Chapter Sixty-One
Ayin stood nervously before the Palace of Bell and Spirit, clutching Feng Yin’s soul in her arms, watching the three figures approach without daring to move an inch.
Gu Jin had spotted the figure in front of the palace from afar. He practically leaped off his Primordial Spirit Sword and landed right before Ayin. His gaze fell upon the wisp of soul she held in her hands, his thin lips pressed into a sharp, silent line.
The Fire Phoenix Jade at his waist emitted a faint yet joyful hum—undoubtedly, it was welcoming the return of Feng Yin’s soul.
A Jiu and Yan Shuang landed swiftly behind him at the palace entrance. Seeing the soul in Ayin’s hands, A Jiu was about to ask if she had truly sacrificed half her life essence, but catching the dangerous glint in Gu Jin’s eyes, he unusually refrained from making a fuss. His brows furrowed tightly, clearly overwhelmed with worry.
“You…” Gu Jin’s lips barely moved.
“A Jin, this is the Little Phoenix Lord’s soul.” Before Gu Jin could speak, Ayin carefully lifted the crimson wisp of soul and offered it to him, her expression both anxious and uncertain. Though she was the one who had saved Feng Yin and sacrificed half her life, she hung her head as if she had done something wrong, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.
Why had she sacrificed half her life essence? Why had she rushed back without a second thought? Why was she so foolish! The questions and anger Gu Jin had bottled up along the way vanished the moment he saw Ayin standing before him, holding Feng Yin’s soul. Not a single word escaped him.
She had done it for him—he understood that better than anyone. And because he understood, it pained and filled him with regret even more than if he had lost his own life essence.
Seeing Gu Jin remain silent, Ayin lowered her head further and whispered, “Actually, I’m fine. Ghost Lord Xiuyan used his spiritual power to condense an inner core for me. I now possess the immortal power of a Lower Lord. In the future, when we search for Feng Yin’s soul, I can help you too. I won’t be a burden anymore…”
“Ayin.” Gu Jin suddenly spoke, calling her name.
Ayin looked up in surprise to find Gu Jin gazing at her with restrained emotion.
“Don’t mention Feng Yin anymore.” Gu Jin took the soul and placed it into the Fire Phoenix Jade, his voice dry and hoarse. “Let’s go. We’re going home.”
With those words, Gu Jin said nothing more. He took Ayin’s hand and led her toward the Illusory Realm.
A Jiu remained uneasy, wanting to ask about Ayin’s condition, but Yan Shuang pulled him back.
Yan Shuang glanced at the two walking hand in hand ahead, then shook her head at A Jiu.
A Jiu pressed his lips together, his eyes filled with disappointment, but in the end, he said nothing more.
Inside the Palace of Bell and Spirit, Ao Ge watched them leave the Ghost Realm through the Water Mirror, somewhat surprised.
“I thought Dong Hua’s disciple would tear down my Palace of Bell and Spirit. I never expected him to leave so quietly.”
“His mind is entirely on that little girl. How could he spare a thought for you?” In the mist of the water, Xiuyan’s soul power manifested. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, he added, “Still, I can’t help but feel there’s a familiar aura about that young man.”
“A familiar aura?” Ao Ge raised an eyebrow. “You’ve stayed in the Ghost Realm ever since descending from the Lower Divine Realm. Could he be from the Divine Realm?”
Having been nurtured by Shang Gu’s Primordial Chaos Power for thousands of years, Xiuyan was naturally sensitive to such energy. The young man in the mist tilted his head back, leaning against the Floating Mirror as he yawned. “I don’t know. Even if I did, I’d pretend not to. If my guess is right, we might even have to bow to him someday. Given our seniority and age, that would be quite embarrassing.”Ao Ge, aside from Xiuyan, seldom concerned himself with other matters. Seeing that Xiuyan did not elaborate, he refrained from further inquiry, though he did take some interest in Ayin.
