Two days later (Seven days after the Soul-Bond)
Xiyu woke with an aching pain all over her. Even her vision seemed to be faltering. Yet, she had seven days left till her deadline. She calmed herself and sat cross-legged on the ice floor of her new bedroom. Just two days ago, Muxue Yan had assigned the three of them to their respective chambers.
Their companions had yet to be found, and their fates were still a mystery. She had related her description of the Minotaur-looking creatures to Muxue Yan, but all he did was shake his head and mention that the two were former disciples of his, Yamon and Anong. They did not speak the language of humans, but yet, they understood to a supreme level, how the mechanisms of the place worked and thus, were able to do what they could to segregate the team and send her and Dongyue to the floors below.
A few questions were still unanswered, appearing confusing to her.
The white-robed priests and priestesses, and Yamon and Anong. Why had they not dared to lay a finger on her? Even the minotaur-like creatures had merely used the lever to lower them to the underground levels. Something didn’t seem right. She remembered the fearful looks on the priests and priestesses’ faces. Since these people had a belief of their own, it was unlikely that they were afraid of her due to her curse, or her nature of being a witch.
She focused her mind on the new memory she had unlocked. Though not her memory, she sensed that she was strongly connected to it. It could be that she was the baby in the memory, and this was a memory that was left behind her possible biological mother. What if her parents were not her birth parents? This could be the correct explanation to why she had a distant relationship with her father, although her mother Lady Peony was often compelled to care for her. Since young, she blamed everything on her birth during a blood moon and the power she was believed to harness.
Muxue Yan had said she was not his descendant. Did that mean she was someone closer to him, or someone unrelated? But her blood was able to unlock the secret room in the Crimson Fairy, and release him from his bonds, that only a worthy member of the Muxue clan was able to. Given these two occurrences, she significantly believed she was a true Muxue. Furthermore, Yan had pronounced her the owner of the island.
She peered down at her wrists. A side effect of the soul-bond, purple veins were starting to develop and informing her that she did not have much time left. She sighed deeply.
Who would have thought that she did not even have five days before the fatality of the traditional magic overtook her and robbed her life from her? She wept silently, feeling overwhelmed by emotion and everything that had just happened to her.
She was only eighteen; she didn’t want to die just yet. When she had not come close to achieving anything as the owner of Muxue, she couldn’t die. There was so much that had to be done in the name of Muxue. Though the people of Muxue were not afraid of death, this did not mean she had to embrace death. She wanted to live, for herself and everyone around her that needed her.
Finally, she thought of Dongyue. It was a shame she had not met him earlier, and he was the only one who could free her from her fate of a short lifespan. She didn’t know what and how to tell him that he needed to mate with her to help her. It was agonising. Albeit her growing attraction of him and the fact that they were already bonded for life, she was unable to bring herself to tell him.
While she wept, it appeared to send signals to him that she was in a state of intense depression. Amidst her tears, Xiyu heard the ice door creak and a worried Dongyue entered the room.
She realised her blunder and how she had forgotten about their connection. Just how long could she keep Dongyue from the truth before he eventually found out? He was a smart man, although too smart for his good. But what could he do, even if he discovered about her situation? It took two for the ritual to work. She still had her considerations. Perhaps Dongyue might not even be keen on doing the deed with her. It wasn't enjoyable.
“Xiyu,” he greeted her, falling to his feet to crawl to her side. “Don’t cry, Xiyu. I am here. Tell me what I can do.”
Turning away from him, she coughed slightly into a small handkerchief and tied her hair in a small ponytail. “Dongyue, it’s been ages since I went home. Please, we have to go soon.”
She noticed that she was drawing blood from her intermittent coughs, and subsequently hid her handkerchief, but given the brilliant man Dongyue was, a quick stroke led to the cloth falling into his palm instead.
“Xiyu…” he paused and took a few moments to inhale and exhale. “You accepted me as your man. Now, there shouldn’t be anything you should keep from me. I told you that I wouldn’t leave. Not when you are in this state. And I won’t leave without you.”
“Mu-Xue-Yan” she struggled to speak. “When- will- he- be- willing - to”
She found difficulty in finishing her sentence, but Dongyue understood what she had meant to say.
“He is still finishing up his business here. Once he is done with that, we will be able to leave.”
She crumbled into a heap, feeling weakness in all her limbs. She was already powerless and unable to move or do anything beyond her ability. Her vision blurred again, and she breathed in deeply, sensing the feeling of a large boulder being shoved on her small body. “Help,” she uttered, stretching her hands out to Dongyue.
Dongyue’s heart churned. He had never seen her in such a terrible condition before, and the only thought on his mind was that he could transfer into her, part of his vitality, to make better her state. Propping her up against the wall adjacent to her bed, he recited his verses again. She felt energy spark inside her, and also felt touched that it was at the cost of Dongyue’s health.
Noticing her get a bit better made him ecstatic, and he continued to transfer more of his vitality into her, but she stopped him.
“Dongyue, it’s enough. I’m okay now, but be mindful that to continue with this without a break, is hazardous to your health.”
He smiled and indulged in a tickle under her chin. Xiyu’s cheeks flushed a deep red. Whether it was her blood circulation improving or she was shy to his teases, he wasn’t able to tell from looking her alone. However, tapping into the connection they shared would reveal the answer. He chose not to.
“Xiyu, what matters is you get better,” he conveyed to her, taking her hand in his and holding it to his heart, a gesture she would not fathom as it was a standard action in Yilong that couples would do. He had learned of it from his parents, and the stories he had often read.
“You want me to feel your heart,” Xiyu shrugged, forgetting how she would be cold to him in the past.
“Are you falling in love with me yet?” he teased with a playful wink. Xiyu trembled, unsure of what to answer. Even if she was to deny her feelings for him, ultimately they were destined to each other through the soul-bond. It was irreversible as far as she had known, but that was not the issue now. And since they had the connection, it was pointless for her to hide her feelings.
He could know just by tapping into her. However, this tapping consumed energy, and they had to conserve as much energy as possible if he wished to continue with his healing of her.
She took a deep breath and counted. If tomorrow was the last day she had to live, she wanted to tell him her feelings. But now, she found it arduous how she could say to him everything that was on her mind.
“Dongyue, kiss me.” Her tone was demanding as usual, but he also heard the ecstasy in her voice. He told himself that it was okay, and she would eventually want more from him as their feelings developed over time.
She had not said how she wanted him to kiss her, so he assumed she had wished on her, his usual, naughty kisses. Obligingly, he crashed his lips against her furiously, only to receive not much of a response from her. Something was wrong. His Xiyu must have sustained severe internal injuries.
This could not happen, he told himself. Xiyu could not come to any danger, because he loved her too much. Immediately he stopped the kiss and seized her right wrist abruptly.
“No!” she gasped, fearing that he would notice the purple veins on her wrist, and she struggled to cover her wrist with her thin sleeves as much as she could.
It was at that point when the parchment paper rolled out from under her sleeves, alerting the unsuspecting Dongyue who picked it up and read it carefully. She had again forgotten about their shared ability in reading ancient texts.
The room fell into a deep silence. Horror was written all over Dongyue’s now-pale face, and at the same time, enraged. She had never seen him so mad before, even when he was jealous of Hanshan, but now the usually-calm man was ready to erupt with anger. Had she not been rendered to this state of weakness, she would have taken it against him. But now, she could not.
His eyes were now glowing with fury.