The sudden quarrel left both of them feeling stifled and frustrated. Neither had much experience with arguments, and this feeling of simmering resentment was deeply uncomfortable.
To make matters worse, the expanded cave now allowed them to occupy opposite ends without touching, leaving them with nothing to distract themselves.
Before long, Qin Xi began to regret his earlier efforts. If the cave had remained as cramped as before, he could have just shamelessly moved closer, and perhaps things would have resolved themselves. But now, with this distance between them, he couldn't bring himself to make the first move.
He had never been in such a situation before and didn't know how to interact with women. She seemed to change from one moment to the next, refusing to listen to anything he said. It truly... truly left him at a loss.
Yet, he didn't believe he was wrong. How many Dual Cultivation partners existed in this world? How could every pair be perfectly matched in strength? There were always those who advanced first and those who followed. What was wrong with relying on one's partner?
Thinking this, he forgot the decades of shattered self-esteem he had endured because of the word "cauldron."
Mo Tiange kept her back to him, calmly organizing her medicine bottles with a composure that seemed endless, moving from one item to the next.
Finally, a wisp of Demonic Qi drifted past the cave entrance, once again blocking the light.
"I'm sorry."
Qin Xi was taken aback.
Mo Tiange cleared her throat softly. Taking advantage of the darkness and the fact she was facing away, she mustered her courage. "I know you mean well, but... but some things aren't that simple. Maybe you think it's nothing, but it's very important to me."
"..."
A long moment passed with no response. She couldn't help but feel annoyed. Arguments were not her forte, and she found no pleasure in them.
This annoyance seeped into her words. "Of course, if you believe all your ideas are right and everything must be done your way, then I have nothing more to say."
There was a rustle of movement behind her. Just as she was about to turn, someone embraced her from behind.
"I'm sorry." His voice was low, yet clear.
Just those three words made all her previous anger vanish like mist.
The two of them sat there, one in front of the other, embraced.
"I know I was too impulsive just now. I shouldn't have denied you time to think," he said.
"It's alright," she whispered, gently pulling his hands away and turning around. In the darkness, she looked into his eyes seriously. "I apologize for my attitude earlier; I was impulsive too. But we still need to clarify things. Do you agree?"
"Mm."
"I..." Mo Tiange thought for a long while, unsure where to begin. She decided to start from the very beginning. "I was born in the mortal world. Though just an ordinary village girl, I took my mother's surname and followed the clan's traditions. My mother raised me like a boy from the start. As a child, I had to study alongside the boys, and I had to study better than them. My mother always said that my father had declared that regardless of gender, his child would be properly educated. So, she gave me everything she could, and I had to be the best at everything I did."
"...Later, after my mother passed, I embarked on the path of Immortal cultivation, arrived at Kunwu, and met my second uncle. Second Uncle said that perhaps other female cultivators could afford to be lax, but I could not. My constitution was both an asset and a death sentence. Therefore, I not only had to outshine other female cultivators but also work harder than most male cultivators..."
She rambled on like this for a long time, almost forgetting what she originally intended to say. There were things she rarely recalled anymore because remembering them meant being alone. But now, with someone listening, she couldn't help but recount those dozen or so years, the joys and sorrows she had shared with her second uncle.
"...I've grown accustomed to this way of life, and it has become my own conviction. It's not that I don't trust you or don't want to listen to you, but... but it goes against the beliefs I've held for so many years. Second Uncle said that sentimentality and weakness are the great enemies of female cultivators. So, he always demanded that I be self-reliant and strong, not to depend on anyone, even if one day I found someone to walk this path with me." She lifted her head, meeting his gaze. "If I were to do nothing from now on, it would be like negating the more than eighty years of life I've already lived."
"..."
The wisp of Demonic Qi drifted away, and light returned to the stone cave.
Qin Xi remained silent for a long time but did not let her go.
Her recollections reminded him of those three years at the Yunwu Sect. During that time, he had started off indifferent, then discovered her secret, and finally become deeply interested.
When he first learned her secret, he had been somewhat puzzled because she was different from the women he looked down upon. Then he thought perhaps she was the type he admired, like Uncle-Master Miaoyi or Senior Sister Suxin. Later, he felt that her resilient character, diligence, and hard work—qualities any cultivator should possess—could lead to great achievements given sufficient Opportunity and luck. Over the following decades, he watched her grow step by step...
He used to think it was excellent that she had such a strong-willed personality. These were all qualities he admired; at least she wouldn't become a woman he despised. But now, now that their relationship was different, he didn't feel the same way.
What was wrong with relying on him? If he couldn't bring her anything, what meaning was there in being together? He felt confused, so he voiced his thoughts.
Mo Tiange's eyes widened. She turned and glared at him. "Do you think you have to 'bring me something' for our relationship to have meaning?"
