Chapter 107 Union of Spirits

In front of the sect gate, the young man’s cyan clothes were stained with blood, and he carried a sword on his back.

The disciples who came down from Hengyang Immortal Mountain whispered among themselves, “He’s still here. Doesn’t he know that everyone hates him? Why hasn’t the law enforcement senior brother thrown him out yet?”

Another added, “Even if we drive him away, he’ll be back in no time.”

“He still dares to wish to see Immortal Yu Ling? Doesn’t he know that in a few days, she’s going to marry Senior Brother Fuya?”

As soon as the words fell, Cang Jiumin, who had previously never fought back or reacted, suddenly appeared beside the disciple and grabbed his collar. “What did you say?!”

The male disciple was momentarily intimidated by his approach, but remembering how badly injured Su Su had been when she returned from Penglai, he found it hard to show him any friendly expression.

“I said Yu Ling and Fuya are getting married. If you still have any self-awareness, go back to your Penglai and stop dirtying up this place.”

Cang Jiumin’s fingers tightened, his gaze cold as he stared at him.

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He lowered his eyes, and the strange look in them softened as he looked at the wedding dress.

“I thought you were unwilling,” Yao Guang said.

Yue Fuya’s ears turned slightly red, and he concisely¹言简意赅 (yánjiǎn-yìgāi) – concise and comprehensive (idiom) replied, “No.”

Yao Guang laughed. “Take good care of Su Su in the future.”

Now, except for Su Su, everyone in Hengyang knew that Yue Fuya was going to become her Dao companion. Qu Xuanzi had also tacitly approved of it. Su Su’s safety was of utmost importance to him. 

However, for Yue Fuya, Su Su’s condition required him, as the giver, to relinquish a substantial amount of his cultivation to nurture her back to health.

Although it was described to be dual cultivation, it was actually him using his own cultivation to repair her life soul. This could potentially hinder his own progress.

Initially, Yao Guang was afraid that Yue Fuya might harbor some resentment, but who would’ve thought he regarded this matter as sweet as honey. Since the person involved isn’t bitter and miserable about it, Junior Sister Su Su will surely be happy, right? Yao Guang smiled.

Meanwhile, the Nightmare Devil held the glass bead, feeling dead inside²心如死灰 (xīnrúsǐhuī) – One’s heart is like dead ashes; hopelessly apathetic. It had spent tremendous effort³九牛二虎之力 (jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì ) – an idiom; the strength of nine bulls and two tigers when creating this dream to get rid of the Devil Lord’s formidable enemy, Gongye Jiwu, but had forgotten about Yue Fuya.

But speaking of which, where did the Devil Lord go?

*****

It wasn’t until the day before the wedding that Su Su learned about it herself.

Yao Guang was afraid she would cry and make a scene, but the young girl sat by the window for a long time, staring blankly at the playful spirit birds outside.

After a while, Su Su asked, “Is Fuya willing?”

Yao Guang hurriedly nodded. “Then…… what about you?”

Su Su’s lips were pale, but she smiled, “He’s doing it to save me. How could I be unwilling? It’s just that it’s unfair to him.”

Yao Guang whispered, “I thought you still had feelings for Cang Jiumin.”

Realizing she had said something she shouldn’t have, Yao Guang quickly added, “I didn’t mean it that way……”

Su Su lowered her eyes and shook her head.

Yao Guang couldn’t help but ask, “Do you like Yue Fuya?”

Becoming Daoist partners was different from a mortal marriage. On the wedding day, they would blend a drop of their hearts’ blood into each other’s sea of consciousness. From then on, for thousands of years, they would share each other’s glory and suffering⁴一荣俱荣，一损俱损 (yīróngjùróng, yī sǔn jù sǔn) – an idiom; to be closely connected such that when one suffers damage, everyone suffers damage, and when one prospers, everyone prospers.

It was a far stronger commitment than any mortal vow.

“I don’t know,” Su Su said.

She covered her heart. It felt empty there, like a closed door. She couldn’t grasp such feelings. Even when Yao Guang mentioned ‘like’, it was just a meaningless word in her world.

What is liking? What does it feel like to like someone? Naturally, she liked Yue Fuya, but was it the same kind of emotion Yao Guang referred to?

Su Su thought of another person. Why did she feel sad when she saw that it was Cang Jiumin who had hurt her under the Three Soul Flags in Penglai?

The next day, Su Su put on her wedding dress, while the entire Hengyang Sect was festively decorated.

