Jun Jiuli found the pitiful Xiong Xiaopang again and forced him to get his father to write a notice, recruiting capable individuals to suppress bandits.
Although Magistrate Xiong was not a good official, he doted on his son. Xiong Xiaopang babbled about how those bandits had kidnapped him before and that he was saved by Shui Sanniang from the inn.
Upon learning of this, the wandering Daoist took the initiative to volunteer to lead the soldiers to suppress the bandits.
Jun Jiuli, accompanied by Su Qiu and Tao Zui, watched the spectacle from behind. Jun Jiuli had previously removed the demonic energy from Tao Zui, so the wandering Daoist did not discover the presence of the three of them.
As the bandit suppression was halfway through, Hua Guzi, with the Sunflower Spirit, suddenly appeared, wanting to save the bandits.
The bandits were overjoyed to see her, as if they had seen their own mother. "Boss, boss, save us quickly."
Hua Guzi, without discerning right from wrong, began fighting the officials. The wandering Daoist also noticed her. These two rookies were no match for a single move from her.
"Sanniang, why is Hua Guzi saving those bandits? They clearly broke the law by stealing official silver and should be punished," Zhong Suqiu asked with some confusion.
Jun Jiuli said sarcastically, "There's no reason, because those bandits are Hua Guzi's friends."
Hearing this, Tao Zui felt a flush of embarrassment. He himself had once indiscriminately helped Hua Guzi try to steal Shui Sanniang's primal essence because Hua Guzi was his friend.
However, he still couldn't bear to see Hua Guzi get hurt before his eyes, so he rushed out to fight the wandering Daoist.
Over there, Hua Guzi was delighted that Brother Tao had come to save her. Holding hands with the little Sunflower Spirit, she spun around a few times and clapped her hands in applause. Meanwhile, Su Qiu was extremely worried about Tao Zui.
007: "Alas, comparing the two, the difference is clear. But now, in Brother Tao's heart, Hua Guzi still weighs more than Miss Su Qiu."
"It's okay, we'll take it slow."
"Sanniang, won't Master Tao be injured?"
"He probably will be."
Tao Zui conjured a pile of bamboo and thrust it towards the wandering Daoist. The wandering Daoist shouted, "Heaven's path is boundless," and continuously drew hand seals.
With a "bang," all the bamboos were repelled, and Tao Zui spat blood, suffering severe injuries.
Jun Jiuli seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and took Tao Zui and the other two to reunite with Zhong Suqiu. The wandering Daoist, meanwhile, arrested the bandits and reported to the yamen.
"Sanniang, Master Tao is so badly injured. What should we do?"
"I'll transfer some of my true qi to him to help him recover, but he will still need someone to take good care of him."
"Don't worry, Sanniang. I'll take care of these small matters."
Seeing that Tao Zui had someone to look after him, Hua Guzi said happily, "Miss Zhong, you're such a good person. We'll leave Brother Tao to you then." With that, she prepared to leave with the little Sunflower Spirit.
Zhong Suqiu merely nodded without a word. Jun Jiuli directly retorted, "Tao Zui was injured saving you, and he hasn't even woken up yet. Where are you going?"
"Brother Tao has you watching over him, so I'm going to find Master An." She then happily left, not even looking back.
At this moment, although Tao Zui was injured and unconscious, his consciousness was perfectly clear. He heard every word Hua Guzi said. He had been by her side for so many years, yet he couldn't compare to An Youyu, whom she had only met a few times.
007 whispered in complaint, "It's really 'Brother Tao when there's something, Master An when there's nothing.' The second male lead is truly tragic as a tool."
Jun Jiuli took the two back to the Moonlight Inn. Zhong Suqiu traveled back and forth between home and the inn every day, tirelessly taking care of Tao Zui, doing everything herself.
This gradually softened Tao Zui's heart, which had only been set on Hua Guzi.
Meanwhile, after several instances of entering An Youyu's dreams, Hua Guzi finally appeared beside An Youyu at night.
An Youyu saw the beauty from his dreams become reality and thought it was still a dream. However, he still found it hard to believe and slapped himself. The pain caused Hua Guzi to cause a commotion in his room with her magic, making him think he was still dreaming.
Because Hua Guzi was jealous of An Youyu painting a portrait of Zhong Suqiu, she demanded that he paint one for her as well.
An Youyu explained that whoever he painted would become a real person, but then he thought that this was a dream and began painting a portrait of a beauty.
The two spent a romantic night like this. The next day, Granny An came to the study and saw the portrait of the beauty. She immediately flew into a rage and reprimanded An Youyu for painting people again.
An Youyu was confused. Did the portraits he painted in his dreams also become reality?
Granny, in her excitement, revealed An Youyu's past. Realizing she had let slip too much, she stopped speaking.
An Youyu, eager to know about his parents, made a deal to never paint again in exchange for learning about his parents' past.
He then decided to study calligraphy to avenge his parents.
The next day, he went up the mountain to gather herbs, and Hua Guzi and the little sunflower followed him. Hua Guzi told the little sunflower to go back and inform her parents that she would bring Master An home that night. The little sunflower quickly went back and, along with Hua Guzi's parents, decorated the small courtyard.
Hua Guzi conjured a string of mushrooms, and An Youyu picked them from dawn until dusk. The little sunflower came up and tricked him, leading An Youyu back to the Hua family.
Hua Guzi then appeared before An Youyu. Seeing the girl who often appeared in his dreams, An Youyu marveled at the wonder of fate.
Hua Guzi put on another performance, and An Youyu became infatuated with her. Hua Guzi also gave him a small bird made of corn husks, which became their token of love.
Just as they were in a tender embrace, the exquisite porcelain in the room suddenly turned into pottery jars and amphorae, and the room's decorations all changed, startling An Youyu.
He quickly went out to investigate, and before his eyes, Hua Guzi's parents transformed into two roe deer.
"Ah, monsters!"
An Youyu shouted and quickly picked up his basket, running outside.
Hua Guzi chased after him, "Master An, Master An! Wait for me, let me explain."
"I won't listen, I won't listen!" An Youyu just kept running. Hua Guzi then used her magic to block An Youyu's path.
Before she could explain, she was caught by the wandering Daoist.
"Hey, demon, where do you think you're running?"
"You stinking Daoist, why are you everywhere? Demons are also divided into good and bad. I have never harmed anyone."
After Hua Guzi's impassioned speech, the wandering Daoist was about to let her go. However, she had no chance to interact with An Youyu.
Seeing the wandering Daoist's powerful magic, An Youyu wanted to become his disciple and learn magic. The wandering Daoist, seeing his extraordinary potential, decided to accept him as a disciple.