I dreamed of her.
When we were still in Spirit Origin Realm.
After passing out at the foot of the mountain, I dreamed of her—I knew it was all a dream, but I indulged in my desire and allowed myself to keep dreaming. I let myself be dragged back to the past.
...
After I just passed my tribulation to Celestial Realm, I finally exacted my revenge against the person who killed my whole family. But I didn't feel good about it.
Without my family to come home to, all this power feels useless. I feel like a homeless tramp.
With bloodied robes and hands, I flew toward wherever my mind led me. I didn't stop—not until something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a beast undergoing a tribulation, it was a tribulation to attain human form.
I flew towards it, and as I inched closer I discovered it wasn't a beast, it was a stalk of grass.
Startled, I stopped just three meters away.
It was struggling.
It looked as though it would be reduced to ashes at any moment, yet its resilient, blade-like body refused to yield to the tribulation lightning. Strike after strike, it swayed but did not fall.
I was in awe of its defiance.
I hovered in the sky, watching as the tribulation intensifies. Thunder rolled like a beast has awakened, and lightning split the clouds again and again, striking the small stalk of grass without mercy.
The grass trembled, its thin blades already scorched, edges curling and blackened. But it did not break.
Another bolt came crashing down. Then another.
I should've turned away.
But something about its defiance, its quiet, and persistent will held me in place.
Then, as the final bolt of lightning descended, like a sword of judgment, light swallowed everything. I raised an arm to shield my eyes. And I feel myself getting drenched as rain fell from the sky.
When the brilliance faded, the grass was gone.
In its place lay a girl—bare, fragile, unmoving. Her hair clung to her skin, wet from the rain, and faint tendrils of lightning danced across her body before dissipating into the earth.
She had endured.
She had been reborn
I kneel beside her still form, my robes tattered and stained with blood. The storm had passed, but the air was still thick with the scent of lightning and earth. She lay there, unconscious but alive. Barely.
I studied her face for a long moment, the faint rise and fall of her chest anchoring me in the present. Then, softly, almost to myself, I said, "Ye Qing."
The name settled into the silence like falling snow—gentle, quiet, and certain.
"From now on," I added, my voice steady, "you are Ye Qing."
...
"Master! I finally broke through!" She screamed while running towards me laughing.
"Since I am your master, it is only natural that you broke through." I said, "if you still can't break through after all my teachings, what use is it in cultivating you."
"Master.." she pouted and acted cute clinging to my sleeves.
"Ye Qing." I say sternly.
"You're so broody master, come here let me show you something nice master, hehe." She smiles and drag me somewhere.
We stop at a place filled with colorful flowers. It was mesmerizing.
"What's this?" I asked her, puzzled.
"I made this." She gestured in the sea of flowers and run towards the center, then turned to me smiling. "Do you like it, master?"
I want to say something, but I can't stop staring at her.
After I picked her up that day when she just attained her human form and is weakened. I accepted her as my disciple. Which I regretted.
Living together and traveling together, slowly but surely, as I get to know her, I.. fell in love.
My heart beats faster as I finally admitted to myself how much she means to me.
"Master?" She said, her eyes looking confused. "Don't you like it?"
I walked forward, towards her. My strides big and sure. I stopped just inches away from her and stared straight at her.
I took the final step and grabbed her hand, gently but without hesitation.
Her fingers twitched in mine, surprised, but she didn't pull away.
"Ye Qing," I said again, my voice steady but my heart is racing.
She looked up at me, confused but curious. "Yes, Master?"
"Say my name."
"What?"
"Just say it," I murmured, a smile tugging at my lips.
She hesitated, eyes searching mine. Then softly, she said, "Moxuan."
Her eyes were smiling now, glowing with something warm.
I leaned forward, closing the last inch between us, and kissed her.
It was gentle and uncertain at first, then deepened as her free hand rose to rest lightly against my chest
I found my home.
...
"Shen Moxuan."
"Moxuan?"
"A Xuan?" She giggled as her hand danced across my bare-chest in a playful manner while we lay in bed.
I grab her hand and bite it lightly earning me a laugh. I smiled at her. Hugging her close to me.
The fresh earthy grass smell of her is soothing my mind. I just love everything about her.
She leaned back.
"A Xuan, let's go to Flowing Heaven." She said. Her eyes focused on me as she awaits my reply.
(A/N: Flowing Heaven is like where partners in their world get married.)
I froze.
My heart beating erratically, as I steadied my trembling hands. I cupped her faced and stared seriously.
"Ye Qing. You are my life. I'm all yours."
I kissed her lightly, like the flutter of a butterfly wings.
...
Standing at the center of the elevated platform floating in the middle of a rainbow-colored river, its carvings symbolize that Heaven and Earth are our witnesses.
I am finally standing here in Flowing Heaven, with Ye Qing. My Life.
She wore a gown in deep forest green, layered with flowing panels of lighter shades that moved with the wind like water. The bodice was fitted, shaped into a sweetheart neckline, and detailed with gold embroidery that traced over her chest and down her waist like climbing vines. A sheer fabric covered her shoulders and collarbone, almost invisible, but shimmering with faint golden patterns that caught the light when she turned.
Her sleeves were made of translucent, soft material that fell loosely from her upper arms, draping like mist around her elbows. They were fastened by fine gold threads that wrapped around her arms, subtle but intricate.
The skirt flowed in layered waves — dark green beneath, lighter green above, with gold accents scattered throughout like fallen leaves. At the back, the gown extended into a small train, not too long, but just enough to trail behind her like a shadow of elegance.
She wore no jewelry — not even a single ornament. But she didn't need to. The gown alone, with how it shaped around her and caught the light, was more than enough.
As we swore to each other and exchanged a part of our souls, the contract as partner for life is formed.
My heart drummed full of happiness as the contract fully blooms in our skin, staking a place in our body, mind, and soul.
I grab her hand and solemnly said, "Wherever you go, I'll go." It's a promise for a lifetime.
"Wherever you go, I'll go." She repeated.
"I love you, Shen Moxuan."
"I love you, Ye Qing."
I rested my forehead against hers and we stared at each other as we smiled, feeling content.
Suddenly.
The light around her began to blur, the colors of the river fading into pale gray. Her fingers, warm in mine just a moment ago, slipped away like mist.
And then, I felt it. The cold.
The platform vanished. The warmth vanished.
I blink once, then twice, as I feel at loss waking up from a dream. When suddenly I feel the pain from over exertion and I twitched, I groaned.
I rolled on one side as I feel the pain spreading in my body like tiny needles poking me.
"You're awake." A whisper. Tinted with relief and apprehension.
I stilled.
I opened my eyes, and for a moment, I didn't speak. I just blink at her.
"Where... am I ?" My voice hoarse as it rasp against the cave walls.
"You're safe," she say, pressing a hand to my arm. Her fingers lingering on the rough linen of my tunic. "You collapsed here. I—" she hesitate, like she has something else to say , "I brought you to my cultivation spot."
I stare at her but remained silent. I let out a slow breath and sit up carefully, testing my strength.
I look up at the cave ceiling,"Cave... "I murmur, "How long?"
"Not long," she answered quickly. "A few hours, maybe." She say, her voice barely a whisper.
She looks like she has something on her mind. But I didnt say anything.
I closed my eyes for a moment and flexed my fingers. "Thank you," I say quietly." For... Helping me."
"It's only right that I help someone in need." She said. Her voice just as quietly.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then stops.
But then she said.
"What's your name?"
I stared straight in her eyes. And I see her.
Without breaking eye contact.
I said slowly.
"Shen Moxuan."