In the evening, I was having dinner with Longyin when suddenly a person entered the front hall.
"Liangyi? Is that really you?"
I stared at the person in surprise, joy washing over my face. "Is that Brother Songwen?"
"Aren't you supposed to be in the capital for the exams? Why are you back?"
"I passed! I'm here to bring my parents to the capital."
Tears of excitement welled up in my eyes.
Song Wen and I had grown up together. Three years ago, when I left home, I went to see him off. He promised... that he would come back for me after finishing high school.
Song Wen held my hand tightly.
With a loud clatter, Longyin deliberately dropped his chopsticks, startling me.
"What was that sound?" Song Wen asked.
I glanced at Longyin and realized he was unhappy. I stifled a laugh. "Oh, it's nothing. Probably just a rat in this temple."
I intentionally changed the subject. "Congratulations on finishing high school, Brother Songwen! When are you setting off?"
Song Wen's eyes held deep affection as he replied, "Liangyi, it's us—you and me together. I'm here to take you with me."
"Are you coming with me?"
The promises made in our youthful ignorance have long since lost their meaning to me.
Song Wen has a bright future ahead, and I am already married to Longyin. Moreover... I love Longyin.
Song Wen anxiously awaited my response.
"Boom..."
Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky outside. I turned to look at Longyin, who was fiddling with his sleeves, pretending to be nonchalant.
Longyin's usual cold demeanor was replaced by an unexpected display of emotion for the first time.
A smile filled my eyes as I felt a sense of marital intimacy I had never experienced before.
"I'm doing well here; I won't leave," I told Song Wen.
As I said this, I discreetly glanced at Longyin. His expression softened for a moment before he sank back into his usual depth of thought.
I pushed Song Wen away, but he refused to give up. "Lianyi, don't worry. I've already spoken to my parents about your situation. Just pack your things and be ready; I'll come for you in three days."
Without allowing me to refuse, Song Wen left those words hanging in the air and stepped out of the temple.
Returning to the dining table, Longyin's expression was dark. I smiled at him cheerfully, "I never expected that even in this remote place, we could produce someone of great talent. Longyin, if we ever have children in the future, I want them to study and grow up to bring happiness to the people and achieve something great."
Longyin replied, "Children?"
My hand froze, and my smile faltered.
Suddenly, I remembered that it was impossible for Longyin and me to have children; we couldn't even hold hands.
I shook my head, "I was just joking. You know I dislike children the most. Their cries can shatter the heavens, and they’ve even ruined the vegetables in my yard..."
"Just go," Longyin interrupted me.
"Go? Where should I go?"
"Anywhere is fine, just go live the life that belongs to you."
Longyin stood up to leave, and I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
Longyin looked down at me, "You don't belong here. Sooner or later, you will have to leave; it's time for you to go."
"I won't leave. I am your wife."
"Bullshit! My wife!"
A sudden low growl echoed, causing the food on the table to tremble.
I was startled by his anger; a shockwave hit me, and the pressure from a god was unbearable for a mortal body. Blood dripped from my nose.
Indeed, what kind of couple are we?
He is a god, and I am a human. Aside from sharing a meal at the same table, we can do nothing else.
There is no intimacy, no essence of marriage—what kind of couple exists like this in the world?
I have always been stubborn since childhood; once I set my mind on something, no one can change it.
I looked at Longyin and said, "I no longer like Song Wen. I won't go with him."
That night, before I fell asleep, I stared at the statue of the River God again.
I didn't want to talk to him, and he ignored me as well.
Once I fell asleep, I felt Longyin come to my side.
I opened my eyes and reached out to touch him, but as expected, I was burned by his Celestial Aura.
Longyin watched me in the darkness. "Be obedient. I can't give you anything. Staying here will only bring you danger. Others can't see me; your actions here will make you seem like a madwoman in the eyes of the villagers."
"What does it matter?"
"One lives a life, and it's impossible not to fear the world. You are a woman; don't you want to earn a good reputation?"
"Can reputation put food on the table? What does it matter that I'm a woman? Should I rely on my reputation to survive in this world?"
I know that with Longyin's protection, no one can harm me. The outside world fears me even more, demonizing me and constantly plotting how to capture me and eliminate the threat I pose. But so what?
"I only know that whoever treats me well, I will treat them well in return. If I willingly recognize you as my husband, then I will stay here in the River God Temple and spend my life with you."
"Absurd!"
I felt anger rising within me. "Stop trying to push me away. What if I follow Song Wen? I can't be a government official's wife; I'm not cut out for that."
Longyin sighed silently.
"Lianyi, if you stay here, I will have to divide my attention to take care of you and protect you. You will only hinder my cultivation."
I suddenly looked up at him.
I didn't believe most of what he said, but this one sentence—I believed it.
He was here to achieve perfect cultivation and return to the heavenly realm, while I would only delay him.
Longyin no longer looked at me, making a gesture before his figure slowly faded away.
"Go to sleep. I have matters to attend to these days and won't be back," he said.
Longyin left, truly not returning for two days.
Three days later, early in the morning, Song Wen arrived as promised.
I opened the door alone, and Song Wen smiled at me. "Shall we go?"
With a heavy heart, I followed him to the village dock.
Song Wen was particularly cheerful. "The weather is wonderful today; it's rare to have such a sunny day."
I looked up at the sky, which was a deep blue, not a breeze in sight.
"It's stuffy and hot; what's so good about it?" I suddenly felt a pang of sadness and deliberately glanced behind me, still not seeing Longyin's figure.
Song Wen called out to me from the boat, "Lianyi, it's time to set sail. Come on board."
He reached out his hand to me. After hesitating for a moment, I finally extended my hand towards him.
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