Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Four

In the early morning, after a night of rain, the ground was strewn with fallen pear blossoms, a blanket of white frost covering everything. The breeze was still tinged with a lingering chill.

Jinli slowly opened her eyes; a dull ache lingered behind them, and her limbs were heavy with exhaustion. Any slight movement tugged at every fiber of her being, waves of pain sweeping through her, forcing a sharp intake of breath.

Lying there, she gazed up at the canopy overhead, listening quietly to the sound of sweeping outside—the rhythmic swish of the broom against the ground. Unconsciously, she felt weariness overtaking her again, and in the haze of half-sleep, she drifted off once more.

In her dreams, she seemed to hear Yunxiang announcing Sang Li’s arrival.

When she awoke again, drowsy and heavy-limbed, the pain had faded from her body. She sat up slowly, stretching languidly, only to feel a strange surge of celestial power coursing through her. Looking down at her palm, she saw the telltale essence of a merman.

“Yunxiang! Yunxiang!”

At her call, Yunxiang hurried through the door. “What is it, my lady? Are you unwell?”

Jinli quickly asked, “Has the Young Lord returned?”

Yunxiang nodded, “Last night, it was the Young Lord who carried you back to your room.”

A smile broke across Jinli’s face, her spirits inexplicably lifted.

After she had washed and dressed, she stepped out and asked, “Where is the Young Lord?”

Yunxiang hesitated, her expression troubled. “My lady, perhaps you should not worry about the Young Lord just now. Prince Sang Li is here, waiting for you in the front courtyard. He’s been waiting for an hour.”

Sang Li, second prince of the Ninth Heaven, was known for his aloofness, rarely forming close bonds with others—except with her. When Jinli had been studying on Mount Jiuyi, he was her senior. Prince Sang Li was gentle as jade, with striking good looks.

“What brings Prince Sang Li to my humble Lotus River today?” Jinli called out with a smile to the handsome youth seated serenely, sipping tea and reading.

Sang Li looked up at her voice, a silver celestial ornament nestled between his brows, his eyes warm and gentle, lips curving into a slight smile. “Ali.”

He set his book aside and in a few steps was before her, concern in his eyes and a soft note in his voice. “How are you? Were you hurt?”

Jinli realized he must have heard of the incident at the Xingtian Platform. She smiled reassuringly, “I’m fine, truly. There’s nothing to worry about, Prince Sang Li.”

Only then did Sang Li relax. Noticing his hand was still holding hers, he let go with a hint of embarrassment. “Forgive me. I was too forward.”

“Worry leads to missteps,” Jinli teased.

She glanced at the tea Sang Li had been drinking, its leaves yellowed and stale, and frowned. “Who brewed this tea for you?”

Sang Li was unconcerned. “A newly arrived attendant made it. Why?”

A new attendant? Jiang Ji?

Just then, Jiang Ji appeared. He bowed, not sparing Sang Li a glance, and addressed Jinli coolly, “My lady, our Young Lord invites you for a boat ride on the lake.”

“A boat ride? Where is your Young Lord?”

“He awaits you at the Lotus River. Please go to him quickly, lest he be made to wait.”

Hearing this, Sang Li stepped forward, placing Jinli behind him protectively. “Esteemed fairy, I am not acquainted with your Young Lord, but proper etiquette must be observed. It is only fitting that your Young Lord comes to pay respects to our Lady.”

Jiang Ji cast a fleeting glance at Sang Li before looking away, his eyes fixed forward. “I heed only my Young Lord. Besides, he is exempt from such formalities—by the Lady’s own decree.”

Sang Li regarded Jiang Ji with calm authority, his presence commanding. Jiang Ji, a little flustered, repeated, “Please, my lady, come quickly. My Young Lord dislikes waiting.”

His tone was weaker than before.

Jinli almost wanted to laugh. Jiang Ji beat a hasty retreat, nearly tripping over the steps in his rush.

Once Jiang Ji was gone, Sang Li turned to her. “Who was that? And who, exactly, is this Young Lord?”

