Su Wen and Du Yue walked together, the air around them growing colder, as if quietly announcing the arrival of winter. A faint chill brushed against their skin, and the once-gentle breeze now carried a sharp edge.
Su Wen spoke softly, his voice steady and thoughtful,
"Winter is coming. I need to set up a few formations around the farm and the herb garden."
Du Yue looked at him in astonishment.
"Husband, you know how to use formations?"
Su Wen replied calmly, a trace of quiet pride in his tone,
"They're not that hard to understand. You just need to grasp the flow of spiritual energy and learn how to convert it into the effect you want."
He continued casually, as if explaining something obvious,
"For example, a heating formation simply converts spiritual qi into heat. A sound-isolation formation interferes with the vibration of particles in the air, preventing sound from entering or leaving."
After a brief pause, his expression turned thoughtful.
"Although I have a good grasp of the basics of formations, just like any other Dao, the Dao of Formations is endless. There are infinite possibilities to explore."
He let out a soft sigh and smiled wryly.
"Unfortunately, I already have my hands full with the Dao of Medicine, Dao of Alchemy, the Sword Dao, and the Dao of Scholars."
Su Wen thought to himself, 'Basic formations aren't much different from the electrical circuits I studied in my previous life'.
He glanced at her and joked teasingly,
"And now, I also need to learn the Dao of being a good husband."
Du Yue, who was already amazed by her husband's wide range of skills and knowledge, blushed instantly at his words. She lightly pinched his arm and said in a soft, embarrassed voice,
"Husband, did you learn the Dao of Teasing from Grandmother?"
Su Wen laughed and gently pinched her nose.
"My wife knows me well."
Du Yue giggled, slipped her arm through his, and held onto him as they walked toward the house together.
But the moment they stepped inside, he looked around and felt a tinge of sadness wash over him. His gaze fell on the table where his grandparents used to sit… Grandpa reading a book and chuckling to himself, Grandma quietly sipping tea beside him.
Now, the house felt empty and silent.
As his thoughts wandered, a warm, soft hand suddenly rested against his cheek.
He turned to his left and saw Du Yue smiling at him gently.
"Husband," she said softly as she pinched his nose, "wherever they are, they must be thinking about you. And I'm sure we'll meet them again."
She placed her other hand over his chest and added in a quiet, comforting voice,
"I'm with you now. So don't feel lonely anymore."
Su Wen took her hand… the one resting against his cheek… and kissed it lightly. Warmth bloomed in his heart, washing away the loneliness and sadness that had weighed on him.
"Yes," he said softly. "My wife is with me now, so I shouldn't feel down anymore. I'm sure they're eager to meet me again. That's why I must keep moving forward and walk my path of cultivation… so I can find them, wherever they are."
Du Yue smiled. Hand in hand, they stepped fully into the house… for the first time as husband and wife.
Su Wen had just finished preparing breakfast. As he was about to carry the dishes out of the kitchen, a slightly sleepy little voice echoed from outside.
"—Chirp! Yay! …Dumb Su Wen, where's my breakfast? I haven't eaten anything since last night! And after this, I'm going back to get some good sleep!"
Su Wen chuckled, scooped the tiny bird into his hands, and gently patted her little head.
"How do you always show up exactly when the food is ready? And why do you look so sleepy today?"
She said, a little irritated,
"My nose is sharp... and I didn't sleep well last night. Hmph."
She added silently in her mind, 'It's not like I was watching romance from the best spot all night.'
He rubbed her head again and laughed.
"Oh my, what was my little Suzume busy with? Do you work too? I thought you were just a puny little sparrow who only knows how to cause trouble."
Little Suzume puffed out her chest proudly.
"—Chirp! Dumb Su Wen, you're still such a nosy little boy. You don't know how amazing I am."
She held her head high like a tiny general and said in a bragging tone,
"My powers are as vast as heaven! With a single flap, I can summon storms, topple mountains, startle armies, and turn ordinary tea into a tempest of chaos. I may be small… but never doubt my might!"
Su Wen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Then tell me more about it…"
She smirked smugly.
"—Chirp! You wouldn't understand. My greatness can't be expressed with words. You're still too dumb to comprehend it. —Chirp!"
Su Wen rolled his eyes and pinched her tiny cheeks.
"Hmph. Then I won't ask you either, little brat."
He leaned in and gently pecked her on the top of her head. The moment he did, her proud posture instantly collapsed into shy embarrassment, her feathers ruffling slightly as she froze in place.
Du Yue watched them with a warm smile, her heart softening at the sight. 'If only I could switch places with that little Suzume for a moment'… she thought to herself.
She moved to help Su Wen arrange the dishes neatly on the table, and soon the three of them were seated together. Laughter and chatter filled the morning air, turning the simple breakfast into a feast of warmth and joy, each moment brightened by the company they shared.