… That's not the aura of a human… but a Dragon."
Recalling the strange fear and suffocating pressure that had crushed down upon him in Xiao Chen's presence, the servant's legs buckled. The aura had nearly forced him to kneel—his instincts screaming at him to bow before the young master as if before a divine beast.
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Inside the Ancestral Residence
Xiao Chen stood rooted before the grand door, his thoughts swirling.
"Are you going to stand there all day or...?" Xiao Rongyu's voice snapped him back to reality.
He glanced at her, smiling wryly as he ran a hand through his long black hair. Damn... what's wrong with me? It's unusual to lose composure like this.
"Sorry, Rong... Let's go in."
With a deep breath, Xiao Chen pushed open the door.
Inside was a large, almost empty hall save for a few precious pieces of furniture. At the center sat two men engrossed in a game—not chess, but "Heavenly Strategem", a rare strategy game of tiles and pieces symbolizing armies, beasts, and lands—a pastime reserved for those of intellect and patience.
On the grand, throne-like chair sat a handsome man in his late thirties—long black hair, sharp black eyes, and a face bearing a striking resemblance to Xiao Chen. This was Patriarch Xiao Hao. Beside him sat the towering Great Elder, Xiao Jian, his silver hair cascading down his back, white untainted robes flowing around his muscular frame. He absentmindedly stroked his long beard, eyes glinting with wisdom.
Xiao Chen's sudden entrance caused both men to pause their game and look up.
Outside, Xiao Rongyu gritted her teeth. "Brother Chen... you could've knocked. Must you always act indifferent to everything?" she muttered before walking in gracefully. Sometimes, he acts more like an old man than a boy...
"Oh? If it isn't Little Chen and Miss Rongyu," Elder Jian chuckled warmly. Despite his status, he always treated the juniors with respect.
"Greetings, Patriarch. Greetings, Great Elder," Rongyu greeted with a graceful bow.
Xiao Chen locked eyes with his father. Only after hearing Rongyu did he break the silence.
"Greetings, Father... Elder," he greeted calmly, though he didn't bow.
Elder Jian didn't seem to mind. Instead, he laughed heartily, "Miss Rongyu is as elegant as ever... And Little Chen... You grow more like a man each time I see you. Perhaps... you are no longer the little boy you once were."
Xiao Chen, however, paid him little mind, his gaze fixed solely on his father. "You called for me, Father?"
"Yes," Xiao Hao finally spoke, his deep voice calm. "I heard from Madam Ru... You're heading out with Xiao Rongyu—to the Mystical Beast Forest."
His sharp gaze scanned them. Rongyu stood tall, composed. Xiao Chen, however, was aloof, a trace of impatience in his eyes.
"Yes, we were about to leave," Xiao Chen replied casually.
Xiao Hao smiled slightly. "And you're going out to train, huh? Where's your weapon... your equipment?"
Xiao Chen smirked, "Who needs a weapon? I'm going to refine my Elemental Mastery anyway... right, Rong?"
"Don't look at me!" Rongyu huffed, crossing her arms. "I have my weapon and equipment packed."
"Huh? Where?" Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed, scanning her.
"Stop staring at me like that..." Rongyu blushed lightly, raising her hand. A silver ring gleamed coldly on her finger.
"A... Spatial Ring?" Xiao Chen's brow arched.
In the cultivation world, Spatial Rings were rare treasures—storage artifacts capable of holding vast items within a small space. Even a low-grade Spatial Ring could store weapons, supplies, and more. A Middle-Grade Mortal Rank Spatial Ring like hers was even rarer, worth two or more high-grade mortal weapons. Such rings were treasured heirlooms—hard to refine, harder to come by.
"My Grandma gave it to me," Rongyu said, stroking the ring. "Unlike you, who cut ties with the family... I live with my grandma, remember? Besides... it's just a middle-grade Mortal Rank Spatial Ring." She sighed. "I already stocked everything we need for the coming weeks... I can't believe you didn't even think of that."
"Heh... Whatever," Xiao Chen shrugged. "Still... rare is rare. That ring alone is worth a fortune."
"You don't need to tell me!" Rongyu rolled her eyes.
Patriarch Xiao Hao and Elder Jian could only watch as the two bickered like an old married couple. A warm, almost nostalgic smile tugged at the Patriarch's lips, but he said nothing.