Neighborhood

The sky was just beginning to lighten, with the warm sunlight streaming through the thin mist over Lexiang County.

After a quiet night, Lexiang County was bustling again, with people gradually filling the wide streets and narrow alleys.

Shops along the street opened their doors for business, and waiters stood by, ready to welcome the first customer of the day.

Vendors at the morning market were busy preparing, with sellers offering breakfast foods, curious trinkets, and even performing arts, all getting ready without delay.

Outside Ansi Courtyard, a small group of men and women, old and young, gathered. These people all lived near Ansi Courtyard and could be considered neighbors of Gu Ning'an.

Last night, when Gu Ning'an used his magic to clean up the courtyard, he accidentally exerted too much force. Many of the neighbors heard strange winds and loud door noises. They initially thought it was just the long-uninhabited house being blown by the wind, but upon closer inspection, they realized their own courtyards were unaffected by the wind.

So, was the wind only blowing around Ansi Courtyard?

If that were the case, it must have been a magical wind!

"Look! Why is there so much dust and broken roots in this patch of weeds?"

"And mushrooms too?"

The person speaking appeared to be in his thirties, with a deep voice and a sturdy build.

This man, Lei Ben, was considered a tough guy among the neighbors.

Rumors in the area said that evil spirits feared people with strong yang energy, and the neighbors had invited Lei Ben to boost their courage and keep the atmosphere steady.

"This is strange. It wasn't like this yesterday evening. How come there's so much today?"

"Could all this dust and weeds have come from Ansi Courtyard?"

"Who knows? Could it be that the owner of this courtyard has returned? But how could one person cause so much in one night? It would take at least five people to do this!"

The speaker was a burly middle-aged woman dressed in loose hemp clothes, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and a dark red scarf on her head. She was holding a large broom.

From her attire, it was easy to tell that she was a member of the "Tiao Lang Clan," the sanitation workers of Lexiang County.

She was working alone today, and now facing such a "big task," a trace of irritation appeared on her face.

The Tiao Lang Clan was responsible for cleaning, and since the woman said it would take five people to clean up, the neighbors naturally believed her.

"Wasn't the original owner of Ansi Courtyard someone named Ma San? The one with a mole on his face?"

"No! That was the previous owner. The one before him only lived here for a few months... I remember, he was a scholarly gentleman!"

"Right! I remember now. I even asked him to write a letter to my son... his handwriting was beautiful, I've never seen anything like it in my life."

"I also remember. Back then, the matchmaker in the town was trying to arrange a marriage between me and that handsome gentleman... but after he left one day, he never returned..."

The group exchanged stories, but since so much time had passed, all they could recall were the most memorable details.

Cough! Cough!

"Neighbors, you called me here because you're worried about something evil in the courtyard, right?"

"Why are we still talking about some scholarly gentleman?"

As Lei Ben's words fell, the crowd fell silent.

Seeing this, he twisted his neck, rubbed his wrists, and after loosening up his muscles, he wore an indifferent expression and said, "It doesn't matter if it's a scholarly gentleman or some kind of demon. Let's knock on the door and see what's inside."

An elderly man shook the brass smoking pipe in his hand and said with a smile, "Alright! Lei Ben is right. What's the point of guessing here? Let's just knock on the door and see for ourselves..."

"I'll go." As soon as Lei Ben spoke, he strode towards the courtyard gate.

However, before he reached the gate, the old, creaky door suddenly opened inward with a long "squeak."

The first thing to catch everyone's eye was a striking azure robe.

Then, all attention shifted to Gu Ning'an's face.

A face like jade, sharply defined features, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes... Words quickly surfaced in everyone's mind.

The general consensus was summed up in one word: handsome.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Gu Ning'an," he said, clasping his hands in greeting as he stepped out of the courtyard and stood before the crowd. Among the faces, he recognized only two from his past.

For example, the robust middle-aged woman from the Tiao Lang Clan was someone Gu Ning'an had never met before.

Last night, in his eagerness to clear the courtyard, he had overlooked the inconvenience he caused by piling debris outside, creating extra work for the local street cleaners.

Recognizing this, Gu Ning'an immediately turned to the stout woman and respectfully said, "I returned late yesterday and haven't had time to remove these weeds and debris from the area... If it's convenient, may I borrow some tools to clean it up myself?"

"No need! Clearing this mess is part of my job; how could I let you do it?" Tiao Lang Clan worker replied warmly, her face lighting up with a smile, completely void of her earlier frustration over the debris.

Although she didn't know Gu Ning'an personally, his refined demeanor and scholarly air made it clear he was no ordinary man.

For someone of such status to address her, a mere street cleaner, so courteously left her feeling unexpectedly flattered.

In truth, even if Gu Ning'an hadn't said anything, it was still her responsibility to clean up the mess. Complaints aside, it was part of her job, and she would get paid for it.

However, his respectful gesture gave her newfound motivation. She suddenly felt energized and eager to get to work.

"Well..." Gu Ning'an hesitated momentarily before continuing, "How about I assist you? This is quite a large task for one person to handle alone."

Hearing this, Tiao Lang Clan worker's body stiffened. She quickly waved her hands, saying, "There's no need for that! This is my job, and I'll handle it. If you insist on helping, you'll make me feel like you're looking down on me as a woman."

Gu Ning'an chuckled helplessly, replying, "That's certainly not my intention."

"Well, there you have it." Tiao Lang Clan worker, broom in hand, stepped out from the crowd and walked toward the debris-covered grass.

As she passed Gu Ning'an, she nodded and smiled in acknowledgment.

However, when she reached Lei Ben, she grabbed his muscular arm with surprising force and barked, "Come on, help me out, kid."

Despite Lei Ben's burly frame, the Tiao Lang Clan worker's robust build and strength were nothing to scoff at. With one strong tug, she dragged him along.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Lei Ben exclaimed in confusion as he was pulled backward. "I'm here to hold the fort, not do grunt work!"

"Hold what fort?!" the Tiao Lang Clan worker shot back irritably. "Help me get this done, and I'll arrange a match for you!"

"You mean it?" Lei Ben's eyes lit up. Grabbing a broom from her, he dove into the debris pile with vigor, sweeping with enthusiasm.

Seeing this, Gu Ning'an smiled faintly and clasped his hands in thanks toward the pair. "I'm grateful to you both!"

The Tiao Lang Clan worker waved dismissively. "No need to be so formal, sir. This fool's got strength to spare!"