Chapter 18: The Resurrection of Jiang Yun

Li Ziyuan rose to his feet with swift, decisive movements. He strode over to Jiang Yun, a glimmer of chill in his eyes, and seized him by the throat.

"So cold. Is this even a living person?"

The sudden outburst stunned the surrounding villagers. The lively chatter ceased instantly, and everyone stared in astonishment.

"What is Ziyuan doing?" a young villager whispered, his face etched with confusion.

"Who knows? Perhaps they have some bad blood, but there is no need to resort to violence right away," another replied.

They could not understand why Li Ziyuan, usually a mild-mannered man, would suddenly attack Jiang Yun. In their eyes, there had never been any deep-seated hatred between the two.

Jiang Yun gasped, "Li Ziyuan, what are you doing? Let me go! I can't breathe!"

Seeing this, Li’s father scolded, "Today is a day of great celebration. Do not act recklessly. Whatever grievances you have, settle them after today."

Li’s father had long suspected tension between the two, though he did not know the specific cause. He was filled with doubt, wondering what had happened during Jiang Yun’s disappearance and the true nature of their conflict. He knew his son’s character well; he would not attack someone without a grave reason. Furthermore, he feared this conflict would ruin the wedding festivities and bring trouble upon his son.

Hearing his father’s reprimand, Li Ziyuan released his grip. His gaze remained icy as he said to Jiang Yun, "It is my wedding day. You didn’t come empty-handed, did you?"

"I came in such a hurry that I forgot. I will make it up to you later," Jiang Yun replied. Their eyes clashed in the air as if sparks were about to fly, and the atmosphere grew taut.

The other villagers sensed the hostility and stopped what they were doing to watch them. Those with sharper instincts sensed a greater conflict brewing; they felt anxious but did not know how to intervene, as they were unaware of the full story.

Li Ziyuan then turned to Li Yue’er, his eyes filled with complex emotions—a mix of calculation and a faint, hidden trace of guilt.

"Ziyuan, what are you doing?"

He pulled Li Yue’er down to sit directly in front of Jiang Yun and, right before his eyes, kissed her red lips.

Li Yue’er was struck as if by lightning. Her eyes widened, locking onto his, filled with shock and confusion. *He is actually kissing me on his own accord,* she thought. But the clever Li Yue’er quickly realized that Li Ziyuan was using her to provoke Jiang Yun—this was, in essence, a form of psychological warfare.

The drunken village head broke the silence with a hearty laugh, "This lad is truly impatient! If you can't wait, just head to the bridal chamber!" Having lived through countless trials, the village head took a relaxed view of youthful affairs, believing that small hiccups didn't matter on such a joyous day, so long as no major disaster occurred.

Seeing this, two young boys remarked innocently, "Looks like fun, let’s try it." They were promptly cuffed on the head by an adult nearby who scolded, "Don't be naughty. Eat your food; why must you pick up such habits?"

The seven or eight young men who had previously warned Li Ziyuan felt even more wounded. Their dreams were shattered, their hearts feeling as though they had been torn to pieces.

As this played out before him, Jiang Yun’s hands were clenched tight. A translucent, black spiritual energy began to manifest. Filled with rage, he thought, *You did this on purpose! Today, I will make you taste the feeling of being buried alive—I will return this to you tenfold.*

Jiang Yun’s spiritual energy was a translucent black, whereas the energy Li Ziyuan had leaked in a fit of rage previously was pure black. Whose power was superior remained unknown, but a clash seemed inevitable.

The Mysterious Legend of Qingyan Village

In Qingyan Village, an ancient legend had circulated for ages. It was said that ten thousand years ago, an unparalleled master, the Spirit Emperor, arrived here for reasons unknown. The Spirit Emperor possessed heaven-shaking and earth-shattering power, his cultivation realm unfathomable and peerless. He cast a mysterious barrier over Qingyan Village; since then, any who left the village could never return unless they reached a certain level of power. This legend was passed down through generations, becoming a sacred taboo. Though the villagers were curious about the outside world, they dared not leave easily. Qingyan Village had become a forgotten secret realm, hiding countless mysteries.

Li Yue’er sat on the side, her mind racing. She recalled that night when Jiang Yun had tried to kiss her, a memory that filled her with intense revulsion. She had fought back with all her might to escape him, and ever since, she had treated him with vigilance and disgust. Seeing him reappear now left her deeply uneasy.

Yet, Li Yue’er had always hidden her true strength. She knew that revealing too much power would only invite unnecessary trouble. She quietly observed the scene, thinking that Jiang Yun could not possibly stir up any real trouble with her mother and father present.

Old Man Chen Xun sat at the village head’s table, watching intently.

The villagers felt an involuntary sense of oppression as they gazed at the eerie, translucent black energy radiating from Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun’s heart was in turmoil; he had never expected Li Ziyuan to kiss Li Yue’er right in front of him. A surge of intense fury welled up, and wisps of strange, black smoke began to rise from his head and body.

Just as a villager was about to speak, Jiang Yun lashed out with a fist, smashing it heavily into Li Ziyuan’s chest. Li Ziyuan was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing into a dining table and sending the villagers seated there tumbling.

Seeing this, Li Yue’er instinctively moved to help, but was stopped by her father. "Yue’er," he cautioned. Despite her reluctance, she gritted her teeth and held back; her father had warned her never to reveal her strength.

She hurried to Li Ziyuan’s side, asking with concern, "Ziyuan, are you hurt?"

Li Ziyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said softly, "I am fine." He stood up and said to Jiang Yun, "If you want to fight, let’s go outside." With that, he walked straight out of the door, and Jiang Yun followed without hesitation.