Chapter 23 — The God of Light's Swapped Bride

A few days after all the events calmed down, Da Vu felt more clearly than ever that the seal that imprisoned his divine power was continuing to crack day by day, since the night he released part of his power to save Y Nhi from Co Bat Uy's hands. The aura around him was no longer completely hidden, occasionally flashing even in the most ordinary moments.

"I think it's time," he said to Y Nhi one morning, when they were both sitting at breakfast in the small house that had become much more cozy than in the first days. "I need to return to the ancient temple ruins and complete the ritual to fully restore my identity and strength."

"Do you need me to go with you?" Y Nhi asked, her eyes filled with worry mixed with support.

"I really want you by my side," Da Vu replied, holding her hand. "Your sincere love is the most important key to awakening the power within me. I believe that to fully complete this ritual, your presence is necessary."

They set out that morning, this time it was not Da Vu alone who was weaving through the dangerous roads like before, but the two of them together, hand in hand, overcoming every step that he had struggled alone in the previous dangerous days. Y Nhi was surprised to realize that, now that Da Vu's divine power had recovered a significant amount, the journey became much easier - the dangerous roads seemed to naturally open up, the cold winds seemed to subside each time they passed.

By late afternoon, they arrived at the desolate ruins, where mossy stone pillars still stood quietly among the weeds, witnessing the ups and downs of time. Y Nhi looked around at that ancient scene with both respect and curiosity, feeling a strange sacred atmosphere covering this place.

She walked slowly among the ruined stones, her hands gently touching the ancient patterns that had faded over the years, trying to imagine the scene of the small village that once existed here, and the terrifying night of fire and rain that Da Vu had told her about. "It's hard to believe," she muttered, "that this desolate place was once the origin of a prosperous capital city like Lam Thanh today."

"Time can erase physical traces," Da Vu said, standing next to her, his eyes equally nostalgic, "but the aura and sacred memories attached to a place, sometimes still exist forever, waiting for the day to be awakened again."

"Is this where you saved the village in the past?" she asked, her voice filled with emotion as she imagined the tragic scene that happened here twenty years ago.

"That's right," Da Vu nodded, his eyes distant and reminiscent. "This place once witnessed a fateful moment that changed my entire life. And today, it will witness another fateful moment."

He led her to the central stone platform, where he had previously found the Light Stone. He placed the small stone slab, now much brighter than when he first found it, on the center of the stone pedestal, then knelt down, pulling Y Nhi's hand to kneel with him.

"This ritual," he explained, "requires the connection between the original aura in the stone, my will, and the sincere love you have for me. Please hold my hand tightly, and don't let go no matter what happens."

Y Nhi nodded, held his hand tightly, her eyes were steadfast and unwavering even though she couldn't help but feel nervous about what was about to happen.

Da Vu closed his eyes and began to recite an ancient chant in the language of Quang Gioi that he had never spoken about in the past twenty years. His voice echoed throughout the quiet space of the ruins, blending with the light that was gradually erupting strongly from the Quang Stone slab.

That light spread out, covering both of them, warm but not burning, like a gentle embrace of the universe. Y Nhi felt a strange flow of energy running along her arm, transmitted through the hand holding Da Vu tightly, as if her love and faith were being transformed into a tangible source of power.

Gradually, Da Vu's appearance began to change. His black hair completely changed to a bright golden color like the sun, his skin radiated a gentle light from within, and when he opened his eyes, those eyes were now as bright as two stars, carrying a divine majesty that he had always had to suppress and hide before.

A strong wind suddenly arose around the ruins, sweeping away leaves and dust, while from the clear blue sky, a bright ray of light penetrated the clouds, shining straight down on the place where the two people were kneeling, like a testimony from Quang Gioi itself for this important moment.

"YOU HAVE FULFILLED MY CONDITIONS," a voice echoed throughout the space, majestic and cold but no longer carrying the harsh judgment like twenty years ago. That was the voice of the Heavenly Emperor, resounding from the light shining down from the sky. "I HAVE FOUND THE TRUE LIGHT — A HUMAN HEART THAT IS WILLING TO LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, NOT FOR FATE, NOT FOR POWER. FROM TODAY, MY SPIRIT IS FULLY RESTORED."

Y Nhi looked up, surprised by the majestic voice echoing from the sky, but she never let go of Da Vu's hand, keeping her promise.

"AS ABOUT THE SIN OF RESISTANCE OF JUST YEARS AGO," the voice continued, "I HAVE RE-CONSIDERED AFTER TWENTY YEARS OF OBSERVING YOU AMONG THE HUMANITY. YOUR COMPASSION, THOUGH AGAINST ORDERS, HAS PROVED ITS VALUE THROUGH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE YOU CAN DO THIS ON EARTH. YOU ARE RESTORED TO YOUR POSITION IN THE TWELVE SPIRITS, BUT I ALSO ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR CONNECTION WITH THIS MORTAL PERSON, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WISH."

Da Vu, now completely restored to the majestic appearance of a Light God, turned to look at Y Nhi, his eyes filled with deep love. "I would like to keep that bond," he replied, his voice echoing but still maintaining the familiar warmth as he turned towards her. "This woman is the reason I found my light again, and I will never leave her, even if I become a god again."

The light from the sky gradually receded, leaving a peaceful silence covering the ruins. Da Vu turned to Y Nhi, helped her stand up, his eyes gently looked at her who was still surprised by everything she had just witnessed.

"You...you look so different now," she said, her voice still shaking with surprise, reaching out to gently touch his face as if to make sure this wasn't a dream.

"But I'm still me," Da Vu replied, holding her hand and pressing it to his cheek. "It's still the same husband who accompanied her through many difficulties in the poor Ben Muon area, only now, I no longer have to hide my true self."

Y Nhi smiled, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks. “Then,” she said, “whether you are a god or a mortal, I will always love you as from the first day.”

"I also have something to say to you," Da Vu continued, his voice becoming more serious. "Now that my divine power has fully recovered, I can return to the Light Realm any time I want. But I have decided, I will stay in the human world, be with you, build our lives right here, in Lam Thanh. This is where I truly belong, not because of the curse, but because this is where you are."

Y Nhi looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears of emotion at that decision. "I don't dare expect you to sacrifice your position in Quang Gioi for me," she said.

"This is not a sacrifice," Da Vu replied, his hand lifted her chin, his eyes filled with absolute sincerity. "This is my voluntary choice, based on what the Heavenly Emperor has recognized - the truest light lies not in power or status, but lies here, in your heart."

They stood among the ancient ruins, under the falling sunset, embracing each other in boundless happiness, knowing that from this moment, a completely new chapter of their lives had officially begun.

Before leaving the ruins, Da Vu turned back to look at the ruined area one last time, raising his hand and waving gently. A warm beam of light spread throughout the small valley, making the mossy stone pillars suddenly seem to be covered with a new layer of vitality, the surrounding weeds sprouted green, and a few wildflowers began to bloom between the cracked rocks.

"This is a small gift I want to give to the place that has carried my spirit for the past twenty years," he explained when he saw Y Nhi looking at that scene with surprise. "Maybe tomorrow, this place will become a small green garden, instead of forever being a forgotten ruin."

Y Nhi smiled, resting her head on his shoulder as they both walked out of the valley, towards Lam Thanh citadel, which was gradually lighting up in the fading sunset, filled with excitement at what was waiting for the journey ahead.