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Yama's Wedding
The voice of Yao Guang clearly rang in Xue's ears. It was the first time he had heard Yao Guang call him "husband," and the excitement in his heart was beyond words.
"Wife," Xue said, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Wife?" Upon hearing Xue call her that, Yao Guang felt a surge of happiness.
"Xue, I want to take you somewhere." The two looked at each other, as if they could see the vast wilderness together. Suddenly, Yao Guang snapped back to reality and turned to Xue. There were still things she wanted to accomplish tonight, and time was running short; tomorrow, she would have to leave with Shu.
"Yao Guang, where are you taking me?" Xue asked as Yao Guang held his hand. Under the moonlight, they walked together along the quiet country road. The night was serene, and with Yao Guang's warm hand in his, surrounded by her scent, Xue thought that walking down this path with her forever would be just fine.
"Alright, we're here." Yao Guang had hurried along the way just to bring Xue to this place.
"What is this place?" Xue exclaimed in surprise as he looked around, not expecting such a hidden gem.
Before him was a hot spring pool, steaming gently and filling the air with a faint scent of sulfur. The leaves of the plants surrounding the spring were slightly dampened by the mist rising from the water.
"This is a place I stumbled upon last time," Yao Guang explained. During those days when Jun Ruo was in a coma and Xue had returned to the Underworld for some matters, he had felt bored and decided to explore alone. It was then that he discovered this hot spring behind a hillside.
He had thought that after so many years, perhaps the spring would have dried up, but to his surprise, guided by memory, he found that not only was it still flowing but it had become even more beautiful.
Looking at the hot spring before him, Xue thought it was indeed a lovely spot. But why had Yao Guang brought him here?
"Xue, since I am your wife, I should do what a wife is supposed to do." Yao Guang suddenly leaned closer to him.
Startled by her sudden movement, Xue lost his balance and fell into the hot spring with a splash. Fortunately, the water wasn't too hot; instead, it enveloped him in warmth and comfort.
However, looking at himself now drenched in water made Xue chuckle helplessly. Even though he wanted to enjoy a soak in the hot spring, falling in like this had soaked his clothes completely. He could only blame himself for being startled by Yao Guang. Her earlier words had slipped from his mind as he suddenly found her standing right before him.
Looking at himself, Xue felt that he should get ashore before saying anything, so he followed the water and walked toward the bank.
Suddenly, Xue fell into the hot spring, startling Yao Guang. She stared in shock as he plunged in behind her, her mind going blank. But soon, Yao Guang snapped back to reality; this was actually better for her, saving her from trouble. Watching Xue in the hot spring, a shadow rose in Yao Guang's eyes.
Xue struggled to crawl toward the shore when he heard another splash. To his surprise, Yao Guang jumped in as well. He looked at her in astonishment, wondering what she was thinking.
Yao Guang gazed at Xue; tonight, she was determined to become his true woman.
"Yao Guang, why did you jump in?" Xue asked, puzzled by her strange demeanor that night.
"Xue..." Yao Guang gently walked over to him, causing ripples in the water with her movements. Xue felt those ripples circle around him and seep into his heart.
"Yao Guang, what are you doing..." Xue began to realize what she wanted. But no! Not now, at least not like this.
He suddenly pushed Yao Guang away. Caught off guard, she lost her balance and nearly fell backward into the water if not for Xue's quick reflexes pulling her back up.
"Xue, I am already your wife. Don't you want this?" Yao Guang steadied herself and confronted him. She didn't understand why, despite their many encounters over the years, Xue always refrained from taking that step due to concerns about her fragile spirit. Most of the time, they merely shared a bed.
Xue was taken aback; it wasn't like that. He just wanted Yao Guang to have a proper wedding with everyone's blessings.
"Yao Guang, it's not like that. Not now," he said seriously, his eyes filled with concern for her.
"Xue, just tonight! Just tonight! Is that too much to ask? Tomorrow... tomorrow my brother will take me away," Yao Guang pleaded with him. She didn't know what the future held or what awaited her upon returning home. But she knew that if she didn't act now, she would regret it forever. This was her only chance; she had to persuade Xue to accept her.
Xue straightened Yao Guang's posture so she stood before him and said, "That's exactly why I can't just be casual with you." Because tomorrow Yao Guang would be taken away by her brother, Xue felt even less inclined to take that step tonight. He loved Yao Guang and wanted to give her only the best—not make a hasty decision that would determine her fate. Moreover, he didn't want Yao Guang to return home only to be mocked by everyone; after all, her situation there was already quite difficult.
