Ying Heng wore a gentle smile. “Alright, once your master recovers, I’ll make delicious food for Dai Dai.”
He paused briefly before asking, “Dai Dai, when are you and that child holding your wedding? I heard he’s planning a bond-forming ceremony.”
He happened to be here, just in time for his disciple’s bond-forming ceremony.
Sang Dai, however, shook her head. Her eyes glistened slightly, but she smiled and said, “We’re not holding the ceremony just yet. We’ll establish the marriage contract first, and the bond-forming ceremony can wait until you’ve recovered to officiate it for us.”
The bond-forming ceremony typically required an elder to preside, and the only elder Sang Dai and Su Xuan had was Ying Heng.
Ying Heng seemed to realize this as well, and the smile at the corners of his lips faded slightly.
The two of them fell silent for a moment.
Ying Heng’s voice was low and soft. “I’m sorry, Dai Dai. It’s my fault.”
He had a habit of taking all the blame onto himself.
Sang Dai, however, shook her head. “Master, you’re not at fault. Neither of us is. None of this is anyone’s fault.”
The atmosphere grew heavy. After a long silence, two figures entered the small courtyard.
Sang Dai looked up to see Liu Lixue fanning himself leisurely, while Su Xuan’s expression was calm and composed.
The two of them had finished their discussion.
The peacock smiled. “Immortal Lord Ying Heng, my residence is nearby. You can come with me.”
Ying Heng rose to his feet. “Alright, I’ll trouble Young Master Liu.”
Sang Dai couldn’t help but worry. “Master, why not stay at the Beast Palace?”
Ying Heng shook his head. “Dai Dai, Young Master Liu has a medicinal garden, and his residence is spacious. If I stay at the Beast Palace, Young Master Liu would still have to deliver medicine to me daily.”
“There are accommodations for Liu Lixue in the Beast Palace as well.”
“Liu’s residence isn’t far from here. If you want to see your master, you can come anytime.”
Now that his disciple had found a dao companion, Ying Heng felt staying in the Beast Palace would only disturb them. Besides, Liu Lixue’s residence was indeed quieter, making it more conducive for his recovery.
Sang Dai hesitated for a moment. Ying Heng reached out and gently patted her head.
“Dai Dai, I know that child’s… desires. Now that you’ve chosen to become dao companions, it would be inconvenient for your master to stay in the Beast Palace.”
Ying Heng couldn’t bring himself to say the exact words. He had always been shy and stammered over sensitive topics.
At first, Sang Dai didn’t understand. But when she noticed Ying Heng’s slightly reddened ears and Su Xuan’s evasive gaze, she suddenly understood.
After an awkward silence, she finally said, “Well… alright, then. Master, you can stay at Young Master Liu’s residence. I’ll… I’ll visit you tomorrow evening.”
“…Alright.”
Ying Heng turned to leave with Liu Lixue. After taking a few steps, he seemed to remember something and groped his way back.
Sang Dai asked, “Master, is there something else?”
Ying Heng hesitated for a moment before finally speaking in a low voice, “Dai Dai, you… should establish the marriage contract before…”
Sang Dai: “Huh?”
“Forget it. You’re all grown up now; you can do whatever you want.”
Ying Heng hurriedly tossed out the sentence and turned to leave.
Sang Dai and Su Xuan: “…”
The two exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh together.
Su Xuan leaned slightly forward, meeting Sang Dai’s gaze on an equal level. His thick eyebrows arched slightly. “Master has agreed.”
Sang Dai clasped her hands behind her back and looked at him. “He agreed long ago. He likes you very much.”
“Master even said we should establish the marriage contract first.”
“Hmm, I heard him.”
The smile at the corners of Su Xuan’s lips softened as he asked seriously, “When will we establish the marriage contract?”
The night wind was cool. The Beast Realm grew cold in autumn, and by November, it would be covered in endless snow.
Yet the cold wind only cleared Sang Dai’s mind further. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the little fox on the lips.
