Tiger wife

Deeply Rooted Affection part1

Snowy weather, snowy ground, snowy mountains and forests.

Seven sturdy tiger cubs lingered by her skirt, l*****g the woman’s palms and the backs of her hands, their furry foreheads nudging and rubbing against her, showing great affection.

"Go, don't let them catch you again," Tiger Cub lightly stroked their golden fur and patted their backs.

The tiger cubs whimpered, shook their heads, their bell-like eyes shining as they looked at her.

"Go quickly," she urged, standing up straight. "If fate allows, we will meet again."

A group of tiger cubs growled low, circling around Tiger Cub. Suddenly, with a roar, the seven large beasts turned and ran, their movements swift and agile, disappearing into the other side of the forest.

Tiger Cub remained silent, her gaze lingering on the animal tracks left in the snow for a moment, then slowly shifted, looking towards the vast sky. Her fingers unconsciously pressed her brow, a faint warmth emanating from within, the return of her own Yuanxu and its fusion with the spiritual energy hidden in her physical body.

So, there would be no more meetings. If she didn't leave now, she would have to leave later anyway.

She and he, one was a mortal, the other a transformed beast spirit. They were brought together under the guise of repaying a kindness.

there was no affection to begin with, and there should be no attachment.

Although she had not received her great-aunt's permission, this kindness had not been fully repaid. She had left willfully. She would return to the clan and confess to her great-aunt, accepting any punishment. It would be better than future suffering.

White snow began to fall from the sky, fine and soft, cool and clear, landing on her yellow robe.

She raised her hand to her chest, a dull ache spreading from that spot…

Chang family's main shop on East Street.

Business was bustling in the hall. Chang Tianci and Shopkeeper Sun were talking, finalizing several large wholesale deals. The conversation turned to the recent news of a fierce beast in the capital biting people to death. Shopkeeper Sun said with a deep frown, "This is the fifth one. Yesterday, Uncle Li, who lived in Yangjiao Hutong, was also bitten to death. The night watchman, Zhang Er, said that thing rushed out of the alley and disappeared as if by magic. He only felt it was a giant beast with jet-black fur. He was so scared that his legs were weak for a long time, and he almost wet himself." This matter was extremely unusual, and the authorities had dispatched a large number of personnel to search for it.

Chang Tianci did not reply. He took a sip of tea, his lips thinning slightly, as if contemplating something.

At this moment—

"Young Master! Young Master—" Before he arrived, his voice was heard. Everyone in the shop turned around as Ah Qi rushed in, almost hitting a doorpost, struggling to catch his breath.

Chang Tianci raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"

"Young, Young Young Master—" Xiao Sanbao, a handyman in the shop, helped him in and gave him a cup of water to moisten his throat. He gulped it down and finally spoke, "Young Madam is gone!"

Chang Tianci's eyes darkened, and he narrowed them slightly. "Explain clearly."

"Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. Married daughters return to their parents' homes. Young Madam said that Wen Family Fortress in the northeast was too far, so she wouldn't go back. Instead, she wanted to visit the Minister's mansion. The Minister is Young Madam's cousin, as you know. So, as Young Master came to inspect East Street, Young Madam also followed." He paused, his dark face contorted into a frown, as if encountering something extremely difficult to understand, unable to fathom it. "Ah Qi went with Young Madam's sedan chair. But when we arrived at the Minister's mansion and asked for Young Madam to come out, we lifted the sedan curtain, and inside, inside, there was no one! I and several family retainers clearly saw her get into the sedan chair, but, but..."

"Did you check the mansion? Or did you come straight here?" Chang Tianci asked calmly, his brow furrowed slightly.

"As soon as it happened, Ah Qi rushed back to the mansion, but he didn't see Young Madam. She, she wasn't at the Chang residence, wasn't in the sedan, she's truly gone." His thick eyebrows twisted, and then he added, "Young Master, there's another strange thing. Steward Qi just said that the seven tigers in our small garden are also missing. I don't know who stole them, it was so stealthy... Young Master, could that person have stolen Young Madam too?"

She left just like that?! How carefree. In an instant, Chang Tianci's face turned grim.

He had known she was acting strangely last night, her little head churning with unknown thoughts. No matter how he coaxed her, she wouldn't listen. Later, seeing she was tired and asleep, he let her be.

In the middle of the night, the woman in his arms woke up. He knew she had been watching him for a long time, but he remained still. This time, she had no attachment. Her fingers touched his brow, retrieving the Yuanxu silver bead that belonged to her. He still remained still, pretending to be asleep, his heart in turmoil.

She took the tigers and left her husband behind. In her heart, was he not even as important as a litter of cubs?!

With a "bang," the porcelain cup he was playing with in his hand was suddenly crushed. Hot tea spilled everywhere, and many porcelain shards pierced his flesh, causing immediate bleeding.

"Young Master?!" Ah Qi and Shopkeeper Sun shouted in unison, rushing forward.

Chang Tianci waved his other hand and said with slight weariness, "It's nothing." He tightly clenched his injured palm, ignoring the sharp fragments still embedded in it.

"Young Master, should we ask the authorities to help find her? Many hands make light work. Young Madam will be fine," said Shopkeeper Sun.

She would be fine, and she would not return. He knew this well.

He had lost his way on the path of cultivation, questioning the value of his existence in his pursuit of immortality.

Beasts becoming humans, then becoming immortals. Was the process more precious, or the result?

No one answered him. Then he broke free from the shackles of nearly a thousand years and wandered into the mortal world.