"I want to keep it a secret. Li Fang is well known in the Jiang State. There are many people who must have investigated his background," she said after a moment of thought.
"They may not know about my current whereabouts, but they know me. If we reveal our relationship, then they will come to know about this as well." Bai Yunxi looked at him earnestly.
"I don't want to bring any shame to Li Fang. If people start speaking badly of him because of me..." Her voice trailed off, a faint tremble hidden beneath her calm tone.
"Xi'er, don't worry. I've already thought about this. The Su family doesn't even know about you. I haven't told them your real identity."
"They don't need to know everything. All they need to know is that I'm the one taking care of you."
"If I use the Su family's influence to help you, they won't doubt it. They already know I'm close with Li Fang."
"As for the Li family, they're not involved. I've arranged for them to stay hidden. If they want to work, they can take jobs in our businesses under different names. Or if they prefer, they can live quietly elsewhere."
Su Kang wasn't worried about Li Fang. He wouldn't kill him. Bai Yunxi wouldn't allow it.
She had already accepted Su Kang from the depths of her heart. There was no way she would let him die before her eyes.
And Su Kang had another reason, one not spoken aloud. He wanted to damage the bond of fate between Bai Yunxi and Li Fang. Once that bond weakened, Fate could siphon more of Li Fang's destiny.
Fate had already advised him—being her lover and being her husband were entirely different matters.
Only a husband could truly share a life with her, and it was within that bond that a family could be created.
Su Kang didn't know if Li Xiao was truly dead. He wasn't willing to spend his precious destiny points to confirm it either.
Instead, he planned for the worst. If Li Xiao ever returned, Su Kang needed to ensure Bai Yunxi would never leave with him.
And the most effective way to bind her was through the ties of family. Their own child.
"Xi'er, if you don't want others to know, I won't tell them," he said gently. "But shouldn't we at least tell our families?"
He wasn't planning to hide her from his parents. Once they returned, they would find out either way. He had no intention of lying to them.
His mother might feel conflicted because of Bai Yunxi's past, but she would never go against her son's happiness.
And his father? As long as Bai Yunxi didn't try to become the head wife, he wouldn't care. Family authority belonged to the head wife, and Bai Yunxi wasn't suited to that role.
The Su family had few direct descendants, and the male members were not overly indulgent in women compared to other powerful clans.
His father wouldn't object, not if Bai Yunxi gave them healthy grandchildren.
Bai Yunxi thought quietly for a moment. She had no qualms about telling her mother. As for the Li family, she had grown distant from them over the years. There was no need to involve them.
"But do you think your parents will accept someone like me? My cultivation is weak... and my background is just ordinary," she said, her tone laced with self-doubt.
"Don't worry. My parents and family won't object to our relationship," he said without hesitation.
He told her about the Su family. His father had never taken a second wife. His uncles had two wives each, but that was their choice.
"Your cultivation will improve again now that your heart is no longer clouded. Without a heart demon, you'll return to being the cultivation genius of Qin City."
"And for my family, as long as we give them a few children, they'll have no reason to oppose you."
She lowered her gaze slightly, considering his words. She was convinced, at least in part.
But then her voice dropped.
"About having children... I think this is bad."
Her words were quiet, almost too soft to hear, but they carried a weight that made him pause.
Su Kang's face fell slightly. He thought about it and nodded.
"If you don't want to, I won't force you."
Seeing his reaction, Bai Yunxi hesitated. This was all happening too fast.
They looked at each other in silence for a moment before Su Kang spoke again, his voice softer than before.
"Xi'er, I want to marry you. Even if we keep the relationship hidden, I still don't want you to suffer injustice without a proper status."
Keeping her as a mere mistress didn't sit right with him. It would also go against the plans Fate had laid out.
She was going to be his first woman in both of his lives. That alone deserved recognition. A hidden wife was still a wife—far better than a mistress.
"We don't have to hold a big wedding. Even a small one here in the village will do."
They could think about children later. For now, marriage was more important.
Fate had already told him that vows exchanged under Heaven carried a special power. There was meaning behind them—real consequences in the realm of destiny.
"Your mother will also feel at ease knowing we're married," he added with quiet confidence.
Bai Yunxi nodded thoughtfully. A small wedding would stay under the radar and bring peace of mind to her mother.
"You're truly caring," she said with a gentle smile.
"Alright, we'll marry here in the village," she agreed.
"Good. Now let's head back," he said with a grin.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and soared into the sky with her in his embrace. As they glided through the night air, he looked at her face and spoke with quiet reassurance.
"Don't worry. We'll land in the dark. No one will see us like this."
She didn't reply, only looked around at the sky lit by the moon and stars.
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful sky," she murmured.
"In the future, I'll make sure you see many such beautiful nights. I'll show you as many wonders as I can," he said, gently brushing her hair back.
"I'm really lucky," she muttered shyly.
"It's me who hit the jackpot," he replied with a soft laugh.
Soon, they reached the outskirts of the village. Su Kang landed quietly and escorted her back to her mother's hut. After that, he left without saying much more.
Since they would marry soon, he had a lot to prepare. But the first step was to secure a proper place to live.
He could have bought a house in the city, but that would attract attention. To keep a low profile, he decided to build a house near the village.
He could use wood from nearby trees for construction. Some furniture was already stored in his ring.
As for other materials, he could purchase them from the city or bring in skilled workers under different identities.
He would start the preparations tomorrow.
For now, he returned to his spiritual boat and went inside, sitting quietly on the bed.
"Fate, tell me now," he said in his heart.
"Since she accepted your confession, I was able to extract some power of destiny."
"How much did we get?" he asked.
"Two thousand destiny points, for your convenience."
Su Kang frowned slightly at the number. "Only two thousand? I already lost a thousand before... and Li Fang has over thirty-two thousand. This doesn't feel like much."
"She's only accepted your confession for now. When your marriage is consummated, we can extract more. You haven't claimed her body yet."
Fate paused, then continued.
"And when you marry her, there is something important I want to tell you."
"There are marriage vows in many cultures. Vows taken under Heaven possess the power of destiny."
"When couples make such vows or express them through rituals, their destinies become linked to some degree."
"So our destinies will merge?" Su Kang asked.
"Not entirely. You'll gain around ten to fifteen percent of her destiny. But if she dies, you'll lose it. Likewise, she'll gain a portion of yours—also lost if you die."
"This bond only remains active as long as your marriage remains intact."
Su Kang silently absorbed this information. The benefits of a proper wedding were far greater than he had originally considered.