On this particularly unusual night in Yunzhou City, it felt less like nighttime and more like a vibrant festival, as the countless lights blended into a spectacular neon display, turning the clouds into a tipsy rainbow.
Before heading out, Li Mo took a look at Murong Xiao.
Well, he’s still stubborn as ever.
There he was in the courtyard, looking like a statue of some wise sage.
“Brother Murong, happy Qixi! Just don’t say I forgot about you, okay?”
Little Li had a knack for brotherhood.
He placed a plate in front of Murong Xiao, stacked high with mooncakes that looked like miniature pagodas.
Not only brotherly, but Li Mo was also quite considerate.
Since the tavern was by the lakeside and mosquitoes were in abundance, he lit three incense sticks, found a holder, and placed it right in front of Murong Xiao.
Murong Xiao: “…..”
Emmmmmm.
Suddenly, he looked rather solemn.
“What a pity you can’t come out to play today. Since that’s the case, please bless me at the tavern for a bountiful night.”
Li Mo earnestly clasped his hands and bowed.
Many people performed rituals today—mountain folks worshiped the Mountain God, water dwellers paid respect to the Water Deities.
He didn’t really have any religion, but he certainly appreciated the sense of ritual.
Once outside the tavern, he spotted a girl by the lakeside, lost in the bustling street scene. The noise swirled around her but seemed to avoid her, illustrating her serene detachment from the world.
A certain young man’s eyes sparkled as he noticed the human warmth in her gaze.
“Where do you want to go first?” Li Mo asked.
“Zhuangyuan Building.”
Ying Bing tied her hair up neatly.
While eating, she had heard the lively buzz around Zhuangyuan Building—Yunzhou’s finest spot to shop for various trinkets, accessible via Yulong Street.
She still hadn’t decided what to gift Li Mo.
And she had no idea what to do on a date.
But that was fine; she could just go witness the ‘pig races.’
“Okay.”
The two strolled into the street, overwhelming sounds of the festivities enveloping them.
Ying Bing looked thoughtfully at the street for the first time, her eyes darting over the different knickknacks.
Li Mo, on the other hand, didn’t get too caught up in the sights of Yulong Street—after all, he knew the stall owners pretty well…
His peripheral vision zeroed in on Ying Bing, who had swapped into a shorter dress after their meal, exposing her elegant legs. Her black hair was held with a red ribbon, and her beauty sparkled even brighter than the moon above.
So refined, so aloof—just standing beside her felt like a lot of pressure.
But then Li Mo remembered the first time she cooked; the comical disaster had left him resembling a scruffy cat.
Noticing the smile blossoming beside him, Ying Bing recalled all the jolly men and women she had seen in passing, sharing laughs.
“….. The moon is really beautiful tonight,” Ying Bing said.
“Definitely,” Li Mo replied, his gaze steady.
“……”
Suddenly, Ying Bing was at a loss for words.
She wasn’t used to his unwavering responses.
They fell into silence.
No one said another word, but amidst the dazzling lights, Ying Bing felt a rare tranquility in her heart.
Saying nothing felt surprisingly comfortable.
Maybe this was how things were meant to unfold naturally.
Speak when you want, stay silent when you don’t—no awkwardness even in absolute quiet.
Before long, they reached Zhuangyuan Building, which was even more bustling.
The building towered eight stories above the crowd, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens, surrounded by throngs of people, their chatter mixing like rain.
“What’s going on here?” Li Mo glanced around and spotted some familiar faces.
It was the notorious Three Heroes of Hengyun he had visited earlier that day.
But wait—Wu Chushu didn’t come alone; he had a delightful lady companion by his side, dressed to the nines, probably a young lady from a prestigious family.
At that moment, he was speaking confidently, as if he had everything under control.
Beside him, Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu were casting him d*ath glares.
d*mn it, now we know why he was in such a good mood—he had a date!
So uncouth!
“What are you guys talking about?” Li Mo suddenly chimed in.
“…..”
Wu Chushu’s smile vanished in an instant.
His past experiences flashed through his mind like a bad memory.
The smile didn’t disappear completely, though; it just shifted to Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu.
“Uh, I brought Miss She out to enjoy the Zhuangyuan Building poetry event,” Wu Chushu cleared his throat, gesturing to the lady beside him.
“This is….”
“Wife-boosting Soul!” Miss She jumped in eagerly.
Li Mo: “……”
So, can we pay to revise these notes on the Qianlong List? Just a little backhander, you know.
He quickly pivoted the conversation, asking, “What’s this poetry event about?”
Wu Chushu seized the opportunity to flaunt his erudition in front of the lovely lady.
So, he began to explain.
Li Mo listened and began to understand.
It was said that there had once been a magical swordsman from Yunzhou, not just renowned for his swordsmanship, but also for his literary prowess. In one examination, he bagged the top spot, but due to a drunken outburst at the acceptance banquet, he penned a satirical poem criticizing the previous emperor and lost his title.
In the end, he resigned and built the Zhuangyuan Building for this very poetry event.
“Every year during the Lantern Festival, there’s a poetry contest here, and they even offer prizes for the best work.”
“Last year’s prize was a pretty decent jade hairpin.”
As Wu Chushu spoke, the grin returned to his face.
Being a show-off in public was his favorite hobby, and he considered his poetry quite impressive (even if he was the only one who thought so).
He had intentionally chosen this place for its significance…
“Brother Chushu, I simply want the poetry contest prize, you know?” Miss She purred sweetly.
Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu were fuming, fists clenched. What kind of nonsense was this?
“By the way, Young Hero Li, why are you out alone?”
“It’s a long story…..”
Gazing at Li Mo, alone yet unfazed, the two felt a bit relieved.
At least someone would help divert the firepower.
But soon, Ying Bing appeared carrying a flower lantern; she wasn’t just out to enjoy the festivities; she seemed more like a celestial being here to inspect humanity.
Perhaps it was a bit crowded; she stood close to Li Mo.
Bai Jinghong: “….”
Cao Mu: “…..”
They exchanged glances, realizing they should’ve anticipated this mess in Sword City. What a hassle!
“Hey, Ice Chunk.”
Li Mo suddenly called out, reaching over to tuck away a stray strand of hair that had slipped out beside her mouth, the touch as smooth as silk and warm as jade.
“Hm?”
“Your hair seems a bit messy.”
“…The ribbon tends to loosen a bit,” she replied.
For a moment, Ying Bing looked dazed, then nodded her head slowly.
Her daze wasn’t just from the vibrant scene in front of her, but because of an echo from the past.
In her last life, what was she doing this very moment?
Perhaps standing atop the high palace of osmanthus, watching the tides of human existence go up and down.
Not that she hadn’t tasted the chill of heights.
But she had always avoided stepping into the mundane realm, striving to maintain a tranquil heart.
“Then… how about I gift you a hairpin for Qixi?” Li Mo’s voice came softly from beside her.
With her eyes lowered, Ying Bing gazed at the young man who had brought her into this world, her lips lifting ever so slightly. That smile made the moonlight manifest into beauty.
Around them, the crowd suddenly stood frozen in awe.
Even Miss She, who was always so charming, suddenly had her eyes wide open.
“Alright.”
“…..”
Surprisingly, it was little Li who was taken aback.
He had just been racking his brain, trying to think of which ancient poem he could borrow to impress her.
But after seeing that smile, he didn’t need to think anymore.
A poem he recalled only the content of, but couldn’t remember the author’s name surged to his mind.
