Lanterns First Lit, Please Do Not Miss Me.

Mount Taixu, Fuyun Temple.

The young girl, dressed in a dark black Hanfu with cloud patterns, sat upright on a wooden chair. Her eyes were lowered as she gazed at the red rope that shifted between illusion and reality as she played with it. Her cherry-blossom lips parted slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

Are you blushing?

He's actually quite cute now...

If we can meet in person, I'll try it next time.

This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bully Su Qing'an, who is only this young. It would be a shame not to seize it.

For some reason, the immortal, who was initially somewhat uneasy about their relationship, dispelled his similar feelings after seeing the other's flushed face and felt a strange urge to look at the other more.

"Master...?"

Chi Yuan abruptly stopped fiddling with the red string on her fair wrist. She looked up at the girl who had slowly walked up to her and then knelt on the ground again. As if noticing her lapse in composure, her face flushed slightly, which made Tome of Cangxuan, who was standing next to her, stare at her intently, finding it quite unusual.

However, to maintain Chi Yuan's dignity, Xiao Xuan pretended that nothing had happened, at most a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Fu Hua said softly:

"Um, sorry, I got distracted."

"Now that you have bathed and changed, come with me to the quiet room to practice the Sword Heart Technique."

The immortal walked to the girl and looked at her kneeling, head bowed. He gently stroked her hair with his slender fingertips, and a dark blue silk ribbon decorated with animal patterns from the Northern Dynasties slipped out from his sleeve. He gathered up all the loose black hair and tied it into a single strand.

Her lips parted, a smile playing on her lips, and she whispered:

"Also, there's no need to be so formal; those cumbersome traditional customs can be dispensed with."

"Stand up, Rongyue."

Jiang Rongyue felt the gentle strength of the other person's touch and the slightly cool fingertips, and was stunned for a long time.

A few scattered sparks seemed to fall into the Jalana in the chest cavity, stirring up a tiny but unforgettable heat, before returning to silence. Only the lingering warmth spread throughout the body, as if adding a touch of tenderness to the blade that was cold enough to cut through a mountain of Sea of Mist and a season of heavy snow.

Unrivaled in the world.

She constantly pursued the last words left by her mother, but almost forgot why she should pursue this goal in the first place.

To let their only remaining family member rest in peace?

That would surely have been enough from the moment the enemy's heads rolled and their gray clothes were stained with blood.

For fame or fortune?

That can be done the moment one leaves the mountain.

The vast armies of this mortal world—to her, they were nothing more than this.

Jiang Rongyue honed his swordsmanship day after day, pursuing its inheritance year after year.

The reason... is simply to avoid feeling so lonely and isolated.

The feeling was subtle, like a heavy snow that was constantly falling inside one's heart, and only when following one's mother's instructions and walking alone on the path to becoming invincible could one vaguely sense the warmth of someone who had once accompanied one in the Jalana.

When she was ten years old, she cleared away the snow from the entire mountain.

But the snow is still falling in my heart.

It cannot be eradicated or erased.

Now, in the moment when she was touched by an immortal and granted immortality, the girl vaguely realized that the answer had always been simple: after all this time, she just wanted to find a place to belong.

However, no one has ever been able to give it a sufficient reason to stay in one place.

She endured long periods of wandering, witnessed much of humanity's sorrow, wiped the blood of demons and villains with her sword, seemingly with a goal, but in reality, endlessly searching for something. For five years, she traversed the vast land of Shenzhou on foot, finding little attachment to any of the scenery...

In the end, however, he remained on Mount Taixu, which resembled a soaring dragon swirling in Sea of Mist.

Jiang Rongyue slowly stood up, unable to resist touching the silk ribbon at the base of her hair with her fingertips.

Only now did she realize that the greatest gain after becoming a disciple of the immortal was not the true inheritance and peerless Qi techniques that she had not yet learned.

Rather, even if they are far from this place and wander again, there are invisible threads that bind them to a place of belonging.

The girl's eyes were lowered, and her pretty face showed a hint of childishness. She suddenly asked:

"Can I make this my home?"

Chi Yuan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Home?

This Fuyun Temple was indeed her home a very, very long time ago.

Even now, after thousands of years of vicissitudes, she can only savor the warmth of the past and the feeling of so-called home through the fragmented memories that have not yet been stripped away.

After slaying demons and monsters, when she had nothing to do, she would bring the Tome of Cangxuan back to Fuyun Temple. It seemed that the increased human presence could bring some comfort to the souls of those who had stayed there for a long time, and she also regarded it as a place of peace for her own heart.

Therefore, even though this place is deserted, it does not prevent Fu Hua from living here for a long time.

But even the immortal herself did not realize so clearly and accurately that she originally regarded Fuyun Temple as her home.

