Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Thirteen

Jinli waved her hand, and once again the medicine grew warm. She lifted the bowl, blew gently upon it to test the heat, and tasted it herself before bringing it to Geng Yuan’s lips. "Drink," she said.

Geng Yuan was startled at first, unease slowly blooming within him. He parted his lips, gaze fixed steadily on Jinli, and swallowed the medicine without blinking—this potion, normally so bitter, passed without the least sign of discomfort.

When he finished, he spoke quietly, "I’m sorry."

Jinli set the bowl aside, her eyes drifting; sure enough, she glimpsed the scars on Geng Yuan’s arm, half-hidden by his sleeve, like brands upon his flesh.

Geng Yuan noticed her gaze and tugged at his sleeve.

Jinli looked up at him. "Geng Yuan, do you have someone you care for?"

He froze, then asked, "Why do you ask me that?"

She glanced down at his tightly clenched hand. "Let go of me."

Stubbornness flashed across his face, edged with urgency. "You… are you abandoning me?"

Jinli broke free from his hand, her voice gentle. "No, I’m just a little tired and wish to rest. You should get some sleep as well."

With that, she left. Long after Jinli had gone, Geng Yuan’s chest heaved, his hands clenching until veins stood out. The anger and shadow in his eyes now made him unrecognizable from before.

With a sudden sweep of his arm, the jade bowl crashed to the ground and shattered.

Ruan Tu must die.

Jiang Ji appeared quietly from the darkness. Geng Yuan spoke coldly, "Ruan Tu cannot be left alive."

"Yes."

Jinli lay in bed, sleep eluding her. Ruan Tu’s words still echoed in her ears. Restless, she watched the pale dawn creep over the window lattice. Another sleepless night.

When she rose and opened the door, she saw Geng Yuan standing outside. The exhaustion in his eyes and pallor of his face made him look as fragile as porcelain.

He seemed as if a strong wind might knock him over.

He slowly lifted his eyes, and upon seeing Jinli, tried to move—only for his legs to give way. Pain wracked his body as he fell to his knees with a dull thud. Jinli’s heart clenched; she rushed to his side, helping him up, her eyes full of concern.

"Are you all right?"

She guessed he hadn’t slept all night, standing there the entire time. "Did you stand out here all night?"

Geng Yuan lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, "…Because you were angry."

Jinli led him inside, called for Yun Xiang to bring hot water, and instructed Jiang Ji to prepare medicine. Geng Yuan’s gaze never left her.

In silence, Jinli pressed a warm cloth to his forehead; without a word, she watched as he drank the medicine. When she rose, Geng Yuan quickly asked, "Where are you going?"

She tucked his covers in. "Just out for some air."

"I’ll go too."

But as soon as he tried to get up, a fit of coughing wracked him. Jinli’s brows knitted in concern.

"Enough, I won’t go," she soothed.

Only then did Geng Yuan settle. Jinli opened a book and began reading, while Geng Yuan watched her quietly. After a long moment, he finally spoke in a low voice, "There is indeed someone I care for, but she and I could never be."

"That person is Nan Mo."

"Yes."

He didn’t try to hide or deny it.

Geng Yuan’s eyes reddened as a single tear fell—becoming a pearl as it dropped onto the brocade quilt.

"But she will always just be my aunt," he said, voice trembling. "There’s nothing between us. You need not worry."

As more pearls gathered on the quilt, Jinli’s heart twisted painfully.

She raised her eyes. "…Truly nothing between you? Then why did you take the Sea Crystal?"

With the Southern Sea’s Sea Crystal gone, the demonic aura from the deep would surely emerge in force.

Geng Yuan met her gaze, unflinching. "I didn’t. The dead are gone—what more could I do?"

She searched his eyes, seeing nothing but hurt and grievance.

When he slept, Jinli used her immortal arts to probe for the Spring Guest Pearl within him—only to find it gone. Stroking his face, she felt a surge of pity.

For a merman, the Spring Guest Pearl was akin to a core, the source of their immortal power. To lose it was as painful as losing one’s tail.

With the Southern Sea in rebellion, Heaven’s Clan would surely know. She needed to go to the Ninth Heaven and learn how the Heavenly Lord would handle it.

Though the gods did not usually meddle in Heaven’s Clan affairs, should the demons and ghosts learn of this and unite to attack the Four Seas, the greatest benefit would fall to those two realms, threatening all six.

As soon as she arrived in the Celestial Realm, Jinli saw Sang Li returning at the head of his troops—they nearly collided. Sang Li was unsurprised to see her. "A Li."

His calm acceptance told Jinli all she needed. "Lord Sang Li, you’ve just returned from the Southern Sea?"

He nodded. "My father sent me to quell the rebellion and restore peace."

This answer surprised Jinli. "What does the Heavenly Lord intend for the rebels?"

"He intends to turn a blind eye."

"What?"

"Though the six realms seem peaceful, the former Demon Lord is gone, and the new one is ambitious and openly defiant. There are demonic factions in the Ghost Realm as well. If this continues, disaster may befall the six realms."

He looked at her deeply. "A Li, be careful of the Southern Sea’s young lord."

Jinli was startled, confused.

Still, she chose to trust Geng Yuan. Smiling, she replied, "I believe in him. Don’t worry."

Bidding Sang Li farewell, Jinli returned to Lotus River. At the entrance to Pear Blossom Valley, she saw Geng Yuan waiting, a thin robe draped over his shoulders. On seeing her, his face lit up with joy. He ran to her, the robe slipping off as he swept her into a warm embrace, the faint scent of mint and herbs clinging to him.

