364: Depart

Wan Xiangyu raised her head, her eyes filled with emotion. Tears slid down her face once more, but they were no longer of grievance and bitterness; they were tears of joy and anticipation, the happiness of being cherished by someone.

She nodded vigorously and held his hand tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force of her grip.

"Alright."

Two simple words, yet they carried a heavy promise and expectation that lingered between them like the most beautiful vow, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

Situ Jun pulled her tightly into his arms, greedily feeling her warmth and scent, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance and her smell deep into his Soul.

He knew that this parting might lead to a long wait, but his heart was filled with anticipation.

He believed that one day, he would rescue her from this cage and give her a future that truly belonged to her.

The morning light outside the window grew brighter, illuminating the bedroom and dispelling the last traces of night and intimacy.

The sound of servants moving about the estate came from a distance, reminding them that this brief moment of tenderness had to come to an end eventually.

Situ Jun slowly released Wan Xiangyu and helped her tidy her disheveled clothes.

His fingertips gently tied her sashes, his movements meticulous and tender, as if he were completing an incredibly important task.

He looked at the intimate marks on her neck, a hint of reluctance rising in his heart, yet he still said:

"I should go. If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I really won't be able to stop myself from taking you away by force."

Wan Xiangyu's pretty face flushed crimson. She nodded gently, her eyes full of reluctance and longing.

She reached out to help him straighten his lapels, her fingertips carefully brushing over his cuffs, her voice as soft as a breeze:

"Be careful on the road. You must take good care of yourself."

Situ Jun took a deep look at her, etching her appearance into his heart once more—eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn waters, and the beauty mark beneath her eye was charming and moving, currently carrying a blush from their passion, beautiful enough to intoxicate him and make his heart ache.

He raised his hand, gently wiping away the remaining teardrops at the corners of her eyes, his voice low and solemn:

"You must also take care of yourself and wait for me to come get you. Don't let yourself suffer any more grievances. If anyone dares to bully you, use the offensive Talisman I left for you. Do you understand?"

Wan Xiangyu nodded obediently, her eyes reddening again, but she struggled to hold back her tears.

She was afraid that if she cried, he would be unable to bear leaving.

Situ Jun gave her one last deep look, then let her go and walked toward the outer room.

At this time, Steward Wang was still sleeping groggily on the floor of the outer room, drool hanging from the corner of his mouth, looking utterly wretched.

Situ Jun stopped and swept his gaze coldly over him, his eyes devoid of any warmth.

A faint trace of spiritual power condensed at his fingertip, and he shot it toward Steward Wang's abdomen without hesitation.

Wan Xiangyu, who followed behind him, was full of confusion. She opened her mouth as if to speak but hesitated.

Situ Jun turned his head and, seeing her confused expression, explained calmly:

"I don't feel safe with this fellow by your side; keeping him around is ultimately a disaster. I used a secret technique to cripple his Kidney Meridians and Dantian. Within three months, he will slowly become an ordinary person without a shred of Cultivation left, and... he will be impotent."

His voice was flat, yet it carried a hint of unquestionable decisiveness.

He couldn't kill Steward Wang, as that would bring endless trouble to Wan Xiangyu, but he would never allow this man another chance to touch a single finger of hers.

Hearing this, Wan Xiangyu's pretty face was instantly stained with a layer of crimson. She gave a soft, playful huff of disdain, but her eyes held a hint of relief and gratitude:

"Don't worry, even if you hadn't done this, I wouldn't have let him touch me ever again. You should leave quickly. Xiao He will be coming to serve soon; it wouldn't be good if she saw you."

Situ Jun nodded and said no more.

The spiritual power around him circulated, and with a flash of his figure, he disappeared from the spot like a ghost, appearing outside Qingshan Town in an instant.

Wan Xiangyu stood there in a daze, her gaze following the direction in which he had disappeared, her heart filled with reluctance and anticipation.

His warmth still lingered on her fingertips, his scent still swirled around her neck, and her body felt as if it still retained the warmth brought by his embrace.

Tranquility returned to the bedroom once more, leaving only her and Steward Wang, who was still fast asleep on the floor.

She walked to the window and pushed open half of it. The early morning breeze, carrying the fragrance of plants, blew against her face, fluttering her hair and dispersing some of the lingering intimate atmosphere.

She looked at the morning light outside the window, at the newly blooming flowers and sprouting tender branches in the courtyard. A faint smile involuntarily rose on the corners of her mouth—a smile so gentle and bright, like sunlight after a rain, dispelling all the gloom.

The swelling on her cheek had long since subsided under the effect of Situ Jun's spiritual power and precious Medicinal Pill, which he had used despite the cost to himself. Only a faint trace remained, like a pale pink cloud, which would completely disappear in a few days.

After a night of Dual Cultivation, the spiritual power within her body had become even more pure and thick. The Bottleneck that had originally been slightly loose was completely broken, and her Cultivation had steadily entered the third level of Qi Refining.

The spiritual power flowing through her Meridians was more abundant than ever before, making her entire being radiate a different kind of brilliance.

And in her heart, the stagnant loneliness and despair had long been completely shattered by Situ Jun's night of tenderness and love, replaced by ripples of anticipation and longing for the future.

She was no longer that muddled, walking corpse of a 'Mrs. Wang'; she was Wan Xiangyu, the Wan Xiangyu whom Situ Jun cherished in his heart.

She raised her hand to touch the Bodhi Jade on her wrist. The cool touch of the jade pendant reached her, yet it filled her heart with warmth and stability.

This jade pendant was the promise he left behind, the bond between him and her. As long as she held it, she felt as if Situ Jun had never gone far.

She knew that this unexpected encounter was not a calamity, but destiny.

It was Heaven's pity that allowed her to meet the person who could illuminate her life within this dark, sunless mansion.

The morning mist dissipated.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, spilling onto her and coating her in a soft halo, also illuminating the corner of her heart that was once gray but was now filled with hope.

She turned around, her gaze falling on Steward Wang, who was still sleeping on the floor. Her eyes no longer held the fear and endurance of the past, only a sense of calm and indifference.

This person was once her husband in name, the shackles that imprisoned her, but from now on, he could no longer cause her any harm.

She walked to the door and called out softly:

"Xiao He."

Soon, Xiao He's brisk footsteps came from outside the door. The door was pushed open, and Xiao He walked in carrying toiletries. Seeing Steward Wang sleeping on the floor, she was startled, her face full of shock:

"Madam, the Master, he..."

"It's fine,"

Wan Xiangyu's tone was calm, with an undetectable hint of detachment:

"Perhaps he drank too much last night and fell asleep here. Have someone carry him back to his own courtyard."

Although Xiao He was confused, she didn't dare to ask more and quickly responded:

"Yes, Madam."

Watching Xiao He turn to instruct the servants, Wan Xiangyu looked out the window again.

The sunlight was just right, and the breeze was mild. Her future, just like this morning scene, was full of infinite possibilities.

She gripped the Bodhi Jade on her wrist, silently chanting Situ Jun's name in her heart, a firm light flickering in her eyes.

She would wait for him properly, wait for him to come get her, and wait for him to give her a truly free and stable life.

Until then, she would protect herself well and Cultivate diligently, no longer being that weak woman who allowed others to bully her.

Outside the bedroom, the servants hurriedly carried Steward Wang away. The crisp chirping of birds came from the courtyard; everything was quietly changing.

And Wan Xiangyu's life, starting from this morning filled with love and promises, had completely embarked on a new journey.