Su Wen took out three pills and placed them gently in her hands.
"This dark-blue spirit pill is for your soul cultivation. You can take it today and see if it helps you break through to the Soul Awakening Realm. The other two are for your spirit cultivation… use them when you try to breakthrough to the Golden Core realm. They'll give you a solid boost during your tribulation, so don't waste their spiritual properties as all three are made from Peak Grade 3 spirit herbs."
He patted her head softly, a small smile on his face.
Du Yue stared at the pills, stunned. They pulsed with spiritual qi, brimming with power. She knew the value of even a single Low Grade 3 spirit herb, yet here her husband had refined three Peak Grade 3 pills just for her.
'Husband has spent so much on me ever since my treatment started. He never mentioned the cost, and he never asked for anything in return', she thought.
A faint smile curved her lips as she looked up into his dark eyes. Her mind drifted back to his words from their date in Yellow Town: "If there ever comes a time when you want to go with someone else… just tell me. Don't leave without saying anything. I won't be angry or question you. I'll be happy if you find someone who makes you happier than I can. Just… tell me, so I can try to keep moving forward. Otherwise, I'll be…"
She clenched her thoughts quietly. 'I don't know what happened in his past, and I won't ask. He has become everything to me, and he cares so deeply… I will never betray his heart... not in this life.'
A gentle, silent vow settled in her heart.
The cocoon, which had already shown cracks before, now bore even larger fissures, as if it could break apart completely at any moment.
She said nothing. Carefully, she stored the pills in her storage ring. Su Wen gave her a satisfied nod, eyes calm but warm.
He held her hand gently, looking at her with deep affection.
"Wife, you know I'll always be with you, right?"
Du Yue was still a little confused, but she nodded firmly.
"Husband, I belong to you. You'll always keep me by your side, and I won't ever let you go."
"Good." Su Wen smiled, clearly pleased. "Looks like you're getting smarter staying by my side."
He patted her head a few times, treating her like a well-behaved child. Du Yue huffed softly in protest but stayed quiet, eyes fixed on him as she waited for him to continue.
"When I went into town," Su Wen said, his tone turning calm and steady, "I saw someone, and I…"
At those words, Du Yue's thoughts instantly spiralled out of control.
'Husband met someone in town?
Was it a woman? Someone from his old academy? Or maybe a rich lady from a big city?
Does he want to be with her? No… he said he'd never leave me.
Is he planning to bring another wife into the house? Would he start ignoring me once she arrives?'
Her chest tightened, and a flicker of insecurity rose in her heart. 'As long as he doesn't abandon me… I can accept anything. I… I…
But what if she treats me badly? I… I…'
Before she could stop herself from overthinking and Su Wen can continue, the words slipped out from her mouth.
"Is she your new wife, Husband?"
Su Wen froze, completely caught off guard. For a few seconds, the room was filled with a tense silence.
'What is this dumb woman thinking now?… Did I say she was getting smarter too early?' he thought, inwardly exasperated.
Du Yue noticed his pause and spoke again, her voice softer this time, tinged with sadness.
"Husband… this life… I'm living it for you. If there's no you, then there's no me. As long as you love me and don't abandon me, I… I don't mind if you have another wife…"
Before she could continue, Su Wen moved in an instant. With effortless strength, he scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. He blew lightly on his right hand, as if preparing for something, then shouted loudly,
"Three-Realm Heavenly Disciplining Technique!"
Smack!… smack!… smack!
His palms landed on her backside three times, the sharp sounds echoing across the training grounds. Du Yue's mind went completely blank. She froze, stunned, until a few moments later she finally regained her senses.
Su Wen lowered her into his arms and asked softly,
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Dumb Wife?"
His tone was firm, but the faint laughter he was holding back made it clear he was amused.
'My wife's possessive side is cute… but the drawback is her insecurities. If they aren't resolved, it could seriously affect her mental stability', he thought, calm in expression but gentle in his eyes.
He took out a chair from his spirit ring and sat down, pulling her onto his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His voice softened as he spoke,
"A new wife? Where in the Nine Heavens did that come from? Were you even listening to me?"
Du Yue blinked, her beautiful blue eyes wide and slightly watery.
"Y-you said you saw someone in town, and you…"
Su Wen let out an exaggerated sigh and pinched her nose again, the affection in the gesture obvious.
'Is this really how a woman's mind works?' he thought helplessly.
"I said, when I went into town, I saw someone," he corrected calmly. "And I was going to say that I need your help dealing with them."
Du Yue froze. Her entire face flushed crimson with embarrassment as she buried her face in his chest, staying silent for a long while.
Su Wen didn't rush her. He simply wrapped an arm around her and gently rubbed her back, patiently comforting his insecure wife.
After some time, she whispered softly,
"I'm sorry, Husband… I… I thought you had a new wife outside, and I…"
Her voice trailed off until it was barely audible.
Su Wen sighed, equal parts helpless and amused, and spoke gently,
"My lady, I belong to you now. That means you have to take responsibility for me. I don't think I'll ever love another woman…"
He paused, then looked at her oddly before squeezing her cheeks in a teasing manner.
"After all, women are too troublesome."
Du Yue froze again, her mouth slightly open. "Y-you…"
Before she could respond, Su Wen kissed her forehead and continued calmly,
"Husband and wife isn't a simple relationship, my dumb wife. It's a bond where you share everything… joy, sorrow, pain… even life itself."
"You become responsible for each other, devoted to each other. Just like us. We are one. Everything we have belongs to each other… our destiny, and even our souls."