Jinli was momentarily stunned. Geng Yuan pressed his face to her shoulder and whispered softly, "You’re finally back."

She smiled, stroking his back. "I’m home."

Now the Southern Sea had been pacified.

Hand in hand, Jinli said, "The Southern Sea is at peace. You can rest easy now—no one will ever harm you again."

Geng Yuan’s gaze was tender as he nodded.

They sat in the pavilion; Jinli draped the thin robe over him. Their breaths mingled. When she looked up into his obsidian eyes, she saw starlight flicker in their depths.

It had only been a year, but the beauty’s poison was flaring more quickly now.

"Ah Jin, I missed you so much."

Geng Yuan leaned in, cautious, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

The touch unsettled Jinli; she turned away.

The young man’s cheeks flushed as he stared in confusion.

"Young Lord—"

Jiang Ji suddenly burst in, only to freeze at the scene before him. He stumbled back, dropping to the floor and hastily covering his eyes.

Both Jinli and Geng Yuan were startled. Geng Yuan’s face was crimson, but Jinli simply asked, "Is something the matter?"

Jiang Ji scrambled up, turning his back to them in a panic. "Th-the medicine is ready, Young Lord, remember to drink it!"

With that, he fled.

Jinli laughed, patting Geng Yuan. "Come on then."

Geng Yuan lifted his head. Jinli stood, arranging his robe. "Let’s go, Young Lord, time for your medicine."

He reached out, taking her hand. But the memory of her retreat haunted him, anxiety gnawing—had she seen through him?

That night, he turned the Southern Sea Sea Crystal over in his hand. With it, the Lotus River’s Lotus Heart Flower, and the power of his own Spring Guest Pearl, he could forge the Soul-Forging Candle and bring Nan Mo back to life.

But what exactly was the Lotus Heart Flower? He had searched all of Lotus River without finding it.

One day, as Jinli pored over medical texts, Yun Xiang rushed in, anxiety etched on her face. "Mistress, something’s happened—Madam Nan Mo’s immortal body is missing!"

Startled, Jinli dropped her book and ran to the Southern Pavilion.

Beneath the pear tree, Geng Yuan was playing chess with Jiang Ji. Seeing Jinli rush in, he was surprised. "It’s late. What brings you here?"

Jinli fixed him with a clear gaze. Jiang Ji took the cue and left with Yun Xiang.

"Was it you?" she asked.

"What?"

He looked bewildered.

"Did you take Nan Mo’s body?"

Panic flickered across the youth’s face. "What are you talking about?"

His confusion and alarm scattered Jinli’s suspicions, but before she could react, Geng Yuan bolted from the room.

Uneasy, Jinli chased after him.

At Xu’an Sea, Jinli arrived to find the young man slumped, desolate, beside a crystal coffin.

"Geng Yuan," she called softly, but it was as if he could not hear.

It was true—his heart belonged to Nan Mo.

He loved her.

And she? Was she just a substitute?

How could the Empress of Lotus River allow herself to be someone’s stand-in?

Swallowing her pain, Jinli turned away from Xu’an Sea.

Three days later, in Yanhe Hall, Jinli sat amid blooming flowers, surrounded by handsome youths reciting sweet words. She tried to smile, but found no strength for it.

Xiao He, peeling lychees, looked at her with concern. "Mistress, are you upset?"

"Mm," Jinli replied, taking the lychee, her mind haunted by the memory of Geng Yuan’s uncontrollable longing, her heart growing heavier.

Xiao He gazed at her, voice gentle. "Would you like to tell me? Perhaps I can help."

Jinli smiled, teasing, "What do you want to hear?"

Shyly, Xiao He edged closer.

Their breaths mingled, but in the end Jinli drew away. Xiao He’s eyes dimmed with disappointment.

Noticing this, Jinli touched his face. "You’re truly beautiful, Xiao He."

She spent several nights at Yanhe Hall, but at dawn one morning, the sound of commotion outside the corridor woke her.

"Is she here? Move aside!"

Startled, she got up. Just as she stepped out, Geng Yuan burst through the door, his expression dark and thunderous.

"What are you doing here?"

She was surprised to see him at Yanhe Hall so early.

His eyes darkened as he strode into the room, the door trembling in his wake.

He saw Xiao He in disheveled clothes, still groggy as he dressed. "Mistress," Xiao He greeted.

A surge of anger, humiliation, and even a trace of hatred rose in Geng Yuan’s heart.

He strode over, seized Xiao He, and dragged him out. With a flick of his hand, celestial stones appeared; he flung them at Xiao He in disgust. "Take these and get out."

Xiao He stared in shock, face burning with indignation. "I’m not for sale!"

Jinli pulled Geng Yuan aside, shielding Xiao He. "What are you doing?"

She turned to Xiao He, apologetic. "Today was my oversight. You should go."

Xiao He nodded, glaring fiercely at Geng Yuan. The youth’s face was ashen.

"Why are you here?"

"You said you wouldn’t come here again."

Stubbornness burned in Geng Yuan’s eyes.

"Are you questioning me?"

"If you can’t keep your word, you shouldn’t have promised in the first place."

With that, Geng Yuan turned and left.

The floor glittered with celestial stones.

Jinli called the proprietor and paid extra to make amends.

Alone in the room, her feelings grew ever more tangled.

A voice screamed inside her: she had to demand the truth—did he truly love Nan Mo?

Transforming into mist, she returned to Lotus River, stopping before the Southern Pavilion. Entering, she startled everyone inside—including herself.

Geng Yuan sat in moody silence, and by the round table stood several strangers, all turning to stare at her in surprise at her abrupt entrance.

"…Who are they?"