Marriage in the Palm - Chapter 5

The luxury car glided away from the bustling business district’s evening banquet, heading deep into the outskirts of Shanghai City.

As night deepened, the city’s neon lights faded behind layers of forested hills. Only the gentle rustle of the evening breeze through the leaves and the quiet, warm atmosphere inside the car remained.

Xie Qingci had been curled up in Wen Zhiyan’s arms the entire time, her face buried in the crook of her neck, savoring the unique, cool scent of ink that clung to her. The imposing aura she had displayed while suppressing the Sha at the banquet had long since vanished, and she had reverted to the soft, delicate Young Master who relied solely on Wen Zhiyan. Her fingertips lightly tugged at the hem of Wen Zhiyan’s suit jacket, as docile as a well-cared-for kitten.

Wen Zhiyan held her waist steadily with one arm, adjusting her for maximum comfort, while her other hand gently stroked the crown of Xie Qingci’s soft hair. Her thumb traced the delicate line of her cheek over and over, her eyes brimming with an irrepressible tenderness.

Earlier at the banquet, watching her own Young Master cast aside her shyness to step forward and protect her, her cool features set with unwavering determination, had made Wen Zhiyan’s heart ache with a mixture of warmth and fierce protectiveness.

She had never wanted Xie Qingci to be exposed to the public eye, let alone let her be tainted by the slightest bit of turmoil for her sake.

Her Qingci should have been hidden away in a place undisturbed by the world, kept pure and carefree, forever the treasure she cradled in her palms.

“Don’t be afraid anymore. Let’s go home, to the home that belongs only to us.” Wen Zhiyan lowered her head and pressed a long, gentle kiss to the seal on Xie Qingci’s forehead, her voice low and intoxicating.

Xie Qingci looked up, her clear eyes reflecting Wen Zhiyan’s face. She asked softly, “Aren’t we going back to the city villa?”

“We’re going to a quieter place.” Wen Zhiyan hooked her finger under Xie Qingci’s chin and lightly caressed her soft lips, her eyes full of indulgence. “I’ve long prepared the Banshan Secret Realm for you. It’s rich with spiritual energy, untainted and undisturbed. There are no outsiders, only the two of us. You’ll definitely love it.”

She had already planned everything for Xie Qingci.

The city villa was for their daily lives, but this Banshan Villa, hidden deep in the mountains, was a pure land she had spent three years creating by hand. Nestled between mountains and water, lush with greenery, she had layered it with isolation arrays. No impurities could enter, no evil could invade, and the spiritual energy was so dense it was almost tangible. It was the perfect place for Xie Qingci to recuperate and to steadily suppress the increasingly restless Yin Sha within her body.

Wen Zhiyan had never brought her here before, fearing she wouldn’t be accustomed to the mountain roads. But seeing her distressed after the banquet, she now wanted nothing more than to hide her away in this sanctuary, a world just for them.

The car slowly entered the hidden mountain entrance, passing through layers of mist and bamboo forests until an elegant and grand Chinese-style villa came into view. There were no ostentatious decorations, yet every detail exuded a gentle refinement. The courtyard was filled with the orchids Xie Qingci loved, and warm yellow light spilled through the window lattices, creating a soft glow in the night as if silently waiting for someone to return.

As soon as the car came to a complete stop, Wen Zhiyan got out first, walked around to the other side, and carefully lifted Xie Qingci out.

The night mountain breeze was slightly chilly. Wen Zhiyan immediately slipped off her blazer and wrapped it around Xie Qingci’s shoulders before scooping her up in a bridal carry. She held her close, using her own body heat to shield her from even a hint of the cold.

“The ground is cold. I’ll carry you inside.”

Xie Qingci wrapped her arms around Wen Zhiyan’s neck and leaned obediently against her shoulder. With Wen Zhiyan’s scent lingering at the tip of her nose, her heart filled with a sense of absolute security.

She wasn’t afraid of the dark, the cold, or the silence of the mountain forests. As long as she was in Wen Zhiyan’s arms, anywhere was home.

The villa’s interior was incredibly warm, the underfloor heating fully on, and the air carried the faint, sweet scent of honey and milk—a fragrance Xie Qingci knew by heart. The living room was devoid of cold, business-like furnishings, filled instead with plush velvet sofas, thick blankets, and soft throw pillows scattered everywhere. Every detail had been arranged to her liking, a testament to Wen Zhiyan’s undisguised favoritism.

