Volume Four: Yearning for the Mountain Banners, Chapter 116

Just as she picked up a gardenia pastry, a hand suddenly grasped hers, and a figure leaned over from behind.

Soft, warm lips brushed against her fingertips.

Jin Li was stunned. Before she could react, the youth snatched the gardenia pastry right from her hand and ate it. A flash of surprise crossed Si Mu’s eyes, but then the youth behind her stood tall, puffed out his chest, and nodded. "It really is delicious. Sir Si Mu has quite the skill."

She turned her head to glare at him; the atmosphere between the three of them had become incredibly awkward. Jin Li looked back at Si Mu with an apologetic smile, picking up another piece of honey-glazed osmanthus pastry—its delicate floral shape giving off a faint fragrance. "Please forgive him, Sir Si Mu; he is just like that."

Just as she was about to take a bite, the youth behind her clamped a large hand onto the nape of her neck. Jin Li felt a surge of warmth against her skin, and then the youth’s face loomed large before her eyes. Before she could process it, she felt the warm touch of his lips against her own, and half of the pastry in her hand vanished in an instant.

To do such a thing in front of an outsider...

It was simply...

Flustered and embarrassed, her face flushed crimson. She touched her lips and let out a few awkward coughs. "Cough, cough, Sir Si Mu..."

"Perhaps the Lady and the young master have matters to attend to. I shall take my leave."

After saying this, he bowed and departed.

The youth behind her looked smug, curling his lip as he watched Si Mu walk away. "Trying to challenge me."

"It seems you are quite pleased with yourself."

Her expression darkened. She was deeply dissatisfied with the youth’s behavior—not because he kissed her without permission, but because he did it in front of an outsider as a petty, childish display of dominance. She felt humiliated, as if she were merely a tool for him to stake his claim, convinced that he only acted this way to force Si Mu to give up and show him he had no chance.

The youth noticed Jin Li’s somber expression and sensed something was wrong. She seemed angry; her face was flushed, but her eyes held a glimmer of resentment.

"A-Jin... are you... are you angry?"

Jin Li took a deep breath, convincing herself not to lose her temper and that she must communicate clearly.

"A-Yuan, you cannot act like this."

The youth remained silent, not offering a rebuttal, simply drooping his ears and listening quietly.

"What did you gain from this, other than the satisfaction of suppressing Si Mu? Does it make you happy to see me in such an awkward position with him?"

The youth looked up, and she was startled to see his eyes reddening. "I just wanted him to know that you are already taken. I just wanted him to stop thinking about you." He lowered his gaze, whispering, "I admit that being jealous in this way is wrong, but he likes you—I saw it clearly. He definitely has feelings for you."

The anger in Jin Li’s heart began to dissipate at the sight of his reddened eyes and his aggrieved tone.

This boy.

She gently cupped his face and said softly, "Don't worry. I am yours; I will only ever be yours, and no one else's. I just didn't want to make things so uncomfortable. That is why I said that. Did I frighten you?"

The youth looked at her with wet, aggrieved eyes, then reached out to pull her into his arms. Where she could not see, a flash of sly, triumphant cunning crossed his eyes.

He suppressed the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and tightened his embrace.

If he could, he would truly like to carve her into his very bones and blood.

But perhaps that would scare her.

***

At night, thick fog rose from the river. There were no stars, and the sky was pitch black, as if a violent storm were brewing.

Jin Li transformed into smoke and reached the riverbank. She activated her Phoenix Eyes, observing the enemy camp across the water, where a thick, ominous demonic aura hung over the blazing fires.

Indeed, demons had infiltrated their ranks.

Jin Li had slipped out secretly; the youth did not know. In matters of scouting enemy intelligence, it was best not to involve too many people.

Once again, she turned into smoke and infiltrated the enemy camp. Soldiers patrolled everywhere, their vigilance so high that they seemed ready to strike down even a stray mosquito.

Many had followed the Great Princess; these soldiers were all women, with the only men being lowly stable hands. Jin Li tracked the strongest demonic aura to a tent that was even larger than the commander’s. Suspicious, she watched as three or four soldiers carried a stretcher out. The white cloth covering the body was soaked in blood, and the scent of iron filled the air.

Her unease grew. She slipped inside and was horrified by what she saw: two massive iron cages held monstrous, fang-toothed demons with murderous glares. They were currently licking their claws, surrounded by shredded fabric and piles of bones still dripping with gore.

Feeding beasts with humans?!

It was sheer madness.

Just as she approached, she accidentally triggered a golden light, and a circular runic array erupted from the ground, spinning violently.

