Golden Orchids

Chapter 33

"Su Su, " Ye Hua called out his wife's name, "What are you doing?"

Ye Hua stared in horror at his wife. She had grown twice her size, white fur covered her body. Her limbs elongated to resemble an animal. Her ears turned into a triangular shape. A single white fox tail sprouted from her back. She was a terrifying hybrid between a fox and a human.

Su Su burst out of the Hall of Beautiful Youth, Ye Hua tried to chase after her. She ran into a couple of corridors and then stopped. She paced around the corridors, entering one corridor and then reversing her course. She did this a couple of times until Ye Hua realized what's wrong. Even as a terrifying beast, she still gets lost easily.

"Su Su, " Ye Hua called out to her again. She didn't respond to him. She sniffed the air around her as if she was looking for something.

"Su Su, " Ye Hua tried again, "I'm over here, "

She ignored him.

"Yan Zhi is in the infirmary, " Ye Hua yelled, "Do you want me to take you to her?"

Su Su huffed. She tried to swipe her tail at him. Ye Hua leaped out of danger. Corruption was a tricky business. Anyone with a soul was capable of corruption, even the kindest of hearts, the most enduring of souls. They were driven by hatred, by malice to anyone who wrongs them.

"Su Jin!" Ye Hua called out. Su Su's ears perked up and turned to meet Ye Hua. "I can take you to her, "

Something spoke inside of his mind.

Where is she?

The voice sneered at him. It sounded deep and malice. Ye Hua gulped. Usually, he wasn't afraid of monsters, but this was his wife. How does one suppose to react when your beloved had turned into a horrifying beast?

"She got injured just now, " Ye Hua said, "She probably in her room tending to her injury, "

Where is it?

Ye Hua hesitated to give directions to her. Mainly because he didn't know where Su Jin stayed. As much as he wanted to, unleashing a terrifying beast at the sky consort was clearly a terrible idea.

Su Su sniffed the air again, suddenly she trained her eyes at Ye Hua. Using her snout, she pushed him against a wall and pinned him down with her claws. She sniffed around his body and growled at his lower abdomen.

You reek of her scent. Why?

Ye Hua looked down and realized that he still hadn't changed out his robe. His robes were soaked in Su Jin's blood.

"Su Jin saved my life just now, " Ye Hua explained, "She pushed me out of the way of a charging beast, got injured in the process, "

She roared at him.

So you're going to marry her too?

Ye Hua blinked. "No, " he said, "Why would I?"

That's what you do, isn't it? You marry women who saved your life.

Ye Hua blinked again. All this time did she really think that Ye Hua married her for that? For picking up a tiny snake that was barely injured? Ye Hua didn't need her help at all in the first place.

"No, " Ye Hua admitted, "I married you because I fell in love with you. You stole my heart the minute you picked me up. I remain by your side because I wanted to. It was never out of obligation or duty,"

The weight pressing against him lessened. Su Su's eyes blinked innocently like she was processing the information. Ye Hua swore that her fur turned a few shades redder. Maybe, just maybe there's still hope to turn her back.