A new day.
Noah woke up early. He didn't find Jinhsi, but on the door of the guest room where she had stayed, there was a note written in elegant handwriting:
[Jinhsi: Noah, there is breakfast prepared for you on the table downstairs. Remember to eat it. I've gone to City Hall.]
Walking down to the first-floor hall, he indeed saw a basket of xiaolongbao with time frozen by the power of Time and a cup of soy milk on the table. Underneath them was another piece of paper with a simple smiling face drawn on it.
"So thoughtful?"
Taking a bite of the steaming hot xiaolongbao, the warmth seemed to flow down his throat and into his heart. Noah couldn't help but smile.
Why did he suddenly feel like a wife had gone out to earn money to support the family?
While eating breakfast, he suddenly received a call from Yinlin.
Besides some greetings and words of thanks, the call briefly stated that all matters related to the Séance Society had been fully handed over to the Outriders in Jinzhou.
"I've already gotten on the vehicle and am preparing to return to my original place. We might find it difficult to meet again in the future. In any case, thank you for your help. I will always remember you."
"Alright, mysterious female agent. Have a safe journey."
"Mysterious female agent?" Yinlin chuckled on the other end of the call. "This nickname actually suits me surprisingly well."
Neither of them liked to be long-winded, so the call ended quickly.
Noah finished the last xiaolongbao, stood up, and stretched. Only then did he suddenly realize that he hadn't even taken a single photo of Yinlin.
"Seriously, leaving in such a hurry."
Shaking his head, he opened the panel and accessed the quest section.
[Daily Quest: Revisiting Old Places]
[Quest Description: Before you knew it, you have already met the last time with many people. Occasionally, when you look back, you find that the scenery ahead is beautiful (Place anchors at ten beacon points).]
[Completion Reward: Astrite *800, Shell Credit *10000.]
[Challenge (Optional): Place anchors at fifty beacon points. Reward doubled for this quest (Progress 1/50).]
"Lighting up beacons to open the map — that's my old specialty. Whatever, let's open the map!"
With a thought from Noah, a pure white light circle instantly appeared beneath his feet, and his figure vanished from the hall in an instant.
...
"Horse and miscellaneous goods shop, at cost price. Not trying to make money, honest business, no deception to adults or children."
"Snow steamed buns, classic fine-bud snow steamed buns, nostalgia for the older generation. Big sale going on."
"Yuanwu Fist Gym, 37th period recharge gift event. Recharge 200 for a gauze hat, recharge 2000 for weapon glowing special effect."
After placing a teleport anchor at a beacon point inside Jinzhou City, Noah glanced at the nearby vendors calling out their wares. Just as he was about to teleport away, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a group of children.
"Once upon a time, in the hopeful and magical Sheep Kingdom, there was an evil big gray wolf named Aalto who caught sheep every day…"
A group of children sat obediently in a circle, listening attentively as the pink twin-tailed girl in the middle told the story:
"And so, the brave and clever Sheep Warrior cleverly escaped the big gray wolf's pursuit, obtained his treasure, crossed the ocean to Jinzhou, and told the story to everyone."
As she spoke, Encore held up a large wallet, indicating that this was the big gray wolf's treasure.
"Yay! The Sheep Warrior is amazing! Encore Big Sister, tell another one!"
A little girl looked at her with admiring eyes, hoping Encore would continue, but she was suddenly grabbed by the collar and lifted up.
"No. Xiao Ying, you need to go home and do your homework."
The girl named Xiao Ying turned her head and saw her mother. Upon hearing the words "do your homework," her expression changed instantly, but she was dragged away without room for argument.
Seeing Xiao Ying being taken away, the other children also lost interest in continuing to play.
"Encore Big Sister, I have to go home and do homework too. I'll play with you tomorrow."
"Me too, me too."
"Eh? Why is everyone leaving? Encore still has so many stories left to tell."
As the group of children dispersed, Noah finally stepped forward:
"Encore—"
Seeing Noah, Encore's eyes lit up instantly. She rushed over quickly:
"Noah Big Brother! Encore finally found you."
"Oh?" Looking at Encore hugging his thigh, Noah was somewhat surprised. "What do you need me for?"
"Of course it's to save the world! I've asked around. Big Brother is the great hero who saves the entire world. Encore wants to join too."
"Wait until you grow up. For now, children should act like children. Study hard. Have you finished your homework?"
Noah looked around and didn't see Aalto, so his expression darkened.
Encore must have sneaked out.
Hearing the word "homework," Encore froze for a moment, then pretended to be innocent:
"What homework? Encore doesn't know. Maybe it's at the distant Black Shores."
