Chapter 4 — Resurrecting a Millennium of Love

So Can burst into laughter at those words and leaned in even closer. It is always you. The two of you were originally one. We intertwined our hair in a vow three thousand years ago, pledging never to part for all eternity. You have belonged to me for a very long time. I widened my eyes in utter shock. To be honest, I had actually entertained this possibility before. The dreams that repeated themselves night after night felt far too real. Rather than calling them mere dreams, it would be more accurate to describe them as fragments of memory deeply carved into my very soul—fragments so profound that even reincarnation could not wipe them away. Just as I stood there in a daze, So Can lowered his head and kissed me again. He was like a gentle tyrant—clearly doing something that left one completely defenseless, yet doing it with a tenderness that could melt anyone's heart. I was kissed until I grew breathless, and once more I tried to push him away. But how can you be certain that I am truly that person? There is no need for certainty. So Can gently interrupted me. Your soul bears my mark. Even if you were turned to ashes, I would still recognize you. Immediately afterward, he placed his hand upon my waist. This gesture was painfully familiar to me. In my dreams, he had done this countless times, and not once had it ever ended well for me. My entire body trembled by sheer reflex. In the end, I surrendered my struggle and melted limply into his embrace.

Everything that followed felt entirely like a dream. My consciousness seemed to ascend to the clouds, floating to an unbelievable height before finally, at the exact moment of reaching the absolute peak, dissolving into the mist. Amidst that hazy dreamscape, I drifted into yet another dream. In the vision, I gathered locks of hair from both So Can and myself, braiding them together and tying them with a red thread to form a pair of bracelets. I placed one upon my own wrist. The other, I carried to the East Palace and handed to So Can. His complexion was exceptionally poor. I reached out to smooth the tightly furrowed space between his brows. There is no need to wear such a grim face. Tomorrow I must set out for the battlefield, so shouldn't you make the most of this time to say goodbye to me? I spoke in a voice so soft, yet tinged with a slight stiffness. It was the reluctance to part. So Can abruptly pulled me into his embrace. This campaign involves an enemy far too formidable, and the dangers are beyond reckoning. You— I know, I interrupted him. But do not forget who I am. I have already said that I am capable of protecting you, and I am equally capable of protecting the entire realm of Wu. So Can gaze was as deep and heavy as dark ink. I gently pressed a kiss to his eyes. On your arm rests our braided hair. From this moment onward, in life I am your woman, and in death I am your ghost. I love you so dearly that even if I have to crawl, I will drag myself back to you. Every single word was spoken with the utmost solemnity. Yet there was one thing I hid deep within my heart, unable to bear the final utterance. Even if I must plunge into the cycle of reincarnation, I will search everywhere to find my way back to you. So Can held me tighter still, his voice dropping low as though wrenched from the very depths of his throat. You must remember every word you have spoken. I nodded gently. Yes. But I had broken my promise. The borderlands stretched out under a vast and distant sky, offering no day of return. The disparity in military strength between the two sides was far too vast. I managed to sever the head of the enemy commander, but at the exact same instant, I was struck by ten thousand arrows piercing my heart. Blood gushed from my mouth, dyeing the braided bracelet on my wrist a deep crimson. The moment my body collapsed, the thought that filled my mind was not of the agony, but rather this: If So Can were to learn of this, would his heart break to the point of death? He would surely be heartbroken. The news of our victory and the report of my death were dispatched to the capital simultaneously. So Can stared at the official memorial, sitting completely motionless throughout the entire night, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned stark white. In truth, both of us had known it clearly all along. That battle was destined to be a suicide mission. Our final meeting before the expedition was, in reality, a permanent farewell. I had used my own life to safeguard the realm of Wu and protect its common people. It was just that... I had failed him.

When I opened my eyes, a dull ache still lingered in my chest. I curled my body into a tight ball, my spine curving like a taut bow, and only then did the discomfort subside slightly. What is wrong? So Can voice sounded from behind me as he gently gathered me into a back embrace. I turned around, burying myself in his arms with my ear pressed directly against his chest, but all I could hear was a profound and absolute silence. My heart grew even heavier with suffocation. I am sorry. I once told you I would return to find you, but I... failed to do so. So Can grew slightly rigid. After a lingering silence, he tightened his embrace even further. It was my own helplessness, finding no other way to shatter that hopeless deadlock. I could only watch with open eyes as you walked straight into danger. In our past life, you used your life to protect my empire. In this lifetime... I am using my soul to guard you for the rest of days. No—for all eternity. I buried my face deep within his chest for a very long time. The image of So Can sitting in absolute stillness as he gazed upon my death notice refused to fade from my mind. Ordinarily, the form of a soul remains fixed at the exact moment the physical flesh is obliterated. Therefore, in truth... he could not have lived very long after me either. Even if I were to ask him now, he would likely refuse to speak of it. It was clearly I who had vowed that even if I had to enter reincarnation, I would still search for him, yet the one who truly accomplished that feat was him. He had even... refused to enter the cycle of reincarnation entirely. What a fool. I wrapped my arms around his back, pulling him as close as humanly possible as though trying to fuse our two bodies into a single entity. Who asked you to protect me anyway? It is a time of peace now, the country is prosperous and the people live in harmony; there is no more killing and bloodshed like a thousand years ago. You only need to obediently stay by my side, and make sure that I do not wake up one morning to find even your ghost missing, and that will be enough. The vows of a past life... Then for this lifetime, I shall use all my days to make it up to you.

