The Unmoving Bride

Without another word, Shang Bieye let the bed curtains fall. In the quiet night, their love spread like a warm embrace… The night deepened.
In the pitch-black courtyard, the silence was so profound that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard, and the flow of air carried an eerie quality. Suddenly, a puff of white smoke surged from the ground, and from within it emerged two indistinct figures, gradually becoming clearer. “Niu Er, are you sure the soul we are to collect today is here?” Niu San asked skeptically. Niu Er glanced around, also finding the atmosphere strange. To make sure they were in the right place, he pulled out a small booklet from his pocket, flipped through a few pages, and pointed at a line, saying, “Yes, it’s here. Look, Nie Kuang from Black Fortress Gate.” Niu San followed Niu Er’s finger to where he was pointing, and indeed, there was written “Nie Kuang from Black Fortress Gate, deceased at the hour of the Rat on September 26th.” “But there’s not a hint of death aura here,” Niu San said, taking a deep sniff of the surrounding air. Upon hearing this, Niu Er also inhaled deeply. “You’re right! No death aura,” Niu Er said, looking puzzled at Niu San. “Not even the four little ghosts of the spirits are here. What’s going on?” Niu San suddenly widened his eyes, which glowed with a ghostly green light as he scanned the area. “Weird!” Niu Er shook his head in confusion. “Let’s go inside first.” After saying this, Niu Er and Niu San silently and swiftly passed through the courtyard, heading straight to the inner quarters. They entered as if there were no one around, quickly and accurately finding Nie Kuang’s room. They passed through the door and floated directly to Nie Kuang’s bed. Looking down at Nie Kuang lying on the bed, both Niu Er and Niu San furrowed their brows. “This guy isn’t dead at all!” Niu San exclaimed in surprise. “Yes, not dead,” Niu Er nodded, equally astonished. “Why?” “Exactly, why?” “I’m asking you, and you’re asking me!” Niu San rolled his eyes at Niu Er. They looked at each other, not knowing what to say, just staring at each other with their bull-like eyes. Suddenly, Niu San seemed to catch a scent, faint and elusive. “Do you smell anything?” Niu San sniffed hard. “Smell?” Niu Er also sniffed around. Moments later, both of their eyes widened again, and they shouted in unison, “Nine Revolutions Soul Revival Elixir!” “Niu Er, how does he have the Nine Revolutions Soul Revival Elixir?” “How would I know?” Niu Er shrugged. “I only know that the two existing pills in the mortal world are one in Medicine King Valley and the other was given to Xiao Pei by Niu Qi.” “Medicine King Valley… Xiao Pei…” Niu San pondered, then clapped his hands as if struck by a thought. “Right! It’s Xiao Pei. She’s in this world under the name Meng or something. Niu Qi mentioned she was looking for the Time Mirror and came nearby. I bet she gave it to Nie Kuang.” “Oh no! That was given to her by the Judge after Niu Qi begged and pleaded, just in case she needed it, or else she’d have to be an undead again!” Niu Er said worriedly. “What now? The one who should die isn’t dead, and the one who wants to live can’t!” “What are we still doing here? Let’s go tell Niu Qi and the Judge!” Niu San also became anxious. With that said, they moved faster than when they came, turning into two wisps of smoke and plunging into the ground.