The sense of a shared journey comes from how you say goodbye or the tone of your voice you use towards your loved one. There's room for mistakes to be sure. Even so, it's the sum of all those simple actions over the hours and days of your relationship that bring about the feelings of love and commitment. Tiny choices. It's not the size of the gesture that matters, nor is it the outcome to forge the bond of love for which they both longed. Rather, it's how often those moments of connection happen, how many there are in a day. In reality, though, the quality of a relationship is the sum of the small choices each person makes every day. Sometimes tiny miscalculations can be expensive. Each small choice can help nudge you along the path to connection and love or drifting apart and death.

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Feng Jiu finished feeding Dong Hua the fruit salad. "Did his Lordship enjoyed the fruit salad?"

"It was delicious. But how come you didn't eat some?"

Feng Jiu chuckled at his question. "Because it was made just for you, Dijun. I want to dote my husband with special dishes just for him."  She giggled at him.

Feng Jiu felt a slight change in his cultivation that she made him the fruit salad to nurture his essence.

"Where did you learn to make nurturing food Jiu'er?" Dong Hua asked.

"Huh? I don't know what are you talking about Dong Hua." She quickly got up to place the dish away.

"Jiu'er", he called her using a reproach tone.

"Yes husband?" She turned around to face him.

"Come here my mischievous little fox." Dong Hua was taping his lap.

"What is it husband?" Feng Jiu innocently looked at him and sat on his lap. Hinting her to return to him.

"Do you think I didn't notice that the salad had healing properties, hmmm? What reason did you had to make it?" Dong Hua tenderly asked Feng Jiu.

"Please don't be upset at me husband, but I felt a slight change on your cultivation level. I don't know what you did that affected it, so I wanted to nurture your health to be at optimal level. I worry about you." Feng Jiu lowered her face biting her lower lip.

"Little fox, look at me please. You mean to tell me that you felt my essence change?" Dong Hua asked her surprised.

"Yes, husband I did. May I know what happened to you?" Feng Jiu asked Dong Hua.

Dong Hua didn't want to upset or worry her. So, he opted to omit certain details on the event. "Si Ming required my assistance with something important that was essential to use my powers. That is all my love, there is nothing for you to worry about." He looked at her with a soft smile.

Feng Jiu knew he was keeping something from her. She could smell he was not being truthful about his statement. "Is Si Ming okay?" Feng Jiu was staring at Dong Hua to the point to make him feel uncomfortable. 

"He is fine little fox." Dong Hua turned away his face from her.

"Then I will make him a nurture soup for his cultivation and pay him a visit." Feng Jiu got up from his lap.

Dong Hua pulled her hand to avoid her to leave his lap. "Aren't you afraid that I'll get jealous about this?" He used a serious tone.

"Aren't you afraid husband that I'll discover what are you hiding from me?" Feng Jiu's expression changed.

"Hiding from you?" Dong Hua raised an eyebrow to her.

Feng Jiu got closer to his face and looked straight to his eyes: "Yes, Dong Hua, you think I'm not able to discern your tactics? I know that you are keeping something from me. You obviously don't want me to know for a reason. I thought that we agree not to lie to one another to avoid any future misunderstandings."

"You assumed that I lied to you?" Dong Hua asked her annoyed.

"Don't twist my words Dong Hua, I will not fell for your word trap!" She got free from his hold.

"Please don't be upset with me. You don't need to worry about this." He got up facing her.

"Then don't keep me in the dark Dong Hua, I love you, I'm your wife. I agreed to share your burdens with you as your equal. To face anything and everything together Dong Hua as your mate. Are you backing out on your promise to me?" Feng Jui was reading his eyes.

"I assure you that is not important. Please trust me." Dong Hua lowered his voice.

Sensing that he was not going to say nothing she told him: "I trust you Dong Hua with my life. But trust between us should NOT be a one-way street." Feng Jiu left the kitchen upset, leaving behind a confused Dong Hua alone.

"What just happened?" Dong Hua pondered.

There was a firefly resting on the kitchen window; when Feng Jiu left the firefly flew out the window and across Qing Qui's fields and crossed the border to the Demon Land. It transformed into a spider and it came to it's owner for a report.

"Trouble in paradise I see." Nie Chuyin laughed. "Oh you wait Feng Jiu, your fun is just beginning." He sent another one of his spies back to Qing Qui. "Make sure to bring me what I need!!!"

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Dong Hua decided to give his little fox some space for her to calm down. He couldn't comprehend her distress. After all he didn't had to give her any explanation of his actions all the time. "I'm not a child that she can monitor." He believed. He walked his way back to where Zhong Li was seated.

"Dijun, I brought the scrolls that you requested. Where do you want me to place them?"

"Place them back in my study back at Tai Chen Palace, I will be spending some time there."

Zhong Li was surprised but didn't say nothing. "Yes Dijun." He left to go back to Tai Chen.

Dong Hua sighed and look back at the direction that Feng Jiu left. He wanted to go back to her but his wounded ego didn't let him, so he left to Tai Chen without saying a word to her.