Nine immortal deer had been waiting at Changze Mountain since early morning.

When Su Su was helped onto the immortal carriage, she appeared momentarily dazed.

Clouds of auspicious omens brushed past her as the immortal carriage slowly flew from the skies of Changze to the main hall of Hengyang.

She saw someone standing there waiting for her— it was Yue Fuya.

He looked up, and his gaze fixed intently on her.

At that moment, Su Su had an illusion that he had been waiting here for her for a long time.

The instant he saw her, a hint of a smile appeared in his dark eyes, which felt inexplicably intense to Su Su.

Yue Fuya came to greet her. When their fingers touched, Su Su felt a strange sensation—— the young man’s hand was cold.

Yue Fuya’s sword technique was supposed to be strong and pure. How could his body temperature be this cold?

However, it was indeed Fuya’s face.

Su Su told herself not to overthink. Qu Xuanzi was also present, so there was no way the dual cultivation ceremony would go wrong.

Her life soul was damaged, so her body was weak. When her steps slightly faltered, he stopped as well and softly said, “Be careful.”

He held her hand, and a continuous stream of gentle spiritual energy flowed into her, instantly making her feel better.

Throughout the entire ceremony, Su Su felt her mind wandering, while the person beside her was extremely solemn and serious.

It wasn’t until his finger touched the spot in between her eyebrows and his heart’s blood dripped into her sea of consciousness that she looked up at him in a daze. He gently stroked her cheek, lowered his head, and guided her hand to place it on his forehead.

“Su Su,” he hoarsely called. “It’s your turn.”

She bit her lip, seeing that everyone around was looking at her. After a moment, she slowly dripped her heart’s blood into his sea of consciousness. 

The merging of spiritual consciousnesses was several times more sensitive for cultivators than physical contact.

The moment their spiritual consciousnesses connected, a strange feeling surged through her.

She panicked and stepped back, covering her forehead, her cheeks blushing uncontrollably.

Her slightly shy and uneasy demeanor made the smile in his eyes grow even deeper.

Su Su didn’t know how she managed to endure until the end of the ceremony.

Since ancient times, the ceremony of becoming Dao companions was also called the “Union of Spirits.” When one’s heart’s blood touches the other person’s sea of consciousness, they can feel the other person’s love for them.

Su Su felt as if her heart’s blood was a tiny fish unexpectedly encountering a vast and terrifying sea of imprisonment.

The love she could vaguely sense made her both frightened and bewildered.

Fuya…… wasn’t he doing this to save me? If there was some affection, Su Su could believe it, but since when had his love become akin to a desolate purgatory?

Su Su didn’t notice the man beside her withdraw his hand, his eyes showing a hint of darkness and gloom.

Naturally, he could also feel Su Su’s love.

An empty, white sea of consciousness……

There was nothing.

His pause and coldness lasted only a moment before a pure smile returned to his face.

*****

Su Su returned to the immortal hall. She should’ve been thinking about how to get along with Yue Fuya, but as soon as she lay down on the bed, she fell asleep.

With her life soul damaged, it had not been easy for her to hold on until now.

Not long after she fell asleep, a man dressed in red wedding attire walked in. Someone nervously greeted him and said, “Immortal Lord, she’s asleep.”

The man wasn’t displeased and gently replied, “I got it. You can leave now, I’ll take care of her.”

Walking past a screen embroidered with immortal cranes, he saw a delicate face in a deep sleep.

His gentle expression disappeared, replaced by a cold gaze as deep and unfathomable as a pool of stagnant water. He buried his face in her neck, like a cold, poisonous snake sticking out its tongue, wrapping itself around her. 

But in the end, despite his sinister and terrifying expression, he only placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Su Su slept for several days.

When she opened her eyes and sat up in bed, she looked down at her clothes and saw that they had been changed.

The red wedding attire had been replaced by a light purple heavenly silk dress; its hem spread out beautifully, shimmering with delicate light. Her slender waist was adorned with an intricate ornament. The outfit was more exquisite and beautiful than what she was used to wearing.

Su Su played with the ornament and walked out.

Not seeing Yue Fuya around, she approached a disciple who was cleaning the hall. “Where’s the Immortal Lord?” She asked.

“You’re awake!” The disciple said. “The Immortal Lord is at the back of the mountain. He ordered that when you woke up, you must drink this.”

A jade bottle appeared in Su Su’s hand.

