Immortal Paladin

531 Hot Springs

[POV: Lin Lim]

Lin Lim had been cultivating diligently from the safety of her residence within the Dragon Palace. In the early days, she still wore the blindfold from time to time, wrapping the dark cloth around her eyes as a form of self-inflicted penance. Recently, however, she had gradually stopped. The effort had become futile. Her increasing cultivation naturally healed her eyesight no matter how often she denied it.

Ren Xun always frowned whenever he saw her attempting to blind herself again, though he never once tried to stop her. He respected her enough to allow her that strange method of atonement, even if neither of them could properly explain it anymore.

That frightened her.

The memories of her ‘sin’ were fading.

At first, she thought it was merely time dulling the sharpness of guilt, but the longer she cultivated, the more uneasy she became. She understood now what it meant to possess the soul of a Lost God. The stronger she grew, the more fragments of the Repentant Listener surfaced within her mind like corpses rising from a black ocean. Ancient memories, old instincts, emotions that did not belong to Lin Lim? They all slowly returned.

Was Ren Xun experiencing the same thing?

He too possessed the soul of a Lost God.

Perhaps he suffered more than he allowed others to see.

Lin Lim slowly opened her eyes.

Night had fallen over Yellow Dragon City. Through her spiritual senses, she felt the sleeping pulse of the city sprawling beneath the palace grounds. Countless lives breathed below her awareness like tiny embers in darkness. Though much of the city rested, many establishments remained active throughout the night. Adventurers wandered taverns, merchants conducted secret dealings, and cultivators pursued sleepless ambitions beneath lantern-lit streets.

Yellow Dragon City had become one of the most prosperous cities within the Hollowed World.

Yet tonight, something felt tense.

Her brows furrowed slightly. “What is the increased security about?”

The women surrounding her exchanged glances.

All of them were dragons wearing human forms to better accommodate both the palace architecture and her own comfort. They served as attendants, guards, and companions to the wife of the Dragon King. Whether she liked it or not, the dragons placed her upon a pedestal.

Though these dragons were hardly pure-hearted.

Lin Lim still felt deeply uncomfortable knowing Ren Xun had essentially been turned into a breeding stallion for their dying race. The former Emperor and that accursed Dragon Goddess were ultimately responsible for it, but the disgust lingered nonetheless.

Thankfully, artificial insemination existed.

Of course, it was to the immense disappointment of the dragons.

Lin Lim was rather protective of her husband these days. Ren Xun had overcome most of his shameless womanizing tendencies long ago, and she had absolutely no intention of allowing him to relapse simply because an entire race found him desirable.

Deng Chan stepped forward respectfully. The Dragon Princess no longer carried the same prideful arrogance she once possessed. “There have been ominous developments lately,” she explained. “Sporadic earthquakes have been occurring throughout the surrounding territories. More strangely… local wildlife has suddenly entered mating seasons regardless of species or natural cycles.”

Lin Lim blinked.

She truly had immersed herself too deeply within cultivation if she failed to notice something like that.

That was… deeply abnormal.

Even now, she still found it surreal that Deng Chan had become her attendant. Fate truly enjoyed absurdity.

“How are you dealing with the situation?” Lin Lim asked.

Deng Chan bowed her head slightly. “I hired adventurers to investigate.”

“The Eternals?”

Privately, Lin Lim knew Lord Da Wei’s inner circle referred to them as players. Strange immortal outsiders who viewed death as inconvenience rather than tragedy.

“Yes,” Deng Chan answered. “However, the epicenter of the disturbances appears to be Mount Qingshi. No one has successfully approached its center due to some kind of barrier. At times, ominous high-pitched wailing sounds can be heard echoing throughout the mountain.”

Lin Lim frowned.

That sounded terrible.

Perhaps a dangerous demonic beast had appeared.

“We should deal with it ourselves before it becomes a threat to Riverfall’s people,” Lin Lim suggested.

Deng Chan immediately stiffened. “I advise against that.”

Lin Lim glanced toward her. “You already investigated?”

“I attempted to check it alongside several elite guards,” Deng Chan admitted. “But… we were turned away.”

Lin Lim narrowed her eyes slightly. “Turned away? How?”

For the first time since the conversation began, Deng Chan appeared genuinely flustered. A faint redness spread across her cheeks as she struggled to maintain composure.

“We…” She coughed awkwardly. “We simply developed a very bad feeling the closer we approached.”

Lin Lim stared at her flatly. “Explain properly.”

Deng Chan hesitated for several painful seconds before finally lowering her voice.

“I felt aroused.”

Silence.

“The same was true for every elite I brought with me.”

