Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Fifty-Seven

When Yunxiang awoke, she found herself shrouded in darkness. The thick scent of blood sent alarm bells ringing in her heart. She scrambled up, trying to shatter the barrier with her immortal arts, but her efforts were futile. After several failed attempts, she felt her immortal power slowly being drained away within the confines of this barrier. Defeated, she fell to her knees.

“Is anyone there? Help me!”

“Help? Do you think anyone would come to rescue you here?” The voice was gentle and sweet, but the eyes, cold and venomous like a viper, belonged to none other than Susu.

“Fairy Susu? What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? What do you think? Do you even know where you are?” There was fear in Yunxiang’s eyes, but her face remained calm. “Let me out!”

“Let you out? Today, you won’t leave this place.”

Susu continued, “This is a place unknown to outsiders, reserved for dealing with disobedient immortal attendants and handmaidens.”

Ye Mitian!

Yunxiang pounded against the barrier. “Susu! Let me out! I’ve done nothing wrong. By what right do you bring me here?”

“Hahaha, so you’ve already realized what this place is.”

“I’m innocent! By what right?”

“Innocent!” Susu lashed out with a divine punishment whip, striking Yunxiang and sending her flying. Her flesh was torn open, revealing white bone beneath. “Firstly, a mere immortal servant, currying favor with idle words.” Another whip followed, this time striking Yunxiang’s face. She screamed in agony as half her face was ruined, the pain so excruciating it nearly made her lose consciousness. “Secondly, a lowly being daring to harbor delusions above her station.” The third lash came with Susu gripping the handle tight, infusing it with immortal power. With a thunderous crack, Yunxiang’s legs were broken in a flash of lightning. “And the final crime—having a good master. That is your greatest sin!”

Before Yunxiang could recover from the torment, Susu reached out and, with cold cruelty, wrenched the immortal marrow from Yunxiang’s body. Yunxiang, breath fading, crumpled to the ground like a withered leaf. Susu then slowly gathered the immortal marrow in her palm and, before Yunxiang’s fading eyes, crushed it into dust. In an instant, Yunxiang’s life faded, her form dissolving into immortal dust, vanishing completely.

Susu let out a long sigh. “If you must blame someone, blame your mistress. Even as a vengeful ghost, blame your mistress. She always had to take what was mine.”

In the days that followed, Jinli neither saw Gengyuan nor Yunxiang. Not until the wedding day did an unexpected guest arrive.

Susu appeared as gentle and lovely as ever, her brocade robes accentuating her beauty. She stood at the door, gazing from afar, seemingly barred from entering by the guards.

Jinli rose and approached. When the guards moved to stop her, Jinli cast them a cold glance. “What’s this? I am to be the consort. Are you not going to let me speak?”

The guards, upright and dutiful, exchanged glances. Susu’s hand clenched tightly within her sleeve.

“Fairy Susu, why have you come today?”

Susu’s smile was polite but insincere. “Your Grace jests. I simply came to check on your well-being. Seeing you safe, I am relieved.”

With that, Susu curtsied gracefully. As she turned to leave, something slipped from her sleeve. Jinli’s sharp eyes caught the familiar embroidery.

“What is this?”

Susu quickly snatched it up, her gaze evasive. “It’s nothing.”

Jinli extended her hand. With no other choice, Susu handed it over. Jinli recognized immediately—it belonged to Yunxiang. “Why do you have Yunxiang’s things?”

Susu leaned in. “Fairy Yunxiang has disappeared.”

Jinli seized her hand. “Explain yourself. How could Yunxiang just disappear?”

Susu’s expression was flustered and nervous. “I don’t know, only that she once angered His Majesty.”

Gengyuan?

“I only heard Yunxiang say that Your Grace was to marry the Crown Prince, not the King...” Susu’s voice grew quieter. Jinli released her hand, her heart filling with unease, anxiety, and fear.

After Susu left, Jinli gazed at the pouch. Inside were a candy and a simple hairpin—one Yunxiang had made for her in Lotus River.

