151: Chapter 151 Arrangements for Zhou Yao

Zhou Yao's eyelids fluttered for quite a while before she managed to pry them open a slit.

Dazzling yet gentle light filtered in.

She blinked subconsciously, taking a full half-cup of tea's time to recover before she could clearly see the scene before her.

This was an exceptionally spacious and comfortable bedroom, grander than the best room she had ever seen in the Zhou Family.

The floor was made of smooth bluestone bricks, the surrounding walls emitted a faint spiritual light, and the air was filled with dense, gentle Spiritual Qi.

Taking a breath, even her weak body felt a bit lighter.

The furnishings in the room were simple yet elegant.

The tables, chairs, and bed were all clean, exuding a sense of comfort everywhere.

It was a completely unfamiliar place she had never stayed in before.

She slowly turned her neck and immediately saw Li Qing sitting by the bedside.

At this sight, her heart tightened.

Li Qing's face was abnormally pale, with dark circles hanging under his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins.

His face was covered in unconcealable exhaustion, and faint stubble had even sprouted on his chin.

He looked haggard and weary, as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.

Unable to suppress the confusion filling her heart, her throat felt so dry it was almost smoking.

Her voice was hoarse and soft, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, as she couldn't help but ask: "Li Qing, where is this? Why am I here?"

Li Qing had been guarding the bedside without daring to blink too much, fearing that if she woke up, there would be no one to attend to her.

Hearing her voice, he immediately perked up, quickly picking up the warm water that had long been cooled, scooping up a spoonful, and bringing it to her lips with gentle and practiced movements.

"This is an Intermediate Immortal Cave I rented in Yingshui City. The Spiritual Qi is abundant, and the environment is good. Your injuries were too severe before, your Divine Soul was shattered, and you remained unconscious. From now on, we will live here."

Zhou Yao didn't have the strength to lift her hand, so she drank several mouthfuls of warm water from his hand.

Her parched throat finally felt better, and her mind cleared up a bit.

Looking at Li Qing's exhausted state, she felt a pang of soreness in her heart, mixed with confusion.

She only remembered being injured by the Soul-Devouring Needle while trying to save Li Qing; she couldn't recall anything after that.

"I... how long have I slept?"

She frowned, trying hard to recall, but her mind was a blank slate.

Only the dangerous scenes before she fell unconscious remained; the time after that felt as if it had been wiped away.

Li Qing's hand holding the cup paused, a flash of complexity appearing in his eyes, before he said softly: "You have slept for a full six years."

Six years!

These two words struck Zhou Yao's heart like a thunderbolt.

Her eyes widened instantly, her face full of disbelief, and her lips couldn't help but tremble: "Six years? I actually fell into a coma for six years?"

She could hardly believe that as soon as she closed her eyes and opened them again, six years had already passed.

In these six years, she had been like a living dead person, knowing nothing and unable to do anything.

Then... who had been taking care of her during these six years?

She subconsciously looked at Li Qing.

Seeing his face full of vicissitudes and exhaustion, she instantly had the answer in her heart.

Tears welled up suddenly, and her eye sockets turned bright red.

"For these six years, have you been the one taking care of me?"

Her voice was choked with sobs as she stared fixedly at Li Qing, waiting for his answer.

Li Qing felt his heart tighten as he watched her shed tears.

He quickly raised his hand to wipe them away, but fearing it might be too abrupt, he paused midway before gently wiping away the teardrops from the corner of her eyes.

He nodded, his tone plain yet earnest: "Yes, it was me."

He spoke lightly, but only he knew the hardships of these six years.

Looking at the weariness in his eyes and thinking of his meticulous care over these six years, Zhou Yao's heart was in turmoil.

It was filled with gratitude, heartache, and an indescribable emotion that was quietly taking root and sprouting in the depths of her heart.

For so many years, apart from her mother who passed away when she was young, no one had ever treated her this well, holding her in their heart and doing their utmost to protect and care for her.

In the Zhou Family, she was a piece of trash with Mixed Spiritual Roots whom everyone despised, a tool for marriage alliances.

She was never well-fed or warmly clothed and endured cold looks and grievances.

But here with Li Qing, she had been carefully cherished for six years.

This kindness had long exceeded that of a normal friend, and this companionship was even more moving than any words.

Looking at the haggard yet still gentle Li Qing before her, her emotions surged.

After a long silence, she finally gathered her courage and spoke softly, her eyes filled with a trace of trepidation mixed with firmness: "Li Qing, should I call you Fellow Daoist, or... Husband?"

The two words "Husband" were spoken very softly, but they clearly reached Li Qing's ears.

Li Qing froze in place, the cup in his hand nearly falling to the ground.

He looked up at Zhou Yao abruptly, his eyes full of confusion, before he seemed to remember some important forgotten matter.

A sudden realization dawned on him, and a look of enlightenment and guilt appeared on his face.

That's right, how could he have forgotten this!

Six years ago, he and Zhou Yao held a wedding ceremony at the Zhou Family; they had formally bowed in the bridal chamber and were married.

With this reminder from Zhou Yao, he finally remembered completely that they were long since not ordinary Fellow Daoists, but Dao Companions.

Li Qing looked at Zhou Yao's flushed cheeks, and at the trepidation and anticipation in her eyes, his heart filled with guilt.

He was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to gently stroke his own brow.

Spiritual power surged slightly, and a thin, pale golden light pattern emerged from both his and Zhou Yao's brows simultaneously, then slowly dissipated.

This was Li Qing actively breaking the Soul-Bound Contract between the two of them!

This Soul-Bound Contract was a shackle Zhou Yao had forcibly placed upon herself back then so that Li Qing would take her away from the Zhou Family.

