Little Li Shuexue didn’t bother talking; he just continued teaching Ice Chunk how to ride the horse.
Well, riding wasn’t quite what he had imagined—full of flaws, perhaps it was better to just ride a horse when going out in the future.
In Ink City, it was normal to see a shabby carriage rolling by, right?
Ying Bing pursed her lips, pretending to look at the scenery. Her grip on the reins felt loose, as if she didn’t have the strength to even spread her fingers.
She still had that cool and collected demeanor, but her serene eyes were in disarray, breathing in a rhythmic struggle—one moment she released a long sigh, and the next, she was holding her breath in tension.
Anyone who rode frequently would know.
Some horses were well trained and trotted smoothly.
Others were wild and feisty, bouncing around without a care for how the person riding them felt. If someone got thrown off, it was just bad luck for the owner.
Ice Chunk regretted buying such a wild stallion.
“Slow down… there are too many people ahead.”
“Alright.”
Li Mo cleared his throat and pulled back on the snorting black-maned horse, pretending nothing unusual was happening as he glanced toward the bustling marketplace.
With the road packed with carriages and voices ringing out, riding a horse was slower than just walking!
But Li Mo dared not dismount.
Ying Bing didn’t even know if she was really riding a horse.
It felt like she was—though sometimes it seemed as if she wasn’t really on the horse at all…
Fairy Sister had to think of a way to divert Hammer Treasure’s attention. She pointed at a roadside stall:
“Isn’t that the riddle booth we used to guess lantern riddles at? It’s been ages; it seems the owner has updated things and stopped doing riddles.”
“Yeah, looks like they switched to throwing arrows instead.”
Li Mo followed her gaze, and lo and behold, the spot where he first saw Ice Chunk still buzzed with activity, surrounded by a crowd.
The owner appeared a little older now but still looked sprightly, his enthusiastic shouts ringing out loud and clear.
With a tug on the reins, they both halted.
The flower lanterns and masks were rewarded not for guessing the riddles but for hitting the targets.
“That little old man—how do regular folks throw arrows blindingly?”
Li Mo observed the stall owner counting coins.
“The stall gives out more arrows than others. With more throws, maybe someone will accidentally hit the target since the pot isn’t moving…”
Ying Bing was saying this when she suddenly stopped.
She swiveled around on the horse (in Li Mo’s arms).
Her face was cold, but her ears were red.
“…”
Li Mo opened his mouth, swallowing back the ambitions that were ready to spill out:
“Not learning to ride anymore?”
“Not for now.”
“I feel like tomorrow the family carriage will be gone, and we’ll have to ride horses. If I can’t learn, that means I’ll have to take you with me when going out.”
“?”
Ying Bing sensed something was off, but not knowing why, she shot him a glare, reaching to poke at him.
Just then, the horse stepped up, and they jolted.
Her delicate hand went for his waist, hitting the mark unintentionally.
Ying Bing: “!”
Li Mo: “!!!”
Little Li Shuexue gasped, feeling a prickling sensation on his scalp.
After all, it was well known that when the Cold Fairy was flustered or shy, it didn’t show on the surface, but her fingers would curl up tight.
And now, she was shy and… flustered.
“Li Mo.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Listen to your sister, don’t cause trouble.”
Ying Bing squinted, her voice softening.
The Phoenix Sky Empress’s delicate hand was beyond her control, so she decided to just roll with it.
Maybe she wanted to sound cold while insisting her tone was gentle.
But her voice came out sweetly soft, like a moon reflecting on a lake, appearing anything but playful.
But Little Li Shuexue decided to behave; after all, he’d been caught with a weak point, and being unruly was no longer an option.
Whoosh… Bang—
Suddenly, a sound burst overhead.
Li Mo didn’t look up, but in those lovely eyes, he vaguely saw the night blooming flowers, a lonely star with a shimmering moon.
“This firework is beautiful.”
“I’ve seen it once before, but this one is even prettier.”
Last time, Ying Bing had watched it alone.
Hearing this, Li Mo’s mind conjured up the image of Ice Chunk standing alone on the street, gazing at the dazzling lights, silently calculating how long it would take to find him…
“Ice Chunk.”
“Hmm?”
“When I’m not around, what do you do?”
“Wait for you.”
“Thank you for looking for me for so long and waiting alone.”
Li Mo rested his chin on her slender shoulder, his voice soft and serious.
Ying Bing tucked some loose hair behind her ear, her smile more beautiful than the night sky: “Not for long…”
“Why does it feel like such a short time?” Li Mo asked.
Ying Bing paused.
She felt time had passed quickly, perhaps because no matter how long it was, as long as there’s a goal, it wouldn’t seem endless.
She quietly leaned against his shoulder:
“Because you wait for me in the future.”
“What if I become different from before?”
“That won’t happen; you’re a childish ghost.”
Was that another way of saying one remained young?
“Hey, are you looking down on me? I’ve lived two lifetimes in the Heavenly Phoenix Domain!”
Li Mo’s expression darkened suddenly, turning into a sly smile like a villain from novels.
Little Li Shuexue felt his own smile had a hint of cold detachment, a degree of careless indifference, and a smidge of aloofness.
The remaining part he felt was just wicked charm.
“?”
Ying Bing furrowed her brows and tugged at his mouth: “What are you smiling about? It doesn’t look very bright…”
But the next second, their lips were suddenly close together.
Ying Bing froze, any thoughts in her mind drifting away as if a sudden weightlessness left her feeling afloat amidst fireworks.
Her eyelashes fluttered, ultimately closing her eyes and melting into his embrace.
Not looking at the fireworks anymore, that splendid array was clearer with her eyes shut.
…
In the world outside, the scene of the two kissing under the fireworks seemed to freeze in time.
“He actually kissed her?”
“Instead of asking that, why not ask if he used his tongue?”
“Oh my gosh, no matter how hard it gets, it doesn’t hurt as much as seeing Li Mo devour her lips; it’s even worse than d*ath!”
“Isn’t this the celestial trial? Am I here just to witness this? I demand a refund!”
“Isn’t the match between the wife-attracting swordsman and the Cold Fairy destined? Who are you, a mere demon, to oppose it?”
After a moment of silence, things turned chaotic.
Some still couldn’t accept it, but influenced by a certain Qingluan clan leader, the CP fans soon gained the upper hand.
“Hey, where’s Qin Qing?”
Qin Yuzhi scratched her head, eyes closed as if she were sensing something.
Great, Shang Qin Qing had stared at the majestic scenery for so long that even the heavens couldn’t hold back, and she must’ve gone back for a rest, probably dreaming of the Wanchun Courtyard making thunderous snores.
Perfect timing to miss all the action.
When she woke up, she’d probably think the world was collapsing.
On the high platform.
Emperor Jingtai cleared his throat and asked the elderly Yantian: “What are the upcoming auspicious dates?”
“Your Majesty, why do you ask this?”
“If they truly helped Da Yu win the wager, I wouldn’t know how to reward them. Might as well go with the flow and grant them a marriage.”
