Yu Bin. Immortal Of Water Land

Chapter 13 - Bound Fates

The sun dipped behind the distant mountain ridges as the day settled into a warm, golden dusk. After a breathtaking flight across the skies with Longwei and Xian Chen, Yu Bin had returned to the palace exhilarated but mentally spent. The sky, painted in hues of fire and lavender, still shimmered in her memory. And yet, even such wonders could not settle the restlessness within her.

When Master Bao Fang said she was going out to "play," Yu Bin was quick to follow, eager for a distraction. What followed was an encounter with fierce corpses, a deadly training session, and the draining realization that her spiritual energy was weaker than expected. The experience left her emotionally and physically worn. But she returned with something more: perspective.

Now, walking side by side through the quiet streets near the palace grounds, Bao Fang turned to Yu Bin with a thoughtful expression.

"I’m taking you home. That’s enough for today," she said.

Yu Bin nodded, but before she could respond, Bao Fang’s voice turned solemn. "Let me tell you something… Don't judge what you don't understand. You can hurt someone deeply by making the wrong decision. Never forget, every action has a reaction. What you do today will ripple into tomorrow."

Yu Bin listened in silence, her wide eyes reflecting both awe and guilt.

"So be careful," Bao Fang continued, her voice like tempered steel. "If you do good, you’ll be well received. But if you act with malice, evil will eventually find its way back to your door."

Yu Bin gave a faint smile, then bowed her head with quiet sincerity. "I’ll try my best to be a good person, a wise and understanding queen one day."

Bao Fang nodded approvingly. "I’m glad to hear that."

Then Yu Bin grinned. "By the way, you owe me."

"I owe you?" Bao Fang raised a brow.

"You almost got me killed."

"Didn’t I save you too?"

"That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I almost died."

Bao Fang laughed. "You were never in any real danger."

"Tell that to the corpses chasing me around the forest!"

"That was part of the training. Movement is crucial, after all."

"Still, you owe me. So, buy me chicken wings."

Bao Fang let out a snort. "You could’ve just asked."

"It’s not just a craving—it’s my reward."

"Alright, alright. Today you get whatever you want."

"Really? Then I want a bunch of chicken wings!" Yu Bin exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"Okay, kiddo."

"I’m not a kid!"

Laughing, Bao Fang led her to a nearby restaurant. The scent of spiced oil and roasted meat wafted through the air. They had just placed their order when a familiar voice rang out.

"Why do you have to be so noisy wherever you go?"

Yu Bin looked up and groaned. "Ah, Mr. Right."

Xian Chen’s eyes narrowed. "You—"

"Both of you, stop it," Bao Fang snapped before the bickering could escalate. "Young Master, you’re welcome to eat with us."

"I’m fine on my own," Xian Chen replied coldly.

"I’m fine on my own," Yu Bin mimicked with a roll of her eyes.

"You—!"

"Either of you says another word and I’ll hurt you both," Bao Fang warned.

"She started it," Xian Chen mumbled.

"When did I start?! You started it, Mister Full-of-Himself."

"Is it my fault you’re stupid?"

"How dare you!"

"STOOOOOOP!" Bao Fang shouted.

The two froze in place.

In one smooth motion, she pulled a rope from her sleeve and bound their hands together.

"What is this?!" Yu Bin and Xian Chen shouted in unison.

"A rope. Congratulations. You can both identify basic objects," Bao Fang said with mock seriousness.

"Stop joking and untie me," Xian Chen growled.

"Oh, I’d love to. But I can’t. This is a binding rope. It’ll only disappear when the two of you genuinely care about each other."

Yu Bin’s eyes widened. "Wait, what?!"

"Also, if either of you tries to harm the other… well, let’s just say it would be mutually destructive. You feel what the other feels—hunger, pain, exhaustion. All of it."

Xian Chen turned pale. "You’re kidding."

"When have you ever seen me joke?"

Yu Bin muttered, "I’ve only known her a few weeks…"

She lowered her head. She hadn’t expected this. She had imagined Bao Fang to be calm and elegant—regal, even. But her master had proven to be something else entirely: unpredictable, ruthless, and painfully wise.

I’ve only known her a few weeks and I already had to kill something, she thought.

Xian Chen’s voice broke her thoughts. "Stop being sad."

Yu Bin looked up, surprised. "It’s none of your business."

"Actually, it is. What you feel, I feel. So stop."

"He’s right," Bao Fang said with a laugh.

"It’s not funny," Xian Chen muttered.

Yu Bin frowned. "But why is it his business?"

Bao Fang raised her brows. "Still don’t get it?"

"Told you she’s slow," Xian Chen added smugly.

"Stop calling me stupid!" Yu Bin snapped.

"Stop yelling. I swear I’ll—"

"Xian Xian," Bao Fang interrupted, smirking. "This is your opportunity to grow."

"She’s my master, not yours," Xian Chen grumbled.

"Yes, yes, I’m yours. Now let’s eat."

Yu Bin scowled. "How can I eat with one hand?"

"Not my problem. Just eat."

The three of them finished the meal in silence, aside from a few scowls and muffled insults. With the sun long set and the stars beginning to blink awake in the sky, they finally returned to the palace.

Because of the magical rope, Xian Chen and Yu Bin were forced to walk in sync, tugging awkwardly whenever one of them stepped too fast. Once they arrived, Bao Fang