Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

"Enough now. I'm already dressed. Don't even think about it. Go and change into the set I put on the bed for you." Her voice was cold, but her ears were red, betraying her.

Mo Yuxin put on her most pitiful expression, lower lip jutting out as if she had just been gravely wronged. "But baby… I wanted to see if your heart was racing."

Su Yubing didn't even hesitate to flick her forehead. "My heart races enough just trying to control you."

Mo Yuxin rubbed her forehead, still smiling, her eyes curving with mischief. "So it does race~ That means you love me very much."

Su Yubing turned away, pretending not to hear, while Mo Yuxin trailed after her like a sticky shadow.

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the morning was still young, the sky only just touched by the palest gold of dawn. a thin veil of mist clung to the courtyard, swirling in lazy patterns around the stone lanterns as if reluctant to leave. the air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of dew-soaked grass and the faint, sweet perfume of night-blooming jasmine from the garden beyond. su yubing stepped lightly across the polished floor of the covered walkway, her deep purple robe sweeping behind her in elegant, silent arcs. every movement she made seemed measured, deliberate, like water flowing smoothly through stone channels, a picture of serene grace.

behind her trailed mo yuxin, as persistent and just as essential as her own shadow.

"baby…" mo yuxin's voice floated sweetly, deliberately stretched out, dripping with a playful mischief that was entirely her own. she leaned forward, brushing her chin against su yubing's shoulder as if she couldn't help herself, her warmth a stark contrast to the cool morning air. "don't ignore me. you'll make me cry first thing in the morning, and my tears will ruin this beautiful mist."

su yubing stopped abruptly and turned, her movement so fluid it seemed effortless. her eyes, the color of twilight amethyst, were calm but sharp as a newly honed blade. "you don't cry. you pout. and when you pout, you're unbearable."

mo yuxin clasped her hands over her heart dramatically, her expression one of a mortal wound. "then shouldn't my loving wife comfort me before the unbearable part starts? it's just good planning."

su yubing's eyes narrowed, though a flicker of amusement danced in their depths. with one hand, she swatted away the finger that had just hooked mischievously into the sash at her waist. "if you have this much energy to bother me, you should use it more productively."

mo yuxin tilted her head, her lips curling upward in a look of mock innocence that fooled no one, least of all su yubing. "productively? like… carrying you back to bed and showing you just how productive i can be?"

the faintest blush, like watercolor on pale silk, bloomed across su yubing's cheeks, though her tone stayed as crisp and even as a winter morning. "like sparring."

mo yuxin blinked, then her smile widened until her dark eyes curved into joyful crescents. "sparring? this early? are you asking me on a date?"

"it's quiet," su yubing replied simply, already turning on her heel, her violet sleeves fluttering like the wings of a moth. "the yard is empty. the sun hasn't even climbed high yet. if you're going to waste your strength chasing me around, i'd rather see if your sword skills have improved at all."

mo yuxin trailed after her eagerly, a little skip in her step, her grin irrepressible. "so my wife does want to be chased… with swords this time. dangerous, but fun. i accept your date."

they stepped into the wide stone courtyard. the mist swirled lower to the ground, curling around their feet like curious spirits. the flagstones glistened faintly with dew, and the first true shafts of sunlight were just beginning to paint the edges of the tiled roofs in gold. with a graceful, deliberate sweep of su yubing's hand, a thin, shimmering barrier bloomed around the courtyard. it rippled once, like a stone dropped in a still pond, before vanishing from sight. to the untrained eye, nothing had changed, but inside, the very air hummed with contained force. the barrier would keep stray energy from leaking out and prevent any noise from disturbing the sleeping household. even though both had agreed not to use their spiritual power, the sheer force of their physical movements alone could shatter stone. their private world was sealed.

su yubing stood in the center, her sword sliding free from its scabbard with a quiet, resonant hiss that seemed to sing in the still air. the blade gleamed like liquid silver, catching the nascent light in a way that made it seem almost alive. she held it with perfect composure, her posture straight, her grip relaxed but firm, the calm weight of countless hours of training behind each steady breath.

mo yuxin's heart gave a distinct thump just looking at her. su yubing was… breathtaking. it was a fact of the universe. but every time she held a sword, she transformed. she looked less like a woman and more like a painting of a goddess come to life—unreachable, cold, impossibly refined. her violet robe flowed like ink spilled in water with every minute shift of her weight. her long, dark hair, usually tied up, was loose and shifted with the faintest breeze. and her eyes—sharp, bright, unyielding—were like twin blades themselves, focused entirely on the here and now. she was art, she was danger, and she was mo yuxin's.

mo yuxin raised her own sword, her style the complete opposite—reckless, fiery, bold. "sword skills only, right? no qi?"

su yubing gave a single, sharp nod. "skill alone."

mo yuxin grinned, spinning her blade once in a flashy circle so the steel sang a cheerful note. "perfect. i was born ready to lose to you."

su yubing's lips almost, almost, curved into a smile, but she forced them flat. "arrogant."

