Eternal Beloved

Chapter 3

He stares at her dumbfounded, disbelieving his own eyes as he appraises the familiar figure sprawling on the ground. Her small body curled into a foetal position with one hand cushioning her head. Tousled up from the fight, her ragged appearance could still easily entice anyone without trying. Her waist-length raven hair is out of her usual braid, fanned around her small face like a midnight veil. Her bright amber eyes are staring at him with an equal surprise of his before they darken with distrust, freezing him in his stead.

He never saw Yu Qi wore this expression before, not to him particularly. She cringes away from his extended hand as he tried to prop her up, exerting herself in the attempt to sit up on her own.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice ring with suspicion. Her body is rigid in a fighting stance as she eyed the only exit behind him. She is calculating her chances to escape - from him. There is no recognition in her eyes but distrust toward a stranger, who supposedly should not be able to see her in her current form.

For years he speculates of all the worst scenario that could have severe the ties between them, either her spirit trap in limbo or vanished, that he can’t even sense her presence any more. He even considered of the worst, that she is the one who cut off the ties as she can’t forgive him. He betrayed her, trapping her in her deepest fear.

But he seems to overlook that one factor affecting their ties - memories. Without their past memories, the ties will be revoked as he is no longer hold significant in her eyes. It seems like he’s out from her life for good.

You deserve this.

But without those memories, there’s nothing that could stop him for being selfish once again. Coveting what he could not have. Breaking his promises again.

He has lost his track of time since he heard of the peculiar spirit that been going around hunting evil spirit with skills that could put most hunter to shame. He took the first available flight that cost him fourteen long hours without offering any further explanation to angry Wen Hou for being abandoned upon the completion of their hunt. He’s not going to let her slip out of his grasp again.

“Gao Deming.” he answered, grasping her upper arm tightly as he pulls her to her feet. Despite her fiery eyes, anticipating for a fight, her stead is wobble and he has seen more colours on a corpse compared to her face.

“Gao Deming? The Gao family?” she presses, a sudden recognition flickered in her eyes.

He nodded once. “You heard of us before?”

“Spirits talk. Your family have quite a reputations among the spirits and faes alike. Some hate you in particular.”  

“Then I assume you would have known my intention?” His question halt her as she stares at him with an unreadable expression.

“Not really, should I?” she asked with a muddled expression after a second of silence, cracking him at the familiar mannerism. Time never seems to change her.

A sudden horror crosses her face as she steps away from him. “You’re here to… Just to be clear, I haven’t lost my conscience…yet,” she said, fears creeping up into her words. It took him a moment to realize she’s assuming he is here to exorcise her. He flinches at the cruel thought.

“No, God no. I’m offering you to be my spirit shadow - knowing what you can do, I don’t think you need any further explanation. Intrigued?” he offered, trying to keep his calm façade that internally cracks to a million shard at Yu Qi’s calculative expression. She was never easy to compromise nor to rope down in an agreement without something in return.

He hates at the idea of making her as his spirit shadow but given the situation, this is the only option he has to tie her without having her throwing a fit or planning his murder. Despite the inherited enhance strength, agility, and senses, spirit hunter still has limited contact with the spirit world. Some even considered them soulless given their immortality. Having to deal with spirits, a hunter like him often keep a spirit shadow that grants them better access to the spirit world.

Seeing Yu Qi today make him realised it’s all a myth, the same way human deems demons, spirits and faes as a myth without realising they are walking and living amongst them. Some already inhabited the world long before human occupy the land.

“If you agree, I’ll help you with your own case. I heard you’ve been held back in this realm for a decade and you wanted a way out. I’m your best shot. Judging by your condition, you won’t have time long enough to unveil it.” his face darkened, remembering her disappearing hands a moment ago.

It’s happening already, he just never thought it’s going to be this fast.

“I can give you all the time that you need,” he added as she remains impassive.

“Do I have any other option?” she asked, sighing loudly and he knows he has won this round. He offered her something that she can’t resist.

He reaches up and unclasped the necklace that he had worn for the last ten years, a golden ring hung at the end of the chain replacing a pendant. Yu Qi was startled when he wound it around her neck, goose bump rising across her skin where his hands linger. It’s feel good to know that he still affecting her.

“Never take this off. Hand.” he nudged, taking her small hand in his as he recited the short vow from his memory. His bracelet felt warm suddenly as it snakes off his wrist, binding their hand momentarily before it looped around her wrist, indicating the perfected ritual. Instinctively, he opened his eyes as he felt her hold loosen up and she slumped against him, unconscious.