Qin Xi stared back. "Isn't that the case?"
"..." Mo Tiange was momentarily speechless. Only now did she realize there was a serious communication problem between them.
"What's wrong? Say something!"
She thought for a moment, then asked him, "What if our positions were reversed?"
"Huh?" He didn't understand.
She elaborated, "What if... our genders were swapped? What if you were the woman?"
"..." This hypothetical darkened Qin Xi's expression. "Do I seem like a woman to you?"
Mo Tiange patted his hand away, leaned against the cave wall, crossed her arms, and looked at him. "Actually, you look down on women to some extent, don't you?"
"...Yes." Though he knew denial would be better, he chose to admit it honestly.
"Do you look down on me?"
"Of course not!" he hurriedly explained. "If I looked down on you, I wouldn't have associated with you back at the Yunwu Sect. I knew you were a woman from the start, but..."
Seeing his flustered state, Mo Tiange smiled. "Why are you so anxious? I'm not accusing you of anything."
He sighed, feeling he couldn't explain himself properly.
Mo Tiange looked at him and continued, "You see, you actually hold a certain degree of prejudice against women because some of them lack ambition. If I were like those unambitious women, would you still view me differently?"
"...No."
"Then that settles it," she said lightly. "The reason you view me differently is precisely because of my personality, isn't it? If... if we were together, and I came to rely on you entirely, then over time, perhaps you'd find me annoying."
"...How could that be!" he denied instinctively, though he couldn't articulate a reason. "This..."
"No need for 'this' or 'that.' I'm not trying to corner you." Mo Tiange pressed his hand and spoke earnestly. "Actually, during this journey, I've discovered another side of you."
"What?" He grew nervous.
"Let's hypothesize," she said, carefully choosing her words. "If I were with you, you'd take care of everything, wouldn't you?"
"...What's wrong with that?"
She didn't answer directly but continued, "You'd handle all matters, bear all responsibilities, solve all problems. Would that be the case?"
"..." He couldn't answer.
She didn't need to hear his reply; seeing the guilty look on his face told her everything.
"I'm not saying this is a bad trait of yours," she said. "From a mortal perspective, you're a responsible person who would do things for the one you love rather than ordering them around." Just like those village men in Mo Village who always had their wives bustling around them.
"But we are cultivators. I am not a mortal woman. Following you like that, I would feel like I have no presence." Having said this, she wasn't sure what else to add. "Do you understand now?"
"..." Qin Xi remained silent, lost in thought.
A long time later, he finally spoke. "I think... I roughly understand what you mean. You're saying that my way would turn you into the kind of woman who does nothing but rely on others?" Like Uncle-Master Miaoyi and Senior Sister Suxin—he couldn't imagine them standing behind a man. Presumably... Tian Ge couldn't do that either.
"More or less..." Actually, she wanted to say that his personality was too strong, and hers was equally stubborn. If they simply got together like this, conflicts were inevitable. But saying that would probably make him anxious again.
"Alright..." he said seriously. "I'll try my best to change. I won't take everything upon myself. I'll give you opportunities to grow, to move forward with your own strength. Is that enough?"
She smiled, saying nothing, but slowly leaned forward, opened her arms, and for the first time, actively embraced him.
He smiled too, but then spoke seriously. "However, I have requirements for you as well."
"Hmm?"
"First..."
She interrupted, "You have several?"
"I just started!" he complained.
"Fine, go ahead."
"First, from now on, never think of using separation to solve any problem."
"..."
"Do you agree or not?" he pressed.
"Alright." Mo Tiange didn't hesitate for long. This request wasn't unreasonable at all. If they could be together with such honesty, of course, nothing would be unsolvable.
"Second, you can try to make some demands of me."
"Huh?" What kind of condition was that?
Seeing her confusion, Qin Xi smiled. "Though I admire strong, independent women, if you're too strong-willed, I'll feel like I have no presence either. So, for things where you can rely on me, rely on me."
"..."
She didn't answer for a while, making him nervous. "No good?"
"Alright, we each take a step back." She couldn't have him conceding on everything; what difference would that make from taking without giving? She was a fair person. "But there's no third one, right?"
Qin Xi smiled and hugged her tighter. "No more."
"Mm," Mo Tiange said, counting on her fingers. "You have two requirements. I can modify mine too. Let's make a two-article pact."
"Huh?" This... had to be equal too? Wasn't that too fair?
Ignoring him, she continued on her own. "First, trust me. No matter the situation, believe what I say. As long as you can do that, I will likewise trust you completely."
"Agreed." He agreed almost without hesitation.
"Second, give me opportunities to grow on my own until I can stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
"No problem."
"Third..."
"Didn't you say a two-article pact?"
"I was just saying..."