"confident in your skill, baby," mo yuxin corrected, her stance widening. "now, shall we dance?"

their first clash came like lightning striking a tree. steel rang out, sharp and clear, the sound echoing briefly against the invisible barrier. sparks burst between them, a shower of tiny, fiery stars that scattered into the mist and died. su yubing's strike was impossibly fast, her movements as fluid and unpredictable as flowing water. mo yuxin countered with bold, powerful angles, her sword cutting through the air with a wild precision that was born from instinct rather than rigid training.

"too obvious," su yubing murmured, her voice calm as she redirected mo yuxin's powerful thrust with a delicate, almost lazy flick of her wrist that sent mo yuxin's blade sliding harmlessly past her.

mo yuxin used the momentum to spin, her grin flashing as she leaned in close, their blades locking between them with a screech of metal. their faces were inches apart. "but you still had to move. that means i'm getting closer."

su yubing's eyes flicked to hers—just for a heartbeat—and in that instant, mo yuxin's chest tightened. how could someone be so cold and yet so beautiful? every breath she took shimmered with focus. every swing of her sword carried a kind of deadly elegance that words couldn't touch. it was a dance, and su yubing was leading.

step by step, they moved across the courtyard. their swords wove intricate arcs of light, slashing through the thinning mist and scattering dewdrops that hung suspended in the air for a moment like tiny jewels before falling. their footsteps echoed softly against the flagstones, a quick and precise rhythm. neither used their full strength, but even restrained, their movements were a blur of motion that would have been impossible for an ordinary eye to follow.

mo yuxin lunged, bold as always, her blade sweeping in a low arc aimed for su yubing's side. su yubing didn't retreat; she simply slipped aside like a shadow, her sword sliding down in a perfect, ringing parry. their blades locked again, the vibration running up their arms. their breaths were close enough to mingle in the cool air.

mo yuxin whispered, her grin tugging at her lips, "your eyes are colder than your sword… but your hands, mm, they tremble just a little when they touch me at night."

a spark of indignation flared in su yubing's eyes. she shoved her back sharply, breaking the lock. her lips twitched, fighting a smile. "focus."

"i am focusing," mo yuxin teased, twirling her blade in another flashy maneuver. "on you. entirely on you."

su yubing didn't answer this time. she surged forward, her attacks becoming a cascade of flowing arcs. one strike flowed into the next with no wasted motion. it was like watching poetry written in steel, each movement inevitable and lethally precise. mo yuxin was forced back, blocking, parrying, laughing breathlessly as she was overwhelmed by the sheer artistry of the assault. the barrier hummed faintly with each impact, the invisible walls shimmering with faint light as they absorbed the force of their clashes.

golden light finally broke fully over the walls of the courtyard, pouring into their private arena. a beam caught su yubing's hair as she spun, making the dark strands gleam like silk spun from midnight and sunlight. mo yuxin faltered for half a second, her breath catching in her throat, her gaze caught by the ethereal sight. she almost missed the next strike. almost. she deflected it at the last possible second, the force of it making her arm ring.

she laughed, sweat beading lightly at her temple. "i think the sun's jealous of you, baby. trying to steal my attention."

su yubing's lips twitched—just barely, but it was there. a victory. "ridiculous."

but mo yuxin saw the faintest curve there, and it filled her chest with more warmth than the rising sun. they circled again, the world shrinking until there was nothing but the song of their blades, the whisper of their breath, the sound of mo yuxin's occasional laugh. each clash, each turn, was a language only they spoke.

by the time the sun had risen fully, they were both flushed and smiling despite themselves. their strikes slowed, not out of fatigue, but because neither wanted to end the moment. su yubing's violet robe swayed like a dream with each movement; mo yuxin's grin was wild, unrestrained, full of life.

then, with a final, deceptive twist of her wrist that seemed to defy physics, su yubing's blade slipped past mo yuxin's guard and pressed gently but firmly against her wrist, halting her motion entirely.

"caught you," she said softly, her voice steady but her amethyst eyes alight with victory and something softer.

mo yuxin froze, then tilted her head, a slow, wide smile spreading across her face. "so my wife is merciless after all."

"would you prefer i let you win?"

mo yuxin leaned closer until their blades nearly crossed over her chest. "i'd prefer a kiss as a reward for trying so hard."

su yubing's blade pressed just slightly harder, a silent warning. but her ears, peeking through her dark hair, glowed a delicate pink in the sunlight. "shameless."

mo yuxin laughed, letting her sword clatter against the stone as she surrendered completely. she reached for su yubing's wrist, the one holding the sword, and pulled her gently closer. "baby, your sword is cold… but your face is warmer than the sunrise."

their eyes met, breath mingling, the morning air wrapping around them like a secret. the fight was over, but the moment was just beginning.

and then—

"jiejie!! sister yubing!!"

the voice, high-pitched and full of childish excitement, cut through the courtyard like a pebble breaking the surface of a perfectly still lake. both women froze, blades still and eyes wide. slowly, they turned.

mo feng stood at the edge of the yard, bouncing on her toes, her round face glowing with excitement. she had slipped in unnoticed, and now her little hands were clutched at the edge of the invisible barrier, her eyes wide and sparkling with pure awe. somehow, she'd managed to peek inside their private world.

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To be continued.