The Last Immortal

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two

Seeing that the two had calmed down, before Yan Shuang and Qing Yi could speak, Feng Yin narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the incense, candles, and spirit money on the ground before finally settling on Qing Yi and Yan Shuang. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who told you to come see me at Phoenix Roost Palace like this?"

Qing Yi and Yan Shuang stiffened, glanced at Feng Yin's somewhat dangerous expression, and then one looked up at the sky while the other stared at the ground, refusing to speak.

"Hmm?"

Feng Yin snorted, her eyes darkening. Qing Yi immediately sold out his little martial uncle. "It was Little Martial Uncle. He said you used to live at Phoenix Roost Palace, and if I came here to burn spirit money, maybe I could summon your soul back."

Afraid that even he found his own words absurd, Qing Yi's voice grew softer and softer. He now knew, of course, that he had been tricked by his little martial uncle. Too afraid to come see his little martial aunt himself, his uncle had sent Qing Yi to do this offensive task.

Ah, Little Martial Uncle may look like an aloof and transcendent immortal, but he’s truly full of mischief. Qing Yi silently grumbled in his heart, blinking as he looked at Feng Yin, hoping for leniency by confessing.

Yan Shuang awkwardly laughed twice, glanced at the incense, candles, and spirit money on the ground, and also felt that coming to cry at a grave before a living person was indeed too improper. Scratching his head, his eyes drifted aimlessly. "Well... grievances have their source, debts their debtor. You can’t hold it against us two who knew nothing..."

Before Yan Shuang could finish, Feng Yin slowly nodded. "Indeed, what a fine Divine Lord Yuan Qi."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and stormed off toward Sunlit Palace.

Qing Yi, still worried about his little martial uncle, panicked and tried to persuade Feng Yin to come back, but Yan Shuang grabbed him and held him back.

"Blockhead," Yan Shuang tapped him on the forehead. "Didn’t you see how they were in the hall today?"

"How were they?" When Yan Shuang first entered Great Marsh Mountain, Qing Yi was still just a young attendant. Used to having his head tapped by Yan Shuang and Feng Yin, he didn’t mind, but Feng Yu, standing nearby, glared, instantly finding Yan Shuang utterly disagreeable.

"The two of them were lukewarm, putting on such a sanctimonious act it was exhausting to watch. Your little martial aunt has probably been holding in that fire for a thousand years—letting her vent it all at once is for the best." Yan Shuang sighed and winked at Qing Yi. "Otherwise, why would your little martial uncle have you do such a wicked thing?"

Enlightened by Yan Shuang’s explanation, Qing Yi suddenly understood. Just as he was about to say something, a figure suddenly darted between him and Yan Shuang.

Feng Yu beamed at Qing Yi, her smile radiant. "Immortal Attendant Qing Yi, you’re our Majesty’s martial nephew! I’m also her grandniece, so we’re the same generation, haha! What a coincidence. Come, come, sit inside and tell me about our Majesty’s past."

As she spoke, ignoring Yan Shuang, she glanced at Qing Yi’s forehead, pouted, and tugged at his sleeve, coaxing him into Phoenix Roost Palace. Watching Feng Yu’s doting expression, Yan Shuang realized what was happening and shook his head, amused and exasperated, before finding a quiet spot in Phoenix Roost Palace to rest.

Feng Yin had no sense of direction, yet she walked all the way to Sunlit Palace without taking a single wrong step.

Back when she was still Ayin, she had walked this path alone dozens of times, trudging along in solitude, frightened and helpless. Nothing like now—she had barely appeared on the immortal path, and Immortal Attendants swarmed forward like a gathered crowd to bow and offer greetings.The Immortal Generals guarding Sunlit Palace inside and out saw the Phoenix Sovereign arriving and were about to go in to report, but who would have thought the Phoenix Sovereign would step right through the gates of Sunlit Palace without a single word of preamble.

The hand of the Immortal General reaching out to stop her was halfway extended before it ultimately withdrew without confidence. Nowadays, who didn’t know what Divine Lord Yuan Qi had said for the Phoenix Sovereign at the birthday banquet? Even if they had ten immortal lives, they wouldn’t dare block the Phoenix Sovereign’s path now.

Sunlit Palace was quiet and peaceful. Feng Yin had only entered this place once before, and that was when Chang Que had led her in. Back then, she had walked in trembling with a basket of mung bean cakes, afraid of making a mistake and becoming a laughingstock for Great Marsh Mountain, not even daring to let her eyes wander.

Feng Yin was somewhat absent-minded, rubbing her temples as she walked inward. Today… she had been recalling too many old memories from a thousand years ago.

