Chapter 15: The Little Cub Is Upset

“So, can you help my young master restore his spiritual root now?” Jiang Niannian tilted her head and asked him.

Shen Yu’s face was ashen, and he said nothing.

“Lord Sage, saving a life is better than building a seven-layer tofu… Bah, a seven-story pagoda. You can’t go back on your word.”

Although Shen Yu was extremely reluctant, words once spoken were like spilled water; they couldn’t be taken back.

He valued promises highly and emphasized again, “Don’t tell anyone about restoring his spiritual root.”

Jiang Niannian swore, “Lord Sage, you can be absolutely assured. I’ll keep it confidential.”

“Hmph.”

Shen Yu snorted coldly and nodded, which was considered tacit consent.

So, on that day, the Little Yin Li, who was still sitting on the mountaintop waiting for Nian Nian, was greeted by smiling the Jiang Nian Nian and the scowly Shen Yu.

“Lord Sage, let me tell you, the sect members are biased against my young master… actually, my young master is really great. He never leaves leftovers, never loses his temper, although he suffers from illness all year round, he never complains, and he is kind to others… Wait, you have a leaf on your head. It must have stuck to you in the valley.”

“Where?”

Jiang Niannian couldn’t help but smile.

Shen Yu, who was usually arrogant, seemed a bit cute for once due to his rare confusion. However, he still couldn’t compare to her cub, who was the cutest in the world!

“I’ll help you remove it.”

She said, moving closer and reaching towards Shen Yu’s hair.

“You…” Shen Yu’s pupils contracted slightly, reflecting the woman’s beautiful face.

She… seemed to be even more beautiful than when they first met.

His gaze involuntarily fell on her moist, red lips.

“What are you doing!” A childish and sickly voice erupted, filled with anger.

Little Yin Li glared at Jiang Niannian’s hand on Shen Yu’s head, his face turning exceptionally ugly.

The scene before him was blindingly painful, and a surge of uncontrollable anger rose from his heart.

Jiang Niannian looked up and saw the anger on Yin Li’s face, slightly startled, then instinctively withdrew her hand.

Strange, why did she feel inexplicably guilty? She hadn’t done anything wrong.

Yin Li, filled with fury, said, “Why are you so late today? And you, you’re not welcome here!”

“Wah!” The coal ball at his feet barked along, looking fierce.

Jiang Niannian stepped forward to explain, “Young Master, this is Lord Sage Fuhua, who specifically came to help you treat your spiritual root. You shouldn’t have this attitude.”

Yin Li’s brows furrowed even more, “You’re actually helping him speak! And you’re smiling at him like that. You clearly said you would only smile at me, you fickle woman!”

“When did I ever say that… Young Master, ‘fickle’ isn’t used like that.”

Jiang Niannian said helplessly, gently patting Yin Li’s head.

Her hand was forcefully slapped away.

“Do as you please!” Yin Li said, throwing down the words and walking towards the bamboo house without looking back, ignoring the two behind him.

【Affection -15, Points -150, Current Affection: 50, Total Points: 1910. Affection will continue to fluctuate until it reaches 100, so keep trying~】

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at Jiang Niannian with a mocking gaze: Not losing temper? Kind to others? Hmph.

Jiang Niannian laughed awkwardly, “Haha, my young master is not usually like this. Today is an exception.”

…

Yin Li buried himself under the covers, his face gloomy.

Why was he so irritable?

Why did he care so much?

Just thinking about Niannian smiling at others made his heart feel like it was being tightly squeezed.

It’s all Niannian’s fault! It’s all because she was flirting with others—the red apricot tree leans over the wall!

(T/N: having an affair)

The bamboo door creaked open.

Yin Li closed his eyes, facing away from the door, not wanting to acknowledge the visitor, his long lashes trembling lightly.

“Young Master.”

Jiang Niannian called softly.

Seeing he didn’t respond, she gave him a light pat on his raised butt.

“You!”

Yin Li threw off the covers, glaring at Jiang Niannian.

But looking at her gentle, smiling face, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything unpleasant and just slumped against the headboard.

“Lord Sage, please.”

Jiang Niannian said to Shen Yu, making way for him.

Shen Yu lifted his robes, sat down, and grasped Yin Li’s frail wrist.

Spiritual energy flowed through his fingertips, exploring his condition.

After a while, he withdrew his hand and stood up without speaking.

Jiang Niannian asked, “Lord Sage, how is it?”

Shen Yu shook his head.

“The condition of the spiritual root is too severe, and the time gap is too long. It’s not easy to restore.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yin Li lowered his head, his gaze awkward and his posture pitiful.

Jiang Niannian was anxious: “It’s not easy to restore, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be restored, right?”

Shen Yu glanced at her, “It depends on luck. A thousand-year-old Taisui is needed for nourishment, and a Nascent Soul stage or above cultivator must use their spiritual energy daily to restore his spiritual root. Even so, I can’t guarantee success.”

Unexpectedly, Jiang Niannian wasn’t discouraged at all and said, “Then let’s give it a try.”

Shen Yu sarcastically said, “Not to mention that the thousand-year-old Taisui is not like ordinary herbs but a living creature, wandering in the mountains, hard to find. Moreover, daily consumption of spiritual energy causes significant harm to the body, and few people are willing to help.”

“Niannian, let it be.”

Yin Li said, his voice very low.

“Young Master, don’t worry. There will be a solution.”

Jiang Niannian reassured, thinking for a moment, and then added, “Lord Sage, just tell me what the Lingzhi looks like, and I’ll find it myself. As for providing spiritual energy daily, I’ll do it myself once my cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul stage.”

Shen Yu said, “Is it necessary?”

Yin Li looked at Jiang Niannian with extreme shock.

Jiang Niannian, however, smiled.

Her smile was like a winter sun that couldn’t be obscured by thin clouds—warm and bright: “This cultivation is meant to protect him. If I can’t do that, what use is it?”

Shen Yu showed an expression of surprise, and his gaze towards Jiang Niannian had less contempt and more of a different emotion.

He said, “Ancient records describe the thousand-year-old Taisui as a meat-like herb attached to a large rock, with both ends having a biological presence.”

As Shen Yu spoke, Jiang Niannian involuntarily visualized the appearance in her mind. Her spiritual energy spread out like thin vines, reaching farther and farther.

A scene of birds singing and flowers fragrant gradually appeared before her eyes, with flowers showing some tender hints and the scene full of spring vitality.

There were a group of chattering little spirit beasts, flower fairies, and even tiny grass spirit balls as small as a fingernail.

Among them, a little thing resembling a meat Lingzhi ran along her spiritual energy…

When she opened her eyes again, a small thing appeared at the bamboo house’s entrance.

Shen Yu exclaimed, “A thousand-year Taisui!”

And it was a thousand-year-old Taisui that came on its own!

This woman has such powerful control over plants!

Shen Yu’s face, usually so proud, now showed a rare expression other than arrogance.

He looked at her with a smirk and said, “Your talent may be even more extraordinary than you realize.”