Volume V: Breath of the River, Former Life Chapter 148

The wind from outside swept directly into Jinli's room, causing her to break into a fit of continuous coughing. She could only curl up on the bed, hugging her knees into a tiny ball, looking utterly pitiable.

Tears fell like a broken levee, refusing to stop. She gripped the quilt tightly, pressing herself deep into the corner.

The situation just moments ago had been truly terrifying.

She had seen the fierce glint and desire deep within the young man's eyes—there was not a shred of tenderness, only hatred.

Weeping until she passed out, somewhere between wakefulness and slumber, she seemed to sense a warm palm gently resting upon her forehead, warm and tender.

Jinli wanted to lift her eyelids, only to find she simply could not.

Such rare warmth.

When Jinli woke up once more, the heavy fatigue in her body had vanished.

As she sat up, someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Respected Goddess, My Lord says if you are awake, you should go to him."

Jinli gave a soft acknowledgment. She had no idea what Gengyuan intended to do now. But no matter what, she could not let the Heavenly Emperor seize any pretext against him; otherwise, Gengyuan's life would surely be in grave peril.

Before, she had rejoiced that Gengyuan was not the young lord of the South Sea Shark clan, only to realize at the very end that everything had been an elaborate deception.

And the one who orchestrated this deception was the Heavenly Emperor.

Though she did not know the underlying reasons, the only thing she could do now was to keep Gengyuan far away from these matters. Perhaps Lianchuan was a good choice after all.

Jiang Ji handed her a set of robes and skirts.

She accepted them with a calm expression. When she had stabbed Gengyuan back then, she should have anticipated what the young man would do to her upon his return.

She had already prepared herself mentally.

Yet, she had never expected *that* particular outcome.

Changing into the garments, she followed Jiang Ji to the Lianchuan Hot Springs.

This medicinal spring.

Back then, she used to let Gengyuan enter it to heal his wounds while she constantly peeked at him.

At this thought, Jinli was startled to realize that every nook and cranny of Lianchuan seemed to retain countless memories shared between herself and the young man.

They were simply impossible to erase.

Now, deities across the Four Seas and Eight Desolations were perishing one after another, and she did not know when her own turn would come.

Perhaps, keeping these memories alive in her mind would make her journey through the Naihe Bridge and into the River of Oblivion all the more difficult.

Jiang Ji pushed open the door to the medicinal spring pavilion and stepped aside.

Jinli asked, bewildered, "What does your Lord mean by this?"

Jiang Ji maintained a posture of utmost respect as he replied, "My Lord stated that today, the Respected Goddess shall personally attend to My Lord's bathing."

Ah, yes. With the lives of everyone in Pear Blossom Valley held in the palm of another's hand, what else could she do?

She was merely someone at the mercy of others.

Noticing her momentary daze, Jiang Ji added, "Please go ahead, Respected Goddess. Besides, this isn't the first time, is it?"

"You... you..." Even Jiang Ji was mocking her.

Yet, thinking back to her past self, not even ten Jiang Jis could have stopped her from rushing to watch the Young Lord bathe.

Now that the doors stood wide open, she suddenly found herself hesitating to step inside.

"Go in I will! Who's afraid of whom?"

With a flick of her sleeves, Jinli lifted her foot and walked in.

The doors immediately closed behind her.

Feeling a sudden surge of nervousness, she hurriedly tapped on the door. Jiang Ji's voice rang out once more: "Does the Respected Goddess require anything else?"

"Jiang Ji, stay right outside the door."

"Rest assured, without the Lord's command, no one dares approach this place lightly."

That wasn't what she meant!

"Jiang Ji! Jiang Ji! Don't leave, that's not what I—! Jiang Ji!" Regardless of how she called out, Jiang Ji's footsteps steadily faded until they vanished completely.

The roof of the medicinal spring house was crafted from crystal. Since it was broad daylight under the clear sky, surely he wouldn't dare do anything to her.

Jinli hesitated, lifting her gaze from time to time toward the layers of gauze curtains, terrified that the young man would step out from behind them.

"Since you're here, come inside."

Jinli was startled by the young man's voice.

Feigning composure, she demanded, "If you want to bathe, have Jiang Ji attend to you. Men and women should not touch when passing things."

Yet why was there a faint trace of anticipation lingering in her heart?

How thoroughly perverse.

With that, she turned as if to leave, but was instantly restrained by immortal magic. Suddenly, the young man materialized from amidst the gauze curtains, caught Jinli tightly by the waist, and pulled her toward him with a gentle sweep.

Unprepared, Jinli's hands naturally pressed flat against Gengyuan's bare chest.

Panic instantly overwhelmed her.

"You... what are you doing?"

Clearly flustered as well, the young man immediately released her.

He hastily spun around to conceal his own embarrassment.

"Since you came to serve this lord, then serve properly. What? You don't even know how to wait on someone?"

Jinli was left torn between laughter and tears by his words; in all her long years, she had truly never served anyone.

Seeing the clear mischief in the young man's eyes as he sought to deliberately torment her, she gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! Very well, I shall 'properly' serve you!"

With that, she marched straight toward the medicinal spring.

The spring had already been drawn with warm water, scattered with healing floral petals floating upon the surface. Her brows knitted together as she turned back to glare at the young man. "You're injured?"

Yet the moment the question left her lips, her eyes fell upon the scars on his chest and abdomen.

Gengyuan had always maintained a fine physique—strong yet supple, robust without appearing clumsy, with smooth lines and fair skin. Most importantly, it had been entirely flawless—something she used to adore endlessly.

Yet now, two hideous scars stood out so glaringly.

Her heart clenched painfully in an instant.

For a moment, breathing became a struggle.

The young man's upper robes hung open. Catching the young woman's gaze, he finally reached down to tie the sash around his waist.

"Today, you need only follow this lord's commands. Say no more."

Jinli offered no reply.

It must have hurt terribly.

The young man stepped into the spring water, bracing his arms behind him. Because his garments were thin, once submerged, they clung closely to his skin. At that very moment, the scar on his chest was revealed once more, and just beside it lay a short, tattooed phoenix feather.

She hurriedly averted her gaze in a panic.

Had these injuries tormented him for so long, preventing his body from recovering even after all this time?

"Get in."

Jinli froze upon hearing the young man's command.