Chapter 17: Xiao Family's Past. A Nation's Enchanting Beauty!

When Pearl Mu left, she realized Ben Xiao was nowhere to be seen. She tried calling him, but there was no answer. Then she called again, but still no answer. Finally, feeling helpless, Pearl Mu said goodbye to Angus Mu and drove Mermaid Su home. Along the way, Mermaid Su couldn't help but comment, "Pearl, your husband is quite something. You might have struck gold. Why do you look so gloomy?" Pearl Mu seemed a bit dazed and replied, "I was just shocked." Mermaid Su thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense. You've been in business since graduation and rarely seen such bloody scenes. Ben Xiao annihilating a hundred mercenaries of the Lei family with just a word would scare anyone." "But I can see he's very responsible and protective of you. You don’t need to worry." Pearl Mu responded, "I'm not worried about that. It's just... our interactions are so awkward, you know? I always criticized him for being impulsive. After today, I don't know how to face him." Her face turned a bit red as she thought about Ben Xiao's previous words and actions. He exudes a heroic aura! She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation, like a fawn running around in confusion. Mermaid Su sighed, "My clever Pearl, always giving me advice. Now that it's your turn, why are you so confused?" Pearl Mu asked, "Then what should I do?" Mermaid Su questioned, "Do you think you were wrong in what you said about Ben Xiao before?" After pondering for a moment, Pearl Mu shook her head, "Ben Xiao is capable, influential, and well-connected. But I always feel he's too impulsive. That's bound to cause problems sooner or later. There's always someone stronger, someone he can't provoke. I wasn't wrong." Mermaid Su said, "If you don't think you were wrong, and you defended him so much before, what's there to feel awkward about?" "You criticized him for his own good and even sought help for him. He won't mind your previous words." Hearing this, Pearl Mu felt more settled, "You're right, I understand now." Mermaid Su smiled with relief. Soon, they arrived at the Su family mansion in Jiang Nan. Mermaid Su warmly linked arms with Pearl Mu, "Pearl, you didn't even have a bite to eat at the Mu's. Come on, let's go inside and have dinner." Pearl Mu shook her head, refusing, "Thank you for today, Mermaid. I won't go in." Quickly understanding why, Mermaid Su teased, "Got it, you're going to meet your lover... Okay, I won't disturb your date. But you must come tomorrow." Pearl Mu was puzzled, "Tomorrow?" Mermaid Su said, "Silly girl, tomorrow is my birthday. See you then." She quickly left. Pearl Mu smiled, "Alright, I'll be there." Getting into her car, Pearl Mu sped along, continuously dialing Ben Xiao's phone. She was eager to see Ben Xiao... Ben Xiao, where are you? At the very least, I need to say thank you to you. … In the Su family's tea room. "Mermaid Su, you're reckless!" A cold rebuke echoed throughout the room. Mermaid Su stood in the center, her head bowed, silent. Seated at the head of the room, a middle-aged man in a white suit with an indifferent expression scolded her, "How could you run off to Jiang Bei on your own and cause trouble? Openly opposing the Lei family?! Do you realize your impulsiveness almost sparked a conflict between the north and south of Zhonghai?" Mermaid Su bit her lip and retorted, "Dad, Pearl Mu is my close friend, and you know it. I was just helping her out. What's wrong with that?" The man, shaking with anger. Ryder Su, the leader of the first family in Jiang Nan, was infuriated by his daughter's actions. "Little sister, you really are foolish. Offending the Lei family of Jiang Bei for Pearl Mu? Was it worth it? Do you realize the consequences of inciting a conflict between the north and south of Zhonghai? Have you considered the potential cost to our Su family?" A robust young man in a black suit, entered the room. He was Diego Su, Mermaid Su's elder brother. Mermaid Su, looking at Diego Su, defiantly said, "Brother, the Lei family is the first family of Jiang Bei, and our Su family is the first family of Jiang Nan. Roger Lei was once father's junior. Are we, the Su family, supposed to be afraid of the Lei family?" Diego Su sighed, "Previously, Roger Lei was indeed father's junior. But five years ago, our Su family clashed with the Lei family over an issue involving the Xiao family of Zhonghai. We lost, leading to a rift between our two families." Hearing this, Mermaid Su's expression became more serious, "Wasn't it said that we didn't want to fight the Lei family to the end? How did we lose?" Five years ago, Mermaid was away at college, and she