July 11, early morning.
Accompanied by Cui Chang'an, Su Yi made a circuit around the walls surrounding Violet Luo City.
As an enormous city that had endured since time immemorial, Violet Luo City was unimaginably vast.
Cui Chang'an and Su Yi sped along the way, occasionally stopping to converse. Even so, after completing a circuit along the city walls, they had still spent a full four hours.
In the end, the two came to a stop atop the walls at the East City Gate.
July 12, at dusk.
Po Suo gave the Heavenly Decree Lotus Lamp to Su Yi.
July 13, night.
Su Yi awoke from meditation and, on a whim, penned a piece of calligraphy:
Summon the bright moon into the sky, let it shine upon the ice and snow filling my heart, vast as the flow of a hundred rivers.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, there was no moon in the Netherworld. Yet throughout the land, countless Great Dao Heavenly Lanterns would light up the night sky, resisting darkness and driving away evil spirits.
If a bright moon hung in the sky, it would surely become the brightest lantern of the Ten Thousand Lanterns Festival on the fifteenth of July.
Su Yi had written those words from the stirrings in his heart.
July 14.
The ancient, immense Violet Luo City had desolate streets and empty alleys.
The experts of the Cui Clan had set up camp near each of the four city gates—east, south, west, and north. A stifling atmosphere, like dark clouds, shrouded the inside and outside of Violet Luo City.
An Emperor presided over the vicinity of every city gate.
Within the Cui Family, the atmosphere was likewise heavy and solemn.
Young and old alike, everyone bore irrepressible worry between