Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Forty

She opened her eyes, their lips gently pressed together, blue immortal light passing from his lips into hers, soothing the strange fire deep within her soul.

Yet she did not push him away; their lips merely touched, simple and undemanding.

In the end, she drifted into unconsciousness.

Geng Yuan gazed tenderly at her as she slept soundly in his arms.

After settling Jinli to sleep, he made his way to Xiaoyan’s chamber.

Startled in her half-wakefulness, Xiaoyan was at first alarmed, then bashful upon seeing him. “Young master, why have you come to my room?”

Geng Yuan barely spared her a glance, his blue eyes coldly fixed upon her.

At dawn, Jinli awoke from the most restful sleep she had ever known. The weather was fair, her injuries much improved, and she had even received a cloud-scroll letter from Sang Li.

She replied in kind.

She did not know where Ruixin had gone, nor had she yet found the remaining demonic embryos. If one of them were to hatch successfully, the demon race would descend in full force and disaster would begin anew.

And then there was the demoness she had previously encountered.

“Ajin.”

Jinli turned to see the young man in dark robes smiling at her.

But there was no sign of the elderly woman or her daughter.

“Where are Xiaoyan and the others?”

“I don’t know.” Geng Yuan brought out a tray, “These are all your favorites.”

Jinli glanced at the dishes—indeed, most were the very ones Geng Yuan had prepared for her when they were in Lianchuan.

“They should have at least said something if they were going out.”

“Oh, don’t worry about them. Perhaps they went on a long journey.”

“All their possessions are here. Where could they possibly go?”

Geng Yuan cheerfully picked out food for her.

After their meal, a passing farmer said, “That family moved to the city and won’t be coming back. They asked me to pass along a message.”

They had a son as well, likely in the city.

With this in mind, Jinli let it go.

That afternoon, Jinli tidied her clothing. Though her body was much recovered, her immortal powers had yet to return; she would have to take things one step at a time.

“Ajin, where shall we go next?” Geng Yuan asked.

Jinli gazed at the surrounding green mountains and clear waters. “You should return first. You’ve been away from the Sea Palace for so long—there must be important matters awaiting you.”

Geng Yuan was taken aback. “You… you want me to leave?”

She nodded. “Sea Lord, thank you for saving me last night, and for appearing just in time. Let’s part ways here.”

To her surprise, Geng Yuan looked at her with wounded eyes. “Ajin, do you really want to draw such clear boundaries between us?”

“No, that’s not it. Since you’ve helped me with the gu poison, we can each go our own way from here.”

Suddenly, Geng Yuan pulled Jinli into his arms. “Ajin, you know it’s not that you can’t live without me now, but that I can’t live without you.”

Jinli struggled in his embrace. “Sea Lord, please show some decorum. You’re a man with a betrothal; don’t act so rashly.”

“I’m not. This isn’t rashness. I have no engagement—I never acknowledged it, not from the very beginning. I only love you. In my heart, there is only you, always and forever.”

“I used to wonder if what I felt for you was real, or if it was just the gu poison’s effect. But I was wrong. The poison is gone, yet my feelings only grow stronger. I miss you—I truly do. I like you, very much. Not because of the poison, but because it’s you. Because you are the one.”

Geng Yuan spoke at length. Jinli saw the tears glisten in his eyes, her hand clenching tighter as she looked out to the distant mountains, the rivers, lakes, and seas.

She didn’t know how to respond; she simply couldn’t put it into words.

The Heavenly Emperor had placed Susu at Geng Yuan’s side, intending to keep his power in check—why was the Emperor so wary of him?

Bai Wan had returned to the Celestial Court. What would become of her fate? Would she ever again stay by Geng Yuan’s side? For a year, or three?

Perhaps even a single year was a luxury beyond hope.

Once the Demon God awakened, she would vanish. Such love was never hers to possess. From birth, she had been fated: to love one meant she could not love all.

Yet the youth continued to follow her, silent and steadfast, no matter what she did.

For several months, the two searched the mortal world, finding no sign of Ruixin, nor even a trace of the demonic embryo.