Time wears down so many things that, despite all that has been experienced, the word still feels somewhat fresh when it comes into view.

Her lips parted slightly, and she whispered:

"If you'd like."

Xiao Xuan leaned closer, patted the girl's head, and said with a smile:

"Of course!"

"Now that you're a disciple of an immortal, the immortal's home is naturally your home too."

After uttering those words, Jiang Rongyue felt a mixture of annoyance and worry.

She was just a child, and with her long experience of living among demons and snowstorms, she was naturally not good at communicating with people, but rather good at drawing her sword to speak.

So much so that now I'm starting to doubt whether my words are inappropriate.

But under Xiao Xuan's fervent gaze and the man's profound look, the girl's unusually restless heart quickly calmed down. She glanced back at the boundless clouds and lush greenery, and softly replied:

"Um."

Here.

Jiang Rongyue, the immortal's first disciple, has officially taken up residence at Fuyun Temple.

Half a month later, in Capital City).

A girl in red held a boy's hand as they strolled through the bustling streets near the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Li Shishi strolled freely around the area, casually handing a half-eaten piece of white sausage to someone nearby. She then picked up a small bowl of lychee syrup, puffing out her cheeks as she continued to enjoy the food floating nearby, which she controlled with the Heaven and Earth Qi and Earth.

Su Qing'an ate it expressionlessly, then used her Manas consciousness to dodge all the food floating in mid-air from passing pedestrians, saying:

"Senior Sister Shishi, if you can't eat all of this, you don't have to buy so much."

The girl blinked, then clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, her expression melancholic, her alluring lips, tinged with rouge, parted slightly.

"Oh dear, Su Su, do you know I can't possibly eat all this delicious food by myself?"

"But we're leaving soon. You know, Bianliang City has hundreds of kinds of delicious food, from restaurant specialties to street snacks, from meat dishes to vegetarian dishes, from soups to desserts. It's like we have everything. Wouldn't it be a shame not to try them all today?"

"For example, there's pan-fried mutton, frozen fish head, wild duck meat, winter-ripened rabbit, pork skin and meat, chilled glutinous rice balls, sesame seed noodles, apricot slices, lettuce shoots, and those buns filled with goose, duck, and chicken meat, as well as the most important desserts after the meal, like fragrant candies, honey-glazed carved pastries, glutinous rice balls, and crispy honey snacks. Look, there's a whole bunch of delicious things that you can't even count."

Listening to the little girl recite the names of so many dishes so fluently, and looking at the delicacies dancing in the air under the Heaven and Earth Qi and earth, Su Qing'an felt that even if he regained all his memories, he would probably find it difficult to find such a method of using Honkai Energy.

In a sense, Li Shishi was a rare genius for using the [hidden] and the Heaven and Earth Qi, which she had rediscovered, to skip work and go out to eat.

He said softly:

"That's not a reason for you to make me eat them all."

Li Shishi said confidently:

"It's because we're afraid of wasting money."

"Besides, Su Su can never seem to get enough to eat, so I'm curious if eating all day will be enough to satisfy you."

Su Qing'an's body is theoretically that of an ordinary person, but his outwardly manifested essential desires cause any food that enters his stomach to be broken down into the most basic energy, which accumulates within him as a factor to offset the wear and tear on his body.

So, just like the other person said, no matter how much they eat, they can't feel full.

The energy required for this outer shell can be provided by a normal three meals a day, but the things sought at the deeper essence cannot be replaced by these in any way.

However, because it will break down, the excess energy supplied to the outer casing will continue to accumulate.

Following this logic, the way Li Shishi fed him could almost allow him to achieve short-term fasting.

The boy explained earnestly:

"I can't possibly get enough to eat from these."

Li Shishi was overjoyed and said:

"Isn't that even better?"

"Su Su, look, this way, I won't waste any food no matter how much I eat."

Su Qing'an didn't actually mind being fed. Li Shishi had a sharp eye and a picky appetite. She said she would eat everything, but she couldn't bear to feed herself anything she didn't like. Instead, she would share it with passersby or beggars on the street. She would only share food that she herself thought was delicious.

Therefore, his assessment was purely rational.

"According to my calculations, even if you only eat one bite of each kind, you still won't be able to finish them."

The girl took a bite of the meatball, then used her delicate fingertips to press it against the other person's lips, skillfully feeding them. Looking at the abandoned lanterns still standing on the street in the distance, she said earnestly:

"It's alright, it's only just nightfall. Most of the shops along the street don't close until the wee hours of the morning."

"If we eat until then, go back and get some sleep, and then pack some more for the immortal's disciples tomorrow, wouldn't that be perfect?"

Su Qing'an sensed the other person's inexplicably genuine melancholy, thought for a moment, and asked directly:

"Is Senior Sister Shishi unhappy?"

