#9: Celestial Tribulation (4)

Yun Yan remained expressionless, his gaze distant as he watched everyone busy themselves.

It wasn’t until Yun Luo’s body was buried that he suddenly went wild, rushing forward to knock over her tombstone, then began digging at her grave with his bare hands. Several times, he opened his mouth wide, but no sound escaped.

Yao Yin felt immense pity watching his small body clawing desperately at the grave. She walked forward, pulled him into her embrace, and softly comforted him, “From now on, you’ll follow me. I will treat you as my own, just like Yun Niang treated you well.”

But Yun Yan wouldn’t listen. His eyes filled with resentment as he stared at Yun Niang’s grave, struggling fiercely in Yao Yin’s arms.

“Don’t be like this, just cry. Crying will make you feel better!” Yao Yin gently patted his back, trying to calm him, but it was all in vain.

“Miss, it’s getting late. Nanjiang City is a small border town, not as safe as a main city. If we don’t leave soon, there might be trouble when night falls and everything is quiet...” The shopkeeper gently reminded her from behind.

Yao Yin acknowledged the shopkeeper and then said to Yun Yan, “I know this is cruel to you, but the dead are gone. You must look forward and accept what has happened. At least, you still have me. I will fulfill my promise to Yun Niang and treat you well. Be good, okay?”

By this time, the sun had already set, and the sky was covered in colorful twilight clouds.

Yun Yan suddenly stopped struggling. He frowned, looked around, and then pushed Yao Yin away.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Yao Yin released him. She then watched him walk back to the grave, give the tombstone a heavy kick, and then make a “Pfft!” sound.

After doing all this, he walked ahead, hands behind his back, heading down the mountain path.

Yao Yin didn’t have time to think much and immediately followed him, fearing that this child, as delicate as a porcelain doll, might stumble or get hurt on the rugged mountain path...

The path down the mountain was very rugged and narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass. The sound of flowing water could faintly be heard, suggesting that a river lay beyond the bushes.

Nanjiang City was built by mountains and rivers, with excellent scenery, but at the moment, there was no mood to appreciate the good feng shui. The shopkeeper and the waiter each lit a lantern and handed one to Yao Yin.

“Thank you,” Yao Yin nodded her thanks, and the two smiled back.

With the candlelight illuminating the way, the path down the mountain became much clearer. On one side of the path was a tall thicket, and on the other were earthen mounds made of stones, with pebbles occasionally falling. Yao Yin followed closely behind Yun Yan, fearing that any mishap would make her unable to account to the deceased Yun Niang.

But clearly, she was overthinking.

Although Yun Yan was young, he didn’t even frown while walking on the winding, rugged mountain path. He remembered every step of the path he had only walked once before.

The four of them, each lost in their own thoughts, walked in silence. Soon, they descended the mountain and returned to the inn.

The shopkeeper closed the inn’s main door, and the waiter filled a basin with water, squatting on the ground to clean up the bloodstains left by Yun Niang.

Yun Yan sat on a stool, staring wide-eyed at Yao Yin. His unhurried demeanor greatly surprised Yao Yin.

This child’s demeanor and spirit were no less than those of high-ranking immortals; he even seemed to possess a kingly aura.

Just now, when she held Yun Yan, she found that his bone structure was extraordinary, just like Zichen’s—another excellent candidate for cultivation. Were there many cultivation geniuses in this world? How did she manage to encounter all of them?

First, there was Zichen. Although he was a mortal, he seemed to know everything. Along the way, he could explain all the major and minor events in various towns and villages, as if he had written history himself. Zichen’s explanation for this was: “I love reading usually. The more I read, the more I know. You need to read more.”

Yao Yin felt he made a lot of sense, and being unable to refute him, she stopped asking.

Yao Yin pondered, then looked up and saw that the light in Zichen’s room was already out, suggesting he had already retired, so she decided not to disturb him further.

“You’ll sleep in my room tonight. We’ll set off first thing tomorrow morning,” Yao Yin said.

Yun Yan’s eyes became somewhat unfocused. Upon hearing Yao Yin’s words, he immediately stood up and walked upstairs.

Yao Yin followed behind him, repeatedly saying, “The inn is full, so you’ll have to stay with me...”

“Bang!” Yun Yan flashed into the room and violently slammed the door shut. Yao Yin was too slow to dodge and was hit hard, getting a dusty nose.

Yao Yin covered her nose and immediately felt a sticky sensation in her hand; blood flowed between her fingers. Enraged, she wiped away the nosebleed, then kicked the door open, lifted Yun Yan, and scolded, “I know you’re upset today, but you can’t take it out on me. Yun Niang entrusted you to me, so we are like grasshoppers on the same rope now. From now on, we need to love each other and depend on each other... A-Yan, A-Yan?”

Yun Yan in her arms suddenly became motionless. Yao Yin feared he had stopped breathing too and immediately checked his pulse, only to find he was just asleep. Only then did she feel relieved.

Yao Yin looked at his tender little face, and her anger suddenly vanished.

He was just a child after all...

Yao Yin took off his clothes and gently placed him on the inner side of the bed. Then she got water to clean herself, and then lay down fully clothed.

She held him, and discovered a faint floral scent on him. She felt it was very familiar, yet for a moment, she couldn’t recall what kind of flower it was...