The Unmoving Bride

Suddenly, a cold wind blew through the room, making the candlelight flicker eerily, giving rise to goosebumps. From the ground, a white smoke rose, filling the room and gradually forming the shape of a cow-headed figure, from blurry to clear. “You are…” Wu Yangfeng looked at the figure in surprise, but Shang Bieye’s face lit up with life when he saw who it was. “Are you the Brother Niu Qi that Xinmeng mentioned?” Shang Bieye asked excitedly. “Yes,” Niu Qi nodded. “Then Xinmeng can be saved!” Shang Bieye looked at Wu Yangfeng with joy, “The Nine Revolutions Revitalizing Pill was given to Xinmeng by him.” Hearing Shang Bieye say “Xinmeng can be saved,” Niu Qi’s expression changed as he looked towards the bed where Yan Xinmeng lay, her face entirely black. He quickly moved to the bedside. “I met Niu Er and Niu San, and they told me that the Nine Revolutions Revitalizing Pill was taken by someone named Nie Kuang. Upon hearing this, I knew things were bad, so I rushed over, but I was still too late,” Niu Qi said helplessly. Hearing this, Shang Bieye was stunned. “Too late? What do you mean?” he asked. “Because I only had one Nine Revolutions Revitalizing Pill, and when I gave it to her, I repeatedly told her to keep it safe. How could this girl, just like in her past life, choose to save others at the cost of her own life?” Niu Qi didn’t know whether to scold her or praise her. “Brother Niu Qi, are you saying…” Shang Bieye hesitated as he looked at him. Niu Qi said nothing, just watched him quietly. “Is Xinmeng beyond saving?” Shang Bieye asked, his eyes void of hope. “Sigh!” Niu Qi shook his head helplessly. Shang Bieye collapsed to the ground; if even Niu Qi couldn’t save her, what more could be said. He silently handed over the Hourglass Mirror from his person to Niu Qi, “Xinmeng said this is yours; I think it’s time to return it to its owner.” Niu Qi, looking at the Hourglass Mirror, was also dazed. At that moment, another plume of white smoke entered from outside, gradually forming a human shape. “Old Six, are you here to take Xinmeng?” Niu Qi asked with a bitter face. “Yes!” Niu Liu walked to Yan Xinmeng’s side, reaching out to place his hand on her crown. Seeing this, Shang Bieye hurriedly got up, pushed Niu Liu away, and protected Yan Xinmeng. “Hey, why are you so forceful?” Niu Liu was pushed back into the wardrobe. Seeing this, Wu Yangfeng understood somewhat and stepped forward to restrain Niu Qi and Niu Liu. “Sorry, we can’t let you take Xinmeng away,” Wu Yangfeng said solemnly. “What are you doing? Just grab Old Six, why me too?” Niu Qi complained. “What do you mean just grab me, you damn Old Seven,” Niu Liu glared at Niu Qi. “Enough! Stop arguing, Xinmeng needs to rest,” Shang Bieye gently stroked Yan Xinmeng’s face. “Old Seven, has he lost his mind? Xinmeng is already…” Niu Liu stuck out his tongue, indicating that Yan Xinmeng had passed away. “Old Six, stop talking nonsense. Are you really here to take Xinmeng?” Niu Qi didn’t want to waste words with Niu Liu. “Yes, I am here for Xinmeng, but the Judge also asked me to tell you something,” Niu Liu’s eyes sparkled with a hint of light. “What is it?” Niu Qi asked. “The Judge wants me to tell you about two things: first, your cow horn, second, the Medicine King Valley,” Niu Liu said slowly. Oh, how could he forget the cow horn he left with Xinmeng? Niu Qi happily shook off Wu Yangfeng’s grip. “If you want to save Xinmeng, you shouldn’t hold onto Niu Liu,” Niu Qi said without turning his head, walking straight towards Shang Bieye. “You didn’t tell me earlier, you made me worry for nothing,” Niu Qi pouted. “Haha!” Niu Liu grinned, showing his large cow teeth, “Alright, freeze them first, so they don’t think I mean harm to Xinmeng.” With a wave of his hand, Niu Qi immobilized Shang Bieye and Wu Yangfeng.
Niu Liu raised his hand and covered Yan Xinmeng’s head with it. Slowly, a red glowing orb rose from her head. After Niu Liu picked up the orb, he suddenly struck it towards Yan Xinmeng’s chest. When Niu Liu was seen striking the orb towards Yan Xinmeng’s heart, both Shang Bieye and Wu Yangfeng widened their eyes, unable to move, only able to watch helplessly as the red orb darted into her heart. “Done! The great deed is accomplished. Old Seven, the rest is up to you.” After speaking, Niu Liu turned into a puff of white smoke and slipped out through the door crack. After Niu Liu left, Niu Qi spoke to the two, “Listen carefully, Niu Liu has just sealed Xinmeng’s soul into her heart to prevent others from knowing that her soul was supposed to be collected but wasn’t, thus avoiding disturbances from other minor ghosts. However, Niu Liu’s and my powers can only maintain this for an hour, which is equivalent to a month in your human world. Within this month, you must hurry to Medicine King Valley to find the Medicine King. If I remember correctly, he should still have a Nine Revolutions Soul-Restoring Pill.”