There are absurd cliches present in actual immortal cultivation. The union of a Yin-based and Yang-based Tao Body develops a mutual attraction. A love spell of sorts that turns curiosity into an unbreakable bond—sealing their fates as Dao Companions for life.
I first encountered it on Seele and Veliona. Their high-grade water spirit roots resonated very well with my Tao Body and ultimate grade spirit root. Her specialty of being very sensitive awakened because of it. That was an appetizer for our affection, however. Their love did not require that kind of 'love spell'.
Such an incredulous thing… and I did it on Kiana's Aunt!
I admit. My rush for Earth's development led to it. Most importantly, I knew things would happen this way, one way or another.
"It's the Partner thing."
"Hum..?"
"I had this one thought. I confirmed it now. Once chosen to be my partner… they will become my partners for life."
"Oh."
Kiana didn't seem surprised at it.
"We know."
"..?"
"Look at the trend. Out of your partners, how many did you swoon? Four… and I am one of them."
She pulled me in her embrace.
"Haven't we talked about it long ago? No matter how many there are… as long as you love me, everything's fine."
I pushed back the overwhelming sense of guilt. Kiana is my first wife. That won't change. Her concession. Her feelings. I won't reduce it to a mere guilt.
"But we'll have to talk about Aunt Theresa. How will you do it?"
She tilted her head upwards. Her star-like pupils met mine.
"Let's not think about it. Wasn't it your specialty back then? To move without thinking of the consequences."
"Hum… it's true."
Today, the defeated Tuna let out another cute pout.
*****
Kiana, Sirin, Seele, and Veliona went into seclusion after spending time with them. Their breakthrough to the Divine Transformation Realm is destined to last for three decades. We cannot play with the time ratio anymore. The Aeons outside gazed at the solar system more than once. It consumed the power of the imaginary barrier, continuously eroding it until the two thousand years deadline came.
The Sea of Quanta is a no-go, either. The imaginary barrier 'fixed' the time flow in both the real world and the Sea of Quanta. Naturally, its protection extended to the Sea of Quanta. If it remains undefended, we can speed up the time ratio. Its cost is its unpredictableness.
Who knows if someone uses it to enter the solar system? By then, the imaginary barrier in the real world becomes useless. Everyone can use this backdoor to attack.
Two thousand years.
That's the bottom line we have.
Without the four's presence, I headed towards the next most urgent matter—to the Wushi Dao Sect's Main Peak. It is the place where the Sect's shops, libraries, and other functionalities are built. The four Vice Sect Masters also live within its scope.
Today, I am here to visit one of them.
"Ha..? Now that everyone's in seclusion, you finally remembered me?"
"Alright, alright. All hail Young Miss!"
"Humph…"
A noticeable streak of red appeared on Sin's face.
"How has it been?"
"Not bad. The battle last time brought a lot of insights. Maybe I would've begun my breakthrough had you not visited."
Her words seem harsh at first, but I discern a trace of joy from it.
Sin Mal…
She's saying one thing and meaning another. A tsundere, if you will. She's not just another tsundere, however.
"Anyways… you didn't come here just to ask these trivial questions, no? Speak."
"No… It's not my turn to speak." I continued just as she was about to retort. "It's yours. The words hidden in your heart. Tell them to me, Sin."
Silence.
…
Sin closed her eyes. Her long legs crossed elegantly. Her eyelashes fluttered as a deeper streak of red settled on her face. Then she opened her eyes. Her heterochromatic pupils, one made of gold and the other reminiscent of the ocean's blue, stared intently at me.
"Can you recall our first meeting?" She asked.
"Surely you are not talking about the one in the orphanage."
"Hum." Sin affirmed my thoughts. "It is the time you rode in a car… on top of it."
The memories of the past resurfaced. It was a long time ago. Seele was kidnapped by Cocolia's dissidents. I happened to notice the peculiarities and caught onto them. It was a thrilling chase that ended in my victory.
"It is the first time I saw your light. It was beautiful. Like a color standing out in an expanse of black and white…"
A hint of giddiness emerged from her words.
"It was brighter than Sister Bronya. Sister Kiana possessed a complex color I did not like. Seele was like the darkness. Nobody possessed such a colorful light. Only the two of you. It was to the point… I wanted the world to only have the three of us. You and Sister Bronya are a good match… and I can appreciate you two more."
She spoke out of possessiveness, yet I could not find a trace of it in her eyes.
"Did you…"
"Yes. I forsook this possibility a long time ago. I… everyone's kindness… is not something that can be defined by colors. I had thrown this naivety to the pits of the abyss, lest I harm others once more."
Sin was originally a psychopath. She did not trust others due to her adoptive parents. They did not care for her, outside of feeding her, and squandered the inheritance left by her biological parents. They went as far as to sell her to a fat bastard in pursuit of money and status. Nobody can blame Sin for acting like that, not even I.
We are lucky to have taught her many of the good things.
"Was it born out of my Tao Heart?"
I could not help but ask.
"No…" Sin shook her head. "Your light… it became too dazzling after our year-long reunion. It blinds me to look at you with these eyes… even now."
Why…
Why is she still looking, then?
Sin sensed the question in my heart and gave an answer.
"Because it is worth dying for."