Volume One: Hidden Abyss Chapter Fifty-Two

"As long as you jump, you can become immortal."

"Hahahahaha, do you know what this water is? This is Weak Water. Hahahaha, mortals truly are foolish."

"It was her! This mortal gave Weak Water to the Sacred Maiden of Yousu. It's all her fault!"

"Tianyu, you must forgive me, you must. Yousu said she had a way to restore your appearance, and I will make sure she receives the punishment she deserves. From now on, I am yours, forever yours."

"Yousu clan! Is it fair that mere mortals are trampled and humiliated by you immortals? So this is what immortals are—hypocritical, arrogant, cold, and unfeeling!"

"As long as you jump! Everything will end!"

"You, a mere mortal, dare to long for the Emperor's love? Use the only thing you possess to exchange for it."

"Your voice is lovely. I like it very much."

Amidst the splitting headache and her muddled consciousness, Jinli felt someone embrace her—a broad chest. When she opened her eyes, she saw Gengyuan's silver hair.

After conjuring a water dragon, Gengyuan carried the drenched, unconscious Jinli to shore.

Anxiously, he called her name again and again, using immortal arts to dry the water from her body, but even so, Jinli did not awaken.

He was afraid now. "Where is the Medicine Immortal? Where is the Medicine Immortal?"

His voice trembled, repeating her name, "Ah Jin, Ah Jin, Jinli, wake up, wake up. I beg you, please wake up, I beg you."

His pleas turned gradually into desperate supplication.

"My lord, the Medicine Immortal has arrived, the Medicine Immortal has arrived!"

Jiang Ji dragged in the bedraggled Medicine Immortal, who arrived late.

Gengyuan hurriedly pulled the Medicine Immortal over. "Save her, save her!"

The Medicine Immortal barely caught his breath, holding it as he checked her pulse. The pulse was steady, and he placed a medicinal pill in Jinli's mouth.

Only then did Gengyuan breathe a sigh of relief, but seeing Jinli still unconscious, he asked, "Why isn't she waking?"

"The immortal was merely choked by water and frightened, which caused her to faint. Thanks to your timely intervention in expelling the water, otherwise, it would have been dire."

"How long until she wakes?"

"Uh... Since the immortal currently has no immortal power, it may take longer to awaken. Please be patient, my lord. I will prescribe some medicine to dispel the cold in her body."

"Then hurry!"

Startled, the Medicine Immortal was dragged off by Jiang Ji by the collar.

Gengyuan lifted Jinli in his arms. The maids kneeling to attend her trembled uncontrollably. Gengyuan did not even glance at them, but spoke coldly, "Banished to the mortal realm."

He carefully laid Jinli on the bed, his heart unable to rest.

Jinli found herself in a blank space, a place that seemed like a sacred domain, yet not quite.

"Tianyu."

She turned and saw a woman whose face was indistinct. "Are you calling me?"

"Yes."

"But my name is not Tianyu."

"No, you are Tianyu. Tianyu is me, and I am you."

Jinli was utterly confused, unable to understand what the woman meant.

Just as she was about to leave, the one called Tianyu spoke, "To extract the evil bone, one must first stir emotions; only by moving the heart can the evil bone be removed."

Jinli slowly opened her eyes, her throat dry and burning with pain. She wanted to speak but could not utter a sound.

Gengyuan had just brought medicine and saw Jinli’s eyes open. Overjoyed, the red blood in his eyes and the fatigue on his face vanished.

Jinli was awake—thank goodness.

"Ah Jin, Ah Jin, you're awake. Are you still feeling unwell? Does your head hurt?"

Jinli stared blankly at Gengyuan, the words of the woman in her dream echoing in her ears.

Remove the evil bone through emotions.

Gengyuan's vengeance and the awakening of the demon god were tightly intertwined. If Gengyuan succeeded in his revenge, the price might be all the living beings under heaven.

She could not afford to gamble. She could not afford to lose.

Gengyuan was about to feed Jinli the medicine when, unexpectedly, Jinli stretched her arms to embrace him. The familiar scent of mint at his nose soothed her heart.

Gengyuan was first startled, then slowly exhilarated, hardly daring to breathe.

He broke into a smile—Jinli had hugged him, she had taken the initiative to embrace him.

His hands were awkward, unsure what to do, and he simply stood motionless.

Just then, Jiang Ji appeared again, dragging the Medicine Immortal and speaking as he went, "Our lady has awoken. I'm telling you, you must treat her well. Once we return to the South Sea, you will be richly rewarded."

Seeing Jinli and Gengyuan embracing, he quickly left after finishing his words.

Jinli released Gengyuan and looked at him.

The Medicine Immortal checked Jinli’s pulse again—she was much improved. He turned to Gengyuan, "The immortal is much better now. It’s only due to the cold that she cannot speak. She needs a few days of rest and to take medicine regularly."

Gengyuan breathed out in relief, hands behind his back, smiling warmly at Jinli.

After sending off the Medicine Immortal, Jiang Ji returned and said to Gengyuan, "My lord, you should rest as well. You have cared for our lady day and night for many days. Even an immortal cannot endure such exhaustion."

Gengyuan glanced at Jinli, who was asleep, and nodded, "I will go to the side chamber. Assign someone to care for Ah Jin. Inform me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes."

When everyone had left, Jinli opened her eyes. Stirring emotions—she wondered if what had just happened counted.

At that moment, her sea of consciousness had rippled slightly, but it was not enough.

Joy, anger, grief, delight, desire, aversion, and obsession.

She needed them all, needed to remove the evil bone in one step.

In the days that followed, Gengyuan continued to care for Jinli without rest. Her health improved greatly, but leaving this place was still difficult. One afternoon, after lunch, as Gengyuan and Jinli were eating, Jiang Ji arrived with a heavy brow and whispered something in Gengyuan's ear. Gengyuan gave a few instructions and left.

Not long after Gengyuan departed, Jinli, no longer intending to resist, was reading when someone climbed in through the window.

Jinli looked up in surprise.

Ruan Tu hurriedly gestured for silence.

Jinli nodded, puzzled as to how Ruan Tu had found her—had he followed Yun Xiang?

"Why are you here?"

"I heard you didn’t arrive at the Ninth Heaven as scheduled. I was worried, so I followed Gengyuan. As expected, it was his doing."

Jinli shook her head, skipping pleasantries. "How is the Heavenly Realm?"

Ruan Tu’s brow was grave. "I heard the Crown Prince was wounded. The Demon Realm suddenly invaded the Heavenly Realm, and the Crown Prince was accidentally injured."

Jinli knew Ruan Tu was unaware of Weak Water’s barrier, so she asked, "What about Qisui? How is Qisui?"

"Don't worry, Pear Blossom Valley is fine."

Jinli nodded in relief. Ruan Tu continued, "I’ll help you leave."

Jinli nodded, but was concerned about implicating Ruan Tu, so she asked, "Do you know where this place is?"

"No."

Jinli’s heart sank.

But Jinli could not leave yet. If she left now, what about the evil bone?

Ruan Tu peered out the window and said, "The night after next, at midnight, I’ll wait for you in the rear pavilion. There’s an exit we dug out. Make sure you come then."