“…”

Lin Lim stared blankly at Deng Chan for several long seconds before finally pinching the bridge of her nose. “It might be a demonic cultivator,” she muttered. “Or perhaps some demonic beast proficient in lust arts.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Deng Chan surprisingly shook her head. “I somehow doubt that.”

Lin Lim glanced toward her.

“There was nothing wicked about it,” Deng Chan explained carefully. “Uncomfortable, yes. Embarrassing, absolutely. But not malicious. In fact…” She hesitated briefly. “My unit witnessed an actual demonic cultivator fleeing from the mountain. Before he escaped far, he encountered a wandering Ezekiel and was immediately exorcised.”

Lin Lim held her head and began massaging her temples.

What was an Ezekiel doing here in Riverfall?

The last she heard, most Ezekiels were occupied across Radiant Losten performing missionary work, joining academic institutions, serving hospitals, researching magical theory, or assisting countless departments throughout civilization. Wandering Ezekiels were absurdly rare.

The holy skeletons were frighteningly dedicated beings. Tireless workaholics whose only true desire was the betterment of those they served. Once they accepted a duty, they pursued it with terrifying devotion.

Frankly, they were exhausting.

Deng Chan cleared her throat. “Regardless, I strongly advise against any exploration attempt for now. We cannot afford to act recklessly with something so unknown occurring this close to Yellow Dragon City.”

Lin Lim eventually nodded.

She trusted Deng Chan’s instincts more than most people realized.

After dismissing the attendants, Lin Lim consumed several medicinal pills. One stabilized her cultivation realm while another enhanced the effects of the spiritual energy she had accumulated over recent months. Warmth spread throughout her meridians as the medicine dissolved within her body.

She could not allow herself to become a burden to Ren Xun.

Their world only continued growing larger and more dangerous.

If she truly wished to save her children one day, then she needed the strength to stand beside her husband rather than behind him.

The palace suddenly trembled.

An earthquake.

The disturbance only lasted several seconds before stopping entirely.

Lin Lim frowned.

That one felt strong.

She soon sat at her desk and began writing a letter to Ren Xun using paired transmission paper. Anything written upon one sheet would instantly appear upon its counterpart held by Ren Xun himself.

From time to time throughout the night, spontaneous earthquakes continued shaking Yellow Dragon City.

Some were weak tremors.

Others caused entire towers to creak uneasily.

Only by dawn did the disturbances finally cease.

Just as Lin Lim finished another cultivation cycle, loud voices echoed outside the palace gates.

“The Dragon King has returned!”

Her eyes widened slightly.

Lin Lim immediately rose from her seat and hurried outside.

Ren Xun had barely entered the palace courtyard before she reached him. He pulled her into a firm embrace without hesitation, arms wrapping around her protectively as though reassuring himself she remained unharmed.

“What happened?” Lin Lim asked quickly.

Ren Xun exhaled tiredly. “It’s… rather complicated. The Holy Emperor apparently wanted to recklessly charge into enemy territory again.” His expression twitched with visible exhaustion. “I swear that man possesses no understanding of self-preservation. He says he learned, but he keeps doing this things. That Ophanim of his is gonna get him killed someday. Oh, it already did. Hah~! Forget about me.”

He gently held her shoulders afterward and looked her over carefully. “Are you alright? Deng Chan already briefed me regarding the situation here.”

Lin Lim nodded. “I’m fine.”

“I’m planning to investigate Mount Qingshi personally,” Ren Xun continued. “I brought several Guardians with me.”

“I’m coming too.”

Ren Xun opened his mouth as if intending to object before ultimately sighing in defeat.

“…Fine.”

Mount Qingshi stood beneath the pale light of dawn, ancient and majestic despite the ominous atmosphere surrounding it. The sacred mountain was famous throughout Riverfall due to the countless legends surrounding the Crimson Empress’ and the Holy Emperor’s battles there.

The group carefully searched the mountain terrain.

Strangely enough, they encountered no resistance whatsoever.

Eventually, they discovered a surprisingly well-maintained bedroom hidden deep within the mountain itself.

Lin Lim blinked.

Resting atop the enormous bed was a naked woman with crimson hair.

The Crimson Empress.

Ren Xun instantly turned around respectfully. “My apologies.”

Alice lazily waved a hand.

A loose robe immediately clothed her body.

She looked deeply annoyed rather than embarrassed. “Honestly, David can be so heartless sometimes.”

David.

Another name for the Holy Emperor.

Ren Xun slowly dragged one hand down his face. “Oh, heavens…” He sighed deeply. “Now it finally makes sense.”