was not very clear about what was going on. Diego Su explained, "That was just our public stance. In reality, our Su family lost." Mermaid Su's expression darkened, "Brother, what happened?" Diego Su continued, "The Lei family had a martial arts master supporting them. At that time, he suppressed our Su family. People greatly underestimated the Lei family's true strength. Today, Ben Xiao severed the hand of Young Master Lei at the Mu family... it won't end well. From now on, keep your distance from Pearl Mu and Ben Xiao, understand?" Ryder Su stood up, slamming the table, "Listen to your brother." Mermaid Su, still arguing, said, "But Ben Xiao is really strong. He has Kwame Liu as his trump card..." Before she could finish, Ryder Su interrupted, "Kwame Liu is still just a worldly man. His methods are ineffective against a martial arts master. Only those who have seen a martial arts master's capabilities understand what they truly represent. Ben Xiao is still too young." Mermaid Su stood in place, speechless for a long time. For so many years, it was the first time she saw her father fear someone like this. The Lei family, then, was so terrifying. What about Ben Xiao and Pearl Mu... ......... At Misty Lake. The ancestral home of the Xiao family in Zhonghai. Ben Xiao returned here, to the demolished ancestral hall. He painstakingly dug out one broken ancestral tablet after another from the rubble. He then carefully cleaned each tablet with his clothing, arranging them on a table. His hands were bleeding from digging. But Ben Xiao was oblivious, continuing tirelessly... Ignoring the blood flowing from his hands. Rain poured from the sky, drenching him, yet he kept on tirelessly digging out one tablet after another, gently wiping each clean. Jacob suddenly approached, standing quietly behind, tears blurring his eyes, "My lord, you were wounded in the battle of Northern Liang, and your injuries haven't fully healed. Please take care of yourself.” "The deceased are gone; please grieve less, my lord!" Ben Xiao seemed not to hear, continuing to dig, murmuring to himself. "At first, my grandfather Frank Xiao, abandoned by the clan and hunted, ended up in Zhonghai, establishing this mansion." "Then, during tumultuous times, he formed local militias. With greater power came greater responsibility. To support the grand campaign for peace, to protect more people, and to forge a new nation. He started the Northern Expedition from here, conquering cities and forts, ultimately reaching Dongyong Mountain in East of Huai River, fighting the enemy of eighteen provinces." "Hundreds of Xiao's men died in battle, finally bringing peace to the eighteen provinces. With the founding of the nation, my grandfather was honored as a founding hero, making the Xiao family of Dongyong Mountain renowned across two rivers." "Twenty years into the nation, border conflicts erupted in Huai Dong. My grandfather was injured, and my father, Simon Xiao, took his place in battle, slaying seventy thousand enemies, and becoming renowned in Huai Dong. That year, on the battlefield, I was born." "The higher you stand, the harder you fall. Five years ago, I followed my brother and sister, leading an army eastward to the border's Wolf Fang Mountain to battle the pirates of Donghai. Aiming to replicate my father's achievements, we disastrously lost, with eighty thousand dead. Subsequently blamed, the Xiao family faced accountability." "Since then, the Xiao family of Dongyong Mountain was stripped of its honors, falling from grace. Soon after, the Xiao family faced extermination... Three hundred Xiao men were killed. In one night, centuries of the Xiao family ceased to exist. Even the Zhonghai Xiao family was toppled. Had it not been for my grandfather and father's desperate defense, I would have died in Dongyong Mountain. "Later, I wandered the world, traveling north to Kun Lun, following the Empress in cultivation for five years... Now, I have returned, yet unaware of the culprits behind my family's destruction." "I don't even know the reasons behind the obliteration of the Zhonghai Xiao family.” Tears streamed down Ben Xiao's face as he continued. "Uncle, Ben Xiao is unfilial!" After unearthing his uncle, Damon Xiao's tablet, Ben Xiao knelt on the ground, screaming in agony. Jacob, with tears streaming down, pleaded, "My lord, please take care of yourself! This time heading south, we will definitely uncover the reason behind the Zhonghai Xiao family's demise. I am using my connections to investigate thoroughly. We should have results soon.” After a while, Ben Xiao stood up, placed Bai Ye Xiao's tablet, and murmured, "I asked my master about the annihilation of the Dongyong Mountain