Tiger wife

Deeply Rooted Affection part2

However, because he had promised his great-aunt a trust, what had it all become in the end?

It was to let him, in his human form, meet her by chance. To let him learn the emotions of mortal men and women, and to arouse the desire to spend his days with her.

"Young Master..."

Chang Tianci recalled his wandering thoughts. He swept Ah Qi a glance with a blank expression and said calmly, "Let's return to the mansion. There's no need to search for her."

"Ah?!" Ah Qi was stunned. He thought, judging by the Young Master's appearance, he was clearly anxious and worried about Young Madam, so why wasn't he quickly asking people to search? He was completely bewildered.

Chang Tianci ignored everyone, stepped out the door, and left.

Ah Qi could no longer think about it. He yelled and chased after him, "But Young Madam, she, she... Young Master, Young Master, wait for me— Young Master, your hand is still bleeding... Wait! Stop the bleeding first—"

Wow! Was their Young Master a divine being? He said there was no need to search, and indeed, there was no need to search.

When the two master and servant returned to the Chang residence, as soon as they entered the hall, the Young Madam of the Chang family, who had mysteriously disappeared for several hours, was sitting properly in the Grand Tutor's chair, chatting with the matriarch of the Chang family. Ah Qi's mouth gaped open, wide enough to fit three braised eggs.

"Ci'er is back," Madam Chang said with a beaming smile, looking at Chang Tianci who had just entered the hall, along with her daughter-in-law. "Your wife and I were talking about you, and just now we were discussing interesting things from your childhood."

"Aunt," he said, as usual, his voice neither hurried nor slow. His eyes, however, deepened as he turned to his wife, who was lowering her head.

From the main shop all the way back, his heart ached from her unhesitating departure. He had tasted the pain of being lost and thought this time it was a complete mistake, a one-sided effort. She had made him lose his direction again in the mortal world, in his human form.

And now, seeing her sitting right before him, within easy reach, the shock and impact in his heart were truly indescribable.

"Ah Qi said you were missing?" he asked casually, as if it were an insignificant matter.

TigerCub's inner turmoil was no less than his.

She had planned to leave, to end the pain quickly. He already had another woman in his heart, so what was the point of staying by such a man's side?

On the snowy mountain, she had watched the litter of tigers leave. She should have thought of nothing and returned to the clan to confess to her great-aunt... But alas, why did she shed tears when she saw the tiger-head pendant at her waist? Why did she feel her soul was being torn apart? Just because she would never see him again in the coming months?

Then she returned, instantly transported from the vast snowy mountain, telling herself that she only wanted to confirm if his body, without the protection of the silver bead, would truly relapse.

"Where did I go missing? Am I not here talking with Mother?" she deflected lightly. Her beautiful eyes met his, and her heart skipped a beat. She instinctively dodged. Was it her guilty conscience? She calmed herself, thinking he couldn't possibly know, that she was being overly worried.

Chang Tianci did not expose her. He continued, "Ah Qi also said that the litter of tigers has disappeared. Do you know where they went?" The thing she cared about the most.

She paused slightly and then said softly, "If they're gone, they're gone. I don't need to worry about it."

Her mood changed in an instant. A flicker of joy arose from her somber heart. She hadn't left after all... Barely perceptible, the corners of his lips lifted, and a small plan formed in his mind.

"Ci'er, come and sit. It's tiring to talk while standing. TigerCub saw the Minister today and said some things— Ah—" Madam Chang's words were interrupted by Chang Tianci's sudden faint.

"Tianci?!" TigerCub jumped up in alarm, wanting to rush to embrace him, but it was too late. He fell without warning, his back of the head hitting the ground with a loud "thud," losing consciousness.

"Young Master?!" Ah Qi finally came to his senses, stretching his arms to catch him, but it was to no avail.

"Quickly go and fetch Doctor Liu!" Madam Chang, with the demeanor of the matriarch, instructed a family retainer, who hurried away. She then ordered the maids to prepare other things. The entire hall was in a commotion.