"That little girl has a kind heart. Water Condensation Beasts generally do not live long—I’m afraid in a hundred years or so, she’ll be settling down in our Ghost Realm. Since she helped us after all, find her a good family and ensure her path of reincarnation is smooth and peaceful."
Tsk tsk, isn’t this quite humane? Why then, when facing the young girl, did he act so cold and dismissive?
Xiuyan inwardly grumbled, but upon hearing Ao Ge’s words, he sighed and gazed in the direction outside the palace.
"Brother, I’m afraid our connection with that girl won’t even last a hundred years."
The voice from within the misty water was faint and indistinct. By the time Ao Ge strained to listen, Xiuyan’s soul had already scattered within the mirror, unwilling to speak further.
The four of them journeyed out of the Ghost Realm toward Great Marsh Mountain. Initially, Yan Shuang and A Jiu were worried that Ayin, having expended half her spiritual power, would be exhausted from the journey and suggested resting at Kunlun Mountain. However, recalling how Ayin had drugged them there, they didn’t dare bring it up again in front of Gu Jin.
The four pressed on without pause and returned to Great Marsh Mountain. Qing Yi, who had been guarding the mountain gate alone for half a month, was overjoyed to see everyone back, hopping around excitedly. In less than half a day, she had already hit it off with Yan Shuang.
News of Lan Feng and Hua Shu’s marriage had spread throughout the Three Realms. Xian Shan and Xian Zhu, fearing that the young Gu Jin might be too proud to show vulnerability, didn’t dare ask him directly. Noticing that Gu Jin had become unusually silent since his return and spent most of his time in the Scripture Pavilion, they grew increasingly concerned that their junior brother was nursing a broken heart. The two elders considered asking A Jiu and Ayin for details about the journey, but the usually lively and playful pair preferred to stay moldering in Qi Moon Hall rather than set foot near Ze You Hall.
The two elders guarding the mountain gate couldn’t fathom the fluctuating moods of the younger generation, nor could they bring themselves to summon them specifically to inquire about the embarrassing details of a failed marriage proposal. Their worries added a few more white hairs to their heads.
Another half-month passed. At first, A Jiu and Yan Shuang stayed by Ayin’s side day and night, terrified that she might collapse at any moment after losing half her life essence. But later, seeing her lively and energetic every day, hopping around with Qing Yi without pause and even more vibrant than before, they gradually eased their concerns.
Immortals and immortal beasts have long lifespans—even ten thousand years old is considered young. Even having lost half her life essence, she likely wouldn’t face any issues for the next few centuries.
Only Gu Jin remained secluded in the Scripture Pavilion since his return, not showing his face even once. Seizing the opportunity, A Jiu took subtle jabs at Gu Jin, often muttering in front of Ayin about "ungrateful wretches" and the like. Even Yan Shuang felt that Ayin had sacrificed half her life to retrieve Feng Yin’s soul for Gu Jin, yet hadn’t received a single word of gratitude. Instead, she spent her days anxiously as if she had committed some grave mistake—it was truly unjust.
If Gu Jin hadn’t caused the disaster that led to Feng Yin’s soul being scattered and spirit dispersed back then, would there be so much trouble now?
Only Ayin remained silent. She waited outside the Scripture Pavilion for half a month without seeing Gu Jin emerge. Finally unable to hold back, she took some mung bean cakes made by Qing Yi and, under the moonlight, mustered the courage to barge into Great Marsh Mountain’s most tedious yet historically rich Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion stood two stories high, shaped like an octagonal pagoda. Its exterior was built of bluestone, while the interior was crafted from dark wood. Each floor neatly housed ancient texts and manuscripts from over sixty thousand years across the Three Realms, making it Qing Yi’s favorite place to frequent.At this moment, the warm glow of the lanterns shone through the wooden steps, casting a bright and comforting light at their feet. The first floor of the Scripture Pavilion was covered with ancient books and texts, and upon closer inspection, they were all rare volumes detailing the immortals, demons, and divine beasts of ancient times.
Ayin stepped into the Scripture Pavilion with a small bamboo basket in hand. Not seeing anyone on the first floor, she quietly followed the lamplight and tiptoed up to the second floor.
