Chapter 110: Anything Given by Nian Nian Is Sweet

Two days later.

Buzhou City.

As they approached the gates of the middle city, Yin Buqi instructed everyone to put on their cloaks.

As for Jiang Niannian, not only did Yin Buqi drape a cloak over her, but he also casually took a veil from a servant’s hands and, without any explanation, wrapped her face and hair tightly.

Jiang Niannian frowned in frustration.

“What’s this for now?”

Yin Buqi’s expression darkened slightly.

“…Buzhou City is filled with all sorts of people. I don’t want unnecessary eyes seeing your face.”

Buzhou City was the largest city in the world, a gathering place for the wealthy.

Located at the peak of Buzhou Mountain, it was connected to the outside world by a single narrow bridge.

From afar, it looked like a floating city in the sky, earning it the name “Sky City.”

Because Buzhou City enjoyed eternal spring, with flowers blooming year-round and the air thick with their fragrance, it was also called “Spring Blossom City.” Every year, it hosted the Flower Deity Festival, an event famous throughout the land.

However, what truly made Buzhou City renowned was Linlang Pavilion, the greatest auction house in the cultivation world.

This auction house opened only once a year, selling the rarest medicines and treasures in existence.

Once inside the city, Jiang Niannian finally understood what “filled with all sorts of people” really meant.

It was currently the Flower Deity Festival.

As far as the eye could see, the city was packed with horses, forming a dense black mass. Above, groups of cultivators and lone wanderers soared through the sky. Amidst the chaotic noise, vendors of all kinds shouted their wares in a cacophony of dialects. Countless stalls and shops displayed an overwhelming array of goods.

“Essence Refining Pills! Only 800 spirit stones each—buy now and profit instantly!”

“Come, come, don’t miss out! Red Shadow Hall’s newest gold-silver feathered soft armor! Only 3,000 spirit stones! Fair price for all!”

“Newly forged Vermilion Bird Mystical Swords from Ji Ba Pavilion—sold to those who are fated!”

“Bracelets and necklaces made of turquoise—buy it! Buy it! Buy it!”

“Delicacies made from fresh flowers—only five spirit stones per pack! A deal you can’t refuse!”

Ignoring the products that didn’t interest her, Jiang Niannian still found some items that piqued her curiosity.

“This place is so lively,” Jiang Ziyou remarked.

It had been months since Wen Shili passed away, and for once, he seemed genuinely cheerful, as though finally stepping out of his grief.

“I want butter pastries,” Coalball said while walking, his eyes fixed on a nearby stall frying up fresh, golden pastries, the sight making his mouth water.

The moment he spoke, a servant promptly bought one for him.

During the Flower Deity Festival, Buzhou City was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

Jiang Niannian wasn’t skilled at sword flying, nor was she willing to use vines to clear a path. She was frequently drawn to fresh and interesting stalls, getting separated in the crowd over and over again.

Yin Buqi tolerated it for a while, watching her disappear again and again, before finally reaching his limit. He grabbed her arm and held onto her hand.

Jiang Niannian, still eager to explore, twisted around and tried to reason with him, but before she could speak, he shut her down decisively.

“No.”

“I haven’t finished looking around yet!” As expected, shopping was a woman’s natural instinct.

“There are too many people. You’ll get lost. If you need anything, just tell the servants to buy it for you.”

“I’m not a child anymore! Besides, I already learned a tracking technique, I can—”

“Buzhou City is filled with all kinds of people. It’s chaotic. Stay by my side.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

This man’s possessiveness was unbearable! Jiang Niannian pouted in protest, but the veil covering her face hid it well.

Then, an idea struck her. She extended a thin vine, wrapping it loosely around Yin Buqi’s wrist, swaying it playfully.

“Now I won’t get lost! Just a little longer, okay?”

Her dark eyes shone with innocence, her face soft and serene like a delicate gardenia flower. A quiet warmth lingered in her expression as she gazed at him with hope.

Yin Buqi couldn’t refuse.

He nodded.

Overjoyed, Jiang Niannian kissed his cheek before skipping off toward a nearby fruit stall.

The vendor picked up a pink fruit and said, “Miss, this is a Mist Lotus Fruit, exclusive to Qingqiu! It’s sickeningly sweet!”

“Do you know about Qingqiu? No? That’s fine—not everyone does.”

“We’re the only ones in Buzhou City who grow Mist Lotus Trees, and it was the current Qingqiu young master himself who brought the sapling here! It didn’t grow well at first, so he even hired a cultivator from Rimuli to help plant it! Just 500 spirit stones each—not a loss for you!”

Jiang Niannian twitched at his exaggerated sales pitch.

She had lived in Qingqiu for so long and had never heard of any Mist Lotus Trees. And the current Qingqiu young master? Well, he was standing right in front of this vendor. Did this man want to die? Move a tree? In his dreams!

Sure enough, in the next instant, a burst of spiritual energy blasted out, flipping the stall over.

A gust of wind lifted Yin Buqi’s cloak.

The stall owner fell to the ground, terrified. When he looked up and saw the killing intent in Yin Buqi’s eyes, he had no idea how he had offended this man. He scrambled away on all fours, abandoning a heap of pink fruits.

Jiang Niannian, finding the fruit cute and charming, picked one up and teased Yin Buqi.

“A Mist Lotus Fruit, personally grown by the Qingqiu young master—want to try one?”

Her eyes gleamed with amusement.

“It’s very sour. You won’t like it,” Yin Buqi said.

The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Niannian took a bite.

Yin Buqi was too late to stop her.

“Nian Nian, it’s dirty—”

“It’s not dirty. I wiped it.”

Jiang Niannian forced down the sourness and held the fruit out to him.

“It’s sweet. Try it.”

Yin Buqi glanced at her, and just as she was about to withdraw her hand in guilt, he grabbed it.

He smiled faintly, lowered his head, and bit into the fruit directly from her hand. After chewing and swallowing with an expressionless face, he said, “Mhm. It’s sweet.”

…Huh?

Jiang Niannian doubted her own taste buds and took another bite.

Oh heavens, the SOURNESS!

“This is so sour! Where is it sweet?! You liar!”

“You lied to me first,” Yin Buqi said, his lips curling into a broad, delighted smile at her scrunched-up expression.

“To me, anything given by Nian Nian is sweet.”

Jiang Niannian threw the fruit away, rolling her eyes at him.

“You’re just trying to make me happy.”

Yin Buqi took her hand.

“Let’s go. We should find an inn first.”

He had only brought a handful of elite guards on this trip—partly to avoid drawing attention, but mostly because word had spread that Linlang Pavilion would be auctioning off a rare puppet-controlling technique tomorrow. Cultivators from all over had come, making the city a dangerous place to reveal one’s identity.

As Yin Buqi was thinking this—

A sudden, excited male voice rang out behind them:

“Fairy! What are you doing here?!!”