Volume Two: Transient Life on Kunlun Chapter Sixty

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I don't know why I asked you for the Mirror of Worlds. I can't explain it. And besides Yun Xiang and myself, I always feel there was someone else living with us in Lianchuan. But I can never remember who. It's just a feeling."

Looking at Jinli's troubled expression, Yemeng felt a surge of guilt.

Could the magic of the God of Memory be flawed? Where did the problem arise?

He patted her shoulder gently and said, "Little Phoenix, the Six Realms are at peace now, you need not worry anymore."

Jinli nodded thoughtfully.

Returning to Lianchuan, everything seemed changed, yet unchanged. She paused on the Lotus Path, gazing into the distance. The lotus flowers swayed gently—it was summer once again.

Why was Yun Xiang not here? Where had she gone?

"My Lady, you’ve returned."

Jinli's body stiffened as she turned, seeing Qisui smiling gently at her.

She smiled back, "I have returned."

Qisui prepared a sumptuous meal for Jinli, even warming a pot of wine.

In the lotus pavilion, Jinli asked, "Why have you come?"

Qisui paused while serving her food, then replied, "Yun Xiang left me a letter, asking me to stay and care for you, My Lady."

"Yun Xiang? She left you a letter?"

Qisui nodded.

Jinli believed her. Qisui dared not meet her gaze, afraid Jinli might see through her thoughts.

Perhaps letting things continue this way was best.

At Tianyu Celestial Mountain, Xiao Ze gazed deep into the sea of clouds. He opened his palm, infused his spiritual power, and the divine artifact shone brilliantly. Then he vanished into the clouds.

He returned to the dream of the past, offering his life as the price. Even if he must immerse himself, he would remain lost in that dream of years gone by...

"Stop right there!"

Jinli shouted angrily at a shifty-eyed youth. Onlookers paused, watching the two in pursuit.

The rat spirit darted around, vanishing into an alley before Jinli could catch up. Dressed in fitted robes and disguised as a young man, Jinli placed her hands on her hips—this rat spirit was truly swift.

Xiao Ze watched Jinli in her youthful form; at this time, she was a young immortal, often descending the mountain. A smile played at his lips.

Jinli quickly formed a spell with her fingers. Blue light shimmered. Seeing no one around, she transformed into mist, and with one hand, seized the rat spirit by the neck.

"Ouch, young master, mercy!"

"Run, then. Keep running."

Jinli twisted his ear. The rat spirit flashed a fawning smile. "Immortal Lord, you look so distinguished. Please, tell me what you desire, and I’ll do it for you."

Jinli smiled, "Is that so?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"I only want you. Come with me."

"Wait, wait, we can talk this over!"

The rat spirit's beady eyes spun, and before Jinli could react, he tried to slip away with a thud. Jinli pointed her fingers, freezing him in place. "Still running?"

Utterly despairing, the rat spirit wailed. This was only his sixth year in human form—how could his illustrious life as a dragon tail end here, caught by a mere young immortal?

When he was finally sealed in Jinli's demon-locking gourd, he cried bitterly.

The gourd swung at the youth’s waist, making Jinli look like a fair and sunny young immortal, drawing the shy admiration of the street’s maidens.

Jinli traveled westward, capturing every beast she encountered along the way.

"Immortal, immortal!"

She stopped, turning at the call. An old woman, trembling and leaning on a cane, approached. Jinli hurried forward, "Grandmother, be careful. What’s wrong?"

"Immortal, please, save my Xiaoxiao, please save her!"

"Don’t worry, grandmother. Tell me slowly."

A waiter from the teahouse nearby interjected, "Immortal, don’t believe her. She’s said this hundreds of times, to every immortal passing through. Not one who tried to help her ever returned alive. I advise you not to get involved."

Jinli looked at the grandmother, her face deeply lined, hair white, eyes dull.

"Please, immortal, help me, help me," she pleaded.

Jinli smiled at the waiter. "Rest assured, nothing will happen."

The old woman thanked her profusely, almost kneeling.

"Grandmother, lead me there."

The old woman walked with Jinli, explaining as they went, "Xiaoxiao is the most obedient granddaughter I’ve ever met. Her parents died in the war, and seeing her pitiful, I took her in. She grew up kind and lovable; everyone in the village liked her. But everything changed when she turned thirteen. That year, many in the village died mysteriously. The authorities investigated but found nothing. So they blamed the outsider—Xiaoxiao. I watched her grow up; how could she have killed anyone? She was so kind, so very kind..."

The old woman wept, murmuring Xiaoxiao’s name.

"How did Xiaoxiao disappear? Where was it?"

"In the valley behind the mountain. That day, she told me she was going to pick herbs for me, but she never returned, not that night nor the next day."

"Was there anything unusual about Xiaoxiao recently?"

"Yes... I remember now. That day, Xiaoxiao was frightened and anxious. She never got angry, but she locked herself in her room and threw things. I thought it was because she was wronged and heartbroken. I never imagined it would be our last moment together."

On a battlefield where countless perished, not even livestock survived—how could a little girl remain?

Jinli pondered. The old woman clutched her sleeve, pointing ahead. "That's the mountain. Xiaoxiao entered and never came back."

