With this thought in mind, her will followed her intent, and Weining pointed like lightning to immobilize Yaoji, catching her squarely before she could react.
The flash of cunning in Weining's eyes vanished in an instant. She stepped sideways, moving out of range of Yaoji's sword.
Her face frosty, she raised her sword and pointed it at Yang Tianyou. "Yang Tianyou, a mere mortal like you dared to covet a celestial deity, marry her, and have children with her, thus violating the Heavenly Statutes. Considering that you still have three young children to raise, and that a mortal's lifespan is as fleeting as a shooting star, I intended to spare the four of you and take only Yaoji back to the Heavenly Court to answer for her crimes. Yet you pushed your luck, demanding a duel with me and vowing to follow me to heaven only if you won. As a divine being, I admired the reputation of the Heavenly Court's greatest God of War, so I thought nothing of it and gladly accepted the challenge—yet Yaoji attempted to win through deception. All of this is utterly overbearing!"
At this, Weining paused. "Now, I am giving you two choices!"
Over there, seeing Yaoji suddenly struck by the immobilization spell and then held at swordpoint by Weining, Yang Tianyou was struck with dismay.
Yet he quickly regained his composure, looking at Weining with a steady gaze, though the worry in his eyes remained undiminished.
Hearing Weining's words, his expression grew complex, but he still walked forward without hesitation and stopped half a foot away from the tip of Danxin.
*Not a bad bit of grit,* Weining thought to herself, nodding inwardly.
Having stopped, he took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said, "The Fairy's great kindness is engraved in Yang Tianyou's heart. Should the Fairy have any commands, I would gladly walk through fire and water without hesitation. I am merely a mediocre mortal of flesh and blood, and I never dared to dream of having a Fairy as a companion in this lifetime."
Saying this, he paused, looking tenderly at Yaoji. "It was only by the grace of the heavens, and my own immense good fortune, that I was blessed to meet Yaoji and have the honor of saving her..."
The corners of his lips curved into a smile, his face filled with gentleness!
Immobilized by Weining and unable to move, Yaoji's eyes also filled with a retrospective warmth.
Yang Tianyou continued: "At that time, although I had fallen in love with Yaoji, I dared not use my act of saving her to demand a reward. I only wished... I only wished for a single smile to be enough! But I never expected—never expected to be blessed with her favor. It was an overwhelming joy. Yet, I knew full well that as the Goddess of the Realm of Desire, her position was lofty and her responsibilities heavy. Moreover, immortals and mortals walk different paths... Therefore, I never dared to harbor such extravagant hopes. But the two of us shared a single heart; how could either of us hide our feelings from the other?"
He seemed to sink into his memories. "Yet I dared not admit it. I mistook it for mere desire, yet I could not forget it, tormented by endless inner conflict. In the end, my yearning drove me to the brink of madness, leaving me gravely ill."
His tone grew somewhat heavy, as if recalling the agony of lovesickness and his brush with death. Yaoji's starry eyes grew crystalline, shimmering with tears.
Weining looked at the two of them, feeling a mixture of emotion and incomprehension. Even with a life-saving grace and having lived through the parting of life and death, was it really necessary to be this inseparable?
Yang Tianyou paused and then smiled. "Ah... In the end, it was Yaoji who told me that it was not desire, but love. Love is about giving; desire is about taking! That cleared my doubts and cured my lovesickness."
His voice was filled with a meaning Weining could not comprehend! Yet as she listened, she found herself unconsciously drawn in, her mind drifting into a trance...
What were love and desire, anyway, and how did they differ? How could they make a mortal waste away from lovesickness and drive a celestial deity to defy the Heavenly Statutes by any means necessary?
Weining racked her brains in vain, but this was hardly the time for deep contemplation.
After a brief moment, Yang Tianyou's gaze grew resolute once more, burning as he looked at Weining. "And so, we married. For more than ten years now, we have lived in harmony, with children gathered around us, completely happy and fulfilled... We only wish to love each other and stay together for a lifetime, never to part! That is why we made the presumptuous demand for a wager with the Fairy, and even resorted to a sneak attack... All of this was my idea. Whatever punishment the Fairy sees fit to inflict, Yang Tianyou will gladly accept. I only ask that the Fairy spare Yaoji—I would be eternally grateful!" Before his voice had even faded, he bowed low and remained in that position.
Weining gathered her wits and ignored Yang Tianyou, turning her gaze instead to Yaoji.
Yaoji was already bathed in tears, her expression full of sorrow. It seemed Yang Tianyou had spoken the absolute truth.
A life-saving grace, alongside... a mutual devotion, years of harmony, children of their own, and their love—no wonder Yaoji could not bear to let go.
Furthermore, judging by his words and actions, Yang Tianyou possessed a certain degree of responsibility. She only wondered how much he was truly willing to pay for Yaoji.
At this thought, an idea came to Weining.
Slowly withdrawing her sword, Weining said in a calm tone, "Get up."
Hearing Weining's words, Yang Tianyou felt he had little choice but to obey, fearing Weining might think he was trying to use a prolonged bow as a threat.
He slowly straightened up, glanced at Weining, and then walked over to Yaoji. He raised a hand and gently wiped the tears and sweat from her face with his sleeve, his expression entirely focused. Yaoji stared back at him without blinking an eye.
