Chapter 100: Let's wait for the two-in-one version.

Niannian got up, her bare feet stepping on the rolled-up hem of her clothes, where thick water droplets spread across the wrinkled fabric.

Upon seeing the winding trail, Li Xunhuan abruptly turned his head away as if his eyelashes had been scorched by fire.

He closed his eyes very quickly, but the sparks had already entered the pyre, igniting a burning fire within his flesh and bones.

He heard the rustling sound of clothes being picked up, his hands clenched, his jaw clenched, ultimately too ashamed to speak.

His wrists, tightly bound with red thread, had developed a ring of bruises. Even though half a month had passed, he still felt as if this scene was falling on him like knives, spears, and clubs.

Amidst the turmoil of his emotions, he began to cough again, each cough causing a sharp, aching pain in his chest.

Niannian paused, raised her head and glanced at him through the bronze mirror in front of the bed—he was panting heavily, the veins on his neck were bulging, and tears were welling up in the corners of his eyes.

I was very unwilling.

She bit her lip and glared at him secretly, waiting for him to finish.

Bronze mirrors are considered yin and easily attract negative energy, so they shouldn't be placed directly opposite the bed. But how would others know if the mirror is placed this way?

She held the red rope to her chest, repeatedly checking herself against the mirror. After a few moments, she suddenly complained, "Uncle, it's all your fault, my bodice is too small."

As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if a club had suddenly broken his neck, and Li Xunhuan shuddered violently.

Niannian was still not satisfied, and said slowly, drawing out the last syllable, "Father, remember to buy me a new one. Father knows my size better than anyone."

After she finished speaking, she nonchalantly put on the narrow garment.

In the bronze mirror, her eyelids were crimson, her eyes and brows radiating a thick, seductive allure, and a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her lower back. Her white undergarments clung tightly to her body, the edges marked with red welts. In just a few days, her once-hardened frame had been worn down to a bewitching allure.

If you were to encounter a seasoned veteran of the pleasure quarters, a single glance at her alluring, watery eyes would be enough to tell you that she has been taken... but no matter how hard you try, you probably wouldn't guess that she's been taken by the chivalrous and unparalleled Little Li Flying Dagger.

Li Xunhuan's face burned instantly, shame and self-loathing swirling within him, almost suffocating him.

He could only lower his head, biting his lower lip, as he was repeatedly and thoroughly shattered and crushed by the invisible blades and clubs.

Niannian finished dressing and threw the used handkerchief onto his chest. "Uncle, why don't you lift up and wipe yourself? There's only one handkerchief..."

The long-bound red thread loosened, leaving only a loop, like a bracelet connecting the two wrists.

She was already dressed, but Li Xunhuan still dared not look at her. Only he knew that under Nian Nian's velvet skirt, her body was covered with red marks, the unripe fruit peels and the lingering frostbite stains overlapping, a pitiful sight as if she had been tortured.

Even a soft-hearted woman would likely be moved to tears upon seeing this.

Li Xunhuan could never hold his head up in front of her again. The guilt weighed on his back like a mountain, and he could never get rid of his own despicable and shameless behavior.

That bronze mirror, reflecting all sins, had already forced him to kneel below the hall, subjected to the torture of branding.

Countless times he opened his eyes in pleasure to find his face branded with the words "flower thief." He had not only stolen her youth, but also her innocent body.

In this ethical hell, he dared not look, dared not listen, and dared not even move.

She clung to his decaying body like a thorny vine. When he tried to remove her with ethics and morality, he found that the thorns had already dug deep into his flesh and blood. With the slightest movement, they would tear him apart, skin and flesh.

In just a few days, Li Xunhuan's pale face turned purplish-blue, his lips cracked and bled, and his lungs were so full of resentment that there was no gap left.

The throwing knife seemed to be on the verge of breaking.

Niannian knelt on the bed steps, gazing at him with her honey-colored cat eyes, and comforted him, "Uncle, you'd better cheer up."

He lay curled up on the bed, his eyes tightly closed, seemingly oblivious to everything.

Niannian twirled a strand of hair around her neck and leisurely tossed out the bait: "If you continue to give up on yourself, no one will be able to save your cousin Shiyin."

A chill crept up his limbs, and Li Xunhuan struggled to sit up, his throat tightening as he asked, "Shiyin, what happened to Shiyin?"

His throat had been damaged by coughing for a long time, and his voice was hoarse and indistinct, but the anxiety and worry in his words were very clear.

