The Last Immortal

Chapter 69

"Half a month?" Ayin was stunned. "Didn't I wake up the very next day?"

Yan Shuang shook her head, seeing Ayin's confused expression. "You were infected with Demonic Qi and remained unconscious. It was A Jin who went to the Heavenly Palace to request the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool from High Lord Lanfeng that revived you."

Like A Jiu, Yan Shuang was unaware that Ayin's life essence was nearly exhausted. She thought it was the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool borrowed by Gu Jin from Lanfeng that had awakened Ayin, completely unaware that Ayin's ability to expel the Demonic Qi relied on Gu Jin's blood.

"The Divine Dew of the Jade Pool?" Ayin asked. "So the Demonic Qi in my body was expelled by an immortal medicine mixed from the Divine Dew and the blood of a deer-horned immortal beast?"

"Deer-horned immortal beast?" A flicker of confusion appeared in Yan Shuang's eyes. Just as she was about to ask for clarification, Gu Jin's voice came from behind, interrupting their conversation with measured tone.

"Yan Shuang, how are things at the mountain gate? Have any Demons appeared these past few days?"

Gu Jin was asking about serious matters. Yan Shuang stopped exchanging meaningless pleasantries with Ayin and quickly replied, "Don't worry. A Jiu and I patrol the mountain gate daily and haven't found any Demons. The two seniors are in seclusion at the Hall of Eternal Life, lighting the Nine Star Lantern. With the Qing-generation disciples guarding them, they're also safe."

Seeing their attention diverted, Gu Jin's eyes flickered with relief. Given Ayin's temperament, if she knew she needed to drink his blood daily to stay conscious, she would likely refuse to drink it again.

"Alright, I'm relieved to see you awake," Yan Shuang smiled at Ayin. "I'm not comfortable leaving A Jiu alone guarding the mountain. I'll go back to keep him company now and visit you again in a few days."

Ayin nodded reluctantly. Though only a few steps away, she insisted on seeing Yan Shuang off.

The two dawdled their way to the entrance of the Forbidden Valley. Ayin pouted and whispered, "A Shuang, when I'm fully recovered in a few days, take me out for a stroll around the mountain gate. A Jin has to go into seclusion to practice cultivation every day. I'm almost bored to death alone."

Yan Shuang found this strange. "A Jin goes into seclusion to practice cultivation every day?"

Ayin nodded. "Yes. He says with Demons appearing, neither the Immortal Realm nor our mountain is peaceful, so he practices cultivation in seclusion inside the cave every day."

Gu Jin's reasoning wasn't wrong. Yan Shuang didn't suspect anything. "I don't know why Seniors Xian Shan and Xian Zhu had A Jin bring you to the back mountain to recuperate. Actually, the mountain gate is quite safe too." She lowered her voice, generously offering Ayin reassurance. "Don't worry. In a few days, when you're fully recovered, I'll take you out for a walk. Qing Yi and those little kids miss you terribly."

Remembering the round, chubby little disciples recently accepted into the mountain, Ayin smiled and nodded, seeing Yan Shuang off.

Another month passed. While patrolling the mountain, Yan Shuang suddenly sensed a powerful surge of Demonic Power directly entering the mountain gate. Frowning, she looked toward the entrance.

Outside the Great Marsh Mountain's Mountain Protection Array, a deep voice rang out without warning.

"Sen Yu of the Demon Realm pays his respects to the Sect Leader of Great Marsh Mountain! I request an audience with High Lord Xianshan!"

Sen Yu? The Second Prince of the Demon Realm? Wasn't he stationed at Rakshasa Land? Why would he suddenly appear at Great Marsh Mountain at this time?

In the back mountain's Forbidden Valley, Ayin, who had also heard Sen Yu's call at the mountain, was equally stunned. The Immortal and Demon races had never been on good terms. Why would the Second Prince of the Demon Realm suddenly visit Great Marsh Mountain?She glanced toward the cave not far away. Since entering the Forbidden Valley, A Jin had been in secluded cultivation every day. When he entered seclusion, he shut off his five senses, completely unaware of the outside world.

