Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Eight

Jinli smiled as she pulled him down to sit beside her. They sat shoulder to shoulder, and she noticed the calluses on his hands.

"How does someone so young have so many calluses on their hands?"

Gengyuan replied, "I got them back when I was in the Southern Sea. It's nothing serious now."

Jinli accepted the explanation, tidying the stray hair on his forehead. "I need to teach you proper martial arts, otherwise next time you might get abducted by villains again. You have to learn to protect yourself, do you understand?"

Gengyuan nodded, his innocent expression and quiet obedience making Jinli want to indulge herself with him. Her gaze slowly drifted from his eyes to his lips, and gradually, the space between their breaths diminished.

Jinli spoke, her voice tinged with enchantment, "A'Yuan, I want to kiss you."

As soon as the words left her lips, Gengyuan's body flushed with heat—just because of that single sentence.

The Beauty Gu had already taken effect.

Jinli saw Gengyuan momentarily stunned and was about to pull back.

But then Gengyuan leaned in on his own accord. When their warm lips met, Jinli grew nervous; the breath and closeness at such proximity made her entire being blush with embarrassment.

A feverish heat swept through her, leaving her inexplicably flustered and disoriented.

The kiss ended quickly. Jinli sat stiffly, and Gengyuan, watching her frozen expression, found it rather amusing. Perhaps it was the Beauty Gu's effect, but this kiss stirred something unusual within him as well.

The next morning, when Jinli got up, she found Gengyuan already waiting beneath the pear tree.

"Why are you up so early?" she asked.

Gengyuan replied coolly, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation, "I've never seen someone so lazy in their cultivation."

The girl crossed her arms, a playful smile in her eyes as she looked at the youth and raised her brow. "Those who cultivate are supposed to remain untempted even in the face of beauty, but you, Young Lord..."

The memory of yesterday's kiss flashed through his mind. Flustered and ashamed, Gengyuan turned away and muttered, "How shameless."

Jinli dashed over to his side. "Since Young Lord dared to kiss, why be afraid to talk about it?"

By now, Gengyuan's cheeks were gradually flushing red, which made her all the more delighted.

"You're blushing? Just from a kiss?"

"I'm not like you, Lady Jin, who must have kissed countless people before."

He turned his head away, refusing to look at her. The girl rose on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, "How do you know you're not the first one I've ever kissed?"

His heart skipped a beat, the usual indifference in his eyes dissolving into surprise and a touch of joy.

The cicadas began to sing quietly in the summer heat, and beneath the lush pear tree, the youth could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heart.

A light summer breeze stirred, carrying with it a faint scent of lotus.

The youth turned to look at her. Dappled sunlight scattered across her face, making her skin gleam like pearl, her eyes clear and bright, brimming with laughter—so radiant it could rival the summer sun.

Only today did he truly notice her face. He had to admit, she was even more beautiful than the rumors claimed.

Her immortal robe of cerulean and cherry blossom hues set off delicate collarbones, one marked by a small black mole, and a long, slender, flawless neck. She rarely adorned herself with hairpins, often just a single simple silver pin gathering her long hair.

Yet even so, her beauty could not be hidden. What if she actually put on makeup...

The youth quickly stopped himself from thinking further.

"Come, disciple, today you officially become my apprentice."

As the girl turned, the wind lifted her trailing sash, letting it brush gently over the back of the youth's hand.

Gengyuan stared, gradually lost in thought, and only after a long moment managed to snap back, startled by his own wandering mind.

They made their way to the back mountain, where the immortal pear trees were now in full, exuberant bloom—unlike the one from earlier.

It was as if snow had fallen.

Only now did he understand why she loved pear blossoms so dearly, why she named her immortal domain Pear Blossom Valley. The pear flowers, like pure snow beneath moonlight, the mountain breezes, blooming amid the riot of spring, yet maintaining an unbroken expanse of pristine white, noble and pure.

Just as she had been when she stormed the Demon-Sealing Tower—pure, righteous, radiant as crystal.

"What are you daydreaming about?"

Gengyuan snapped back, flustered. "N-nothing."

She shrugged, then lifted her hand. "What do you want to learn?"

There was a confidence in her bearing, tinged with pride, and a smile tugged at his lips.

"Whatever I want to learn, you'll teach me?"

The girl nodded. "Of course, since you’re mine."

Gengyuan decided not to argue further; if she wanted to talk like that, he'd let her.

He thought for a moment. "I want to learn the art of breaking enchantments."

"Anything but that."

Only the Goddess clan could learn the breaking of enchantments—who knew where this little merman would run off to after mastering it.

She wasn’t willing to take that risk.

After a pause, she said, "That spell is very difficult. Even I haven't mastered it yet. How could I teach you?"

"Then what will you teach me?"

"…Why don't I teach you the Invisibility Spell? It's easy to learn and good for escaping."

The youth nodded; anything was better than nothing.

With her fingers joined, the girl channeled her spiritual energy, silently reciting the incantation. With a flick of her wrist, her hands formed an elegant orchid gesture and slowly opened.

Enveloped in blue immortal light, she vanished.

Gengyuan’s eyes flashed with worry; he stood up, then realized he might be overreacting and steadied himself. "All right, I'll learn it."

But her figure remained unseen.

"Lady Jin?"

Suddenly, he felt a warm touch on his cheek.

His body froze.

Jinli laughed in triumph, then once again formed the orchid gesture with her palms, reappearing before him. "Well? Did you learn it?"

