To Raise a Soul 9

Yin Yan did not answer directly but emphasized again, “Your destiny and mine are connected. We’ll live and die together.” 

“… So?” 

“Now that the soul-stabilizing bead has broken, we’ve lost our only connection. Before you step onto the path of cultivation and break away from the path of ordinary people, we need to establish a new connection. Otherwise, once you exhaust the mountain god’s gift, you’ll suffer from the torture of lost soul illness until you die.” 

“…” Cul-cultivation? 

“Not only that; because your immortal souls and mortal forms are damaged, you won’t be able to enter the normal reincarnation cycle after death. In your next life, you might be…” 

“Reborn as a pig.” Yu Zhen laughed bitterly. He touched the wrist where he used to wear the protective bead. He thought, internally, “It’s so tiring being human. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to follow grandfather.” However, he bounced back quickly and started, “If, and I’m only asking hypothetically, if I die, you…”

Yin Yan’s expression remained calm. He quietly watched him and replied, “My soul would shatter.”

His soul would shatter. He wouldn’t even get the chance to be a pig?

Yu Zhen looked at him. His gaze shifted from Yin Yan’s calm eyes to his pale fingers. Yu Zhen remained quiet for a long while. Having decided to compromise, but weighed with the large decision, he looked back up and spoke seriously, “Then let’s live. Both of us, let’s work together to live well.”

His warm exhale distorted his vision. He saw Yin Yan’s expression become frightened.

Frightened? Why? Did he say something strange?

If his soul wouldn’t be destroyed, shouldn’t he be happy?

The heat dissipated quickly, and Yin Yan’s expression was calm in his cleared vision. There was no hint of fear. Yu Zhen shook his head and tossed the misgivings to the back of his mind. He asked, “So, how do we create a new connection?”

Yin Yan raised the household register. 

Yu Zhen smiled: “Hmm???”

“In the human world, of all the types of relationships, there are only two intimate enough to influence two people’s fates: kinship and life partners,” Yin Yan explained. He lowered his household register and continued, “The body I’m in right now has no blood ties to you, so there’s only one way to reform our connection: a lifelong partnership.”

The smile on Yu Zhen’s face faded. He touched his ear. After a few seconds, when Yin Yan showed no signs of saying something like “I was only joking with you,” his eyes widened in surprise. He choked, “Marriage? You? And me? Us?”

There was an old saying. In one’s life, there were three moments that changed one’s fate: birth, career choice, and marriage. The family one was born into, and the parents they were given, decided the life someone led before adulthood. A person’s choice in career affected the quality of their lives afterward and the heights they could reach. Marriage… There was another old saying to describe marriage: getting married is like being reborn in the same lifetime.

In Yu Zhen’s twenty-two years of life, he had been passive. He had no say in when and where and to whom he was born. When it came to choosing his career, he complied with the directions of his university, going along with the flow of things. And now, for the remaining choice, because of this damned lost soul illness, he landed in Yin Yan’s hands.

As an orphan, he had high expectations toward marriage and making a family, but now… it was pointless to think about it.

The black car once again moved down the dirt road, the atmosphere inside slightly strange.

“Today’s a good day. Suitable for marriage.”

“…” 

“I heard… for a marriage certificate, pictures will be taken. Your hair’s a little messy.”

Yu Zhen turned to him, expression blank.

“… I don’t mean to criticize you.”

The corners of Yu Zhen’s mouth pulled up, forced into a smile.

They were brothers in hardship. Could either of them criticize the other?

The car was silent until it drove over a pothole and made a noise. The GPS also broke the silence, prompting a left turn in 500 meters onto the provincial road.

Weng Xiping silently turned the steering wheel and Yin Le swallowed dryly, sneakily sending a message.

Le doesn’t forget home and duty: Mom! Brother’s kidnapped Yu Ge. We’re on the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau!!!

The Great Mother: What nonsense are you on about? Who’s this Yu Ge?

Le doesn’t forget home and duty: The little gardener! Brother wants to get a marriage certificate with him! Mom, hurry! I suspect Ge’s forcing the marriage! Yu Ge’s face was white when he brought out his household register!!!

……

……

The Great Mother: What did you say?!!!

Yu Zhen’s residence was registered in Lotus Village, Anyang Town, Dawu City, H Province. To obtain a marriage certificate, they had to visit the Dawu City Civil Affairs Bureau.

