His Confession

Bai Yunxi had spent the entire day waiting for Su Kang, her mind restless with worry. The sun had long dipped beyond the horizon, and evening's cool stillness settled over the bamboo hut.

Yet, he was nowhere to be found. Thoughts churned in her heart. Could she have said something to upset him? Could she have unknowingly pushed him away?

Sitting in the bamboo hut, she kept the children company, her mind preoccupied. Their chatter was lighthearted, but she could only half-listen, her thoughts drifting.

It was then that a knock sounded on the door, sharp and unexpected. Startled, she rose and hurried to answer it.

Standing at the door was Su Kang, his familiar, calm smile easing the tension in her chest. Relief swept over her like a gentle wave.

"You're back," she said, her voice tinged with restrained emotion. Then, unable to suppress her unease, her tone hardened just slightly.

"Where did you go without telling me anything?"

"I had something to retrieve," he replied evenly, stepping inside and meeting her gaze.

"It was quite far from here."

With deliberate care, he unwrapped a bundle of white cloth he carried in his arms. Bai Yunxi frowned as her eyes fell upon it.

"What is this?" she asked softly, suspicion tinged with curiosity.

Su Kang's tone lowered, filled with a quiet reverence. "Your father's remains," he said.

"Only a single bone survived."

Bai Yunxi's breath caught, her entire body trembling. For a moment, she was silent, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

She did not doubt him—not even for a moment. Wordlessly, she excused herself and hurried to fetch her mother.

Moments later, Bai Yunxi returned with her mother by her side. Su Kang stepped forward, presenting the remains to Madam An with the same solemn respect.

The older woman's hands trembled as she received the bundle, cradling it as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

Her tears fell silently at first, the grief raw and piercing. Yet, within the sorrow, there was a glimmer of relief.

Understanding the sacredness of this moment, Su Kang stepped outside, leaving the mother and daughter to their privacy.

Outside, the children lingered, their eyes filled with wonder as they gazed at him. Before their curiosity could turn to words, old man He appeared, his expression flustered.

"Go somewhere else," he muttered to the children, ushering them away quickly. His deference to Su Kang was clear.

Though the young cultivator showed no signs of displeasure, the old man dared not risk offending him.

Some time later, Bai Yunxi called Su Kang back into the hut. Her mother, now composed, stood to greet him. She gave him a deep, respectful bow.

"Young Master Su," the old lady began, her voice steady yet brimming with gratitude.

"My daughter has told me everything. You have done more for us than I could ever repay. Please, call me Madam An."

"Madam An," Su Kang replied with a slight bow of his own, his voice calm and respectful.

"There is no need for such formality. You may simply call me Su Kang."

His humility was disarming, and the gesture seemed to ease the tension in the room. Bai Yunxi, observing the exchange, felt a faint warmth in her chest.

The three sat together for a while, sharing tea and quiet conversation. Su Kang listened attentively as Madam An recounted memories of her late husband and the hardships they had endured. Occasionally, his gaze drifted toward Bai Yunxi, but he said nothing about her.

Eventually, Madam An excused herself, leaving Bai Yunxi alone with Su Kang. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her tone soft but firm.

"I don't know how to thank you," she said, bowing her head.

"You reunited me with my mother, and now you've even returned my father's remains. I can never repay such kindness."

Su Kang smiled faintly. "You owe me nothing," he said.

"But if you truly wish to repay me, then answer one question."

Bai Yunxi blinked, caught off guard. Her voice was filled with curiosity as she asked,

"What question?"

"Are you at peace now?" he asked, his voice gentle but probing.

"Has the burden on your heart lightened?"

For a moment, she was stunned. It was a simple question, yet it struck a chord deep within her. Slowly, a smile spread across her lips, and a soft laugh escaped her.

"Yes," she admitted. "My heart feels lighter now. Much lighter."

Her laughter surprised Su Kang, though it was not unwelcome. It was a side of her he had never seen before—a glimpse of unguarded joy.

"My efforts were not wasted." He thought in his heart.

Su Kang didn't ask anything else and quietly finished the snacks.

"I'm going to visit the city. Do you want to go with me?" He asked.

"Okay, I will go with you." She agreed and went to inform her mother before leaving.

The two left the village soon after, with Su Kang carrying her through the air on a wave of qi. For Bai Yunxi, it was her first experience flying, and it took her breath away.

The setting sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and red, casting its glow over the landscape below. Hills rolled out endlessly, their green slopes dotted with golden rocks.

"Beautiful," Su Kang murmured, his voice low.

Bai Yunxi turned to look at him, expecting him to be admiring the scenery. Instead, she found his gaze fixed on her.

Her white robes fluttered gently in the wind, her dark hair flowing like silk against the warm hues of the sky.

Her face started to turn slightly red from embarrassment and shyness, but she did not stop him.

Su Kang kept admiring her and understood her intention. They didn't say anything else.

In the city, Bai Yunxi busied herself selecting gifts for the children and old man He. She wanted to show her gratitude before leaving.

Meanwhile, Su Kang suggested they seek out a craftsman to create a better artificial leg for her mother.

"Spiritually crafted tools would be far more suitable than her current wooden leg," he told her.

Bai Yunxi agreed, and after some searching, they found a shop that could craft a spiritual prosthetic. It would take two days to complete.

As night fell, the two left the bustling streets of the city behind. The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light casting long shadows over the quiet hills.

"Bai Yunxi," Su Kang called softly, stopping mid-air.

Hearing her name spoken in such a way, Bai Yunxi's heart skipped a beat. She turned to face him, her chest tightening with nervous anticipation.

Su Kang landed in a quiet clearing, the moonlight illuminating the trees and rocks around them. He turned to her, his expression calm but serious.

"At first it was just normal admiration towards you," he began.

"But when I started looking at you more, you became more to my liking."

He stepped closer, his tone unwavering.

"I want to make you happy. I want to show you the world and share its beauty with you. I want you to let go of your burdens and live freely. You no longer need to sacrifice everything for others."

"Li Fang is safe, and there is no longer any danger to you or your family. I want to carry your worries and burdens in the future. I want to give you the happiness you deserve."

He paused, his voice softening.

"Bai Yunxi, I love you."

His confession was raw, sincere, and unguarded. Bai Yunxi stood frozen, her heart pounding as her face flushed. Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to find her voice.

Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling.

"I've thought about this before… but I was afraid. I was troubled by my situation."

"After meeting my mother, I realized that you will do everything in your power to make me happy."

"I don't know how you found my mother and even my father's remains, but even this favor of yours is something I can't repay in this life."

"I don't know what good karma I did to receive such a blessing."

"You owe me nothing," Su Kang said firmly, stepping closer. "You are not a burden—you are a blessing."

"But I'm not young anymore," she said hesitantly. "My beauty will fade…"

"Then I'll help you cultivate," Su Kang replied, his tone resolute. "This age means nothing to me."

"What if others mock you?" she asked. "What if your family disapproves?"

"No one would dare," he said confidently, taking another step closer.

"My family is different from other families. They wouldn't have any problem as long as we gave them a successor."

"And… what if Li Fang resents me?" Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"He loves you more than anyone; he has seen your sufferings." Su Kang reassured her.

"He will understand, and I will make sure of it."

Now standing directly in front of her, Su Kang gently placed his hands on her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace.