Starting Sign-In from a Billionaire God Chapter 1262 - 1261

Descending like a celestial being or emerging from an ancient portrait, a young lady adorned in traditional Huaxia attire captivated all with her unparalleled, exquisite beauty. In times of old, legends spoke of the Four Great Beauties – Xi Shi, Diao Chan, Wang Zhaojun, and Yang Yuhuan – whose allure could make fish plummet and geese tumble from the sky, whose countenances could shame the moon and flowers.

The maiden before them, ethereal and fairy-like, seemed to embody such legendary grace.

Lin Fan, taken aback, inquired, "Who is this?"

Could such profound beauty truly be concealed within the Yun Clan?

Yet, upon his arrival at the Yun Clan, Lin Fan had observed that the vast majority of the young women wore veils, their faces concealed. What lay beneath these coverings—be it beauty or plainness—remained a mystery, and even a peerless beauty could have passed unnoticed by him.

Amidst the collective gaze, the elegantly stunning young lady approached Lin Fan, who was already in a state of astonishment, and accepted a goblet of wine from a nearby attendant.

"I offer this cup to you, in gratitude for saving our Yun Clan," the graceful young lady conveyed with a soft smile, a smile as gentle and breathtaking as a burgeoning spring breeze.

"Yun Qingyao?"

Lin Fan voiced his surprise. He had, in truth, recognized her earlier but found it difficult to reconcile this vision with his prior perception, as he had never seen Yun Qingyao's face before; everything else aligned perfectly, except for the revelation of her visage.

After all, Lin Fan had long assumed Yun Qingyao's veiling was due to an unsightly appearance. He had even harbored a degree of disdain for her throughout their travels because of this perceived flaw. Last night, when Yun Qingyao had been injured, Lin Fan had carried her back, albeit with considerable reluctance.

To think Yun Qingyao possessed such captivating beauty? No, 'beautiful' was an insufficient descriptor; she was akin to a celestial fairy. The people of Huaxia often harbored fantasies of such ethereal beings, and Yun Qingyao fit their collective imagination of a fairy perfectly.

If beauty were graded on a scale of ten, Yun Qingyao would score a twelve, her loveliness transcending the mortal realm.

In the realm of Ten Thousand Mountains, under the oppressive glare of the sun, the disciples of the Yun Sect were frequently engaged in rigorous martial training, their bodies constantly exposed to the elements. This regimen typically resulted in a healthy, sun-kissed bronze complexion for all Yun Sect members, irrespective of gender.

While bronze skin undeniably possesses its own charm and was, at times, considered a mark of high aesthetic value, a beauty with such a complexion, no matter how captivating, did not align with the traditional aesthetic ideals cherished by the Huaxia people.

The prevailing aesthetic standard for beauty among the Huaxia people leaned heavily towards fair skin.

Amidst a sea of bronzed complexions, Yun Qingyao stood out with her luminous, snow-white skin, resembling smooth, cool jade. Her bright eyes and pearly teeth further accentuated her striking appearance; her skin alone made her exceptionally noticeable.

Even before witnessing Yun Qingyao's face, Lin Fan had already been impressed by her figure and skin, forming the impression that everything about her was perfect, save for her countenance.

However, the ultimate verdict on a woman's beauty rests upon her face. Thus, even with every other feature scoring full marks, Lin Fan remained guarded, entertaining the possibility that Yun Qingyao's face might resemble that of Zhong Wuyan.

Based on Lin Fan's earlier conjectures, he had reasoned that Yun Qingyao concealed her face either due to its unattractiveness or disfigurement from injuries – perhaps burns, scalds, or other kinds of scars.

It was only at this precise moment, upon beholding Yun Qingyao's face, that Lin Fan’s perspective underwent a complete transformation, his heart involuntarily quickening its pace.

Yun Qingyao’s face bore no blemishes, no scars – it was simply flawless.

As a man of normal disposition, Lin Fan found it challenging to maintain his composure with such an exquisite fairy standing before him.

At this juncture, Yun Qingyao finished the wine in her cup. However, her tolerance for alcohol seemed low, as she let out two soft coughs, and a delicate blush bloomed on her cheeks.

This flush rendered her even more alluring, her pink-tinged face making her almost irresistibly enchanting.

Lin Fan composed himself, taking a moment to regain his composure before raising his own glass to drain its contents.

The assembled onlookers observed this exchange with knowing smiles, their expressions conveying a sort of teasing familiarity, akin to that of amused aunts.

Lin Fan quickly noticed their peculiar smiles and felt a growing curiosity, sensing that something was amiss.

After their shared toast, Yun Qingyao cast a brief, seemingly shy glance at Lin Fan before gracefully moving to sit beside her master, Yun Zhongzheng.

Lin Fan found himself unable to tear his gaze away, utterly captivated by her stunning visage.

Had he known of Yun Qingyao's breathtaking beauty beforehand, their journey to the Yun Sect would undoubtedly have unfolded quite differently.

Lin Fan, unlike those paralyzed by a beautiful sight, had grown accustomed to the presence of many stunning women. Even figures like Wei Yue’er, Wei Qingxue, Su Jinjin, and Chen Lingling, all top-tier beauties, had never rendered him so flustered as he navigated a field of blossoms.

For the very first time, Lin Fan felt a flutter of unease, stirred by a single face.

This was primarily due to Yun Qingyao’s breathtaking beauty, but also because of a profound sense of discrepancy—he had mistakenly believed Yun Qingyao was unattractive, and the stark contrast with reality left him momentarily stunned.

Fortunately, Lin Fan was no ordinary individual; he quickly regained his composure and steadied his mind.

With Yun Qingyao’s arrival, a brief hush fell over the crowd before the singing and dancing resumed, maintaining the vibrant, celebratory atmosphere.

Yun Xiaoqi approached with a smile, extending his congratulations, "Brother Lin, congratulations, congratulations."

This unexpected declaration left Lin Fan perplexed. "Congratulations for what?"

Yun Xiaoqi offered the same knowing smile from before. "Brother Lin, you may not be aware, but within our Yun Clan, there’s a strict rule: unmarried women past the age of sixteen must veil their faces. They are forbidden from letting men outside the clan see them; it is considered a solemn taboo."

When the Yun Clan relocated from the Central Plains to the mountains, they retained many ancient customs, leading to the emergence of certain peculiar traditions. In antiquity, girls were considered eligible for marriage at fourteen, marking their adulthood. However, influenced by contemporary norms, the Yun Clan has since extended this age to sixteen, signifying readiness for marriage.

While this age adjustment is not particularly unusual, the veiling custom itself is quite peculiar. Unmarried women beyond the age of sixteen are mandated to cover their faces whenever external males are present; the rule specifically targets the presence of non-clan males and necessitates the face covering.

Thus, Yun Qingyao’s decision to veil her face in public was not due to any perceived ugliness or facial blemishes, but entirely because of the Yun Clan’s deeply ingrained tradition!

This rule implied that Yun Qingyao had prioritized adhering to her clan’s statutes over revealing her face, even to the point of preferring death to allowing Lin Fan to see her countenance while she was under his control.

Upon learning of this peculiar regulation, Lin Fan's bewilderment deepened. "Hmm, I still don't quite grasp why you say congratulations?"

Yun Xiaoqi let out a hearty laugh. "Because our Yun Clan's rule further stipulates that unmarried women must keep their faces veiled from external men until they encounter someone they genuinely admire. Only then are they permitted to unveil themselves."