A Demon-Suppressing Array?

She had created this array—why was it here?

As the array activated, the two beasts in the cages went into a frenzy. They roared, stood up, and slammed against their restraints, desperate to break free. As the cages rattled, a frustrated voice sounded from outside the tent. "What is it? Didn't they just eat?"

Jin Li hid herself.

The tent flap was pulled back, and a crowd of people entered. Seeing the beasts in such a state, they dared not approach.

"The Master has arrived."

Jin Li watched as the crowd parted. A figure in a black cloak appeared, and her heart began to race.

It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it? Meeting them here again?

The figure in black looked around, then raised a hand. Golden holy light pierced through his palm, and he began to laugh chillingly. "We have guests."

Jin Li was startled, fearing she had been discovered.

But at that moment, someone roared, "Let me go! Let you go, you remnants of the demonic party! Let me go!"

Everyone’s gaze turned to the person being dragged into the tent. He was bound by Weak Water ropes and could not move an inch. The black cloth covering his face was ripped away.

His skin was a healthy, bronze tone, and his round eyes glared at the cloaked figure.

"You bastards! Demonic remnants! Animals!"

Jin Li examined him. The figure in black extended a hand clad in a black metal gauntlet, the fingertips appearing as sharp as blades, as if they could pierce the youth’s heart at any moment.

The figure tilted the youth’s chin up with one hand, while the other ripped open his chest, tearing through his nightclothes to expose his torso.

He was a deer spirit.

From the Northern Mist?

How did a deer spirit from the Northern Mist end up here?

As Jin Li pondered, the figure in black stood up and sneered, "Good, he still has a piece of immortal bone. Feed him to my pets."

"Yes!"

The youth showed no fear; instead, his face was filled with righteous indignation. He glared at the cloaked figure, speaking each word clearly: "If there is a next life, I will surely not let you off!"

The figure in black did not look at him. "It seems you won't have that chance." He turned to his followers and commanded, "Grind his bones to dust and use it to consecrate our banners."

With that, he led the crowd away.

It seemed this battle was unavoidable, but to fight it, she had to eliminate these two beasts first.

Jin Li waved her hand, casting a spell to freeze the soldiers, then untied the Weak Water ropes from the youth. When he saw her, his eyes widened in surprise and wonder. "Who are you?"

Jin Li shushed him. "Someone who is here to save you." She had no time to lose. She spread her hands, summoning a runic array. Her movements were swift and fluid as she performed the seals, and golden holy light erupted instantly. The two beasts did not even have a chance to struggle before they fell into a deep slumber—a sleep from which they might not wake until tomorrow, buying more time for Lord Si Nian.

As Jin Li led the youth out of the tent, they were instantly surrounded. Soldiers brandished their weapons, and Jin Li shouted, "The Great Princess’s plot to usurp the throne has already collapsed! Do not offer any more futile resistance!"

But these people, whom she had mistaken for mere mortals, began to cast strange, sinister spells. As Jin Li pulled the youth to escape, someone activated a Weak Water array. Her immortal powers were suddenly suppressed, and within the formation, her energy began to drain away rapidly.

If this continued, she would soon be exhausted.

"I knew the Mountain Banner City would not let this go."

Jin Li stared coldly at the cloaked figure. With a flick of her wrist, blue flames coalesced into the Xuan Yin Sword. When the figure saw the blade, he paused slightly, as if he recognized her.

He reached out and flicked his finger, tearing away the shark-silk veil from Jin Li’s face, revealing her delicate features.

"Insolent!"

Jin Li was instantly enraged.

The cloaked figure’s laughter became increasingly brazen. "So it is the Lady herself. Why didn't you announce your arrival, so I could offer you the hospitality you deserve?"

This person knew her identity.

Was she of the Celestial Clan, or the Divine Clan?

"Who on earth are you?"

The figure’s laughter subsided. "Tu Shan Yan will tell you."

At these words, a storm of fury rose within Jin Li. She let go of the youth’s hand, joined her fingers, and quickly formed a rune. As the blue symbols appeared, the cloaked figure, believing she was still engaging in futile resistance, lazily advised, "Don't waste your energy. With your current cultivation, you cannot break this Weak Water Array."

Jin Li’s Phoenix Eyes flashed, her clear pupils shifting into a cold, icy blue light. She said coldly, "The name of Emperor Yao Cen is not for the likes of a lowly servant to utter." She swept her gaze over the surrounding array and curled her lips into a wicked smile. "This Weak Water Array... I created it, and I can destroy it."

As she spoke, the cloaked figure stiffened, his eyes behind the black mask filled with shock.