"Tianci, Tianci—" TigerCub held his head, utterly lost for a moment. Her face suddenly turned pale. She saw Chang Tianci's loosened palm, etched with several wounds, still bleeding.

She reached out and cupped his large hand, feeling his body temperature rapidly dropping. She couldn't help but tremble and ask, "What happened? Why is he injured... bleeding so much..."

Ah Qi said, "It's my fault. I, I thought Young Madam was gone, so I ran to the main shop to inform Young Master... I never imagined that as soon as Young Master heard, he, he anxiously crushed the teacup in his hand, and the shards all pierced his flesh. He was in a hurry to get back and didn't treat it carefully, so he bled a lot. Young Madam, you didn't see Young Master's face turn pale and ghastly when he heard you were missing. I didn't expect his illness to relapse."

Hearing this, Tiger Cub could no longer suppress her emotions. Her heart was filled with pity, and she sighed, hugging the man in her arms tightly.

When Doctor Liu arrived in a hurry, Chang Tianci had already been settled in his room. The wound on his palm was bandaged with white cloth. Tiger Cub carefully removed the fragments from inside, tears flowing non-stop as she did so, silently dripping, ignoring anyone's comfort.

Just hearing that she was missing, had disappeared, and he had injured himself like this. Her heart ached with worry, yet a trace of sweetness arose.

Doctor Liu examined the patient from head to toe. Except for the external wound on his hand, he could find no other reason. He only said it was a relapse of his old heart condition, compounded by blood loss, which caused him to faint. In the end, he could only prescribe a heart-strengthening and calming herbal remedy, ordered people to fetch and decoct it, and then left after giving a few instructions.

Everyone finally withdrew. Chang Tianci had not yet woken up, but his breathing had stabilized, and his temperature had risen.

Only Tiger Cub remained in the room, sitting by the bedside and looking at him. She held his uninjured hand and gently rubbed it against her cheek, just as the tigers lingered by her feet, reluctant to part.

He had suddenly become like this, and only she knew the reason. It must be because she had taken the silver bead from him last night. Without the protection of the silver bead, his previously improving condition would worsen. It must be so.

Pressing her lips together, she shook her head and cast a sword finger at her own brow, casting a spell. A silver, luminous bead slowly emerged, vivid in her fingers. Then, she reached out and poured Yuanxu into the man's body again. In the past, her great-aunt had forced it upon her, and she had been extremely unwilling. Now, she did it willingly, only hoping for his recovery.

"Alas..." With a long sigh, she leaned over and gently rested her body on his chest, her heart in chaos. "Should I go or stay? What should I do..."

Feeling the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, she counted each heartbeat. After an unknown amount of time, it suddenly stirred slightly, and she heard his hoarse voice gently vibrate in her ears, so tender.

"Why are you crying again? Tiger Cub, you've soaked my clothes with your tears. You..."

Tiger Cub was surprised and delighted. She quickly lifted her head to look. The man had already woken up. His eyes were bright, and although his lips were pale, a weak smile flickered on them.

"Tianci..." She scrambled up from his chest, noticing the dampness on his front. It was her fault. She bit her lip, wiped the tears from her cheeks with one hand, and futilely wiped the tear stains with the other.

"I fainted?" He blinked drowsily and coughed twice. "It's been a long time since I had an episode..."

"How do you feel? Does your chest hurt?" she asked anxiously, her brows furrowed with worry.

Chang Tianci smiled faintly and shook his head. He glanced at the tear streaks on her rosy cheeks and couldn't help but sigh, "You..."

Seeing that he didn't finish his sentence, his handsome face showing a hint of helplessness, TigerCub blurted out without thinking, "You don't like seeing me like this, do you? Are you thinking that I, that I'm like a little child?"

Chang Tianci looked at her for a moment and said slowly, "Since yesterday, I've been seeing you cry, but I can't get a reason out of you, and I can't coax you. You keep telling me not to bother... Isn't that like a little child?"