“After I meet your mother concubine and visit the Divine Healer Valley to ask the questions Master needs answered, we’ll return to the Beast Palace. We’ll go to your cave, Su Xuan, and I’ll marry you with the marriage contract.”
A marriage contract didn’t require the presence of elders. Unlike the bond-forming ceremony, the twin-soul marriage contract they intended to establish required only the heart’s blood of both parties. Alone together, they would form the contract, binding their souls to one another.
Su Xuan asked her, “What I want is the twin-soul marriage contract.”
Sang Dai smiled. “Didn’t you already say that? Besides…”
Besides, Su Xuan had already established a life-and-death pact. If Sang Dai died, he couldn’t survive either.
But Su Xuan added, “Dai Dai, the life-and-death pact was something I established unilaterally for you. If you die, I can’t live. But if I die, you can still live. The twin-soul marriage contract is different.”
The twin-soul marriage contract allowed dao companions to sense each other even across great distances. However, if one party died, the other would perish in an instant.
Live together, die together. Once established, it could not be undone. Unlike ordinary marriage contracts, which could be dissolved, the twin-soul marriage contract was irrevocable.
Once it was formed, they could only have each other for the rest of their lives, bound to life and death, forever inseparable.
If Su Xuan died, Sang Dai wouldn’t be able to survive either.
She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes tilted slightly upward, and her gaze brimming with joy.
“I told you, I’ll marry you with the twin-soul marriage contract. Su Xuan, if you die, I’ll go with you. If I die, you have to follow me. I’ll never leave you, and you’ll never leave me either.”
Su Xuan bent down to hold her, resting his chin against her neck.
He breathed in the faint fragrance emanating from her—a scent he had longed for over a century. Su Xuan always sought Sang Dai out, even when gravely injured.
As long as he could see her, exchange a few words, or witness her growing stronger and more admired, he would return to the Beast Realm smiling for an entire day, celebrating for her, reveling in her joy, and yearning ever more to stand beside her.
He wished for her to always be admired by the masses, to command the respect and reverence of everyone for her strength.
But he also feared her standing alone at the summit, constantly worried that she wouldn’t take care of herself. That was why he frequently visited the Sword Sect to find her.
Su Xuan truly, deeply loved her.
That’s why all of this felt so surreal.
“Dai Dai, it feels like a dream.”
It really felt like a dream—accomplishing in just four months what he hadn’t been able to achieve in over a hundred years: marrying the girl of his dreams. Her entire life now belonged to him.
Su Xuan’s voice was muffled, his tone dropping low. To Sang Dai’s ears, it almost sounded like he was mumbling.
But she could hear a hint of choking emotion in it.
Sang Dai felt a touch of helplessness, thinking that what she had said to Ying Heng earlier was really spot-on.
The Beast King was nothing more than an immature, temperamental, clingy crybaby.
“That’s why I’m not done living yet. We both have to live on, and you have to live well.”
Su Xuan nodded. “Alright, Dai Dai, don’t worry.”
He would also strive to live well and to guard his sword cultivator.
He was quite tall, and after tilting her head to look up at him for a while, Sang Dai’s neck began to ache unbearably.
She pushed Su Xuan lightly. “Give me some space—my neck hurts.”
Su Xuan immediately stood and sat down on a stone chair nearby. Sang Dai then sat face-to-face on his lap.
His palms were warm, and he massaged the back of her neck for a while.
Sang Dai leaned lazily against his chest, resting her chin on his shoulder and giving him her full weight.
“Su Xuan.”
“Hmm?”
“What were you and Young Master Liu talking about earlier?”
Su Xuan’s hands paused for a moment before resuming their gentle movements. “Nothing much. Just a small matter.”
Sang Dai lifted her head slightly to look into his eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”
How could she not know when Su Xuan was hiding something from her? Sang Dai understood him far too well.
She cupped his cheeks, deciding to cheat a little by using her mind-reading ability.
The little fox didn’t dare to meet her gaze at all. Instead, he decided to act roguishly, grabbing her chin.
