The year's end had arrived. Heavy snow swirled through the sky, and Chen Commandery had once again become a kingdom of snow.
By Xie Family custom, the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was the day to worship the ancestors.
"You certainly look the part of a clan head."
Mu Chaoyun watched Xie Yuan don the intricate robes of the family head once more and gave a slight nod. Even she could not help revealing a hint of admiration.
Clad in Mystic Robe, he bore the air of a grandmaster, as still as deep waters and as towering as a mountain.
At this moment, no one would have guessed that Xie Yuan had only just passed twenty.
The experiences of his two lives had indeed made him more mature than his peers, while the past few years had been more turbulent and twisting than many people's entire lifetimes.
Xie Yuan smiled faintly. Although Mu Chaoyun had lived with the Xie Family for nearly half a year, perhaps she was still not used to seeing him so formally dressed.
Yet Xie Yuan himself felt as though a long time had passed. Two years ago, no one had thought highly of him; now, he had earned his position beyond dispute. He had been through far too much.
"You probably shouldn't show yourself during the ancestral rites... After some time, perhaps we can get you onto the Family Tree first?"
Half apologetic and half testing the waters, Xie Yuan paused after saying this, then shook his head with a laugh.
"Forget it. Neither of us can get onto the Family Tree."
Mu Chaoyun smiled softly and said in a quiet voice,
"It is enough that I can be with you. None of that matters."
Warmth flowed through Xie Yuan's heart. Holding Mu