?35: Chapter 35 Wandering Soul 35: Chapter 35 Wandering Soul “That kid, Mao’er, what nonsense is he talking about?

    It’s like all the books he’s read went straight to the dogs, talking about tomb mounds and whatnot!

    Can he say something else?” Qin Yue’s mother-in-law, Da Hao’s Mom, originally came for some excitement, but after hearing Mao’er’s words, she regretted coming.

    “Mao’er, go on.” Liu Hun ignored Da Hao’s Mom and continued questioning Mao’er.

    “Then, I got scared...

    screamed once, and then...” Mao’er paused, glancing at the little girl beside him.

    “Er Niu woke up and asked me what was wrong, so I said there was a ghost, a monster, and told everyone to run.”

    “So, all of you got woken up and ran?” Liu Hun asked the surrounding children.

    The children around all nodded, spilling the beans like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, but not one could clearly describe what they saw.

    “Wait a minute!

    Teacher Du was sleeping in the same big bed with you all last night.

    Did any of you see Teacher Du?” Liu Hun scanned the surrounding children and asked.

    The children, who had been chattering like frying beans, suddenly fell silent, shaking their heads one by one.

    “Are you shaking your heads because you didn’t see Teacher Du after waking up, or because you didn’t pay attention to whether Teacher Du was there?” Liu Hun tried to be as specific as possible with his question.

    “Heh...

    Hun Brother, we were all busy running for our lives, not caring about Teacher Du.” Mao’er said a bit embarrassed, as if he’d been caught stealing corn cobs.

    After hearing this, Liu Hun thought to himself that he had rushed to Du Yueling’s room the night before, finding it empty, so Du Yueling must have disappeared before Mao’er woke up.

    After asking all he could, Liu Hun let the villagers take their children home.

    After the villagers left, Bai Lian and others accompanied Du Yueling, chatting and laughing all the way back to the temple.

    Liu Hun watched Du Yueling, who seemed to wear a smile like a blooming flower no matter the season, just like a begonia.

    “Teacher Du, are you alright?” Liu Hun asked, pouring her a cup of tea after she sat down.

    “Nothing’s wrong, I’m perfectly fine.

    I could jump and dance,” Du Yueling replied with a cheerful smile, suddenly tilting her head.

    “I...

    slept quite well on that haystack, so soft, so plush...

    Oh!

    Right, I forgot to arrange today’s lesson schedule.” With that, she hurriedly left the table and went back to her room.

    “Is this girl really that thick-skinned?

    Acting like a silly deer, not taking anything seriously...

    and off she goes to arrange lessons?” Qin Yue’s eyes widened, her straightforward nature always leading her to speak her mind.

    “Qin Yue, that’s so rude.

    Keep your voice down; it wouldn’t be good if Teacher Du hears,” Fen Ran, standing by Qin Yue, quickly tugged her sleeve.

    Bai Lian, worried about Fen Ran and Qin Yue bickering, immediately chimed in, asking Liu Hun, “Hun, what should we do about this?

    Should we talk to Teacher Du?”

    “No!

    It was hard for Teacher Du to come to our village, and the kids finally have someone to teach them.

    We can’t scare Teacher Du away,” Liu Hun replied after some thought.

    “Unless Teacher Du asks, we say nothing.

    Whatever it is, I’ll definitely catch it.

    But I’ll need your help.”

    “Don’t mention help!

    Ensuring Teacher Du can teach in peace is the responsibility of everyone in Wanbao Village.

    Just tell us what you need,” Qin Yue said straightforwardly.

    “Can you all stay with Teacher Du in the temple overnight for the next few days?

    I’ll stand guard and catch whatever it is!” Liu Hun suggested to the three women, believing it to be the best plan.

    Without any hesitation, the three women nodded in agreement.

    As the saying goes, “Good news lack doors while bad news travels a thousand miles,” the rumors of ghosts and monsters in Wanbao Village’s temple spread quickly to nearby areas, yet Liu Hun was glad that Du Yueling remained calm and composed.

    The children continued attending classes on time, and the three women stayed in the temple overnight.

    Days passed without any sign of the so-called ghost or monster, leaving Liu Hun as restless as an ant on a hot pan.

    That night, Liu Hun twisted and turned in bed like a sweet potato, unable to sleep or calm himself.

    After countless flips, he finally felt the urge to urinate, so he climbed out of bed and discreetly relieved himself in a corner of the temple.

    “Ah!

    Comfortable!” Liu Hun buttoned his trousers, ready to head back, when suddenly he heard a “crack” behind him.

    A twig breaking wouldn’t be anything during the day, but at night, it was creepily unsettling.

    Liu Hun spun around abruptly...

    “Hey!

    Qinyue Sis, it’s you?

    Scared me half to death,” Liu Hun said, his heart settling after realizing it was Qin Yue.

    Qin Yue was dressed lightly and coolly, her white legs both eye-catching and dazzling.

    As she yawned, her heavy chest swayed up and down energetically.

    “Why can’t it be me?

    You weren’t waiting for someone else, were you?” Qin Yue teased with a hands-on-hips, mock-smiling look at Liu Hun.

