Chapter 1036: Unbroken Past V

Zaoniang?

The two Day Patrollers exchanged glances, seeing confusion in each other's eyes. They had clearly never heard the name before, yet a subtle, almost imperceptible fragrance brought a sense of peace to their minds. This mysterious woman before them had only revealed a name, but neither her aura nor their intuition suggested she was a malevolent spirit. The two Day Patrollers had no desire to antagonize her.

"So it is Immortal Zaoniang, our apologies!"

As the Day Patroller spoke these words of apology, a spiritual talisman had already been released and was flying towards the City God Temple.

At the City God Temple in Ning'an County, the golden effigy of the City God stepped out of the underworld, appearing atop the temple. Throughout Ning'an County, a spiritual breeze now wafted, carrying a refreshing and subtle fragrance. A streak of light flew towards the City God Temple. With a wave of his hand, the City God redirected the light upwards, straight into his grasp. A mere spiritual thought was enough for him to understand its contents. The next moment, the City God instinctively shivered and his spirit invigorated. He quickly tidied his robes. However, just as he was about to take a step forward, he halted. After a brief, thoughtful frown, he pointed a ray of spiritual light in a certain direction.

At that very moment, the two Day Patrollers were about to try and extract more information when they suddenly sensed something. A streak of light arrived, and golden characters flashed within it, then vanished. The two Day Patrollers were slightly surprised. After exchanging another glance, they bowed towards the interior of the Sun residence.

"Immortal, you must have a purpose for being here. If you have any instructions, please speak freely. If not, we shall take our leave."

Zaoniang smiled. "You may go."

"Understood, we shall take our leave!"

The two Day Patrollers took two steps back, then turned and departed amidst a blurring stream of light. They couldn't help but feel some doubt about the woman's identity, but judging by the City God's instructions, her background was likely quite formidable.

Before long, the two Day Patrollers arrived outside the City God Temple. Instead of entering the underworld, they followed the spiritual guidance to the temple roof to meet the City God.

"Lord City God!"

"Hmm, describe the person you saw."

When the City God asked, the two Day Patrollers dared not delay and quickly complemented each other's descriptions. "This person wore a pale blue robe, with her long hair partially coiled. A magical hairpin on her head subtly contained spiritual light. She did not command wind or air, yet spiritual breezes naturally encircled her. She cast no spells to avoid defilement, yet her feet touched the ground without gathering dust. She displayed no overt power, yet an inherent poise accompanied her, making it impossible to underestimate her. She must be a high-ranking immortal."

The City God stroked his beard lightly and nodded slightly.

"My Lord, do you recognize this esteemed individual?" One Day Patroller couldn't help but ask. The City God first nodded slightly, then shook his head slightly.

"This person was mentioned in the scrolls left by past City Gods of this county. And, yes, there's also a brief passage in a volume of Ning'an County's Hongwu chronicles. Only her name is mentioned, never her presence." As the City God spoke, he looked towards a corner of the county, but saw nothing particularly unusual.

"Uh, My Lord, would it be convenient to tell us the specifics?"

"Hahaha, there's nothing inconvenient about it; it's not a secret. It's said that within Ning'an County lies a hidden immortal's sanctuary. Although it's not among the currently ranked Grotto-Heavens or Blessed Lands, it is governed by heaven and earth, free from the burdens of yin and yang and the Five Elements. It's truly an extraordinary place. One of the practitioners who cultivated there was named Zaoniang. All right, you may now withdraw."

"Understood!"

The City God ceased speaking and waved away the two Day Patrollers, then looked into the distance, deep in thought.

In the present world, apart from many highly cultivated elders, few people knew the meaning behind the name "Ji Yuan." However, due to Ning'an County's unique nature, its City God was relatively well-informed and understood its significance. He had once sought the Ju'an Pavilion but could not find it; even knowing its former location, he couldn't gain entry. This time, he would have to find a suitable opportunity to pay a visit.