Following the guidance of the Immortal Attendant, Feng Yin entered the backyard. As soon as she stepped in, she felt the ground soft and springy beneath her feet. Looking down, she couldn’t help but feel surprised—the backyard of Sunlit Palace was actually covered in grass. When she looked up, she froze for a moment.

It was said that the peach grove scenery of Phoenix Roost Palace in the Heavenly Palace was unparalleled, but she never knew Sunlit Palace held such a hidden paradise. Green pines surrounded the backyard, and an immortal spring from outside was channeled into the courtyard, its water murmuring softly. A wooden bridge spanned the flowing stream, with flowers blooming in abundance on both ends. In the courtyard, there even grew a small phoenix tree, a few of its golden, brilliant leaves scattered on the ground.

As she lifted her gaze, she saw a young man leaning against the phoenix tree. Feng Yin’s eyes widened in near shock.

The young man wore a white Daoist robe, his black hair lazily tied with a simple, thin wooden pin. He held a jar of wine in his arms, sleeping soundly.

It was Gu Jin. The Gu Jin who had disappeared from the world the day Great Marsh Mountain was destroyed.

Feng Yin’s imposing demeanor dissipated greatly, and even her footsteps on the grass lightened.

The person sleeping soundly under the phoenix tree still hadn’t woken. Step by step, she walked to the phoenix tree and crouched down.

The aroma of Drunken Jade Dew wafted from the wine jar. Unconsciously, Feng Yin reached for the wine jar in the young man’s hands. As soon as she touched it, the young man woke up.

She met a pair of eyes as deep as mountains and as vast as the sea, filled with seven parts starlight and three parts moonlight.

Outside the small courtyard of Sunlit Palace, the Immortal Attendant who had just guided Feng Yin stood outside, watching the two under the phoenix tree. His brow relaxed, and his face transformed into a familiar one—it was Chang Que from Clear Pond Palace.

“You’re quite bold. Aren’t you afraid the Phoenix Sovereign will notice?” Chang Que sat cross-legged on a small stone outside the courtyard, revealing his true form.

Chang Que recalled Feng Yin’s stern brows and dark, heavy eyes, his expression uneasy and troubled. “No wonder you didn’t dare show yourself. This Lady Ayin now…” He paused and quickly corrected himself, “The Phoenix Sovereign is truly imposing.” He sighed again. “After all, she is the one Divine Lord has longed for. He’s waited a thousand years—we must help him fulfill this wish.”

Chang Que turned to the Primordial Spirit, who was tilting his head to look into the courtyard. “Is it alright for you to guard here?”

The Primordial Spirit quickly nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m formed from Primordial Chaos Power. Even if the Phoenix Sovereign has become a deity, she won’t be able to detect me.” With a wave of his hand, a faint silver Divine Power silently cast a transparent curtain over the courtyard gate.

From the outside, only an empty small courtyard could be seen, with no trace of the figures inside.

Sunlit Palace remained as quiet as ever, as if the Phoenix Sovereign had never set foot inside.Ayin slept a long, deep sleep. A bird's cry descended from midair, like a sudden melody falling into her slumbering world, rousing her from her dreams.

She opened her eyes. Warm sunlight filtered in from outside the bamboo hut, and the sound of a babbling stream outside the window reached her ears, clear and soothing. For a moment, Ayin was dazed, sitting on the bed in a slight stupor.

A fragrant aroma drifted in through the window. Ayin patted her soft, empty stomach and, following the scent, got out of bed and walked out of the bamboo hut.

Outside the hut, under the phoenix tree, a fire burned brightly. Beside the fire, a young man was turning a fish on a spit. Seeing Ayin emerge, the young man in Taoist robes grinned, revealing a joyful expression. "Awake? I caught a few small fish from the river. Wait a bit, I'll give you one when it's ready."

Ayin stared blankly at the young man's smiling face under the phoenix tree, then suddenly remembered. She and A Jin had gone down the mountain to search for the little phoenix's Three Hun and Seven Po. After wandering through the Ghost Realm, only the last Po remained unfound. Their senior brother said they had suffered a lot during their time away and should stay at the mountain sect a while longer before heading out again. She and A Jin were used to living in the Forbidden Valley at the back of the mountain. A Jiu and Yan Shuang stayed in the halls at the front mountain, while she and A Jin rested in the Forbidden Valley.

"Here, it's ready. Come eat." In that brief moment of distraction, Gu Jin had roasted the fish until it was golden brown and fragrant. Ayin, rubbing her stomach, happily ran over to take it and sat down beside Gu Jin, nibbling away like a little squirrel.

As she ate, Gu Jin poured Drunken Jade Dew into a gourd and placed it beside her. "Take your time. There's plenty, enough to fill you up."

Ayin quickly mumbled "Mhm, mhm" but didn't stop eating. She gazed at the young man's handsome face, her eyes filled with laughter.

