The Tale of the Lotus Heart novel Chapter 30

Tase, Yong and I looked at each other, completely forgetting Peony was still in the room until then. Tase came closer to the bed before we all looked to Peony. After a long, awkward silence, Yong finally sighed.

"I trust you, Peony. Mainly because I know you have no interest in legends, but Aivi carries the Lotus Heart," Yong admitted. I trusted Peony too. Her temperament wasn't the type to covet an item to rule the three realms. Her eyes widened before she looked at me.

"It exists?" She asked, dumbfounded. I found myself nodding.

"But the problem is that it's Aivi's life force. If someone takes it from her, she'll die. We sealed it away when she was just a seed, but that trial would've demolished the seal and exposed the Lotus Heart scent. Everyone would immediately sense it," Yong explained.

"That's why you wanted to block the trial for me?" I asked, only realizing the truth myself now. Yong nodded.

"It wouldn't have just been physical damage for you," he admitted. I placed a hand on my stomach as I looked to my lap. Yet another thing I didn't take into account. The thought didn't even cross my mind. I had only been worried about protecting our child, but I almost made a huge mistake. Tase body searched me before sighing.

"Well she must've taken some of the trial because the seal is weak again," Tase said.

"I took one strike," I informed him.

"Aivi... everything I do is to protect you. Why won't you just let me?" Yong asked tiredly. I hung my head, ashamed of myself. He was right. Yong had done nothing but protect and love me, meanwhile, I was too busy running away.

"I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely. "I just... your world still scares me," I admitted. Yong struggled to put an arm around me before pulling me into a hug.

"I know, that why I'm letting you do things your way, but some things I can't compromise on... like your safety," Yong brushed it off. I pulled out of his hug before helping him lay back down.

"You should rest. Your spirit is repaired, but you're still weak," I said before placing a kiss on his head.

"I took him to Rejuvenation Spring this morning. He'll gain his energy back quicker that way. I'll take you to him," she replied. I only relaxed slightly. Peony smiled knowingly at me before leading me to the thicker part of the forest. After walking a while, the trees opened to a clearing with a natural hot spring in the middle. Two fruit fairies were standing by while Yong sat soaking in the spring. I sighed in relief unknowingly.

"Yong," I called out to him as I went to the edge of the spring. He looked over to smile gently at me. He was looking a lot better. His previous pale, sickly complexion was rosy and livelier. I knelt beside the water as he turned in the water to face me. My hand touched his cheek gently.

"How are you feeling?" I asked. His water soaked hands reached up as he stood slightly and wrapped his arms around my waist before pulling me into the water slowly. I squealed as the warm water surrounded me from the chest down as Yong cradled me in his lap with a smile. He placed a gentle kiss on my head as the fruit fairies and Goddess Peony giggled at us.

"I missed you," he changed the subject. I figured he must've been feeling better if he had the strength to pull me into the water.

"Naughty," I muttered before getting off of his lap.