(Hours later)
"Young Master Zhan."
Her soft hair stroked his face as she lay next to him. His arms were wrapped around her so tightly that she could not budge. She didn't like being restrained like this, even though he had just wanted to take care of her.
Xiyu was so used to being alone, that having another person with her in the room triggered her anxiety. Even though she enjoyed him being around her and it eased her loneliness, she didn't know if she would ever get accustomed to another person in the room. But even then, a married couple didn't need to sleep in the same chamber. She knew at least some married couples in Muxue didn't sleep in the same room, mostly for health reasons.
She called him again, and he didn't say a word. Anxiously, she decided to attempt to release herself from her 'bonds' by using her magic. Even if it didn't work, it was worth a try. Her spells and magic were already replenished, and she no longer sensed any pain from her injuries earlier. Dongyue's soul-bonding and healing had helped in that aspect. She was as good as new.
She began by murmuring the words of her spell softly but was suddenly interrupted by his voice.
"Don't waste your spell," Dongyue's voice greeted her abruptly. "You know that your offensive spells don't work on me, Miss Muxue."
She looked at him with an annoyed look. "Let go of me, Zhan Dongyue!"
"Not until you be a good girl and take a good rest," he said. "Don't think I won't know you will sneak off on me when I release you."
"I'm eighteen, not a little girl!" she yelled at him.
"Is it that hard to lie down and rest?" he retorted strictly like a village teacher teaching a rebellious student.
"I, Muxue Xiyu, will not be constrained by anyone! I have my freedom to do what I want!" she insisted. "Just leave me be, I don't need you in the same room!"
"You need some space, Miss Muxue?" he asked. "Right now, the men are still gathering food for us, and won't be back until later tonight. It's a long climb down the temple to the nearest fruit source." The path out of the temple and back was quite far.
"Who are you, Zhan Dongyue, to control me like this?" she shouted at him irately.
"I said before, my actions mean I should become your husband," he said in her face tenderly. "I would never control you, Miss Muxue. I only seek to ensure that you stay out of harm's way. This temple is unknown to us, and you shouldn't wander around alone."
"Did I say that I want to walk around alone?" she demanded, pointing at him. "I just want you to leave the room now!"
"What if I don't want to?" he queried her. "I am supposed to look after you. As an injured person who needs more rest to recover, you shouldn't be so disobedient!"
"Fine, I'll stay in the room so that you can rest on that!" she muttered with a displeased tone. He stood up in disappointment and walked to the magical door. It was made of such hard ice, that one had to push hard on it to open or close it. He mumbled another chant, and she observed the door glint with a deep orange glow.
She could sense his devastation. He had felt so strongly about her. Was this the so-called feelings of love, that might end up being her demise?
"I've placed a barrier on this door. You won't be able to get out even if you wish. Only I will be able to let you out," he said. "I'll take my leave so that you can take some rest, Miss Muxue."
Shamanic power? Xiyu wondered. She didn't understand how this extremely normal human man could have such capabilities.
"Who are you actually, Zhan Dongyue?" she asked as he was about to leave the room. From the looks of it, he must have been hiding his powers for a very long time.
"Someone who frightened his own family, and had to be locked up and away from any female contact," Dongyue uttered sadly. Nobody knew of how he, as a young child had been playing in the wilds when out of the blue, he had dug out an ancient book made of bamboo and wooden slips bound together, which was buried in the earth. As some writing on the book in blood had asked for its existence to be kept a secret, he did as instructed.
He first put his powers to use by healing the bird, but that one time had freaked out his parents, and they had ordered him locked away. He could never forget his mother's pale face and how she had almost fainted of shock when he revealed he had saved the bird's life. In the solitude of his room, he hid the book in one of the loose bricks in his wall and practised all the powers recorded in the book. He did not understand that an ordinary person was not able to comprehend what was taught in the book.
But because he was no ordinary person, born with a powerfully cursed horoscope and condemned by others for being cursed, he found he was able to cast shamanic magic. It also gave him some magical resistance to Xiyu's magic. Would Xiyu understand?
This was something maybe only A'Bu, the shaman of Muxue would understand, she thought. The man was highly eccentric, and hardly anyone understood him, but he might be able to shine some light on her concerns. A cursed man with shamanic powers he kept a secret, now, that was something for her to consider. Now that she was connected to this man by a soul-bond and given her growing need to perform a ritual, he would be a suitable candidate. But what if she fell for him?
She had thought she would end up dying celibate after she felt betrayal from Hanshan's actions. Then, this man had just walked into her life and upset the balance she had created in Muxue all these years. It would be such a shame to kill him, and killing him was impossible now since they shared a connection. His death might pose a risk to her due to the soul-bond.
"Wait, you don't have to go," she said. Dongyue turned around. She pointed to a far corner of the room. "You can sleep there. This way, you can continue with your protection."
He felt her words were a lot warmer now, and he nodded happily.
She turned and stealthily turned away from him, bringing out the parchment from her sleeve. In her haste, she had not studied the words that were inscribed on it. It read:
'After the soul-bonding, the initiator and the receiver will be bonded to each other as mates for life. The emotional state of mind should reflect on this, and seeing images of each other is normal. But in fourteen days, if the ritual-bonding is not fulfilled, the receiver will…
...Die?'
She was astounded intensely by the last sentence on the parchment. In any event, she did not wish to die; she was just too young for death. There was much she had to take care of, and primarily she had to protect the island Muxue Yan had founded. Even though he was back, it did not mean he could live forever to be able to guard it.
Now, it appeared that her days were limited. She had wanted to continue protecting the island for a very long time since witches of her kind had a longer lifespan compared to humans. But now, it seemed that she had to find a solution. Fourteen days. It was just too short.
Her heart had ached upon sensing his dismay, but finding him thrilled with her, allowing him to stay was exceptionally relaxing to her. She realised this was an adverse effect of the soul-bond they now shared. She hoped he wasn't able to tap in on her emotions similarly to how she did with him.
Maintaining her composure, she extended her hand to him. "In the future, you don't have to call me Miss Muxue. I wouldn't say I like this form of address. It makes me think of my workers."
She stared at him intensely with her round and adorable eyes. "Will you call me Xiyu instead?"
He realised that she was no longer cold to him when she looked at him this way, and her body language was rather welcoming and full of emotion. Was her ice melting?
"I will call you Xiyu then. Will you call me Dongyue?"
She nodded, and in no time, she was pressed against the wall, with his arms curled around her, while kissing and touching her luscious lips with his larger lips. For the first time, he had sensed emotion from the woman, and it was not only sensuality this time. He felt warmth and hope emit from the beauty and hoped that soon, he would be able to provide her with the security she deserved.
He needed all the luck he could get.