Chapter 1034: Unbroken Past Part Three

Outside Ning'an County, on a desolate country path, two bailiffs in special black official robes were examining their surroundings. One of them was half-crouching on the ground, gently fanning the air with his right hand, as if sniffing for something.

"Strange, the scent has completely vanished here?"

"Even you can't smell anything?"

His companion beside him frowned deeply. The one half-crouching looked up at him, his brows also tightly furrowed.

"Indeed, I can't smell anything. There's no distinct demonic aura, nor any strong yin energy. Unless their technique for concealing their presence is exceptionally clever, we must have been tracking in the wrong direction."

"Could it be an illusion?"

"That's... not impossible."

An illusion, by its very nature, isn't merely a trick for the eyes. It's a comprehensive spell that affects hearing, smell, sight, and even thought. Even Night Roaming Deities, who are extremely sensitive to malevolent spirits, can't guarantee they won't fall victim. After all, there's always someone better.

"I wonder if our other colleagues have found anything."

As they spoke, they again surveyed their surroundings, then turned and left. They appeared to be walking slowly, but their figures became increasingly indistinct. If viewed from their original spot, they quickly turned into two small dots in the distance.

About fifteen minutes later, the two Night Roaming Deities suddenly reappeared at the exact same spot and once again thoroughly examined their surroundings.

After repeated confirmation, one of them shook his head and said,

"It truly isn't here."

"Sigh! We actually lost them! What bad luck!"

"Sigh!"

The two deities sighed and departed.

Approximately half an hour later, from a withered tree stump about a hundred meters away, a wisp of green smoke slowly emerged and finally coalesced into three human-like figures made of smoke around the stump.

"That was close! Thanks to Mr. Gao's quick thinking, otherwise, they would have caught us red-handed!"

The three figures were none other than the "outsiders" who had left earlier.

Mr. Gao, the one who had been eating noodles, smiled.

"You've had little contact with them. Among the deities of the Underworld, Night Roaming Deities are known to be the most troublesome. They have sharp senses and are skilled in various tracking arts. They also understand the hearts of humans, ghosts, and demons. Unless you are absolutely certain, it's best not to confront them."

"Hmph, and what if we do confront them? If we didn't want to blow things out of proportion, do those two mere underworld spirits really think they are great deities?"

One of the gray-robed figures sneered. Mr. Gao glanced at him from the side, didn't speak immediately, but started walking. Only after the other two had followed for dozens of paces did he slowly begin to speak.

"Don't be without reverence. You must know that inconspicuous little county town is Ning'an County. It's the place where the Sage of Literary Arts was born and the source of literary heritage for all under heaven. The deities here also share in the fortune of this literary heritage. They are by no means ordinary."

The other gray-robed figure also said with a smile,

"Mr. Gao is absolutely right. Regardless of their cultivation level, I've heard that several generations of City Gods in Ning'an County have been promoted to higher ranks, which is quite unusual. However, we don't need to confront the deities of Ning'an County. We are merely bestowing a favor upon someone."

Mr. Gao smiled and quickly led the two away.

Two months passed. Everything in Ning'an County was calm and peaceful. There were no evil creatures causing trouble, nor even any villains committing crimes.

The deities of Ning'an County, who had been vigorously investigating, gradually settled down. Some of them felt a little disappointed, but their duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in the region. Naturally, it was best when nothing happened.

That morning, before dawn, Sun Yiqiu quietly emerged from his room. He glanced at the lights from the kitchen, where his parents were preparing ingredients for the day's sales. He then tiptoed outside, scooped a basin of water from the water vat, and quietly carried it back inside.

"Splish-splash..."

The sound of water filled the air. Sun Yiqiu soaked his underpants in the basin and began to scrub them, scrubbing and frowning at the same time.

"Oh, how could this be...?"

After washing for a while, he wrung out the water and hung the pants to dry by the door. Sun Yiqiu then lay back down and caught some more sleep. He had made noodles late last night, so he could sleep in a bit.

After setting up the stall during the day, Sun Yiqiu would occasionally yawn and sometimes zone out for a moment. However, as soon as Li Dongdong arrived, his attention immediately focused on her. He invited her to eat noodles and, at his father's subtle suggestion, took her out for a stroll.

After closing the stall and finishing his chores, Sun Yiqiu, his body slightly weary, lay down on the bed in his small room.

"Phew, I'll take Dongdong to the temple fair soon. Hmm, what should I buy for her...?"

Sun Yiqiu didn't have many major expenses on a daily basis and had saved up quite a bit of his own money. He planned to make a good impression on the girl he liked at the temple fair. With these thoughts, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

In a haze, Sun Yiqiu opened his eyes. It was somewhat bright around him, but the light was soft and not dazzling. He scratched his head and looked around.

His vision was still blurry, but he vaguely seemed to see someone squatting in front of him, watching him.

"Huh?"

After scrutinizing the person for a moment, Sun Yiqiu seemed to wake up. He sat up abruptly. The person watching him also looked up as Sun Yiqiu rose.

"You're awake? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold sleeping out here?"

"I... I... How am I here? Miss, you..."