Ayin gritted her teeth, her worry ultimately prevailing. She recited an Immortal Incantation and flew shakily toward the valley entrance.

Within the mountain gate, A Jiu appeared beside Yan Shuang upon hearing the commotion. He gazed at the tall figure outside the mountain with a heavy expression. Although Hong Yi and Chang Qin hadn't spoken for centuries, he was well aware of the tangled grievances between Chang Qin and Sen Yu. If Sen Yu hadn't forcibly kept Chang Qin in the Demon Realm's Third Heaven back then, his parents wouldn't have perished in battle. Thus, he held little goodwill toward this Demon Realm second prince, who might have become his uncle.

"A Jiu, your presence in Great Marsh Mountain must not be revealed. The two elders are at a critical moment lighting the Nine Star Lantern. Go guard the Hall of Eternal Life. I'll go meet this Demon Realm second prince."

As Yan Shuang spoke, she turned to fly away, but A Jiu grabbed her arm, his eyes filled with concealed concern.

Seeing this, Yan Shuang chuckled reassuringly. "Don't worry. No matter what, he is the esteemed second prince of the Demon Realm, and he's knocking on our mountain gate so openly. He's surely not here to provoke. I'll go see what he actually wants."

A Jiu nodded, watching as Yan Shuang flew toward the mountain gate.

Outside Great Marsh Mountain's gate, Sen Yu saw a streak of golden light flash by, and a young woman with striking, bold features appeared before him.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing her up.

To have already ascended to the rank of High Lord at such a young age—this Lady was not to be underestimated.

"Yan Shuang of the Eagle Clan, greetings to Prince Sen Yu." Yan Shuang offered a slight cupped-hand salute as a gesture of courtesy.

Although Sen Yu was her elder and a prince of the Demon Realm, the long-standing rift between the Immortal and Demon Tribes made formal greetings unnecessary.

"Yan Shuang? The Eagle Clan princess?" Sen Yu was momentarily taken aback, then a flicker of anger crossed his face. "Is this how the esteemed Great Marsh Mountain treats its guests? I, the prince, have come knocking to pay my respects, yet Great Marsh Mountain sends an outsider like you to receive me? Where are Xian Shan, Xian Zhu, and Gu Jin? Where are the three High Venerables of Great Marsh Mountain?"

"Your Highness," Yan Shuang replied calmly and with composure, neither subservient nor arrogant. "You must have heard that demons appeared within our mountain gates recently. The High Venerables are in secluded cultivation to protect the mountain. For now, I am guarding the mountain gate on their behalf. May I ask the purpose of Your Highness's visit to Great Marsh Mountain today?"

Sen Yu glanced at the faintly visible Nine Star Lantern above Great Marsh Mountain and frowned.

For a month, he had secretly searched for the immortal who had entered Tranquil Mountain to see Chang Qin, but to no avail. It wasn't until he heard about the appearance of demons at Great Marsh Mountain that he found it suspicious and came to investigate. With Great Marsh Mountain's Mountain Protection Array activated, he couldn't sneak in, so he had no choice but to knock openly. Who would have thought all three High Venerables of Great Marsh Mountain would be in seclusion at once? His timing was truly unfortunate.

He had promised Chang Yun not to let news of Chang Qin's death leak out, so naturally, he couldn't reveal his purpose to Yan Shuang.

"When will those three High Venerables emerge from seclusion?"

"The Sect Leader has ordered Great Marsh Mountain to close its gates for three months. Only one month has passed so far. If the second prince finds it inconvenient to disclose your purpose to me, perhaps you could return to visit the Sect Leader in two months."

"Very well. Once the Nine Star Lantern is lit, Sen Yu will certainly pay another visit to the mountain!" Sen Yu took one last look into Great Marsh Mountain, then turned and left.

Great Marsh Mountain had stood firm within the Immortal Tribe for sixty thousand years, and with the Mountain Protection Array left behind by Dong Hua, it was already the safest place in the Three Realms. Waiting another two months was no issue. It was better to first search for traces of Hong Yi.Outside the Hall of Eternal Life, A Jiu watched Sen Yu's figure disappear beyond the mountain gate. A faint wisp of dark aura flickered briefly around his neck, then vanished without a trace.

