Accidentally Married a Coyote God - Intertwined destiny, Bound by fate

Just as those words left Moyu's lips…

It froze like a statue.

It blinked. Once. Twice.

Then…its pupils contracted sharply. Its entire tiny frame stiffened.

A long pause.

Then…

"WHARRRRRRRRRT INNNNNN THEEEEEE NAMEEEEEE OFFFF HEAVENLYYYYYY LIGHTTTTTTTT ISSSSSS THISSSSSS PLACEEEEEE?!"

It shot up like it'd been struck by lightning. Its voice cracked into a shriek as it scrambled onto her shoulder, claws, gripping onto her tunic. Its tail puffed up like an alarmed squirrel.

Lian Qin Yu flinched. "What 'what'? Why are you screaming?" 

It turned its wide golden eyes to her. "You…!" It squinted, sniffling her. "You're alive!"

Lian Qin Yu frowned. "Were you expecting me to be dead?" She winced as she peeled off a piece of torn fabric from her shoulder. Dried blood cracked against her skin, and a dull, persistent pain throbbed through her body.

"I feel like a trampled peach. Rotten bruised, and hanging on for dear life." She slumped against the roots of the ancient tree, trying to ignore the cold dampness creeping into her bones.

Moyu ignored her, it whipped its head around, staring at the dark, towering trees. Its tail bristled, and its usual elegant demeanor crumbled into absolute horror.

The wind carried the low, eerie hum of unseen creatures, their whispers brushing against their ears.

Moyu shuddered violently.

"This…" It spun in a circle, wings flaring. "This isn't… This isn't what I… HOW DID WE GET HERE?!"

Lan Qin Yu stared at him blankly. "…Are you only just now realizing where we are?"

Moyu's entire tiny form trembled. " No! I might be wrong, it's just a random place that looks exactly like it…"

It turned to Lian Qin Yu, its voice came out in a whisper. "…Where are we?"

Lian Qin Yu sighed, shifting to sit properly. "The Netherwood Abyss."

Silence.

A very long silence.

Then… Moyu sputtered. "You… You're joking, right? This is a joke. A terrible, awful joke."

Lian Qin Yu's tired gaze met its eyes. Moyu stared back.

Then…

"THE NETHERWOOD ABYSS?! The forbidden abyss?! The land of nightmares where people enter but NEVER RETURN?!"

Lian Qin Yu watched as the tiny golden dragon curled into a miserable ball, muttering to itself.

"Not only am I in the Netherwood Abyss, but I'm also stuck with a human with zero cultivation…" It groaned dramatically, tail twitching. "Just end me now."

She flicked its forehead. "Ow!" Moyu exclaimed, glaring at her with its big eyes. "You'll be fine," she deadpanned.

Moyu sat up, rubbing its head. It sniffed indignantly, regaining some of its usual grace. "Alright. Alright." It took a deep, dramatic breath, puffing out its chest.

"I am an unparalleled celestial being. I do not panic. I simply… reassess."

Lian Qin Yu raised a brow. "That was definitely panic."

Moyu pointedly ignored her. Instead, it lifted its claws and gestured toward the Celestial Weaver's Guide. The golden light around it flickered.

"I was not in my physical form before. When the Guide was fully activated, I was able to condense into this form thanks to the predecessor's remnants."

It stretched its wings, their golden edges shimmering faintly in the dim light. "But…" Its brows furrowed. "I do not recall what happened after I left to recover."

Its gaze snapped back to her. "How did we get here?"

Lian Qian Yu sighed. "Long story. After you caused the landslide to distract the guards and shield me from them, I successfully escaped from the mines. Things got… complicated. As their were so many guards on petrol to ensure no one escaped using the cave-in as camouflage. The only unguarded path was the route that led to the Abyss, and I ended up here. I don't have a choice."

Moyu stared at her, completely aghast. "You… you dared to enter?"

Lian Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. "Would you have preferred I got caught and dragged back to the mine?"

Moyu clutched its tiny chest, gasping. "I am… I am having a crisis. My noble self… within these wretched woods…"

It slumped dramatically onto her shoulder, tail twitching. "This is a catastrophe."

Lian Qin Yu rolled her eyes. "Not like we can do anything about it now."

Moyu suddenly snapped upright. "WAIT. Are you injured?" Its pupils contracted. "Human, I said it before and I'll say it again… try not to die so soon. We are bounded together. Yeah! I am literally stuck with you… for LIFE! So, please be more merciful to yourself."

Lian Qin Yu blinked. Then, realization hit. "Oh, right. I am bleeding to death."