That night, Xie Yingying slept clinging to Su Min like a koala, deep within the core of the Xuantian Mansion. She lay curled tight against her, limbs intertwined, one leg hooked possessively over Su Min's, an arm draped across her waist, as if even in sleep she was making sure her anchor couldn't drift away. When she woke, the silence felt heavier, more profound than any she had ever known. It wasn't an empty silence, but a deep, settled quiet, the kind that only exists when all threats are truly gone. The instinctive gesture of clinging remained, born of deep, ancestral trust; even in the deepest repose, her body held fast, ensuring her center wouldn't drift across the long, vast stretch of time that had just ended. She was home. She was safe.
They were blanketed in sheets of soft spirit silk, the material cool and slick against her skin, yet she was thoroughly warmed by the profound, steady presence of the other woman. The Xuantian Mansion felt hushed, its usual spiritual hum subdued under the gentle, silver blue glow of the twin moons that filtered through the intricately carved lattice windows. The quality of the air here was different, clean and vibrant, tasting faintly of crushed jade and ozone, a sign of the pure, potent energy that saturated this new world. The world outside had changed in ways Xie Yingying was only beginning to grasp, yet this feeling, this specific, absolute rightness of their bodies fitting together, was the only constant that truly mattered. Even with the long, aching silence of her sealed sleep between them, they still fit perfectly, two complementary halves settled back into a flawless whole.
Su Min hadn't slept. She rarely needed to anymore, her immortal body effortlessly sustained by the boundless energy she drew from the world itself. Instead, she had simply held Xie Yingying through the night, her arms a secure, unbreakable circle around her. She had been observing, listening to the faint, familiar stir of the Lunar Sovereign Physique beneath her currently fragile, mortal skin. It was that same old rhythm, gentle, calm, a steady tide pulsing softly beneath the moonlight, a silent, comforting lullaby only she could hear and feel. She had spent the night simply being next to her, re establishing the thirty thousand year connection, drinking in the reality of her breathing, the slight shifts in her weight, the simple, miraculous fact of her presence.
Morning arrived, washing the room in a soft, pearlescent light that chased the shadows from the high ceiling. Xie Yingying blinked awake, her senses still saturated with sleep and the heavy, sweet scent of Su Min's robes. She registered the delicate scent of blooming tea and the faint, comforting sound of simmering soup emanating from the inner hall, a domestic melody that felt both new and deeply familiar.
She sat up slowly, still drowsy, stretching her stiff muscles as the spirit silk pooled around her waist like melted moonlight. She found Su Min seated calmly by a low table, her robes perfectly smooth and unwrinkled, her long hair already brushed until it flowed over her shoulders like dark cloud silk. The contrast between her effortless composure and Xie Yingying's sleep tousled state was stark, yet intimately familiar, a sign of their reversed circumstances that somehow felt right.
"You cooked?" Xie Yingying blinked, her voice still thick with sleep and disbelief.
Su Min looked up from the ancient, plain jade scroll she wasn't truly reading, her eyes immediately finding and holding Xie Yingying's gaze. Her expression softened with a small, private smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. "Only a little. You still need to eat proper meals, after all. Mortals run on fuel, remember?"
Xie Yingying padded over barefoot, the cool jade tiles a pleasant contrast to the room's warmth, and sat across from her. Steam rose from a light but thoughtfully prepared breakfast spread, a bowl of simple spirit grain porridge, a small plate of dried lotus slices, and a warm, fragrant red date soup. It was food for nourishing a newly awakened mortal, prepared with the deliberate, patient care of one who could create galaxies but chose instead to make breakfast.
"You've really gotten good at this," she murmured after her first careful bite of the porridge, savoring the rich, smooth taste. A familiar, teasing note returned to her voice. "Don't tell me you mastered cooking while battling fallen immortals and reshaping the heavens."
"I had time," Su Min said simply, her eyes holding a depth of gentle, enduring patience that hinted at the endless millennia she had endured alone. "And I knew you'd be waking up eventually. There was always going to be this morning."
Xie Yingying paused, her spoon halfway to her lips, and then set it down with a soft, decisive clink. The playful mood immediately shifted into something more serious, more intent. The reality of her current state, of being mortal in a realm of immense power, demanded attention.
"Let's talk about my re cultivation."
Su Min gave a single, acknowledging nod, her expression becoming instantly serious. "Alright."
