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

She hurriedly pressed her palms together, then shifted into an orchid gesture. A golden array of runes appeared, and golden light instantly enveloped the entire demonic cocoon. But Jin Li, who was right before her, could clearly see cracks forming on the cocoon.

The Soul Binding Array was useless; the runes slowly shattered.

She no longer cared, preferring to risk complete annihilation rather than let the creatures of the six realms be plunged into calamity.

"Xuan Yin!"

Her palm transformed into blue flames, which took the shape of a long sword in her grasp. Her gaze turned golden; she formed seals with her left hand, wielded the sword in her right, and struck directly at the cocoon.

Blue fire collided with the cocoon, instantly destroying all the silver threads around, burning them to ash.

A resounding clang echoed; Jin Li's hand was numbed by the shock, the Xuan Yin sword trembled faintly, yet the demonic cocoon remained untouched.

What kind of demonic creature was this, so hard and unyielding?

With that thunderous crash, the cocoon slowly opened. Purple demonic light seeped out, and through the purple mist, a pair of tender hands pushed diligently at the cocoon from within, struggling to emerge.

A very young, adorable face appeared.

Large, watery eyes examined Jin Li, then smiled, revealing a charming dimple.

Was this a demonic fetus?

The mark on its forehead was unmistakable—but why?

Without hesitation, Jin Li formed a seal and knocked the little creature unconscious.

She cradled the boy, riding the wind to perch atop the eaves.

Ah Hu approached, poking the boy's plump cheek. "What is this?"

"You're not worried it's poisonous?" Jin Li said, startling Ah Hu into a quick retreat. Beside them, Ah Jing suppressed a barely noticeable smile.

Jin Li glanced at the courtyard. With a wave of her hand, blue flames eradicated the remaining demonic creatures; the massive cocoon vanished, dissipating into black smoke.

"Immortal Master, where did you cultivate?" someone asked.

Jin Li replied offhandedly, "Penglai."

Ah Hu immediately showed respect. "I've always wanted to go to Penglai, but I lack the immortal root."

Jin Li grew weary of his chatter and found an excuse. "Brother Ah Hu, I have important matters to attend to. I won't be traveling with you—farewell."

She transformed into mist and departed.

Ah Jing watched the figure vanish into the sky, then turned alert eyes to Ah Hu. "How are the troops?"

Ah Hu smiled. "Master, rest assured. The city's forces are at your command."

Ah Jing nodded. The two mounted their horses and rode off into the night, hooves echoing in the darkness.

Jin Li brought the boy to Jin Cheng, the High God of the Southern Wilds.

Jin Cheng looked at the boy and immediately agreed to take him in, claiming they were fated.

Eighty thousand years had passed since the Demon God was sealed; she had only found one demonic fetus among the six realms. Five remained, and she could only search slowly.

When she returned to the mortal world, another five years had gone by.

A new ruler ascended, abolished old customs, and enacted new policies. Amidst the restoration and prosperity, the Moon Kingdom grew ever more thriving.

Walking the streets, she listened to storytellers extolling the new monarch. Upon reflection, Bai Wan Ting was not so remarkable after all. On a moonless, windy night, she transformed herself and entered the palace.

Compared to before, the palace at night was even more austere and silent, with faint sounds of servants keeping watch. She became mist and arrived at Bai Wan Ting's quarters. Now still a lowly maid, Bai Wan Ting sat alone by the well, washing clothes in the cold night, clearly not faring well in the palace.

In this life, she would grow old in solitude within the palace.

Only after tasting all seven human sufferings could her soul be restored.

Judging by the trend, in another hundred years Bai Wan Ting would awaken.

Jin Li turned to mist and left once more.

South Sea, Bu Zhou Hall.

Jiang Ji's expression was somber. He studied Geng Yuan's demeanor, planning how to deliver the news without angering the Sea Lord.

Geng Yuan gazed at a scroll, not raising his eyes as he asked, "How is it?"

