Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Twenty-Two

At that moment, Qi Sui stood frozen, unsure of what to do. He looked at the young man in black before him, then at Lady Jinli, and finally understood everything.

Geng Yuan’s eyes burned red, disbelief and anger mingling in his gaze, though he managed to compose himself before questioning Jinli, “Who is he?”

Jinli clearly had no intention of answering. “Why have you returned?”

“I asked you—who is he!?” Geng Yuan roared, startling Qi Sui.

Jinli ignored his question. She patted Qi Sui’s hand and asked softly, “Are you hurt?”

Qi Sui shook his head, answering gently, “A’Li, I’m fine. Are you hurt?”

Jinli shook her head as well, raising her hand to touch his face. All of these actions unfolded under Geng Yuan’s gaze, leaving him in utter disbelief. How long had he been gone? And now there was another man at Jinli’s side, someone who addressed her so intimately.

Was it possible that, unable to withstand the effects of the Beauty Gu, Jinli had carelessly chosen a lowly spirit from the mortal realm?

This thought sent endless ripples through Geng Yuan’s mind.

He was livid. “What did you just call her?”

Qi Sui looked at him. The man’s face was strikingly handsome—so much so that envy stirred in one’s heart. But recalling Jinli’s recent suffering and now her injury, he could not bear to be angry. He frowned, but before he could speak, Jinli cut in, “Geng Yuan, if you want to lose your mind, do it elsewhere. Lianchuan has no room for your tantrums.”

Geng Yuan paid her no heed, staring straight at Qi Sui. He brushed past Jinli and seized Qi Sui by the collar. “Who gave you the right to call her that? You think you’re worthy!?”

Jinli felt a splitting headache. Sensing her discomfort, Qi Sui broke free of Geng Yuan’s grip and supported Jinli. “A’Li, are you alright?”

Was it really just the Beauty Gu? How could she be so weak?

Their soft exchange grated on Geng Yuan, stinging him deeply.

“Make him leave. I don’t want to see him.”

Qi Sui turned to the sullen Geng Yuan. “You should go. The Lady doesn’t want to see you.”

Geng Yuan’s gaze shifted from Jinli to Qi Sui. His voice was cold. “And who do you think you are, meddling in my affairs?”

“I...” Qi Sui’s face flushed with anger.

Jinli spoke. “And who do you think you are?”

Geng Yuan was stunned, a mixture of shock, confusion, anger, and a strange longing for the woman before him swelling in his chest.

“What did you just say?”

Jinli met his gaze and repeated, “Geng Yuan, who do you think you are? Aren’t you back at the Southern Sea, enjoying your glory as the Lord of the Seas? Your great revenge is complete—so what are you doing here?”

Geng Yuan faltered. “How... How do you know all this?”

Who had told her these things?

Jinli looked him straight in the eye. “That’s none of your concern. Since you’ve returned, it’s just as well—there are things that need to be made clear, to avoid trouble later.” She sighed lightly, then spoke slowly. “Let’s end this. I know this is what you, Lord of the Seas, desire as well. Rest assured, I won’t trouble you, and I ask that you not trouble me again.”

Qi Sui could feel Jinli trembling beside him. How deep must her disappointment run, to speak so coldly?

It seemed the rumors were true, that everything between this striking young man and Jinli had indeed come to pass.

“What do you mean by that? Speak clearly.”

The youth’s face was dark as he questioned her again.

“Is it not clear? There’s nothing between us anymore. From now on, Lianchuan has no ties to you, Lord of the Seas! You can be your lord; I shall be my empress. We are severed from each other, and isn’t that for the best?”

No debts owed? What a phrase—no debts owed.

Geng Yuan had never expected she would be the one to end it between them.

He had thought, once it was over, he would simply leave and end their relationship. Yet this poison—how strange! Even after taking the antidote, every day and every night felt as though the Beauty Gu was still at work.

Inside, countless voices clamored: He wanted to see her; he had to see her.

Geng Yuan let out a bitter, mocking laugh. What was wrong with him? Skipping out on his coronation to brew rice wine for her, all just to see her once more.

And now, having seen her, there was no joy—only an ending.

Anger and frustration churned within him. He looked at Qi Sui and sneered, “Jinli, I was gone for so little time, and you couldn’t bear the loneliness? You just picked up a random lowly spirit from the mortal realm? Can he satisfy you?”

“Geng Yuan, don’t judge others by your own petty heart. Qi Sui isn’t what you imagine—he’s nothing like you.”

“Oh? Nothing like me? Jinli, your taste is getting worse and worse,” Geng Yuan retorted, showing no mercy. “Can’t stand to be without a man by your side, can you?”

“...You... Get out!” Qi Sui was shaking with rage.

“This is between her and me.” Geng Yuan’s fist struck Qi Sui square in the face.

Jinli gasped in shock. Qi Sui’s face swelled instantly—Geng Yuan had not held back.

Jinli stepped forward and slapped Geng Yuan hard across the face—a crisp, resounding blow. Her words rang with anger and disappointment. “Geng Yuan, there is nothing between us anymore. I can be with whoever I please—it’s none of your business!”

“What did you say?” Geng Yuan was visibly furious.

Jinli faced him without fear. “I said, my affairs are none of your concern.”

“I trusted you—I trusted you so much, and yet you...” She stopped, unable to finish, the words stuck in her throat. Her eyes reddened as she drew a shaky breath. “I didn’t kill you; that’s mercy enough. Why are you here? Get out! The farther you go, the better!”

Qi Sui’s heart ached inexplicably at her words. Jinli’s voice trembled, her eyes filled with hatred. When she finished, she added, “I never want to see you again in my life. Let’s part on good terms.”

Geng Yuan looked up, his eyes red, tears welling and finally spilling over. “What do you mean, part on good terms? What do you mean, leave? And what then? After I leave, so you can be with him, so you can make room for him?!”

“Yes!”

Geng Yuan glared furiously at Qi Sui.

But Qi Sui was an outsider—she couldn’t let him be hurt. So she said, “Qi Sui, go back first. I’ll find you later.”

“Don’t you dare!” Geng Yuan roared.

Jinli no longer paid him any mind.

Qi Sui hesitated for a long moment, but finally, with many backward glances, he left.

Night fell, silent as the grave.

The wind stirred their sleeves. Geng Yuan’s breathing, ragged with anger, was all that broke the stillness of the dark. His chest heaved, and his eyes burned red.

Jinli slowly closed her eyes, her brow furrowing as the pain of the Star Punishment and the agony of the Beauty Gu tore through her from the marrow. Wiping tears from her face, she slumped weakly beneath a tree, twirling a leaf between her fingers.

Her clear gaze was weary.

“Geng Yuan, we are not suitable for each other.”

Geng Yuan lowered his head. “Not suitable? I was only gone a few days. The moment I returned, you tell me it’s over; the moment I return, you say we’re not suitable. If we were so unsuitable, why did you have me stay? Why did you keep telling me you liked me? I was gone just a few days, and now you like someone else. How cheap your feelings are.”

“Yes, so cheap that they could only be sustained by the Beauty Gu. Every ounce of my affection for you—all of it, from the start—was because of the Beauty Gu.”

The Beauty Gu? She knew? How could she know? Who had told her?