Gu Jin, dressed in his usual black robes, was bent over an ancient book, his head lowered. His brows were slightly furrowed, and faint dark circles under his eyes betrayed a hint of weariness.
For some reason, ever since their trip to Hundred Birds Island and the incident at the Ghost King’s hall, Ayin felt that Gu Jin had become much more reserved and introspective. The simple, straightforward young man who had laughed so freely in the Forbidden Valley of the back mountain seemed to be drifting further and further away from her.
Her gaze was completely unrestrained, filled with undisguised fondness and affection. When Gu Jin looked up, he was met with such frank and open eyes. He suppressed the joy in his heart and lowered his head again to continue reading the ancient book. Yet, unable to bear seeing those eyes filled with disappointment and dejection, he finally spoke.
“Since you’re already here, why are you just standing there?”
His tone held no particular gentleness, even carrying a hint of coldness. Yet Ayin felt as if she had been granted a great reprieve. She scurried up the wooden steps and hurried over to the table in a few quick strides.
“A Jin, I came to see you,” she said with an ingratiating smile as she took out some mung bean cakes from the small bamboo basket and arranged them neatly for Gu Jin. “Qing Yi just made these. I brought them to you as soon as they were out of the pot—they’re still warm. You haven’t left the Scripture Pavilion in over ten days. Even if immortals don’t need to eat, they still have to live their lives. It’s getting cold, so I warmed up some Drunken Jade Dew for you. Try it.”
Gu Jin glanced at the food that had suddenly filled the small table, his eyes lingering on the ancient book that Ayin had nearly swept off the table. He couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless.
“Hmm, just leave it. It’s late. You should go back to Qi Moon Hall and rest.”
He responded casually before picking up the ancient book again and resuming his reading.
Seeing the weariness between his brows, Ayin finally stopped pretending to be the meek and obedient girl. With a flick of her eyebrows, she snatched the book from Gu Jin’s hands, pushed the Drunken Jade Dew toward him, and commanded in a rough voice, “Drink the Drunken Jade Dew, replenish some spiritual power, go back and rest properly, and stop reading.”
Gu Jin looked at Ayin, whose eyes seemed to be burning with fire, and rubbed his temples. “Stop fooling around. Give me back the book.”
Ayin slammed the book onto the table with a loud thud. “Stop reading. Even if you search through every ancient text in the Three Realms, you won’t find a way to restore the life essence of a Water Condensation Beast.”
Gu Jin’s expression changed instantly. His outstretched hand froze mid-air, trembling almost imperceptibly.
“Old Ancestor Bi Bo told me when he was at Purple Moon Mountain that for ordinary Water Condensation Beasts like us, using spiritual power to save someone means losing a portion of our life essence each time. It’s a law of heaven and earth, and no one can change it. A Jin, don’t waste your energy anymore.”
The Scripture Pavilion suddenly fell into silence—a silence so heavy it felt suffocating, like the calm before a storm.
“Even he, a divine beast, knows how to cherish his life. He’s so afraid of dying that he hides in Purple Moon Mountain, not daring to come out. Since you know all this, why won’t you take better care of yourself?”
The anger he had suppressed for half a month could no longer be contained. Gu Jin suddenly stood up and slammed his palm on the table, his eyes reddening. “You’re not Bi Bo. You can’t live for thousands or tens of thousands of years like him. Do you understand what it means to lose half your life essence? It means you might not even live to be a hundred years old. Do you understand that?”Most immortal beasts live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. When they reach the end of their lifespan without being able to shape-shift into human form or advance their immortal power, they naturally pass away and reincarnate. However, the Water Condensation Beast species is rather unique. Due to their innate healing power, their lifespans have always been short—ordinary Water Condensation Beasts typically live only a few hundred years. Yet because Water Condensation Beasts are rare, and aside from Bi Bo, not a single one has appeared in the past sixty thousand years, most immortals today are unaware that Water Condensation Beasts are such a short-lived race.
