Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

”We came out carrying half the store.”

”We liked things.”

”You bought more than I did.”

”You kept saying things were pretty.”

Su Yubing laughed.

”I see. So this is my fault?”

”Obviously.”

”You are impossible.”

Mo Yuxin leaned down slightly.

”But you love me.”

Su Yubing looked up.

”Unfortunately.”

Mo Yuxin smiled.

”Fortunately.”

Su Yubing rolled her eyes, but she slipped her arm around Mo Yuxin’s waist as they continued walking. The farther they went toward the center of Thousand Dao City, the stronger the cultivation atmosphere became. Large sect disciples moved through the streets in groups. Some carried swords. Others wore formation robes. Alchemy disciples had distinctive fragrance clinging to their sleeves. Body cultivators tended to be larger and more heavily dressed. There were beast tamer disciples accompanied by small spiritual creatures. The Nine Heavens Academy had students everywhere, identifiable by the simple white and blue badges attached to their belts. Mo Yuxin watched them carefully.

”What do you think?”

Su Yubing asked.

”The city is very disciplined.”

”Is that all?”

”No.”

Mo Yuxin looked around.

”It is also competitive.”

Su Yubing nodded. The city was filled with ambition. Everyone seemed to be moving toward something. A young disciple rushed past carrying books. A formation master argued with a merchant. Three alchemy students debated the price of a rare herb. Two sword cultivators discussed an upcoming competition. A group of young women from a sect laughed together as they entered a restaurant. It was not peaceful in the quiet sense. It was peaceful because every group was too busy pursuing its own goals to constantly interfere with everyone else. Su Yubing smiled.

”I like it.”

”I do too.”

”You were right.”

”About?”

”This was worth coming for.”

Mo Yuxin squeezed her hand.

”Of course.”

They finally reached Ten Thousand Dao Plaza near sunset. It was the first time they saw the major sect towers clearly. Seven structures rose around the plaza. Each was enormous. The Heavenly Sword Sect tower was a dark silver sword-shaped building with sharp edges and thousands of sword marks carved across its walls. Even from a distance, the sword aura coming from it was obvious. It was not aggressive, but it carried the confidence of a sect that had been producing sword cultivators for generations. The Azure Cloud Sect tower was more graceful. It was covered in layers of pale blue glass and floating talisman strips. Small formation circles appeared and disappeared around the upper floors.

The Golden Mountain Sect had built a huge stone fortress decorated with metal. Even the stairs were thick enough to survive attacks. Cangming Palace’s tower looked like a giant wave frozen in motion. Water formations moved continuously around the building, giving the entire place an almost dreamlike appearance. Purple Heaven Valley had a beautiful purple-white pavilion surrounded by floating herb gardens. Nine Heavens Academy was the largest building of all, because it was not truly a sect headquarters. It was a sprawling complex of classrooms, lecture halls, training stages, libraries, and dormitories. And then there was the seventh tower. The Battle Maiden Sect. Mo Yuxin looked at it from across the plaza. Its city branch was not as huge as the others.

But its design was striking. Silver and red. The central structure looked like the silhouette of a woman holding a spear. The main gate had no statues of beasts or ancient sages. Instead, there were simple words carved into stone. TRAIN TO PROTECT. SUFFER TO ENDURE. FIGHT TO STAND. Su Yubing read them quietly. Then she looked toward Mo Yuxin.

”What do you think?”

Mo Yuxin was still looking at the tower.

”It has character.”

”You like it?”

”Yes.”

Su Yubing smiled.

”Why?”

”It is straightforward.”

They stood there for a little while. Several cultivators passed nearby while discussing the sect.

”Battle Maiden Sect is still holding on.”

”Barely.”

”I heard their resources have been reduced again.”

”That is their own problem.”

”They used to be one of the strongest.”

”Used to be.”

”It is a shame.”

”Why?”

”The women there are good fighters.”

”That is not enough.”

Another voice joined the discussion.

”They have always been too proud.”

Mo Yuxin heard the words. She glanced over. An older man in blue robes was speaking with two younger disciples. He did not appear hateful. Just dismissive. Su Yubing quietly held Mo Yuxin’s hand.

”Not our business.”

”For now.”

Su Yubing looked at her. Mo Yuxin smiled.

”For now.”

The next morning, they started their day without any plan at all. That was becoming a habit. Mo Yuxin had once spent years making schedules so precise that an entire army could move according to them without confusion. Su Yubing was far more relaxed, but even she had a habit of deciding where they would go and what they wanted to see. In Thousand Dao City, however, there was simply too much to do. Every street seemed to offer something new, and every time they finished looking at one thing, Su Yubing would notice another sign and pull Mo Yuxin in a different direction. They left their courtyard shortly after breakfast. Mo Yuxin had tied her hair back with a simple black ribbon. She wore the dark blue robe Su Yubing had chosen for her, and the sword called Silent River rested at her waist. She had no reason to carry a weapon she did not need, but she liked the weight, and she liked that Su Yubing had chosen it for her.

Su Yubing wore a pale blue dress with silver embroidery around the sleeves. Her long hair fell down her back, with the little silver flower hairpin tucked into it. The sunlight caught the metal every time she moved. Mo Yuxin noticed. She noticed every single time. Su Yubing was halfway down the street when she realized Mo Yuxin had fallen behind. She turned around.

”Why did you stop?”

Mo Yuxin pointed at her hair.

”The hairpin is crooked.”

Su Yubing touched it.

”Really?”

”Yes.”

Mo Yuxin stepped forward, gently adjusted it, and then stared at her for another few seconds. Su Yubing raised an eyebrow.

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TO BE CONTINUED.