Xiao family, but he remained silent. He even disapproved of my investigation into the past. I called my father, who scolded me for my ignorance and firmly forbade me from inquiring into the past." "The more they do so, the more I want to uncover the truth." Regaining composure, Ben Xiao asked, "Jacob, any news about my aunt's whereabouts?" Jacob, ashamed, shook his head, "I failed to find anything. The incident has been mysteriously erased, and the Zhonghai elite are tight-lipped." "I suspect only Roger Lei and the martial arts master behind him know about Rose Xie's whereabouts." "Oh, such tight lips?" Ben Xiao's gaze sharpened, "It seems the past is not simple. It appears we can only understand the true story behind the Zhonghai Xiao family's demise by finding my aunt." Jacob added, "In three days, Roger Lei is hosting a grand banquet, inviting countless elite families. I heard they intend to invite Ryder Su from Jiang Nan to ease tensions…" Ben Xiao took a deep breath, "How many in the Lei family?" Jacob, "Direct relatives of Roger Lei, nine in total." "Prepare nine coffins. In three days, we will bring them to the banquet." Leaving those words, Ben Xiao walked away. Jacob, looking at the ancestral tablets on the table, called after Ben Xiao's departing figure, "My lord, shall I collect these tablets?" "No need. Let them stay here. Once I annihilate our enemies, I'll bring the culprits here to bow before my uncle and his family. Then, execute them on the spot!" His voice echoed in Jacob's mind as he walked away. The rain started to pour down even harder as they walked out of the ruins. A sports car was parked by the road. A slender woman in a teal cheongsam stood by the car, holding an umbrella. She has a devilish figure and a face that could conquer a city. She is as beautiful as a painting. Upon seeing Ben Xiao, she hurried forward through the pouring rain, holding an umbrella over his head, "I've been looking everywhere for you..." Mid-sentence, Pearl Mu saw the bloodstains on Ben Xiao's hands. Instinctively grabbing them, her face showed pain and she slightly scolded, "What have you been doing?" Her tone was stern, yet filled with concern. Ben Xiao felt a warmth in his heart and said, "The ancestral tablets of my family were buried in the earth. I dug them out to let them see the sun and rain again..." Pearl Mu's heart suddenly ached, her tone softening, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of these sad memories." "Let's go, I'll take you home." With that, she pulled Ben Xiao into the car. Tears welled up in Ben Xiao's eyes. Home? It had been so long since anyone had called me home. Do I, Ben Xiao, still have a home? He looked up, gazing earnestly at the beautiful woman before him. Her hair, soaked in rain, became even more enchanting, and her drenched cheongsam clung tightly to her skin, revealing a perfect figure, even showing the outline of her clothes underneath, breathtakingly beautiful. In the misty rain of Jiangnan, a beauty capable of toppling nations. ......... Returning to 1 Wenchang Road, it was already 10 p.m. Pearl Mu took out a medical kit and went to Ben Xiao's room to bandage his hands. Perhaps due to her concern, she hadn't even changed out of her clothes. Her teal cheongsam was still damp. Whenever Ben Xiao lowered his head, he could see a beautiful view. However, seeing her focused on bandaging his wounds, a warm current flowed through his heart. For the first time in five years, Ben Xiao felt a sense of home. No one knew what kind of life Ben Xiao had led over the past five years. Nor did anyone know what he had endured during that time. After a while, Pearl Mu finished bandaging, "There, done. Don't wet your hands for three days, and it's best to avoid spicy food. It should be mostly healed in three days." Ben Xiao looked at his fingers wrapped in gauze. The bandaging was well done, neither too tight nor too loose, and looked good on the surface. Ben Xiao asked, "Your technique is impressive. What did you do before?" This was the first time Ben Xiao had taken the initiative to inquire about Pearl Mu's past. Pearl Mu didn't hide anything, tidying up the medical kit as she spoke, "I attended the best military academy in East of Huai River, trained as a medic. Mermaid Su was my college classmate." "Have you been to the battlefield?" "In the last semester of college, but not on the front lines. I was in a temporary hospital in the rear." Ben Xiao nodded, not asking further. However, Pearl Mu suddenly asked a question, "I talked to my father about you, but he didn't say much. Five years ago, you had a failed engagement?" Swoosh! At that, Ben Xiao's pupils suddenly constricted. ------------