The luminous expanse of Ren's inner universe shimmered around them, a cosmos spun from his boundless will. Li Mei lay suspended in a field of gentle starlight, her form serene, her breath soft. He approached her, his gaze tender, and with a thought, a bed of soft, ethereal clouds formed beneath her. He watched as her eyelids fluttered, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as she became aware, not just of her surroundings, but of *him*, and of the profound connection that now bound them.
Her eyes, wide and startled, met his. There was no confusion, only recognition, an implicit understanding of the countless lives they had shared, the love that had transcended the simulated realities. She was shy, yet a powerful current of emotion passed between them – affection, fear, and a dawning comprehension of the vastness of his power.
He gently gathered her into his arms, holding her close, feeling the fragile warmth of her body against his. His lips found hers, a tender, soft kiss that spoke volumes of longing, of promises, of endless devotion. The world, his universe, seemed to hold its breath.
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They awoke intertwined, wrapped in the soft, nebulous sheets of his inner world, a tranquility he had never known washing over him. He gazed at her, a profound contentment settling in his heart. With a touch of his will, a gentle, purifying light enveloped her, cleansing her, restoring her to perfect health.
"Li Mei," he began, his voice a murmur, "the world you knew, the mortal realms, even the cultivation sects… it is a weary, corrupted place. A place of endless conflict and suffering. A world where lifespan is a cruel jest, and power is a poisoned chalice." He explained, not in complex terms of simulations or systems, but in a way her heart could understand – of a brutal reality, a decaying existence he had fought to escape. "You need not feel bound by its limitations, or its despair. You are safe now, truly safe."
He confessed the truth that resonated deepest within him. "I could leave this world, cross into other realms, seek endless power alone. But I choose not to. I choose you. I only wish to live my life, truly live, with you by my side. Every moment. Always." His voice softened, earnest and vulnerable. "Be always mine, Li Mei. In this life, and in every existence beyond."
With a gentle touch to her forehead, he left an **innate mark**, a profound imbuement of his own power, subtly altering her essence. This mark would allow her to not just survive, but to **thrive within his inner universe**, granting her a longevity that would span **millions of years**, her essence entwined with his own, protected from the ravages of time.
He embraced her then, a profound sense of peace settling over him. He was no longer a pawn, no longer pursued, no longer a slave to fate. He was free. He was happy. And with that happiness came new purpose. The universe was vast, filled with ancient lands and untamed wonders, realms where the Dao still flowed pure and uncorrupted, unlike the 'worn-out world' he had just left. He would explore them. Not out of desperation, but out of wonder, and with her, always by his side.
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