Li Shishi was stunned for a moment, but she was somewhat used to the child's ability to see through people's hearts. She knew she couldn't hide it from him, and she had no interest in concealing it. She simply feigned an amusing indignation and said accusingly:

"Because we couldn't go out to see the lanterns that day. It was the Lantern Festival, but we had to deal with all those people and play the piano and sing on stage. Su Su was probably bored staying in the house all by herself."

"So seeing the remains of those lanterns made me feel a little disappointed."

"After all, although this place is quite annoying, it is still the most bustling place for lanterns in the whole world. Without the freedom and time to properly stroll around, one will feel somewhat unhappy."

But in fact, she was already used to it. The reason for her fluctuating emotions was perhaps because Li Shishi had recently experienced unprecedented freedom and ease.

The message conveyed by that Martial Arts Gathering clearly made the powerful and influential people behind it much more obedient. Even Granny Li could hardly criticize her for skipping work.

After all, as one of the parties involved at the time, it was really hard for the apparent owner of Zhen'an Ward to have the courage or interest to deliberately make things difficult for him.

The whole city was in an uproar. Although no one knew that Su Qing'an had attacked the Immortal Chi Yuan that day, the strange sky that suddenly turned cloudless and the storm that swept across the courtyard, which spanned more than a hundred miles, were impossible to conceal.

The Martial Arts Gathering was already attracting much attention, and this news, coupled with the extraordinary events involving the three men and the tiger, made it even more exaggerated.

Although staying in the Capital City for too long will eventually lead to some foolish people being manipulated into coming to test the waters, the steps and plans involved still require time to be arranged and considered before implementation.

For at least half a month, their daily lives were peaceful.

The news that Master Su loves to eat has spread, making it possible for her to enjoy many rare delicacies without leaving home.

It was incredibly pleasant.

Perhaps because she had been living such a comfortable life for too long, she had become more indulgent than before, having escaped the daily struggles and intrigues.

To put it more directly, Su Qing'an's existence has indirectly put her in a position of being pampered, so subconsciously she feels that it doesn't matter if those little tempers and emotions that are suppressed by reason and habit are allowed to emerge freely, and she will naturally become a little childish in front of him.

Su Qing'an thought for a moment and said:

"I can take you to see the lanterns. We can walk around the whole city and see everything."

Li Shishi just smiled, taking it as a consolation. In her mind, Su Su's ability to manipulate a large amount of the Heaven and Earth Qi and Earth and her strength did not mean she could do anything.

She pinched the boy's cheek and joked:

"Su Su really knows how to charm girls, but don't use that on me. Just use it on the immortals instead."

Su Qing'an was merely conducting an objective analysis:

"This is not a difficult thing."

"Although neither you nor I witnessed the events of that day, everyone in the Capital City saw them. It's only been half a month, and the memories are still very clear."

"By collecting more memories and covering them onto your soul in a special way, you will be able to fully glimpse the scene from that time when you revisit this city."

Li Shishi felt as if she were listening to a book written in heaven, completely bewildered.

Collect memories, cover the soul.

Although I don't really understand it, it sounds like something out of a fantasy novel.

Her eyes blinked, shining like stars fallen from the sky:

"Susu, can you even do this? Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"

Su Qing'an glanced at the panel.

[Soul Essence (Manas Consciousness): 874.87 (Semi-permanent Seal)]

Having endured the long torment and suffering of the Previous Civilization, his Soul Essence increased tenfold during the regression.

In a sense, this is also the core reason why [mindfulness] and Manas consciousness can be accelerated to recover through emotional stimulation.

This improvement, even in its extremely impaired state, became the initial source of stimulation, making the process of self-recovery not seem too difficult.

And like the operation mentioned earlier, "Collecting numerous memories and covering the other party's soul."

Even a regular Fusion Warrior could only achieve this by forcibly using the Udu-dust, but for Su Qing'an, it was just a basic skill that wasn't difficult.

There's not even a need for trial and error.

Once this thought arises, the instinct of the Manas consciousness can reach the corresponding result.

That's exactly how it is now.

Su Qing'an wasn't sure how much he differed from ordinary people, but he instinctively knew he could do this.

It's only natural, just as birds can fly in the sky and fish can breathe underwater.

He replied:

"It's very simple, we'll stroll around for a while longer and then we'll show you the lanterns."

Li Shishi raised her head, gazing at the star-studded night sky, a smile playing on her lips, and whispered:

"Yes, thank you."

She was already very content, whether or not there were lanterns.

But this immortal who descended to the mortal realm clearly fulfilled his wish very quickly.

[The east wind at night releases a thousand trees of blossoms, and blows down stars like rain. Fragrant carriages and jeweled horses fill the road, the sound of phoenix flutes stirs, jade pots gleam, and fish and dragons dance all night. Moths, willow branches, and golden threads adorn the scene, laughter and lingering fragrance fade away.]