Jiang Ji decided to be direct. "Your Majesty, the Lady... her trail has vanished."

Geng Yuan froze, slowly lifted his head, his eyes filled with inscrutable emotion. At last, he laid the scroll aside. "Leave me."

Jiang Ji bowed and withdrew.

She was gone. Once again, she had disappeared.

Would she return? Would he ever see her again?

Frost and snow descended upon the mortal world, bringing both cold and warmth. Jin Li watched the joyful faces in every street and alley; tonight was New Year's Eve. She no longer remembered how many years had passed.

Just then, a burning pain flared in her chest, setting off alarms. The Beauty Gu had relapsed.

She hurriedly swallowed the medicine she carried—her own concoction. Though it could not cure the Gu's toxicity completely, it eased it somewhat.

Yet, over the years, the Beauty Gu had become more frequent and painful, each episode pushing her to the brink of collapse. Again and again, she wondered if she should seek out Li Qing Mo, but she lacked the courage to ask for medicine.

The poison was ignoble, perhaps one day she could discover the antidote herself.

Sweat trickled down her nose, growing damp; she wiped it away, but blood flowed unstoppably from her nostrils, blurring her vision.

Besides the antidote, the best cure for the Beauty Gu was Geng Yuan—but even if she died, she would never seek him again.

She instantly transformed her energy into divine essence. If this continued, not only would her heart be consumed, but her soul could risk annihilation.

She fainted once more.

At dawn, she awoke from the cold, vision blurred. Upon rising, her hands and feet were icy, almost corpse-like, only warming after she fully awoke.

The Gu's poison had penetrated deep into her lungs. Although she used the Purifying Crystal to cleanse it, this was no long-term solution. She could only endure alone.

Just then, the door burst open, startling her. Though she now had a man's form, this intrusion felt unnecessary—so much for privacy.

The innkeeper and his assistant entered.

"What is it?" the innkeeper asked. Jin Li could only see his mouth move. She smiled, "Sir, please speak up; there's no need for such games."

The two exchanged glances. The assistant asked, "Guest, are you alright?"

Jin Li smiled lightly, pushing herself up from the floor. "I'm fine. May I ask why you sought me?"

The innkeeper replied kindly, "Recently, monsters have been appearing often. Please be careful. But don't worry, we've invited an immortal master from the sect to protect the inn, so please rest easy."

Jin Li nodded, watching them leave.

As they descended the stairs, she overheard their conversation.

"Boss, maybe you heard wrong?"

"Impossible. He cried out in pain last night—he must be injured."

"Are you suspecting he's...?"

"Shh, who knows? He's hurt so badly—you saw the blood on the floor and his clothes. Maybe it was a vendetta. I just have this little inn, and I can't let enemies ruin it."

"But you shouldn't make up monster stories. What if they're real?"

"As long as he leaves on his own, that's fine."

Jin Li glanced at her clothes—indeed, bloodstains everywhere, drops pooling on the floor. She quickly cleaned up the blood and bathed, changed clothes, and prepared to leave.

At checkout, the innkeeper wore a broad smile. Her vision blurred, flickering in and out; she shook her head, and after a while, it cleared.

Her limbs felt powerful as she reached the city gate, mounted her gray donkey, head heavy and ears filled with whistling wind. Finally, silence fell, and she heard nothing at all.

Alarmed, she checked her pulse—the Gu poison had invaded her lungs; could it affect her senses as well?

Such a strange Gu.

Would she die?

She didn't know when she drifted into sleep, only that when she awoke, she was in a forest, shadowed and cool. She saw her donkey tied to a tree, grazing.

"Truly a wise choice; it even knew to place me in the shade."

But what she didn't realize was that she herself had chosen this spot, arriving here on her own, though she couldn't recall it.

The gourd no longer held wine, but water from the Purifying Spring.