Jinli answered openly, “Just a merman from the South Sea, staying here for a few days. Would you like to go boating with me? The crabapples and celestial pears by the riverbank are in bloom.”

Sang Li, after a moment’s thought, declined with a smile, citing official duties. He left behind a healing elixir before taking his leave.

When Jinli arrived at the lakeshore, she saw Jiang Ji and Gengyuan engaged in a secretive conversation. Yunxiang, walking behind her, noticed too. “What are they up to?”

Jinli wondered the same. As she approached quietly, she saw Jiang Ji looking flustered, while Gengyuan hurriedly hid something behind his back, his handsome face tinged with embarrassment.

“What are you doing?” Jinli asked.

Gengyuan signaled Jiang Ji to withdraw, and Jiang Ji, understanding, dragged Yunxiang away with him.

“Well, now that you’ve sent them off, you must have something to say to me,” Jinli said.

Gengyuan nodded, then spoke. “Thank you.”

Jinli was taken aback. “What did you say?”

Gengyuan repeated, “I said, thank you.”

This time Jinli understood. She was secretly delighted but put on a troubled face. “Oh? You don’t resent me anymore?”

“...I didn’t know then.”

Looking at him, Jinli thought he seemed as if he’d been wronged. She reached up and gently caressed his cheek—cool, soft, and smooth, a most pleasant sensation.

Startled, the youth looked up, his face flushing red all the way to his ears, stars seeming to flicker in his dark eyes.

Jinli smiled gently, her expression tender. Gengyuan quickly stepped back, putting distance between them, his face a mix of shame and anger.

Jinli sounded disappointed, “I thought we were already friends.”

“Gengyuan,” she called softly.

He stared at her in surprise. She smiled, “A drifting life, falling into the deep abyss—‘Gengyuan’ is a lovely name.”

Jinli stood and, with a graceful gesture, stepped onto the small boat. Turning, she offered Gengyuan her hand. He hesitated, simply staring at the hand extended toward him, then avoided it and boarded the boat on his own.

Jinli was not offended; she simply withdrew her hand with a smile. Together, they used their magic to guide the boat into the heart of the Lotus River. Jinli inhaled the subtle fragrance of lotus blossoms. “Can you smell it? The lotuses are about to bloom.”

Summer was on its way.

Gengyuan’s gaze lingered on her. “Yes, it smells wonderful.”

When Jinli opened her eyes, she found herself caught in his intense gaze. Their eyes met, and Gengyuan quickly looked away.

Jinli teased, “What’s this? Are you shy? If you want to look at me, go ahead—I like it when you do.”

Hearing this, Gengyuan’s hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, curled into a fist.

Jinli found it all too amusing. “Why are you so easily flustered? Haven’t you ever spoken to a female immortal before?”

Gengyuan shook his head.

Jinli could scarcely believe it. Gengyuan was so handsome—surely he had many admirers. She had feared the worst, that he might be betrothed, but never imagined she would be the woman to whom he’d spoken most in his life.

Perhaps his reticence had deterred his admirers.

“Is there someone you like?” she asked. Gengyuan shook his head.

She continued, “I’ve heard mermen only ever love one person in their lifetime—is that true?”

He nodded.

“And if you never meet that person?”

“Then I’ll spend my life alone.”

The sorrow in his eyes seemed at odds with his youth. Seeing the depth and earnestness in his gaze, Jinli, too, felt a pang of sadness.

She said no more, and a quiet settled between them.

“Why don’t you stay here in Lotus River with me?” she suggested.

He neither agreed nor refused, but asked instead, “Is there someone you like?”

The question surprised even him, considering she had just professed her affection for those male companions yesterday. What answer would she give?

Jinli fell silent.

She did not answer.

Sensing her silence, Gengyuan pressed on, “Have you met him?”

Jinli nodded, “I have.”

She carefully avoided the question of whether she liked him.

Unaware of Gengyuan’s inner turmoil, Jinli said, “I rather envy your kind—falling in love only once, living freely, unbound, true to oneself.”

