Chapter 12

Liu Shuang had never imagined she could move so fast. She traveled day and night, and by the time she reached the border of the Ghost Realm, she was in a sorry state.

Outside Qingcang Mountain stood a mountain gate, towering a hundred zhang high, imposing and majestic. Every pillar and beam was entwined with eerie ghostly energy, intimidating to behold.

(T/N: zhang, an old Chinese measure of length equal to 10 chi, or 3.58 meters (11 feet 9 inches))

She attempted to fly into Qingcang Mountain but was stopped by the gatekeeping ghost guard.

“Who dares to intrude into our Ghost Realm!” he shouted.

Two pitch-black broadswords blocked Liu Shuang’s path, forcing her to leap down from the air. She explained her urgent need to the two pale ghost guards.

“Sir, please forgive me. I mean, no offense to the Ghost Realm. I have urgent business and seek an audience with His Majesty, the Demon Lord.”

Two more guards appeared out of nowhere, flanked by eighteen ghost soldiers armed with weapons, blocking the entrance to Qingcang Mountain entirely.

One of the ghost guards, clad in black with his lower body shrouded in ghostly aura, spoke in a chilling tone.

“You think you can see our lord? Go back where you came from, or don’t blame me for devouring you whole!”

Had it not been for the strict governance of Yan Chaosheng, they might have drained her dry without a second thought.

Another ghost guard glanced at Liu Shuang and waved his blade forward. “Leave now. The gates of the Ghost Realm do not open lightly. If you wish to enter, wait for the day of the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade.”

The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade wouldn’t happen until midsummer. By then, it would be too late to save anyone; the Canglan Lake would likely be scorched beyond recognition.

Blocked outside the Ghost Gate, Liu Shuang realized how difficult it was to enter the Ghost Realm without being Yan Chaosheng’s consort. She took out a few spirit pearls from her belongings.

“Could you make an exception, sirs?”

The ghost guard in black’s eyes lit up at the sight of the spirit pearls, but the other one stopped him.

“No!”

Angrily, the black-clad ghost guard shouted, “Leave at once!”

His voice, imbued with power, echoed painfully in her ears. Liu Shuang covered her ears. She didn’t want to reveal her embarrassing status, but while she could wait, the Canglan Lake could not.

If she didn’t see Yan Chaosheng today, her home and family would be consumed by hellfire.

“I am… I am Liu Shuang, once consort to His Majesty, the Demon Lord. Please take the spirit pearls and deliver a message for me. You don’t need to open the Ghost Gate. Just tell His Majesty, or Lords Su Lun or Fu Heng, or even Lady Chang Huan, that Liu Shuang urgently seeks an audience and begs for help. I will repay this favor with my life.”

“You claim to be the consort?”

The two ghost guards exchanged glances. It was known that the Demon Lord had a consort, but she rarely ventured out, so few had seen her.

They whispered among themselves, and Liu Shuang overheard snippets—

“Could she really be the consort?”

“If she were, why would she be here and not in the palace?”

“She’s so beautiful and knows Lords Fu Heng and Su Lun. She might be the consort. Why not try? Delivering a message costs nothing, and we’ve taken the spirit pearls.”

Liu Shuang listened anxiously; her emotions were mixed, and finally, her face persuaded them to relay the message.

The black-clad ghost guard took the pearls and vanished to report.

Liu Shuang’s heart was filled with anxiety. The fire tribulation could come at any moment. Every minute she delayed increased the danger.

Time passed slowly, and the black-clad ghost guard finally reappeared before Liu Shuang.

“What did they say?” she asked urgently.

The ghost guard’s expression was grim. “Leave, leave! Lord Fu Heng orders you to go!” For delivering the message, he had received several lashes from Lord Fu Heng, making him even more dissatisfied with Liu Shuang.

Biting her lip, Liu Shuang transformed into a white light and rushed inside.

The ghost guard became furious.

“Stop her! Intruders in the Ghost Realm are to be killed without mercy!”

Eighteen dark ghost soldiers entangled Liu Shuang, and the black-clad ghost guard struck her back, causing her to fall and spit blood.

The next moment, another ghostly blade descended towards her head.

“Yan Chaosheng! Your Majesty, the Demon Lord! I know you can see this; please save the Canglan Lake!”

Just before the blade touched her, a blood-red whip wrapped around it. The ghost soldiers kneeled immediately upon seeing the newcomer.

“Greetings, Lord Fu Heng.”

Fu Heng retracted his whip, looked down at Liu Shuang without expression, and said, “Immortal Liu Shuang, please leave. His Majesty has ordered that you not  enter the Ghost Realm. His Majesty says he never had any consorts, and even if he did, she wouldn’t be named Liu Shuang. Please maintain your dignity.”

