It felt like only yesterday they had come to Xuancang Mountains. Now, it was time for the couple to bid their goodbyes to the structure, that would always remain a mystery to Zhan Dongyue. Save for making a few final arrangements, the three of them, along with Xiao Tian, were prepared to seal the temple and return to the island.
Xiyu was mindful of how long it had been since she had left the island into the portal that led into the Xuancang Mountains. She missed her lands and her people, but a question remained in her mind. Would they ever be able to return to Xuancang again, if they wished?
“Is everything ready?” Xiyu asked Dongyue. She noticed how forlorn he had been after she had revealed the truth of how the bulls had treated their companions. However, there was nothing much he could do at this point, and Yan had already decreed for the bulls to be executed for treason some days ago.
“Master is still by Goddess Ao Yun’s coffin, bidding his goodbyes,” Commander West informed the couple. West had been promoted to being Yan’s now most trusted aide following his success at apprehending the offenders. A part of Dongyue felt satiated that the bulls had been brought to justice, but another part of him told himself he was forgetting his big-heartedness. He should not wish death upon the worst of his enemies, he reminded himself. Besides, the bulls had mercy on his friends and spared them from death.
Unfortunately, Ya’Xing had a weaker constitution and mind and was rendered mentally unsound. He would occasionally laugh out of nowhere, and sometimes utter words that did not make sense when put together. Dongyue decided that the best would be for Ya’Xing to remain at the temple. It was in Muxue Yan’s ability to transport the structure as he wished. If he wanted to bring it to a hidden spot on Muxue, he could do so. But most of his minions had pledged their loyalty by offering to stay back. For eternity, they would guard the temple and Ao Yun’s remains and memories.
This was also the reason why Xiyu was hesitant to leave. She had just discovered she had parents who were not the two who had raised and cared for her. While the truth about her actual parentage was disconcerting, she felt she had closure. She had never questioned Muxue Yan’s motives or why his children (known as the sons of Muxue Yan and Ao Yun when she was informed as a child) had betrayed him.
Before she knew he was her father, she had been filled with admiration and respect for him, but when she found out he was her father, she suddenly felt fear and desolation. Muxue Yan had a terrifying aura about him at times, although she would occasionally feel some warmth from him. She was clueless about whether he truly cared about her without a hidden agenda. He gave her a perplexed feeling about him, and even when he announced that she was going to marry Dongyue, she didn’t even dare disobey.
It turned out it was so difficult to love someone, she thought sadly. Had she been another woman, she would willingly give everything to be with Dongyue. But she was the cold and unemotional Muxue Xiyu, a woman who had been hurt once. Dongyue had to be prepared for the challenges that awaited in acquiring her heart. He could have her body easily, but for her to fully open her heart to him was another matter.
However, after the incident yesterday, she was starting to see Dongyue distinctly. He was no longer the annoying stranger that had trespassed into her heart. Aside from being a dutiful husband, he also cared for those around him. But this was not her main concern. Did the men of Yilong expect their wives to bear children? This again, was something she was uncertain about.
In the solitude of their chamber, she felt the tender touch of his long fingers on her skin as he drew her closer to face him. His fingers journeyed across her face, stroking her cheeks and then her chin, before falling downwards to settle at her waist.
“It’s because you care, that you hid the truth from me,” Dongyue pronounced. She held her silence, but yet she did not deny what he said was right. He could easily read her like a book.
He revealed, “I’m not angry, Xiyu. I just hoped we could communicate more. Talk to me, Xiyu. I’m not a stranger, I’m your husband.” She stared at him and observed how his silvery strands glimmered under the sunlight streaming into the icy shards of the temple windows.
She heard him speak to her through their connection. We have gone through the rites, been through a soul-bond and I am ready to venture to the ends of the Earth with you.
“Give me time, Dongyue. I need time to know our relationship is for real. I can’t just accept you, Dongyue.”
He didn’t fathom why she was pushing him away, even though the bond between them was in place and he already sensed some of her feelings for him. But she was so hardheaded that she still found contentment in hiding her feelings. How long could she hide under her icy facade? Women like her were indeed rare. For a woman in Yilong to allow a man to kiss her and touch her, and yet act cold and unemotional, would be subjected to much judgment and discrimination. Despite all this, Xiyu was all he wanted, and he would be willing to stay with her all his life, in Muxue.
………………………...
Xiyu sank deep in the sheets, pondering their return the next morning. Why was she so uncertain about returning to the island? Xiyu interrogated herself. Wasn’t the island her homeland and where she belonged? She was hesitant to leave, but she was also afraid of returning. She felt a premonition that something far from good was about to happen.
It must be something to do with the moons and their orbit, she realised. There would be occasional encounters that she would feel some clairvoyance, although such occurrences did not happen very often. Her hunch had been accurate before, and this time, the feeling she had was way more powerful than how she had sensed before. She was adamant that something grim would happen this time, but she couldn’t stay for much longer in the temple. The temple made her feel eerie at times, and the bathroom had already interfered with her magic.
The downside of how clairvoyant she had been earlier, also gave her another message. She was starting to feel extremely hot. Taking a glance towards her left, she acknowledged that her man was asleep. She produced a small flame with a flick of her fingers and held it near Dongyue to observe his sleeping visage closely. He had a sharp and long nose and perfectly-sized eyes. Since he was asleep, she shouldn’t have qualms to disrobe, she thought, and pulled off her undergarments, slipping them onto the floor beside her side of the bed.
He wouldn’t be able to see her undress, anyway. And even if he did, without her acceptance, he would not be able to even touch her intimately.
His eyes had the power to impale rays right through one and seduce one into nothingness. With such good looks, she could not evade from caving in to her desires and beg him with her eyes to take her in bed. She blushed at the thought that he was finally doing a good job. He was a quick learner.
But she also felt guilty. She shouldn’t have to use him to satisfy her needs, even if it was one of the marriage laws in Muxue. He was still a downright Yilong citizen.
She heard him stir, and whisper to her, pulling her tightly to him under the blanket.
“Aren’t you going to sleep, Dongyue? We are going home tomorrow.” With so many thoughts on her mind, she was not in the mood for anything wild at the moment.
He shook his head, but she knew the answer. Ya’Xing was mentally unsound. Returning would be highly unfavourable to him, since traveling would only aggravate his condition and prove frightening to him.
He had promised the man riches in their expedition, and now instead, his body’s reaction to the experimental poisons by the bulls had messed up his mind and soul. The man had to remain with Yan’s minions until their chemists were able to produce a cure. At least, staying in the temple would keep him safe, Dongyue thought.
Dongyue caressed Xiyu’s hair as he remembered her exasperation previously. Even if he couldn't give her eternity, he would give his utmost. He would never let her feel devastated and lonely again. Even if she did anything to hurt him in future, he supposed he would never be in the position to blame her.
She had been so serene all this while. He couldn't neglect her feelings.
"Xiyu, are you happy to go home?" he mouthed gently, cradling her petite body against his. He sensed the softness of her seemingly naked skin, which teased him under the sheets.
"Dongyue, I'm tired," were her last words before she collapsed, motionless, into a deep slumber. An amused husband just watched on at his wife's adorableness. He knew she had not been sleeping well these days, and tonight was the time to make up for her beauty and uh, magic-recovering sleep.
He only hoped that it would be just as harmonious when they returned to the island. Then, he resolved to create more opportunities for him to prove his worth to her as her lesser male.
(End of Book One)