Chapter 93: Jealousy

Shen Yu talked with Jiang Niannian for a long time before leaving.

After sending Shen Yu off, Jiang Niannian had just entered Fangfei Courtyard when she suddenly looked up and saw two small heads peeking over the courtyard wall.

Jiang Niannian: “…Is there something you can’t say from down here?”

The two figures on the wall jumped down.

Jiang Ziyou stammered, “Miss Jiang, we want to learn tongue twisters. Could you teach us?”

Jiang Niannian asked weakly, “Why me?”

Jiang Ziyou and Coalball exchanged glances and spoke simultaneously.

Jiang Ziyou: “You are too soft-hearted to take someone’s money.”

Coal Ball: “We’ve eaten your food.”

After speaking, they handed Jiang Niannian a booklet.

Jiang Niannian silently stared at them for a moment before taking the booklet and flipping through it.

Sure enough, it was her handwriting.

She sighed and pointed to the stone table in the courtyard.

“Sit down.”

“Miss Jiang, I’ll go make tea.”

“Go ahead.”

Jiang Niannian turned to Jiang Ziyou, “Eight hundred soldiers dash up the north slope.”

Jiang Ziyou: “Pa la bi bi, ma la bi bi.”

Jiang Niannian’s mouth twitched.

“Not only did you get every word wrong, but you even added an extra one?”

She then turned to Coalball.

“Eight hundred soldiers dash up the north slope.”

Coalball: “Ba ba bi bi, ba ba bai.”

Jiang Niannian was speechless. “…Better than him. At least the word count was correct.”

“Eight hundred soldiers dash up the north slope.”
“Ba ba bai bai, bi bi po.”
“Eight hundred soldiers dash up the north slope.”
“A ba a ba, a ba po.”

Jiang Niannian could no longer bear it.

“…Get out.”

Jiang Ziyou said, “Miss Jiang, don’t be angry. I’ve recently learned a song.”

“Don’t sing.”

Jiang Niannian interrupted him.

“If you sing with your voice, I’ll have to listen with my life.”

As they were leaving, Jiang Niannian asked Jiang Ziyou, “Are you still waiting for your master?”

“Yes.” Jiang Ziyou nodded firmly.

“Master isn’t dead. I’ll wait for him.”

He truly was as stubborn as a block of wood.

After leaving Fangfei Courtyard, the two quickly used a communication spell to contact someone.

Coalball: “Dad, the mission to cheer up Niannian Mom is complete. Can I absorb a little more yin energy today?”
“Mm.”
“Dad, why don’t you ask her how she feels? Maybe Niannian Mom would rather stay by your side…”

Before Coalball could finish, the spell was abruptly cut off.

…

In the steaming waters of a pool, a woman sat immersed, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.

Petals floated on the surface, filling the air with a faint fragrance.

Candle lanterns glowed softly at the edge, and an array of delicate snacks was set nearby. Xiao Qi knelt beside the pool, serving attentively.

Jiang Niannian asked, “Xiao Qi, he sends me the best food, clothing, and supplies from Qingqiu. He even finds people to make me happy. He speaks the harshest words, yet his face is full of reluctance. Even outsiders can see that he loves me. But why must he insist on pushing me away?”

Xiao Qi replied, “It’s to continue Qingqiu’s bloodline with the goddess.”

Hearing this, Jiang Niannian laughed.

But as she laughed, tears began to fall.

Xiao Qi said softly, “Miss Jiang, don’t be sad.”

“I’m not sad… not at all…”

But Jiang Niannian knew better.

She knew Yin Buqi didn’t care about Qingqiu’s bloodline.

She had raised him; she understood him well.

She knew Yin Ci’s death had devastated him, and he believed it was his fault.

She was just angry—angry that Yin Buqi pushed her away because of the cursed resentment energy.

She was angry that Yin Buqi made the decision to send her away without ever asking her opinion.

She wasn’t so afraid of death.

What she feared was…

A life without Yin Buqi becoming the rest of her days.

Parting in life is far more painful than death itself.

Why couldn’t Yin Buqi understand this?

…

One month later.

A servant from Fangfei courtyard brought a storage pouch to the Temple of the God.

“Miss Jiang said that since there will be no ties between you two anymore, these things should be returned to the Young Master.”

The pouch contained various small items: storybooks Yin Buqi had bought for her, hairpins and jewelry, the immortal flower he had painstakingly plucked for her in the Guiyuan Formation, and the fire talisman he had given her in Qinghe Town…

Now, everything was neatly packed and returned to him.

At that moment, Yin Buqi felt as if Jiang Niannian had taken back all the love she had poured into him.

Her love—she didn’t want it anymore.

She didn’t want it.

Didn’t want…

The hall was deathly silent.

No one spoke.

Yin Buqi’s crimson eyes were filled with madness, suffocating and frenzied, like a nightmare swallowing everything whole.

After composing himself, he asked, “Xiao Ba, what has Niannian been doing these days?”

He had deliberately avoided asking about her, afraid that he would lose control and go looking for her.

For the past month, he hadn’t slept well.

His eyes were shadowed with dark circles.

Every time he thought about Jiang Niannian leaving him, his chest felt suffocated and pained.

He was afraid that if he closed his eyes, Jiang Niannian would disappear forever.

The unease grew stronger over time, to the point where every reminder of her drove him to madness.

“Young Master, recently Shen Yu started planting medicinal herbs in Qingqiu, and Miss Jiang has been helping every day. They talk and laugh together. Yesterday, Shen Yu stayed in Miss Jiang’s Fangfei Courtyard until dusk before leaving…”

With a soft “snap,” the sound wasn’t loud, but it startled everyone in the hall.

Yin Buqi lifted his eyes, and his icy gaze swept across the room.

Xiao Ba’s back went cold, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Yin Buqi said coldly, “Didn’t I issue a restriction order?”

Xiao Ba stammered, “Miss Jiang… no one dared to stop her. If she got hurt…” Who would be the first to die wasn’t even clear.

“Shen Yu…” Yin Buqi’s voice was low and dangerous.

“Every day?”

Xiao Ba’s heart pounded with fear: Why am I a death guard, yet I suddenly feel terrified?

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Talking and laughing together?”

“…Yes.”

“Stayed in Fangfei Courtyard for a night?”

Xiao Ba panicked: I didn’t say that!

“…Young Master, he stayed until dusk.”

Yin Buqi’s breath grew rapid, his chest heaving violently.

A terrifying aura of madness radiated from him, like a wild beast trapped in a corner.

His voice was as low as distant thunder, teeth gritted. “Get out!!”

Xiao Ba disappeared as if fleeing for his life.

Yin Buqi raised his sleeve, and a mist emerged, forming into a floating mirror.

The image within transitioned from blurry to clear.

In the mirror, a woman in plain white clothing stood.

Even her silhouette was enough to hold Yin Buqi’s breath.

It was Jiang Niannian.

The next second, a man in light yellow robes walked to her side.

“It’s all your fault,” Yin Buqi suddenly said irritably.

The people in the hall froze: ??? We didn’t even speak! What did we do wrong?

“Your breathing is too loud.”

Everyone: “…”

“Shh, quiet.”

“If you make another sound, I’ll kill you all.”