Within the flames of the Nine Nether Purgatory, the Demon Venerable observing this scene frowned.

"Hmph, this venerable one dealt with Chang Qin, yet you still managed to find your way to Great Marsh Mountain."

A cold, chilling voice echoed from within the prison flames.

Seeing Sen Yu depart, Yan Shuang breathed a sigh of relief and was about to return inside the mountain gate when she happened to run into Ayin, who was rushing over in a hurry.

"Why have you come out? Hurry back inside!" Seeing Ayin's frail appearance, Yan Shuang's expression immediately changed.

"What happened? Why did the Second Prince of the Demon Realm suddenly come to our Great Marsh Mountain?" Concerned for the mountain's safety, Ayin quickly asked.

Yan Shuang shook her head. "He came to pay respects to the two elders. Seeing they were in seclusion, he left."

She was about to lead Ayin back into the mountain when, not far away, the cries of birds rang out. A red sparrow and several peacocks flew straight toward the mountain gate.

Yan Shuang's brow furrowed tightly, and she snorted coldly. Ayin was also taken aback but shifted her body, assuming a formidable stance that blocked Yan Shuang protectively.

Yan Shuang felt a warmth in her heart, finding it amusing, and her expression softened.

The red sparrow and the peacocks transformed into human forms. Seeing Ayin and Yan Shuang right at the mountain gate, they were also startled.

On Hundred Birds Island, the red sparrow had met Yan Shuang and Ayin before. Without hesitation, she courteously greeted them, "Hong Que pays her respects to Lady Ayin and Princess Yan Shuang."

"What brings you to Great Marsh Mountain?" Ayin asked leisurely.

This was her territory, so she naturally assumed the loftiest posture possible, wishing this little maid would finish speaking and leave immediately. She didn't want A Jin to have any further connection with Hundred Birds Island.

Hong Que smiled politely, producing a gilded invitation from her sleeve with a hint of pride.

"Lady Ayin, on the Double Ninth Festival, it will be the wedding day of our princess and High Lord Lanfeng. The princess said that Great Marsh Mountain and Immortal Lord Gu Jin have shown great kindness to Hundred Birds Island, so she specifically ordered Hong Que to personally deliver the wedding invitation to Immortal Lord Gu Jin."

Hearing it was just to deliver an invitation, Ayin relaxed inwardly, feeling much more at ease. She took the invitation and said, "Congratulations and thank you for your trouble, Miss Hong Que. My senior brother is currently in seclusion for cultivation and cannot receive guests, so I will accept this invitation on his behalf. Miss Hong Que, I will definitely pass it on. You can rest assured and return to report to your princess."

Ayin's straightforward nature was truly evident; she dismissed people with such efficiency.

Hong Que, having had the invitation unceremoniously taken by Ayin, couldn't help but feel annoyed. Knowing her princess greatly disliked this Lady Ayin of Great Marsh Mountain, she smiled slyly and said, "Since Lady Ayin is Immortal Lord Gu Jin's junior sister, entrusting it to you is just as good. Her Highness also asked me to relay two questions to Immortal Lord Gu Jin, but since the Immortal Lord is in seclusion..."

"Anything concerning my senior brother, I know about it. If Princess Hua Shu has any questions, asking me is just the same," Ayin waved her hand, adopting a vigilant, defensive stance.

"Of course," Hong Que replied with a smile. "Actually, it's nothing major. It's just that Her Highness is concerned about the Little Phoenix Lord of Phoenix Tree Island and wanted to ask Immortal Lord Gu Jin if he has found the last soul fragment of the Little Phoenix Lord. If he has, perhaps he could send word to her, so Her Highness can be at ease."