Wen Zhiyan settled her onto the sofa, immediately pressing a hand warmer into her palms. She then brought over a cup of honey longan tea, blowing on it until it reached the perfect temperature before holding it to Xie Qingci’s lips.

“Drink this to warm up. Get some good rest tonight. You can stay here as long as you like from now on.”

Xie Qingci took a few sips of the hot tea from her hand, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

She reached out, gently tugging at the hem of Wen Zhiyan’s sleeve. “Zhiyan,” she whispered, “it’s so warm here. I love it.”

She didn’t just love the scenery; she loved that Wen Zhiyan was here, and that every detail was a reflection of her thoughtfulness.

Wen Zhiyan’s heart melted. She leaned down, pulling Xie Qingci into a tight embrace and resting her chin on top of her head. “As long as you like it,” she murmured softly, “everything I have exists only for you.”

The world’s myriad splendors had never held any meaning for her.

Only Xie Qingci was her pure land, her salvation, the one thing she would spend her entire life protecting.

Deep in the night, the mountains were utterly silent, save for the occasional, gentle, and peaceful chirping of insects outside the window.

In the master bedroom, only a single warm bedside lamp was lit. Its dim yellow glow enveloped the two sleeping figures in a tender embrace.

Xie Qingci slept soundly, curled in Wen Zhiyan’s arms. Her small face pressed against Wen Zhiyan’s chest, listening to the steady thrum of her heart, her breath even and long. She had always been a light sleeper, yet only beside Wen Zhiyan could she sleep with such complete vulnerability.

Wen Zhiyan, however, never fell into a deep sleep. She remained in the same gentle embrace, terrified that any movement might wake her. With her eyes closed, she traced the line of Xie Qingci’s back over and over with her fingertips, savoring the soft warmth of the woman in her arms. Her heart was filled with a profound sense of peace.

But this peace lasted only until the middle of the night.

As the Zi hour arrived, the transition between yin and yang reached its peak, and the yin energy of the world surged to its most potent.

The natal Yin Sha dormant within Wen Zhiyan suddenly began to stir.

Her once steady heartbeat quickened, and her body temperature began to drop, degree by degree. A surge of malevolent, violent Yin energy erupted from her Dantian, spreading wildly through her limbs and bones. A bone-chilling cold and a dull ache washed over her. Her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she struggled to contain the turmoil within, terrified that any sound might wake Xie Qingci.

Her natal Yin Sha, born with her and bound to her soul, was the most perilous of the Life-Devouring Fiends in Xuanmen.

Normally, Xie Qingci’s Supreme Yang Spiritual Energy kept it docile and dormant. But during the Zi hour, when Yin energy peaked, or when she was near places tainted by turbid Qi or malevolent spirits, it would awaken uncontrollably. The more she suppressed it, the more severe the backlash.

Earlier at the banquet, the vengeful spirit’s presence had already stirred the Yin Sha. She had managed to hold it back then, but now, in the dead of night when the Yin energy was strongest, it finally erupted.

Wen Zhiyan’s body turned ice-cold, her fingertips trembling. Yet she clung to Xie Qingci, refusing to let go. She feared her own chill would freeze the other woman, and even more, she feared the malevolent energy within her would cause harm. She fought with all her might to lock the energy inside her body, enduring the torment in silence.

But the sudden drop in her temperature still roused the light sleeper.

Xie Qingci’s eyes fluttered open, and she immediately sensed something was wrong with the woman in her arms.

The once-warm embrace had turned bone-chillingly cold. Xie Qingci’s arms stiffened as she held Wen Zhiyan. The usually steady and gentle aura now carried a faint, imperceptible chill.

Instantly awake, Xie Qingci snapped her head up. She saw Wen Zhiyan’s brow furrowed deeply, her face pale, and fine beads of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Despite her obvious agony, she was desperately trying to maintain a calm facade.

“Zhiyan!” Xie Qingci’s heart tightened. She was fully awake now, her hand reaching out to touch Wen Zhiyan’s cheek. The icy touch made her eyes redden with alarm. “What’s wrong? Is the malevolent energy acting up again?”

