Hu Yun turned to look at Sun Yiqiu. He found that despite Sun Yiqiu's unremarkable appearance, he was quite popular with women; even this delicate-looking, healthy girl seemed to have a crush on him. Hu Yun then silently congratulated himself again, confirming his universal appeal.
"Sun Yiqiu, this girl is quite nice. She's lively and adorable, a good choice for a wife."
Although Hu Yun was curious about She Ji's situation, he still felt a sense of consideration for the Sun family. Comparatively, he hoped Sun Yiqiu would marry an ordinary woman and live a stable life.
"You're too kind, esteemed guest. As for them, haha..." Sun Father chuckled.
Sun Father laughed, already considering Li Dongdong his daughter-in-law. He placed the prepared offal dish in front of Hu Yun, who picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and then looked at Sun Yiqiu again.
"Sun Yiqiu," he said, "it seems that girl has misunderstood something between us. You'd best clarify it when you have a moment."
Sun Father also realized the situation, glared at Sun Yiqiu, and snapped.
"This foolish boy is always messing around. And Dongdong too, how could this simpleton ever be worthy of an unparalleled beauty like our guest?"
Hu Yun was accustomed to being mistaken for a woman and was more concerned with other matters.
"Sun Yiqiu, when did you get that brocade pouch you're wearing? Who gave it to you?"
Ever since the last delivery, Sun Father and son had generally understood that this woman in red was no ordinary person. Hearing her question, Sun Father immediately asked back with concern.
"Esteemed guest, is there something wrong with this brocade pouch? Oh, Yiqiu said it was given by that person who kept pestering you last time. He also took a bowl, leaving for a bit and then returning; it was indeed a bit strange."
Hu Yun understood. "Last time, oh, then it's fine." It was normal for the Wei family to have some connection to the Cloud Mountain Temple, and it was also normal for them to possess such a brocade pouch, or even other unusual items.
"There's nothing wrong with it. Just keep it close to you. This brocade pouch is exquisitely crafted and seems naturally formed. The amulet inside likely possesses some spiritual power, far better than anything you could buy at a temple fair."
"Oh, that's good then," Sun Father said, feeling somewhat relieved. For some reason, he naturally found himself more inclined to believe the words of the woman in red.
"Father, I'm going out for a bit."
"Go ahead, and remember to speak properly."
"Okay."
Sun Yiqiu still couldn't help but run after her. Hu Yun glanced at Sun Yiqiu, then tapped the edge of the bowl with his chopsticks.
*Clink, clink, clink.*
The sound of the chopsticks tapping the bowl was clear and carried far. Soon, one large yellow dog, two large mottled dogs, and one large black dog sporadically approached, all gathering around Hu Yun, making whimpering sounds.
Hu Yun picked up some of the mutton offal from the bowl with his chopsticks and tossed it to the dogs around him.
The dogs eagerly ate the food, then barked around Hu Yun.
Normally, if such large dogs approached the stall, the Sun family would shoo them away. But seeing that Hu Yun had called them over, Sun Father didn't intervene, thinking the young lady was kind-hearted.
These dogs were usually owned, but their owners only provided one meal a day, letting them forage for food during the day.
The other customers had already paid and left. Sun Father was tidying the cart counter and arranging things to close the stall, occasionally glancing at the woman in red. She seemed very affectionate with the dogs, and he then saw her lower her head as if whispering something to them.
'Well, there really are all sorts of people these days,' Sun Father thought, just as he saw all the dogs run away.
"These dogs certainly seem to like our guest," he remarked.
"Haha, well, 'a quarrel can be the beginning of friendship'!" Hu Yun said proudly, his smug remark confusing Sun Father. What did that mean?
"Esteemed guest," Sun Father said, "these dogs all go home after dark. They won't starve. Times are better now, so their families can always leave them a bowl of leftovers."
Hu Yun smiled but said nothing. After finishing the last bits of offal in her bowl, she paid and left.
An overt appearance was indeed not ideal, especially after the misunderstanding with that girl just now. Hu Yun decided it would be better to observe discreetly. Although this matter was initially handled by Mother Zao, Hu Yun knew that Lord Lu Shan had been guiding him, and this affair might have a greater impact on him.
