Hearing the answer from Xue Wei, Wang Xiaoyun managed to get her emotions under control. Even so, she looked at Xue Wei with distrust.
"Listen to me first," Xue Wei said gently. "Luoluo is a spirit. She was kept captive for a long time; her powers used to fuel an academy at the continent Yan Dalu.
"She had forgotten who she was and everything that had to do with her life. She was very pitiful and all alone, so I adopted her as my sister.
"Back then, she was a brat, a tiny child. I might be a beast, but I already have you, and I have absolutely no interest in children.
"She has been a child by my side since she started following us, and even now she has grown older, she is just a slightly older child. She will always be my little sister.
"I don't mind explaining to you, but please believe in my sincerity as well. I cannot leave Luoluo alone. She is my sister. But I cannot leave you either. You are the one in my heart, the one who took it away so many years prior and still make it beat rapidly. Without you, I would never have the strength to face the day after tomorrow. It is for our sake that I am increasing my strength."
Wang Xiaoyun had at first been devastated, but after hearing Xue Wei's explanation, she suddenly turned nervous.
She had exposed her emotions with no restraint because she thought that she would be turned down, but now she was embarrassed because she had overthought the whole situation.
Xue Wei reached out his hand and cupped her cheek into his palm.
"I cannot return to Chang'an right now," he said regretfully. "I need to get stronger before I go back and face those old monsters. But when I can, I will come and end the war. When the war is ended, I will take you as my lawful wife. You will have to wait until then," there was a bit of pleading in his eyes.
"I know that we are no longer as young as we were when we first met, but our lifespan is much longer now we are so far down the road of cultivation. I promise that before fifty years have passed, I will come and make you my wife."
Wang Xiaoyun's eyes widened in shock when she heard his promise. At first, she had thought that it was many years, but when she was reminded that he needed to stand on top of the continent, she knew it was already the shortest time frame he could offer her.
Fifty years. It sounded like a lot, but the truth was that to cultivators, it was not that much time. Although she was unsure if she would be able to survive that long, she would hold on with her last breath for Xue Wei's sake while fighting against the beasts.
Although she no longer held hatred towards all beasts, the ones who were engaged in the war, she could not let go of them.
Especially Chu Huiyin, the ice harpy. She had to kill Chu Huiyin with her own hands, Chu Huiyin, who had murdered her entire family!
Thinking about Chu Huiyin, coldness seeped into her bones, but moments after, she looked at Xue Wei and took a deep sigh.
"Fifty years. You better remember it," she said, her face finally carrying a smile. Her smile seemed as if she had let go of a large weight that had been pressing on her shoulders for ages.
Hearing her reply, Xue Wei was over the moon. He knew that it meant that she had agreed to be with him, and he was ecstatic as he dragged her into his embrace, hugging her tightly.
Wang Xiaoyun was stunned, and her entire body stiffened in nervousness.
"Don't worry," Xue Wei assured her, "I will not do anything respectless to you. I can wait until we get married."
Hearing this, her stiff body softened slightly, and Wang Xiaoyun returned the hug that Xue Wei was giving her.
No one knew how long time had passed when they finally returned to the campsite. They were walking hand in hand, and everyone looked shocked - mainly the ones from Chang'an.
The Vermilion Birds were of the impression that Wang Xiaoyun, although beautiful, was just a person that Xue Wei had picked up randomly.
Only the ones who had been with them for some time knew of their background, and they had no intention of telling anyone about it either.
"Sister-in-law!" Luoluo saw how they were walking hand in hand and hurried to her side, calling out a title that made Wang Xiaoyun flush red and embarrassed.
"We are not married yet," she protested slightly, but the only change it did was that Luoluo started referring to her as future sister-in-law instead.
Everyone from Chang'an and Xue Wei's group gathered together and were in a celebrational mood. They all knew of their background and approved of them being together.
Just as they were about to begin celebrating, the Vermilion Bird Clan members also appeared.
Some of them curiously looked at Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun but said nothing and stayed out of their matters, but others were looking at them with disdain.
Xue Wei frowned when he saw that some of them were ogling at Wang Xiaoyun, and fury erupted in his heart.
Moving faster than a flash, he arrived by the side of the vermilion bird clan who had been staring at her in a lecherous manner, and he swung out his leg, sending the man flying like a broken kite.