Hearing his blunt words, treating her like a petulant child, a new wave of tears welled up uncontrollably. She felt both angry and bitter. She stamped her foot and stubbornly cried out, "Yes. I am a little child! Willful and rude, how can I compare to the woman in your heart?!" She didn't want to quarrel, but the grievances and suspicions accumulated in her heart couldn't withstand the slightest provocation.

His brows suddenly shot up. Even with his vast powers and spiritual cultivation, he didn't know who else besides her was in his heart! He couldn't help but ask hesitantly, "I married you. Who else could be in my heart?"

Hearing this, TigerCub felt even more aggrieved and bitter. She thought of the original reason for this marriage. She had traveled thousands of miles to marry him under a fabricated identity, and he had no choice but to accommodate the person before him.

Love, affection, these things should not have blossomed between them. She thought she could leave gracefully, only to realize later that this invisible thing had quietly sprouted and taken root in her heart.

"You actually like the engagement your father arranged for you. That Miss Yao Guang has a good family background. Her grandfather and father were both officials. She is very beautiful, gentle, and eloquent. She is now married to someone else. You, you are unhappy, aren't you?! Yesterday, you were scowling at that young lady's husband, putting on a sour face and airs, because you were angry and jealous, weren't you?!" she blurted out, her little face flushed red, tears in her eyes, looking pitiful.

"I, where am I—" For nearly a thousand years, for the very first time, Chang Tianci's mouth was agape, unable to speak. He never expected his little wife to have such an idea! It turned out that yesterday, when they were playing in the suburbs, they had coincidentally met a couple from the Tao family, who were the cause of the subsequent incident. This had made her cry under the covers all night, and she had even taken the Yuanxu and wanted to leave him.

Seeing him dumbfounded, clearly not intending to argue, she let out a wail of tears.

"If you want to go to her, then go... I, I can't control it anyway. I'm not gentle, not considerate, not elegant, not virtuous. I'm a demon, a monster, a tiger spirit from the mountains, not even worth a finger of hers! You leave, you leave! Go find her, and don't bother me!" She did not yet understand the principle that a woman in the world does not marry twice. She thought that Chang Tianci wanted her, so he could just go and snatch her. Her emotions were too agitated, and she spoke whatever came to her mind, revealing everything.

Finally regaining his senses, he looked at her indignant expression. The more he listened, the softer his heart became. The more he looked, the more he felt pity and affection for her. Without her realizing it, he pulled her soft body closer and held her tightly against his chest.

"You, let go!" Tiger Cub had no time to think about why he was so strong and could hold her securely. She felt angry with him, yet now, being held in his arms, her composure wavered, her body felt inexplicably weak, and she hated herself again.

"Let go!" She struggled, wanting to hit him, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

He didn't let go. Instead, he lifted her soft body and kissed her, sealing her pouting red lips.

"Mmm..." She was startled and was about to scold him, but the man's wet tongue took the opportunity to enter, fully infusing his breath, kissing Tiger Cub into a daze, leaving her with no ability to resist.

A moment later, he slowly pulled away, his eyes so tender they seemed to overflow with water.

"You are a demon, and I am a demon. You are a tiger spirit from the mountains. Coincidentally, I am the king of the tiger spirits. We are a perfect match. Why would I go and snatch someone else's wife? Aren't you good enough? If you want me to leave, where can I go? To whom?"

TigerCub did not know that his words had hidden meanings. Whether true or false, she thought he did not believe what she said at all.

What could she do? Closing her eyes, she nestled in his embrace, breathing lightly. Her heart, like a small stone thrown into it, created ripples, rippling, rippling, rippling...

And love, in its myriad threads, entangled and intertwined. She finally trapped herself in it. It turned out that she no longer cared whether she was human or beast, mortal or spirit, she only wanted to be with this man forever.

The storm seemed to have subsided.

Although Chang Tianci did not offer further explanations, Tiger Cub at least stopped hiding under the covers and crying, and stopped saying those overly bitter words from the heart. As for her disappearance in the sedan chair and the strange disappearance of the tigers, they were also left unresolved. On the surface, everything was stable.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, shops in the capital were busy reopening. At an auspicious time, firecrackers crackled deafeningly.