Hahaha, that peacock from Hundred Birds Island had broken off her engagement with A Jin to marry Lanfeng Supreme Lord. Now, only she was by A Jin's side. Their senior brother's idea was truly brilliant—staying longer in the Forbidden Valley this time was perfect for getting closer. Spending every day together like this, sooner or later, A Jin would have eyes only for her.

Ayin thought gleefully, though she still spared a thought for her companions who had shared hardships with her. "Where are A Jiu and Yan Shuang? Why didn't they come to the back mountain to play today?"

The hand turning the fish paused briefly, but his voice didn't slow down. "The Eagle King summoned Yan Shuang back to the island. A Jiu was worried and went with her. They won't be back for some time."

Ayin was taken aback, feeling a bit regretful that her daily partners-in-crime were gone. But then she thought, now it really was just A Jin and herself—wasn't this the perfect opportunity? She immediately grew smug, tucking away her little schemes, and poked Gu Jin's waist with a mischievous grin. "Oh, with Yan Shuang's temper and Immortal Power, who would dare provoke her? Little A Jiu can't bear to be apart from her for even half a month and insists on following her. He must have fallen for our Princess Yan Shuang, right?"

Ayin laughed slyly and cleverly. Gu Jin, who was picking out fish bones for her, paused, his eyes suddenly sparkling. "Is that what you think?"

"Of course," Ayin said, spitting fish bones into A Jin's palm and taking the next piece of fish to put in her mouth. "You just don't get it, do you? Young people's feelings these days are so tender and naive. I could tell at a glance. The other day when we were watching fireworks on Eternal Peace Street in the capital, I noticed something was up between them. Sure enough, I was right."She clicked her tongue twice, and Gu Jin was amused by the old-fashioned tone in her words, letting out a soft sigh. "So that's what you think."

His sigh was faint, almost inaudible. Ayin quickly leaned closer. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing." Gu Jin used his finger to push away the little face that was almost touching the collar of his robe. "Eat while it's hot. Once you're done, I'll take you down the mountain to play."

Ayin's eyes lit up. "Really?" Seeing Gu Jin nod, she hurriedly took a few bites to finish the fish, gulped down a gourd of Drunken Jade Dew, wiped her mouth, and said, "I'm done, let's go."

Gu Jin was both amused and exasperated. With a wave of his hand, he drew water from the stream to wet a handkerchief, pulled Ayin over, wiped her mouth, and then carefully cleaned the hands she had used to catch the fish.

All ten fingers, not even missing the tips. Her soft little hands brushed against the young man's slender fingers several times, sweet and warm. Ayin's face flushed red, and even the fine hairs on her head stood on end.

Although she had been raised by Gu Jin since childhood, ever since she took on the form of a young girl, she had never had the chance to get this close.

The young man's long eyelashes and high nose bridge were almost within half an inch of her. Ayin was afraid to breathe too heavily. Staring at the distinct outline of Gu Jin's lips, she found herself inexplicably leaning closer, bit by bit.

"Ayin, Ayin!" A clear voice rang in her ears. Ayin snapped back to reality. A Jin had finished wiping her hands at some point and was now sitting cross-legged, looking at her.

Ayin paused in her downward movement, then stretched in an awkward manner before bouncing up from the ground. "W-w-wiped, all done, A Jin, let's go down the mountain!"

Oh my, A Jin's appearance is just too perfect—she almost kissed him! The feelings aren't there yet, they aren't there yet, can't act recklessly, can't act recklessly. What if she scares him away? Take it slow, take it slow, don't rush, don't rush... Ayin silently repeated these words in her mind, forcefully suppressing the mischievous thoughts in her heart.

The young man watched her flushed face and flustered embarrassment, a flicker of inscrutable amusement and mischief passing through his eyes. Only then did he lazily rise to his feet and say, "Alright, let's go."

He picked up the gourd, fastened it to his waist, grabbed Ayin's hand, and leaped into the air, soaring on a cloud toward the mountain gate.

Ayin was startled by his sudden grip and stumbled, instinctively wrapping her arms around Gu Jin's waist in a bear hug. Once steady, she couldn't bring herself to let go, pretending to be frightened and clinging to him without a word, refusing to release her hold.

Gu Jin seemed not to notice, focusing entirely on steering the cloud out of the mountain.

A distant bell toll echoed from the Hall of Eternal Life atop the mountain peak.

As the cloud flew over the summit, Ayin looked down. Great Marsh Mountain lay peaceful and serene below. Gazing at the towering hall and majestic mountain gate, she suddenly felt an inexplicable, indescribable sorrow in her heart.

She didn't know where this sorrow came from, but she suddenly felt that, in her entire life, there would never be a moment more sorrowful than the one she had just experienced.