Gengyuan’s eyes held surprise, his face unable to hide his embarrassment.

"…Yes."

He pressed his fingers together, closed his eyes, gathered his spiritual power, and chanted, "Hide the body, conceal the shadow, vanish."

Mimicking Jinli’s gesture, he was briefly enveloped in blue-white immortal light and disappeared—only to reappear almost instantly.

He looked at himself, frowning, "I’m not invisible at all."

"Of course not. Your mind must be focused, your will unwavering. Only then can you become invisible. Try again?"

Gengyuan tried once more but still failed. He saw the mischievous smile at Jinli’s lips, laced with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Are you playing with me?"

"You misunderstand, Young Lord."

At that moment, Jinli said, "You must follow your heart. No distractions. Feel with your heart."

She moved closer, placing her hand over his heart. Gengyuan held his breath, so nervous he stuttered, "…What…what are you doing?"

Her other hand pressed gently to his lips. "Shh. Just feel."

Jinli listened to the little merman’s heartbeat, each beat resonating with her own, until their hearts seemed to move in unison.

She slowly closed her eyes.

Gengyuan, seeing this, gradually relaxed, feeling Jinli’s breath, and closed his eyes as well. Spiritual power flowed as he recited, "Hide the body, conceal the shadow, vanish."

The incantation seemed to rise from deep within. The youth's figure faded from sight.

Jinli nodded in satisfaction, her eyes drooping with sleep. She sat cross-legged and soon drifted off.

Gengyuan gazed at the girl beneath the tree; pure white pear blossoms fell onto her spread skirts, rendering her as immaculate as a goddess.

Or perhaps, in this moment, she truly was a goddess.

A smile played on the youth’s lips. He released the invisibility spell and sat by her side.

Leaning closer, he said, "Wake up, I did it."

She nodded, "Good. I knew you could."

Surprised, he asked, "You…you believe in me?"

"Of course. You are Gengyuan, after all."

"…Only Gengyuan?" Jinli smiled and shook her head. "No, you are not just Gengyuan; you’re also the Young Lord I like."

"You always say you like me, but what does liking someone really mean?"

Jinli opened her eyes, turning to him, her gaze bright. "To like what he likes, to worry when he worries. That’s what it means to like someone."

The youth plucked at a leaf, and as he lowered his eyes, the smile in them faded, turning once more to indifference. This was all because of the Beauty Gu—it had nothing to do with him.

Gengyuan said nothing. Then Jinli turned, dug out two bottles of wine from under the tree, and declared they should celebrate.

"What are you up to now?"

"Today is different from before. I won’t trick you."

He shifted uncomfortably, refusing. "No, I can’t hold my liquor."

"This is rice wine, it’s very sweet."

Half-willing, he took the bottle. Jinli smiled, took a sip, and sighed with satisfaction. "This is my favorite rice wine. If you weren’t mine, I wouldn’t even share it with you."

"You’ve never shared it with anyone else?"

"Of course not. You’re the first."

Her lips curved in a mischievous, unrestrained smile.

He drank.

In the end, she saw Gengyuan’s cheeks flushed pink, starlit eyes blinking at her with a smile. Only then did Jinli realize how wrong her actions had been—drunk Gengyuan was especially alluring, nestling obediently against her neck.

"Jin, thank you. I wish none of this was a dream—if only it were all real."

Jinli was taken aback, looking at him; the dazed, intoxicated look in his eyes was clearly the rambling of a drunk. Stroking his face, she smiled gently, "It’s not a dream. It’s real."

"Do you…like me?"

Jinli leaned in and kissed his lips softly. "I do."

Gengyuan froze, then gently pulled Jinli into his arms. After a long time, she heard his breathing finally even out, and as Jinli stroked his back, her heart felt warm and full.

When Jinli awoke again, she was still in the pear grove. Petals, white as snow, had drifted down over them, filling the air with a light fragrance. She lifted her head to see Gengyuan’s peaceful, gentle sleeping face, his skin whiter than snow, delicate as if a breath could shatter it.

She remembered their first meeting in Lianchuan—his slightly wavy silver hair falling over his shoulders, sunlight casting him as a celestial being. The mere memory set her heart racing and her thoughts wandering.

Jinli lay in his arms, utterly enchanted.

"Do you like what you see?"

Gengyuan opened his eyes slowly, amusement in them as he looked at her.

Jinli grinned as if it were only natural. "Young Lord, you’re so good-looking. What, can’t I look?"

"Every time you look at me, Lady Jin, your eyes are like a hungry wolf’s. Anyone would be afraid."

Jinli feigned annoyance. "Hmph, you can look at me too."

With that, she brought her face closer, and Gengyuan’s hand nervously clenched a fallen leaf.

She was so near, her face carrying the subtle scent of lotus mingled with sweet rice wine; flushed from drink, she looked like a tempting peach.

The youth swallowed hard, then leaned back and glanced away, covering up his nerves with casual words, "It’s nothing special."

"Nothing special? Then you’re nothing special either, Young Lord. Hmph."

Gengyuan was amused by her mock anger and laughed aloud.

Jinli turned to look at him. "See? You look so much better when you smile. Always keeping a straight face is awful."

Gengyuan nodded softly. "As you wish."

Then, looking down, Gengyuan asked, "Do you want to be with me?"

Jinli took a sip of wine and nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

"And those people at Yanhe House…"

Jinli smiled, a touch indulgent, "Ever since I met you, I haven’t set foot there again."

"…All right."