Chapter 124: She and Yin Buqi Indeed Shared a Fateful Bond

After Jiang Niannian died, her soul arrived in an unfamiliar place.

She felt uneasy, looking around.

Everything was a mix of red and black, the sky noticeably darkening, with thick black fog permeating the air.

Suddenly, two figures dressed in strange black and white attire appeared before her. The one in white had a constant smile, wearing a tall hat with the words “You’re here too~” written on it. The one in black had a fierce expression, his hat bearing the words “Catching you now~.”

Jiang Niannian’s mouth twitched. The Black and White Impermanence of the underworld were surprisingly down-to-earth.

Without a word, the two bound her with a long black chain and led her forward. Soon, they arrived at a grand hall.

A yin court in the dead of night, with a mirror of justice hanging high.

A judge sat at the center of the hall, surrounded by many people, all wearing ghostly masks.

Jiang Niannian’s heart sank.

Well, she must be dead.

She looked down at her red wedding dress, feeling a wave of sorrow.

She missed Yin Buqi, terribly so. She never imagined she would die on the day of her wedding.

They had spent seventeen years relying on each other, yet they couldn’t continue to stay together.

Her heart suddenly ached, a sourness slowly welling up, as if her blood couldn’t bear the burden, spreading a swollen pain from her chest. She covered her eyes with her arm, suppressing the faint sobs in her throat.

The judge looked at the Book of Life and Death in his hand and asked, “Who is the deceased?”

Jiang Niannian wiped her tears and replied, “Jiang Niannian, birthdate unknown.”

She had transmigrated into a book, and the book didn’t provide much detail about her minor character.

The judge’s voice was eerie, holding a gavel in his hand, and said, “How dare you! Attempting to deceive me! There is no one named Jiang Niannian who died today in the Book of Life and Death.”

Jiang Niannian was stunned, then remembered something and added, “Then check for Jiang Yan, see if there’s anyone by that name.”

“None,” the judge shook his head again.

“Take her to the Reincarnation Platform first, see if she can recall anything.”

…

Jiang Niannian stood on the Reincarnation Platform.

In the boundless view, everything was white, with mist swirling at her feet, rising and dissipating slowly.

Reality and illusion intertwined, as if in a dream.

In her hazy consciousness, she saw a woman.

She wore a wide, snow-white robe, its sleeves dragging on the ground, her hair loosely tied up.

Auspicious clouds occasionally drifted past her, against a backdrop of blue sky and flowing clouds.

She sat there quietly, as if embedded in a painting, with light shining behind her, her entire being emitting a soft, gentle glow.

Though her face was identical to Jiang Niannian’s, the beauty she exuded far surpassed mere appearance.

A beauty so gentle, so soft, it could embrace everything.

How small the world seemed, with only her standing within it.

Jiang Niannian asked, “Who are you?”

The woman’s eyelashes fluttered as she calmly said, “You’ve come.”

Jiang Niannian had never heard such a soothing voice, like the feeling of white clouds drifting across the sky, carrying a lingering charm, as if listening to celestial music.

The woman said, “Nian, a different name for the thoughts held within the heart. All things arise from thoughts, good and evil alike. I have no surname, only the name Nian.”

Jiang Niannian asked, “Do you know me?”

“Yes,” the woman nodded. “A thousand years ago, I was pushed off the Immortal Fall Platform by a clone, my soul and spirit annihilated, my three souls and six spirits scattered across the mortal world. Yet, unexpectedly, one spirit separated from my body and went to another parallel world.”

Jiang Niannian’s eyes widened slightly.

“You mean, I’m just a separated spirit of yours?!”

“Yes,” the woman smiled faintly.

“Then you are…”

“I am a deity born from the Kunlun Immortal Tree, and also the Heavenly Dao from a thousand years ago.”

Jiang Niannian was stunned.

Her mind was chaotic, yet unusually clear. Many things from before seemed to make sense now.

No wonder she had no parents from birth in the modern world.

No wonder, she had a natural talent for plants.

No wonder, Teng Jiao said she carried the scent of his mother.

Jiang Niannian suddenly felt a splitting headache, many images flashing by, as if something was returning.

“If you weren’t completely annihilated, why are you here?”

“Ordinary reincarnation disperses the three souls and seven spirits into the world, including the spirit that controls emotions and the soul that controls memories. The remaining two souls and six spirits are also shattered and recombined in the cycle of reincarnation, forming a new, complete soul before being reborn. Yet, I remain intact here in the Reincarnation Platform, and even you have been summoned back.”

At this, the woman smiled bitterly.

“It must be that my disciple used some forbidden technique to preserve souls and reincarnate. He never… lets me rest easy.”

Jiang Niannian’s mind was in turmoil, as if some dormant memories were stirring, ready to break free.

She slowly asked, “What is your disciple’s name?”

“My disciple…” The woman thought for a moment, then said, “Yin… Yin…”

Jiang Niannian: “You… didn’t forget, did you?”

The woman smiled at her.

Though gentle and sacred, upon closer contact, her childlike and dazed side became apparent.

It was somewhat endearing.

Wait, that was half of herself. Did she find herself endearing?

Since when had she become so narcissistic?!

Jiang Niannian eagerly asked, “Is your disciple named Yin Li, courtesy name Buqi?”

“Yes, that’s the name.”

Instantly, memories sealed for thousands of years came flooding back.

Jiang Niannian remembered.

She and Yin Buqi indeed shared a fateful bond.

“Hey! Judge, the soul of the woman who just entered the Reincarnation Platform has flown away!”

“Should we go after her?”

The judge closed the Book of Life and Death and shook his head.

“She is not someone our underworld can claim.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he sensed something, his eyes filled with both joy and shock.

“The spider lilies have bloomed! Prepare yourselves, Emperor Jiuyin is about to awaken. Our underworld will have its master!”