Wen Zhiyan forced herself to open her eyes, her gaze filled with suppressed pain. Her voice was terribly hoarse. “I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt. Go back to sleep, don’t worry about me… don’t let me hurt you…”

Her greatest fear was that her malevolent energy would frighten or even injure Xie Qingci.

But Xie Qingci refused to listen.

Seeing Wen Zhiyan in such pain, Xie Qingci’s heart ached so sharply it felt like it was being torn apart. She sat up immediately, ignoring the chilling aura radiating from Wen Zhiyan, and pulled her into a tight embrace, trying to transfer all her own warmth.

“I’m not sleeping. I’m staying with you,” Xie Qingci said, her voice trembling with tears but filled with unwavering resolve. She raised her hand, gently placing her fingertips on Wen Zhiyan’s brow. She channeled the Supreme Yang Spiritual Energy she was born with, letting it flow slowly from her fingertips into Wen Zhiyan’s body.

The pure, gentle spiritual energy flooded into Wen Zhiyan’s body like a sliver of warm sunlight, instantly enveloping the violent, restless Yin Sha.

The once-wild, frigid malevolent energy, upon touching Xie Qingci’s spiritual energy, immediately calmed down. No longer raging, it was gradually soothed and suppressed, retreating back into the depths of her Dantian.

In moments, the chill on Wen Zhiyan’s body gradually dissipated. Color returned to her face, her furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and the pain vanished completely.

Everything was still.

Wen Zhiyan stared blankly at the young woman in her arms, whose eyes were red and filled with heartache. Her heart felt full, a mixture of sweetness and ache.

Her Young Master, though timid and shy herself, had fought with all her might to protect her in her moment of agony, using her own spiritual energy as her only anchor of peace.

Only after seeing Wen Zhiyan recover did Xie Qingci finally breathe a sigh of relief. She gently wiped the cold sweat from Wen Zhiyan’s forehead and rubbed her cheek aggrievedly and tenderly. “From now on, when the malevolent energy flares up, you’re not allowed to hide it from me, and you’re not allowed to endure it alone. I am your Young Master, I am here to protect you. Your pain, I want to share it with you.”

Wen Zhiyan could no longer hold back. She pulled Xie Qingci into a tight embrace, holding her so fiercely it felt as if she wanted to merge their very bones and blood. She lowered her head to kiss away the tears at the corner of Xie Qingci’s eye, murmuring repeatedly, “Alright, I won’t hide it from you. I won’t hide it ever again. My Qingci, only you can save me. Only you can steady me.”

Wen Zhiyan had been born under an ill star, destined to be cold and ruthless, fated to die alone as the malevolent energy consumed her life.

Until she met Xie Qingci.

Xie Qingci was her destiny, her predestined salvation, and her only chance at survival.

The morning in the Banshan Secret Realm was wrapped in a veil of mist and soft light.

The forest was steeped in spiritual energy, the air filled with the crisp songs of birds and the clean, refreshing scent of greenery.

When Xie Qingci woke, she was still cradled in Wen Zhiyan’s arms.

After calming Wen Zhiyan’s malevolent energy the night before, she had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep. When she opened her eyes again, sunlight was filtering through the window screens, illuminating Wen Zhiyan’s delicate profile and softening her usually cold and sharp features.

Wen Zhiyan had been awake for some time but hadn’t moved, simply holding her and gazing down at her sleeping face with a tenderness that could melt the world.

Seeing her stir, Wen Zhiyan leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her eyelid. Her voice was soft and lingering, “Are you awake? Did I wake you?”

Xie Qingci rubbed her sleepy eyes and snuggled deeper into Wen Zhiyan’s embrace, shaking her head softly. “No, I woke up on my own.”

She loved waking up this way, with Wen Zhiyan being the first thing she saw, and falling right into her arms the moment she opened her eyes.

Wen Zhiyan chuckled softly, smoothing out Xie Qingci’s messy hair. Her fingertips traced the curve of her eyebrows, the bridge of her nose, and her lips, meticulously outlining her features with a gaze full of tenderness.

“Are you hungry? I had the servants prepare your favorite osmanthus porridge and custard buns. They’re still warm.”

Xie Qingci nodded, wrapping her arms around Wen Zhiyan’s waist and refusing to get up. “I want to hug you for a little longer.”

