Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

Mo Yuxin’s brows furrowed slightly. ”You mean… it belongs to us now?”

The ancient guardian golem’s obsidian eyes glowed with calm reverence.

”Yes,” it intoned, its voice rumbling like the breath of mountains. ”Henceforth, the Trials of the Forebears are no longer a challenge you must survive… but a legacy you now protect. Its essence has been condensed into a divine core—its heart, its soul, its will. Take it.”

From within its massive chest, a gentle whir echoed. Runes spiraled open along its body like unfolding petals, revealing a gleaming crystalline orb hovering in the center of its chest cavity. The orb pulsed with a soft, rhythmic glow, like the heartbeat of a slumbering god. In a smooth, deliberate motion, the golem extended its massive palm—and from its hand, the orb lifted and floated down toward Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing.

It was barely the size of a plum, but unlike any treasure they had ever seen.

The orb was forged from translucent crystal that shimmered in iridescent layers, constantly shifting colors with every blink of the eye—an entire spectrum of twilight, dawn, and starlight caught within its core. The surface was etched with intricate micro-runes that danced along its curves, alive and breathing, forming and unforming celestial arrays too advanced to be comprehended in a single glance.

Mo Yuxin caught it instinctively.

It was light—almost weightless—but the moment her fingers closed around it, a ripple of silent wind exploded outward, washing over the forest like a wave of time itself. Birds took flight. Trees rustled with reverence.

The golem knelt one final time. ”This is Xuantian Heartseed, the crystallized form of the Trials of the Forebears. A divine treasure born of sacrifice, inheritance, and boundless spirit.”

Before either of them could speak, the familiar voice of life elder whispered in their minds—tender, warm, and filled with timeless grace.

”Mo Yuxin. Su Yubing.”

Their hearts stirred.

”Now that the treasure is in your hands, drop a single drop of your blood each upon the Xuantian Heartseed. Let it be bound not only to your qi, but to your very souls. Only then will you access its full potential—and its future will remain with you both, no matter where you go.”

Su Yubing looked at Mo Yuxin with wide eyes, and without hesitation, they both bit the tip of their thumbs.

Two ruby-red droplets shimmered in the air for a moment before falling onto the glowing orb cupped between Mo Yuxin’s palms.

The moment the blood touched it—

—crack!

A thin fracture formed along the surface, not from damage but from awakening. The orb burst with golden light that wrapped around both of their bodies in soft ribbons, spiraling around their cores, their soul seas, and their spiritual senses.

They gasped in unison as knowledge flooded into them:

The Xuantian Heartseed—a divine treasure crafted from the remnants of a primordial realm, cultivated by the very first Forebears to store their legacies. The space inside was vast—comparable to a grand capital city, complete with mountains, lakes, rivers, trial zones, spiritual lands, cultivation arrays, and even a floating palace-temple at the center that pulsed with unspent divine qi.

It could serve not only as a secure treasure vault, but also as a living realm for disciples, a future sect, or a refuge during chaos.

But most important—

—it would obey only them.

And both of them equally.

Their consciousness brushed over the core of the realm, now bound to their shared spiritual signature. They could sense each of its zones—the dormant trial rings, the floating sky-pavilions meant for overseeing battle, the array of spirit-gathering formations across plains that shimmered with celestial dew. There were elemental zones too: a frozen valley, a molten lake, a wind-blessed cliff, and a peaceful grove bathed in moonlight. Each was a trial forged by ancient laws, preserved for future use or cultivation.

And at the heart of it all, two thrones of jade and gold stood in the central palace, waiting.

Waiting for their rightful Sovereigns.

Just as the last of the inheritance knowledge settled into their minds, the orb pulsed once and then vanished from sight—shrinking further until it turned into a slim crystalline shard no larger than a fingernail and embedded itself into the back of Mo Yuxin’s hand.

The shard gleamed once before vanishing beneath her skin, leaving behind only a faint lotus-like marking that mirrored one on Su Yubing’s hand.

Their bond to the treasure was complete.

And just in time.

The sky pulsed—and a final white portal opened before them, gentle as moonlight and shaped like a blooming lotus. Their path home.

The Life Elder stepped forward one last time. ”Go. There will be time to return to this place and explore its depths later. But right now, those who love you wait.”

The Thunder Empress glanced away, but not before saying in a low voice, ”…Don’t waste what you’ve earned.”

They didn’t linger.

Mo Yuxin turned to the elders, and with a hand over her heart, bowed low. ”We will remember your kindness.”

Su Yubing followed, voice soft. ”And return stronger still.”

Mo Yuxin looked to Su Yubing, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. ”Shall we go?”

Su Yubing smiled, the pressure of their long journey beginning to melt away. ”Together.”

They stepped through—

—and emerged into moonlight.

The Dark Moon Forest was silent and vast, shadows dancing between ancient trees. Cool mist curled around their ankles, and the leaves above glimmered with droplets of dew under the silver light. Somewhere far off, an owl called into the night.

The air was fresh. Familiar.

And in the distance, through the thick trees, they could see the faint glow of lanterns.

Azure Dragon City.

The pale light of dawn brushed the tops of Dark Moon Forest as Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing stepped onto the narrow road leading to Azure Dragon City. The city lay before them just as they remembered: its turquoise walls solid and unchanged, watchtowers standing silent in the morning mist, and the great iron lions flanking the gate as if greeting two prodigal daughters.

