Chapter 26: Separation

The next day, when Liang Yixue blearily opened her eyes, she found that Chu Fan was still asleep.

She leaned in closer, burying her head against his chest to listen to his heartbeat, unable to stop her lips from curling into a smile.

Suddenly, her gaze drifted downward.

Upon seeing something, she recalled the events of the previous night, and her face flushed a deep crimson.

She looked up at Chu Fan again.

Seeing his peaceful, sleeping face, she couldn’t help but grumble under her breath, “You really don’t know how to be tender. I hope you sleep forever.”

Suddenly, Chu Fan’s restless sleeping posture caused him to roll over and slam into the wall.

The sharp pain from the impact woke him up instantly.

“Sss…”

Chu Fan rubbed his head and struggled to open his eyes.

Before him was Liang Yixue, clutching the quilt to her chest, her bare shoulders as smooth as cream.

His face turned bright red in an instant as he averted his gaze.

Without a doubt, he also remembered what had happened last night.

However, things didn’t get any better when he looked down.

A small patch of crimson in the middle of the bed served as a stark reminder of his actions.

He quickly shut his eyes and remained silent.

“Honestly, you can’t even stay still while you sleep.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

Seeing Chu Fan’s overly serious expression, Liang Yixue let out a giggle.

“Hehe, I’m just teasing you. Open your eyes.”

“Is… is it okay?”

“Hurry up.”

“Alright…”

Slowly opening his eyes, Chu Fan saw that Liang Yixue had already changed her clothes.

Her eyes were as clear and gentle as autumn waters.

“Morning, Husband,” she said with a calm smile.

“Morning… Wife…” Chu Fan replied awkwardly.

Gurgle…

At that moment, Chu Fan’s stomach let out a loud growl, making Liang Yixue laugh softly.

“Hungry the moment you wake up? Are you a little pig?”

“…”

Chu Fan had no answer, his face burning with embarrassment.

“Wait here. I’ll go fix you some food.”

“Mhm…”

As he watched Liang Yixue leave the room, a thought that felt almost sinful popped into his head.

‘Should I take this chance to run away?’

When this thought crossed his mind, Chu Fan was shocked by his own callousness.

‘Do I have any humanity left?’

Setting aside the fact that she had waited for him for three years, he had also taken all the medicinal herbs.

Though he had his reasons, to her, it would simply look like he had abandoned her.

Yet, she was still willing to wait, and they were even married now.

She had given him everything she could.

How could he even consider running away right now?

With a loud smack, Chu Fan slapped his own face.

The sharp, stinging pain served as a reminder.

Now that he had what he came for, even if he had to leave, he couldn’t just disappear without a word again.

One stick of incense later, Liang Yixue returned to the room carrying a tray of dishes that looked and smelled delicious.

Seeing Chu Fan, she beamed with a radiant smile and teased, “Oh, you didn’t leave. I thought I wouldn’t see you when I came back.”

“How… how could I…”

Seeing his sheepish look, Liang Yixue shook her head with a smile and placed the tray on the table.

“Come and eat.”

“Mhm.”

Chu Fan got out of bed and sat down beside her.

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks appeared in his bowl as Liang Yixue placed a piece of meat there for him.

“Eat more. You’ve gotten thin.”

“You too…”

“But I wasn’t thin because I was hungry.”

“…”

Chu Fan was left speechless.

He could only lower his head and focus on eating.

After devouring the meal, Chu Fan finally set down his chopsticks and let out a burp.

Belch.

“Full?”

“Mhm.”

“Was it good?”

“It was delicious. It tastes just like it used to. As expected of you.”

“That’s good then.”

With that, Liang Yixue picked up the tray to leave, but Chu Fan suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“What is it…?”

Liang Yixue asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yixue, I have to go.”

“Can’t you stay for just… one more day?”

Chu Fan remained silent.

Feeling Chu Fan’s palm start to tremble against her wrist, Liang Yixue suddenly laughed.

“I’m just kidding. I already promised you, so… I’ll let you go.”

“Mhm…”

Standing at the entrance of the valley cave, Chu Fan looked down at Liang Yixue.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“I will definitely come back. When I do, I’ll take you away with me, alright?”

“Mhm, I know,” Liang Yixue said with a smile.

She stepped forward and began to smooth out the wrinkles in Chu Fan’s clothes.

As she worked, she murmured, “When you’re out there, don’t be impulsive. If you can’t win a fight, just hide. Come back here to me. This is Wangyou Valley; no one dares to use violence here. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“And about Yuying and the others, don’t overprotect them. Let them gain experience on their own within reasonable limits. You can’t stay by their side forever.”

“I understand.”

“Also, there’s Celestial Master Dongfang. Since you disappeared, she hasn’t visited much. She mentioned that your scrolls are still with her and told you to go to the Celestial Master Mansion to retrieve them yourself.”

“That woman…”

Chu Fan made a face of pure annoyance.

Seeing this, Liang Yixue smiled faintly.

“I know the two of you have a good relationship, but you are my husband now, so…”

“I know. Don’t worry, Yixue, I won’t be unfaithful.”

“Even if she joins us, she can only be a secondary wife.”

Both of them blinked in confusion at the same time.

“Huh?”

Chu Fan was stunned.

“Eh? You don’t want to… marry a secondary wife?”

Liang Yixue asked softly.

“Of course not!”

“But… I’m afraid that I won’t be able to… take care of you well enough on my own…”

Hearing this, Chu Fan gave a frustrated laugh and patted her head.

“In this world, no one knows how to take care of me better than you do.”

“Then, if you ever change your mind and want a secondary wife, you have to tell me.”

Chu Fan knew how stubborn she could be.

Since he couldn’t win the argument, he decided to just go along with it for now.

He nodded.

“Mhm, I understand.”

“You can only marry secondary wives or concubines. You can’t let anyone take my place as the primary wife, do you hear me?”

Liang Yixue said with a hint of urgency.

“I understand.”

“And, and… and…”

Liang Yixue thought hard, but she couldn’t squeeze out another topic.

Chu Fan could see right through her.

This was just her way of stalling for time, trying to keep him here for just a few more seconds.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to point it out.

“And, and… and…”

Liang Yixue kept her head down in a panic, looking left and right as she stammered.

Suddenly, Chu Fan reached out and cupped her cool, jade-smooth face.

She looked up to meet his gaze, her eyes instantly brightening.

“Yixue, I will return as soon as possible. When that time comes, I’ll tell you everything. I want you to know that everything I’ve done, whether good or bad, was for you.”

The valley wind seemed to stop for a moment.

Sunlight slowly filtered in, resting on her hair.

Liang Yixue put her hands behind her back and tilted her head with a smile that was both pure and tender.

“Mhm. Safe travels.”

In the next moment, Chu Fan turned and left without looking back.

But unlike the hurried pace of his arrival on his flying sword, he left on foot this time.

His steps were firm, and he didn’t turn around once.

Liang Yixue didn’t leave even after his back disappeared into the light.

She stood there as if afraid that he might have forgotten something and would turn back at any moment.

….

Soaring through the sky on his sword, Chu Fan seemed to remember something and muttered to himself, “I guess I should get those scrolls back before I go home.”