At the long table that could accommodate more than a dozen people, Ji Ning contentedly finished the last sip of noodle soup, causing the little puppy at her feet to bark persistently.
Just as she put down the bowl, she met two pairs of shocked gazes that couldn't be retracted in time.
With a guilty conscience from being caught, the "Little Saint" Bai Xiaotang quickly diverted her gaze, looking at the puppy at Ji Ning's feet, pretending to change the topic: "Xiao Huang, don't bite sister's pants, okay?"
The other gaze belonged to a girl named Ye Tong, her face seemingly calm, but she had subconsciously swallowed three times and glanced at the pot five times.
"Is it enough? If not, I can cook more." Ye Tong asked politely, trying to alleviate the awkwardness.
She really can eat, can't she?
It's already the eighth bowl, and the soup in the pot has been consumed completely...
"I'm full, thank you."
Ji Ning put down the bowl, pretending not to notice their simultaneous sigh of relief.
As a powerful superpower user, this little bit of noodles only filled her about sixty percent, but it was also the most satisfying meal she had in years.
In chaotic times, lack of clothing and food is the norm; all survivors think about daily is how to survive tomorrow. Even superpower users can't always find enough food to satisfy their hunger, so for her, these simple noodles were already a luxury feast.
Ji Ning glanced at the bowl, savoring the remaining taste on her taste buds, then withdrew her gaze.
Ye Tong promptly placed a glass of freshly squeezed hawthorn juice in front of her, worried she might feel unwell from eating too much.
Ji Ning nodded slightly at her, but both seemed somewhat constrained, as if unsure how to alleviate the sudden awkwardness.
"Ahem... What does your idol do?" Ji Ning coughed lightly, breaking the subtle atmosphere among the three.
Bai Xiaotang's eyes lit up, instantly replenished, she called out to the air: "Xiao Zhi, Xiao Zhi, quickly introduce Commander Ji Ning's life story."
Just as Ji Ning followed her gaze, a gentle female voice suddenly sounded from a certain direction inside the house: "Alright, my beautiful young lady."
Ji Ning instantly straightened up, sharply scanning the place where the sound originated.
The suddenly surging spiritual power gradually calmed down upon seeing a small piece of metal.
However, the two girls opposite her did not notice the danger from just a moment ago.
The gentle female voice continued: "Commander Ji Ning was a leading figure during the warring period, one of the three War Gods who quelled the chaos, along with Fu Huayu, Ye Jianxiu, and Li Zhan, known collectively as the Four Generals of Hua Continent..."
"Pfft... ahem... ahem... with whom?" Ji Ning almost spat out the hawthorn juice she had just sipped, staring incredulously at Bai Xiaotang and Ye Tong.
Did she hear that right?
Fu Huayu, Ye Jianxiu, and Li Zhan?
Are those three guys here too?
Opposite her, Bai Xiaotang, with her hands resting under her chin, nodded with a look of joyful sharing: "Yes, the former leaders Fu, Ye, and Li. The place we're living now, Anhe City, was formerly Anhe Base, jointly founded by them and Commander Ji Ning, which is also Commander Ji Ning's hometown."
Ji Ning quickly took another sip of hawthorn juice, suddenly feeling her blood reverse direction, rushing straight to her head. After a few seconds of daze, she asked, "What year is it now?"
"It's New Century Year 120, which marks the 120th anniversary of Commander Ji Ning's sacrifice. There will be a grand celebration at the end of the year in Anhe City." Bai Xiaotang didn't notice Ji Ning's oddity at all.
She even stood up, took several invitation cards from outside the dining room, and flaunted them to Ji Ning: "Tada! My brother previously gave me several invitation cards, so we can all attend."
Ye Tong, who was tidying up the dishes, praised Bai Xiaotang a few times with a smile, then turned her head, asking Ji Ning with a cheerful smile, "Ji... ah, I'm a bit awkward, I'll just call you Anning. Anning, where is your hometown?"
Ji Ning glanced at her, her expression becoming restrained.
This girl has more wit than the "Little Saint."
"In the mountains."
"In the mountains?" Ye Tong didn't expect this answer, paused for a moment, then continued her work as if nothing happened, her expression perfectly illustrating how to remain composed, "I remember Anhe City is surrounded by mountains on three sides, is it Jiuming Mountain?"
Ji Ning lowered her eyelids, "Nanling."
Ye Tong's smiling face instantly froze, her gaze gradually becoming wary.
So it's Nanling...
"Where is Nanling? I've never heard of it. Is it fun there?" Bai Xiaotang, in her curious mode, inquired.
However, it was rare for Ji Ning and Ye Tong to agree not to explain in detail, "Just a small place in the south."
For someone like Bai Xiaotang, a young lady unfamiliar with worldly matters, she naturally wouldn't know some common knowledge among the lower classes.
Nanling, located at the edge of the Huazhou Safety Zone, is the most dangerous gray area in Hua Continent, a place that ordinary people wouldn't want to visit in their lifetime.
Ye Tong couldn't help but glance at Ji Ning, who appeared calm and composed, with complex emotions.
Anyone who had stayed in Nanling would more or less carry a bit of an uncomfortable ferocity on them, but the Ji Ning before her, apart from being a bit cold and hard to approach, didn't make her feel threatened.
Yet, it is precisely such people who are inherently more dangerous.
She must be trouble too...
And Ji Ning, by observing Ye Tong's micro-expressions, gradually concluded: this is still the world she knows, it's just that 120 years have passed.
She must have traveled to the future.
The momentary silence made the gentle female voice inside the house seem a bit loud.
"...Although Commander Ji Ning passed away in the first year of the New Century, her deeds deeply influenced contemporary women. She is a spiritual mentor for liberating women's minds, her inspirational stories spread widely across Hua Continent and even the world, with the 'War God' series of films based on her being viewed over one trillion times globally, and the 'Ji Ning' award named after her is the highest honor for women..."
Ji Ning's brows gradually furrowed.
Spiritual mentor? Inspirational stories? Ji Ning award?
Are they talking about her?
Beside her, Ye Tong showed envy, sighing: "The 'War God' series of films has always been a popular IP for adaptation, as long as it's online, it doesn't lack traffic, and the female leads in the adaptations usually become top stars overnight."
Bai Xiaotang nodded in agreement, still petting Xiao Huang, and added: "Naturally, Commander Ji Ning is an idol for women all over the world, but earning the 'Ji Ning Award' is too difficult. Being an actor is somewhat easier. Sister Tong, I look forward to you becoming the female lead in the 'War God' series."
Ye Tong's fair face instantly turned red as she shyly glanced at Bai Xiaotang, hastily took Ji Ning's noodle bowl, and hurried into the kitchen.
Bai Xiaotang turned her head to introduce to Ji Ning, "Sister Tong is an actress. Her biggest dream is to play the female lead in the 'War God' series of movies."
Ji Ning didn't know what the 'War God' was, but at this moment, she wanted to figure out where exactly she was?
Although the names and place names matched, the "Ji Ning" they mentioned seemed to be a completely different person from her.
Is that "Ji Ning" her?
Ji Ning was somewhat uncertain.
After pondering for a moment, she asked: "What is the 'War God' series of films?"