With this thought in mind, the City God first returned to the underworld and made his arrangements.

Zaoniang sat idly, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, watching the clouds drift slowly across the heavens. She had fallen asleep and, without realizing it, had been confined to the residence for many more years.

Behind her, the Sun family enjoyed a lively meal, then together began tidying their home, preparing for the New Year. Just like the Suns, every household in Ning'an County was getting ready for the New Year, and the entire county was filled with a festive atmosphere. A gust of wind blew through, stirring up the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

Zaoniang suddenly stood up, grabbing a duck leg that had slipped from her sleeve. With her left hand forming a sword-finger gesture, she practiced a few sword moves in the courtyard, causing some dry branches and fallen leaves within the yard to dance with her swordplay. A child from the Sun family stared blankly as the fallen leaves flew about in the courtyard, like a small dragon frolicking in the wind.

"Grandma, Grandma, big brother, big sister, come quick, this wind is so strange!"

Sun Yiqiu glanced outside, merely thinking the wind was a bit strong, scattering leaves everywhere, so he paid it no mind.

That evening, some guests at the Sun residence returned home, while others stayed overnight. The Sun family members also gradually went to bed. After soaking his feet, Sun Yiqiu went to bed early. He had many things to do tomorrow. He had also heard his second aunt say she would speak to the Li family on his behalf today, which made him feel very happy, as his second aunt was a renowned matchmaker.

However, before lying down, Sun Yiqiu's thoughts wandered again, and he inexplicably felt a pang of guilt when thinking about Li Dongdong.

"Slap, slap." Sun Yiqiu slapped his own face hard twice.

"Sun Yiqiu, you're truly despicable! The girl in your dream wasn't Dongdong! Don't let this happen again! Hmm, Dongdong would never dress like that! Ugh, if Dongdong dressed like that—bah, focus!"

Amidst his wild thoughts, Sun Yiqiu grew increasingly sleepy and gradually drifted off to sleep. In a daze, he was woken up again.

"Hey, hey, young master, young master, wake up!"

"Uh... is it dawn?"

"When has it ever been dark here?"

The woman's smiling voice rang in his ears. Sun Yiqiu opened his eyes to find himself lying on a large green stone in the mountains, with the woman sitting beside him.

"Ah? Where is this?" Sun Yiqiu immediately sat up, looking around in a panic. How had he ended up in the mountains?

"Didn't I say I'd take you home? Did you forget after a short nap, young master? Just cross this mountain and walk another three to five hundred *li*, and you'll be there."

"Three to five hundred *li*? That far? My second aunt is supposed to be arranging a match for me tomorrow!"

The woman looked surprised, then slightly frowned, turning to face Sun Yiqiu. "Arranging a match? Are you getting married, young master?"

Sun Yiqiu merely scratched his head and smiled, tacitly confirming it.

"Hmm, congratulations, young master. A good person like you is surely destined to find a good match. I just wonder which young lady has such good fortune. I'm truly envious..." Towards the end, the woman's tone carried a hint of disappointment, even resentment.

Sun Yiqiu, slightly flustered, quickly replied. "Miss, you're joking, just joking. How could I ever be worthy of someone like you? Someone like you certainly isn't an ordinary person. A humble villager like me wouldn't dare to aspire to such things..."

Even though Sun Yiqiu was inexperienced, he knew that a woman dressed like the one before him, and so strikingly beautiful, would not be able to wander around alone if she were an ordinary person. If she encountered someone with ill intentions, she'd be devoured in minutes.

"Young master, there's no need to belittle yourself. What if... what if I truly fell in love with you and wished to stay with you forever?" The woman turned, her face full of anticipation as she looked at Sun Yiqiu. Her chest rose and fell, betraying her agitated heart, and Sun Yiqiu's own blood rushed, leaving him unable to calm down.

"Mi-Miss, we've only just met. No, there's no need for this... *gulp*. I'm without talent or looks, and you..." Sun Yiqiu pressed against his crotch, unable to tear his eyes away. His words were stumbling and each syllable was a struggle.

