Translator: Fate Translation Checker: Silavin “I’ll have you know that the queue of people who want to marry my Older Sister is long enough to span the entire village! The Son of a rich Family from the city came by to ask for her hand in marriage too, you know? But, she didn’t agree to marry him.” Even though the little girl, Chen Erya, looked like a sweet child, she was a lot bolder than her peers and spoke like a miniature adult with her hands on her hips. Still, Wang Xiaoniu was used to her way of speaking. They knew each other very well. They had grown up together and could be described as childhood friends. He rubbed the back of his head and said cheerfully, “I know that your Sister Chen Ya is pretty and kind-hearted. She also makes very delicious tofu. Many people want to marry her. But, Uncle Gu doesn’t seem to be thinking about marriage so it’ll be quite hard…” “Are you dumb? You can just keep praising my Sister to him.” Chen Erya’s dark eyes gleamed mischievously. She did not understand what was going on with her Older Sister either. Chen Ya, Chen Erya’s Older Sister, had only seen Uncle Gu, the man of unknown origins who had been living with Wang Xiaoniu’s Family, a few times. However, that was enough for her to be completely infatuated with him. She was even cajoling her parents into bringing up marriage. Chen Erya was young and did not understand these things, but she had seen Uncle Gu in person. He was indeed extremely handsome. He looked like a warm gentleman, and most importantly, he was hardworking and reliable. She would not be persuading Wang Xiaoniu to put in a good word on her Sister’s behalf if that had not been the case. The two children had openly discussed this. Therefore, after hearing everything, the surrounding children began to pipe up as well. “Xiaoniu, I heard that your mysterious Uncle Gu is actually the prince of some kingdom that had been destroyed, so that’s why he ended up here.” “Is it true? Did he really used to be a prince?” Many children queried with piqued curiosity. Lately, numerous rumours about Gu Changge had been spreading around the neighbouring village. It became the gossip that all the adults chattered about. Naturally, the children heard about these things from the adults too. With the myriad of rumours circling around, it was unsurprising that numerous versions flourished. Everything from a down-and-out prince of a kingdom, a young nobleman, and even the long-lost heir of a prominent Family was mentioned… Many of these speculations came from the young ladies. Wang Xiaoniu was gobsmacked by the rumours. He did not know that Gu Changge had such illustrious origins. There was never any mention of it. In any case, all manner of rumours abounded, and most of them sounded rather far-fetched. The woman in white watched in silence, taking in the children’s bubbly chatter with a slightly dazed expression. Numerous memories were brought to life inside her mind. The scenes flashed uncontrollably through her head. A man with the surname Gu. It was not a common surname. After all her years in the Upper Realm, she only knew of one Family with the surname Gu. She never heard of any other Families sharing that same surname. Thus, upon hearing the familiar surname in this quiet and remote village, she became distracted and was consumed by her memories. [Is it a coincidence? Perhaps it’s just someone with the last name Gu who drifted over to this place by coincidence?] The woman in white shook her head melancholically. Several days ago, she heard about the news of the Wang Family who lived by the village entrance taking in a young nobleman who had wandered over to the village. Not only was this down-and-out nobleman a handsome and refined gentleman, but a polite and courteous man as well. He did not mind the hard labour involved in farming. He was hardworking and serious as he worked alongside Wang Erniu the whole day. Many of the villages discussed their guesses about his identity. Nevertheless, all they knew was his surname. They did not know anything else about him. Initially, the woman in white was a little taken aback. She even felt a hint of inexplicable hope. It had been too long since she last heard that surname. Thus, at that moment, she felt as if the past, an almost separate world altogether, had returned in a glorious fashion. She even came to an unbelievable supposition. But in the end, the woman in white shot that possibility down. It was too unrealistic. It was like a mirage instead. He was a divine being who towered above all others. Why would he be lost among the mortals? [A down-and-out nobleman? What am I even thinking? It’s purely a coincidence. He just so happens to be surnamed Gu.] After all these years, the woman in white had grown used to life in Green Mountain Village. There were clear skies and a bright Moon. She was able to enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. There was greenery all around her tasteful bamboo residence, as well as a handful of livestock and spiritual beasts. The nearby lake featured emerald waters and picturesque scenery. The green mountains and peaceful waters formed a tranquil environment together. Compared to the ferocious battles and constant cycle of trickery and deception in the cultivation world, she felt that life here suited her better. When she first came to the Upper Realm, she thought about becoming a mighty cultivator who held the most power and could peer down on all of existence. How, as time went by, such thoughts faded away. She felt caught in her situation. It was already a blessing to carry on living. She once thought about trying her hardest to further her cultivation, even if it meant becoming the Successor of Demonic Arts. Perhaps that would have enabled her to gain his regard and truly catch his eye. All along, she did not ask for much. She only wanted to occupy a tiny corner of his heart. That was enough for her. Therefore, after finding out that she was the Successor of Demonic Arts, she thought about a lot of things. She even considered ending her life to not cause any trouble for him. After all, he was the young and brilliant man standing at the pinnacle of the Upper Realm. He had a bright future ahead of him. He was the leader of his generation and an awe-inspiring legend to the younger generations who was admired by everyone. Meanwhile, she was the Successor of Demonic Arts. Even though she was his maidservant. She was fated to wreak havoc on the world and doomed to stand against him. Once her identity was exposed, it would certainly leave a blemish on his life for good. Therefore, she went into hiding. She masked her identity and lived cautiously. Everyone feared the Successor of Demonic Arts, but to her, that identity was her shackles. It was a burden, and one that could spell peril for her. She could still recall how her identity had nearly been exposed back at the Immortal Academy. Therefore, at the time, she asked him what he would do if she was indeed the Successor of Demonic Arts. He smiled faintly and said he would kill her himself before joining her in the afterlife. After hearing those words, for a moment, she felt as if she could do anything. It did not matter what happened in the end. Her life had meaning no matter what. As these memories raced through the woman in white’s mind, her expression grew even more unfocused. Would it not be great if she never had to wake up from this dream she created for herself?