Xie Yingying drew a slow, deliberate breath, organizing her thoughts and her ambition. "You know that I use your modified version of Yao Xian'er's technique. Since I've already severed everything and sealed myself, the next step is rebuilding from zero. I've looked around, and the spiritual density here is far beyond anything on the Heavenly Continent. Even just breathing, I can feel the energy stirring in my core, pulling inward."
"With this plane and the sect's resources," she continued, her voice growing confident, her determination steel sharp. "I can reach the Qi Refining stage within a year. Maybe even less. I don't want to wait."
But Su Min didn't respond with immediate approval or encouragement. Instead, she reached for a small, unadorned jade vial that had been sitting beside her and slid it smoothly across the polished table. The sound of the smooth jade sliding on the polished wood was the only intrusion in the sudden silence. "Take this first."
Xie Yingying glanced at it, her eyes narrowing slightly in recognition. "The Life Extension Pill?"
"You don't need to rush," Su Min said, her tone even and firm, not a command, but a statement of absolute security. "You're not racing against death anymore. That threat is gone. Time is on our side now."
"But I could still make it faster," Xie Yingying insisted, her possessiveness showing not over Su Min this time, but over her own ambitious timeline.
"I know you could." Su Min's voice softened, the deep affection evident, but it held an immovable quality, like a mountain acknowledging a stream's power but not yielding to it. "But you shouldn't have to. You deserve ease now. You deserve a buffer."
Xie Yingying's gaze lingered on her for a long, searching moment, seeing past the Immortal Sovereign to the fiercely protective heart beneath. She saw it then. Su Min's tone wasn't one of doubt in her abilities, it was a quiet, unwavering insistence born of millennia of agonizing separation. She wasn't trying to slow her down out of mere caution, she just wanted her safe. Completely, effortlessly safe. The protective instinct was a palpable, gentle force in the space between them.
"Alright," Xie Yingying finally conceded, her shoulders relaxing a fraction as she picked up the vial. "I'll take it. No point gambling when the odds are already stacked in our favor."
Visibly relieved, Su Min gave another gentle nod. "Once you recover from the physical transition of the pill, we'll begin. We'll choose the perfect location together."
"Before that," Xie Yingying turned her head toward the open veranda, where morning light spilled over the gleaming jade tiled roofs of the sect far below. The air was fresh and cool, tinged with a spiritual mist that tasted of ozone and blossoms. Far in the distance, the great divine rivers shimmered like ribbons of liquid light between the majestic peaks.
"I want to see it," she said, a note of quiet yearning in her voice, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "The Immortal Plane you forged. And the hidden continent."
Su Min's expression softened further, the love in her eyes so plain it was almost disarming. "You want to travel? Even a short trip?"
"Not far," Xie Yingying said, a small, genuine smile touching her lips. "Just see what you've built. All those years I slept, I want to know the world you waited in."
"Then we'll go," Su Min said immediately, as if the decision required no thought at all, for her greatest joy was simply granting Xie Yingying's wishes. "Anywhere you want."
Without warning, she stood and stepped forward, moving with a silent grace that spoke of infinite power. She slipped her arms under Xie Yingying's knees and back, lifting her with such effortless ease that the gesture felt like a warm breath.
"Wha, Su Min!" Xie Yingying's cheeks flushed a bright, warm pink as she instinctively looped her arms around her neck for balance, her heart giving a sudden, pleasant lurch against her ribs.
"You're still a mortal," Su Min said lightly, stating a simple, unchangeable fact. "I'm not letting you walk up that many stairs when I can carry you."
Then, with a soft, resonant hum that was more felt than heard in the earth than the air, her flying sword responded to her call. It was silent as a sliver of moonlight, rising to hover just outside the open terrace. She stepped onto it effortlessly, the blade stabilizing perfectly beneath her feet without a flicker of turbulence, and they lifted smoothly, silently, into the vast, clear morning sky.
Wind swept past them, cool and fresh, tugging playfully at their sleeves and hair as the entire sect came into breathtaking view below. Dozens of elegant towers, serene courtyards, and vast training fields stretched across a floating landmass suspended within layered cloud belts. Pillars of pure starlight poured down from the heavens, nourishing immense fields of spirit herbs that glowed with soft, shifting hues. And further beyond that, hidden behind the subtle, shimmering veils of powerful sky sealing formations, was the true marvel, the continent Su Min had built in secret, using the chaos of a shattered cosmos, just for them.
The wind carried them gently, high above the clouds, the world opening up in a panorama of impossible beauty.