Niannian had intended to provoke him, but seeing how anxious he was, a fire suddenly ignited in her heart.

She looked at him, just smiled, and didn't say a word.

"You, you hurry up and tell me, Shion, she..." He hurriedly put on his clothes, sweat beading on his forehead.

Niannian said coldly, "You call me so intimately. I'm just a stranger I randomly grabbed from the street corner."

Li Xunhuan never expected that at this crucial moment, she would still be so jealous. With such a sordid relationship, how could they possibly act like ordinary lovers? It was utterly shameless.

Ever since the two committed that immoral and sordid act, Li Xunhuan had never called her name again. For the first time, he regretted choosing that name; the repeated characters were too intimate, making it sound like they were whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears.

Moreover, his actions contradict the original intention behind the name. If we had known this would happen, we would have preferred to call him 'Bu Nian' (不念).

He clenched his fists and said in a hoarse voice, "She is my cousin, and she is my only family here."

An elder brother is like a father to his daughter; how could he abandon her? If he did, how could he be considered a human being?

Seeing that she didn't respond, Li Xunhuan took a deep breath and walked outside.

Who could have entered Xingyun Manor and caused her danger? The moment this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly remembered the strange phenomena that occurred within a few miles of Xingyun Manor on the day of the lunar eclipse.

His eyelids twitched, and he was about to use his light-footed skill when the carved wooden door slammed shut without any wind.

Niannian said lightly, "What's the rush? It's not time yet."

Li Xunhuan frowned. "Is it not the right time yet?"

Although his heart was still half-empty, he had also let go of most of it.

Given Nian Nian's domineering nature, if she truly didn't want him to rescue Shi Yin, she wouldn't have mentioned it at all; she would probably have gone to great lengths to prevent him from finding out. Since she brought it up, she must already have a solution.

He guessed correctly, but since ancient times, how can one drive away snakes and insects without offering them blood and flesh?

With a flick of her wrist, Niannian pulled out a piece of paper money from her sleeve. On it was written a line of blood-red characters: "On the 22nd, my little sister will get married. A hundred ghosts will escort her to her wedding."

"It's only the 21st now, even if you go, you won't be able to bring her out."

Li Xunhuan stared at the crooked characters "Hundred Ghosts Sending Off the Bride" on the paper money, his breathing growing heavier and heavier. How could he still hear them?

He stepped forward to open the door; even though the time hadn't come yet, there was no reason for him to wait idly there. His cousin wasn't skilled in martial arts; if she encountered danger in the fog, even heaven wouldn't answer her cries.

He pushed the tightly closed wooden door with his large hands, with enough force to push away rolling stones, but the door remained firmly in place.

Niannian raised her voice and said, "If you know how to deal with demons and ghosts, then leave. I won't stop you."

Despite saying that, she kept the doors and windows tightly shut, her eyes fixed on him, showing no intention of letting him leave.

Li Xunhuan knew she possessed uncanny abilities and must have considerable experience dealing with demons and ghosts. Yet, despite his eagerness to save his cousin, he didn't entertain the idea of ​​taking her on the adventure.

Lin Shiyin is his cousin, and has nothing to do with Niannian.

He raised his hand to push the door open, only to see Nian Nian glaring at him: "Can you bear to let her be trapped and die in this 'boundary'?"

Lin Shiyin, a sheltered woman confined to her chambers, could only rely on her husband and son. If he were to rashly intrude and become trapped himself, wouldn't he lose another chance of survival?

He focused intently, knowing that it was especially important not to lose his composure at times like these.

Niannian smiled quietly, handed over the 'rules', and said in a crisp voice, "She is, after all, Uncle's cousin. As long as Uncle behaves, of course I will help you save her."

She changed the subject, saying, "But... if Uncle doesn't listen, he'll be harming Auntie."

"If you agree to three conditions, I will be able to go to Xingyun Manor and save my aunt."

......

The north wind howled, and countless blood-red lanterns floated down the desolate street, while paper money printed with blood-red words fluttered down.

Li Xunhuan frowned, raised his arm to take a sheet and examine it carefully.

The area was shrouded in a thick fog, with no one able to escape, causing a great deal of trouble and fear. No one dared to mention it without turning pale with fear.

Entering this fog is like stepping onto the guillotine; no one has ever emerged unscathed. This is truly bizarre and eerie; who among the common people wouldn't believe in ghosts and spirits?