When Yu Zhen learned he needed to marry to re-establish the connection, he considered delaying it for a while. While the mountain god’s gift was still in effect, he would start cultivating. He intended to diligently practice cultivating in the Daoist way, break free of heaven’s restrictions, and never suffer from lost soul illness again.

However, Yin Yan ruthlessly cut down his delusion. The mountain god was too weak, and his condition too severe. The god’s gift wouldn’t support him for long.

In short, the sooner the certificate could be obtained, the better.

… and so they promptly headed for the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Lotus Village and Anyang Town were both quite small, and the car drove swiftly. Within half an hour, the car arrived outside the Bureau.

Contrary to Yin Yan’s earlier statement that it was “a good day to marry,” the Bureau felt cold. There were no other couples registering their marriage, and only one argumentative couple filing a divorce.

Yu Zhen felt that wasn’t a good sign, so his expression became bleaker and bleaker.

Yin Yan led Yu Zhen to the service window and calmly expressed his wish for a marriage certificate. The staff watching the divorce drama was slow to react.

“Please make it as quick as possible, thank you,” Yin Yan politely urged.

The staff couldn’t help but assess him. At his handsome face and expensive clothing, the staff thought, “Which family’s male god’s been snatched up?” They curiously peeked at the person standing behind Yin Yan while answering.

Such an excellent man, his partner must also be out…standing…

Yu Zhen wore plain, cotton clothes, his hair was messy, and his expression blank. When he noticed the staff’s inquiring look, he politely smiled. It looked no better than a crying expression.

“…” Is the love story of the Prince and Cinderella, no wait, the Prince and a poor young fellow popular again?

Yin Yan stepped sideways, blocking the staff’s line of sight, and gently knocked on the counter.

“Then… please, have a seat here. First, fill in the basic information,” The staff smiled mechanically and spoke hesitantly.

Yu Zhen responded first and moved towards the indicated seats to sit.

Yin Yan followed a step behind. He sat beside Yu Zhen and looked at the staff still observing Yu Zhen. He prompted them silently.

The staff continued, “… This is the form.”

The forms were filled in, the documents photocopied, and photos were taken. Once the information was verified, the marriage certificate was printed, and the photo pasted onto it. Finally, it was stamped. Two bright red marriage certificates were made.

The moment the stamp was laid, Yu Zhen felt his body become light and warm. A joyous, satisfied feeling rose in his chest.

Lifting a hand, he touched his chest over his heart. He was certain that feeling wasn’t his own. He turned to watch Yin Yan calmly put their marriage certificate into his suit pocket. Yu Zhen shook his head and labeled it another illusion.

The two walked out side by side with a respectable distance between them. Yin Le rushed over. He studied their expressions and cautiously asked, “It’s done?”

Yin Yan nodded. He took the certificate out from his pocket.

Yin Le silently swore, “Fuck.” He stared at Yin Yan for a while, “Ge, is this for real?”

Truthfully, Yin Le had fallen into a daze when Yin Yan and Yu Zhen walked out of the temple together, saying they wanted to head to the Civil Affairs Bureau immediately.

He didn’t have the courage to object, so he carried on with the hope that “It was all a dream, and big brother was only joking.” However, with the red book in front of him, he could no longer convince himself.

This was only their second meeting! They married on their second meeting! Even shotgun weddings weren’t so fast!

In response, Yin Yan’s face lost its calm. He frowned, “Marriage is a big deal. It shouldn’t be taken as a joke.”

So you do know marriage is something serious! 

Yin Le’s heart roared. He turned, wanting to ask Yu Zhen why he would marry his brother. However, seeing Yu Zhen’s pursed lips and downcast eyes, he felt guilty. He decisively shut his mouth. He indicated to Weng Xiping, with his eyes, to placate Yu Zhen. Then, he mustered up the courage to boldly pull his brother aside.

“Ge, tell me the truth, how did you manage to get Yu Ge to agree? He was so afraid of you before!”

“He isn’t afraid of me,” Yin Yan corrected.

“… Mom’s already on her way, and she’ll be here soon.” So don’t change the topic, answer honestly!

Thinking of their respectable mother, Yin Yan thought for a few seconds then honestly said, “I told Yu Zhen…”

Yin Le looked at him sharply.

“If he didn’t marry me,” Yin Yan looked down at him and returned the red book to his pocket, “I would die.”

“…”

Yin Le stared at him incredulously. He backed away two steps, stunned.

Oh god! Brother used death to force a marriage. He forced his savior to marry him! He’s a beast!