However, this only made the woman's eyes brighten, and her face glowed with radiance. This young man, despite the situation, could still maintain his composure. He wasn't some aloof master, nor a virtuous gentleman, but a budding young man whose every physical reaction showed his desire and current awkwardness, yet he possessed an inherent grace and remained true to his nature. The more she observed this, the more moved the woman became, and the less she wanted to lose to some unseen village girl.

Just as the woman was about to give in to her urge to use some means, she suddenly sensed an anomaly. She abruptly turned to look in another direction, where a woman in flowing pale blue robes leaned against a large tree, watching them.

"Who are you?" When had the other person arrived? How long had she been watching from the side? Before this moment, the woman had been completely unaware, and it seemed her recent actions had provoked the newcomer to reveal her presence.

"Someone's there?" Sun Yiqiu also turned his head in that direction and saw a woman in pale blue clothes. She stood there so harmoniously with the mountain forest, it was as if he were looking at a painting, at the person within the painting.

Zaoniang frowned as she looked at the two. "This 'spirit-drawing' technique is quite well-executed. You haven't harmed his body or soul, and you don't seem intent on harming him. So what exactly do you intend? My master said it's best to understand the reason behind things, if possible, to avoid acting too harshly."

As she spoke, Zaoniang pointed towards Sun Yiqiu. A faint spiritual light flashed and disappeared, striking Sun Yiqiu's forehead. His figure blurred for a moment, then instantly vanished. The woman did not interfere throughout this process, while Sun Yiqiu back in Ning'an County simply fell into a deeper sleep.

"Harm? You exaggerate, madam. I merely wish to find a suitable husband to fulfill my dream of marriage, and also to help my cultivation advance, in preparation for the future!"

Zaoniang smiled. She had read many tales and, after observing the situation, was not in a hurry to act. Instead, she took a few steps closer and asked with interest. "From your demeanor just now, it seems you've truly been smitten. But this is just a wisp of his consciousness; he can't do anything here. Are you implying you'd immediately bring his entire being here and 'set things right' on the spot?"

Zaoniang approached gracefully, her gaze scanning the woman's form, a teasing smile on her face.

"You... what do you take me for? If I were to give myself to a man, he would have to marry me properly, with a grand ceremony, and it would be on our wedding night!" Facing Sun Yiqiu, the woman had been provocative, but now she showed a hint of shame and indignation. She retorted while standing up, watching Zaoniang warily.

"Oh? I didn't see that..." As Zaoniang spoke, her gaze lingered on the woman's more exposed areas. "However, no matter what your intentions, if you gratuitously harm the Sun family, I cannot stand idly by. If you succeed right under my nose, how could I face my old acquaintances later on?"

"No wonder young master Sun, seemingly ordinary, is actually blessed with deep fortune. It turns out he's not simple at all. This is all a misunderstanding. I apologize for the disturbance!" The woman was surprised for a moment, offered an apology, then turned to leave.

"Trying to leave? It's not that easy!" Jokes aside, Zaoniang wouldn't give up so easily. Seeing the other woman about to leave, she immediately lunged forward, appearing behind her in an instant and pointing a finger, causing spiritual winds to swirl around. The woman was clearly prepared. At that moment, she abruptly turned and swung her fist, white light flashing in her eyes.

"Bang!"

A fierce wind swept through the mountains. The instant fist and finger met, spiritual energy surged wildly, causing plants to flatten and rocks to fly. Zaoniang stood perfectly still. The woman, however, radiated spiritual light as she rapidly escaped, frowning. Only after traveling dozens of *li* and confirming no one was pursuing her did she dare cautiously examine her right hand. She saw a small red dot on her knuckle, which stung slightly.

Zaoniang, with her right index finger twirling a strand of her temple hair, looked thoughtfully into the distance. This demon, had she actually intended to hold back against her just now?