Chapter 75: She Really Shouldn’t Have Softened Her Heart

Tang Xuanye’s eyes were filled with anxiety.

Dodging the sword wound on his shoulder, he pulled Tang Murou into his arms.

“Rou Rou, how are you? Don’t scare me.”

“Rou Rou is scared…”

She had taken the Yuchun Powder before arriving, and it was now taking effect.

Tang Murou, covered in blood and looking disheveled, rested her pale, delicate face against him.

Her bonelessly soft hands clung to Tang Xuanye.

Tang Xuanye froze momentarily, then turned to Yin Buqi with a cold glare.

“Was it you who poisoned her?”

Yin Buqi sneered.

“Poison her? Do I look that desperate?”

“Then this sword wound…”

“I inflicted it.”

Yin Buqi’s red eyes narrowed slightly, radiating danger and menace.

“You’d better discipline her properly. If she provokes me again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

Tang Xuanye’s face darkened even further.

“How dare you hurt her!”

“Half an hour.”

“What?”

“She took the Yuchun Powder. She only has half an hour left.”

Yin Buqi laughed coldly.

“I have never understood how to write the four words ‘cherish women and pity women.’.”

With that, he left the courtyard and headed down the mountainside.

Tang Xuanye had no time to pursue him. He lowered his gaze to the frail girl in his arms.

“Rou Rou was wrong… Rou Rou won’t dare to do it again…” Tang Murou whimpered softly.

Tang Xuanye, inflamed with desire by her fragile appearance, gritted his teeth.

“Rou Rou, endure a little longer. I’ll take you back right away.”

—

“Brother Jiang, where are you going so late?”

After walking a while, Jiang Niannian called out to him.

Jiang Ziyou turned back, his eyes red as he looked at her.

He stood silently for a long time before finally speaking. “I’m going to Wuchang Mountain.”

“If Master returns, don’t tell him.”

As he spoke, he turned and continued down the mountain path.

Jiang Niannian caught a hint of farewell in his words and quickly chased after him.

“Wait, why are you leaving all of a sudden? And why at night?”

“I’m going to Wuchang Mountain to find the truth.”

Jiang Ziyou’s voice carried a hint of stubbornness.

Though it was the same voice as always, something in it had changed.

For reasons unknown, Jiang Niannian felt that something about him tonight was off.

His gaze was lonely and desolate.

“Do you even know the way to Wuchang Mountain?”

Jiang Ziyou shook his head.

Birds scattered as someone approached from not far away.

The man had black hair and red eyes, his voice lazy yet alluring.

“Wuchang Mountain? I know where it is.”

Jiang Niannian turned to look at the newcomer.

“Buqi, why are you out here?”

Yin Buqi stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

His presence carried an inescapable gloom and a hint of grievance.

“I waited for you for a long time, but you didn’t come back. So, I came to find you.”

Jiang Niannian laughed awkwardly.

“How do you know about Wuchang Mountain?”

Yin Buqi’s long, dark lashes quivered as they lowered.

“I heard about it from my mother when I was very young.”

“I see,” Jiang Niannian replied.

Jiang Ziyou asked, “Brother Yin, can you tell me where Wuchang Mountain is? I might not find it otherwise.”

Yin Buqi raised an eyebrow.

“Be confident. Remove the ‘might.’ Wuchang Mountain is extremely remote and surrounded by enchantments. It’s hard to reach.”

“I have reasons that leave me no choice.”

Having experienced the events at Qinghe Town, Jiang Ziyou subconsciously regarded Jiang Niannian and Yin Buqi as trustworthy.

He straightforwardly shared the events of the night but concealed Wen Shili’s act of murder out of personal concern.

After hearing him out, both Jiang Niannian and Yin Buqi wore heavy expressions.

Yin Buqi remarked, “Yin spirits again.”

Jiang Ziyou paused in surprise.

Yin Buqi continued, “I’ve never heard of a forbidden art for controlling yin spirits, but the person using them intends to lure you to the mountain. Are you still going?”

Jiang Ziyou gripped his Feiying Liuyun Sword tightly.

When he raised his head again, his gaze was resolute.

“I must go.”

If he asked his master directly, his memories might be erased again. This time, he had to uncover the truth on his own.

“Fine, we’ll set out tomorrow. I’ll take you there, but I can’t guarantee we’ll reach the mountain.”

“Why not leave tonight?” Jiang Ziyou asked.

“Niannian has been overexerting herself the past few days. She needs proper rest tonight.”

Yin Buqi glanced at two haystacks by the stone steps and chuckled.

“Come out now.”

Jiang Niannian and Jiang Ziyou turned their gazes in the same direction.

Two figures emerged from the haystacks.

“Heh, as expected of my brother,” Yin Ci scratched his nose and greeted sheepishly.

Jiang Niannian looked at the bronze-skinned boy beside him and asked curiously, “Who’s this?”

Yin Ci kicked the boy’s rear and barked, “Greet them!”

The boy pouted and called out to Yin Buqi and Jiang Niannian, “Father, Mother.”

A question mark seemed to form above Yin Ci’s head.

How had he suddenly been demoted a generation?

Jiang Niannian asked, “You’re Coalball? You’ve taken human form?”

As soon as she spoke, the boy transformed back into a small black beast.

Wiggling its chubby backside, it ran toward her, angrily bumping her with its horns as if upset that she hadn’t recognized him.

The surrounding air grew cold.

Coalball slowly looked up at Yin Buqi.

His expression was calm, but inwardly, he was panicking as he scurried behind Yin Ci.

“Brother, I want to go too,” Yin Ci said, his eyes filled with longing.

Yin Buqi pressed his red lips together and remained silent.

Yin Ci turned his gaze to Jiang Niannian.

“Sister-in-law, persuade him.”

Jiang Niannian froze momentarily, then looked at Yin Buqi.

“Buqi…”

“Ahem, fine,” Yin Buqi coughed, leaving the group behind as he took Jiang Niannian’s hand and walked up the mountain.

From Jiang Niannian’s perspective, she clearly saw that Yin Buqi’s face… was a little red.

Sister-in-law?

Not a bad title.

It was about time for Niannian to give him an official status.

Thinking this, Yin Buqi couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

—

Inside the house, Yin Buqi hesitated, his expression conflicted.

After a while, he said, “Niannian, there’s only one bed.”

Jiang Niannian smiled faintly.

“You can stay in the room next door… or sleep on the floor.”

“Niannian, I want to…”

“No room for negotiation,” she interrupted.

She had been tormented by him the past two days and couldn’t afford to soften her heart again!

Yin Buqi stood there, looking at Jiang Niannian, who had closed her eyes to rest.

Feeling guilty, he rubbed his nose and obediently set up his bedding on the floor.

Half an hour later.

“Niannian, are you asleep?”

No response.

“Niannian must be asleep.”

“Niannian, the floor is so hard and uncomfortable.”

“Niannian, I want to sleep with you… If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes.”

Jiang Niannian: “…”

Yin Buqi chuckled softly, quickly climbed into bed, and slipped under the covers.

Satisfied, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, nuzzling his face against the crook of her neck.

Jiang Niannian sighed and turned around.

“You…”

Yin Buqi said, “Don’t worry, Niannian. I know you’re still recovering your strength. I won’t touch you.”

But his gaze, filled with longing, clearly said: “I’ll just snuggle.”

Jiang Niannian: “…” She really shouldn’t have softened her heart.