Volume One: Hidden Abyss Chapter Fifty-three

After speaking, Ruan Tu vanished. In the very second before his disappearance, Geng Yuan pushed open the door—had Ruan Tu not disappeared first, they might have encountered each other face-to-face.

Jin Li hurriedly turned around, a bit flustered. Geng Yuan looked at her, smiling gently. "What's wrong? Why are you so nervous?"

"Nothing," she replied, weighing in her heart how she could escape as soon as possible.

"The weather is fine today. Would you like to go for a walk?"

"All right," Jin Li agreed.

With considerate care, Geng Yuan draped a cloak over her shoulders. Behind them stood several shadow guards, as though fearing Jin Li might run away.

He seemed to sense her thoughts. "They're here to protect you. I'm afraid you'll do as you did that night."

The grass swayed softly, willows hung low, and Jin Li's gaze was dull. "If you let me go, why would I need to run?"

She spoke with unprecedented calm. She expected Geng Yuan would be angry, but he was not. He was remarkably composed, even helpless. "Ah Jin, I love you. I like you so much that I don’t know what to do with you anymore."

Jin Li’s gaze fell on Geng Yuan’s downcast eyes. "Is that so?"

He lifted his eyes to meet hers and nodded. "Yes, it is. Sometimes I think you truly have no heart—that you've never been sincere with me. But then I wonder, what am I anyway? Isn't it laughable? When you liked me, I used you. Now that you don't like me, I'm eager for you to like me again. Perhaps this is my punishment."

As he spoke, his voice trembled, full of resignation and a touch of world-weariness.

"Ah Jin, could you not let anyone else into your heart?"

Jin Li looked at him, puzzled.

"Promise me, will you?"

She said nothing.

Geng Yuan gave a bitter smile.

"As long as you don’t harm others, I’ll promise you."

"All right."

Since when did their relationship require conditions?

"Ah Jin, kiss me."

Jin Li’s lips parted slightly; Geng Yuan was momentarily stunned. Jin Li drew closer, reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and tiptoed to press a kiss to his lips.

A mix of emotions flooded Geng Yuan’s heart—bitterness, sourness, a dull ache somewhere deep within. He put his arms around Jin Li’s waist, bent down, closed his eyes, and a tear fell like a pearl.

The kiss was tinged with bitterness and farewell.

Once again, waves surged within the sea of consciousness, each stronger than the last, each hurting her heart more deeply.

That night, Geng Yuan stroked his lips.

"Sire, we've caught him," someone reported.

Geng Yuan looked up. In the darkness, his aura was that of a king in shadow, awe-inspiring.

He glanced coldly at Ruan Tu, who was pinned to the ground.

"You want to take Ah Jin away?"

"Geng Zi, don’t! Let her go!"

Geng Yuan watched his anger, leaned back lazily, his long legs crossed. "Let her go? Why should I?"

Ruan Tu screamed hysterically, "You don’t even love her! Why keep her captive? Why torment her? She doesn’t belong here!"

"Oh? Torment her? Are you talking about torment in bed?"

Ruan Tu’s eyes blazed red, he struggled. "Geng Zi, you’re not human! You’re a monster, a beast!"

Geng Yuan's lips curled into a disdainful smile. "Why so angry? Unless... you like her?"

"Yes, I like her! So even if it costs me everything, I’ll take her away from this hell."

Geng Yuan stood up and, without another word, kicked him hard. Ruan Tu was knocked unconscious.

Jiang Ji was stunned, and said to the equally stunned shadow guards, "What are you staring at? Drag him away already!"

Geng Yuan’s chest heaved; he was furious to the extreme. Ruan Tu dared to admit he liked Ah Jin right in front of him—clearly courting death.

"Sire, please... calm yourself. It’s nothing; the Lady would never like someone like him," Jiang Ji hurried to comfort him.

Geng Yuan’s face was dark; he glared at Jiang Ji. "I don’t need you to tell me."

The prison was cold to the bone.

"Ruan Tu, let’s make a deal."

Ruan Tu looked up, laughing. "A deal? Someone like you even knows the word?"

Geng Yuan stood, his dark robe exuding imperial majesty. "I know who you are. You’re not the real Ruan Tu. The real Ruan Tu died long ago in Bu Zhou Hall. Ruan Tu was a twin, wasn’t he?"

"When did you know?"

"From the very first moment I saw you. Ruan Tu was such a good person; he shouldn’t have died."

"But you killed him!"

Indeed.

His hands were stained with countless lives.

"You may look the same, but your temperament couldn’t be more different. From now on, the Four Seas are yours. Please help Ah Jin."

Ruan Tu was confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you don’t actually like Ah Jin. The Seal of the Sea Lord, the Pearl of the Spring Guest—I can give you everything you want. This is my last request."

"Geng Zi, who are you putting on this show of deep affection for?"

Geng Yuan smiled, a bitter smile. "Back in the South Sea, Ruan Tu was the best to me. I trust you."

Geng Yuan wanted to ask Jin Li if she would truly leave him.

He stood at the door, hesitating for a long time, unsure how to enter.

"Come in," she called.

Geng Yuan was startled, barely able to escape, when Jin Li’s voice echoed again, "If you have something to say, come in. If not, stop wandering outside my door."

So Geng Yuan finally walked in.

Jin Li was reading, and asked, "So? Have you decided to let me go?"

"No."

He held a bottle in his hand. "This is rice wine, your favorite."

Then he asked, "If you had the chance, would you leave me?"

Jin Li’s hand paused as she turned the page.

She smiled. "If such a chance truly came, I would leave."

She put the book down. "Geng Yuan, I don’t belong here. You can’t keep me locked away forever. You have things to do, and I do too. There’s no need to force someone whose heart isn’t with you to stay by your side. It’s pointless."

Geng Yuan slowly clenched his fist. "That won’t happen. At least you’re still by my side. I don’t need your heart—I just need you here."

With that, he got up and left.

Once again, the sea of consciousness stirred.

The fire of the mysterious spirit grew ever hotter.

Jin Li no longer resisted. She gazed at the sunlight outside the window lattice, slowly stretched out her hand, and the sunlight spilled across her face through her fingers. The appointed time with Ruan Tu had arrived.

In these days, the turmoil in her consciousness grew fiercer, Geng Yuan’s love more intense. Yet she could not respond to it.

"Ah Jin?"

She lowered her hand and sat to dine with him.

It seemed the time was nearly at hand.

That night, Jin Li invited Geng Yuan to drink and admire the moon.

She gazed thoughtfully at the flowers and crystals in the Sea Lord Palace. Geng Yuan smiled, gently, though she noticed the pallor on his face.

For a moment, it felt as if they had returned to their days together in Lotus River.

Jin Li smiled as she poured wine for Geng Yuan; his gaze never left her.

"Geng Yuan, a toast to you."

They drank together, the strong liquor burning down Jin Li’s throat, making her cough.

Geng Yuan smiled as he gently patted her back. "Drink slowly. This wine is rather strong."

Jin Li looked at his unchanging expression. "How come you’re not drunk?"

Geng Yuan smiled and filled his own cup, then poured more rice wine for her. "I’m used to it. Try it—I brewed it myself."

Jin Li gazed at the clear wine in her bowl, at Geng Yuan’s smile.

She raised her head and drank it down.

Cup after cup followed. Geng Yuan seemed to understand something, and spoke softly, "Ah Jin, are you trying to get me drunk so you can leave?"

Jin Li put down her cup. The two looked at each other, lost in longing and love.

"No, there’s something else I must do."