8 : Agreement

Ye Xian studied the girl before him—ethereal and cold, yet undeniably captivating. Their conversation had flowed surprisingly well despite the unexpected nature of their meeting, but something still felt off.

He hesitated before finally asking, "So… you're the guest?"

Xuan Lingshuang gave a small nod. "Yes."

Ye Xian rubbed the back of his neck, frowning slightly. "Huh. Nobody told me you'd be arriving today. I mean, I left early in the morning and came back late at night… Turns out I missed an important guest's grand entrance." He sighed, shaking his head. "Truly, I have impeccable timing."

She arched an eyebrow slightly at his words, her gaze sharpening. "You didn't know about the promise between our fathers?" she asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her voice.

Ye Xian froze, uncertain how to respond. He had no idea what she was referring to, yet it was clearly something important. "I… I didn't know," he admitted reluctantly.

Xuan Lingshuang's gaze softened, though her demeanor remained composed. "Our fathers made this promise long before we were born," she said, her tone unexpectedly gentle. "It's a marriage arranged out of respect for their agreement. I'm sorry, but this was never my choice to make."

Ye Xian's heart skipped a beat. The idea of being bound to someone by a prearranged marriage, especially with someone as formidable as her, was a foreign concept to him. Yet, he could see the resignation in her eyes, as if she had long since accepted this fate.

"I didn't know," Ye Xian murmured, still processing her words. He stared at her for a long moment, trying to piece everything together. He was suddenly aware of the depth of this arrangement. He wasn't even sure why she had agreed to this marriage in the first place, though he had heard rumors of her being a core disciple of the prestigious Moonlight Sect. "But… I didn't expect you to agree to it."

Xuan Lingshuang gave a slight nod, the faint smile slipping from her lips. "It was never my choice, but I couldn't bring myself to defy my father," she admitted, her voice carrying a rare trace of vulnerability. "I came here to honor their promise, but you should know—one year after our marriage, I will leave. My path leads me back to the Moonlight Sect, where I must continue my training."

Ye Xian was taken aback by her words. A part of him felt betrayed, but another part was oddly relieved. She hadn't come here for him, and she wouldn't be staying for long. Still, the thought of their marriage lingering in the air was strange.

"You'll leave?" he asked, his voice a little sharper than he intended. He had assumed this marriage would be something forced upon him, but he was strangely happy about it. Hearing her decision from her made the reality sink in.

""Yes," she confirmed, her gaze unwavering. "As a core disciple, there are rules I must follow—I cannot remain outside the sect for long. My path has already been decided, and I cannot allow marriage to shackle me." She paused, as if carefully considering her next words. "For now, I will honor my duty, but you must understand… I cannot fulfill the role of a wife. I hope you can accept that."

Ye Xian nodded slowly, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. He had never expected her to be anything more than a shadow in his life, and yet hearing her speak so candidly made him realize how little he truly knew about her.

"I understand," Ye Xian said quietly. "And I admire your decision. I never thought I would marry someone like you, someone with so much at stake."

Xuan Lingshuang's gaze softened for a fleeting moment, and then she nodded once more. "I never intended for this to be easy, but I'll do my best to keep the peace between us."

"You know," he said, a playful glint in his eyes, his tone deliberately light yet laced with mischief, "if you're planning to leave in a year and have no intention of fulfilling your wifely duties, wouldn't it be only fair for me to take another wife? You know, purely for the noble cause of continuing my bloodline. Unless, of course"—he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur—"you're reconsidering your stance?"

He expected her to scoff, roll her eyes, or perhaps even give him a cold glare. Instead, Xuan Lingshuang remained silent, her ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly in thought. The moment stretched longer than Ye Xian had anticipated.

"...That does make sense," she finally said, nodding slightly.

Ye Xian nearly choked. He had meant it as a joke—just a way to tease her—but she had actually considered it seriously. "Wait, really?" he asked, stunned.

She turned her gaze toward him, her expression calm yet sincere. "If continuing your lineage is important to you, then I won't object. We were bound by our fathers' agreement, not by love. If having another wife is what you need, then I won't stand in your way."

For once, Ye Xian was at a loss for words. He had been expecting an argument, not quiet acceptance. He studied her face, searching for any hint of sarcasm, but there was none—only quiet conviction.

Scratching the back of his head, he forced a chuckle. "Well, I wasn't actually serious… But hearing you say it like that makes me wonder—are you really okay with it?"

Xuan Lingshuang tilted her head slightly. "Why wouldn't I be? Our marriage was never built on affection. I have my own goals, and I know you have yours. As long as you honor our agreement while I'm here, what you do afterward is your choice."

Ye Xian blinked. He had expected cold indifference, but instead, she spoke with a kind of rationality that was even more disarming.

"You're really something else, Lingshuang," he muttered, shaking his head with a wry smile.

The silence between them lingered for a moment longer, before she excused herself with a small bow. "I'll take my leave now. I trust you'll find your room soon."

With that, she turned and walked toward the guest quarters, her graceful steps barely making a sound on the stone path. The soft rustle of her robes blended with the gentle ripples of the pond, and Ye Xian watched her go, the sight of her ethereal figure lingering in his mind.

As she disappeared into the shadows of the hallway, his thoughts lingered on her words.

He didn't know what to make of their strange, delicate encounter, but his admiration for her—silent and unresolved—remained. There was something about her, something unreachable, that drew him in.

Ye Xian remained standing by the pond for a few moments after Xuan Lingshuang's departure, his thoughts swirling like the gentle ripples on the water. The night was still, yet his mind felt turbulent—haunted by the memory of his past life as Adler, and uncertain of who he truly was now.

Was he Ye Xian, the son of Ye Feng, a seemingly average individual struggling to make a name for himself? Or was he Adler, a man marked by tragedy, betrayal, and a fierce will to survive?

As he walked slowly back toward his quarter, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his boots echoed in the otherwise quiet estate. He couldn't help but reflect on how much his life had changed since his unexpected death.

The man he had been, Adler, had lived a life full of pain and loss, yet he had gained power and strength from those experiences. It was because of Adler's struggles that he was now alive, standing in this strange new world. But was it truly a new life, or was he merely living in the shadows of his former self?

The question gnawed at him. He could feel the weight of his dual identity pressing down on him, as though two lives were colliding inside his heart. For so long, he had clung to the memory of Adler's determination, his drive to protect those he loved.

But now, as Ye Xian, he was not the same man. His cultivation was far from extraordinary, and his station in life was low. He wasn't a peerless genius of any sect, nor was he someone who could command respect at a glance. The feeling of inadequacy lingered, but deep inside, a part of him believed he could change—if he worked hard enough, if he proved himself worthy.

Ye Xian lay down on his bed in his simple quarters, the weight of the evening's conversation with Xuan Lingshuang lingering in his mind.She had confirmed what he had most feared.

The marriage was a duty, something neither of them had chosen. Yet, there was something about her—her strength, her beauty, and her coldness—that made him yearn for her, even if it seemed hopeless. Her words echoed in his mind, especially the part about leaving after a year. He didn't want to admit it, but part of him felt relief. He could not bind someone like her to a life that wasn't her choice. She had her own path to walk, and perhaps he should find his own as well.