Migu was able to see him disappear. "Oh boy what happened to the lovebirds? This is not good." He thought. Migu went to look for his mistress, he found her at the study.

"Your highness." Migu bowed to Feng Jiu.

"Yes, Migu what is it?" Feng Jiu asked him.

"I'm informing your highness that Dijun left with Zhong Li back to Tai Chen Palace."

"He left?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Did he leave a message for me?"

"No, your highness."

"Thank you Migu, you may leave."

Migu left and closed the door. He knew she was upset with the news, but he couldn't leave his mistress without knowing her husband whereabouts. Migu sighed.

"I will not be played like this. He needs to understand the concept of trust. He might be the most powerful deity in all realms, but he is a moot when it comes to be communicative. He thinks he can manipulate my feelings at his will or treat me like a fool. Not a chance." Feng Jiu resolved to be firm with her bearing.

Feng Jiu continued her work to ease her mind over the argument she had with Dong Hua. She needed to catch up with work. A week went by and Feng Jiu was busy with her queen duties at Qing Qui. During that time, Dong Hua didn't message her at all. Her heart was sad but she decided to keep working on other things that were pending on her agenda.

Dong Hua was waiting for Feng Jiu missive, and no messages came for him. He checked with Zhong Li daily and was getting upset about their argument. He felt that she needed to apologize to him for her behavior. But deep inside he was missing her. He knew she was busy and didn't want to distract her from her duties so he remained at his residence. He checked on Si Ming and saw that he reached full recovery. He met with Ye Hua to discuss the security enforcement at the heavenly realm. Dong Hua decided to assist Ye Hua on his new duties as Tianjun. He let time pass by and didn't communicate with his little fox.

Three months later...

Feng Jiu was waging an emotional battle. She was not feeling like herself. She couldn't concentrate well or eat or sleep properly; she was drained with all the work she buried herself into. Migu was worry about her health.

"Your highness please eat something, it's already late. You have lost so much weight, please take care of your health better." Migu was pleading her. He brought a tray with cakes and tea.

"Thank you Migu, at least you worry about my wellbeing. Leave the tea on my table, I will be going to sleep soon, don't worry." Feng Jiu told Migu.

"Yes, your highness."

Feng Jiu was so tired. She sensed her strength leaving her, that she felt asleep on the table between all her paperwork. Migu knew that she was working late and decided to check on her before he retires for the night. He found her asleep on the table, she was not looking good.

"Where is Dijun, on a time like this! She needs him!!" Migu was worried about his mistress so he sent a missive to Zhe Yan. He knew he could come and check her health.

Zhe Yan was drinking his wine enjoying the serenity of the night when he felt a message coming.

"Huh? At this time? Who could it be?" He opened the message and furrowed his brows. Zhe Yan didn't waste any time and went to the palace at Migu's request.

"Where is she Migu?" Zhe Yan asked Migu.

"She's at her study. She is been working nonstop high god Zhe Yan, I'm afraid for her health, she has lost too much weight."

"Where is her husband?" Zhe Yan was annoyed already.

Migu sensing his anger building up, carefully said: "At Tai Chen Palace. He hasn't checked her for the past three months."

"What did you say?" Zhe Yan furiously glared at Migu.

"Please appease your anger high god Zhe Yan. It seems to me that they had an argument and being both stubborn and hot headed they been separated for months now without talking to each other. Her highness has buried herself in work to avoid thinking about their situation." Migu told Zhe Yan.

"Why did you waited until now to tell me Migu, you should have called me earlier. Take me to her." Zhe Yan demanded.

Migu took Zhe Yan to Feng Jiu's study, when he saw her, his eyes widened. Feng Jiu's face looks gaunt and skinnier than usual. Her eyes sockets were noticeable, and her hair was brittle. Her skin color also changed. She looks old.

"Her cultivation level seems fine, but her physique shows otherwise. She is skin and bones! My precious kittling what you have done to yourself." Zhe Yan took her in his arms and placed her on a bed that he materialized. He needed to check her vitals and do a thorough exam.

"Let me take care of her Migu, I need to nourish her to keep her alive. Xiao Jiu my darling, I will take care of you, don't worry about the rest." He kissed her forehead and put a sleeping spell on Feng Jiu. Then he spends most of the night working to restore her physical deterioration and renovate her beauty back to normal.

It was morning time already and Feng Jiu was restless. She was having a nightmare. She saw how Dijun was rejecting her again treating her cold. She saw his expressionless countenance and icy tone towards her. He turned his back to her and left her alone. Tears were running from her eyes as she hysterically was saying: "You promised me Dijun, you promised me."

Zhe Yan hearing Feng Jiu's voice woke up "Xiao Jiu, my darling, please wake up." But Feng Jiu felt deeper into darkness not able to wake up. "Dijun you promised me..." weaker and weaker she was saying the same thing over and over. Zhe Yan was worry sick about her mental state. He was enraged at Dong Hua. He was desperately trying to wake her up with no avail.

At Tai Chen Palace....