Having wiped away the tears and sweat, seeing Yaoji looking at him with sorrow in her eyes, Yang Tianyou grinned. Using the hand he had not yet pulled back, he gently pinched her cheek and offered a tender comfort. "Don't worry!"
Hearing his words, Yaoji finally broke into a smile.
It drew a silent sigh of admiration from Weining. Even on the verge of life and death, he could remain so poised—truly rare! Still, weren't they ignoring her, the law enforcer, a bit too much? After all, their fate as a couple was entirely in her hands!
At last, seeming to remember Weining's presence, Yang Tianyou withdrew his hand, spun around to face Weining directly, and stepped in front of Yaoji to shield her.
Then he fixed his gaze on her, awaiting her next words.
Seeing his actions, Weining found it slightly amusing. If she truly intended to do something, how could a mere mortal possibly block her?
Yet this also demonstrated his unwavering determination to protect his wife.
Without beating around the bush, Weining said in an even tone, "Two choices: first, you die, and I take her back to heaven, because with you here she will not willingly come with me; second, I execute both of you on the spot to uphold the Heavenly Statutes."
She spoke very slowly, pronouncing every single word distinctly so they could hear and understand clearly.
From the moment she started speaking, Weining kept her eyes locked on Yang Tianyou's, determined to read his genuine reaction.
Hearing Weining's words, Yang Tianyou paused slightly, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "It seems we husband and wife cannot escape our doom today!"
Without turning back, he said softly, "Yaoji, think of me as selfish. For the sake of the children, live on well!"
Weining was utterly bewildered. Was this him being cowardly and clinging to life, picking neither option, completely ignoring her?
Before she could fully process it, she heard him say with unyielding resolution, "Fairy, I choose the first option. Please report to the Heavenly Court that Yang Tianyou has been executed, and I pray they show leniency to Yaoji. Do it!" With that, he closed his eyes.
*Wait, so he's not a coward clinging to life after all? Then why did he call himself selfish?* Weining was baffled, yet deeply moved. At least Yaoji had not misjudged her man.
However, the Great Golden Crow had once told her that the human heart is unpredictable, and down in the Mortal Realm, she had encountered her share of deceitful mortals and demons.
Thus, to truly prove that Yang Tianyou was willing to lay down his life for Yaoji, Weining had no choice but to play her part to the very end.
Taking advantage of the moment while Yaoji was shielded behind Yang Tianyou and the man stood with his eyes closed awaiting death, Weining secretly channeled her magic. The Danxin sword in her hand was instantly replaced by an illusion, looking completely identical.
Having prepared everything, Weining said, "Very well, I shall grant your wish."
The moment the words left her lips, Weining thrust her sword toward Yang Tianyou's chest. A flash of sword light later, the blade sank in, and blood instantly gushed forth.
Sudden and severe trauma caused Yang Tianyou to shudder violently, and only then did he open his eyes.
Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, he lost his balance, pressed one hand against his wound, and slowly collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in agony.
Yaoji, whom he had been shielding, was suddenly exposed. Terror filled her eyes as panic overwhelmed her; her face pale with fright, she frantically threw herself toward Yang Tianyou.
Weining let out an inward sigh of relief. *Good, Yang Tianyou didn't disappoint.* The guilt gnawing at her for dereliction of duty was finally somewhat soothed.
Raising a hand, she lifted the immobilization spell on Yaoji. The fairy immediately threw herself onto the collapsed Yang Tianyou, gathering him into her arms and crying out in despair over and over again, "Tianyou, Tianyou..."
Apart from pained groans, Yang Tianyou offered no response.
With her face covered in tears, Yaoji wailed in a hoarse, piercing voice, sounding like a wild beast in the mountains that had lost its mate.
The sound sent a faint chill through Weining. *Thank goodness it isn't real.*
Suddenly, the sword planted in Yang Tianyou's chest flashed with silver light and abruptly vanished into thin air. His wounds and the bloodstains faded away moment by moment until nothing remained.
Yaoji stared in disbelief at the miraculous sight before her, frozen in shock. Yang Tianyou opened his eyes as well, filled with utter astonishment as his hand, which had been pressing against his injury, kept roaming over the spot where the wound had just been.
Weining quietly concealed her achievement, keeping her hands behind her back as she retreated a few steps. She stood off to the side, gazing at the clouds in the sky to give the couple time to compose themselves. *One should not gawk at intimate moments!*
After a long while, they finally snapped out of it. Overjoyed to the point of tears, the two embraced tightly, remaining silent for a long time.
After another long moment passed without the sound of weeping or whispers, Weining finally turned slowly back to look.
The couple had already stood up, embracing one another. Seeing Weining turn around, they exchanged a glance and bowed to her together. "Thank you, Fairy, for your mercy and forgiveness!"
Being intelligent people, how could the couple fail to see through Weining's intentions?
Weining remained silent until they straightened up. Looking at Yang Tianyou, she said, "You... not bad."
Then turning her gaze to Yaoji, Weining smiled warmly. "At least you didn't misjudge your man!"
Yaoji smiled happily, tinged with a hint of bashfulness.
Weining shook her head. "I lost this duel. It seems it was simply Heaven's will! So, let's pretend I was never here, and that we never met. Take good care of yourselves. Farewell."
With that, without waiting for them to reply, Weining spun around and flew away into the distance...