Volume Three: Unrestrained by Fate, Chapter 114

The army trailing the carriage, however, seemed to have come with less than friendly intentions. It looked rather like they were here to pick a fight.

The young man beside Jin Li exchanged a glance with her, then remarked, "Is this the person you are planning to marry?"

He was still angry.

"I am not."

The youth curled his lip in a haughty display of pique, then crossed his arms, looking quite smug. "I shall see for myself just what kind of person is worthy of catching your eye."

"I am not."

Jin Li knew that any further explanation would be futile; the youth had already made up his mind that she intended to marry that man. She was speechless, yet there was a certain charm in watching him act so jealous and possessive. He was rather cute.

The youth, his face dark, commanded, "The path to the main hall ahead—dismount."

At least he had the courtesy to say "please." But it was still laced with the scent of gunpowder.

Jin Li stepped down, scanning the area casually. Just then, someone spoke softly, "In that case, let us proceed on foot."

The voice sounded incredibly familiar. Surely it couldn't be such a coincidence—that would be too melodramatic, wouldn't it?

Indeed, a pale, slender hand gently parted the carriage curtain. A man stepped out, wearing a veil. He had delicate features and dark hair pulled back neatly, with not a single stray strand on his forehead. He wore a moon-white long robe over an inner garment the color of starlight. The wide sleeves of his robe gave him an ethereal, fluttering grace.

As he raised his slender hand, an attendant stepped forward to support him. He did indeed look frail and sickly.

Jin Li and Geng Yuan, both dressed in fitted martial attire with their hands behind their backs, moved closer. Jin Li whispered to Geng Yuan, "Look at that—the men of Shanjin City truly dress like the picture of a virtuous husband."

At this, Geng Yuan immediately grew displeased and let out a cold huff. "Hmph. So, is that why you like this kind of pretty boy, Sister?"

Jin Li fell silent, realizing she shouldn't have said that. By then, Si Mu had descended from the carriage, his gaze landing directly on Jin Li. "Greetings, Lady. It has been a long time."

*A long time?* Jin Li wanted to ask if they had ever met. She glanced at the glowering youth beside her and couldn't quite describe his expression; it looked as if he were asking, *You two have met before?*

Jin Li gave an awkward laugh. "I am afraid I don't quite understand what you mean, Master Si Mu?"

Si Mu bowed slightly, his hands pressed together at his waist, and smiled faintly. "Outside the city gates that day, when the carriages collided, it was you who saved me, Lady."

"Oh, it's you!" Jin Li's confusion vanished, replaced by a smile. "I saw you were injured that day. Are you feeling better?"

Si Mu blushed, the tips of his ears turning a soft red. "Much better, thank you for your concern, Lady."

The youth beside them coughed several times to assert his presence, but the two were deep in conversation, completely oblivious to the fact that someone’s jealousy had overflowed.

"I came under the cover of night because I heard of the sudden tragedy in Shanjin City—that the City Lord is missing and the military forces are depleted. I have brought a million troops from my mother’s clan to assist you, Lady."

"Very well, thank you."

"You are too kind, Lady. As we are betrothed, it is only right that I do so."

"Hey!"

The youth could no longer contain himself and barked out a shout, startling Jin Li. She hadn't been paying attention to what Si Mu said next, focused only on the military matters. With the Great Princess’s remnants still potentially rebelling, the City Lord missing, and Lord Sinian out searching for him, only she and Geng Yuan remained in the city with the magical power to resist the demonic miasma. Having an army was, indeed, for the best. They could not fight against mortal flesh and blood alone.

Jin Li turned to him and asked, "What is the matter?"

Si Mu finally noticed the young man standing beside Jin Li. He was handsome and noble, his brows filled with heroic spirit. Beyond that, his presence was powerful; he wore black martial attire with his hair tied in a high ponytail. Beneath his bangs, his dark, deep eyes were clouded with gloom.

He was staring straight at him. Si Mu felt a slight pang of surprise, but upon glancing at the Lady, he understood everything. Despite the difference in their stature, Si Mu raised his hands in a polite gesture.

"Greetings, Young Master." He then smiled brightly. "I was so caught up in speaking with the Lady that I failed to notice you. Please forgive me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and cough.

*This man is doing it on purpose.* The rage in Geng Yuan’s heart flared up instantly.

Jin Li, who had just raised her hand, let it drop. "It seems your injuries have not yet healed. The night air is damp and cold; you should go and rest immediately to avoid catching a chill."

Jin Li then summoned the city guards to escort Si Mu and his party to their quarters. As he was leaving, Si Mu paused, slowly turning back. His doe-like, moist eyes gazed at her, and the half of his face visible beneath the veil seemed to sharpen. He had the air of a gentleman, like an orchid. He was truly a beautiful man.

It was a pity that...

"Is he good-looking?"

Jin Li was startled. "What?"

The youth stared at her with a mournful expression.

Jin Li realized what was happening. "No, I was just taking a casual look. It’s a way to foster communication between both parties."

"Foster communication? Sister, you really can say that with a straight face."

"No, that’s a strange thing to say. If one doesn't have a 'straight face' or a beating heart, they'd be dead."

Listening to Jin Li’s sophistry, Geng Yuan felt his teeth ache with frustration. He knew Jin Li was naturally alluring, but he hadn't expected her to entice outsiders as well. Couldn't she just entice him alone?

In the past, Geng Yuan would have loved to hoist her over his shoulder, carry her away, and silence that chattering mouth. But now...

"You are just being unreasonable."

Jin Li was torn between laughter and tears; one could only coax a jealous boy, but his complaints were illogical.