Great Jun City.

Great Jun City, where spring reigned eternal, boasted romantic sea breezes, fragrant blossoms, and greenery climbing over rooftops and eaves. This was one of North Lan’s most splendid places.

Though North Lan was locked in snow most of the year, only here in Great Jun City did flowers bloom and fruits ripen.

“Immortal lady.”

Jinli heard a familiar voice, and on looking up, saw it was indeed Amo. Amo’s sun-bronzed skin made his large eyes shine with spirited clarity as he smiled.

“It really is you—I thought I was mistaken.”

Amo’s smile was as bright as the sun as he looked at Jinli, seemingly unaware of the wary gaze from the man at her side.

Jinli introduced them with a smile, “Amo, this is Geng Yuan.”

“Geng Yuan, this is Amo.”

Geng Yuan nodded slightly, but it was Amo who cheerfully patted him on the arm, laughing, “If you’re a friend of the immortal lady, you’re my friend too, no need to be so formal.”

Geng Yuan’s look of disdain and helplessness was impossible to miss.

Seeing Geng Yuan’s disgruntled expression, Jinli fought back a laugh.

The young man shot her a glare.

Amo led them to a restaurant for a meal. Just as he went to order, Geng Yuan drew close to Jinli and asked, “Who is he? What is your relationship with him?”

Jinli looked him in the eye. “What? Is the Sea Lord jealous?”

Geng Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, brushing off his robes with exaggerated nonchalance. “Me? Jealous? You must be imagining things.”

Jinli raised an eyebrow, watching him stubbornly deny it.

She was curious to see what would happen next.

Sure enough, the very next moment, Geng Yuan leaned closer, muttering, “He doesn’t like you, does he?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Well, you never know.” For once, the young man looked a little childish.

“Hey, why are you two sitting so close? It’s not like North Lan here—it gets hot.”

Jinli, feeling the heat, was about to rise, but Geng Yuan grabbed her arm. “We like sitting this way.”

She shook off his hand, glaring at him and whispering, “If you like it, you sit. I’m hot.”

Geng Yuan was visibly deflated.

At the table, Amo kept serving dishes to Jinli, chatting with her nonstop, leaving Geng Yuan fuming as he stabbed his rice in frustration.

“My friend, do you not like the food?” Amo asked.

Only then did Jinli glance at Geng Yuan, who replied irritably but politely, “It’s good. Very good. Amo, you’ve picked a fine place.”

The sarcasm nearly made Jinli spit out her food.

Oblivious, Amo served Geng Yuan as well, then continued regaling Jinli with stories from his travels over the years.

Geng Yuan rolled his eyes countless times throughout the meal.

Afterward, Amo asked Jinli, “You two don’t have a place to stay yet, do you? Why not stay at my house?”

Geng Yuan was about to refuse, but Jinli beat him to it. “Thank you, we’d appreciate it.”

Amo smiled, completely unaware of the carriage behind them.

Seeing this, Jinli pulled him close, so close their bodies nearly touched. Geng Yuan’s eyes flashed red with jealousy.

“What are you doing?” Geng Yuan snapped, pulling Amo away.

The boy’s sun-browned skin flushed red, and he looked away, not daring to meet Jinli’s eyes. “Thank you… thank you.”

Jinli smiled. “It’s nothing.”

She ignored Geng Yuan entirely.

Geng Yuan was nearly beside himself, racking his brain for a way to get rid of this sun-tanned youth without angering Jinli.

He was an open book, and with this display, it was clear that Amo had feelings for Jinli.

The thought made him even more irritated.

Once at Amo’s mansion, Geng Yuan found fault with him at every turn.

“Sister, the immortal lady is here!” Amo called.

A graceful woman appeared in the corridor, her features gentle beneath her shawl.

She wore a crimson gown and a long blue-green robe, elegant and refined.

“I’ve heard much about you from Amo. It’s an honor to finally meet you, immortal lady.”

“There’s no need for formality, sister. We should apologize for troubling you,” Jinli replied.

A faint smile touched Aran’s lips, her eyes full of warmth.

“Please, come in.”