Feng Yin's last soul fragment? Wasn't Feng Yin still missing two soul fragments? How could there only be one left?Ayin’s eyes held a trace of confusion, which Hong Que happened to notice. Her voice rose slightly, unable to conceal a hint of pride. “Lady Ayin, you probably don’t know this, but my princess has always been concerned about the awakening of the Little Phoenix Lord. She ordered our entire clan to search the Three Realms for his soul. A few days ago, we finally found a ten-thousand-year-old phoenix tree on the North Sea’s remote island. Coincidentally, Immortal Lord Gu Jin visited Hundred Birds Island, so the princess accompanied him to the North Sea’s remote island and retrieved one of the Little Phoenix Lord’s soul fragments.”

“My senior brother went to Hundred Birds Island?” This time, not only was Ayin stunned, but even Yan Shuang was taken aback.

During the days Ayin was unconscious, Gu Jin had left the mountain for ten days, claiming only that he was going to the Heavenly Palace to borrow the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool. He had never mentioned visiting Hundred Birds Island.

Come to think of it, the distance from Great Marsh Mountain to the Nine-Layered Heavenly Palace was at most two days. Even with a round trip of four days, that would have been enough. Where had Gu Jin gone during the remaining days?

Ayin lowered her eyes, her entire body stiffening. Could it be that while she was unconscious, hovering between life and death, Gu Jin had gone to Hundred Birds Island to see Hua Shu?

Yan Shuang looked at her with concern.

“Oh, didn’t you know, Lady?” Hong Que lowered her gaze, her mind racing. She recalled that day on Hundred Birds Island, when she had overheard Gu Jin say that his junior sister was unaware of her critical illness and the need for spiritual medicine to treat it. He had asked her princess to keep secret the matter of him borrowing the Feathered Phoenix Crown.

It seemed that Lady Ayin not only didn’t know she was nearing the end of her life but was also unaware that Immortal Lord Gu Jin had visited Hundred Birds Island.

“It’s no wonder, Lady. My princess and Immortal Lord Gu Jin shared a friendship years ago on Phoenix Tree Island. Although there was some discord between them recently, Immortal Lord Gu Jin has always treated my princess with great affection. This time, Immortal Lord Gu Jin personally visited the island to call on the princess. They drank tea, Discussed the Dao, and enjoyed a pleasant conversation. That’s why the princess ordered me to personally deliver the wedding invitation to the Immortal Lord.”

Seeing Ayin fall silent because of her words, Hong Que’s earlier gloom lifted. She was about to add a few more cutting remarks when Yan Shuang, furious, reached for her whip to teach this Peacock Clan maid a lesson. Unexpectedly, Ayin raised her hand and stopped her.

Ayin showed neither anger nor annoyance, carrying herself with the dignity befitting the junior sister of the Sect Leader of Great Marsh Mountain. She nodded slightly toward Hong Que.

“My senior brother is one of the three venerables of Great Marsh Mountain. As his junior sister, it’s not my place to question his whereabouts. It’s hardly surprising that I didn’t know he had visited Hundred Birds Island. Princess Hua Shu and Supreme Lord Lan Feng’s Double Ninth Festival wedding is a joyous occasion for our entire Immortal Realm. With the wedding approaching, the princess must have many matters on her mind. My senior brother and the princess share only a childhood friendship, hardly worth mentioning. We are deeply grateful to the princess for retrieving one of the Little Phoenix Lord’s soul fragments. The entire Great Marsh Mountain is indebted to her. However…”

Ayin turned her gaze toward Hong Que, her expression turning cold. As Hong Que met her eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a shiver of fear.

How could this be? Ayin was merely an immortal beast with low Immortal Power, yet this single glance felt more imposing and icy than even her own princess’s.

Ayin’s gaze swept over Hong Que with indifference. “Supreme Lord Lan Feng governs the Heavenly Palace on behalf of others and holds a noble status. Your princess is the esteemed princess of the Peacock Clan and is soon to marry Supreme Lord Lan Feng. Such a divine couple is beyond compare. Words like ‘affectionate treatment’ and ‘pleasant conversation’ are too frivolous to be used in reference to Princess Hua Shu and my senior brother. You may disregard your princess’s reputation, but my senior brother is one of the three venerables of Great Marsh Mountain. His honor is the honor of Great Marsh Mountain. Such words must never be spoken again. Otherwise, even if your princess protects you, Great Marsh Mountain will not tolerate you.”Only when Ayin uttered this final line with heavy emphasis did Hong Que remember that although Ayin was merely a Water Condensation Beast, she was also Dong Hua's disciple—a status far beyond her own. If the words she had just spoken were truly spread, even her own mistress might not spare her.

