Chapter 49: The Dominating “Buqi”

Jiang Nian Nian’s vision darkened as waves of dizziness overcame her, but deep within, she felt an immense sense of relief for narrowly escaping death.

The sword in Yin Buqi’s hand radiated a dazzling red light, so bright that it forced her to squint.

Black energy swirled around him, and his eyes were now bloodshot, making him look rather terrifying. Instinctively, she sensed something wrong with the sword.

She reached out to take it from him, but the moment she touched it, the sword emitted a chorus of eerie, infant-like wails, sending chills down her spine.

It was as if these cries came from spirits seeking vengeance.

The river waters churned violently under the chaotic energy surging from Yin Buqi, turning the scene turbulent.

Even the cultivators on the shore were sprayed by the roiling waves, left in a disheveled state.

Yin Ci, fending off the fierce energy with his sword, asked, “What’s happening?!”

Song Shi, his white robes fluttering in the storm-like wind, replied gravely, “Someone’s cultivation level has advanced.”

“Advanced?”

Most of the cultivators present were at the Nascent Soul stage, while someone like Tang Murou, who was only at the Golden Core stage, was knocked back several steps, colliding into those behind her and collapsing to the ground.

She spat out a mouthful of blood before losing consciousness.

This level of pressure could only come from a cultivator at the Fusion stage or above.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the river, a cold hand gripped the back of Jiang Nian Nian’s neck, forcing her to lift her head and meet his gaze.

The surrounding waters had been parted by a barrier, leaving the two of them standing amid piles of bones and debris.

Yin Buqi’s breath, hot as burning coals, brushed across her face.

Like a trapped beast, he suddenly bit down on her lips with savage force, taking what he wanted without question.

His sharp teeth bit her tongue, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

She tried to struggle, but this only made him intensify his assault, licking and savoring the blood from her tongue.

Jiang Nian Nian gasped, “Buqi… I… I can’t breathe…”

After a long moment, he finally released her, the violent energy around him subsiding.

His eyes, once frighteningly crimson, slowly returned to normal.

Jiang Nian Nian, disheveled and bleeding, felt her hair coming loose from her pins, her shoulder wound still dripping with blood.

Yin Buqi’s gaze fell on her injuries, his throat tightening.

She smelled even more enticing now.

More alluring.

His blood-red lips parted, and with a voice tinged with uncertainty, he asked, “Nian Nian, are you afraid of me?”

Jiang Nian Nian didn’t respond immediately, but her whole body trembled slightly.

Seeing her reaction, panic flared in Yin Buqi’s eyes.

In his childhood, he had been branded with the mark of calamity, and everyone looked at him with fear, treating him as something dangerous.

They stayed away from him, despised him, and mistreated him.

Back then, he had felt like a dead man walking, one foot already in the grave.

But then Nian Nian entered his life, bringing warmth and hope. She was his light, his salvation.

If she feared him now, he felt certain he would go mad.

Yin Buqi knelt at her feet, wrapping his arms around her legs like a desperate child, his eyes looking up at her as he had done when they were younger.

“Nian Nian, I’m not a monster… I don’t know why this is happening, but please don’t be afraid of me… don’t leave me…”

“Nian Nian, I can’t live without you…” He didn’t understand why he was absorbing the Yin spirits.

He wasn’t a monster.

Please don’t be afraid of me.

Jiang Nian Nian’s head buzzed, a slight ringing in her ears.

She shook her head, clearing the dizziness caused by lack of oxygen, and when she looked down, she saw her little cub kneeling on the ground, clinging to her legs, crying and rubbing his face against her.

Jiang Nian Nian: ??? Did I miss something?

Why is my little cub suddenly acting so pitiful?

She spoke softly, her voice gentle, “Buqi, what’s wrong with you?”

At the sound of her voice, Yin Buqi’s long, dark eyelashes trembled, and two tears slid down his cheeks.

“Nian Nian is just like everyone else… you think I’m a monster and want me dead.”

Jiang Nian Nian: ??? What? How could you think that?!

That’s ridiculous!

