The Revelation of Fused Fates

When Xia Yi regained consciousness, the Marriage Tree had vanished.

Within the vast secret realm, only Xia Yi and Bing Yingying remained on the grassy expanse, staring intently at one another.

More accurately, Xia Yi was being subjected to Bing Yingying’s unilateral scrutiny.

“Uh, Yingying, actually, I…”

Their red strings had been linked and hung on the Marriage Tree, and they had even fused their respective Marriage Fruits.

As a wonder of heaven and earth, the Marriage Fruit had remained unobtained for tens of thousands of years, its efficacy surely extending beyond merely improving Bing Yingying’s bloodline.

The Marriage Fruit possessed another function: it allowed a married couple to sense each other, regardless of time or distance.

They could also meet in dreams, undisturbed by any external interference.

To put it plainly: they had a built-in 100G, lag-free communication channel, enabling video calls anytime, anywhere, without hassle.

Furthermore, when their hearts were deeply intertwined, there was a chance to trigger a ‘Good Fortune Enlightenment’ (TL Note: A state where a couple’s minds align, enhancing their understanding and efficiency in cultivation.), allowing them to achieve perfect synchronicity, elevate their comprehension, and accelerate their enlightenment.

To elaborate:

They could whisper answers to each other during an exam, sharing insights through discussion, and it wouldn’t be considered cheating, as it had official recognition.

Moreover, by a twist of fate, the fusion of the Marriage Fruits would unconditionally trigger a Good Fortune Enlightenment, immediately forging a profound connection between their minds.

Thus, it came as no surprise that Bing Yingying now knew she was, in fact, ‘the fourth one’ (TL Note: A term implying she is the fourth romantic partner, often used in polyamorous or complicated relationship contexts.).

This meant her heaven-and-earth-sanctioned soulmate was actually a latecomer.

This explained the sight of Bing Yingying staring at Xia Yi with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Xia Yi, however, felt utterly helpless.

He distinctly recalled that, at the outset, he had merely intended to deliver a beauty pill to Pei Yunxiang.

How had things spiraled into this current predicament?

“Confess honestly. Besides your Master and Martial Aunt, how many other women have you entangled yourself with?”

“N-none, there are none.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely true!”

“Hmph, I’ll believe you for now.”

A heavy silence descended between them once more, one filled with awkwardness, the other with jealousy.

After another moment, Bing Yingying glanced at Xia Yi, who was still scratching his head and forcing an awkward smile, and sighed helplessly.

‘How could my destined soulmate be such a simpleton?’

“Come here.”

Bing Yingying patted the grass beside her, gesturing for Xia Yi to approach.

“Alright.”

Though he had no idea what Bing Yingying intended, he didn’t hesitate, quickly moving to her side.

“Hold me.”

Xia Yi didn’t question why, nor did he speak.

He simply lifted the immortal maiden beside him gently onto his lap.

“Your hand.”

Xia Yi extended his hand, and then his fingers intertwined with Bing Yingying’s soft, delicate ones, their palms meeting.

This was the first time Xia Yi had touched this jade-like hand, which was no longer cold; in fact, its warmth surpassed even his own.

“Look at me…”

Their gazes locked, and in that moment, their eyes held only each other.

As she gazed into Xia Yi’s clear, earnest eyes, a flurry of thoughts flashed through Bing Yingying’s mind.

She sought answers in his gaze, but Xia Yi provided them through his actions.

Xia Yi still remembered his identity as cannon fodder villain, and his original intention was to wholeheartedly save those immortal maidens.

Following his inner guidance, he pressed a forceful kiss upon her cherry lips, while his other hand encircled the immortal maiden’s slender waist, preventing her departure.

In an instant, Bing Yingying’s eyes widened, then quickly grew hazy as she began to respond to Xia Yi.

For a moment, heaven and earth seemed to fall silent.

The entire world felt as if only the two of them remained.

A long while later, Xia Yi allowed the limp immortal maiden in his arms to lie sprawled against him, panting heavily.

“Why did you stop?”

“I want to save it for our wedding night.”

“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“Uncomfor— hiss! Yingying, don’t do that.”

“Anything they can do, I can do too.”

“But…”

“Once we’re out, you’re going to propose to my parents, understood?”

“U-understood.”

“Hmph~ that’s more like it.

I am your first officially wedded wife.”

“Yingying…”

“Hmm?…”

“Wife… my wife…”

“Mm.”

“Wife, don’t bite, it hurts…”

“…………”

****

While the two were engaged in their ‘battle‘ of teeth and tongues, outside the secret realm…

Outside the Bing family’s secret realm, beyond the jade pendant…

“I understand.”

With those words, Bing Xingwen disconnected the transmission stone.

“The Azure Feather Immortal Sect will begin recruiting disciples in three days.

Based on past timings, the sect should arrive at Hanhai City in about half a month.”

“Half a month? I see.

Thank you for the information, Patriarch Bing.”

Upon receiving the news, Pei Yunxiang pondered for a moment before expressing her gratitude to Bing Xingwen.

“There’s no need for formality, Fellow Daoist Pei.

My daughter also intends to join the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, so this information was merely a small favor.”

“Indeed, Sister Yunxiang, we’ll both be entering the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

My Yingying might even need Xia Yi to look after her quite a bit.”

Recalling her daughter’s unique circumstances, Chang Zhenli felt a pang of heartache.

“Sister Li, you jest.

With your esteemed daughter’s talent, it will undoubtedly be her looking after Xia Yi.”

Just as the group exchanged pleasantries, the ancestral jade pendant, which had been floating mid-air, finally showed a subtle change.

After a series of spatial fluctuations, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying appeared hand-in-hand before Pei Yunxiang and the others.

The jade pendant then gracefully flew into Bing Yingying’s hand of its own accord.

“Dad, Mom…”

That single cry, however, caused the two Core Formation realm cultivators to freeze in place.

Bing Xingwen and Chang Zhenli’s eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

How long had it been since they last heard their daughter address them like that? Oh, no, how long had it been since they heard their daughter’s voice filled with life?

Ten years? Twenty years?

It had been far, far too long.

“Ying… Yingying?”

“Dad.”

“Yingying, is it really you?”

“Mom, it’s really me!”

“Yingying!”

Hearing her daughter’s call once more, Chang Zhenli could no longer suppress the joy in her heart; she rushed forward and embraced Bing Yingying tightly.

Tears of overwhelming joy streamed down the mother’s cheeks, while Bing Xingwen, watching his wife and daughter embrace, also found his eyes reddening.

For how many years had he traveled far and wide with his daughter, seeking healers, only to receive answers of utter helplessness?

Just as he was on the brink of despair, a miracle had occurred.

His daughter was well; she was no longer the vacant shell that remembered nothing, like a frozen corpse.

Observing the reunited family, Xia Yi quietly retreated to stand beside Pei Yunxiang and Fei Miaoyun, made a ‘shh’ gesture, and then, holding both women’s hands, led them away, leaving the family to their moment.

The Bing family guards were well acquainted with Fei Miaoyun and Pei Yunxiang, considering them close friends of the household’s mistresses.

Encountering no obstruction along the way, the trio smoothly exited the Bing family mansion.

Although Fei Miaoyun had many words to say and many things she wished to do with Xia Yi, upon seeing the preoccupied expression on her beloved’s face, she swallowed those impulses.

Her gaze then turned, seeking help, towards Pei Yunxiang, who wore an air of complete confidence.

Pei Yunxiang, however, merely offered a reassuring wink, saying nothing and doing nothing, simply allowing her beloved disciple to lead her onward.