“Alright, we can stay like this as long as you want.”

Wen Zhiyan complied, holding her patiently without a hint of impatience. The cold, decisive President Wen, known for her ruthless efficiency in the business world, was nothing but gentle and patient with Xie Qingci. All her sharp edges softened for her alone.

They remained locked in a quiet embrace for a long time, until the warmth in Xie Qingci’s body fully awakened. Only then did Wen Zhiyan get up to personally help her wash and dress.

She never let the servants handle Xie Qingci’s needs. Anything she could do herself, she did.

Wen Zhiyan picked up the cream-colored plush loungewear she had prepared and gently helped Xie Qingci into it. After tying the sash around her waist, she reached for a pair of soft cotton socks, knelt down, and carefully slid them onto Xie Qingci’s feet. She held the smaller feet and rubbed them gently, only standing up once she was sure they were warm.

Every movement was tender and meticulous, her focused gaze treating Xie Qingci as if she were a priceless treasure.

Xie Qingci stood still, watching her bustle about. The tips of her ears flushed slightly, and her heart began to race.

Even though they had been together for so long, Wen Zhiyan’s attentive care still made her heart flutter every single time.

When they went downstairs for the meal, the table was laden with an array of exquisite dishes, all of Xie Qingci’s favorites. The flavors were light, the food warm and soft. Wen Zhiyan sat beside her, completely ignoring her own meal to focus entirely on caring for her.

She peeled shrimp and placed them in Xie Qingci’s bowl, scooped the osmanthus stems out of the porridge, and tore the custard bun into small pieces to feed to her. When a crumb lingered on Xie Qingci’s lip, Wen Zhiyan reached out to gently wipe it away, then leaned down to kiss the sweet scent from her skin.

Xie Qingci’s cheeks flushed crimson instantly. She kept her head lowered, eating in small bites, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

After the meal, Wen Zhiyan took her hand and led her for a stroll through the courtyard.

The morning mist still clung to the bamboo grove, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the hands they held together. The warmth was gentle and sweet. Xie Qingci’s hand was small, completely enveloped in Wen Zhiyan’s palm, feeling cozy and warm.

“The spiritual energy here is much denser than in the city,” Xie Qingci said softly, closing her eyes to savor the pure aura surrounding them. A sense of peace washed over her. “It’s very good for your malevolent energy. Here, it will remain stable.”

Wen Zhiyan squeezed her hand and turned to look at her clean profile, her eyes filled with tenderness. “It’s not that this place is good, Qingci. It’s only because you’re here that it’s the best. Without you, even the most spiritually abundant place would be a dead end for me.”

She paused, her footsteps coming to a halt, then turned and drew Xie Qingci into her arms, looking earnestly into her eyes.

“Qingci, I know you saw it long ago. My natal malevolent energy isn’t just ordinary Yin Sha, it’s a Life-Devouring Death Tribulation.”

Xie Qingci’s heart tightened. She looked up, her eyes filled with worry.

She had indeed seen it long ago.

Wen Zhiyan’s Life-Devouring Fiend was a heavenly death tribulation. As she grew older, the malevolent energy would only intensify. If they couldn’t find a way to completely resolve it, she would be consumed by the backlash within three years, her soul scattered and destroyed.

This was why Xie Qingci was determined to stay by Wen Zhiyan’s side, no matter the cost.

Her destiny had always been to resolve Wen Zhiyan’s death tribulation.

Seeing Xie Qingci’s worried expression, Wen Zhiyan reached out and gently stroked her cheek, a tender smile on her lips. “I’m not afraid of death. I’m only afraid that after I’m gone, no one will cherish you as I do, no one will protect you, no one will warm your hands, and no one will watch the sunrise and sunset with you.”

“So, Qingci,” she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against the other’s, her voice filled with a devout and earnest conviction, “don’t let this become a burden. Don’t force yourself to exhaust your spiritual energy for me. Just being able to stay by your side, even for one more day, is enough to make me completely content.”

Xie Qingci’s eyes instantly welled with tears. She reached out to cover Wen Zhiyan’s mouth, stopping her from saying another word.

“Don’t say such foolish things,” her voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable resolve. “I won’t let you die. I will be the one to resolve your death tribulation. We are bound by fate. You belong to me, and I will never let you leave.”