They passed through the corridor, Jinli’s gaze falling on a distant archery target riddled with holes. “This is…”

“That’s where Amo practices his archery,” Aran explained.

Jinli turned to Amo. “You’re quite skilled.”

The youth blushed instantly.

Geng Yuan muttered under his breath, “Not half as good as me.”

Aran led them to their rooms. “This is the Elegant Courtyard. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do here.”

“You’re too kind, Sister Aran. This is more than enough. Thank you,” Jinli said.

Hearing Aran cough, Amo chided, “Sister, you haven’t taken your medicine again?”

“I know a bit of medicine. May I take your pulse, Sister Aran?” Jinli asked gently.

Aran smiled. “Thank you for your trouble.”

After checking her pulse, Jinli exchanged a glance with Geng Yuan, then smiled, “It’s nothing serious. You’ve caught a chill recently. I’ll write a prescription for you—just be sure not to expose yourself to the wind.”

Aran thanked her, and Amo helped her away. Jinli watched Aran’s frail silhouette, when Geng Yuan quietly asked, “Did you notice anything?”

Jinli nodded. “Sister Aran has no pulse at all. Her hand is not that of the living.”

“Then why?”

“Her spirit must have been stolen.”

“Ruixin is here?”

Jinli nodded.

Ruixin, though newly reborn as a demon lord, had consumed so many immortals’ spirits that she could barely digest them. Wounded by Jinli and Geng Yuan, she would now seek a new body to recover.

Midnight crept in. Jinli sat by her window, painting talismans by cloud-shrouded moonlight.

“What do you plan to do?”

“Retrieve Aran’s spirit, of course. Otherwise, if this continues, Aran and Ruixin will become one—and that would be disastrous.”

Geng Yuan nodded. Just then, a scream rang out from Aran’s room.

They both vanished in a swirl of smoke.

By the dim candlelight, grotesque shadows danced behind the silk door, blood staining the fabric. Amo had crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down his face as he watched countless threads devour his sister.

“Amo!”

Amo turned at the sound of Jinli’s voice, and his tears fell all the harder. “Immortal lady!”

Jinli embraced him as he sobbed, “My sister, save my sister!”

“Geng Yuan.”

Geng Yuan strode forward, hands flying as he formed seals. Within the golden array, blue light twined and spun. In an instant, the formation whirled, gold light sucking in tendrils of black-red demonic energy.

A terrible scream echoed from behind the silk door.

Suddenly, crimson threads burst through the barrier like living wires, lunging at the three outside.

Jinli, fingers poised, invoked a blue talisman fire, instantly burning the threads to ash.

From behind the door staggered a figure. As her shawl slipped away, her face was marred by hideous demonic patterns, her eyes glowing red.

“Sister!”

“Amo!”

Jinli gripped Amo’s hand tightly as the golden formation continued to spin, suppressing the demon energy. “Aran” lunged at Geng Yuan, each strike aimed to kill.

“Sister!” Amo cried.

Jinli cupped Amo’s face, speaking earnestly: “That’s not Aran. She isn’t your sister.”

With a flourish, Jinli summoned a golden formation in her palm. All around them, arrays flared into being, unleashing golden wires sharp enough to slice through iron.

The wires bound “Aran” in midair, rendering her immobile.

Everything fell silent.

Amo ran to “Aran,” crying, “Sister, wake up—it’s me, Amo!”

But “Aran” was gone, her red eyes fixed on Amo as if she would devour him the next instant.

Within Aran’s body, Ruixin’s consciousness awakened. Using Aran’s face, she smiled coldly. “You think such paltry formations can bind me? The Demon God will soon awaken—and this world ruled by immortals will end.”

Jinli’s fingers shimmered with blue flame. “Leave Aran’s body.”

“Aran? You think this foolish woman can be saved? She was dying anyway. I let her live these extra days. What harm is there in her offering up a bit of her spirit?”

Jinli said nothing. Beside her, Amo’s tears had ceased. Instead, he looked at Aran with sorrow and compassion. “Yes, Sister should have died long ago… She was never meant for this world…”