Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

The morning light, now fully embracing the cityscape, painted the alleyway in a less menacing, more mundane glow. Mo Yuxin, her expression still a touch guarded, led Su Yubing out of their shadowed refuge and back onto the bustling street. The air was filled with the sounds of vendors setting up their stalls, the clatter of carts, and the cheerful chatter of early risers.

Su Yubing, her demeanor noticeably lighter, strolled beside Mo Yuxin, a playful glint in her eyes. The tension from their earlier encounter seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a sense of amused curiosity.

Mo Yuxin, her senses heightened, had abruptly pulled Su Yubing into the shadows, their sudden movement a silent ballet against the backdrop of the city's nocturnal hum. A soft thud echoed as Su Yubing's back made contact with the rough brick wall, but the sound was swallowed by the surrounding noise, unnoticed by the few late-night wanderers.

As the last of the passing figures disappeared around the corner, Mo Yuxin released Su Yubing, her movements precise and efficient, smoothing the wrinkles from Su Yubing's robes.

"Mo Yuxin," Su Yubing's voice cut through the silence, a sharp edge to her usually gentle tone.

Mo Yuxin, her mind still preoccupied with the fleeting figures she had spotted, didn't immediately register the change in Su Yubing's demeanor.

Su Yubing's lips curled into a sardonic smile. The memory of her head colliding with the wall, a sharp, throbbing ache, served as a stark reminder of the countless moments of pain and frustration that had punctuated their relationship. "What are you hiding?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. "An old lover, perhaps?"

Before Mo Yuxin could respond, Su Yubing closed the distance between them, her arms wrapping around Mo Yuxin's waist with an unexpected possessiveness. Mo Yuxin tensed, her body rigid, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy.

"I have no old lovers," Mo Yuxin replied, her brow furrowed. She instinctively reached out to push Su Yubing away, her body recoiling from the unexpected closeness. Even though there were lingering fragments of a past between them, she was not used to such closeness at this moment.

Su Yubing ignored her attempt to create distance. With a casual flick of her wrist, she retrieved the storage pouch she had surreptitiously lifted from Mo Yuxin's belt, tucking it into her sleeve with practiced ease.

Mo Yuxin's eyes widened. "You stole—" she began, her voice rising in surprise.

"Shhh," Su Yubing interrupted, placing a finger against Mo Yuxin's lips. She leaned closer, her breath warm against Mo Yuxin's ear. "They're back," she whispered, her voice laced with a playful malice. "And one of them seems to be a male cultivator. Perhaps even a sect leader? Are you hiding because you're afraid of being caught?"

Mo Yuxin remained still, her body rigid, her mind trying to process the sudden turn of events. Su Yubing's warm breath against her ear sent a shiver down her spine, a strange mix of confusion and a faint, unsettling tremor. She tried to grasp at the elusive threads of her lost memories, searching for a reason for the strange, unsettling feeling, but found only a frustrating void.

After a long, tense moment, Mo Yuxin gently pushed Su Yubing away, her voice barely a whisper. "That person is not my sect leader," she said, her tone flat.

Su Yubing frowned. "Are you sure?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"She's from Yujing, too," Mo Yuxin explained, her voice low. "A guest elder. I doubt our juniors would introduce her to you. I'm telling you this so you don't make a fool of yourself in the future."

"A guest elder?" Su Yubing raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

"Her name is Jiang Sang," Mo Yuxin continued, "She resides in the Bailin Peak. She looks similar to my sect leader only from a distance. Her face structure is quite similar to master but there's a huge difference between the two of them. It's just that when people see her from afar, her profile does look a bit similar to master. She's been living in Yujing for over a century. She was brought back to the sect by grand master as she was the daughter of grandmaster's valued subordinate."

Su Yubing's eyes widened. "An illegitimate daughter?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise. "I had no idea Yujing had such secrets."

"What are you talking about?" Mo Yuxin asked, her voice laced with exasperation. "They have no relation at all." She shuddered at the thought. Her sect leader detested Jiang Caisang. If she ever heard Su Yubing's ridiculous theory, she would be furious.

"I've never seen her in Cangran," Su Yubing mused, her eyes narrowed.