Rumors circulated widely, with many saying that demons lurked within the fog, devouring people, and that eerie cries could be faintly heard at midnight. Coupled with the recent unrest in various places, the people were filled with fear and dread, fearing that chaos was imminent.

Despite repeated denials and attempts to appease the authorities, the situation remained unchanged. The government had no choice but to deploy heavy troops to guard the area while recruiting talented individuals to subdue demons and monsters.

However, there are many charlatans and attention-seekers in the general public; where are the truly capable people?

Niannian grasped Li Xunhuan's hand, her fingers interlacing, and said kindly, "Uncle, please don't get this paper money on you."

The paper money, like snowflakes, drifted to the ground and quickly vanished. Each piece was inscribed with the line "A hundred ghosts escort the bride," without exception.

Niannian spun around, picked up a blood-red lantern, looked at it coldly, and laughed, "The lantern is worth a look."

Li Xunhuan, his hands frozen, stepped forward.

This lantern doesn't look much different from ordinary wedding lanterns, except that its color is thick and dark, as if it's been splattered with blood, making it look inexplicably eerie.

A cold wind was blowing, but the wick remained steady and burned even brighter, as if something was taking its place in the flame.

"Let's go check out Xingyun Manor," Li Xunhuan said, growing more anxious the more he looked around.

The town at the foot of Xingyun Village is bustling and prosperous, with its streets and alleys always teeming with people.

However, the moment they stepped through the city gates, it felt like entering a dead city. Rubble and debris littered the ground, stalls were overturned, and bloodstains mingled with dried, rusty dust. This town, which appeared to have been plundered, was devoid of a single living person.

With no one in sight and a considerable number of blood lanterns suddenly appearing, how could one not be suspicious?

Xingyun Manor was only ten miles away. Li Xunhuan carried Nian Nian on his back, lightly touched his toes, and leaped out.

His lightness skill was superb. He used the Swallow Three Skimming Water technique, his figure was graceful and he left no trace on the snow. The paper money falling all over the sky could not even touch a single piece of his clothes.

Nian Nian was brimming with wicked ideas, her mind never idle. But when the gates of Xingyun Manor finally came into view, she couldn't help but be momentarily lost in thought.

'Li Garden' still looks exactly as the uncle remembers it, but it has now become 'Xingyun Manor'.

This should have been the uncle's home.

She gritted her teeth in hatred, thinking to herself: "You treacherous villain, Long Xiaoyun, dare to steal my things. Let's see if you live to enjoy them."

Li Xunhuan had no time to lament the passing of spring or the coming of autumn. Seeing that Xingyun Manor was now wide open and the courtyard was in a mess, he was already greatly alarmed.

Even Xingyun Manor, a gathering place for outlaws, has fallen victim to this treachery!

What about the older brother, cousin, and Tie Chuanjia?

His eyes were urgent, and his worry and unease were almost overflowing.

Li Xunhuan strode inside.

The precious flowers and plants in the courtyard were scattered and broken. Apart from the crushed branches and bloodstains, only the blood lanterns, which were leaning to one side and clustered together, were left, staring at them like bloodstained eyes.

His face turned deathly pale, and his limbs went limp in an instant. His cousin was just a frail woman; how could she possibly survive?

I'm afraid, I'm afraid they've all already—

Just as his blood was churning, a trembling voice suddenly rang out from the pavilion not far away, "...Cousin?"

Upon hearing this gentle voice, Li Xunhuan's spine tightened, and he abruptly turned his head.

He was met with a pair of red, tearful eyes.

Not to mention Li Xunhuan, even Nian Nian raised her eyelashes.

The gray fog 'world' was completely empty, yet Lin Shiyin was unharmed?

That's really strange.

Li Xunhuan's pupils dilated rapidly, and the huge weight in his heart suddenly lifted. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Ignoring his doubts, he flew towards the pavilion.

This pavilion is adjacent to a plum grove, and at some point in its southeast corner, a plum tree has been planted that provides shade and shelter. The plum branches meander outwards, completely enveloping the pavilion.

Niannian originally wanted to pull on the red string and make him fall like a kite, to make him suffer a bit. But when she saw this uninvited plum tree, her eyes lit up and she secretly laughed out loud.

It turns out there was a like-minded person hiding here.

Inside the attic.

Lin Shiyin was pale, her hair was disheveled, her eyelids were red and swollen, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She had been trapped for ten days, and her appearance was inevitably haggard. She stood there as if she had lost her soul.

