As night fell, the inner city of Hangzhou was quiet, but the outer city was still bustling and brightly lit. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought there was a festival going on!
It was probably even livelier than the Lantern Festival lantern displays in previous years.
By the time Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze returned, weary and travel-stained, to the garden where they were staying, it was already around the hour of the Dog.
Both of them looked utterly exhausted, and their clothes were filthy. No one knew what they had been doing all day.
The Huashan disciples guarding the gate didn't dare ask. They simply opened it respectfully and ushered the hurried pair inside.
"Wonderful!"
"Father!"
"Mother, you're back!"
When Yue Lingshan saw her parents return, she still felt uneasy, but she hurried to the flower hall at once to welcome them.
"Father—"
"How did it go?"
Then, seeing their expressions, she felt her heart give a lurch. After a moment's hesitation, she had no choice but to steel herself and timidly approach them with the question.
"..."
At her words, Yue Buqun didn't stop. He walked straight into the flower hall and sat down without so much as a glance in Yue Lingshan's direction, as though she didn't exist.
"..."
Seeing this, Lu Dayou hurried over and carefully placed a tray with two cups of hot tea in Yue Lingshan's hands. At the same time, he shot his junior sister a meaningful look.
"..."
Yet even when his daughter brought him tea, Yue Buqun barely looked at her. He simply sat there in silence, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
"Mother..."
"How did it go?"
When her father ignored her, Yue Lingshan could only turn to her mother, Ning Zhongze, with a pleading, hopeful look.
"Ah..."
Ning