Shang Xin Ci

— — — — — — 

Shang Clan, Shang Xin Ci's Room

creak~

The soft creak of the door opening didn't alarm Shang Xin Ci. She thought it was just the maid.

She kept her eyes on the small flower in her hand, gently fixing it in a vase. "You're late with the tea today," she said with a small smile.

"..."

No reply?

She blinked, looked up casually — then froze.

Standing in front of her was Fang Yuan.

"..."

For a few long seconds, neither of them said a word.

Shang Xin Ci's lips parted slightly in surprise, but no sound came out. Her eyes were wide, stunned.

Fang Yuan looked just as silent, but he was clearly nervous.

He just stood there, unsure of what to say first.

"You..." she finally whispered. "You really came back."

Fang Yuan gave a slow nod. "Like I said in my message."

She lowered her eyes, her voice quieter. "When you sent Feng Tian Yu... with that message... I didn't know if I could believe it."

"I meant every word," Fang Yuan said. "I'm sorry it took this long."

Another pause. The air felt thick with unsaid things.

Shang Xin Ci finally looked up at him again. "Why now?"

"...I've become an immortal."

Shang Xin Ci froze again, stunned—but not doubtful.

She still believed him.

Love is blind, after all. Who could imagine an angel falling for a demon like this?

"WHAT IMMORTAL?!"

Feng Tian Yu, still lurking at the door, practically exploded.

Then he lit up like fireworks. "As expected! As expected of Lord Fang Yuan! Damn, I should've known the Lord would ascend to such greatness!"

Fang Yuan's face darkened. "Why are you still here? Get out."

Feng Tian Yu yelped and ran away.

Silence returned.

Fang Yuan turned back to Shang Xin Ci, his voice softer now.

"...Ahem. And I want you to come with me."

"Uh.... this!"

Shang Xin Ci hesitated.

She looked around the room—the familiar walls, the flowers she cared for every day. This place was her home.

There were still people in the city waiting for her help.

"I can't," she said after a moment of thought. "I don't know how to fight."

"I don't want to be a burden."

Fang Yuan paused—he hadn't expected her to refuse. But then he nodded, understanding settling in.

"If you come with me, you won't need to fight. You'll handle my trades, my future business."

He met her gaze, voice firm but gentle.

"And you'll save more lives than you ever could staying here. You'll help build something better. Maybe… maybe even help fix the world."

She stared at him for a long moment.

Then she smiled—gently, warmly, even if part of her still wasn't sure she believed his words.

"You always say things like that with such confidence," she said softly.

Fang Yuan smiled back. "Have I ever let you down?"

Shang Xin Ci stepped closer, stopping just a breath away.

"All right," she said. "I'll go with you."

Fang Yuan looked at her. His heart was racing—it was now or never. He could feel it. The moment to seal their bond was right there.

He met her eyes. Her face was red, her breathing shallow. She knew what was coming.

But then—

"Ooooh~ What a beautiful couple!!"

Feng Tian Yu's head popped back up at the side of the door, tears streaming down his face like he'd just binged 300 episodes of a tragic drama.

Fang Yuan's eye twitched violently. 

Why? ...Why the hell didn't this fool leave?

He was this close to kissing Shang Xin Ci—his first damn kiss!—and this idiot just shattered the mood.

For a brief second, Fang Yuan genuinely considered murder.

"I-I... need to prepare before leaving..." Shang Xin Ci said, her face flushed red.

Fang Yuan shook his head. "Prepare what? Your man is an immortal now. You can have anything you want, anytime."

"I still love the things I have now... and I can't just abandon my people like this."

Feng Tian Yu, still lingering nearby, nodded solemnly. "Yeah, the Lady is right. How about asking them to come with us?"

"..."

Fang Yuan pretended not to hear him.

"Xin'er," he said instead, "gather everyone and let them decide—who wants to come with us, and who wants to stay. But be clear: we won't be coming back anytime soon. So those who stay… they'll be left behind for good."

Shang Xin Ci lowered her gaze for a moment, then nodded. "Alright... I'll do it your way."

Later that day, she gathered her people and gave them a choice.She didn't say she was leaving with an immortal—only that she was stepping away from the Shang Clan, starting a new home, a new business… and anyone who wanted to follow her was more than welcome.

Under normal circumstances, no one would leave a powerful clan like the Shang Clan just to chase uncertain promises.

But what happened was shocking: Almost everyone chose to go with her.

Their loyalty to Shang Xin Ci wasn't based on titles or wealth—it was real, unshakable. Just for her.

---

Fang Yuan stored everyone who chose to follow Shang Xin Ci inside his immortal aperture, appointing Feng Tian Yu as their temporary leader.

Annoying as he was, Feng Tian Yu's loyalty was unquestionable—and when it came to leadership, he was surprisingly reliable.

Now, with only Fang Yuan and Shang Xin Ci left outside, he didn't leave immediately. They weren't running away like criminals.

---

Shang Clan Leader's Residence

Fang Yuan used the same illusion path killer move to enter the house unnoticed—but intentionally left Shang Yan Fei out of it.

He was here to meet him, after all—his future father-in-law.

Inside his room, Shang Yan Fei suddenly stiffened.

A faint but unmistakable immortal aura was pressing down on his senses—subtle, controlled, yet impossible to ignore.

Fang Yuan had, of course, isolated the aura perfectly using a formation that locked it within the room. Only Shang Yan Fei could feel it.

"Fang Yuan…? You're… an immortal?" Shang Yan Fei stared in disbelief at the man he'd once dismissed as an irregular, ambitious junior.

Everyone knew there was something unusual about Fang Yuan.

But this? This exceeded all expectations.

"I've come to take Shang Xin Ci. She will be my wife—there's no doubt about that." Fang Yuan's voice was calm, resolute.

"But for her sake, I wanted to formally announce it to your clan."

He took out some immortal recipes, he'd completed but were useless for him. Along with them, he handed over completed killer moves, and finally… a semi-complete Blood Path Immortal Inheritance.

"This is my dowry for her. And a gift to your clan."

Shang Yan Fei was still reeling from Fang Yuan's presence—now even more so from the treasure laid out before him.

For a mortal like him, this was simply beyond comprehension.

"You two really are... a perfect match," Shang Yan Fei said with a stunned but genuine smile. "Why not stay here in the Shang Clan?"

Fang Yuan chuckled. "Oh no, thank you. I've already joined a sect—your clan's immortals should be aware of that by now."

He turned to Shang Xin Ci, who stood beside him, her face was flushed.

Fang Yuan stretched out his hand. She stepped forward without hesitation, placing hers in his—and then wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

He smiled, feeling the warmth in her hold.

No words were needed. Her eyes said it all.

Then, the two vanished.

.

.

.