Li Xunhuan's hand tightened and then loosened, "...Cousin."

Before he could even ask a question, Lin Shiyin exclaimed, "You...you didn't run away? Why did you come back?"

As she spoke, tears fell drop by drop onto the blood-red lantern in her arms, splashing up tiny blood flowers.

Li Xunhuan was speechless for a long time before sadly saying, "I'll take you, my elder brother, Xiaoyun, and Tie Chuanjia away."

Lin Shiyin gave a bitter smile, then suddenly collapsed to the ground as if all her strength had given way. "They...they can't leave..."

Li Xunhuan pursed his lips, stepped forward, and was about to bend down to help her when the red rope on his wrist suddenly tightened.

Niannian fiddled with the copper bell on her ring, slowly walked into the door, and looked at him with a half-smile.

When Lin Shiyin saw Niannian, her eyes narrowed, her hands clenched, and she questioned Li Xunhuan in a shrill voice with tears in her eyes: "How could you bring a child in? You're ruining her, you're taking her life!"

She clutched her chest, panting heavily, her words tumbling out incoherently. Before she could finish speaking, she was already sobbing uncontrollably, and could only clutch the blood-red lantern in her arms, silently shedding tears.

Li Xunhuan froze on the spot, his breath suddenly caught in his throat. He appeared calm on the surface, but only he knew that the unspeakable filth in his heart had been brutally exposed by this rebuke.

It was Lin Shiyin who said these words.

The brand on his face burned again. Li Xunhuan's hands trembled, and he hurriedly lowered his head, fearing that his filth would have nowhere to hide.

Niannian quickly helped her up, saying sweetly, "Auntie, don't be afraid. Father and I are here to rescue you. Don't underestimate me, Auntie!"

She was born with a youthful appearance, and her cat-like eyes were extremely bright. When she acted cute, everyone would sigh and say that she was adorable.

Seeing that she still sounded childish in her speech and was only a few years older than Xiaoyun, Lin Shiyin felt a chill run down her spine.

Besides, this is his child.

She stared blankly at her youthful face, tears streaming down her face, and said in a hoarse voice, "You shouldn't have come."

Li Xunhuan couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is going on here? Brother, Xiaoyun, and the others...?"

Lin Shiyin finally broke down in tears, crying out, "Xiaoyun, Xiaoyun is here!"

She clutched the blood lantern tightly in her arms, so tightly that it seemed she wanted to embed it into her own flesh and blood, protecting it with her own bones and flesh.

This is her fate.

Li Xunhuan's lips parted slightly, and he stammered, "What exactly is this...?"

Lin Shiyin lay face down on the table, tears streaming down her face. After catching her breath several times, she said weakly, as if she had exhausted herself, "It's paper money. That paper money is strange; it can actually pass through bricks and tiles and fall onto people."

"At first, everyone thought it was bad luck and didn't bother to avoid it. Who would have thought that once they got involved, they would be possessed? In just a few breaths, they all turned into red lanterns."

She clenched her fists, her whole body trembling, as if she had returned to that nightmarish night.

Niannian chuckled to herself: "A little beast and an old beast, they deserve to die."

Li Xunhuan raised his head and murmured, "But this attic..."

Lin Shiyin wiped away her tears, "This is..."

Niannian looked out the window and exclaimed, "This means someone has come to our aid!"

Li Xunhuan frowned. He couldn't detect the presence of a fourth person here. It was rare that this person's martial arts skills were far superior to his own.

Lin Shiyin was startled, instinctively stepping forward to block the window, and stammered, "How could you—"

"Sister, don't worry."

A clear, youthful voice rang out from outside the window, and as soon as the words were spoken, a faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafted in on the wind.

Petals of red plum blossoms drifted in through the cracks in the window, circled around, and suddenly transformed into a bright-eyed, spirited young man.

He raised his eyes, subtly scrutinized Niannian, and smiled, "Although I am a demon, I have never done anything evil, so I am not afraid of people recognizing my demonic nature."

Seeing the astonishment in Li Xunhuan's eyes, Lin Shiyin lowered her gaze and said, "I once picked up a withered plum blossom in the snow; it was Jing Shu. Although he is not human, he has a heart that repays kindness."

Li Xunhuan nodded, but remained silent. — He had no right to speak anyway.

Niannian curled the corners of her mouth and thought to herself: No wonder they are cousins, how come they both have such dull minds?

