Chapter 496 - 495: Bonding with Yusen

The two cubs were playing near the pool.

The Little Spider was avoiding the water.

Meanwhile, the little whale was splashing about cheerfully.

Separated by the floor-to-ceiling glass, Yusen and Yu Zhizhi were discussing their bonding.

The Mermaid Youth’s ice-blue eyes fell upon the little female’s face. He curled his lips into a slight smile. "How about tonight?"

There was no time like the present.

Once the bond was successfully formed, the little rabbit would officially become his other half.

Yu Zhizhi hadn’t expected Yusen to suggest tonight so directly.

Though she felt it was a bit fast and she wasn’t quite ready, she reminded herself that a bonding was fundamentally about the two of them. A grand ritual was just a formality.

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly. "Okay."

Night fell over the territory, the scattered lights making it look like a fairy-tale world. Fireflies quietly circled the plants. Before the three-meter-high floor-to-ceiling windows, Yusen opened his palm and summoned the Blessing Book he always carried with him.

Yu Zhizhi suddenly thought of something. She pressed her lips together. "Wait a moment."

She turned around, her back to Yusen.

After fumbling for a moment, she took out the precious necklace Yusen had once given her from her inventory—the Mermaid’s Heart Scale.

She had always kept it safe.

Yu Zhizhi fastened the necklace, then turned back to face Yusen.

The anxious look in the Mermaid Youth’s eyes faded, replaced by a stunned silence when he saw the necklace the little female had put on.

"I usually... can’t bear to wear it." Yu Zhizhi clutched the ice-blue necklace with one hand. "What if I lost it? This is the most precious gift Sensen ever gave me."

She knew just how precious a non-regenerating Heart Scale was to a Mermaid.

Today was a special day.

It wasn’t like her bonding with Louis, which had a Priest, a ceremony, a live broadcast, an audience, flowers and fireworks, and a clear sky.

But this was a memorable moment that belonged to her and Yusen.

Yusen could feel the little female’s sincerity.

A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. He raised his right palm, and the red Contract Book fluttered in the night breeze.

On the Marriage Contract, shimmering golden words appeared.

"My love, for a lifetime."

Yu Zhizhi blinked when she saw the words. ’It seems different from last time,’ she thought. ’So the words that appear on each Marriage Contract are different?’

She slowly drew closer and signed her name in the designated space.

Yusen followed suit.

The Mermaid Youth’s handwriting was elegant, like seaweed flowing in the water.

The Contract Book gradually condensed into a Unity Lock, as if to bind them tightly together.

The moment the golden light bloomed, it signaled the successful formation of their bond.

The night seemed to grow deeper.

But the distant stars in the sky shone with incredible brightness.

In the huge pool on the other side of the glass, the little whale was lying by the edge, seemingly asleep.

Meanwhile, the spider cub, wrapped in a white towel, was yawning sleepily. It drew its legs together as if to protect itself.

It sensed the golden light and glanced up.

The young Grey Jade didn’t know what the golden light was, but it thought its Mother looked beautiful when she smiled at that moment.

It couldn’t help but smile along with her.

But it was simply too sleepy.

It slowly rested its head on its forelegs and drifted off to sleep.

"I think... it was a success." Yu Zhizhi’s voice was filled with anticipation. "Sensen, we have a contract now."

"Yes." Yusen watched the Golden Unity Lock gradually fade into the air. He could feel an invisible thread now connecting him to the Rabbit Clan female.

Forming a bond used to be a ridiculous notion to him.

Perhaps because feelings were fickle, such rituals were needed to soothe people’s hearts.

But for him now...

When he thought of bonding, all he could think of was becoming true partners with the little Rabbit Clan female. To have a link that belonged only to them, allowing him to sense her presence no matter where she was.

It probably also included a male’s possessiveness over a female.

But in this moment, Yusen felt an unprecedented happiness.

"We’re... finally together," he murmured.

He finally had an official status.

Even if it was only as the little female’s third Beast Husband.

He now had his own place in her territory.

If anyone were to ask him where his home was?

It wasn’t in the Deep Sea, not in a palace, not on a Glacier.

Yusen would tell them that his home was in the Sky Star Territory.

He looked at the little Rabbit Clan female before him, and she was looking back at him just as earnestly.

Their eyes met. The Mermaid Youth slowly leaned down, his right hand caressing the little rabbit’s cheek. His gaze was incredibly gentle, like a warm spring pond with soft ripples spreading across its surface.

Yu Zhizhi could feel Yusen’s slightly cool fingers.

Her cheeks grew a little warm.

As if under a spell, she felt an urge to be even closer to him.

Yu Zhizhi slowly tilted her head up and gently kissed him.

The night in the territory was utterly tranquil.

Her chest felt as if it were filled with something warm, leaving her feeling deeply content.

Yusen noticed the little rabbit taking the initiative.

The smile in his eyes deepened.

He lowered his head to return her kiss tenderly, pulling the little female into his embrace.

Although...

The little rabbit’s attitude was always wavering.

At least in this moment, they were together.

And his was the figure reflected in the little rabbit’s eyes.

After the bonding, they didn’t return to the castle. Instead, they sat on the steps outside, chatting about their daily lives and the time they had spent apart.

Late into the night, Yu Zhizhi fell asleep leaning against Yusen’s shoulder.

He draped a thin blanket over her and held her quietly, looking up at the waxing crescent moon as it gradually faded from the sky.

When Yu Zhizhi woke up, she found herself back in her room. The little whale, Sui Sui, was snuggled in her arms, while the spider cub, Grey Jade, was beside her pillow, weaving a small, exquisite picture out of silk.

Seeing the slivers of sunlight falling by her pillow, Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but stretch.

Mmm~

Every day in the territory was so pleasant.

Especially now, with Sensen and the two cubs here, Yu Zhizhi found herself growing fonder and fonder of days like this.

She sat up. The little whale was still asleep, so she gently placed it to one side.

The spider cub paused its silk-spinning. It looked up dazedly and saw that its Mother was awake.

It said shyly, "Good afternoon, Mother."

"Good afternoon, Little Grey." Yu Zhizhi moved closer and saw the image formed by the delicate silk threads. "Are you drawing?"

Grey Jade grew even shyer.

"Yes..."

It whispered, "I want to make a picture for Mother before I leave the territory."

The silk weaving was very slow.

When the hunting season ended, it would have to return to Paradise.

’I hope I can finish this picture by then.’

Yu Zhizhi patted the spider cub’s head. "Thank you, Grey. I look forward to it."

No matter what the spider cub drew, she knew she would love it.

Yu Zhizhi got out of bed. After washing up, she saw Ai Xi entering the room and asked, "Where is Prince Yusen?"