Li Shishi rubbed her eyes, but she could still see the incredibly realistic Lantern Festival night scene.

Amidst the bustling scene, there were fine cars and carriages, laughter and chatter, and an endless array of lanterns.

The current emperor is extremely extravagant, starting from the first day of the twelfth lunar month and continuing to light lanterns for forty-eight days.

She certainly had the opportunity to glimpse that scene, but it still paled in comparison to the painting on the day of the Lantern Festival.

Perhaps it was because I was too lonely before, but I never seemed to feel much joy or anticipation for such lively festivals.

But after others appeared, she felt that the Lantern Festival night she hadn't been able to witness had become a regret.

Compared to entrusting oneself to a good man, compared to romantic love...

Rather than being born into power and wealth, one can attain a life of riches.

The young girl preferred to explore the vastness of the world, to celebrate lively festivals with her family, and to appreciate flowers and write poetry without any ulterior motives.

But this Capital City is just like the dye house my father used to run; no matter how white the fabric is, it will eventually lose its original color and become murky.

She had actually given up when she received that oil-paper umbrella.

All those past insistences, those laughable stubbornnesses, those meaningless resistances, are like shattered mirrors that have turned into sharp weapons on a clear, snowy afternoon, mocking the foolishness that has brought so much trouble upon myself.

But it just so happens that Su Qing'an was picked up on that very day.

If there are turning points in life, this must be it.

A final lament of Courtesan, a future whose destination is unknown—thus, two distinct paths diverged.

Li Shishi failed to learn the Sword Heart Technique in the past half month, and she was also unsure what the final outcome would be if she left the Capital City and embarked on a journey to slay demons and monsters with Su Qing'an.

The road ahead is Sea of Mist filled with confusion and danger.

But in any case, the girl did not regret her future, which had been transformed into this state.

She calmed herself down and strolled through the drastically changed Bianjing, watching the people who were able to come out of the city because the curfew had been lifted during the lantern festival, her expression softening.

Li Shishi looked at the common girls who were showing their faces in public, and then glanced at the sons of officials who were standing nearby, using purple silk screens to keep the people away from the crowd and to prevent them from being jostled by the throng. She then turned her gaze to the night sky of bygone years and became immersed in that beauty.

At that time, it seemed that fireworks were being set off continuously, both in the palace and among the common people, attracting tourists and ladies.

At that time, lanterns were piled up in the streets to form a magnificent mountain forest, and they were painted with legends and stories that the people loved.

As she watched the lively scenes of people parading through the streets, singing, dancing, performing acrobatics, and solving riddles, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Li Shishi vaguely remembered that it was around this time not long after she was taken away by Fengxue. At that time, she was so confused and bewildered by her situation that even the fireworks and the magnificent lanterns in the streets could not bring her any joy.

All she knew was that her only remaining family member was gone.

From now on, they will only be able to stay in this brothel filled with rouge and powder, and they can almost see the rest of their lives as soon as they grow up.

But at that moment, the girl felt that it was undoubtedly early spring.

The Lantern Festival, on the other hand, is a festival that comes after snow and strong winds, a time of extreme gentleness.

That's sufficient.

Or perhaps, girls are simply easily satisfied.

Although it was only a few minutes, the feeling of fulfillment I experienced was unprecedented.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Su Qing'an stared at the few round beads hanging on the scale, slightly taken aback.

The next moment, the crimson feather in Li Shishi's Sea of consciousness lit up slowly and precisely, as if announcing the end of the illusion and the beginning of the journey.

But when she glimpsed the real painting again, she found herself high in the sky, under the watchful eyes of everyone.

She gazed at the dazzling, star-like sunset at her feet, and in a daze, she looked at the magnificent celestial Celestial Phenomenon that painted the horizon. Looking back at the Capital City that stretched infinitely far away and was looked up at by many eyes, she was at a loss for words and completely forgot the natural fear of standing in the sky.

Su Qing'an lowered her eyes, recalling the cautiousness hidden beneath that person's seemingly joking tone.

[We'll sneak out then and make them search for me everywhere; just thinking about it is hilarious.]

But why hide?

Even if one were to openly and honestly step out of this Capital City, so what?

There is nothing in this world that can stop you; this is the declaration of your instinctual nature.

The boy's Manas consciousness reached its zenith at this moment, its will like a divine pronouncement, gently reaching the ears of millions in the city:

"Li Shishi Zhen'an Ward has now departed with the immortals to slay demons and monsters. Please do not grieve for her."

Then.

The city remained silent until the afterglow of the sunset, which had painted the clouds on the horizon, faded, and only then did the noise begin to rise again...