Volume Two: The Ephemeral Life of Kunlun Chapter Seventy-Three

Tian Yu curled her lips into a contemptuous smile. “The true tragedy of the Great Dao is having the likes of you.”

Jiang Man slowly withdrew her hand. Tian Yu closed her eyes, silently praying that Jing Ye would come. Of course she feared death—who wouldn’t? Yet as her heartbeat slowed, there was still no sound, not even a voice urging them to stop. Nothing.

A mere mortal in the sacred realm of immortals and gods, she finally understood how her existence was nothing but a joke—dispensable, insignificant.

Silence enveloped her.

When Tian Yu opened her eyes, her vision was blurred, but she still glimpsed the elegant, handsome silhouette of the divine lord. She tried to speak but found herself unable; she reached for the immortal sash at his waist, only to realize she could not move at all.

What was happening to her?

“Tian Yu.”

Jing Ye called her name, worried and anxious. When she looked up, his eyes held endless exhaustion and deep, aching tenderness.

How had she returned? Had Jing Ye saved her?

Once she recovered, Jing Ye fed her medicine. He was as gentle as ever, unchanged by time.

After she drank the medicine, Jing Ye took her hand and spoke earnestly, “Tian Yu, you need not fear. I will protect you.”

Protect her? Yes—because of Jing Ye, she no longer had to be afraid.

Her hand was covered in crisscrossed scars, hideous to behold. Had Jiang Man spared her life? Or was it Jing Ye’s timely intervention?

After Tian Yu rested, Jing Ye left the chamber.

Yu Suwen saw him emerge and asked with concern, “Jing Ye, are you all right? Should you rest?”

Jing Ye avoided her extended hand and asked, “How is the situation?”

“Lord Qingyu still refuses to yield.”

Jing Ye had exhausted half his cultivation, and with the great battle imminent, what could be done?

“The sacred realm must not be divided at a time like this. Ask him what he wants.”

Yu Suwen’s voice rose, tinged with reproach. “Jing Ye, that’s enough. She’s just a mortal—are you really going to trade one life for another? Divine lords may cherish women, but as a god, you must not bow your head so easily.”

“If you won’t go, I will ask myself.”

Yu Suwen grabbed Jing Ye’s hand. “Do you think asking will save that mortal? Jing Ye, wake up! You’ve been bewitched by her—your mind is clouded!”

“No! Jiang Man abused her first—she only resisted!”

“Resisted? Even you don’t believe that. A mere mortal, barely breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage—how could she have the strength to fight back?”

Jing Ye fell silent.

He truly didn’t know how to explain.

Now, everyone in the sacred realm had seen Tian Yu, drenched in blood, carrying Jiang Man’s severed head out from the dueling platform, passing through the Cloud Path and the Jade Pool, leaving a trail of blood. No one knew whether more was hers or Jiang Man’s. She went to the Alchemy Hall, mercilessly tossed Jiang Man’s head into the Fire Sun Cauldron, and unleashed karmic fire.

Jiang Man’s soul inside wailed and cursed, then pleaded, finally falling silent.

Tian Yu fainted.

Jiang Man’s soul burned to ashes.

Tian Yu had wanted Jiang Man utterly destroyed.

When Jing Ye arrived, Tian Yu lay on the ground, soaked in blood, clutching crushed relic powder.

Jiang Man was gone—she could never harm Tian Yu again.

The immortal maidens who witnessed it were sent to the mortal realm, but Mu Qing Palace refused to let matters rest.

Afterwards, the Fate Keeper reported that two immortal maidens had met misfortune.

Originally, it was not unusual for two immortal maidens to have trouble, but this time, it was connected to Tian Yu.

Their deaths mirrored Jiang Man’s. Night Eternal was a nightmare for immortals, and Weak Water was the forbidden water.

The sacred realm forbade the keeping of Weak Water, yet it was found on the maidens.

Someone threatened them with the water—one couldn’t endure and jumped into Night Eternal behind her, another struggled and was corroded by Weak Water, reduced to bones.

And all of this was linked to Tian Yu.

Jing Ye spoke calmly, “I will answer for myself to the divine lord, but no one may touch Tian Yu.” He glanced at Yu Suwen, his voice cold. “You should not come here again—stay away from Tian Yu.”

With that, the young divine lord strode away, his pale moon sash billowing in the wind along the Cloud Path.

Tian Yu’s health gradually recovered. Recently, Junhua Palace was empty of immortal maidens—only she remained, even Yun Yi and Xi Nian were gone. Jing Ye said it was so she could properly heal.

She sat alone beneath the pear tree, its white petals pristine as snow—like the New Year’s night she spent in the mortal world.

Jing Ye approached, carrying medicine, gazing at her tenderly.

“Jing Ye, what year is it in the mortal world tonight?”

“A hundred years have passed—it’s like an era of change for the mortal realm.”

“Is our solitary dwelling still there?”

“It is. The flowers bloom even more beautifully, and your lotus pond flourishes.”

Tian Yu smiled, sipping the medicine Jing Ye had brought. After drinking, she gazed at the distant horizon, lost in thought.

Jing Ye embraced her. “Tian Yu, I will protect you. I will always be behind you. You can trust me.”

Tian Yu had no doubts.

Unbeknownst to her, Jing Ye’s heart was filled with guilt as well as pain.

“Is there a war coming?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful. I’ll wait for your return.”

“All right. Wait for me.”

Tian Yu watched as Jing Ye donned his battle armor, making him appear even more majestic—a true god clad in light.

She continued her routine in Junhua Palace—three meals a day, gazing at stars and clouds, hoping the Fate Keeper would bring news of Jing Ye.