"She lives on Bailing Peak," Mo Yuxin explained, "and rarely leaves. She's a guest elder, she gets a monthly allowance, almost the same as my sect leader's." Mo Yuxin's voice took on a hint of annoyance. "It's supposed to be based on contribution, but Bailing Peak takes advantage of my sect leader's name. When she was in seclusion, I don't know how many spirit stones they took."

"So, they're keeping her for free?" Su Yubing asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "What kind of elder is she? Maybe she's your grandmaster's lover? Master and she does look similar, is it an unrequited love on your grandmaster's part!! it's worth investigating. Your master is a bit—"

Before Su Yubing could finish her sentence, Mo Yuxin's hand flew up, covering Su Yubing's mouth.

Su Yubing, caught off guard, struggled against Mo Yuxin's grip, but she couldn't break free. She resorted to sticking out her tongue, pressing it against Mo Yuxin's warm palm.

Mo Yuxin recoiled as if burned, her hand dropping to her side. She took several steps back, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and disgust.

"This isn't Cangran," Su Yubing said, her voice laced with mock indignation. "Why are you so jumpy? Are you planning to murder me out here?"

"My sect leader is highly skilled," Mo Yuxin explained, her voice low and urgent. "She might be able to sense us. If she finds you—"

Before Mo Yuxin could finish her sentence, a bolt of purple lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the alleyway with an eerie glow. Mo Yuxin's face paled. "Like that," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Su Yubing, her eyes wide, covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing a nervous cough. "I think," she said, her voice laced with a sudden seriousness, "that I don't need to change my cultivation partner. You'll always protect me, won't you?"

Su Yubing, her demeanor noticeably lighter, strolled beside Mo Yuxin, a playful glint in her eyes. The tension from their earlier encounter seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a sense of amused curiosity.

"So," Su Yubing began, her voice casual, "this Jiang sang... you say she looks like your master?"

Mo Yuxin nodded, her gaze fixed straight ahead. "Yes. Quite similar, only from a distance though."

"And she lives on a peak, paid for by your sect?" Su Yubing pressed, her tone laced with a subtle teasing.

"She's a guest elder," Mo Yuxin reiterated, her patience wearing thin. "It's a matter of tradition."

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"Tradition," Su Yubing echoed, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Or perhaps... a matter of sentiment?"

Mo Yuxin stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "What are you implying?"

Su Yubing raised her hands in a gesture of mock surrender. "Nothing, nothing," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

"a woman who looks so much like your master, living on a peak paid for by your sect... it's only natural to speculate some weird things...."

"There's nothing to speculate about," Mo Yuxin insisted, her voice firm. "They have no connection."

"If you say so," Su Yubing conceded, her tone laced with playful skepticism. "But tell me, does this Jiang sang have any... other admirers?"

Mo Yuxin sighed, her patience finally snapping. "Why are you so fixated on this?" she asked, her voice exasperated.

"Curiosity," Su Yubing replied, her eyes twinkling. "And perhaps... a touch of jealousy."

Mo Yuxin stared at her, her brow furrowed. "Jealousy?" she repeated, her voice incredulous. "Of what?"

"Of your attention," Su Yubing said, her voice soft, her gaze locking with Mo Yuxin's. "You seem so concerned about this Jiang sang. I can't help but wonder if you feel the same way about me."@@novelbin@@

Mo Yuxin's cheeks flushed as her cheeks and the tips of her ears turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, her gaze darting away. "That's ridiculous," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

"Is it?" Su Yubing asked, her voice laced with a playful challenge. "Or are you simply afraid to admit your feelings?"

Mo Yuxin remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She couldn't deny the strange pull she felt towards Su Yubing, the lingering echoes of a past she couldn't remember. But she was also wary, hesitant to trust the feelings that stirred within her.

Su Yubing chuckled softly, her hand reaching out to gently touch Mo Yuxin's arm. "Don't worry, Yuxin," she said, her voice gentle. "I'm not going to force you to admit anything. But I hope you know that I'm here, waiting."

Mo Yuxin nodded, her gaze still fixed on the cobblestones beneath her feet. She couldn't bring herself to meet Su Yubing's gaze, afraid of what she might see.

They continued their walk in silence, the sounds of the city fading into the background. Mo Yuxin's mind was a jumble of thoughts, a confusing mix of longing and uncertainty. She wanted to trust

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