Gengyuan listened to the melancholy in her voice, quietly rowing, letting the wind and her words fill the air.

Jinli took a deep breath and asked, “Is there anything fun where you come from?”

Gengyuan nodded and spoke slowly, “At sunset, you can watch the spirit whales. When the weather is clear, you can see the stars scatter across the sky from the Starcliff. You can visit the Sunset Gorge to watch the sun sink and the spirit fish leap. At sunset, the mermen leap from the sea—it’s a magnificent sight.”

As he spoke, light seemed to emanate from him, longing and nostalgia overflowing in his gaze.

Staring at his face, Jinli smiled softly, “I must visit someday.”

“Alright,” Gengyuan replied with a rare, unguarded smile.

Jinli, enchanted by his openness, couldn’t help but laugh. Gengyuan, seeing the laughter in her eyes, grew flustered, averting his gaze.

Was this the effect of the beauty enchantment? His emotions felt entirely beyond his control, the pain of the curse simmering within him.

As if reminded of something, he quietly reached behind him, turning his palm up to reveal a multicolored shell inlaid with a luminous, translucent pearl, which shimmered dazzlingly in the light, as though sprinkled with stardust.

He held it out to Jinli.

She was surprised, then smiled. “Is this for me?”

He nodded. As she took it, a cool comfort spread through her palm—the shell was smooth, beautiful, with the texture of ivory, pleasing to both the eye and touch.

“This is a giant clam shell, and the pearl within is the most beautiful in the four seas. I hope you like it,” Gengyuan explained.

Jinli held it up to the light, and a rainbow shimmered across the shell, casting a faint iridescence on her sleeve, making her appear even more elegant.

Even in simple attire, her beauty was radiant.

Gengyuan was momentarily transfixed.

But all he could do was think to himself: it was all the fault of the beauty enchantment, everything because of that spell.

Gazing at the pearl, Jinli mused, “They say mermen weep pearls to repay kindness—it seems to be true.”

She smiled sweetly, “Thank you, I love it. I’ll treasure it.”

Gengyuan said nothing, only nodded and continued rowing.

A gentle breeze carried fallen petals to their side, and dewdrops rolled off the emerald lotus leaves, falling with a gentle plink into the clear water.

The sunlight grew stronger; white pear blossoms and pink crabapples landed on Jinli’s shoulders and gathered on her skirt. Her long hair fell like silk, and even a simple hairpin could not hide her elegance.

Beside her, the lotus buds unfurled, welcoming the height of summer.

Jinli turned to show Gengyuan a pear blossom she had just caught, but saw that he seemed unwell—his face flushed, his eyes dazed. He drew his knees up, curling into a corner, his face buried in his arms, biting his lip in discomfort, brows knit in pain.

The poison of the beauty enchantment was taking hold, tormenting him, yet he refused to touch her, enduring it in silence.

“Gengyuan?” Jinli called.

He slowly lifted his head.

Only then did Jinli realize the heat was becoming too much. Birds might tolerate it, but how could a merman endure such warmth? She moved closer, cupping his burning face in her hands—indeed, it was hot and red.

“Ah Yuan, are you very hot?”

He nodded. Without hesitation, Jinli boldly pulled open his collar, revealing a blush-pink chest. Across his collarbone and heart was a red tattoo, like a phoenix feather.

Her fingers brushed his skin by accident. Gengyuan jolted and growled, “What are you doing?!”

Jinli was startled, then laughed. Glancing at the water, she said, “You’d better get in. Otherwise, you might not last—take care not to turn into grilled fish.”

With a splash, Gengyuan disappeared from the boat. Looking down, Jinli saw his rainbow-hued tail swaying gracefully beneath the clear, shallow water, the delicate scales glimmering with faint celestial light.

Laughing, Jinli lay back on the boat, tossing a lotus leaf onto her face, using one hand as a pillow, bending her knees, and drifting into sleep.

The faint scent of lotus lingered at her nose, mingled with a hint of mint that seemed to waft in from her dreams.