Because of her last injury, each day she drank medicine and coughed up blood, as if it had become a habit.

Junhua Palace seemed to have become a cold palace—no one remained but her.

She could not even leave her chambers, sitting all day in her rocker.

Had she finally reached the end of her strength?

But she still could not let go of Jing Ye.

The great battle raged on, and one day a visitor arrived at Junhua Palace.

Yu Suwen’s eyes were filled with innocence and concern. She supported Tian Yu, speaking gently, “Sister is injured—of course, as your elder, I should visit. But these days, some matters aren’t settled, so I must ask your forgiveness.”

“No matter. For the Saintess to remember the mortal in Junhua Palace is thanks enough.”

Perhaps she did not love Jing Ye, but Tian Yu thought they could be friends, even sisters.

“My cultivation has recovered. Sister, you wish to cultivate immortality—why not try today? There is a wondrous water in the sacred realm; a mortal who drinks it can channel spiritual essence, transform their body, and ascend. Immerse yourself in it, and you will be reborn, made an immortal.”

“Saintess, you jest. If such a place existed, why would Jing Ye—the divine lord—not tell me?”

Yu Suwen smiled. “He has been with you for so long. His heart is for the world, but especially for you. Perhaps he is saving it as a surprise after the war. He told me you mean a great deal to him.”

Tian Yu smiled, suspecting nothing. It did seem like something Jing Ye would do.

The two traveled to a place far from the sacred realm—a waterway below, dark blue and deep, radiating spiritual energy, thin mist rising like a spring.

Yu Suwen smiled, “Here it is. Go on, wondrous water will cleanse you, and you will be transformed.”

“Jump in, and you will become immortal.”

Tian Yu tested the water with her hand, but instantly her fingers felt as if burned by fire, polluted energy purged from her fingertips.

But it hurt.

“What’s wrong?”

“This water—hurts.”

Yu Suwen curiously dipped her hand in, but appeared unfazed. As a Saintess, her body was pure, free of impurities.

“No pain—perhaps because you are a mortal, the spiritual water reacts against you. But it’s fine, immerse yourself and cleanse your body.”

Maybe it really was that her impurity was too strong.

She gritted her teeth and stepped in. At once she felt searing fire burning her, as if her flesh was being scalded.

She opened her eyes, pain flooding her body.

The clear water turned crimson.

Fragments of flesh floated up—were they hers?

Terrified, she tried to escape, but Yu Suwen restrained her with immortal magic.

Her bones became bare and white.

Yu Suwen’s gentle face twisted into something monstrous. “Hahaha, do you know what this water is? This is Weak Water! Hahaha, mortals truly are foolish!”

Tian Yu was stunned. “What do you mean?”

She had read in the Demon Palace’s library that Weak Water was water of the dead, icy and corrosive, dissolving all things. Immortals shunned it; demon cultivators revered it.

Yu Suwen toyed with her fingers, speaking carelessly. “I worried you wouldn’t come—but as soon as I mentioned Jing Ye, you believed everything.”

It was like thunder crashing down. Tian Yu’s body no longer felt pain, only cold—sharp, bone-deep cold.

“Does Jing Ye know?”

Her question sounded absurd, making Yu Suwen laugh loudly. “Of course he knows. He knows everything.”

He knew. He knew everything.

He knew her grievances, her troubles.

Yet he only repeated that he would handle it.

In the end, nothing changed, but she still foolishly believed him.

Junhua Palace became her prison; she could not go anywhere.

And Jing Ye, knowing everything, watched from the sidelines, never intervening until the situation was dire.

He was a cold observer, while she still rejoiced in secret.

She was nothing but a fool.

Yu Suwen eyed the girl’s delicate beauty, curled her lips in a sneer, and pressed her deeper into the Weak Water with immortal magic.

The girl struggled, blood spreading everywhere.

Yu Suwen felt nothing but endless delight.

By the banks of the Li River.

The immortal clan of the sacred realm dwelled here.

Jing Ye felt an uneasy stir in his heart—the mark he had placed on Tian Yu. Panic seized him. With the battle in a lull, Shi Xin would not attack yet.

He turned into mist and rushed back to Junhua Palace.

But it was empty—no one inside or out.

He searched everywhere, finally hearing cries at Moonview Palace.

Countless heavenly soldiers rushed with weapons.

“What happened?”

“Reporting, Divine Lord—a demoness has invaded the sacred realm. Saintess Yu Su has met with misfortune.”

Demoness?

He flashed to Moonview Palace and witnessed a horrifying scene.

Walking skeletons, crimson blood soaking the white jade path, terror everywhere.

From the bones, new flesh grew, soon forming legs.

It was Tian Yu.

A gloomy girl, now with demonic eyes and markings, seized the helpless Yu Suwen, who could not move within the demonic energy.

Yu Suwen saw Jing Ye and reached out desperately for help.

“...Jing Ye...save me.”

Jing Ye ignored everything else, pointing a sigil at the demonic energy.

Tian Yu turned, coldly glaring at him.

Jing Ye’s eyes reddened—was it pain or disbelief?

How had his Tian Yu become like this?

Her face was streaked with blood.

Yu Suwen collapsed, gasping for breath.

“Jing Ye! Quick! Kill her! She’s a demoness! Hurry!”

How could Tian Yu be a demoness?

“Tian Yu.”

Jing Ye’s voice trembled, trying to call her back to reason.

But Tian Yu’s smile was wicked. “Divine Lord, are you here to save someone today?”

Jing Ye walked toward her, slowly. “I am here to save you.”

Yu Suwen tried to flee, but Tian Yu gave her no chance—she raised her hand and dragged Yu Suwen before her.

“No!” Jing Ye shouted.