Zhu Zhuyun's behavior made Lin Xiao trust her even less.
So, the only thing he could do about the savage beast was to tighten the leash.
He used his Black Sun Purifying Fire to enhance the effects of the Nine Nether Flame Hell.
Following that, the hoped-for exciting scene of spending the night in a Phoenix bed didn't happen.
Lin Xiao's heart belonged elsewhere, and he returned in haste.
Instead, Zhu Zhuyun saw him leave without any hesitation and became anxious, doubting her own charm.
...
It had been more than half a year since he parted ways with Shui Bing'er after the Soul Master Competition. Lin Xiao always wondered if the little girl had gotten fatter or thinner, and how she was doing lately.
He set out from the Ashen Mountain Range and headed directly towards Skywater City. Traveling day and night, enduring the elements, he arrived at Skywater City about three days later.
Late autumn had passed, and the first snow had just fallen.
The handsome young man with long, crimson hair walking through Skywater City attracted a lot of attention. Girls on the street would occasionally cast shy, furtive glances, making Lin Xiao feel nostalgic for the time he first arrived in Skywater City and was teased by the older girls, feeling quite flustered.
Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.
It had also been exactly ten years since he met Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling.
Ten years isn't a long time. For old monsters like Tang Chen, Qian Daoliu, and Bo Saixi, ten years is just a fraction of their lives, not insignificant, but not worth dwelling on either.
However, for Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er, it was more than half of their lives; for Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, it was also half of their lives.
Their destinies were intertwined. As time went on, their bonds would only deepen, making it difficult to let go of anyone. The thought of someone leaving felt as painful as a sharp knife cutting flesh.
"How should I tell Bing'er?"
From the Ashen Mountain Range to Skywater City, Lin Xiao traveled more than a thousand li per day.
He didn't expect that upon reaching Skywater City, he would feel a sense of "the closer to home, the more timid the heart." His steps were slow, and his mind was constantly filled with random thoughts.
Lin Xiao decided to lay everything out with Bing'er.
To be completely open about his feelings for Sister Ling Ling and Sister Yanyan.
He hadn't even figured out how to say it yet.
But his feet unconsciously followed his memory and led him to the entrance of the Shui Family residence.
"Knock, knock."
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, shaking off the distracting thoughts in his mind. He knocked on the large door. A guard from the Shui Family came out, and upon seeing Lin Xiao, he exclaimed in surprise:
"Young Master Lin Xiao?!"
Lin Xiao used to visit frequently in the past, so most of the Shui Family members recognized him.
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded.
"I'm here to see Bing'er. Also, I specially came to pay my respects to Uncle Shui. Please inform him."
The guard chuckled and waved his hand:
"Young Master Lin Xiao, just go right in!
The patriarch said that whenever you come, there's no need to announce yourself!
I'll go inform the master now!"
Led by the guard, Lin Xiao arrived at the reception hall and met Shui Shengxiao.
"Uncle Shui, long time no see, I missed you terribly!"
Lin Xiao was very familiar with Shui Shengxiao. Upon meeting, he went straight in for a big bear hug.
Shui Shengxiao was clearly pleasantly surprised by his arrival. He grinned and punched Lin Xiao on the shoulder, intending to give this impudent brat a little show of force. But the punch felt like it hit a steel plate, and his hand ended up hurting terribly.
Shui Shengxiao clicked his tongue:
"Well, well, you're tough as nails, kid!
Honestly, after the Soul Master Competition, you didn't break through to Soul Emperor, did you?"
Shui Shengxiao's words carried a hint of probing, as a sixteen-year-old Soul Emperor would be quite astonishing.
Lin Xiao shook his head.
Seeing this, Shui Shengxiao nodded, "I knew it. Where would you find a sixteen-year-old Soul Emperor? You can't even find a second sixteen-year-old Soul King. Come, have some tea! Keep up the good work!"
While reminiscing, Shui Shengxiao personally brewed tea for Lin Xiao.
With that, he picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The fragrance lingered on his lips and teeth.
But the next moment, he heard Lin Xiao's calm words.
"Uncle Shui, I am already a Soul Saint."
Shui Shengxiao nearly choked himself to death on the tea he just drank!
"Cough, cough, cough..."
He coughed a few times, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, as if wondering if he'd heard wrong.
And after confirming he hadn't misheard...
Shui Shengxiao, who was usually refined, uncharacteristically swore aloud.
"Holy shit!"
He looked at Lin Xiao, full of surprise and uncertainty. "Is that real?"
Lin Xiao: "..."
He nodded. "Naturally, it's real."
Lin Xiao didn't have to say this, but Shui Shengxiao was Bing'er's father, and potentially his own father-in-law. Of course, at necessary moments, he had to show off his strength to reassure the old man that he had the ability to take good care of his daughter.
Shui Shengxiao's expression was complex at this moment.
Besides the shock, there was also a strange hint of sadness.
None other than because he was also a Soul Saint now.
Had these past few decades of his life been wasted on dogs?
It was all Lin Xiao's fault for being so monstrous!
Shui Shengxiao quickly adjusted his mindset.
It didn't matter, anyway, Lin Xiao was essentially half his son.
Lin Xiao and Bing'er had grown up together, their affection deep and committed. Shui Shengxiao and his wife, Bai Xiuyun, had long believed the two would end up together in the future and were happy to see it happen.
Shui Shengxiao sighed with emotion:
"A golden scale is not a creature of the pond; encountering wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon."
"When Bing'er told me about meeting you, I only thought she had a kind heart and did a good deed. Who would have thought you had such a destiny?"
Suddenly, he saw Lin Xiao hesitate multiple times as if wanting to speak.
He found it a bit strange.
"What's wrong? Do you have something to say?"
Lin Xiao's face uncharacteristically flushed, and then he said somewhat uneasily,
"I was wondering, Uncle Shui, how do you see my relationship with Bing'er?"
Shui Shengxiao first froze, then couldn't help but burst into laughter!
"Hahahahaha..."
He felt a sense of pure relief in his heart. No matter how exceptionally talented and monstrously gifted Lin Xiao was, in the end, it was because of his daughter that he was so cautious.
On one hand, he could see Lin Xiao's regard for Shui Bing'er;
On the other hand, it also reflected his daughter's excellence.
Shui Shengxiao said with a smile playing on his lips:
"Young people's matters, you decide for yourselves."
These words were the biggest hint.
It was no different from an old father telling a young man, 'As long as my daughter likes you, it's fine.'
Lin Xiao: "..."
He forced himself to continue:
"But besides Bing'er, I also have two senior sisters. We also grew up together since childhood, and we have a very deep bond..."
Shui Shengxiao's eyes widened abruptly!
Boy, look in my eyes!
Good heavens, he knew Lin Xiao was acting strangely. Why was Lin Xiao so overly bashful today? So this is what he was waiting for!
Shui Shengxiao frowned slightly, seemingly in thought.
At this moment, the most nervous one was naturally Lin Xiao.
However, the expected difficulty did not arrive. Shui Shengxiao merely put away the smile on his face, his expression becoming more serious and solemn.
"Lin Xiao, at your age, do you know the difference between love and desire?"
Lin Xiao assumed a posture of attentive listening, ready to hear more.
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