Sun Yiqiu's Adam's apple bobbed. He stammered slightly, his gaze wandering. He wanted to look away but seemed reluctant to.

Squatting before him was a fair-skinned woman, dressed somewhat revealingly. Though squatting, her figure was undeniably voluptuous. Beneath her slightly visible collarbones, a surging swell pressed against her clothes. Her short sleeves revealed smooth forearms. She rested her chin on her knees. Her perfectly proportioned legs, neither too plump nor too slender, revealed smooth skin through the slit of her gauze skirt. On her exquisite and beautiful face, a pair of large, shimmering eyes were fixed on Sun Yiqiu.

Sun Yiqiu's gaze was somewhat flustered. In his embarrassment, he looked around, pretending to observe, but his eyes always lingered on the woman in front of him.

"But I... I was clearly sleeping at home, Miss, I..."

"I don't know either. I was just afraid wild animals might carry you off, so I stayed here watching over you. Aren't you going to thank me?"

It turned out Sun Yiqiu had been lying in the wilderness. Around him were only withered branches, weeds, hills, and trees.

"Tha... thank you, Miss..."

"You're welcome!"

The woman smiled and stood up. Her upper body swayed slightly. Her legs, barely concealed by the gauze skirt, appeared even healthier and longer. They were perfectly proportioned, exuding youthful vitality. Sun Yiqiu stared with wide eyes, unable to speak coherently.

"Hehehe, hahahaha," she laughed, "You, have you never seen a woman before?"

The woman laughed, shaking with mirth. Her teasing words and the swaying of her body, a double assault, made Sun Yiqiu's face turn crimson. Yet, surprisingly, he was able to speak more smoothly now.

"Why are you laughing at me? I'm just a country bumpkin from a small place. It's not that I've never seen a woman, I just haven't seen much of the world..."

*Walking around dressed like that, how many scoundrels would take advantage of her...*

Sun Yiqiu patted his backside and stood up. As he couldn't help but think this, he also couldn't help but peek at the woman. Although he tried his best to keep his gaze normal, his eyes stubbornly 'overcame' his will, glancing at her alluring features.

"Where is this? Are we in Ning'an County? Oh, right, I... ahem, I'm Sun Yiqiu, from Ning'an County. And you, Miss, what's your name? Are you alone?"

Sun Yiqiu looked around. In the desolation, no other figures were visible.

"Oh, Ning'an County? No, this isn't it. You can call me Youyou. I was passing by here and saw someone lying on the ground. Out of curiosity and to watch over you, I stayed here with you until you woke up."

"Thank you very much, Miss!"

Sun Yiqiu thanked her again. The woman smiled, bypassing his previous questions, and reached out to take Sun Yiqiu's hand.

"Come on, I'll lead you out. It's not easy to walk around here on your own."

In this kind of environment and atmosphere, if it were anyone else, Sun Yiqiu certainly wouldn't have dared to follow. But feeling the delicate softness of her hand in his, he couldn't help but take a step with her.

They walked for quite a while until they reached a rocky spot by a stream. Only then did they stop to chat and rest.

The woman knelt by the stream, cupped a handful of clear stream water, and took a sip. Then she scooped another handful and splashed it onto her face. The stream water hit her face; some droplets splashed, while others ran down her neck. "So, your family has always made noodles in Ning'an County?"

With droplets still on her face, the woman smiled as she turned to look at Sun Yiqiu, who had stopped speaking due to her actions. Seeing Sun Yiqiu staring blankly at her, she couldn't help but smile again.

"Hey, stop staring like a fool!"

"Uh."

Sun Yiqiu quickly shook his head and looked away.

"My family has been making noodles for generations. We have no distinguished background."

As he spoke, Sun Yiqiu glanced at her again, then quickly looked away again.

The woman was slightly taken aback. This foolish young man actually cleared his head so quickly. In terms of self-control, he was just an ordinary person, yet surprisingly perceptive. Thinking this, her gaze swept over Sun Yiqiu and then subtly dropped lower, and she couldn't help but burst into a chuckle again.

Sun Yiqiu's face instantly flushed crimson. He hunched his back slightly and turned to the side.

"Hahahaha," she laughed, "Young master, you are truly adorable like this."

The woman wiped the water droplets from her face, stood up, and walked over. Her voice also seemed very gentle.

"Don't be shy, young master. You're at the age of budding youth; such reactions are entirely normal. If it weren't for that, I'd start to wonder if I was too ugly to be seen!"

"Miss, don't joke. If you're still considered ugly, then there's no beauty left in the world."

As he spoke, Sun Yiqiu looked up at her and sincerely added,

"If you are ugly, there's no beauty even in the heavens. And I'm not a lecherous scoundrel!"

The woman watched Sun Yiqiu, her arms crossed over her chest, her smile very bright.

"Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock."

"Stop sleeping, get up and help."

The knocking and his father's voice woke Sun Yiqiu from his deep sleep. He mumbled, "Got it."

It was still dark. Footsteps outside the door receded. Sun Yiqiu woke up fully, his expression immediately turning unsightly. He reached down, then carefully lifted the quilt. "This... oh dear!"