She gazed at the wildflowers and mountain meadows, began to cast divinations.

Thus, she rode her donkey, searching for the true meaning of becoming a divine maiden, hoping to resolve the remainder of her life.

She wandered alone in mountain streams; the icy spring water brought chills as she approached, making her shiver. Perhaps her body was weaker than before, now so sensitive to cold.

Spring County.

No wonder, surrounded on all sides by mountains, lush and tranquil. She took the form of a young man, dressed simply, and entered the county with her donkey. Despite the picturesque scenery, the town was eerily deserted.

She could count the few people on the distant streets; she wondered if her luck was good or bad. There must be some evil spirit here, though its nature and strength were unknown.

The most crucial question was whether it would be stronger than her.

She was not one to bully the weak or fear the strong, but if things became dire, she could always call for reinforcements.

Linshan Inn.

She tethered her donkey to a tree stump outside the inn, lifted her robe with one hand, and stepped forward to knock on the door. After a long while, there was no response; she knocked again, and after another pause, a voice sounded from within, "Who is it?"

"Innkeeper, lodging."

The door slowly opened a crack; she smiled, "Innkeeper, lodging."

"Young master, where are you from?"

"I'm from... Shengjing, traveling here. Seeing it's late, I seek a place to rest."

The crack closed, then reopened after a while. She saw the innkeeper's face—a goatee, squinting eyes, wrinkles etched deep, dressed in simple patched clothes.

He led her inside, casting furtive glances. Her simple garb, plain silver hairpin holding half her dark hair, a few strands falling across her face from the journey. The youth before him was slender and frail, skin pale, appearing so weak that anyone could easily knock him down.

Very safe—unlikely to cause trouble.

"Innkeeper, business is hard these days, isn't it?"

Jin Li observed the inn's courtyard, surrounded by rooms, with a few tables outside, all covered in dust. All this time, she'd only seen the innkeeper.

He took out a key and sighed, "Monsters reign these days; business is naturally poor."

"Young master, you said you're from Shengjing?"

"Yes."

He led her upstairs, chatting as they went. "Shengjing is my hometown, but... we can never return."

"Why?"

"Young master, here's your room. Call for me if you need anything. Rest now, and don't wander at night."

He didn't answer her question, merely opened the door and handed her the key, giving a few instructions before leaving.

The room was simple—a bed, a round table with a tea set, and windows facing east and south, letting in the setting sun. The musty air suggested it hadn't been cleaned in ages.

She closed the door, waved her sleeve, instantly making the room clean and tidy. She sat at the table, took a Purifying Pill, then closed her eyes, refining the pill into her divine essence.

Mist-like immortal energy swirled around her. After a while, she opened her eyes, feeling strength return. She opened the door and walked along the corridor, where pear blossoms were carved into the wooden railings. She called, "Innkeeper."

After a moment, he hurried out. "What is it?"

"What good food do you have?"

After so long on the road, she was truly hungry.

He beamed, "Tonight we have roast chicken." Turning to leave, he asked, "Young brother, can you drink? Shall I warm you a pot of wine?"

She hadn't drunk in ages, and her body was now incapable. She replied apologetically, "Sorry, innkeeper, I can't drink."

He showed no surprise, simply sang a little tune as he went to the kitchen.

He was a kind man.

She gazed at the distant mountain peaks where the sunset slowly sank, red as a heated iron disc, descending between the ridges.

She stood for a while. After some time, the innkeeper brought the meal, and she caught the aroma.

"Young brother, try it."

She picked up a piece of chicken—crispy outside, tender within, spicy and flavorful, truly excellent.

"It's delicious."

The innkeeper rose, smiling. "Eat more if you like."

Then he turned, and his smile gradually faded, eyes reddening with guilt and remorse.

When he turned, Jin Li had collapsed at the table.

He tidied up the dishes, muttering, "Young brother, please don't blame me. I promise to burn incense for you, so you may reincarnate soon."