Jinli looked up. The path ahead was shrouded in darkness, the trees almost dead despite it being spring. She gazed at the summit, where thick demonic energy lingered.

Xiao Ze watched the young immortal’s profile—yes, this was the memory she left him.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Demons.

Once, the Nine Profound Emperor imprisoned demonic beasts here; even those from the demon realm could not cross. After the Demon God fell asleep, a barrier sealed the valley—the beasts could not leave, nor could mortals enter.

Jinli observed the swirling demonic aura atop the mountain and the towering trees, nearly sentient. Their roots clawed desperately from the earth, like human arms, terrifying to behold.

The valley was eerily strange.

"Grandmother, return home. When I rescue Xiaoxiao, I’ll bring her back."

"Yes, yes!"

Jinli stepped into the valley. At once, a black fog enveloped her like a dark room.

She watched her surroundings warily, ready for anything.

Even the rat spirit in the gourd trembled.

"Young immortal, young immortal, this place is ill-omened. Please, let’s leave."

Jinli smiled, "What, no more thoughts of escape?"

"Survival is more important. You go back, then let me out, alright?"

Jinli admired the thinking of these spirits.

"That depends on whether I can leave."

"Don’t scare me. I was born timid."

A glint flashed in Jinli’s clear eyes. Her gaze deepened, and she leapt forward. The tainted ground was black as blood. Suddenly, a huge serpent burst out, its body gray-blue and mottled, its scarlet tongue flickering, eyes cold and menacing.

The rat spirit was terrified; Jinli faced the mutated serpent calmly, without a trace of fear—only composure.

She conjured blue light.

The serpent, agitated by her magic, lunged at Jinli with gaping jaws. The rat screamed, but Jinli leapt atop the serpent’s head.

"Stop screaming. The more you scream, the more excited it gets. Careful, or you’ll fall and be eaten!"

The rat immediately fell silent.

The serpent shook its head, trying to dislodge Jinli. She spread her hands, forming orchid gestures. Golden arrays appeared, swarming around the serpent. Her celestial mark glimmered between her brows. In an instant, before the serpent could attack, golden threads pierced its body like iron arrows.

After the black smoke cleared, Jinli landed gently, the serpent vanished.

The rat spirit was stunned.

He had survived in the young immortal’s hands.

They entered the valley.

The rat asked, "These are ordinary forest spirits—how did they become demonic beasts?"

"The demonic energy here is overwhelming. Spirits become monsters under its influence."

He anxiously examined himself. "Will I become that ugly?"

"You? No. Unless I die, then who knows."

Again, the rat was shocked. "What do you mean, if you die? Young immortal, nothing must happen to you—my little life is in your hands!"

"You really overestimate me," Jinli said.

The rat chuckled.

Jinli crossed the dense forest to a cave.

"Strange," she murmured.

"What's strange?"

"The demonic energy here is absent. That’s odd."

The rat leapt about in the gourd, excited. "It must be safe! This place must be safe!"

"...Let’s hope so," Jinli replied, uneasy.

The cave was pitch-black. Jinli conjured a talisman into a lamp. Water echoed at her feet. "There’s water here?" she asked the rat.

"Where there’s water, all is well!"

As she emerged, dazzling light blinded her. A flute melody drifted through the air, ethereal and beautiful, filling her heart with joy. All the world’s beauty unfolded before her.

"Ah Jin."

She looked up at the handsome youth before her, his eyes curved in a smile, hand extended.

Step by step, she moved toward him.

The rat spirit in the gourd covered his ears. "What music is this? Awful!"

Looking up, he saw a girl in a black gown on the valley slope, playing the flute. Demonic markings spread from her neck to her face, terrifying, her eyes red, lips crimson.

A demon fetus.

"Hey! Kid, stop! Don’t go forward! It’s an illusion! Hey!"

No matter how the rat shouted, Jinli continued, step by step, into the river.

This was Weak Water—it dissolves all things!

The youth smiled, teeth white, eyes bright. His gentle voice said, "Ah Jin, from now on, I’ll never leave you again. You won’t leave me, will you?"

Jinli nodded, smiling, "I won’t."

Xiao Ze watched the youth in the illusion, eyes narrowed. So it was all prophecy.

The flute stopped. Jinli closed her eyes as Weak Water submerged her face. Her transformation talisman failed, revealing her true form. The rat spirit panicked, bursting from the gourd.

She was a woman!

"What did she see? Why is she unaffected?"

Weak Water dissolved the gourd. The rat transformed into human form, seized Jinli’s sinking body, and slapped her face.

"Ah Jin, I want to take you to see the sea of clouds at sunset, to enjoy summer rain and spring flowers."

"Yes."

A tear fell from Jinli’s eye. The rat caught it, pressed it to his heart, and gritted his teeth: "Fine, if need be, we’ll die together!"

Kunlun Mirror! Come forth!

A huge golden mirror appeared behind them. The rat placed Jinli’s tear inside, formed a spell with his fingers, and chanted, "Kunlun Heavenly Mirror, Dream Barrier, open!"

A sacred light flashed, and the two vanished beneath Weak Water.

The Kunlun Heavenly Mirror, builder of dream barriers, returns one to the past.

A dream within a dream, draining the spirit. Xiao Ze’s expression remained unchanged, even a faint smile at his lips.

His end was near—what harm in dying once more?