FRGNM -Chapter 152 Blending In

With a cold smile, at the very instant Baili Wushuang withdrew her hand, Ling Ruoxi’s legs went weak and she nearly collapsed onto the ground. Her eyes regained their clarity, and she looked at the person before her in confusion. “Your Highness, what just happened?”

“Nothing. Remember—address me as Island Master from now on, and address your lord as the King of Eastern Capital.” She stretched out her hand, the gauzy skirt behind her falling to the floor. Leaning lazily against the chair, she waved her hand. “Go with the King of Eastern Capital.”

“Yes, Island Master.” Her voice trembled slightly as Ling Ruoxi hurriedly withdrew from the bedchamber.

The King of Eastern Capital was already waiting outside. Seeing Ling Ruoxi’s condition, he immediately understood. He took her with him, passed through layer after layer of guards, and entered his own room.

It was his personal room, yet it was furnished very simply, without any unnecessary items—only jewelry and jade stones. Though minimal, it was lavish enough, almost dazzling Ling Ruoxi’s eyes.

Pressing one hand against his ring, a wisp of white Dou Qi burst forth, directly shattering the lingering qi in her mind. Ling Ruoxi let out a long breath. “It seems Baili Wushuang is quite cautious. She treats you so well—do the two of you have something going on?”

“I am merely her subordinate. She is simply indulging in wishful thinking; there is nothing between us,” the King of Eastern Capital said with a faint smile, lowering his voice. “Also, from now on you are part of this place. Remember—be careful in everything. Even if you see another ‘me,’ you must not trust him easily. On Qiongyu Immortal Island, everyone has the ability to transform into someone else.”

Ling Ruoxi’s gaze sharpened, and she sucked in a breath of cold air. It seemed that from now on, she would have to be extremely cautious on Qiongyu Immortal Island. “Then how will I know it’s really you, and not someone else disguised as you?”

“That’s simple. Didn’t you just say it yourself? You’re called Ah Han. When it’s only the two of us, I’ll call you Ruoxi. And…” He extended his hand, revealing a red birthmark on his right wrist. He said calmly, “Remember this mark. The real me is imperfect.”

“Uh…” Ling Ruoxi almost choked. The real him is imperfect? It was just a birthmark—did he really need to put it like that?

The King of Eastern Capital said no more and glanced toward the door. “Later, maids will come to take you away. Remember—don’t ask questions. No one here has genuine emotions. Everything they show is an act meant to deceive you.”

“Your Highness, may we come in?” A gentle voice echoed. Before the words had even faded, more than a dozen people were already outside.

The King of Eastern Capital resumed his indifferent expression, sitting by the desk. “Come in.”

More than a dozen women entered. Seeing the man seated there, they bowed. “Your Highness, we need to take her away to change clothes. We humbly request—”

“Go.” He waved his hand casually and said nothing more, flipping open a book as though he paid Ling Ruoxi no particular attention. He knew that if he appeared too concerned about her, it would only arouse Baili Wushuang’s suspicion. Only this kind of cold indifference could make that woman relax.

“Then, Your Highness, this servant takes her leave.” Lowering her head, Ling Ruoxi turned and left.

She had to admit—the palace was enormous, and extravagantly luxurious. When Ling Ruoxi saw the maids using jade as washboards and jade sticks as fire pokers, her heart bled. Though she was not particularly greedy for wealth, such priceless items should not be squandered so casually.

Along the way, she saw countless strange and rare objects. Ling Ruoxi forcibly suppressed her impulses and obediently followed behind the maids toward the front.

Bathing, changing clothes, donning a thin veil to cover her ugly face—Ling Ruoxi became just like the other women. Only a careful observer would notice that her eyes held a spark of liveliness, lacking the dullness of the rest.

Even after she was fully dressed, she could not leave yet. Listening to the chattering women, she found that, just as the King of Eastern Capital had said, they had not a trace of real emotion. Even when discussing matters, their expressions were utterly fake.

Ling Ruoxi knew they were putting on a show for her, and she merely responded with occasional faint smiles. Soon after, the old matron who would instruct her appeared, explaining the rules of Qiongyu Immortal Island.

For example, once the third night watch had passed, no one was allowed to leave their room, no matter what sounds they heard. After the fifth watch, all maids had to rise. Following morning lessons, they were to immediately attend to their respective masters. After dusk, it was time for sparring practice.

All maids were required to gather together, receiving specialized instruction in Dou Qi. Men were rarely seen here—not because there were none, but because all the men were in another area and did not remain here.

On Qiongyu Immortal Island, the Limitless Realm was also known as the Forbidden Land. No one was allowed to enter it. Anyone discovered doing so would be dragged away and turned into fertilizer for flowers.

Rooms on Qiongyu Immortal Island were also exquisitely furnished. Each maid had a small room of her own—an independent space. It was because of this that Ling Ruoxi had a chance to rest. However, each room contained a butterfly, symbolizing that they were constantly under surveillance.

