Happiness of eternity

21) The claim

⭕ A/N ⭕

This is an early update and there won't be any updates tomorrow. It's because I'm planning to give you a small gift for Christmas. Hope you wouldn't mind.

Enjoy...😉🤗

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She didn't cry nor did she make useless pleas again when no one cared enough to listen. It had been long since she had accepted her cursed fate and now she is waiting for it to come to an end a few hours later.

No one said that her immortal life should last for an eternity. Even if they did, who could argue about an eternity being forever or simply a few hours of a day? There isn't a limitation; she figured.

She can reunite with her soulmate once the obligation she had towards her adoptive parents is fulfilled using this lifetime. Though the separation is torturous, she already made up her mind to endure everything for one last time. Thus, she waited patiently, ready to do whatever she need to do so she could go back to her soulmate with no more hindrances on her way.

When the maids eagerly covered her body up with layers upon layers of exquisite golden embroidered red silk and adorned her hair with priceless hair pins and a phoenix crown, she didn't feel a thing. Even when they dolled her up with finest rouge and softest makeup powders, praising her to be the most beautiful bride they had ever seen, she didn't see the beauty they mentioned through the mirror. She felt nothing. Her eyes showed nothing. And her mother felt his worry grow and grow the longer he witnessed the preparation.

Though it is considered improper for a male to be at present when a maiden is dressing up, he was called in after the maids put on his daughter's clothes properly as it is custom for a bride's mother to be there to help her get ready and to put the veil on before handing her over to the bridegroom. However in this case, it wasn't only the veil Shen Qingqiu had to help putting on for his daughter and he dreaded to comply.

"A-Ying..." He started. "...If you promise to behave, I can-"

"No need. Do what you have to." Hua Ying cut in coldly.

"But-"

"I will try till my last breath to run away because this isn't where I belong." Shen Qingqiu sighed at his daughter's reply. As expected of his stubborn little girl.

"Hand them over." Biting the inside of his lower lip in distress, he ordered a maid at the side who soon approached him with a tray that carried two pairs of golden cuffs linked with beautifully carved golden chains- a metallic version of immortal binding ropes.

"Won't you change your mind? There is nowhere for you to run. This shouldn't be necessary." He pressed for one last time, hoping the girl would give a different answer. But who is he trying to deceive?

"Go ahead already." There was no trace of emotion in Hua Ying's tone. The joy it used to carry within, was long gone.

With that firm answer, Shen Qingqiu sighed one more time before securing the cuffs around Hua Ying's ankles and wrists, depriving her from moving so freely; an act her father, Luo Binghe suggested in order to prevent her from causing a scene during the ceremony and to make sure that her sealed spiritual powers would not have the slightest chance to seep through. Shen Qingqiu didn't like the idea from the beginning but against his husband's teary eyes and pitiful pleas, he was extremely weak to do anything.

"You don't have to act this way... like you actually care to feel the hurt and pain. I already made up my mind. So I don't mind repaying you two for raising me up." Not liking the broken look on her adoptive mother's eyes, Hua Ying said coldly and it broke Shen Qingqiu's heart more.