Chapter 149: Recovering Memory

He kissed her with such madness, losing the noble restraint he had before.

It was almost frenzied, as if he wished to devour her whole, making her feel a tinge of fear.

Under Yin Buqi’s actions, her body grew softer and weaker, completely leaning into his embrace, powerless.

The red eyes on the surrounding walls flickered ominously, sending chills down her spine.

And yet, even in such a place, this man was still so… ravenous.

Like a wolf.

“Niannian, keep your voice down. If something unwanted gets drawn in, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect you,” Yin Buqi said, his clothes disheveled, exposing his unnaturally pale skin and lean waist.

Tears welled in Jiang Niannian’s eyes as she bit down on his collarbone.

Yin Buqi let out a low chuckle.

“Come, let’s infuse you with yin energy once more…”

***

The cave was eerily silent, so still that the distant screams outside could be faintly heard.

Yin Buqi held the sleeping girl tightly in his arms.

He remained motionless, afraid of waking her.

She slept so soundly, so peacefully, resting in his embrace, allowing him to hold her, to watch over her.

No one could take her away.

Jiang Niannian had fallen asleep in his arms, and when she woke, she was still there—this time, even closer.

Yin Buqi lay on his side, supporting his head, while hers rested against his arm.

She was curled entirely in his embrace, even her legs draped over him.

A pang shot through Jiang Niannian’s heart as she silently observed him.

He seemed different from the day before—every movement, every glance carried a captivating allure.

There was an air of lingering desire around him, making her recall last night’s madness.

Her face grew hot, her heartbeat quickened.

He had taken her body, yet she didn’t feel sadness or anger.

Instead, it felt as if… it was meant to be.

The man spoke, his voice unusually lighthearted.

“Niannian, you’re awake?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Niannian sometimes wondered if he was truly blind—he acted no different from a man with perfect sight.

Yin Buqi propped himself up and placed a featherlight kiss on her brow before pulling her out from under the blanket.

Jiang Niannian grumbled, “Stop taking advantage of me.”

Yin Buqi chuckled in exasperation.

“And last night, when you begged me to save you and give you yin energy, you didn’t seem to mind?”

Jiang Niannian’s face flushed at the memory of his burning heat.

“That’s different…”

Yin Buqi twirled a strand of her hair around his fingers.

“How is it different? You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit, clinging onto me so tightly…”

His thin lips were suddenly covered by a pair of soft hands.

“I-I’m not talking to you anymore!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Let’s go—we still haven’t found that corpse.”

“Okay.”

As soon as they stepped outside, the black mist swirled like a raging beast, attacking them just as it had the day before.

After searching for some time, they finally found the corpse Yin Buqi had spoken of, floating amidst a mass of lingering resentment.

It had been submerged for who knew how many years, yet it hadn’t decomposed—only bloated, having absorbed an excessive amount of water.

Its skin was swollen and translucent, filled with black-green pus.

Strangely, its surface appeared scorched, as if burned by something.

It was grotesque.

Its eye sockets were empty, its face upturned, floating closer and closer.

At first glance, Jiang Nian Nian’s immediate thought wasn’t about danger but about a whale explosion video she had seen before transmigrating into this world.

Before clicking on it, there had been a warning: This is a graphic video with a strong odor. Viewer discretion is advised.

This thing absolutely could not explode near her!

She sucked in a sharp breath.

“So, what do we do now?”

Yin Buqi’s body radiated a chilling fury.

His lips curled as he spoke, “Destroy it, of course.”

As he spoke, he summoned a crimson sword from thin air.

The moment his words fell, he vanished, slashing toward the bloated corpse with a single strike!

In his hands, the sword was like an extension of his own body, moving with incredible precision.

With each swing, red light flashed.

The corpse split under the blade, its black-green pus splattering in all directions.

Seeing the fluid flying toward her, Jiang Niannian shrieked in horror.

“Damn it—!!! I’m gonna throw up, I’m seriously gonna throw up! Don’t you dare come near me!!!”

But an invisible barrier seemed to surround her, repelling the filth away.

Jiang Niannian exhaled in relief.

“Thank goodness…”

Suddenly, a bright white light pierced through the barrier and struck her forehead.

She had no time to react.

A wave of dizziness overcame her.

Her mouth opened in a silent gasp, like a fish out of water.

Before she lost consciousness, she fell into a familiar embrace.

“Niannian, when you wake up, you’ll remember everything. Don’t hate me, and don’t leave me. If you do… I’ll go insane.”

***

Snow blanketed the surroundings, red nandina bushes scattered around, and in the center, a hot spring pool.

The sky was black, yet the pool glowed faintly, shimmering with silver light.

From the water, a man’s cold body suddenly emerged.

Yin Buqi stood at the shore, droplets of water drying from his skin inch by inch.

His loose white hair was lazily tied back.

His white robes shimmered with dark patterns, resembling sunlight, yet exuding the aura of the underworld.

Above, the blood-red moon hung eerily in the sky.

His entire body ached, threatening to knock him unconscious.

This was the aftereffect of using the Reincarnation Soul Fusion technique—he had merged his soul with Jiang Niannian’s.

As long as he lived, she would never die.

But every mid-month, when night fell, he would endure excruciating pain—his weakest moment.

A century of suffering had etched itself into his bones, but as long as Niannian was alive, there was a twisted pleasure in the agony.

His ears buzzed, dizziness overwhelming him.

Although he had destroyed the corpse, he had also conjured an illusion to leave behind in its place.

That corpse belonged to the Heaven Will’s Dog.

If its true body were found missing and came looking for trouble now, Niannian could be in danger.

Yin Buqi’s lips pressed into a thin line.

It had been so long—Niannian should be awake by now.

He had retrieved her memories from the Heaven Will’s Dog.

If she remembered everything, she would also remember her past life.

He had imprisoned her, threatened her, forced her—would she hate him?

He didn’t dare think further.

Taking his time, he walked around outside before finally returning to the Soul Enchantment Hall.

Just as he hesitated at the entrance, a soft, familiar voice called out, “Buqi, you’re back? Why aren’t you coming in?”

Yin Buqi froze, waves crashing in his heart.

Even his hand on the door trembled.

Inside, warm light flickered.

Jiang Niannian sat on a plush couch.

Seeing him enter, she reached out her hands.

“Husband, hold me.”

Yin Buqi stiffened, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

After a long pause, he let out a low “Mm.”

Striding forward, he wrapped her in his arms, carefully, as if holding a long-lost treasure.

Jiang Niannian smiled, her eyes reddening.

Yin Buqi lowered his head, his cold cheek pressing against hers.

Slowly, his warmth seeped in, dampening her neck.

He held her tightly, voice trembling and hoarse.

“Niannian, I’ve been waiting for you to come back. Every moment, every minute, every second… I’ve been thinking of you. Even though I can’t see your face anymore, the moment you appear, I know it’s you.”