Chapter 17: Yin Li, with the Character “Buqi”

In the bamboo courtyard, a coffin lay waiting for the funeral.

Standing beside it were only Yin Ruoxu and Shen Yu, along with a few maids. There was no one else.

Jiang Niannian knelt in front of the coffin, crying inconsolably.

Shen Yu said, “Sect master, the body has been examined… He is indeed dead. Please accept my condolences.”

Yin Ruoxu looked at the pale face inside the coffin, showing no emotion, waved his hand, and sighed, “Everyone has their fate. It’s over. Take him down the mountain and bury him.”

He then turned and left.

There was a graveyard in the Rimuli Sect called “Qingniao Tomb.”

It was uneven and vast, with many heroic souls resting there.

According to the ancestral rules, any disciple of the Rimuli Sect who hadn’t committed a major transgression would be buried here with a tombstone marking their achievements.

Jiang Niannian rolled her eyes inwardly.

It was said that parents’ hearts were the most compassionate, but the sect master was so cold-hearted that he preferred to send his son down the mountain to be buried rather than letting him rest in the Qingniao Tomb.

How much disdain did he have?

“Master, take me with you! I don’t want to live anymore!”

In line with her professional ethics of acting in a full manner, Jiang Niannian cried heartbreakingly on the ground, refusing to let anyone move the coffin when it was being lifted.

Shen Yu, with a dark expression, approached and gently said, “If you don’t let go, the effects of the fake death pill will wear off.”

In other words, she was overacting.

“Oh…” Jiang Niannian reluctantly withdrew her hand, her fingers stained with red.

It looked vaguely like red paint.

Several disciples carried the coffin down the mountain.

Shen Yu waved at them and said, “You can leave now.”

“Yes, Lord Sage.”

The disciples bow respectfully and leave.

“Ow~” The coal ball caught up from behind, having grown plump from eating too well recently.

Jiang Niannian lifted the coffin lid, and soon Yin Li opened his eyes and sat up, indicating that the effects of the pill had worn off.

Shen Yu handed over a scroll: “This is the map of the Guiyuan Formation.”

Jiang Niannian took it and asked, “What about Lord of Fate?”

Shen Yu sneered lightly: “Don’t worry about Shi Jing. Two years ago, his spiritual energy became unstable, seemingly suffering a backlash. Recently, it was divined that The Nether Evil Resentment Seed has descended, severely draining his spiritual energy. For at least twenty years, he won’t be able to use divination unless he risks his life.”

What was The Nether Evil Resentment Seed? It wasn’t mentioned in the book.

The hem of her dress was tugged, and Little Yin Li frowned, clearly impatient.

Jiang Niannian said gently, “Thank you, Lord Sage. I’ll repay you in the future. We’ll part ways here.”

Shen Yu sneered, “Try to survive first.”

Jiang Niannian nodded and shouted, “What the F*ck! Unsheath!”

The green jade sword at her waist moved slightly, a flash of light, and the sword was drawn, stopping in front of Jiang Niannian.

Yin Li: “…”

Coal Ball: “…”

The corner of Shen Yu’s mouth twitched: “…The name of your sword is quite unique.”

Jiang Niannian laughed dryly, hugging Yin Li and Coal Ball, and bid farewell to Shen Yu: “Lord Sage, until we meet again!”

Shen Yu smiled lightly, thinking this woman was indeed different from other women.

Watching the departing figures of Yin Li and Jiang Niannian, he felt an uneasy premonition, a vague sense that the golden-scaled dragon could not stay inside the pond and was about to soar once it encountered the storm.

In the evening, the two arrived at Huaijiang City, very close to the Guiyuan Formation.

The streets were bustling with people.

A storyteller on a stage was fanning himself, and vendors were shouting their wares.

“Candied hawthorn! Sweet and sour candied hawthorn!”

Jiang Niannian followed the sound and saw the candied hawthorn, red and round, coated with a shiny layer of sugar, looking tempting.