“Your Highness, please use this.” Ling Ruoxi paid close attention to her behavior. Even though the King of Eastern Capital was someone she knew, she dared not act overly familiar. After all, he had said that anyone could impersonate him.

Over the course of the day, Ling Ruoxi learned quite a few things. That night, purple Dou Qi suddenly burst forth, enveloping the purple butterfly and temporarily sealing it, disabling all its functions. Her agile figure flipped out through the window.

She knew her mother was imprisoned in the Limitless Realm. Only after the third night watch could she go out to search for where the Limitless Realm truly was—and where her mother was.

By the moonlight outside, Ling Ruoxi hid in the grass. At night, the butterflies outside also ceased operating, returning to their positions to rest.

Perfect! A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as Ling Ruoxi followed the narrow path ahead.

“Ah… hahaha… ah…” In the darkness, a wretched laugh echoed, sounding like a woman crying, yet filled with utter despair.

She shuddered instinctively. Ling Ruoxi finally understood why they were forbidden from coming out at night. The terrifying cries still echoed in her ears, as though the one making the sound was right beside her.

She spread her Dou Qi to shield herself and followed the source of the sound. The miserable cries continued, but the farther she went, the more desolate it became—so much so that even Ling Ruoxi herself no longer knew where she was.

A horrifying cliff loomed ahead, surrounded by barren tree trunks without a single green leaf. On the cliff face were marks left by blades and swords; one peak had even been mercilessly severed.

Cold light whistled up from below the cliff, carrying bone-chilling frost that set one’s nerves on edge. Ling Ruoxi pressed herself behind a large tree and continued following the sound.

She had barely taken two steps when she realized that the sound was coming from beneath the cliff. Her eyes narrowed. She wanted to go on, but her arm touched a barrier, and she was violently rebounded.

Her heart trembled. The agonized sound still echoed in her ears. Clenching her fists, Ling Ruoxi looked toward a massive stone standing among the mountains. The four large characters engraved upon it pierced her heart:

Limitless Realm.

This was the Limitless Realm—the place where her mother was imprisoned! And the sound coming from there might very well be her mother’s voice!

Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, Ling Ruoxi desperately wanted to rush in and investigate immediately. But thinking of Baili Wushuang’s strength, and of the King of Eastern Capital who had arranged her entry into Qiongyu Immortal Island—if she exposed herself now, Baili Wushuang would surely make things difficult for him. That woman was capable of anything.

“Mother, I’m sorry. Ruoxi swears—I will definitely rescue you!” Kneeling on the icy ground, Ling Ruoxi knocked her head three times toward the mountains. She had never seen her mother; after more than twenty years, she should at least meet her once.

As long as she stayed here, she would have enough opportunities to discover Baili Wushuang’s weakness.

Rising quickly, Ling Ruoxi surveyed her surroundings. She had come against the wind; the wind here carried the wretched sounds into her ears. To return, she would have to go with the wind.

But just as she stood and took a step, the sound behind her abruptly stopped. Countless cold winds swept over, an icy aura suffocating her.

Beneath her feet, thick ice began forming on the ground. Behind her, icicles brushed past her body and crashed onto the ground with loud bangs.

Her whole body trembled. The presence behind her had already locked onto her. Instinctively, Ling Ruoxi tilted her head and glanced back.

Her pupils contracted violently. She bolted forward without a moment’s hesitation. Behind her, a black figure stood, its terrifying form floating in midair like a ghost. Though roughly thirty meters away, its body stretched unnaturally long; its arms extended endlessly like rubber. And those arms were reaching toward Ling Ruoxi as she fled.

What… what on earth was that thing?!

Cold sweat poured down her forehead. Ling Ruoxi dared not look back, sprinting as fast as she could toward her return path.

An arm shot out behind her, the dangerous aura arriving instantly. Her slender body twisted aside, rolling hard across the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the thin arm snapped forward, long fingers stabbing toward her face.

“Wah!” The speed was too fast—even Ling Ruoxi couldn’t react in time. She didn’t even have a moment to take out her Hetian jade. The long nails were already before her eyes.

Cold sweat dripped from her brow. Ling Ruoxi swallowed hard. The nail stopped just one centimeter from her face, frozen there. Then the slender hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. A warm aura rose, and behind her, a pair of purple wings abruptly unfurled, resonating with the hand before her.

“Roar!” The miserable cry echoed once more. The hand on Ling Ruoxi’s shoulder seized her and hurled her forward with tremendous force.

She felt a violent wind rush past her face. Before she could react, she slammed into a large tree, nearly losing consciousness. When she finally steadied herself, she saw her lodging ahead and hurriedly flipped back into her room. Her heart took a long time to calm.

What terrifying strength—to throw her all the way from there.
Who… exactly was that person?