Wiping the blood from her lips, Liu Shuang stood up and spoke hoarsely, “I know no one is obliged to help another unconditionally. Now, as an envoy of the Canglan Lake, I beg His Majesty the Demon Lord and Lord Fu Heng to save us. In return, Canglan Lake’s tens of thousands of lives will offer tribute for a hundred years.”

Such incidents had occurred before; if an envoy stated their terms of exchange, Yan Chaosheng was often willing to help with matters of little consequence.

Fu Heng remained silent, staring at Liu Shuang.

He thought to himself: She looks so pale after traveling for days, and she’s injured. Despite the harsh words from the Demon Lord, her eyes only showed a moment of discomfort before she cast aside her personal feelings and used her status as an envoy to state her terms.

Just as Su Lun said, Liu Shuang seemed to have grown up overnight after breaking her bond with the Demon Lord. She had become stronger, and even in this dire situation, her eyes still shone with determination.

Unlike the smiling Su Lun, Fu Heng had a cold and detached personality, much like Yan Chaosheng.

Regardless of the matter, given their hundred years of acquaintance, Fu Heng felt he should at least report this to the Demon Lord. But remembering Yan Chaosheng’s cold demeanor when he gave those orders, Fu Heng turned away indifferently.

“Close the gate and throw her out. By the Demon Lord’s decree, Immortal Liu Shuang is never to enter the Ghost Realm again. If she attempts to force her way in, kill her!”

The ghost guards vanished before Liu Shuang, and the gates closed instantly. Liu Shuang pounded on the door, crying out, “Fu Heng! Lord Fu Heng!”

She slid weakly to the ground.

Does Yan Chaosheng hate her that much? He hates her so much that he won’t even see her. He knows she’s begging him to save Canglan Lake, not out of past sentiment, yet he despises her to the point of refusing, even when Canglan Lake offers a century of tribute in return.

With his beloved Mi Chu, the hundred years Liu Shuang spent with Yan Chaosheng have become meaningless smoke and illusion.

Her heart pounded fiercely.

Liu Shuang pressed her chest: Don’t be sad, don’t be sad. Yan Chaosheng has no reason to help a stranger. His actions are always unpredictable, driven by his mood. The moment the bond was broken, she told herself never to be hurt or sad for him again.

Staring at the closed Ghost Gate, Liu Shuang realized that Yan Chaosheng refused to help her. Shaoyou was nowhere to be found, and even the Granpa tree couldn’t break the barrier set by the artifact. Naturally, she couldn’t either. For the first time, Liu Shuang discovered that no one could help her. In this world, the only one you can always trust is yourself.

Standing at the gate of the Ghost Realm, she felt as small as an ant gazing at the vast heavens.

For the first time, she regretted marrying Yan Chaosheng, wasting a hundred years. She had learned nothing; her cultivation hadn’t advanced at all. She couldn’t save her home or the tens of thousands of lives in Canglan Lake.

If Yan Chaosheng showed her compassion, she would be like a parasitic vine clinging to him. If he was cold and heartless, she was nothing. As the ruler of both realms, without his consent, she couldn’t even see Su Lun or Chang Huan.

Her back throbbed with pain from the ghost guard’s strike, leaving Liu Shuang unsure of where to turn or who could save Canglan Lake.

A deep sense of despair overwhelmed her, but she gritted her teeth and turned away.

She couldn’t give up; she had to try. The worst outcome was failing to break the barrier and dying in the Fire Tribulation with the Grandpa tree and the others.

But before she could fly far, a golden net fell from the sky, trapping her within.

Her head ached, and she lost consciousness.

Before blacking out, she heard a man’s voice say, “Huh, it seems like we caught the wrong person?”

When Liu Shuang awoke, she found herself bound hand and foot with golden ropes. She tried to struggle free, but the ropes tightened, digging into her flesh.

“Awake? I advise you not to waste your strength. If breaking the Immortal Binding Rope were easy, the Immortal Realm would have been destroyed long ago.”

She turned towards the voice and saw a man in white robes approaching slowly. He wore a golden jade crown; his appearance was dignified and imposing.

Yet his demeanor was anything but dignified. Water droplets clung to his neck, his robe loosely tied and half-open, exuding a carefree aura.

Behind him was a steaming bath, indicating he had been casually bathing while she was unconscious.

Before he even reached her, his robe fell open, causing Liu Shuang to quickly avert her gaze.

The man chuckled pleasantly.

Liu Shuang gritted her teeth.

“Who are you? I don’t recall offending you. Please, let me go.”

The man gently grasped her chin, turning her face towards him, and said with a smile, “Why don’t you guess? I think you’ve already figured it out.”

Though his actions were gentle, there was an undeniable authority in his movements. Liu Shuang felt her chin would bruise under his grip.