Now that Zhou Yao had awakened, Li Qing did not want to use this contract to bind her.

"I have already broken the Soul-Bound Contract."

Li Qing looked at her, his gaze sincere and gentle, his tone exceptionally solemn.

"The contract was concluded back then just so we would have a binding between us; now, this binding should be undone."

"As for the form of address..."

Li Qing looked at the trepidation and anticipation in Zhou Yao's eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "Our marriage ceremony at the Zhou Family back then was forced by circumstances, not our original intention."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Yao's body trembled slightly, and the brightness in her eyes dimmed a little, but she didn't interrupt him, listening quietly.

Li Qing sighed lightly and continued: "These six years, I risked everything to save you and take care of you. Firstly, because we did have a nominal marriage engagement, and I couldn't just watch you perish like that; secondly, you were injured by the Soul-Devouring Needle while trying to save me, causing your Divine Soul to shatter. I owe you a life; taking care of you is what I ought to do."

Speaking to this point, the exhaustion in Li Qing's eyes faded slightly, replaced by a sense of relief.

He looked at Zhou Yao and said slowly: "Now that you have finally awakened, the heavy stone that has pressed on my heart for so many years has finally landed."

Zhou Yao listened quietly, her fingers gripping the bedding beneath her unconsciously.

She couldn't tell if she was sad or disappointed; it was just an empty feeling.

In her heart, she actually knew clearly that the marriage back then was absurd from the start.

But the days of being meticulously cared for over these six years still made her unable to help but develop thoughts she shouldn't have.

Now that Li Qing had bluntly pointed it out, she couldn't help but feel a pang of soreness, yet she also knew that everything Li Qing said was the truth.

Li Qing looked at her slightly pale complexion, softening his tone as he stated his plans: "You have just woken up, your body is still very weak, and your Divine Soul hasn't fully recovered. Don't think about anything else for now; just focus on recuperating."

"Once you have fully recovered, and your body and cultivation are back to normal, I will settle you here in Yingshui City."

"This Intermediate Immortal Cave has abundant Spiritual Qi and a stable environment, which is very suitable for you to recuperate and Cultivate."

"I will leave you with sufficient Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills for your cultivation to ensure you will have no worries about food or clothing here, and you won't have to suffer any more grievances."

"If you don't want to stay in Yingshui City, you can also choose to join the Luoshui Sect."

"Cultivating within a Sect, with elders to guide you and fellow disciples to look after you, is much more stable than drifting outside alone."

"I still have some influence in the Luoshui Sect; as long as you are willing, I can pull strings to recommend you for entry. From then on, you can Cultivate in the Sect with peace of mind, never again having to be bullied by others or be someone else's tool for marriage alliance."

After listening, Zhou Yao lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

She was silent for a full half-stick of incense time before she nodded gently.

Her voice remained soft, but carried a sense of resignation: "I will listen to you; whatever you arrange is fine."

She knew that Li Qing was genuinely looking out for her.

Whether staying in Yingshui City or joining the Luoshui Sect, these were stable days she had never dared to imagine in her life.

Compared to the Zhou Family, this was already the best outcome.

But for some reason, even though she had received the best arrangement, her heart felt as if an important piece was missing.

It felt empty, and she always felt a bit off.

That emotion which had just sprouted in the depths of her heart felt as if it had been doused with a basin of cold water, slowly subsiding.

She had originally thought that after six years of day-and-night companionship, even if there were no feelings at the beginning, some different thoughts should have eventually emerged.

But Li Qing's arrangements told her clearly that this six years of care was merely out of responsibility and repayment of a debt; nothing more.

Li Qing watched her slightly downcast expression and understood her thoughts, but he still hardened his heart and didn't say anything more.

He was not cold-hearted.

During these six years of day and night guarding, he was not without feelings for Zhou Yao.

But he knew even more clearly that the path of Cultivation was essentially fighting against heaven, filled with danger at every turn.

The road he had to walk in the future was destined to be full of bumps and crises, with enemies everywhere and perilous situations arising constantly.

He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incomparably firm, and said earnestly to Zhou Yao: "I know you might feel uncomfortable, but I am doing this all for your own good."

"We cultivators, once we step onto this path, it is destined that life and death are unpredictable. The things I have to do in the future, a slight carelessness could lead to total destruction."

"I cannot take you with me to take risks; keeping you by my side would only make you live in fear, or even fall into danger again."

"I only want you to be safe and sound from now on, to Cultivate steadily and without worries, never again to be drawn into any disputes, and never again to sacrifice yourself for anyone."

"As long as you can live well and stay healthy, I will be relieved."

Li Qing said these words with utmost sincerity; he truly did not want to drag Zhou Yao down.

During these six years, he had managed to pull her back from the gates of hell with great difficulty; he never wanted her to experience any danger again.

Giving her a stable life and keeping her away from his own storms was exactly what he wanted to do most.

Zhou Yao looked up at Li Qing, the bit of disappointment in her heart slowly dissipating, replaced by a sense of warmth.

She knew that Li Qing was not heartless, but too clear-headed.

He was protecting her, not wanting her to take risks with him.

She smiled lightly, her eyes regaining their luster, and said softly to Li Qing: "I understand what you mean; I don't blame you."

"Don't worry, I will recuperate well. Once I recover, whether I stay in Yingshui City or go to the Luoshui Sect, I will Cultivate well and take good care of myself, and I won't add any more trouble for you."

Only when saying this, she still felt a bit of melancholy in her heart.

She knew clearly that from this moment on, she and Li Qing were truly just ordinary Fellow Daoists.

That nominal marriage engagement and these six years of companionship would eventually fade into plainness, and from now on, the two of them would go their separate ways, each finding their own peace.