Xie Qingci was a Supreme Yang Heavenly Dao Spirit Body, the only natural counter to Wen Zhiyan’s Life-Devouring Fiend.

Their fates had been intertwined from the very moment they were born.

She was born to save her.

Wen Zhiyan felt a jolt in her heart as she looked at the unwavering resolve and glistening tears in Xie Qingci’s eyes.

She had always believed she was the protector, the one who shielded Xie Qingci from harm and offered her favoritism and stability.

Only now did she realize that from the moment they met, this seemingly fragile young woman had been silently guarding her life, serving as her ultimate lifeline.

Wen Zhiyan leaned down and pulled Xie Qingci into a tight embrace, kissing away her tears with gentle, reverent devotion. “Alright. I believe you. I’ll wait for you to save me.”

If Qingci said it, she believed it.

Xie Qingci leaned against her, taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart before softly explaining their predestined bond.

“I’ve been training with my Master since I was young. He told me that I possess the Supreme Yang Spiritual Body, born to repel malevolent energy. He said I was destined to save someone cursed with the Life-Devouring Fiend.”

“That person is my sole destiny in this life. Our souls are linked, our breaths intertwined. If she lives, I am safe. If she dies, I will not survive.”

“I didn’t understand it before. Not until I met you.”

Xie Qingci looked up, her clear eyes filled with tenderness and certainty as she placed a hand over Wen Zhiyan’s heart. “The first time I saw you, I knew you were the one I was meant to find. Your malevolent energy can only be completely neutralized by my Supreme Yang Spiritual Energy. And my spiritual body can only find true stability and harmony with your soul.”

“We were always meant to be one, inseparable from the start.”

This was no simple companionship, but a symbiotic destiny woven into their very souls.

The only way to resolve Wen Zhiyan’s life-devouring death tribulation had never been through Xuanmen artifacts or heaven-defying arrays. The only cure was Xie Qingci herself.

Only by using her Supreme Yang Spiritual Body as a conduit and their fated bond as a bridge could their souls merge. Only then could her spiritual energy cleanse the malice, completely eradicating the Natal Life-Devouring Malice and freeing Wen Zhiyan from her death tribulation to live a life of peace and prosperity.

Wen Zhiyan listened, stunned, her gaze fixed on the earnest expression of the young woman in her arms. A wave of immense warmth and destiny washed over her, enveloping her heart.

So their meeting was no accident.

Their love was written in the stars.

Her Young Master was not merely a light that had appeared in her life by chance. She was a gift from the heavens, sent to redeem her from a lonely, cursed fate.

“Qingci…” Wen Zhiyan’s voice choked with emotion, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love. “Thank you. Thank you for coming to me. Thank you for being willing to save me.”

Xie Qingci rose on her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to Wen Zhiyan’s lips, as light as a feather’s touch, soft and tender.

“No need to thank me. I love you, so I do this willingly.”

Xie Qingci was timid, afraid of noise, strangers, and the chaotic turmoil of the world.

But she was never afraid to deplete her spiritual energy for Wen Zhiyan. She was never afraid to resolve her death tribulation, or to give her everything.

Because Wen Zhiyan had given her a love that was open and unabashed, all her gentleness and protection, and a home where she could finally find peace.

All she could do in return was to devote her entire life to protecting her, helping her survive her death tribulation, and staying by her side year after year, never to be parted.

Wen Zhiyan tightened her arms, pulling her closer, and lowered her head to kiss her deeply.

There was no burning desire, only the utmost tenderness and cherishing. She kissed away her tears, kissed through her shyness, and embraced the love that was their destiny, the bond that would tie them together for all eternity.

The thin mist in the forest gradually dispersed as sunlight flooded the courtyard, enveloping the two women in its warmth.

No outsiders disturbed them, no worldly troubles bothered them, and no malevolent energy could touch them.

There were only two girls who loved each other deeply, guarding their own pure sanctuary, their hearts full of love. Having chosen each other, they had found their lifelong partner.

Wen Zhiyan’s death tribulation finally had a resolution.

And their fated, sweet romance was only just beginning.

For the rest of their lives, you are the wind and snow, you are the quiet moments, you are the poverty, and you are the glory.

You are the gentleness in my heart, and wherever my gaze falls, it is always you.

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