I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

He had met too many people over the past ten years, half good and half bad. In Bai Zhou’s eyes, such a weak evil as this pair of monks and disciples was not even a problem.

"Oh, right, Xiaobai."

He pulled up a chair and sat down, then continued:

"That monk named Bi'an, he said that someone else had asked for lodging before us?"

"Yes, there are three people."

During the day, he keeps his eyes closed, his view shared by the Arcane Watchers.

"Three...Taoist priests?"

Upon seeing the three people clearly, Bai Zhou was stunned for a moment.

"Xiaobai, what's wrong?"

"Could it be some heinous criminal?"

Nian looked at the silent daylight with some anxiety.

She also wanted to use this ability to travel around.

"Hmm...their appearance is a bit strange."

During the day, the visual link was severed, and then the arcane energy was activated to sketch portraits of the three people.

Two women and one man.

The leader was an old woman with white hair, a cunning face like a fox, pale skin, dressed in black, and leaning on a cane.

Next was a young woman, dressed in a pink dress, with hair as black as black feathers and skin as white as snow. Her eyes and brows exuded a seductive charm, and every move she made seemed to be a flirtatious pose.

Finally, there was a one-legged youth. Perhaps due to his disability, he had a pale face and was wearing a gray-blue Taoist robe. He was resting in bed at the moment.

"Hmm, it is indeed strange."

After seeing these three paintings, Nian Shen nodded in agreement.

"No matter how you look at it, a proper Taoist practitioner would not dress like this."

Moreover, from their figures and faces, Nian felt that there was something familiar about them.

"Their walking posture is unlike that of humans."

The daytime scene also simulated the walking posture of the two women.

He was awkward and hesitant, like a two-legged beast.

"It's like some guys have just turned into humans..."

After saying this, Nian paused.

Then, she suddenly looked up and met Bai Zhou's gaze.

"You're so smart, Sister Nian!"

Daylight gave the year a big hug.

He actually saw through the strangeness of these guys at a glance. He truly deserves to be called a knowledgeable immortal!

"It's just a basic operation, nothing special."

Nian wiped the tip of his nose and raised his head with a hint of pride.

"But what is their purpose?"

Although he had a rough idea of ​​where these guys came from, Nian still didn't know what they wanted to do after going through all that trouble to become these half-baked people.

To experience the wonderful life of humankind?

"If it's about killing for fun... there are only two people in this temple, so it's not worth the effort to draw a knife and chop them up."

"It's not clear yet."

He hummed softly in the daytime.

Although he knew these guys were all transformed from evil beings, he wasn't in a hurry to deal with them.

You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish.

He planned to just watch and wait for these guys to reveal their true colors.

"Ugh, I feel so sorry for those bad guys. They finally managed to infiltrate the Great Yan, and then they ran into you."

The young man hummed a tune, his face full of schadenfreude.

"But what shall we eat tonight before they suffer?"

Nian touched her belly.

She was already feeling a bit hungry...

"There's only dried meat soup. I just checked, and the whole temple only has a little rice and pickled vegetables."

During the day, it completely shattered any thoughts I had about having a vegetarian feast during the year.

He ruffled Nian's hair and smiled as she looked at him with furrowed brows.

"Don't look so sad, Sister Nian, smile."

"At least we can still have some dried meat soup. It's better than pickled vegetables with white rice."

"That makes sense."

Nian is generally considered an optimistic person, and finding joy in hardship is a normal part of her life.

Moreover, having someone to share her joys and sorrows with made her even less reason to be depressed.

"Then, I'll go make some soup first. Sister Nian, would you like to come with me or stay inside and watch the house?"

"Guard the house!"

Nian quickly lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and chuckled to himself as he looked up at the daylight.

"Okay. Then don't wander off before I get back, and don't open the door for strangers."

"Okay, okay, I'm not a useless older sister who doesn't know anything."

Bai Zhou smiled slightly, picked up his package, and left the house to prepare dinner for the New Year.

He left with only one package, but returned carrying a large bowl of soup and a small package with very little stock.

"Hmm... the taste is surprisingly good."

After a satisfying meal, Nian leaned against the wall and took a lazy nap.

"Sister Nian, when are you going to take a shower?"

After clearing away the dishes, Bai Zhou began making a large bath tub while asking for Nian's opinion.

"Half an hour later. I'm going to take a nap. Remember to wake me up later, Xiaobai."

"it is good."

Having received a response, Nian kicked off his shoes, curled up on the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), and took a nap.

■

"Phew, this weather is perfect for a good, refreshing shower."

Nian, wrapped in Bai Zhou's robe, sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), letting Bai Zhou dry her hair.

"Why doesn't Sister Nian wear her hair straight? Such beautiful long hair would look great straight."

Bai Zhou gently stroked Nian's smooth hair, smoothing it as he asked her a question.

"That hairstyle is too ordinary. And while straight hair looks easy to manage, it's actually more troublesome than putting it up in a bun."

"I feel uncomfortable no matter what I do when I sleep, and when I walk, the wind blows my clothes everywhere."

"Only an idiot would keep such a troublesome hairstyle."

The answer from that year clearly shows he'd experienced it firsthand. While complaining, he also took a jab at a certain silly younger sister.

"Hmm...that's true."

The words of the year reminded the daytime of the past.

Kal'tsit also had long hair for a while, but then switched back to short hair because of the troubles mentioned above.

Speaking of Kal'tsit, I wonder how she is doing now.

It seems like it's been a while since I've received a reply from her. Could she have gone to some dangerous place again?

Hmm... I'll ask about it sometime.

Even if you ask Kai Maomao, she won't tell the truth.

"Xiaobai, don't get distracted."

The cries of discontent from the year brought the daytime back to its senses.

"Honestly, you're combing my hair right now. If you get distracted and break your hair, I'll get angry."

As he spoke, he made an angry face, but he didn't look as scary as one might imagine; instead, he looked rather adorable.

"Hmm. Sister Nian, would you like to wear your previous hairstyle?"

"Yeah. That would be so convenient."

Combing her hair into the style she had just memorized, Bai Zhou pushed it aside to prepare to write a letter.

"Hmm? Is it getting windy? Xiaobai, close the window."

Nian tightened his robes and moved further into the kang (heated brick bed).

"Uh-huh?"

Bai Zhou was about to close the window when he noticed that the wind was blowing strangely.

"This is a cold wind... Someone is casting a spell to control this wind."

During the day, I stand by the window and look outside.

What should have been a clear, bright moonlit night was instead filled with howling winds, thick dark clouds, and an oppressive darkness from which not a single ray of light could be seen.

"Finally couldn't hold back anymore, huh?"