But Gu Jin grew up in the Ancient Divine Realm. Raised by Tian Qi since childhood, he was immersed in that environment and became deeply knowledgeable about the secrets of immortals, demons, and magical beasts. This is also why he kept Ayin by his side from a young age, almost indulging her every whim and treasuring her more than his own eyes.
He had always known she wouldn’t live long, but he simply couldn’t accept the fact that she wouldn’t even reach a hundred years old.
Gu Jin’s voice trembled, and the hand gripping the table even bulged with veins. His Primordial Chaos Power remained sealed, Tian Qi was not at Purple Moon Mountain, and he couldn’t return to the Ancient Divine Realm to seek help from the Mother Goddess. Yet Ayin now had only a hundred years or less left.
If he didn’t find a way to extend Ayin’s life before then, he could only watch her go through death and reincarnation. Ayin was not a god and couldn’t carry her soul power into the next life. Once she drank Granny Meng’s Soup, walked the Yellow Spring Road, and was reborn, there would be no more Ayin in this world—no more Ayin, his Water Condensation Beast.
Days of self-blame and guilt had left Gu Jin with no energy for anything except staying in the Scripture Pavilion, frantically searching for a way to extend Ayin’s life. And yet, this very person who had lost half her life essence appeared before him with a carefree expression, more heartless than anyone, living freely and without worry.
“I know. A Jin, it’s not that I don’t value my life.”
Seeing Gu Jin finally vent his anger, Ayin breathed a sigh of relief. She had truly feared that if Gu Jin kept bottling it up any longer, he would harm himself.
Ayin reached out and stroked Gu Jin’s hand, as if trying to soothe his anger and worry.
“Everyone has things they want to do and things they must do. My life was given by you. What you owe Feng Yin is what I owe Feng Yin. If I don’t bring her back, I will never have peace in my heart.”
If not for Gu Jin, she would still be nothing more than a dormant Water Condensation Beast in the Forbidden Valley of Great Marsh Mountain—without life, without friends, without a master, without fellow disciples, and without family. Everything she had now was given by Gu Jin. For the sake of Gu Jin and Great Marsh Mountain, even if it meant giving up her life, she would willingly do so, let alone just half her life essence.
“I still have a hundred years to live, but Feng Yin perished without even seeing this world once. She is more pitiful than I am. The Phoenix Sovereign and the Elders of the Phoenix Clan are still waiting for her to awaken.” Ayin looked up at Gu Jin. “My life is still long. We still have a hundred years, A Jin. Let’s take our time and think of a way. Please don’t worry about me anymore.”
Seeing the determination in Ayin’s eyes, Gu Jin finally let out a long sigh.
“Here, try the mung bean cake. Qing Yi made it especially for you.” Ayin pushed the mung bean cake toward Gu Jin again, trying to lighten the mood.
Gu Jin had no way of dealing with this carefree girl. He also knew that his current worries had frightened Ayin and didn’t want her to dwell on this matter any longer.
He picked up a piece of mung bean cake from the table and took a bite, then immediately frowned.
Ayin quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not good? Is it cold?”Gu Jin shook his head and spoke with great restraint, "Not enough sugar."
Ayin was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Alright, alright, tomorrow I'll have Qing Yi add more sugar. I'll just say his martial uncle has a sweet tooth."
The smile on Ayin's face was relaxed and carefree, no longer cautious. Gu Jin watched her smile, took the Drunken Jade Dew she handed him, and felt the unease of the past half month gradually dissipate because of Ayin's expression.
Outside the second floor of the library hall, an abnormal wisp of dark aura transformed into a vague human shape, concealed in the moonlight as it peered inside. It watched the scene under the candlelight with malice, lost in thought, as if plotting something.
Inside the hall, Gu Jin seemed to sense something and suddenly looked toward the window.
"Stay inside and don't come out!"
Gu Jin warned Ayin, and his Primordial Spirit Sword materialized beside him, swiftly striking toward the dark aura in the air.
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