“It’s just a minor thing—not worth mentioning. But right now, there’s a big thing we need to do.”
“What big—mmph, Su Xuan!”
Sang Dai, seated on his lap, was in a position that made it all too convenient for Su Xuan to kiss her. With him in front of her and the round stone table behind her, she had nowhere to escape.
He pressed her down and kissed her for a long time. Every time Sang Dai tried to speak and ask a question, Su Xuan would cut her off with another kiss. After this back-and-forth, her body softened, and she turned her head away, covering her mouth.
“Fine, I won’t ask anymore. Just stop kissing me…”
The little fox wiped the moisture from her chin and kissed her forehead lightly. “How about we go out for a bit?”
“Where are we going?”
“To buy some things.”
“Alright.”
As soon as Sang Dai stood up from Su Xuan’s lap, her legs gave way, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
Su Xuan caught her effortlessly, pulling her into his arms. “How about I carry you there instead?”
Sang Dai glared at him. “Shut up.”
The little fox wore a smug, mischievous grin, looking completely pleased with himself.
He intertwined their fingers. Ever since Sang Dai agreed to be with him, Su Xuan had become even clingier—always wanting to hold her hand while walking, hug her while sleeping, and kiss her whenever their eyes met.
It was just after nightfall, and as they left the Beast Palace, the streets were still bustling with people. Su Xuan was too conspicuous, and walking hand-in-hand with him made Sang Dai feel as if all eyes were on her.
Feeling a bit awkward, she whispered, “How about letting go of my hand for now?”
Su Xuan flatly refused. “No, I won’t let go. I want to hold it.”
He could be incredibly childish at times, especially when he was being stubborn.
Sang Dai said nothing, letting him hold her hand.
After walking for a while without reaching their destination, she asked, “What exactly are you going to buy?”
“Some things.”
“…What things?”
“Useful things.”
Completely unhelpful.
It wasn’t until Su Xuan pulled her to a store that she finally understood. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by walls lined with books. Sang Dai couldn’t help but ask, “Su Xuan, are you buying books?”
A staff member approached and, upon seeing Su Xuan, bowed deeply. “Sovereign, Madam.”
“Mm, you may rise. I’ll look around myself.” Su Xuan led Sang Dai further inside. “I’m here to buy pills, not books.”
Sang Dai asked, “Can’t you just ask Liu Lixue if you need pills?”
“Liu Lixue doesn’t specialize in this kind of thing.”
“…What kind of pills doesn’t he make?”
“Pills to suppress… desire.”
Sang Dai: “…”
The sword cultivator froze in place.
Su Xuan realized she wasn’t moving and turned back to see her face completely flushed.
They were standing in a corner of the shop where there were few people around. Su Xuan stepped closer, cupping her crimson cheeks in his hands.
“What are you embarrassed about? The pills aren’t for you, they’re for me. You’re human, and during my heat, you might not be able to handle it.”
Sang Dai whispered softly, “…Don’t these pills harm the body?”
Su Xuan brushed a quick kiss on her lower lip, his voice soothing as he reassured her. “They don’t. Most of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan comes here to buy them during their heat. I’ve taken them many times before. When you weren’t by my side, and you didn’t want to get close to me, I could only get through it on my own. Each year during heat, I’d go through a few bottles.”
In truth, the pills did harm the body to some extent. While they suppressed his desires temporarily, they caused damage to his meridians afterward.
“Really? They’re not harmful?”
“Really. When have I ever lied to you?”
Sang Dai muttered softly, “…You’ve lied plenty of times.”
Like using his supposed injuries to trick her into kissing him, or repeatedly claiming “just a moment,” “almost there,” or “one kiss and it won’t hurt anymore.” He’d lied to her more times than she could count.
Su Xuan laughed and playfully nipped the tip of her nose. “Such a sharp little tongue. Well then, Dai Dai, you can lie to me too—I’d fall for it without a doubt.”
Sang Dai turned her head away, worried someone might see them, and lowered her voice. “Didn’t you come here to buy the pills? Go on and buy them. Stop kissing me.”