She opened it, and a faint fragrance wafted out. It was Drunken Willow Dew, known for nurturing the soul and said to only exist among the Sky-Swallowing Whale Clan in the South Sea. They were notorious for being violent and stingy, so how did Yue Fuya get this?

Su Su went to the back mountain and smelled a faint scent of blood. 

She sniffed again, but it seemed to have disappeared.

Yue Fuya emerged from the forest, holding a small rabbit. When he saw her, he paused and smiled. “Su Su.”

Su Su petted the rabbit, “Is this for me?”

“Mm.” He patted her head, trying hard to soften his usually stern tone, “It can keep you company while I’m away exterminating devils. Why did you come out?”

“I came to find you,” Su Su said, rubbing her sleepy eyes. “Fuya, did you go to the South Sea and fight the Sky-Swallowing Whales?”

“I didn’t,” he said. “Why would I go to the South Sea and cause trouble? I got the Drunken Willow Dew by chance during my past training. It’s cold outside, and with your unstable immortal body, you might get sick. Let me take you back.”

Su Su looked at him for a moment, then held out her hands and smiled, “Carry me on your back.”

His lips curved into a smile. This time, it was more genuine, with layers of warmth spreading in his eyes. He squatted down in front of Su Su.

Su Su leaned against his back, and while she was so close, she discreetly sniffed at his neck. 

There was a scent of blood mixed with a faint but discernible hint of crisp pine.

He was lying. Not only had he gone to the South Sea, but he had likely also killed a significant amount of Sky-Swallowing Whales to gather enough Drunken Willow Dew. 

He was also injured, which was why he was hiding in the back mountain instead of returning to the immortal hall immediately.

A strange ripple stirred in Su Su’s heart, making her feel uncomfortable. 

She blankly stared at the man’s profile for a long time, then gently placed her hand on his cheek.

He abruptly halted and turned his head to look at her.

Before she could withdraw her hand, their eyes met. 

“What are you doing?” He asked hoarsely.

Su Su wasn’t sure herself. She had simply acted on impulse. His reaction vaguely overlapped with the person in the apricot forest on Penglai Immortal Island.

She wanted to take a closer look, but he lowered his head and said with a hint of a smile in his voice, “Even if you want to…… we should wait until we’re back in the hall.”

Su Su understood what he meant and angrily retorted, “Nonsense!”

It wasn’t until he placed her back on the bed that Su Su held his hand and said solemnly, “I’m serious. You don’t have to do this. I don’t want to burden you……  Helping me will impact your cultivation.”

He squatted down, meeting her eyes, and held her hand. “I’m willing.”

Su Su shook her head, staring at her slender fingers wrapped in his. “Fuya, do you still remember the wooden box I gave you the year you became a disciple? I want to see it.”

The man’s body stiffened slightly, before he replied, “I lost it a while ago during a mission assigned by Master. I’m sorry.”

Su Su raised her eyes and looked at him for a long time. Just as his gentle facade was about to break, she said, “It’s okay. It’s not something important. If it’s lost, then so be it.”

“In the future, I won’t lose anything you give me again,” he said softly.

Su Su responded with a hum and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Fuya, what’s that fragrance on you? I’ve never smelled it on you before.”

He replied indifferently, “I accidentally picked it up in the back mountain.”

Su Su thought to herself, You’re quite composed, Cang Jiumin.

Yue Fuya’s soul lamp hadn’t extinguished, indicating that the real Yue Fuya was not in trouble; he should have been trapped by Cang Jiumin.

Su Su initially wanted to see when would he give himself away⁵露出马脚 (lùchūmǎjiǎo) – to reveal the cloven foot (idiom); to unmask one’s true nature, but she didn’t expect that Cang Jiumin would put in genuine effort to imitate Yue Fuya.

Yue Fuya’s daily habits, his way of speaking, going on sect missions, and even mastering Hengyang Sect’s sword technique at a glance. 

Once, Su Su saw him at the hall entrance, lowering his eyes and speaking gently with the disciples inside. 

She knew Cang Jiumin would usually disdain such actions.

But now, he willingly became someone else’s shadow, imitating him, meticulously taking care of everything for her every morning and evening. 

She recalled the intense love in his spiritual consciousness and was somewhat absent-minded.

So much so that when he turned around, Su Su didn’t know what she was thinking at that moment, but she subconsciously smiled at him.

In the next moment, she saw those pitch-black eyes light up like starlight.

---

Edited by: Gaze