They walked side by side, robes whispering over the dewy stones. Their auras—fresh from the Trials of the Forebears—still glowed faintly, a gentle hum of power in the cool air. Every footstep carried them closer to home, yet the crisp silence held a new tension, as if fate itself waited just beyond the next bend.

Half an hour’s walk brought them to a rocky hollow where cries of terror split the dawn hush. Mo Yuxin paused, brows drawing together. ”Someone is in danger.”

Su Yubing’s eyes darkened. ”Let us see.”

They stepped around a crag and found a crude wooden pen carved into the hillside. Inside, a dozen women huddled with fear etched on their faces; their hands were bound with iron cuffs, some so tight the flesh beneath was raw. Outside, six rough-looking bandits laughed and jeered as they poked the captives with broken swords.

One burly ruffian, his face scarred and cruel, spotted the approaching women. He spat. ”Look, brothers! Pretty cultivators on a stroll. Bet we can sell them too.” He leered at Su Yubing. ”Especially that one. How about you, little beauty? Fancy a better offer than your master ever gave?”

Another sneered, wiping blood from his blade. ”Yeah, come here, mistress. Show us a smile.”

Mo Yuxin’s lips curved in a cold, cruel smile of her own. She did not move a step forward—instead, she lifted one pale hand. Around her, the world stilled: the wind dropped, birds froze on their branches, and a single maple leaf drifted slowly down from an overhead tree.

That leaf hung in the air before the bandits, trembling like a heartbeat. Then Mo Yuxin’s eyes flashed.

”Leave,” she said, her voice a quiet storm.

In that instant, the leaf became a slashing blade of spiritual energy. It spun through the morning air with deadly grace, slicing the burly ruffian’s throat before he could draw breath. His scream cut short as he fell, hand clutching at the sudden wound. The leaf arced on, scattering blood across the stones, and two more men dropped like broken dolls. Terror seized the rest; trembling, they turned and fled down the rocky path, never daring to steal a second glance.

Mo Yuxin lowered her hand. The leaf drifted back into her palm, whole and untainted.

Her aura pulsed outward then—a wave of thunder-like qi that shook the mountain roots. Electricity crackled faintly around her, and her dark hair lifted as if caught in a silent gale. Even the stones beneath her feet hummed with power.

Su Yubing moved among the captive women, her presence softening the harsh scene. With a graceful gesture, she shattered the iron cuffs. The rings clattered to the ground. ”You are free,” she murmured.

The women stared in shock, fear still in their eyes. They were of all ages: some had been sold by their own families, others torn from husbands or widowed by the bandits’ cruel blade. Their faces were pale, haunted by grief.

Su Yubing produced jade-green vials of healing elixir. ”Drink this,” she said. ”It will mend your wounds and restore your strength.”

As the women drank, their bruises faded, wounds closed, and color returned to their cheeks. Mo Yuxin knelt beside each, tracing thin seals in the air with her fingertip. Invisible runes sank into their minds, granting them the simplest cultivation methods suited to each body: breathing techniques, qi-circulation paths, foundational mantras.

When she rose, Mo Yuxin’s voice was firm yet kind. ”Within three years, if any of you reach the Qi Condensation Realm, come to the Su family estate in Azure Dragon City. We will guide you further.”

Tears glistened in the women’s eyes. One, a young mother clutching a faded shawl, bowed so low her forehead touched the earth. ”Mistresses, you have given us life again. We swear to follow your path and repay your kindness.”

Another, an older woman with silvering hair, pressed Su Yubing’s hand to her lips. ”You will not be disappointed. We have hope once more.”

Mo Yuxin inclined her head. ”Go now. Rebuild your lives. Cultivate with all your hearts.”

As the freed women stumbled away, trembling but determined, Moore Yuxin and Su Yubing stood together, their robes drifting in the gentle breeze. The horizon burned with the first rays of sunrise, reflecting off the city walls in rosy-gold light.

They resumed their journey, walking the final stretch to the north gate of Azure Dragon City. The city was waking: vendors opened shutters, children chased each other in the streets, and through the open gates came the cries of guards taking up their watch.

Mo Yuxin inhaled deeply, the scent of blooming osmanthus and fresh bread filling her senses. Su Yubing reached into her robe and pulled out a single white lotus petal, placing it on the threshold with a soft smile.

The turquoise walls of Azure Dragon City rose before them like a painting come to life. Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing paused at the northern gate, exchanged a quiet smile, and stepped into the waking city. Dawn lanterns still glowed in red paper, banners fluttered in the breeze, and the air smelled of jasmine and warm bread.

They wandered down the main avenue, robes trimmed modestly so as not to draw attention. Vendors called out their wares—sweet honey cakes, steamed buns stuffed with pork and chives, stacks of jade-green tea leaves tied with silk cord. Children darted between stalls, clutching sticky pastries, while silk-clad merchants haggled over silk bolts and ink-stone sets.

Su Yubing’s eyes softened at the sight of a tea merchant’s stall. ”A cup of new-spring jasmine tea?” she suggested.

Mo Yuxin nodded. They settled on a low bench by the stall. The tea master—a lean old man with a blue gauze cap—smiled. With careful hands he poured steaming water over a handful of fragrant leaves, then lifted the gaiwan to let the aroma rise.

They inhaled in unison, the blossom-sweet steam warming their hearts. Sipping, they let the world slow: the chatter of market-goers, the clip-clop of a distant carriage, the hawk’s cry beyond the city walls.b