"Oh, I see. Encore, stand here and don't move. Let me perform a magic trick for you."
A flash of white light — Noah disappeared. Another flash of white light — Noah returned, now carrying a sheep-shaped schoolbag.
"Wow, this is my schoolbag! Noah Big Brother is so awesome. You really know how to do magic!"
Encore grabbed the backpack and jumped excitedly. Noah smiled and coaxed her:
"Then should Big Brother perform a bigger magic trick — making a person disappear?"
"Yes yes!" Encore giggled.
Another flash of white light. Noah disappeared and reappeared, this time bringing Aalto along as well.
Aalto pointed with a big hand:
"Encore, go do your homework!"
"Ah! Aalto!" Encore's face turned terrified. She hurriedly grabbed Noah's pant leg:
"Big Brother, quickly turn Aalto away!"
"Alright!" Noah nodded seriously. "I'll try."
A flash of white light — Noah disappeared, leaving only Encore and Aalto behind.
"Eh?! Why did Big Brother turn himself away?"
Seeing Aalto getting closer, Encore's expression changed drastically:
"Oh no! Encore got tricked!"
...
In late autumn, the weather gradually turned cooler. Fortunately, today's sunlight was bright and warm, giving a special sense of comfort.
Under a thick, sturdy tree on Pingtin Mountain, following the line of sight from a pair of pure white stockings upward, past several brushes and cyan-white clothing, one's eyes met a small, delicate side profile.
"The scenery is done. Time to draw the characters."
Zhezhi looked around left and right, confirming that apart from the faint sound of wind, there was no one else nearby. Only then did she turn back, painting while muttering to herself:
"Indeed, drawing alone is much better. I really enjoy my private space."
"I also enjoy your private space very much."
The sudden voice from behind startled Zhezhi so much that her whole body trembled, nearly spilling ink across the entire painting.
She quickly turned her head and saw Noah smiling gently at her:
"Long time no see, Zhezhi."
"L-Long time no see… It's you. You scared me to death." Zhezhi patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze unconsciously lowered to her own toes as she whispered softly:
"Where did you come from? I just looked around a moment ago."
"I was just passing by and wanted to activate the beacon on Pingtin Mountain. I didn't expect to run into you by chance."
Noah shifted his gaze to examine her painting. The landscape was already vividly painted, but only the outlines of two human figures had been sketched.
Although they were only outlines, the poses of the two figures somehow felt rather improper.
"I heard that your identity as a great painter has been exposed. You don't need to take those small commissions anymore, right? What masterpiece are you painting this time…"
"D-Don't look!"
Zhezhi's face suddenly turned completely red. She hurriedly blocked Noah's view and explained incoherently:
"It's not a masterpiece. It's a crude work, just a crude painting. Not worth mentioning, really!"
"Hmm, if you don't want me to look, then I won't."
Noah shrugged, not particularly bothered. He took out a large Ragunna gift package and pushed it into Zhezhi's arms:
"Here, a specialty I brought from Ragunna. It's for you."
"It's so heavy. There must be a lot of things inside."
Feeling the substantial weight, Zhezhi was somewhat surprised. Then she shook her head vigorously:
"No, no. Such valuable things… I can't accept them for free…"
Her voice grew weaker and weaker, and her head lowered further, as if the next sentence required her to gather immense courage.
Finally, she carefully looked up. Her lower lip was bitten lightly, leaving a faint red mark, and her earlobes were dyed a ripe cherry color:
"How about… you commission me for another week… a month!"
After saying that, Zhezhi suddenly closed her eyes tightly. Her breathing became rapid, and her heart pounded so fast it felt like it would jump out of her throat.
"Your social anxiety seems to be getting worse and worse."
Noah frowned slightly and pointed at the painting behind Zhezhi:
"We can talk about the commission later. First, tell me what this painting is about?"
"...It's a landscape painting. Yes, exactly. It's called… Wild Journey of Intertwined Branches."
"Zhezhi, your literary knowledge needs improvement. 'Intertwined branches' refers to two trees whose branches grow together, symbolizing a married couple sticking together inseparably like glue. So 'wild journey' should correspond to traveling through mountains and rivers, not traveling through trees."
She didn't choose the wrong name. It was simply using their two names. Zhezhi secretly grumbled in her heart, but on the surface she looked as if granted amnesty:
"You're right. I'll change it later."
No matter what Noah said, Zhezhi would agree as long as he didn't realize she was painting something that shouldn't be painted.
It was all his fault for writing those flirtatious letters and leading her astray. Yes, it was all his fault.