Volume One: Hidden Abyss Chapter Thirty

Jinli burst into laughter, her expression gradually twisting into something sinister and grotesque. Then, as the flawless beauty of her face began to peel away, it was replaced by a visage covered in serpentine patterns. Her viper-like eyes glinted coldly, and her lips gleamed crimson.

“I had no idea that woman was so important to you!”

With those words, she attempted to flee, but how could Geng Yuan possibly let her go so easily?

He stowed away his Cangyuan Bow and raised his hand. A silver, frigid arrow hovered between his fingers, spinning of its own accord. A shadowed amusement danced in his eyes as he closed his hand with a gentle motion. Instantly, the serpent demon clutched her abdomen, writhing on the ground in agony.

“What now? Still thinking of running?”

He approached her unhurriedly, gazing down at the demonic markings on her face. He knew full well she was a minor demon who had escaped from the depths of the Southern Sea. Perhaps he had once released the souls of the mermen clan, and when the barrier between the deep sea and the demonic realm was breached, some lesser demon had seized the chance to slip out unnoticed.

“No... I won’t run... I won’t run,” the serpent demon pleaded desperately.

Geng Yuan looked down at her, imperious. “Have you seen her?”

“No... never seen her.” The serpent demon shook her head vigorously, uncertain what that woman meant to him. If she answered incorrectly and he ordered her to find the woman, failure might well cost her even her snakeskin.

She was not foolish. That woman, judging by her appearance, could never escape from the cave. Even if she did, she wouldn't survive the night.

The youth’s features were strikingly handsome, but his obsidian eyes radiated a bone-chilling coldness.

“Say it again,” he said, his voice low and grave. The serpent demon trembled, even the tip of her exposed tail motionless. She lowered her eyes, plotting her escape. She’d been wounded in the cave and sought to heal herself by devouring a human, disguising herself as that woman—only to find herself in a predicament where neither flight nor fight was possible.

The youth seemed to see straight through her thoughts, his voice resonating deep and hollow: “If you run, I will kill you.”

He then gripped the exquisitely crafted divine weapon. “Where is she?”

The serpent demon stammered, shivering, “I... she... she’s dead.”

The news struck Geng Yuan like a bolt from the blue. He raised his hand, anger clouding his face, and his gesture tightened. The serpent demon’s expression contorted in pain as she clutched her throat, struggling futilely against an invisible force.

“You lie!” he roared. Only yesterday, his scouts had reported sightings of Jinli. How could it be that just as he found her, she...

It had to be this hideous serpent demon’s doing—no doubt about it.

Murder gleamed in his eyes. Before the demon could utter a plea, there was a crisp crack; green blood welled from her lips as she collapsed lifeless to the ground. In his palm, a faintly glowing green demon core appeared.

His eyes reddened. He crushed the demon core in his fist.

With the serpent demon’s demise, countless snakes slithered out from the dilapidated house onto the street.

In a burst of celestial radiance, a group of immortals appeared behind Geng Yuan.

“Sea Lord.”

Geng Yuan paid them no heed, instead using his water spirit power to search for Jinli’s presence.

Jiang Ji emerged, carrying a youth on his back, and bowed to Sang Li. “Your Highness, Crown Prince.”

Sang Li nodded and asked, “What is the meaning of this, Young Lord?”

His gentle gaze swept over the youth slung across Jiang Ji’s back and halted. Perhaps others might not see it, but Sang Li recognized it instantly. The unconscious youth on Jiang Ji’s back was Jinli. Now, her immortal aura had vanished, her powers lost, and even her transformation spell had frozen—she was no different from a mortal.

Her condition was dire.

It seemed Geng Yuan had no idea that the person he’d just rescued was Jinli herself.

Sang Li approached Geng Yuan, noting that he must have been using the tracking arts of the Southern Sea’s merman clan. The surrounding air was thick with evil energy. Sang Li had intended to help Jinli, confident in her abilities, but her grave injuries now defied all explanation.

“Sea Lord,” he called out again.

Geng Yuan’s eyes slowly opened. The aura was clearly nearby—why, then, could he not pinpoint it?

It was obvious: Sang Li was deliberately preventing Geng Yuan from finding Jinli.

“Crown Prince, what brings you here?” Geng Yuan asked.

Sang Li offered a gentle smile. “Surely the Sea Lord has descended this time for the sake of all beings in the heavens.”

Geng Yuan nodded, his expression grim and shadowed. He glanced at Jiang Ji. They needed to find Jinli quickly; the wounded youth was a burden best left behind.

Better to let Sang Li take her away.

“Your Highness, Crown Prince, this is a mortal. Please see to his injuries.”

Geng Yuan was never fond of meddling; better to leave such matters to Sang Li.

Sang Li did not refuse. “A mortal’s life is life all the same. It is our duty.”

“Much obliged. Jiang Ji, set him down. We’re leaving.”

“Yes.”

Sang Li took the youth from Jiang Ji’s back. Geng Yuan squinted, watching Sang Li handle the youth with practiced ease; a flash of distaste crossed his eyes before vanishing.

Then he turned and walked away.

Perhaps Sang Li was always this way with everyone.