Cradled securely in Su Min's arms, the pressure of her embrace a comfortable certainty, Xie Yingying gazed out across the endless horizon, her dark hair tossed lightly by the breeze. Below them, the peaks and towers of the Immortal Gate glittered like constellations scattered across the land. Streams of visible spirit energy, bright as liquid diamonds, flowed between the mountains like rivers of light, and vast fields of iridescent spirit grass shimmered in hypnotic waves as they passed overhead. The sheer scale and perfection of the realm were overwhelming.
For a long while, Xie Yingying said nothing. She just stared, her eyes wide in quiet, absorbing awe, committing every impossible detail to memory.
"You really built all this," she murmured finally, the words barely more than a breath, laced with wonder.
Su Min glanced down at her, her smile a tender, private thing, filled with quiet triumph. "I had time. And I wanted a place for us. One that no one could ever touch, where you could finally be safe."
The sword dipped slightly as they descended into one of the floating gardens, a vast terrace of moonflowers and star-shaped spirit herbs that bloomed and pulsed with soft light in slow, gentle cycles. When Su Min set her down carefully, Xie Yingying took a few tentative steps on her own before spinning in a slow circle, her arms half raised, soaking it all in.
There wasn't any looming pressure here. No rushing enemies. No ancient seals waiting to be broken. Just clean morning air, the rich, layered scent of exotic herbs, and the solid, reassuring warmth of Su Min's hand resting lightly in hers.
Xie Yingying let out a slow, deep breath, a true, unburdened smile gracing her lips. "This almost doesn't feel real. It feels like a beautiful, impossible dream."
Su Min stepped behind her, brushing a few wind-blown strands of hair from her cheek with infinite care, her hands lingering on her shoulders. "It's real. Every bit of it. And you're here to enjoy it."
"And I get to finally enjoy it," Xie Yingying declared, leaning back slightly into her touch, her body instinctively trusting the support. "With you. That's the important part."
Su Min smiled, keeping their fingers laced, and gently turned her to face the next horizon. "Then let's see the rest of it."
The next few days dissolved into a dreamlike state of quiet exploration, their long-awaited honeymoon finally beginning.
They continued their exploration, moving to a glade tucked between three crystalline mountains, a place where time itself flowed just a little slower and where the light seemed permanently gentle. Beneath one of the largest trees, Su Min laid down a picnic mat woven from threads of fire silk and frost thread. Xie Yingying, still pleasantly sleep-hazy from the deep rest of the past few nights, sat down and let out a contented sigh.
"It really does feel like we're on vacation. A perfect, impossible retreat."
Su Min settled beside her, her expression serene and relaxed. "We are. A very delayed one," Su Min agreed, her voice dropping in seriousness. "A proper vacation we never had time for, chasing power and fighting threats across the cosmos. This peace—it's a moment just for us now."
Xie Yingying let out a soft laugh, the last of the tension in her body melting away. "A honeymoon, maybe? Even if it's just us, in a place no one else can reach."
"Exactly," Su Min confirmed, her hand brushing against hers, gentle and steady. "A time to rest, to breathe, to just be together without any expectations. We've earned this, Yingying. Every second."
The two of them shared a quiet smile, the air between them filled with something tender and unspoken. For once, there weren't any threats, no schemes, no urgency, only the rare, precious freedom to exist for themselves.
The next few days dissolved into a dreamlike state of quiet exploration, their long-awaited honeymoon finally beginning. They wandered the upper gardens, hand in hand. Su Min pointed out the sacred trees she'd grown from precious fragments of world roots, tracing the smooth bark with her finger, while Xie Yingying tasted fresh spirit berries that glowed with a faint blue light and puckered her lips at the unexpected sharpness. Su Min chuckled, a low, warm sound, and promptly fed her a sweeter, golden one to make up for it, wiping the surprised look from her face.
In a secluded corner, they found a lake that lay so still and clear it reflected the sky with perfect clarity, creating the illusion that they were walking above the heavens themselves. Xie Yingying knelt beside it, trailing her fingers through the cool, pristine water while Su Min sat beside her, watching her with a gaze that hadn't softened or wavered in thirty thousand years.
"I used to dream about this," Xie Yingying said softly, her eyes on the ripples she was creating. "You and me. Somewhere without battles or missions. Or fear. Just breathing in peace."
Su Min's hand found hers again, their fingers lacing together naturally, a simple, profound contact. "Then let's keep dreaming, together."