Belatedly gripped by fear, Hong Que trembled and quickly averted her gaze from Ayin's stern and piercing eyes, prostrating herself on the ground. "This humble servant is ignorant and spoke wrongly. I beg Lady Ayin not to hold it against me and to spare me this once."

"Rise. You come on behalf of your mistress, and such a heavy courtesy is not for me to accept." Ayin flicked her sleeve, refusing Hong Que's kneeling gesture, and turned directly to fly toward the mountain. "I will personally deliver Lady Hua Shu's wedding invitation. You may return. For the next hundred years, if your clan has matters to discuss, send someone else. You need not enter the gates of my Great Marsh Mountain again."

As the dignified and proud voice echoed, Hong Que's heart filled with resentment yet turned cold. She could only hope that today's events would not reach the ears of other immortal sects, for even the Peacock Clan would not tolerate her if they did.

Outside the mountain gates, Yan Shuang, who had been watching the spectacle with puffed cheeks, gazed from afar at Ayin's departing figure and silently gave countless thumbs-up in her heart.

No wonder Gu Jin had once said that if Ayin truly unleashed her temperament, no one could bully her. She had originally thought this was a soft and adorable Water Condensation Beast, but who knew she was a mountain lord even more domineering than herself.

Tsk, tsk. Yan Shuang shook her head in admiration. Truly worthy of being Dong Hua Shang Shen's disciple from Great Marsh Mountain—this presence, this authority, these words, so impressive!

Having watched a thoroughly satisfying show, Yan Shuang smiled and chased after Ayin into the mountain gates.

Yan Shuang followed Ayin toward the back mountain, catching sight of her standing beneath the phoenix tree in the Forbidden Valley. Just as she was about to step forward to praise her, she noticed the desolate expression on Ayin's face.

Remembering Hong Que's earlier words, Yan Shuang felt uneasy and walked forward.

"Ayin!"

"Back then, she merely spoke a single word in his defense, and he has been unable to forget it for ten years in this back mountain's Forbidden Valley."

Ayin's voice suddenly rang out, causing Yan Shuang to halt her steps.

Ayin's figure was frail and desolate as she quietly gazed toward the direction of the mountain cave, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I have been here..." Ayin looked into the Forbidden Valley, "listening to him speak of her for three years. Year after year, month after month, day after day, aside from Feng Yin, the only one he ever remembered was that girl on Phoenix Tree Island who once showed him kindness."

"She merely frowned, and he unhesitatingly lent her the Divine Artifact his master left to protect the mountain, preferring to face life-and-death dangers himself in the treacherous lands of the Three Realms, uncertain of survival from day to day."

"When she won the battle and protected her clan and father, he was happier than anyone, traveling day and night with the Star-Adorned Phoenix Crown to propose, fearing she would be taken by someone else."

Ayin's voice paused, as if for a long time, or perhaps only for a breath. When it sounded again, it carried an indescribable loneliness and desolation.

"I thought that as long as I stayed by his side, doing everything for him, protecting him, accompanying him, he would come to like me, even if only a little."

"I was wrong."

Night fell, and the moon began to rise. Ayin lifted her head, looking toward the bright moon in the sky, revealing a bitter smile.

He would go to Hundred Birds Island again because he knew she was marrying someone else, and so he went to see her one last time.He was naturally lazy; not even matters concerning Feng Yin could make him this diligent. Yet ever since returning to the mountain, he had been cultivating day and night without a moment's rest. The reason, perhaps, was that he refused to lose to Lan Feng, pushing himself to this extreme.

"A-Shuang, I appeared too late. From the very beginning, I was half a step behind. In this lifetime, no matter how hard I try, I fear I will never catch up to her."

Under the moonlight by the parasol tree, Ayin's faint voice carried a trace of bitterness, each word tinged with a sigh.