"A-Yuan, you must learn to distinguish priorities. The most important thing now is to secure Shanjin City and restore order. Everything else is secondary."

*That’s just another way of saying I’m not important,* he thought.

Geng Yuan crossed his arms, wearing a look as if someone owed him a fortune. He stood tall, looking at her, and demanded righteously, "Do you not like me anymore?"

That logic took quite a leap.

"Young man, your train of thought is jumping around a bit."

"Answer me. Do you not like me anymore?"

"No."

"Then tell me: am I better-looking, or is he?"

Jin Li felt a sense of absurdity wash over her. Yes, the youth before her was truly making trouble out of nothing. Her expression was subtle, as if she had eaten something very strange. "You... you are doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Tell me."

He sounded like a jilted wife.

Jin Li took a deep breath, stood on her tiptoes, cupped his face, and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips. "A-Yuan, you are unique to me. You cannot be compared to others. I like you, and furthermore, I only like you."

Hearing this, the anger in his heart vanished instantly.

The gloom in his eyes dissolved. He lowered his arms and wrapped them around Jin Li's waist. "You promised. You are only allowed to like me."

"Of course. How about this: if you don't like me being too close to him, then whenever I have to discuss important matters with him, you stay by my side. Does that satisfy you?"

"Mm. Good."

"Silly."

She didn't know why the youth had such poor self-esteem, or perhaps why he felt so insecure—whether it was the blow dealt by Su Chun or the trauma of being abandoned by his family in his childhood. Now that she was by his side, she naturally couldn't let him feel insecure.

"A-Yuan."

"Mm? What is it?"

As they walked back to the sleeping quarters together, Jin Li called his name out of the blue.

"Actually, I've wanted to ask you for a long time."

"What? Ask me."

"You see, our acquaintance was quite coincidental, but from the very first moment, I noticed you looking at me with such sorrowful eyes. It was as if we had known each other for a long time."

Geng Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and his hand, holding Jin Li’s, grew cold.

"So, is the person in your heart truly me?"

Just as Geng Yuan was about to speak, Jin Li interrupted him. "I don't care if the person in your heart was someone else before, but now that our relationship is established, that means the people and feelings of your past are gone. I am your future tense, not your past tense. I am someone who cannot tolerate any sand in my eyes; I will absolutely not allow myself to be treated as a substitute. Do you understand?"

But there was no one in his heart but her.

Geng Yuan stopped and looked at her.

Jin Li stopped as well, looking up at him. "A-Yuan, we have known each other, understood each other, and arrived at this point. It has all happened so quickly. So, I want to ask clearly: why do you like me?"

The young girl’s eyes were clear and bright as she gazed at him.

Geng Yuan’s eyes gradually brightened, and he smiled faintly. "Because A-Jin is A-Jin. You are not anyone else, and certainly not a substitute. If you feel it is too fast, we can take it slowly. If you feel I don't like you enough, I will prove it to you."

Perhaps, in the future, when Jin Li recalled these words, she would remember how beautiful these moments were.

She smiled and nodded. "We will take it slowly."

Geng Yuan’s hands were warm and large, and the gentleness and love in his eyes enveloped Jin Li, almost making her drown in them. *A-Jin, I hope time slows down—slows down even more.*

After parting with Geng Yuan, Jin Li returned to her chambers, wanting to check on the Second Princess, but the bed was empty. A sudden sense of unease gripped her.

She pressed her fingers to her forehead, a flicker of alarm in her eyes. The next second, she vanished like mist.

Tonight, the moon gradually disappeared behind thick clouds. There had been much rain lately; it looked as if it would rain again.

Before an old, dried-up well, a woman stood in thin undergarments, her expression numb, miserable, and desperate. Her face was deathly pale as she stared into the deep, bottomless well.

Just as she lifted her foot to step over, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.

"Are you all right?"

Jin Li’s expression was frantic; she didn't even notice the scrape on the back of her hand as she hurriedly checked the Second Princess’s body. The intimate marks on her neck and hands had not yet faded, and the sight of them filled Jin Li with sorrow.

The Second Princess glared at Jin Li, her eyes red and brimming with tears. "Why save me? Why did you save me? Why must you meddle in things that don't concern you?! Did I ask you to save me?! Why are you so meddlesome?!"

Jin Li pulled her into a tight embrace as the woman’s emotions began to collapse. "You are not the type to seek death easily. You can tell me anything. You are still young, you still have a future."

"Shut up! You are high and mighty, of course you have the right to lecture me! But why I became like this—it is all because of you! All because you coveted the Kunlun Mirror! It is all your fault! I hate you! I hate all of you!"

Her face twisted, and she struggled violently. Jin Li used a spell to restrain her.

The Second Princess cursed and struck out at her over and over. Seeing that it had no effect, she bit down hard on Jin Li’s shoulder. A sharp pain radiated from the wound, causing Jin Li to frown. She endured it, her heart echoing with the Second Princess’s words, which seemed to grow louder with every passing moment.

After a long time, the Second Princess finally let go. Her lips were stained red with blood, and her teeth were coated in it. It was a cruel, beautiful sight.

She wailed in despair, collapsing helplessly into Jin Li’s arms.

*Could it be,* Jin Li wondered, *that it was my immortal writing that drove the Great Princess to desperation and triggered the mutiny? Was the root of the rebellion my immortal writing?*

If she hadn't released that writing that night, the Great Princess wouldn't have been in such a hurry to launch the coup. In a single night, Shanjin City wouldn't have become what it was today.

Was it all because of her?