The Chang family's main shop and its chain stores were all incredibly busy. As usual, the person in charge had to lead the subordinates in burning incense and making offerings. It was when Old Master Chang and Chang Tianci went to the main shop that Tiger Cub used her remote transfer spell to return to the Changbai Snow Mountains alone.

She did not want to stay away. On the contrary, she wanted to stay by his side.

A person's life is short, but she possessed an eternal life. Knowing that such persistence and choices would bring pain in the future, she could no longer care about many things. Tiger Lan'er and Tiger Gui'er, that pair of sisters, were willing to follow the object of their love. She had thought she lacked such courage, but unexpectedly, love was unreasonable. She plunged headfirst into it, unable to break free.

Therefore, she returned to the mountains alone, entering the tiger clan's territory. She wanted to see her great-aunt and ask her for something.

Winter had not yet passed, and the mountains were cold, the snow scene clear.

The beautiful woman’s back was turned. The snow-white light on the snow reflected her skirt. Her steps were as light as the wind, leaving no trace.

"You left him, and he will look for you." Her voice suddenly became faint, like drifting snow.

"I'll go back in a moment. He's busy with business and won't know," Tiger Cub followed, her ten slender fingers almost twisted into a knot.

The beautiful woman subtly curved her lips and glanced towards a certain spot in the woods. She heard Tiger Cub continue—

"Great-aunt, I, I originally wanted to leave him. I wanted to leave him. I told myself I had to stay away from him, I, I wouldn't let myself become infatuated... but, but..." But she couldn't. She tried to do it, and then she failed.

Taking a deep breath to steady the waves in her heart, she gritted her silver teeth and poured out the words in her heart, "Great-aunt. I've decided. I'm not leaving him. His health is very poor. Without my Yuanxu's protection, I fear he will decline day by day. At first, you forced Tiger Cub to his side, and I was very unwilling. I only wanted to take back the silver bead and leave, without caring if Great-aunt would be angry or punish me. But now, I, I..." Her ten intertwined fingers suddenly separated, clenching into small fists, as if to solidify her firm resolve—

"Now, I truly like him. I want to spend my life with him. Human lifespans are short. However long he lives, I will accompany him. When he gets old and becomes an old man, I will become an old woman and take care of him, accompanying him. In any case... I can't let go of him."

"If he dies—" The beautiful woman suddenly stopped and glanced sideways. "What will you do?"

"I will wait for him to reincarnate, find him, and marry him." She blurted out without a second thought.

The beautiful woman's eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled gently. "When the debt of kindness is repaid, you should return to the tiger clan. I know you are passionate and always act on impulse. Is it worth it to wander in the mortal world for a man?"

Worth it or not?! Tiger Cub thought, her thoughts like a galloping horse, everything with Chang Tianci flashing through her mind. She thought of his gentle tone, his gentle eyes, his gentle face. It was such gentleness that shook her, tolerated her, accommodated her, cracked her defenses, and intertwined into a long-lasting affection. Therefore, the answer was so obvious—

"I have no regrets."

The beautiful woman trembled slightly, her expression instantly calming. If those deep eyes held any thoughts, they were fleeting.

Tiger Cub resolutely raised her head, her brows relaxed. The next moment, she knelt directly in front of the beautiful woman.

"Great-aunt, Tiger Cub is back this time to tell you clearly. The debt of kindness is repaid. Tiger Cub will not leave him, even if Great-aunt forces me, I will not comply. I beg Great-aunt to fulfill my wish." What she worried about was that Great-aunt would use her divine powers to subdue her.

At this moment, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, blown by the wind, swirling in a free path before landing. Heaven and earth became one color, and even the trees on the four sides blended into this innocent whiteness. The old snow had not yet melted, and new snow covered it.

The two women, one standing and one kneeling, were silent in the wind and snow for a long time. Seen from afar, they seemed to blend into the snow.