They sheltered beneath a floating pavilion where Su Min had, in her typical thorough way, prepared an entire traveling kitchen in advance. She opened the woven picnic basket, revealing carefully arranged trays of warm spirit fruit tarts, cups of chilled lotus milk, and fresh, perfectly ripe golden peaches still dusted with morning dew.
"I made everything this morning. I wanted something sweet to start your day."
Xie Yingying looked at her with playful suspicion. "You don't even like sweets."
Su Min plucked a berry-topped tart and held it out to her wife's lips. "You do."
Xie Yingying took it with a soft snort. "Honestly, how are you still like this after becoming an immortal and a sovereign? You didn't change a bit."
Su Min's expression remained utterly serene, her gaze steady on Xie Yingying. "You're the only constant I brought with me through everything. My instincts stayed the same because the objective was always you."
They ate under the dappled light of the shimmering trees, sitting side by side, their shoulders touching, while gentle winds stirred the luminous flowers around them into a soft, rustling dance.
Later, the sun filtered gently through the leaves, painting the glade in soft, golden light. Xie Yingying leaned back on the picnic mat, her head resting lightly against Su Min's shoulder, letting herself simply breathe.
Su Min's hand found hers, fingers intertwining naturally. "You're really relaxing now, huh?" she murmured, the corner of her lips lifting in a private smile.
"I am," Xie Yingying replied, tilting her head to meet Su Min's gaze. "But you still insist on spoiling me, don't you?"
"Of course," Su Min said lightly, leaning closer. She brushed a stray strand of hair behind Xie Yingying's ear, the touch lingering just long enough to send a shiver down her spine. "You've earned this, every bit of it."
A moment of quiet teasing ensued, quickly giving way to tender kisses and soft, unrestrained laughter. Su Min's arms wrapped around her securely, holding her close against the warmth of her chest.
"I'm not going anywhere this time," Su Min whispered against her lips, the tone gentle but absolute. "I'm staying right here, taking all the time in the world with you."
Xie Yingying's hands gripped her shoulders, then slipped around her neck, pulling her impossibly close. "Then don't you dare leave again," she breathed against Su Min's mouth, her voice catching with emotion. "Not for anything."
They stayed like that for a long moment, the playful teasing giving way to quiet intimacy, sealed by the shared promise. When Xie Yingying finally pulled back, she rested her forehead against Su Min's, both of them breathing the same slow, peaceful rhythm.
"I never imagined we'd have this," she said softly. "A real honeymoon."
Su Min chuckled, brushing her thumb over Xie Yingying's knuckles. "Neither did I. But we deserve it."
They continued their wanderings. Whenever Xie Yingying grew tired, her steps beginning to lag on the long, winding paths, Su Min would simply pick her up without a word. It was a level of care that was both protective and deeply possessive, a right earned through millennia of separation.
They explored glowing crystal caverns. They visited spirit beast nurseries. They bathed in a quiet hot spring under a blanket of brilliant stars, Su Min's formidable spiritual pressure suppressed to barely a whisper. But even without that power, her presence wrapped around Xie Yingying like a second skin, a constant, comforting shield.
Later, they stopped by a shallow, slow-moving river that sparkled as if countless star crystals were scattered across its bed. Xie Yingying crouched at the bank to splash her fingers in the cool, clear water, then looked back over her shoulder at Su Min.
"Can I—"
Before she could even finish the question, Su Min was already there, kneeling beside her and holding her sandals.
"I'll carry you across."
"You really don't trust me to cross a few feet of shallow water?" Xie Yingying asked, though her eyes were shining with amusement.
"I trust you completely," Su Min replied, her tone utterly sincere. "I just enjoy holding you."
Xie Yingying's ears turned a delightful shade of pink, but she said nothing as Su Min lifted her once more and stepped calmly across the cool, shining stream.
By dusk, the sky began to darken into deep lavender and rose hues. They set up a simple camp near a gentle slope covered in night-blooming moonflowers.
Wrapped in a shared, thick blanket, Xie Yingying leaned her head against Su Min's shoulder and looked up at the twin moons rising overhead, one silver, one pale blue, their light weaving together in the twilight.
"I really needed this," she said quietly, her voice full of a vulnerable honesty. "After everything. I didn't realize how much I missed just being. Not fighting, not planning, just being."
Su Min turned her head and kissed the top of hers, a long, tender press of her lips. "Then let's stay in this moment. As long as you want."
And just like that, the years of separation, the battles, the tension, all of it dissolved in the quiet between them. No more regrets. No more what ifs.
Just them. Here.
Together.