Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

Chapter 248: The start of a new arc 6.

Below them, Azure Dragon City looked small and peaceful, rooftops glowing gold in the evening light. Farmland stretched outward in gentle lines. Smoke rose from cooking fires. The world seemed briefly simple enough to hold in two hands.

Mo Yuxin leaned against Su Yubing’s shoulder. "If you had stayed here your whole life, would you have been happy?"

Su Yubing answered after a while. "Before meeting you, maybe I would have thought so."

"And now?"

"Now it would be too small."

Mo Yuxin smiled. "Because your horizons expanded?"

Su Yubing turned and kissed her once. "Because you don’t know how to stay still."

Mo Yuxin laughed so hard she nearly slid off the rock.

As the time of departure drew closer, partings began to gather quietly in the corners of ordinary days.

Mo Feng became clingier without fully understanding why. She followed Mo Yuxin around the Mo residence and sometimes the Su residence too, demanding stories, piggyback rides, and sweets. She adored Su Yubing as well, though in a slightly more cautious way, because Su Yubing looked strict even when she was being gentle.

One evening, while Su Yubing was reading over a list of supplies, Mo Feng climbed into her lap without warning.

Su Yubing froze for one rare startled second.

Mo Feng looked up at her seriously. "Sister Yubing."

"Yes?"

"When you go out, protect my big sister."

Su Yubing closed the book. "I will."

Mo Feng thought about it, then added, "And don’t let her do dangerous things."

From across the room, Mo Yuxin protested, "Why am I the one being targeted?"

Mo Feng ignored her. "Can you do it?"

Su Yubing’s lips curved. "I’ll try."

Mo Feng nodded, satisfied, and then leaned back against her as if this was the most natural seat in the world.

Mo Yuxin stared. "I see. So now my family likes my wife more than me."

Mo Feng pointed at her again. "Because you’re unreliable."

Mo Yuxin put a hand to her chest. "This house is too cruel."

Shen Mingyue, standing at the doorway, actually laughed.

Mo Lan smiled as she entered carrying a tray of snacks. "You did teach her to speak honestly."

"And this is how honesty repays me," Mo Yuxin said.

They all sat together that night, snacking and talking about small things. Shen Mingyue spoke a little of the Central Continent - not enough to burden Mo Lan, just enough to paint broad shapes: wider skies, stronger spiritual veins, sect mountains that rose like legends, cities where Golden Core cultivators were merely common experts instead of local rulers.

Mo Feng listened with shining eyes.

Mo Yuxin watched her little sister and thought how strange it was, that this child would likely grow up in a place far grander and more dangerous than anything Azure Dragon City could offer. Maybe that was good. Maybe it was what their family deserved after so much hardship.

A few days later, Mo Lan found Mo Yuxin alone in the courtyard at dusk.

She was cleaning a sword more out of habit than need. The light made everything look softer.

Mo Lan sat beside her quietly.

For a while neither spoke.

Then Mo Lan said, "You look like you’re trying not to think."

Mo Yuxin smiled without surprise. "Was I that obvious?"

"To me? Yes."

Mo Yuxin lowered the sword. "Are you nervous?"

"A little."

"About leaving?"

Mo Lan nodded. "About leaving. About the things I don’t remember. About whether I can become the person everyone seems to think I was."

Mo Yuxin’s expression gentled. "You don’t have to become anyone. Not for me."

Mo Lan looked at her, eyes shining faintly in the dusk.

Mo Yuxin continued, "If your memories return, then good. If they don’t, that’s fine too. Shen Mingyue loves you. That part is obvious enough to blind people. And I..." She paused, then laughed softly. "I already have you. The current you, I mean. That’s enough for me."

Mo Lan reached out and touched her face, the motion tender and almost shy. "You grew up too well."

"No, I didn’t. Ask Yubing."

Mo Lan laughed, and then suddenly pulled her into an embrace.

Mo Yuxin went still for half a breath before hugging her back.

It was not a dramatic moment. No tears fell. No huge declarations were made. But some old ache in Mo Yuxin’s chest loosened all the same.

When they parted, Mo Lan pressed a small embroidered pouch into her hand.

"For safety."

Mo Yuxin blinked. "Mother. I can split mountains."

"You can still carry it."

Mo Yuxin looked down and smiled. "Then I will."

The last week before departure passed quickly.

Supplies were checked and checked again. Spiritual maps were copied. Travel tokens were prepared. Protective talismans were distributed. Messages were left with trusted contacts in case of emergencies.

Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing also spent one final full day doing nothing important.

No monsters. No family meetings. No formations.

They left the estate before dawn and walked through Azure Dragon City’s streets disguised with simple aura concealment so no one would stop them. Vendors were only just opening stalls. Steam rose from breakfast shops. The whole city felt softer before fully waking.

Mo Yuxin bought buns and insisted on feeding Su Yubing while they walked.

"I can use my own hands," Su Yubing said.

"You can. But why would you, when I’m here?"

Su Yubing took the bun anyway.

They wandered through the markets where they had once passed as younger and far less certain versions of themselves. They visited a tea shop roof where they had once hidden from trouble. They walked the city wall and watched children below chasing each other with wooden swords.

At noon they left the city and went to a quiet lakeside grove.

There, with no one around, they lay in the grass beside each other under swaying branches.

Mo Yuxin turned onto her side and propped her head up. "Do you ever regret it?"

"What?"

"Binding yourself to me."

Su Yubing looked at her as if the question itself were absurd. "No."

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TO BE CONTINUED.