Jinli could not believe it. She could not believe Gengyuan would do such a thing. Yet she remembered how, when she thought Gengyuan would show brotherly affection, he had mercilessly killed Ruantu.

She had seen Gengyuan rescue disciples on the Immortal Mountain, seen him save Amo in Great Jun City despite past grievances, fight for the people in Xichuan, honor Prince Ce’s wishes, and shed tears over the death of the merfolk...

Yet beneath all that tenderness lay a face as ruthless and cunning as ever.

Is this truly the man she is to marry? This man is not Gengyuan.

He is the Demon God.

On the day of the wedding, Jinli donned her bridal robes. Her breathtaking beauty and immortal grace drew the envy of every maiden; one glance was enough to steal their breath away.

Amid the assembled ministers, Gengyuan stood tall upon the Spirit Hall, eyes alight with joy and happiness as he watched Jinli’s bridal sedan approach. Casting aside all propriety, he descended from the hall and, before all present, drew open the sedan’s gauzy curtain, guiding his beloved down with his own hand.

His heart trembled. To see her before him, dressed in wedding finery, about to share vows—she was the one he had longed for so desperately that even his heart quivered with excitement. His eyes grew moist. At last, he had married her—at last...

He hoped that Jinli would always remember the happiness they had shared.

But deep within, the seal on his demonic power grew more turbulent, and Gengyuan unconsciously clenched his other hand, though the one holding Jinli’s remained gentle and warm.

After the ceremony, Gengyuan coughed up blood once more. Jinli’s primordial power clashed with the demonic energy within him, making him feel as though his heart were being devoured, the pain overwhelming him to the point of near unconsciousness.

In both the divine and immortal realms, all preparations were complete.

After tonight, life would return to its former tranquility.

And Ajin would no longer be doomed to such a fate.

Standing outside the bridal chamber, Gengyuan wiped the blood from his lips, took several deep breaths to steady himself, and entered.

He had imagined their wedding countless times: perhaps it would be in Lotus River, or on the Southern Sea, or perhaps in the mortal world. But no matter where, as long as it was Jinli, he would give everything to protect her.

The world was vast and resplendent, and he wished to see it all with Jinli by his side.

Yet for all his dreams, tonight was the only night he could spend with her.

Jinli must surely hate him now; this ceremony was nothing more than his own wishful thinking. But even if she hated or despised him, he would accept it gladly.

Hidden in her hand, Jinli gripped a sharp blade. If Gengyuan had truly killed Yunxiang, she would kill him, even at the cost of her own life.

She knew that the man before her was no longer the young lord she once knew. He was now the Sea King, ruler of the Four Seas.

He was no longer her little merman.

As the door opened, Jinli’s grip tightened, her footsteps tense. He drew near and gently lifted her bridal veil.

The elaborate wedding—complete with the three letters, six ceremonies, phoenix crown, and red robes—was something she and Gengyuan had once seen among mortals. She had jokingly said she wanted such a grand wedding for him in Lotus River. Back then, they had been pure, kind, joyful, and content. Now, all was changed.

Gengyuan was still as striking as ever, unmatched in beauty throughout the six realms. As he slowly lifted Jinli’s red veil, her breathtaking visage once again set his heart aflutter.

“Ajin.”

Jinli raised her eyes to meet his. Gengyuan’s face flushed once more.

“The ceremony is done. Let me go.”

Jinli’s voice was cold.

Gengyuan smiled. “Tonight is our wedding night. Let’s not speak of unhappy things.”

With anger, Jinli knocked the wedding wine from his hand. The cup fell, and Gengyuan froze. Jinli, stern and furious, demanded, “Gengzi Bie, I’ve done everything you’ve asked. When will you let me go?”

Gengyuan’s expression dimmed. He bent to pick up the cup and set it on the table. “Ajin, promise me—this is the last thing. Drink our wedding wine, and I’ll let you go.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

Jinli downed the wine in one gulp.

Looking at his smiling face, she remembered how that same gentle expression had hidden the heart that killed Ruantu and Yunxiang.

She would kill him—she must.