Yao Guang understood that Xue meant well for her. However, this very concern filled her heart with unease. She didn't know how to express it to him and could only keep it bottled up inside. Furthermore, she sensed that things might change once she returned home. This uncertainty only amplified her anxiety; she could only find solace through these thoughts to comfort herself against the terror and unease within.
"Xue, please, I'm really scared." Yao Guang looked at Xue, the person she loved most, the only one she had ever loved like this since ancient times. Yao Guang didn't want to feel this constant anxiety about losing him. If she could, she wished to walk happily with Xue forever. But now, that wish seemed impossible. Only by truly having Xue by her side would her heart feel that they were genuinely together. Throughout their years of living together, many nights Yao Guang would suddenly wake up, sometimes getting up to check if Xue was still there beside her. Was he still there, or had he left while she was asleep? Yao Guang often struggled to sleep at night; she was afraid that the happiness she currently possessed was just a dream. If she woke up from that dream, everything would vanish. Xue would disappear along with the dream, and the fleeting happiness she had would be lost.
Xue watched Yao Guang, who was crying bitterly before him. He understood her worries, but no matter what, he couldn't be irresponsible towards her.
"Yao Guang," Xue said softly to the still sobbing Yao Guang.
Yao Guang remained lost in her sorrow, unwilling to respond to him.
Seeing her like this, Xue sighed and pulled Yao Guang into his embrace, gently stroking her head and softly comforting her. "Yao Guang, it's okay now, it's okay." He just hoped that this moment would suffice for her. He had missed so many years with Yao Guang and now only wished to quietly be together like this.
"Xue, Xue, Xue." All of Yao Guang's grievances erupted at that moment.
She wasn't heartless; she had always worried about leaving Xue but didn't dare show it. She couldn't bear the thought of parting from him. Yao Guang felt fortunate that Xue hadn't tried to keep her from leaving in front of her; if he had done so, she probably wouldn't have wanted to take a single step away from him.
"It's alright, it's alright, I'm here." As Yao Guang cried into his chest, Xue could feel the pain in her heart. He knew everything—her grievances and reluctance to part. Not only did he understand Yao Guang's feelings, but he also empathized with all her emotions. His heart carried the same reluctance and worry. Moreover, he harbored even more secrets than Yao Guang did at that moment. His pain was no less than hers, especially knowing that Shu, Yao Guang's beloved brother, might leave her in the upcoming great war. How would Yao Guang cope then? And how should he face himself for hiding the truth from her?
The two of them soaked in the warm spring water, holding each other close.
They didn't know how long they had been crying; Yao Guang felt as if all her tears had been shed. In Xue's embrace, she vented all her grievances and reluctance until she was utterly exhausted from crying. By the time she regained her senses, she had no idea what time it was.
Yao Guang stopped crying and shyly looked at Xue.
Xue gazed at Yao Guang's tear-streaked face and red eyes and nose; she looked so pitifully adorable that it reminded him of a poem: "In spring's chill, a bath in the Huqing Pool; warm spring water smooths away the cream." At that moment, Yao Guang's appearance rivaled those beauties who could bring ruin to a nation.
"Yao Guang, let's go back," Xue said as he looked at her.
"Okay," Yao Guang replied hurriedly as she calmed down a bit but felt somewhat embarrassed. She quickly agreed and pushed herself away from Xue as she prepared to rise from the spring water.
However, as soon as Yao Guang got up, she awkwardly realized that her body and clothes were completely soaked. At that moment, a mountain breeze blew past, hitting her drenched clothes and sending a chill through her.
Yao Guang shivered in the cold wind, instinctively wrapping her arms around herself.
"Yao Guang, go ahead," Xue said, noticing her discomfort from the cold wind. He urged her to hurry up.
The two quickly emerged from the hot spring. As soon as they reached the shore, Xue activated his spell to dry Yao Guang's soaked clothes.
Yao Guang felt a warm current flowing from Xue's palms into her body. Her previously cool skin began to warm up.
"Xue, I'm fine now. You should dry yourself quickly," Yao Guang said, shaking off the cold and urging Xue to take care of himself.
But Xue remained steadfast, insisting on drying Yao Guang's clothes completely before attending to his own.
Once they had both dried their clothes, Xue looked at Yao Guang and said, "Yao Guang, let's head back."
Yao Guang nodded lightly in agreement with Xue's suggestion.
Looking at him, Yao Guang felt that this man loved her, and that made her feel content. (To be continued.)
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