Chapter 120: The Double Life Gu

Today in Nian City, the weather was beautiful—clear skies and pure blue, with fluffy white clouds gathered over the mountain peaks.

The citizens of Nian City had all dressed in their finest clothes, stepping out of their homes with joy and smiles, gathering in small groups as they made their way to the capital.

Today was the day of the city lord’s grand wedding.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day our city lord gets married! I’m here to soak up some of the good fortune!”

“What’s so surprising about it? With the kind of love between our city lord and Young Master Yin, a wedding was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“In the heavens, they wish to be lovebirds; on earth, they wish to be intertwined branches! I’m so moved! Young Master Yin is so lucky! Our city lord is such a beauty!”

Two months after the completion of Nian City, the city lord was getting married. What a joyous occasion!

At this moment, Jiang Niannian was sitting in a chair, letting Xiao Qi apply rouge to her cheeks.

Yin Buqi had originally wanted to do her makeup himself, but Jiang Niannian refused.

“We need to save some anticipation.”

Yin Buqi kissed her hair.

“There’s no part of Nian Nian I haven’t seen.”

“Anyway, you’re not allowed to see me before the wedding ceremony begins!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to Nian Nian.”

Half an hour later, the makeup was done. Even the usually quiet Xiao Qi couldn’t help but exclaim, “Miss Jiang, you look so beautiful.”

The woman before her had cheeks like rosy clouds and lips like crimson silk.

She wore a yellow phoenix-embroidered robe with a long, flowing red skirt, looking like a celestial being descended to earth.

Jiang Niannian also smiled, feeling a bit shy. She was finally going to become his wife.

“Miss Jiang, why do you seem so calm?”

Jiang Niannian was taken aback. Indeed, she wasn’t nervous; it just felt like this was how it was meant to be.

She lowered her head, remembering how last night, a certain black-hearted fox had sneaked into her room.

He had clung to her, whispering endless pleas in her ear, as if he were under some kind of spell.

“Nian Nian, call me husband! And I’ll let you go…”

“Husband!”

But then he had become even more relentless.

“Keep going, say ‘dear husband’! Spare me.”

“Dear husband! Please spare me…”

…He didn’t act like a noble fox but more like a wild dog in heat.

Jiang Niannian smiled.

“Maybe it’s because I’m marrying the right person.”

“Tsk, look how happy you are.”

A woman’s voice came from outside the door.

It was Hu Feishuang, who said with a smile, “If you keep dawdling, you’ll miss the auspicious hour!”

“We’re ready, let’s go.”

The wedding ceremony began. Countless citizens of Nian City gathered on both sides of the street, welcoming the bride’s sedan chair. They cheered, screamed, and raised their hands, gazing up at the steps in front of the palace.

A man stood there, with black hair and red eyes, a red veil on his head, and dressed in fiery red wedding robes. His burning eyes were fixed on the sedan chair.

Coalball and Jiang Ziyou stood nearby, scattering colorful confetti.

Before the sedan chair could even get close, Yin Buqi couldn’t hold back and stepped forward.

He felt lightheaded, each step as if he were walking on cotton, his mind in a daze.

He even started walking with the same hand and foot.

Many people whispered among themselves, “Young Master Yin is shy!”

“Don’t you think the city lord seems more like the groom, and Young Master Yin is the shy bride?”

“Exactly, he’s even walking with the same hand and foot. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so nervous.”

“Heroes, you’re so bold to say that. I think Young Master Yin just doesn’t want to ruin the joyous occasion today, or you’d already be dead.”

Firecrackers exploded, and the sound of suona filled the air.

Yin Buqi watched as Jiang Niannian stepped out of the sedan chair and was momentarily stunned.

She was dressed in wedding robes, her skirt swaying, her black hair like ink.

She held a round fan, lightly covering her face.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a celestial being.

Suddenly, he felt he couldn’t look directly at her.

At that moment, it was as if she might disappear, vanishing into the warm sunlight.

