Soul Emperor Martial God Chapter 2: Maid Yiyi

Twin spirits are the stuff of legend on the Yanlong Continent; whispered about, but never seen by mortal eyes.

And a purple martial spirit? That’s exceptionally rare, an astonishing anomaly.

Even the venerable elders within the Xiao family predominantly possess martial spirits of the Huang-rank.

To boast a blue martial spirit alone marks one as a prodigy, celebrated across the entire continent. To possess the supreme purple martial spirit is beyond imagination.

"Let's test the effects," Xiao Yi mused, deep in thought.

Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps approached from outside the door.

"Hm?" Xiao Yi's ear twitched. As an assassin, his senses were honed to even the slightest environmental shifts.

"Someone's coming," Xiao Yi instantly abandoned his contemplation of the Martial Spirit. He lay back down on the bed, feigning slumber.

If the approaching individual was an adversary, this pretense would lull them into a false sense of security, granting him ample time and opportunity to strike.

With a gentle creak, the door swung open.

A glance from Xiao Yi, aided by the dim light, revealed a woman entering the room.

Dressed in simple commoner's clothes, she moved with her back to him, closing the door seamlessly.

Her face remained unseen, but her posture – a delicate frame and light, graceful steps – hinted at a true beauty.

"Oh my, when will Master Xiao Yi awaken?"

The woman's voice was a melody, as pure and sweet as a silver bell, imbued with an unmistakable tone of worry and tender care.

She approached the bedside, a steaming bowl of medicine cradled in her hands.

Sensing no threat from the woman, Xiao Yi cautiously opened his eyes a sliver.

The moment his gaze met hers, his eyes shot wide open.

"My goodness, what hideous monster dares to frighten this young master?" Xiao Yi recoiled, shocked by the woman's appearance, nearly unleashing a punch instinctively.

It turned out this woman was far from a beauty. On the contrary, she was remarkably plain, even bordering on ugly. Her face was a blotchy canvas of blue and red, lending her a peculiar and unsettling look.

"Ah!" The woman gasped, instinctively flinching away.

However, still clutching the medicinal bowl, she quickly regained her composure. She did not evade further but merely turned her face aside, closing her eyes with a timid resignation.

Xiao Yi’s reflexes were swift; he immediately retracted his fist.

He wasn't one to judge solely by outward appearance, nor did he harbor any prejudice.

It was simply that the stark contrast between his preconceived notions and the woman's actual visage had nearly provoked an unthinking assault.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Xiao Yi inquired, his voice a low rumble, retracting his fist.

Seeing Xiao Yi had not struck, the woman tentatively opened her eyes, a lingering trace of fear still clouding her expression.

"This is Master Xiao Yi's life-saving medicine. It cannot be spilled. Master Xiao Yi must recover quickly," she replied softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Aren't you afraid I might hurt you?" Xiao Yi questioned, his brow furrowed.

The woman simply shook her head. "Yiyi's life belongs to Young Master. If Young Master wishes to take it, so be it."

"You..." Xiao Yi's breath hitched. Now, in the clearer light, he could perceive her features more distinctly.

She was, in fact, merely a young girl, her features delicately formed, possessing a subtle charm if one looked closely.

Were it not for the sickly pallor and the discolored patches marring her face, she undoubtedly possessed the potential for great beauty.

"Ah!" The girl suddenly seemed to recall something. "Master Xiao Yi, you've finally awakened! I must inform the Third Elder immediately!"

With that, the girl carefully placed the medicine bowl on the table and hurried away.

Xiao Yi accessed the memories now flooding his mind.

This girl's name was Yiyi, and she was fifteen years old.

Her parents had perished when she was very young. Pitying her plight, Xiao Yi's father had purchased her to be Xiao Yi's personal attendant.

In her childhood, Yiyi had been an adorable, well-behaved, and sensible child.

However, Xiao Yi, as the epitome of a useless wastrel, would often take out his frustrations on Yiyi after suffering bullying outside.

Yiyi endured frequent abuse from him. Lacking adequate food and warm clothing, she naturally grew thin and pale.

Furthermore, on the very day before Xiao Yi was cast down the cliff, he had severely beaten her, leaving the lingering bruises that still marked her face.

"Sigh..." Xiao Yi let out a heavy sigh, a pang of regret for his earlier outburst.

"Why must this renowned name belong to such a pathetic trash?" For the first time, Xiao Yi felt a profound disgust for the body he now inhabited.

Not long after, a middle-aged man burst into the room.

This was Xiao Zhong, the third elder of the Xiao family. He had once been a trusted confidant of Xiao Yi's father and was now acting as the family patriarch.

The young Xiao Yi had been cared for by the Third Elder following his father's mysterious disappearance.

"You're awake! Truly awake! This is wonderful!" Xiao Zhong stammered, overwhelmed with relief and joy.

"If Yi'er encounters any harm, how will I face the Patriarch in the future?" Xiao Zhong inquired earnestly, seated by the bedside as he observed Xiao Yi.

He felt a significant sense of relief upon verifying that Xiao Yi's breathing was steady and there were no critical issues.

Xiao Yi's father had been absent for many years, yet Xiao Zhong had consistently provided care for Xiao Yi.

At this moment, a thought surfaced that made the joy on Xiao Zhong's face abruptly shift to sorrow.