Reluctantly, she spoke, “Heavenly Lord Feng Fuming?”

Feng Fuming laughed. “I knew you’d guess right.”

He released her and, with a wave, conjured a pot of tea on a nearby table. He elegantly prepared the tea and remarked, “Since Yan Chaosheng dared to take Mi Chu, he should have anticipated this day. If he abducted my consort, naturally, his consort must pay the price.”

Thinking of the people of Canglan Lake, their fates uncertain, Liu Shuang pleaded, “Heavenly Lord, I am no longer the Demon Lord’s consort. We severed our bond, and I have no connection to him. I am not Mi Chu, not the one you seek. I have an urgent matter to save lives; please let me go.”

Feng Fuming sipped his tea leisurely and looked at her.

“Of course.”

Before Liu Shuang could feel relief, he added slowly, “Yan Chaosheng only needs to bring Mi Chu in exchange. Rest assured, I’ve already sent a message to him. Tomorrow at noon, at the gate of the Immortal Realm, if he brings Mi Chu, I won’t trouble you. If he doesn’t…”

Feng Fuming smiled. “Little immortal, you won’t want to know the consequences.”

Though smiling, Feng Fuming’s gaze sent chills down Liu Shuang’s spine. To discern her true nature so easily, the Heavenly Lord Feng Fuming was formidable.

When she was with Yan Chaosheng, she often heard about this Heavenly Lord’s ruthless and decisive ways, which were always unpredictable.

Liu Shuang bit her lip. “The Demon Lord won’t agree. He cherishes Mi Chu, and they struggled to be together. He won’t agree to exchange Mi Chu for me. Heavenly Lord, I am just a minor immortal with low spiritual energy. I can’t help you in any way. Capturing me won’t control Yan Chaosheng.”

Feng Fuming’s gaze swept over her face, and he smiled. “Not necessarily.”

He offered her a cup of tea, which she declined.

Without a visible movement, the tea set on the jade table disappeared.

“You don’t understand men. Even if he no longer loves you or wants you, he won’t tolerate you being defiled by someone else. Just like I don’t love Mi Chu, but I wouldn’t allow her to have an affair with Yan Chaosheng, even if I had to kill her myself.”

Liu Shuang felt a sense of foreboding.

“What do you mean, Heavenly Lord?”

Feng Fuming smiled. “I sent word to Yan Chaosheng. If he doesn’t agree to the exchange, his once-beautiful consort will have to serve the ugliest guards in the immortal realm.”

Liu Shuang’s face turned pale.

Feng Fuming continued, “But don’t worry, I’ve changed my mind.”

Seeing Liu Shuang look at him, he chuckled. “You’re more charming and beautiful than I imagined, and you do resemble Mi Chu. In fact, you’re even more beautiful than she is. When Mi Chu sees you, she might tremble with jealousy. Her beautiful face…”

He paused thoughtfully: “Not even Yan Chaosheng knows that she used some spell hundreds of years ago to gain that beauty, while you are naturally so. So if Yan Chaosheng doesn’t come, it’s fine. If he wants Mi Chu, he can have her. You’re with me; I don’t lose out either.”

Liu Shuang, desperate, pleaded, “Heavenly Lord, regardless of the issues between you and the others, I am in urgent need to save lives. Canglan Lake is sealed by an artifact, and Fire Tribulation is imminent. As the ruler of the Immortal Realm, even if you don’t release me, could you at least save the lives in Canglan Lake?”

Feng Fuming’s eyes darkened, and he sighed, shaking his head. “Fire Tribulation is the fate of all flora in the Eight Wilderness. I cannot interfere.”

His tone was casual, and his eyes were indifferent.

“It’s just a bunch of plants that can’t take human form. If they are meant to die, then it’s their fate. Little immortal, cheer up. If Yan Chaosheng comes tomorrow, willing to exchange Mi Chu for you, he might also be willing to interfere with others’ fates and endure the tribulation.”

Liu Shuang was furious. She couldn’t believe the ruler of the Immortal Realm could be so cold-hearted. The beings of Canglan Lake were his subjects, yet he saw them as nothing.

The vastness of the Eight Wilderness, with countless realms, made Feng Fuming dismiss the lives of those in the small, barren realm.

Liu Shuang felt a chill.

Bound tightly, Liu Shuang couldn’t sleep. With Feng Fuming in the hall, she remained vigilant. She anxiously calculated the time in her head, fearing that the Fire Tribulation would ravage Canglan Lake before she could return.

How despairing must it be to be trapped within, unable to escape?

Who knows how long it has been? A divine bird appeared beside Feng Fuming. He took Liu Shuang with him and smiled, “Let’s go. We’ll soon find out if Yan Chaosheng is willing to save you and your people.”