The young man with the plum branch stepped forward and gently helped Lin Shiyin sit down, saying softly, "Sister, be careful."

What's there to be careful about just sitting down in a chair?

Niannian pouted and glared at Li Xunhuan with a hint of annoyance.

Li Xunhuan was lost in thought, seemingly pondering something. Nian Nian mentally noted it down, but outwardly said, "Tonight at midnight will be the 22nd. If we can't find a way to break this cycle, I'm afraid these people won't survive to the next 22nd."

Her fingertips brushed against the blood-stained silk cloth on the lantern's surface, and she playfully tapped it twice.

Lin Shiyin's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "What does this mean?"

Nian Nian stared at her intently, "Auntie, you think this lamp wick has been burning for ten days, why hasn't it gone out? It's burning human oil."

These words, when spoken to a mother, were like a blow to her heart.

Lin Shiyin held the red lantern in vain, tears streaming down her face like a broken dam, wishing she could give her own flesh and blood to take its place.

She instinctively clutched Niannian's sleeve, her voice trembling as she said, "A way to break it, a way to break it..."

Jing Shu wiped away her tears while comforting her, saying, "Yes, there is a way to break every law in the world. 'When my little sister gets married, a hundred ghosts welcome her,' that is the clue."

Li Xunhuan said in a deep voice, "A ghost wedding is a ghost marriage."

Jing Shu seemed to be deep in thought: "If it's about marrying off her sister, then it must be her brother who arranged the marriage."

Niannian propped her chin up and said, "What a good brother to marry his sister off to a ghost."

Lin Shiyin curled her hands, as if suddenly realizing something, "I once read some unofficial history books, about women who were forced into ghost marriages and suffered humiliation both in life and death. Could it be that this little sister didn't want to get married and became a ghost with resentment?"

Jing Shu's eyes lit up. "Sister is so clever. If we can disrupt this ritual, perhaps we can dispel the resentment in this vengeful ghost's heart."

Li Xunhuan stood up and said, "In that case, we must find this little sister before midnight. There are only a few hours left, so I'll go now."

"I don't even know if this little sister has turned to ashes. How long will it take Father to search for her alone?" Niannian held his hand, her face full of anxiety, but her fingertips slowly moved upwards, gently stroking his knuckles.

Li Xunhuan trembled, instinctively wanting to shake off her hand, but fearing it would arouse his cousin's suspicion. He could only suppress the burning sensation in his heart and bite his tongue tightly in fear.

If his cousin discovers their affair, he...

Lin Shiyin struggled to her feet, clutching the lantern, and said with tears in her eyes, "I'm going too. It's better to die than to stay here."

Li Xunhuan smiled bitterly; both he and his cousin had contemplated suicide.

Shion was harmed by demons, but she herself was even more filthy than the demons.

Li Xunhuan sighed and asked, "How can you go?"

He clenched his fist, about to use harsh words to force her to stay. — He was always like this; the more important someone was to him, the more he liked to hurt them with cold words.

It's okay to be heartbroken, but if you lose your life, how will you live the rest of your life?

I don't know if this person is only thinking of themselves or too considerate of others.

Jing Shu stepped forward and said with a smile, "Why can't you go? The paper money can't pass through my plum branches, so you can go anywhere, sister."

Excellent.

Niannian suddenly smiled and said, "Then let's go look for it together, so we can look out for each other."

She met Li Xunhuan's eyes and said, word by word, "So that my father won't worry."

......

Since it is a wedding, presumably the mansion and its surroundings are already decorated with bright red silk ribbons and embroidered balls with dragons and phoenixes.

To find this 'little sister,' you have to explore the inner courtyards of these mansions.

The city is filled with rows of houses, and every corner is a scene of people living in harmony. Ten days ago, when the gray fog first arrived, there were quite a few families holding wedding ceremonies.

They not only have to search house by house, but also room by room. It seems that if only ashes or memorial tablets are needed for the reburial, they even want to open the wedding box to take a look.

Nian Nian closed the wooden box and peeked through the thin gap in the red curtain into the outer room—Lin Shiyin and Jing Shu were rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

Her eyes darted around, and she jumped off the bed, quietly hugging Li Xunhuan's waist from behind, whispering, "My bodice's ties came undone, Father, can you tie them for me?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: That's right!! I just want to—

And Yinyin also has a cute, scheming puppy that's always around her!

Xiao Li saved his cousin, but now his wife is about to die!