"Alas, Yi'er, why were you so careless? To fall off a cliff while simply wandering in the back mountains... These days you've been unconscious, within the family..."

Xiao Zhong appeared distressed and started to speak, but seeing Xiao Yi's current state, he abruptly ceased.

"Never mind, you've only just awakened. You need more rest. The other elders await my return to preside over the family meeting."

With that, Xiao Zhong retrieved a pouch of items from his person, placed it on the table, gave Xiao Yi a lingering, profound look, and then slowly departed.

Xiao Yi distinctly perceived the complex emotions in Xiao Zhong's gaze—a mixture of concern and affection, overshadowed by a deep sadness.

After Xiao Zhong's departure, Xiao Yi turned to Yiyi, who was nearby, and asked, "Yiyi, what has transpired?"

Yiyi had accompanied Xiao Zhong back and was now meticulously cooling a herbal concoction, ensuring it was warm but not scalding for Xiao Yi's consumption.

Responding to Xiao Yi's inquiry, Yiyi lifted her head, her expression showing clear hesitation and uncertainty.

"What exactly is happening?" Xiao Yi inquired, his brow furrowed.

Yiyi hesitated, then softly stated, "Young Master, you have only just woken up and your body is still frail. Please take this medicine and rest. The family matters are being handled by the three elders."

"Tell me," Xiao Yi insisted.

"This..." Yiyi lowered her head, nervously fiddling with the edge of her garment.

"Speak!" Xiao Yi commanded.

Yiyi winced slightly but then confessed truthfully, "Young Master, during your unconsciousness these past few days, Miss Jiao'er came and rescinded your marriage engagement."

Fearing Xiao Yi might be overwhelmed by the news, Yiyi quickly added, "Young Master, you were in a coma for several days, and everyone believed your recovery was unlikely. Miss Jiao'er was concerned for her own future happiness. Now that you are awake, simply explain this to Miss Jiao'er, and she will surely reconsider."

"Heh," Xiao Yi chuckled lightly. "I had assumed it was because of some perceived flaw that she would not change her mind. It is better that such a cruel woman's engagement is broken. That is all for the best."

"Ah?" Yiyi was startled, thinking to herself if the Young Master perhaps had sustained a head injury. Miss Jiao'er was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the city, the daughter of the Murong family; what man could resist her allure?

Ziyun City was dominated by three major clans: the Xiao family, the Murong family, and the Jiang family.

"Is there anything else?" Xiao Yi continued to question.

Yiyi replied, "The family elders have also resolved to strip you of your position as Young Patriarch."

Xiao Yi's expression turned serious.

The former Xiao Yi, possessing limited talent and a questionable character, was deemed unworthy of the Young Patriarch title. All the elders looked down on him and harbored considerable dissatisfaction.

This incident, falling off a cliff in the back mountains, was perceived as a fortunate release for the family from this 'waste', whose actions brought shame upon the entire Xiao clan.

Consequently, the elders had no intention of allowing him to retain his status as Young Patriarch.

"Where there's smoke, there's fire. This matter must have been orchestrated," Xiao Yi sneered.

He understood that even if he revealed the truth—that he was pushed off the cliff by Xiao Ruohan—no one within the Xiao family would believe him.

After all, one was considered a useless disgrace to the family's name.

The other was a recognized family genius with a promising future.

"Young Master, the medicine is ready to be taken," Yiyi announced, retrieving the bowl of medicine, prepared to administer it to Xiao Yi.

At this precise moment, a commotion and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the chamber.

"This waste, Xiao Yi, is a nuisance. He's already fallen from the back mountain, why didn't he just die?"

"It's a good thing you didn't die, you trash. If you had died, we wouldn't have had any more fun at your expense."

"..."

A torrent of mocking and contemptuous remarks flooded the air.

With a resounding 'bang,' the door was violently kicked open, and two young men strode in.

"Xiao Jie, Xiao Shi," Xiao Yi stated, his frown deepening.

Xiao Jie, the son of the Seventh Elder; Xiao Shi, the son of the Eighth Elder.

Despite their kinship, being Xiao Yi's cousins, they had never treated him as such. They relentlessly bullied him and pilfered his cultivation resources.

In the past, their actions ranged from light insults and mockery to severe beatings, leaving Xiao Yi physically battered and bruised.

"As expected, the three elders really allocated these cultivation resources to this good-for-nothing," Xiao Jie’s gaze immediately fell upon the bag of items resting on the table.

Each month, the members of the Xiao family were granted a stipend of silver and pills by the family, intended to aid their cultivation journey.

"Get out of here, right now," Xiao Yi’s cold stare fixed upon the pair.

"Oh, you pathetic trash, you’re actually getting angry now."

"Haha, isn't this good-for-nothing's brain damaged after he fell down the mountain?"

Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi taunted him with evident disdain, advancing towards Xiao Yi in an overbearing manner.

They had grown accustomed to seizing Xiao Yi’s cultivation resources and bullying him at every opportunity.

"You two mean bullies, don't you dare lay a hand on Young Master Xiao Yi!" Yiyi positioned herself defensively in front of the bed.

Casually grabbing a stick from beside the bed, Yiyi brandished it erratically, attempting to intimidate Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi and shield the vulnerable Xiao Yi.