So Can and I officially stepped into the serious reality of married life. I am not particularly hideous, but So Can is breathtakingly handsome beyond any flaw. The two of us holding hands as we walk down the street draws a head-turning rate of literally one hundred percent. From time to time, we even catch excited shrieks and blessings from passing young girls. I have a particular fondness for teasing So Can hair. Every single time he finishes bathing, I act like some wealthy lord tapping the mattress, and he will obediently sit down, allowing me to freely dry his hair for him. Whenever the playful whim strikes me, I tie his locks into two little ponytails, resulting in me laughing so hard my back almost strains. Though the moment he retaliates by tossing me onto the bed... I truly cannot manage to get up afterward. To be frank, the senior monk of White Cloud Temple certainly possesses genuine skill—his prophecy was astonishingly accurate. Since my wish had indeed been fulfilled, it was only proper to visit the temple once more to pay my gratitude. After confirming that So Can entering the temple grounds posed no issue whatsoever, I led him straight to White Cloud Temple. To my utter surprise, right outside the temple gates, we ran right into that same fake Daoist priest from a few months back. He was currently blocking another young couple, talking nineteen to the dozen with wild enthusiasm, peddling his evil-warding talismans at six thousand a piece. Naturally, he was once again rejected without an ounce of politeness. Clicking his tongue and shaking his head, he turned around, spotted me, and his eyes lit up instantly as he hurried over. Hey, hey, little fellow! Why did you run away so fast? I am not going to eat people! Startled, I hurriedly pulled So Can in the opposite direction. I must definitely remind the senior monk later to step up temple security immediately. Con artists had officially breached the premises! Before long, the two of us arrived at the main hall. The moment the senior monk caught sight of me, he broke into a hearty smile. It appears that young benefactor has indeed found your true destined match, congratulations, congratulations. I cupped my fists in a salute and dropped two hundred yuan into the merit box. All of this is thanks to the senior monk profound magical powers; your calculations are truly infallible. The senior monk glanced over at So Can, stroked his beard, and nodded approvingly over and over. However, So Can expression carried a rather bizarre nuance—one that seemed to blend cautious reservation with deep reverence. At that precise moment, the fraudulent Daoist scurried up the steps, panting heavily as he braced his hands against his knees, pointed straight at me, and shouted, Damn you brat, why did you run off so fast? I already told you I was not going to eat you! I hastily pointed a finger. Senior monk, please hurry and have someone chase him out! He specializes in scams, tricking people into buying talismans for six thousand a sheet! Oh? The senior monk smiled benignly. Why would the young benefactor say such a thing? Because he once blocked my path and told me my forehead was darkened, my body filled with resentment, and that a major disaster was about to befall me, demanding I buy his talisman to resolve it. Six thousand for a single sheet! Why not just go rob a bank! Upon hearing this, the senior monk merely chuckled heartily. But... what he said was entirely correct. The benefactor truly is entangled by resentful vapors, and a major disaster is fast approaching. My tongue tied, the retort I had prepared died halfway in my throat. It is just that... the origin of that resentment and disaster does not lie with you. With those words, the senior monk raised a hand and pointed directly—straight at So Can. So Can fell into a heavy silence for a brief moment, then deliberately raised both hands before his chest and bowed respectfully in a formal greeting. Imperial Tutor. Me? Imperial Tutor? The Imperial Tutor of Wu? Yet another... millennial ghost?!

Hey, hey, who on earth are you daring to call an old ghost? Impudent! The senior monk glared, puffing out his cheeks and blowing his beard as though he could read the exact thoughts spinning in my head. If ghosts exist in this world, immortals do too! This poor monk simply... changed into a brand-new vessel, understand? I knitted my brows. That is not the main point! What do you mean when you say the resentment and the disaster are on So Can? Is there something... he has been hiding from me? At that moment, the phony Daoist dragged himself up the final steps step by step, struggling to suppress his heavy panting before speaking in a raised voice, Resentment tearing apart flesh and soul, scattering body and spirit into absolute nothingness—is that enough to qualify as a major disaster? I stood frozen in utter shock. Scattered body and spirit?! How could such a thing be possible? He has been acting completely normal! I spun my head around to look at So Can—yet he merely stood there in quiet silence, his expression devoid of the slightest trace of surprise, as though he... had known all along. There was no terror, no denial. Instead, he even furrowed his brows slightly, as though displeased that I had found out the truth. My heart plummeted heavily. I instantly grabbed his hand, squeezing so tightly my knuckles turned stark white, and turned back to look at the senior monk, my voice trembling as I demanded, Why... why is he like this? Where did this resentment come from?! The senior monk did not answer directly. He turned his back, walked inward, and waved a hand in a mysterious parting gesture as he went. Come inside, and we will talk.