Chapter 274 The Nineteenth Day of Entering a Xuanhuan Novel

Chapter 274: The Nineteenth Day of Transmigrating into a Xuanhuan Novel

His heart was filled with uncertainty, but he forced a polite smile onto his face. "You two... what do you want?"

An Yi, however, ignored him.

He looked down at the infant in his arms, who was still sobbing silently from fright. The kid's face was red from crying, tears welling in his eyes.

An Yi reached out a slender finger and gently brushed the baby's soft cheek, his voice softening. "Shh, it's okay."

He gently rocked the baby, patting its back lightly with his other hand.

The baby, who'd been crying nonstop, slowly calmed in his arms. The sobbing stopped, and it even opened its toothless mouth in a tear-streaked, innocent smile, its bare gums looking adorably goofy.

A faint softness flickered in An Yi's eyes before he handed the baby back to the still-shaken woman.

She quickly took the baby, clutching her recovered child tightly, tears and snot streaming down her face as she thanked him over and over. "Thank you, kind sir! Thank you, kind sir!"

An Yi still didn't look at the yamen runner. He just said calmly to the woman, "Take the kid and head home first."

The yamen runners exchanged glances. They were scared of An Yi and his companion, but orders were orders, so they moved to block the woman.

Xie Xuandu stood off to the side, his smile unchanged. He flicked his slender fingers in a seemingly careless gesture.

"Ow!"

"My arm!"

The yamen runners all cried out in pain at once, a sharp ache and numbness shooting through their arms. They couldn't muster any strength—their limbs hung limp at their sides, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't lift them!

Scared out of their minds, they looked at Xie Xuandu with terrified eyes and dropped to their knees, begging for mercy. "Immortal Master, spare us! Spare us! We didn't know who we were messing with!"

Only then did An Yi glance at them, his voice still flat. "No need to scream. It'll pass in a moment."

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the city gate. "Lead the way to the county office."

The runners didn't dare refuse. Enduring the numbness in their arms, they scrambled to their feet and nervously led the way.

The woman, clutching her child, took the chance to hurry off. She didn't stop until she'd run far and ducked into a small alley, where she paused to catch her breath.

She patted her chest, still shaken, and held the child up in front of her. Half scared, half relieved, she sobbed softly. "My poor baby, we almost..."

Before she could finish, she felt something hard pressing against her through the swaddling.

Curious, she loosened a corner of the wrapping and reached inside. Her fingers touched something heavy and gleaming yellow—gold!

The woman's eyes flew wide in disbelief as she stared at the gold in her hand. She quickly covered it back with the swaddling, her heart pounding.

She understood instantly—this must've been a gift from the benefactor who'd held her child!

Remembering how her family had suffered lately because of the county magistrate's son—her husband locked up, their shop shut down, and no food left in the house—this gold was a lifeline!

Her eyes grew hot, and tears spilled out again, but this time they were filled with gratitude.

She turned and, facing the direction where An Yi and the others had long since disappeared, bowed her head to the ground.

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An Yi and Xie Xuandu followed the dejected yamen runners—whose arms were still not working right—to the county office.

The scene before the county office was a stark contrast to Luzhou City's bustling prosperity. Carriages and horses were scarce, and a palpable gloom hung over the place. Even the guards at the gate looked listless.

As they paused to watch from a short distance, a familiar figure hurried toward the county office from another direction.

The man wore a dark blue official uniform embroidered with distinctive cloud patterns, a standard-issue long blade at his waist. It was Gan Feng.

He'd clearly come for the same matter, his face serious with the weight of his duty. He straightened his attire and was about to step forward to announce himself.

(System: Host, watch out! A big shot is nearby!)

(Gan Feng: Huh? Big shot?)

He instinctively turned his head to look around, his gaze quickly locking onto An Yi and Xie Xuandu approaching from the other side.

Xie Xuandu naturally spotted Gan Feng too. His smile didn't change, and he even gave a slight, perfectly courteous nod in Gan Feng's direction—a flawless gesture of acknowledgment.

Yet, deep in his smiling eyes, a faint trace of impatience and annoyance flickered.

...Why does this guy keep showing up?

Really... an eyesore.

Like a buzzing fly hovering over a delicious feast.

Maybe I should find some unnoticed excuse to quietly get rid of him—end it once and for all, so he stops lingering in my sight.

This thought slid through his mind, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

But... that murderous intent was quickly suppressed.

He glanced at An Yi, who stood calmly beside him, recalling that An Yi seemed to find this guy somewhat interesting, occasionally drawing out expressions from him that differed from his usual demeanor.

Ah well, might as well keep this scholar around to entertain An Yi.

An Yi wasn't surprised by Gan Feng's appearance. As the protagonist of this novel world, he always showed up at key plot points.

Though the original text didn't record this incident in Luzhou City, it was probably simple enough for Gan Feng to resolve easily.

He gave Gan Feng a slight smile as a greeting.

His main attention, however, was fixed on the faint, ominous aura of darkness hanging over the county office.

When Gan Feng saw An Yi's fleeting smile, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly straightened his new official uniform and strode forward, bowing respectfully. "Senior An, Senior Xie! Didn't expect to run into you both here."

An Yi's gaze fell on the uniform—clearly standard-issue but far more refined than an ordinary runner's—and a barely noticeable glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. The corner of his lips curved up as he spoke with a rare hint of teasing. "Immortal Gan really is climbing the ranks."

Gan Feng's face turned red at his words.

Lately, thanks to his system tasks, he'd successfully been promoted and officially become a member of the imperial Demon Suppression Bureau. This uniform was exactly the Bureau's attire.

Being teased by An Yi like this, he felt both embarrassed and oddly shy. A thought uncontrollably flashed through his mind.

He remembered that the two before him seemed to have an unusual relationship—quite possibly gay. Dressed in this crisp uniform, he probably looked pretty handsome too, right?

Was this a kind of... uniform temptation?

(The system's icy electric voice immediately rang out, dripping with contempt: Idiot. Disgusting. Go look at yourself in the mirror.)

(Gan Feng retorted inwardly: ...Of course I know it's impossible! Can't I even have a little fun?)

An Yi: Hmm? What's so disgusting?

Comments section:

"Is the MC really thinking about this? He's not actually gonna go gay, is he?"

"Even 'uniform temptation'—is he kinda gay too?!"

"@Author, can you cut back on this gay stuff?! We straight dudes don't read this, don't you get it?"

"Eh, it's fine, write it or don't..."

"Great! It's a pharaoh, we're saved!"

"The MC is blushing because of Pretty An. (Shocked.jpg)"

"The author really is like Kennedy riding in a convertible—brain wide open. How did he even connect this to uniform temptation? Is the author gay as well?"

"Damn! That explains it!"

"Could the author be writing in our male channel just to screen for handsome readers and then hook up with them?"

"What? That's ridiculous! Are you guys crazy?!"

"..."

An Yi: "..."

I see.