Dong Hua didn't sleep at all, his emotions were unsettled. He spent all night thinking about his Jiu'er. He knew something was wrong. He tried to open a mental path to check on his little fox, but he felt her essence fragile. "Jiu'er? Jiu'er?" No response, something was blocking him. He got up and went outside, he saw the sky getting darker by the minute. His eyes widen. "It can be!" He immediately left for Qing Qui.

Zhe Yan felt the change in the atmosphere outside. He became unsettled too. "Oh no, not now!!!"

Feng Jiu's mother held her chest, she felt a pang on her heart that make her queasy. Bai Yi hold her, "Are you okay?" They both looked outside and saw the sky getting dark. "Oh no" she gasped.

Fate had the upper hand. Feng Jiu' life was about to change.

Dong Hua arrived at Qing Qui Palace. "WHERE IS MY WIFE!!!!"

Migu heard Dong Hua's shouting and felt his anger building up. The palace walls began to tremble. "Dijun please appease your anger, her highness is at her study, high god Zhe Yan is with her"

"Why is he here?" Dijun materialized his sword and pointed at Migu's neck.

"Dijun please hear me out." Migu pleaded.

"Speak quickly Migu, your life depends on it" Dong Hua's face was full of anger.

"I'm not aware of all the facts, but ever since you left Qing Qui, her highness has been working nonstop all of this time, she became very frail, her health deteriorated. I summoned high god Zhe Yan to take care of her health, in your absence my Lordship."

"WHY YOU DIDN'T CALLED ME MIGU, I'M HER HUSBAND!!!." Dong Hua seethed at Migu.

"May your Lordship have mercy on me, her highness will not allow it." At this point Migu's forehead was hitting the floor.

Dong Hua went to Feng Jiu study only to found Zhe Yan on a furious stance, not allowing him to pass. "Move aside old phoenix." Dong Hua warned Zhe Yan.

"Not a chance Dong Hua. You promised me that you were not going to hurt her anymore. She looked like a sack of skin and bones when I came here Dong Hua. I had to restore her health and beauty, she looked like an old lady when I found her. Xiao Jiu is not able to wake up now. This is your doing!"

"I was not aware of it." Dong Hua glared at Zhe Yan.

"OF COURSE NOT, BECAUSE YOU SET HER ASIDE AGAIN DONG HUA. AGAIN!!!! YOU PROMISED HER AND YET YOU FAILED HER AGAIN!!! YOU LET YOUR EGO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF. YOU ARE A MARRIED MAN DONG HUA; YOU BELONG TO HER. YOU CAN NOT ACT OR MAKE DESCISIONS BY YOURSELF ANY LONGER WITHOUT AFFECTING HER. MARRIED COUPLES HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, FIGHTS, ARGUMENTS. WHATEVER HAPPENDED BETWEEN YOU TWO, YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED BY HER SIDE AND WORK IT OUT. YET YOU TURNED AROUND AND ABANDONED YOUR WIFE AS IF SHE WAS AN OBJECT TO BE PUT AWAY. YOU LET THREE MONTHS PASS BY, THREE MONTHS!!! AND NEVER BOTHERED TO CHECK IF SHE WAS WELL. AND YOU SAY THAT YOU LOVE HER? YOU PROMISED ME AND HER MOTHER THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO CHERISH HER AND YET LOOK AT HER DONG HUA, JUST LOOK AT HER!!!!!!!!" 

Zhe Yan was trembling with fury at Dong Hua. No one in his long existence ever has dared to yell at the Almighty Dong Hua Dijun and live to tell the tale. Only Zhe Yan could. When it comes to his Xiao Jiu, the old phoenix loses his temper and sanity. "Know this Dong Hua, if anything happens to her, I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!"

"And now the sky is dark outside Dong Hua, you know what this means!!" Zhe Yan pointed to the window.

"I will take her trial on her behalf." Dong Hua said. "Let me see her Zhe Yan."

Zhe Yan finally moved aside and Dong Hua took Feng Jiu in his arms. Tears formed in his eyes when he saw how frail she was. She was still weak. Feng Jiu was still mumbling: "Dijun you promised me..."

"Jiu'er my love, I'm here with you, please forgive me. Please wake up Jiu'er. You are my heaven, my light, my center. I need you to come back to me. Please forgive me for hurting you again. Jiu'er please open your eyes." Dong Hua was pleading her with tears in his eyes.

Dong Hua put his forehead on Feng Jiu and entered her mind. Once inside, he saw her falling into a dark abyss with no ending. She weakly was calling for him. "Dijun" Dong Hua was trying to reach her but couldn't grab her. "JIU'ER DON'T LEAVE ME JIU'ER" he was desperately trying to get near her. A stronghold was pushing Dong Hua away from her. He couldn't reached her on time, Feng Jiu disappeared into the darkness.

NOOOOOOO JIU'ER!!!!!!!!!! Dong Hua painfully screamed.

He opened his eyes only to find out that his Jiu'er succumbed in his arms.

JIU'ER, JIU'ER NOOOOOO DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!!!!! He painfully screamed, holding her in his arms and crying desperately.

Wǒ ài nǐ Jiu'er, Wǒ ài nǐ, Wǒ ài nǐ!!!!