Faintly, from a distance, a sigh seemed to echo. The beautiful woman finally turned around, walked to Tige rCub, and reached out to brush the snow from her head and shoulders. Tiger Cub looked up and saw that her face was still stern, the corners of her lips curved upwards. Even if it was faint, a hint of joy emanated.

"Great-aunt... You, you've agreed to my request?" Why did Great-aunt suddenly become happy? She didn't seem angry with her at all? She then thought, even if Great-aunt was angry, she wouldn't show it for anyone to see. She, she couldn't quite understand it...

The beautiful woman moved her hand to the back of her head and stroked her hair repeatedly. Although there were no words at this moment, her face softened slightly. In her eyes, which were difficult to fathom and hidden with thousands of years of cultivation, light flickered. Finally, Tiger Cub sensed her intentions. She had agreed.

"Great-aunt!" She was overjoyed and excited, tears flowing down. Forgetting everything, she threw herself into embracing the beautiful woman's waist, burying her small face in the folds of her skirt. "Thank you..."

"Like a little child." That man was right. The beautiful woman thought to herself, still standing upright in the snow, her stern expression finally slightly relaxed. Her hand continuously stroked Tiger Cub's head. After a long while, her face had regained its coldness, and she said quietly, "Go. Return to the place you have chosen."

Tiger Cub looked up, her tears not yet dry. Her lips moved, wanting to ask Great-aunt if she was very childish and willful. Before she could utter a word, the beautiful woman suddenly grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up—

A surge of heat coursed through her body. The divine powers were incredible, vast spiritual energy was mobilized, helping her move and change position. In less than the blink of an eye, TigerCub had disappeared into the wind and snow. Where was the figure in the yellow robe?!

The beautiful woman stood for a while longer, her thoughts unfathomable to anyone. Then, she turned her gaze towards the woods covered by white snow, her voice unchanged and clear in the wind, "Your tiger wife has returned. What are you hiding for? Come out."

Under the soul-stirring white snow, a man in a green robe slowly appeared, his feet not touching the snow. He came to the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman stared at him, her voice even, "If you don't tell me the truth, you'll suffer."

The man knew what she was referring to, and he smiled gently. "Yes."

He had originally come to see Great-aunt before the appearance of the giant beast in the capital. He never expected such good fortune to befall him, and his wish had been fulfilled!

Upon hearing those words, a woman's most profound declaration, his heart was shaken. Heat rolled through his limbs. Only he knew how much effort it took to suppress his excitement and not lose his composure in front of Great-aunt.

The beautiful woman's eyes flickered with sharp light, as if assessing him. Gradually, a smile appeared on her lips.

"Some things, even heaven cannot control. If it is meant to happen, no matter how much you hide, it will be in vain. You and your tiger wife are a prime example." She thought of the imperial decree directly issued by the heavenly court, and her smile deepened, becoming more profound.

His heart skipped a beat. He was somewhat surprised by her expression at this moment and couldn't help but ask, "Does Great-aunt have something to hide from me?"

Her brows flew up, and she glanced at him with a half-smile. "It's nothing important... At least, it's no longer important. There's no need to discuss it."

Turning sideways, she looked towards the vast sky and earth. Her emotions calmed down in a very short time, and she continued with another topic.

"Hei Lingxiao has discovered that Tiger Cub is in the capital. His personality has always been arrogant. He must have whatever he desires. To capture Tiger Cub, who knows what he will do. You must be careful."

"Tiger clan members cannot harm each other. This is a rule of thousands of years. Those who violate it will be expelled from the entire clan. If he shows no mercy, I will intervene... I promised Great-aunt that I will do my best to maintain peace between us." However, Tiger Cub is already his wife, and there is no possibility of yielding. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes darkening, understanding that he must resolve this matter completely before he could possess her completely and securely.

The beautiful woman nodded and sighed softly. "Hei Lingxiao is also an elite of the clan. I only hope that he can finally control himself and not fall into the demonic path."