Yin Buqi pressed his lips together, saying nothing, but his blood-red eyes bore into hers.

Those eyes glowed with a complex emotion, as if some dark thoughts were festering beneath the surface.

–Nian Nian isn’t talking to me because she’s afraid.

She’s afraid of me and wants to leave me.

If she leaves me, I won’t be able to live, so she must want me dead.–

Jiang Nian Nian’s heart tightened.

She could now read his thoughts just by looking into his eyes.

How bizarre!

She quickly covered his eyes with her hand, soothing him, “I was just a little dizzy from not being able to breathe earlier, so I didn’t hear your question clearly. Don’t overthink it. If I really wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have risked jumping into the river to find you.”

Yin Buqi, still clutching her legs, whimpered softly, clearly not convinced by her words.

It took her a long time to calm him down, and finally, after much coaxing, his long eyelashes fluttered, and the menacing aura around him receded.

He was back to his usual harmless self.

Jiang Nian Nian sighed, rubbing her forehead, feeling like she was gradually getting used to his rapid changes in mood.

She asked, “Did you advance in your cultivation?”

Yin Buqi nodded, nuzzling against her affectionately.

“Buqi, let’s head back up.”

Obediently, he nodded, his tone docile, “I’ll listen to whatever Nian Nian says.”

With that, he wrapped an arm around her waist and flew them both back to the river’s surface.

A powerful shockwave rippled outward, like a tidal wave sweeping across the land, affecting everything within miles.

The wind howled, and a solemn stillness settled over the scene.

The once-blood-red sky suddenly cleared, revealing the bright sun.

Song Shi raised an eyebrow, “Not only did he survive, but he also advanced two levels.”

One of the cultivators, unable to contain his excitement, shouted, “Look! Look at the river! They’re back! They made it out!”

Yin Ci, equally overjoyed, shouted, “It’s Brother Yin! He’s alive! And his cultivation has advanced! He’s at the Fusion stage now!”

Sisters are connected by a thread, a single cry of “Brother!” soaring higher than the heavens.

Coal Ball, sensing the excitement, howled, “Awoo! Awoo!”

Even Jiang Ziyou, not entirely sure why everyone was so excited, joined in, cheering half-heartedly, “Yay.”

Yin Ci shot him a look, “You’re so unenthusiastic.”

“Oh…” Jiang Ziyou reflected deeply for a moment, then shouted, “Yay, yay, yay!”

Yin Ci: “…”

From that moment on, the once proud and aloof Young Master Yin had completely transformed into a fervent fanboy.

His eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at Yin Buqi, and even the teardrop-shaped red mole under his eye seemed to radiate awe (though this was something only Yin Ci believed).

If it were put in modern times, Yin Ci would look like a fanatical fan waving glow sticks and cheering for his idol in the audience.

“Brother! Look at me! Look at me!”

“Go, brother, charge like a duck! Cutie! Brother bravely flies, and Ci Ci will follow courageously!”

“I didn’t want to become your fan, but you’ve defeated the mighty, devilishly, crazy, cool and handsome me!” (in Yin Ci’s eyes!).

Yin Buqi landed on the riverbank with Jiang Nian Nian in his arms.

Even though his face was pale and streaked with blood, and his clothes were torn and tattered, no one mocked him.

Instead, every gaze that fell upon him was filled with awe and reverence.

Something stirred deep within Yin Buqi’s heart.

It had been a long time since he had seen such looks directed at him.

As soon as he set Jiang Nian Nian down, Yin Ci launched himself at him, hugging his waist like an overexcited puppy.

“Brother Yin! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Yin Buqi frowned deeply, lifting him by the back of his collar and tossing him aside.

“I’m a clean freak. Stay away from me.”

But Yin Ci didn’t mind, thinking to himself, “That one look he gave me just now—four parts indifference, three parts fierceness, three parts melancholy. He’s nailed that aura! Truly worthy of being my Brother Yin!”

A cultivator spoke up, “The Yin spirits have been vanquished. Does that mean we can leave now?”

Yin Buqi shook his head. “No, one Yin spirit managed to escape.”