The following morning, Bai Yunxi woke up to find herself in his arms; his left arm was working as her pillow, meanwhile his right hand was holding her body close to his chest.
Carefully, she began to slip out of his embrace, but the moment she turned to look at him, her movements stopped.
He was asleep.
This was the first time she saw him sleeping. Every morning until now, she'd always opened her eyes to find him already awake, quietly watching her. She had even wondered if he ever slept at all.
She studied his sleeping face—unarmored, serene, the faintest curve of a smile still lingering at the corners of his lips.
Just then, Su Kang's lashes fluttered open, his gaze finding hers. The sleepiness vanished from his eyes in an instant, replaced by that familiar warmth.
"Xi'er… good morning," he whispered, brushing a kiss against her forehead.
"Um. Good morning." Her reply was soft, calm—accustomed to his greetings.
Su Kang felt a strange sense of rejuvenation wash over him. His mind was sharp and extremely clear.
"Come, let me help you wash," he said with a smile.
Before she could respond, he had already swept her into his arms and carried her into the bathing room.
He settled her gently into the wooden tub, the scent of floral oils already wafting through the steam.
He began to wash her, his hands gentle as they glided. His thumbs brushed her collarbone, pausing over the faint traces he had left there.
"You are beautiful," he murmured softly.
Her cheeks flushed, and she leaned into his touch, allowing him to continue.
...
By the time they finished, the morning sun had already begun to rise, painting the sky with hues of gold.
They dressed in their finest robes,
elegant yet simple and stepped outside together to bid farewell to the villagers who had sheltered them.
The villagers had gathered around, their expressions a bittersweet mix of joy and reluctance. Su Kang and Bai Yunxi exchanged farewells with warm smiles and heartfelt gratitude.
The kindness they had received in this quiet place would remain with them forever. And now, it was time to leave.
Madam An had also finished her goodbyes. With a soft hum, Su Kang summoned his spiritual boat.
The three of them boarded, and the vessel lifted into the air, leaving the Rift Valley behind.
Bai Yunxi gazed down as the familiar landscape slowly shrank beneath them. Her heart tightened. This valley held too many memories—of reunion, of love, of shared dreams.
Su Kang gently took her hand and gave a reassuring nod. He understood. This was where their journey had taken a turn, where he had married her. It was also special for him.
She met his gaze, took a steadying breath, and squeezed his hand in return.
During their journey, Madam An found herself watching them more than the scenery. Su Kang's quiet attentiveness surprised her.
He personally cooked for her daughter—a simple act that revealed much about his gentle nature.
She watched her daughter puff her cheeks in mock annoyance when he teased her, and smile like a carefree young girl again.
For the first time in a long while, Madam An felt at ease. Her daughter was in good hands.
Two days later, they arrived at the Bai family's ancestral estate.
The Bai clan, though not powerful cultivators, held strong roots.
The Bai family was a family of Qi-refining merchants; their ancestor was an old foundation-building cultivator. They were well-off merchants, respected for their honest dealings.
Madam An was welcomed back warmly, her return stirring emotions among her kin. Not long after, a quiet ceremony was held, and she laid her husband's remains to rest in the family graveyard.
For Bai Yunxi, the visit stirred no deep nostalgia. She had spent her childhood in Qin City, far from this estate.
And after her transformation, her appearance had changed so much that even those who once saw her would not recognize her without a deeper look.
She and Su Kang kept their identities concealed, choosing not to draw attention. With Madam An deciding to remain with her family for a while, the couple quietly departed soon after the burial.
Bai Yunxi could always visit her mother again—it was just a ten-day trip, and with Su Kang's help, the journey would be easy.
As they prepared to leave, Madam An embraced her daughter tightly. Her eyes lingered on Su Kang, filled with both gratitude and a silent pleading only a mother could give.
He understood both.
"I'll bring her back for the ancestral worship," Su Kang promised, bowing respectfully. "You'll see us soon."
With one last look at her daughter, Madam An nodded, watching them disappear into the horizon as they set out for Liyun City.
After spending three nights together, Su Kang began to notice something strange—each time after they made love, his mind felt clearer, his spiritual perception sharper.
He sat still in the quiet of the morning, Bai Yunxi nestled against him, her breathing slow and even.
My comprehension… it's improving. It's temporary, but real.
A quiet thrill ran through him. He suspected she had awakened some form of spiritual body after her body reconstruction.
Just then, Bai Yunxi stirred in his arms. Her voice, soft and lazy, broke the quiet.
"Husband… I'm hungry. I want something to eat."
Su Kang chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "Alright. Give me a moment."
He slipped into his robe and left. Bai Yunxi remained in the room, the warm peace of morning still clinging to her. After dressing, she pulled out a set of old books from her storage ring and began reading.
By the time Su Kang returned, carrying a tray of food, she was fully absorbed in one of the tomes.
Setting the tray down, he raised an eyebrow. "Still reading, even now?"
She looked up, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Come here. We should go to this place," she said, tapping a page in the book and pointing to a spot on the map.
Su Kang leaned closer. "Why do you want to go there?"
"This is a legend about the Rift Valley." she said, tapping the page.
"Look here, I've found the collection of accounts from traveling cultivators. Both these book reference the same area—mountains and a lake, where the river splits into two branches."
"Take a look at this book. It has recorded many mysterious phenomena."
She opened another book. " This one mentions the same valley. I found legends and records about it—cultivators talking about mysterious phenomena."
She spread out the maps across the wooden table, her delicate fingers tracing the path upstream.
"If we follow the upper channel of the river, it should lead us there."
Su Kang leaned over, watching her eyes sparkle with excitement as she pieced together clues like a child.
Su Kang couldn't help but smile as he watched her.
Maybe she's read too many stories about legendary treasures and ancient ruins…
He nodded. "Alright. If it makes you happy, we'll go."
It had already been three days since they left the Bai family.
They had passed through the Rift Valley earlier in their travels, so retracing their steps here hadn't been difficult.
It's not too much, Su Kang thought as he glanced at the her.
I can pamper her a little while longer.
They soon arrived at a locale defined by rolling hills and an imposing horizon of jagged mountain peaks.
A wide, slow-moving river wove through the landscape, feeding into a vast lake that shimmered like scattered sapphires under the afternoon sun.
A cool breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth, creating a sense of serene mystery as it danced over the water's surface.
Su Kang's gaze swept over the serene lake, his sharp eyes searching for any signs of the treasures, but he encountered only some beasts.
Activating his spiritual perception, he swept across the surrounding terrain. Dense forests, rugged cliffs, and winding waterways filled the region.
The beasts here were low-level, mostly first-tier—a place calm enough to set up temporary shelter.
With practiced ease, Su Kang carved out a small cave in the side of a nearby mountain. Its natural concealment and flat surface made it ideal for establishing a temporary base.
From his storage ring, he retrieved an array plate and activated it, casting a faint shimmer of spiritual light around the cave's entrance—a protective barrier to block the senses of wandering cultivators.
"Xi'er," he said after a moment, his voice low but steady, "there doesn't seem to be anything valuable here for now. Let's rest here for the night."
"We must proceed northward, where the river splits into two branches," Bai Yunxi insisted softly, her eyes fixed on the maps.
"That place is just a few kilometers away. We can begin our search from here," he explained.