    Liu Hun laughed, saying, “Qin Yue, what are you talking about...

    so what brings you out?”

    “To pee, of course!

    It’s not like you’re the only one who needs to pee,” Qin Yue said, swaying like a willow tree, sidling up to Liu Hun and asking, “Hun, Sis here is scared something might jump out from this temple.

    Can you stand guard for me?”

    Even if Qin Yue hadn’t asked, Liu Hun planned on standing guard for her, just in case something did happen.

    He nodded, telling Qin Yue, “Go ahead, I’ll be right here, just call if you need anything.”

    “Don’t go too far!” Qin Yue said, heading to the corner, stealing a glance at Liu Hun and confirming his back was turned.

    She sighed, pulling down her trousers to start peeing.

    “Sssss...

    sssss...”

    Qin Yue’s vigorous stream sounded like a waterfall hitting the ground.

    As she was finishing, shivering from the release, a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.

    Qin Yue was about to scream when she saw it was Liu Hun!

    “Don’t scream, Qin Yue Sis!

    It’s me!

    That thing appeared!

    I saw it clearly go into the temple.

    You go and wake the others inside, and tell them not to be scared.

    I’ll handle that thing!” Liu Hun pulled Qin Yue up, not even waiting for her to finish adjusting her trousers, stealthily saying as he headed into the temple.

    “You be careful...” Qin Yue whispered, tying her trousers as she headed for her room.

    Liu Hun cautiously followed the shadow.

    He could see it clearly now; the shadow had definitely entered the dilapidated temple.

    It must be hiding in the backyard, unable to escape.

    Liu Hun crept to the backyard door, pressed against the frame, ready to push and reveal what was inside with one swift move.

    “Poof!”

    Liu Hun suddenly felt something land on his shoulder.

    He spun around tightly, surprised to see, “Why...

    why are you here?”

    “Hun!

    Teacher Du is missing!” Fen Ran said anxiously, her face pale under the moonlight.

    “Heh...

    hah...”

    Before Liu Hun could respond, strange noises emanated from inside the door, causing the three women to tremble in fear.

    Taking a deep breath, Qin Yue dared to ask, “Hun, what’s inside there?”

    “It’s the thing we’ve been searching for, maybe related to Teacher Du’s disappearance!

    Step back a bit,” Liu Hun instructed, exhaling heavily and preparing to push the door.

    “Creak!”

    The wooden door swung open as Liu Hun charged into the backyard, fists clenched, scanning the surroundings...

    He was stunned!

    “Sun Xing!

    What are you doing here?” Qin Yue, worried about Liu Hun’s safety, followed him in and immediately spotted Sun Xing.

    “Teacher Du!

    Why are you here too?” Fen Ran exclaimed, utterly bewildered by the situation.

    “Teacher Du?!

    Teacher Du?!” Bai Lian called out several times, but Du Yueling didn’t respond to him at all.

    The scene was incredibly bizarre, like watching a play where Zhuge Liang was confronting Monk Fahai.

    Sun Xing’s upper body was bare, leaving him only in his shorts, while Du Yueling stood fully dressed, staring blankly at Sun Xing from three meters away.

    “Sun!

    Xing!” Liu Hun reprimanded sharply.

    He never expected the chaos would be caused by the local bully Sun Xing from a neighboring village, and that somehow it involved Du Yueling.

    “Heh...

    uh...

    Hun, listen to me!

    Teacher Du and I, it’s...

    mutual consent, no one forced anyone, you have to understand...

    understand!” Sun Xing rattled, nervously backing away, fearful of Liu Hun’s wrath.

    “Teacher Du!

    How could you fancy this scoundrel?!

    Are you blind or what?

    Ugh!” Qin Yue fumed, her frustration almost palpable.

    She felt like a bellows blocked at both ends, unable to vent her emotions and ended up stomping in anger.

    “Qin Yue!

    Impossible!

    Even a dog is better than Sun Xing!

    How could Teacher Du possibly be interested in him?!

    Teacher Du, what’s going on?

    Say something!

    This is driving me mad!” Bai Lian also couldn’t contain her anxiety, constantly urging Du Yueling.

    Sun Xing, having learned his lesson from a previous beating, was now cautious around Liu Hun.

    Sensing the tension, he quickly said, “Look, I’m just saying we fell for each other at first sight, like Sima meeting Gentleman Wen.”

    Liu Hun clenched his fists tightly, unwilling to believe Sun Xing’s nonsense.

    But Du Yueling’s silence was unsettling, leaving him anxious and on edge.

    “Something’s wrong!

    Hun, Qin Yue, Bai Lian’er!

    Look, I think Teacher Du’s soul is wandering!

    That’s why she isn’t responding to us!” Fen Ran suddenly exclaimed, grabbing everyone’s attention.

    “Soul wandering?” Bai Lian asked Fen Ran in surprise.

    Fen Ran nodded, hurriedly explaining, “My brother back home has this soul-wandering problem.

    At night, while asleep, he’d get up and wander around.

    If you ask him anything, it’s like he can’t hear you.

    And the next day, he doesn’t remember a thing about his nightly wanderings!”