Little Yin Li would probably like it.

She took his hand and walked over, asking, “How much for the candied hawthorn?”

“Miss, one piece costs one spirit stone.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Niannian picked one and handed it to Yin Li.

“Have it first, Niannian.” Little Yin Li held the candied hawthorn high, his red eyes bright.

These days, he had gained a bit of baby fat, making him look even better than before.

Although he was still a bit pale and sickly, he didn’t have the same dispirited feeling typical of patients.

His appearance was slightly waned, with his narrow eyes slightly upturned, making him exceptionally beautiful.

“Thank you, young master.”

Jiang Niannian took a bite, finding it sweet, soft, and comforting.

Yin Li asked, “Is it sweet?”

“Sweet.”

“Ow ow~” Coal Ball jumped up, making a gesture with its hands, its black eyes fixed on the candied hawthorn.

Yin Li, understanding, took off two pieces and gave them to it before beginning to eat.

Jiang Niannian’s shadow covered Yin Li’s lowered face.

His eyelashes fluttered as he said, “From now on, don’t call me ‘young master’… Niannian, give me a name.”

“But names are usually given when one turns twenty.”

Yin Li slowly raised his gaze, looking deeply into her eyes: “But, isn’t Yin Li already dead? Niannian… I don’t want to be Yin Li anymore…”

There were tears in his eyes, making him look very pitiable.

How could Jiang Niannian refuse him?

After thinking for a moment, she said, “How about… ‘Buqi,’ Yin Buqi?”

“Yin Buqi…” Yin Li’s brows arched, a gentle smile forming at the corners of his mouth: “Let’s use this name. I want to be with Niannian forever!”

“You…” Jiang Niannian gently tapped his brow, smiling affectionately, “It’s getting late. Let’s find an inn first.”

From this moment on, Yin Li was dead, and only Yin Buqi remained in this world.

This name was given by her, and wherever Jiang Niannian was, that was his home.

“Mm.”

[Affection +10, Points +1000, Current Affection: 99, Total Points: 1310.]

The last rays of the setting sun gradually faded, and red lanterns lit up along the street.

The number of pedestrians increased, and the night was just beginning.

Turning the corner, Jiang Niannian heard a commotion.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, her hearing was naturally much more acute than ordinary people’s.

She followed the sound, which grew clearer.

In an inconspicuous, desolate alley.

Zhao Anming looked at the few fierce-looking people in front of him and felt extremely unlucky.

He had heard that the Rimuli Sect was filled with stunning beauties.

After persuading his father to let him practice there, he had only left for a short time before getting separated from his attendants and was now cornered by these people in a remote alley.

Having never experienced such humiliation, he couldn’t help but feel angry: “Who are you! Just met, and you’re already hitting me with a stick.”

“We’re robbers! Can’t you tell? Hand over everything valuable on you!” The leader, with a full beard and a greasy face, shouted at him.

Zhao Anming was a rebellious type, fearless of heaven and earth.

In a bad light, he was simply ungrateful. Protected well by his family since childhood, he had never suffered hardship and had often caused his father worry.

At this moment, the leader’s shout triggered his rebellious streak.

He pouted: “I have money, but I won’t give it to you. Hey, just playing around.”

“Seeking a beating!” The bearded man struck him with a stick.

Zhao Anming shivered from the hit but still said, “Eh, it doesn’t hurt!”

The bearded man, seeing his defiant attitude, hit him again: “Does it hurt or not?”

Zhao Anming continued to resist: “It doesn’t hurt!”

“Does it hurt or not! Does it hurt or not! I’m asking you if it hurts!”

“If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt… Ah, damn it, stop, stop, stop!” Zhao Anming gritted his teeth and dodged to the side, “Can’t you stop hitting my butt? Put your stick away, and I’ll give you the money.”

The bearded man was displeased: “You think just because you say not to hit, I won’t? Today, I’m taking the money, and I’ll keep hitting you!”