Lin Lim frowned. “What makes sense?” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Ren Xun looked utterly exasperated. “The earthquakes. The strange phenomena. The wildlife behavior.” He pointed vaguely toward the mountain surroundings. “They were caused by two powerful immortals going into heat.”

Silence descended.

Alice looked confused.

Lin Lim felt speechless as she looked around more carefully at the craters and the mess.

“I don’t understand,” Alice admitted innocently. “Although my waist is a bit sore. I might’ve overdone it.” She tilted her head afterward. “Does Yellow Dragon City have any hot springs?”

It finally hit Lin Lim. Her face stiffened.

“…Oh.”

Alice suddenly perked up while looking toward Lin Lim. “Ah! You have children, don’t you?” She sat upright excitedly. “Do you have any advice regarding pregnancy? Particularly infant care? David is absolutely hopeless at explaining these things. And my experience with Gu Jie isn’t really something to look back on.”

Lin Lim stared at her stomach. Her Qi Sense clearly detected a new life.

Alice was pregnant.

The Crimson Empress was not even remotely attempting to hide it.

After several seconds, Lin Lim finally recovered enough composure to bow politely.

“Congratulations, Lady Alice.”

Lin Lim had not been present during Lady Alice’s first pregnancy.

From what she heard, however, it had been one of the strangest events in modern history.

Lady Gu Jie, the Holy Emperor’s adopted daughter and heir apparent, had somehow been reborn as the biological daughter of the Crimson Empress herself. It sounded absurd no matter how one phrased it. The tale of an adopted daughter becoming a blood daughter was the kind of story that scholars argued over endlessly while cultivators whispered about destiny and reincarnation.

The rumors surrounding Gu Jie certainly did not help matters.

Even before the rise of the Holy Ascension Empire, many nobles and officials quietly viewed Gu Jie negatively due to her adopted status. Some even contested Ren Xun’s qualifications as heir in the early years because he possessed direct blood ties to Emperor Nongmin.

The irony of it all was almost laughable.

Back then, Ren Xun himself had been rejected and scorned despite his bloodline.

Now the same people obsessed over blood legitimacy once again.

After Gu Jie’s rebirth, darker rumors spread rapidly throughout both court and common society. Demonic arts. Forbidden reincarnation rituals. Heretical resurrection methods. Malicious speculation fermented endlessly among ambitious officials and fearful civilians alike.

Lin Lim quietly wondered if the Holy Emperor and Crimson Empress had conceived another child because of those rumors.

No.

Probably not.

The Holy Emperor genuinely adored Gu Jie.

The Crimson Empress was the same.

If anything, the two immortals were likely completely unaware of the rumors surrounding their family. They were simply too busy carrying the weight of entire worlds upon their shoulders. Even the Holy Emperor, with his terrifying perception, could not constantly observe every single thought and conversation within civilization.

Perception itself had limits.

Though perhaps thinking that way was already treasonous.

Lin Lim quickly purged such thoughts from her mind.

Eventually, the group returned to Yellow Dragon City and headed toward the palace hot springs.

Warm steam drifted gently through the spacious bathing chambers, carrying the scent of medicinal herbs and flowers through the air. The hot spring pools shimmered beneath soft lantern light while carved dragon statues watched over the chambers from every corner.

Lin Lim joined Lady Alice alongside several dragon women accompanying them.

The atmosphere became unexpectedly relaxed.

One dragon woman with long silver hair leaned lazily against the edge of the spring. “I still can’t believe the earthquakes were caused by that.”

Another snorted. “Honestly, I thought we were under attack by some ancient beast.”

“At least now we know not to investigate immortal bedrooms.”

“That should have been common sense already.”

Laughter spread throughout the baths.

Several dragon women relaxed openly within the steaming waters, their beautiful figures partially obscured beneath the drifting mist. Some leaned against smooth rocks while others soaked quietly after the stressful night. Wet hair clung against pale skin while dragon horns and tails occasionally emerged from the water.

One particularly cheerful dragon sighed dramatically. “His Majesty must also possess terrifying stamina. You know the saying, birds of the same feather flock together.”

“Do not discuss the Dragon King like that in front of Lady Lin Lim,” another warned immediately.

Lin Lim merely covered part of her face with one hand. “At this point, I’m too tired to feel embarrassed.”

That only caused more laughter.

Even Lady Alice smiled faintly at the exchange.

The Crimson Empress rested beside Lin Lim within the steaming waters, crimson hair flowing beautifully behind her like liquid fire. Despite her immense status, she appeared surprisingly approachable at moments like this.

“Thank you for accompanying me,” Alice said softly. “I needed this.”

Lin Lim smiled gently toward her. “It’s no trouble at all, Lady Alice. Everyone deserves time to rest.”