Jiang Niannian noticed him staring intently at her and couldn’t help but think of that advertising slogan: “Keep looking, and I’ll drink you up.”

But the man before her, dressed in fiery red wedding robes, his crimson lips pressed together, his red eyes focused and unwavering, seemed to contain a flame about to ignite, locking her in his gaze.

He was far more tempting than any drink.

Jiang Niannian felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze and couldn’t help but ask, “Have you seen enough?”

Yin Buqi snapped out of his daze, realizing he had been entranced.

He steadied himself, his voice tight, each word spoken with utmost seriousness: “Nian Nian, I’ve come to take you home.”

The windows along the street were adorned with large red double happiness characters, and red lanterns hung everywhere.

In front of the palace, a master of ceremonies sang out in a melodious voice: “The auspicious hour has arrived. The groom and bride shall now perform the rites—”

The two smiled at each other.

All the happiness in the world had finally landed upon them.

However, that overwhelming beauty was fleeting…

Suddenly, a masked woman rushed out from the crowd, holding a dagger aimed at Jiang Niannian.

But with a flick of his sleeve, Yin Buqi knocked her to the ground, where she spat out a mouthful of blood.

The mask fell off, revealing a familiar face.

Yin Buqi’s expression turned icy.

“Long time no see,” Tang Murou wiped the blood from her lips, a cold smile forming.

She coughed lightly and added, “If I die… she won’t… live either…”

Jiang Niannian narrowed her eyes.

“Tang Murou, you—”

Before she could finish, she suddenly let out a pained groan, her lips turning pale.

She staggered, instinctively leaning against Yin Buqi to avoid collapsing.

“Nian Nian?!”

The temperature around them dropped sharply.

Yin Buqi held Jiang Niannian tightly.

“Nian Nian, what’s wrong?!”

Jiang Niannian didn’t speak, her brows furrowed, her lips turning blue, her beautiful face paler than frost.

“Quick! Call for a medical cultivator!”

Yin Buqi’s eyes turned blood-red as he barked the order.

Holding her in his arms, he suddenly felt an overwhelming fear.

“Nian Nian… Nian Nian…”

Coalball and Jiang Ziyou were also terrified and rushed off at top speed to find a medical cultivator.

“What’s going on? Why did the city lord suddenly collapse?”

“What a tragedy! What kind of nonsense is this?”

“Didn’t expect this, did you?” Tang Murou stood firm, relishing the sight of Jiang Niannian, whom she had long wished to tear to pieces.

She gritted her teeth and said, “I deliberately chose your wedding day to make you watch her die in front of you!”

Her words were filled with malicious glee, her eyes brimming with venomous hatred.

Yin Buqi’s gaze, sharp as a blade, fell on Tang Murou.

He spoke coldly, “You poisoned her?”

Tang Murou laughed as she watched Jiang Niannian’s face lose all color, clearly struggling to hold on.

She grew even more arrogant and triumphant.

“Have you heard of the Double Life Gu?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yin Buqi felt the world spin.

For a moment, he couldn’t think, just held Jiang Niannian, frozen in place.

The medical cultivator who had rushed over, upon hearing this, felt his legs go weak. He knelt on the ground, trembling, and couldn’t help but resent Coalball and Jiang Ziyou for bringing him here.

The Double Life Gu was an evil technique.

The catalyst for the Double Life Gu was colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. Once ingested, it would instantly merge with the flesh and blood.

At first, it was undetectable, but the caster could bind the life of the person who had ingested the Gu to another through a curse.

If one died, the other would die as well.

The inventor of this technique was truly despicable, their heart worthy of execution.

“When I checked Miss Jiang’s pulse earlier, I always felt something was off. So it was the Double Life Gu!” The old medical cultivator pounded his chest, looking heartbroken.

From the looks of it, that woman was determined to take the city lord down with her.

He couldn’t save her.

If the city lord died, Young Master Yin might take his anger out on him.

It seemed his old bones wouldn’t survive this.