Today, Sun Father had tidied up the noodle stall by himself; at most, Old Man Li helped out for the latter half.
It wasn't until close to dinner time, after returning home, that Sun Yiqiu came back from outside, a faint smile on his face. He had explained things clearly and appeased Li Dongdong.
Li Dongdong, being naive and innocent, wasn't truly unreasonable. Sun Yiqiu's effort to come and explain had already defused half of her anger, and once everything was clear, most of it vanished.
Then, Sun Yiqiu even gave the brocade pouch to Li Dongdong, elaborating on what he had just heard from Hu Yun, emphasizing how effective the pouch was and giving it to her for protection.
Li Dongdong's mood instantly brightened, which in turn lifted Sun Yiqiu's spirits. He returned home filled with cheer.
People should be more practical. The woman in his dreams was extraordinarily dazzling and captivating. Even if he had seen someone remarkably similar at the night market, she remained dreamlike and ethereal. Such a woman could never be interested in someone like him, Sun Yiqiu. Besides, Sun Yiqiu felt he was only attracted to the dream woman because of her overwhelming beauty. When it came to true feelings, he definitely preferred his childhood sweetheart, Li Dongdong, who was meant to be his wife.
This joyful scene, however, was coincidentally witnessed by She Ji, who had quietly returned to Ning'an County. Although her injuries had not fully healed, she couldn't resist seeing Sun Yiqiu. She hadn't expected to find him being so attentive to Li Dongdong upon her return.
She Ji felt a pang of bitterness. She concealed herself and watched from outside the Sun family's courtyard.
This time, She Ji hadn't come simply for a tryst with Sun Yiqiu, but with the intention of seeing him one last time before leaving him for good.
Previously, after the Mountain God Gong Weng returned, he had subtly warned She Ji that it would be best not to involve the Sun family. While Mr. Gao had been very supportive of She Ji, their original plans had been disrupted by the lightning tribulation.
She Ji knew her enemies were already watching this area. Unless she directly abducted Sun Yiqiu, there would be no time or space for a slow courtship with him here. But what kind of relationship would it be if she simply abducted him?
*Whimpering sounds*
Dog barks rang out. She Ji looked around and noticed several large dogs loitering nearby. These dogs, with their extremely keen sense of smell, had surprisingly settled down outside the Sun family's door and were subtly surrounding She Ji, which surprised her.
"I won't harm them," She Ji murmured softly, her form dissolving into a misty wind and vanishing.
That very night, however, She Ji met Sun Yiqiu again in his dreams. This time, she directly used a sophisticated dream-entering technique.
She Ji felt a deep reluctance; she was unwilling to let go of her feelings and even more unwilling to be slowly forgotten by Sun Yiqiu in the future.
Driven by an inexplicable panic and intense reluctance, She Ji didn't merely dismiss Sun Yiqiu's usual reactions to a spring dream with a smile. Instead, this time she chose to actively approach him. In the dream, Sun Yiqiu stared blankly at the breathtakingly beautiful woman moving closer, his heart pounding and breath quickening. He trembled slightly only when she pressed against him and embraced him.
"Miss, I... h-I..."
"My name is She Ji! We part ways today, and I fear we may never meet again, Young Master Sun!"
She Ji's voice grew low and hazy as their breaths synchronized, fingers intertwined. Clothes tangled and tore as skin brushed against skin, pubic bones met, leading to a storm of passion freely indulged, like soft rain, like clouds unfurling. Though it was only a hazy sensation in a dream, it utterly captivated She Ji and left Sun Yiqiu thoroughly aroused.
Before dawn, She Ji fled Ning'an County, burdened by guilt. Even she felt her methods were somewhat selfish, even base and disgraceful. She had explicitly stated she would compete fairly, and spoken so many fine words, yet in the end, apart from not taking his primal yang, how was she different from those enchantresses who only knew how to seduce men?
Yet, she felt no regret!
[6 minutes ago] Chapter 2272: The Person Has Left
[6 minutes ago] Chapter 1067: Untouched Past Thirty-Six
[19 minutes ago] Chapter 1066: Never Broken Past Thirty-Five
[32 minutes ago] Chapter 1065: The Unbroken Past Thirty-Four
[45 minutes ago] Chapter 1064: Unbroken Past Thirty-Three
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