Watching Fireworks from the Bridge

However, to Bibi Xi, who had already jumped to conclusions and firmly believed this girl had fallen in love with him at first sight, this enthusiastic invitation was undoubtedly the strongest proof.

Bibi Xi was overjoyed. Could the wish I made on that lousy lantern by the river tonight have actually come true?

Heaven has finally taken pity on me. Seeing how hard it is for me to wander the continent alone, it sent me a beautiful girl who can fight!

That kick was worth it!

He cleared his throat and straightened his collar. "Since Miss Ling Yuan is being so hospitable and sincerely wishes to apologize, I would be rude to refuse."

Seeing him agree, Ling Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief. She had finally found an excuse to keep interacting with him.

"Great! Then let's go. We'll head to that Drunken Moon Pavilion over there. I heard the food is quite good."

She pointed to a brightly lit, three-story restaurant not far beyond the mouth of the alley, packed with customers.

"No problem." Bibi Xi gave a carefree wave, signaling for Ling Yuan to lead the way.

After taking two steps, he seemed to remember something. He turned back to look at Ling Yuan and asked, "But Miss Ling Yuan, are you really just treating me to a meal as an apology? You don't have any other intentions?"

Ling Yuan stumbled, nearly choking on her own saliva.

She turned and glared at Bibi Xi, gritting her teeth as she smiled. "Of course. It's only an apology. Don't overthink it."

"Yes, yes, I overthought it. Let's go, then. We can split the bill later."

"No need. I said I'm treating."

"You're really generous. Are you some wealthy family's young lady?"

"Hey, stop looking at me and watch where you're going."

"Ow!"

After leaving the lantern-launching docks, Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong stepped onto Yelin City's arched bridge.

"Dong'er, would you like some candied hawthorn?"

Passing a peddler carrying a straw rack, Qian Xunji stopped. The rack was filled with skewers of candied hawthorn.

Bibi Dong looked at the candied hawthorn, then at her teacher's smiling eyes, and gently nodded.

Qian Xunji picked out two skewers and paid for them, handing one to her while keeping one for himself.

The dignified Pope of Spirit Hall stood at the bustling bridgehead and bit into a sweet-and-sour hawthorn, looking remarkably at ease.

The two leaned against the bridge railing, gazing at another river below where painted boats drifted back and forth.

"Teacher, do you think... the banquet in Heaven Dou City was really that boring?"

Bibi Dong took small bites of her candied hawthorn and asked curiously.

She could not imagine such an occasion, but she always felt that her teacher must have returned early because he disliked it.

"More than boring. It was simply unbearable."

"Everyone spoke with three layers of masks on their faces, and every dish tasted the same—hypocrisy."

"Yelin City is better. The lanterns are beautiful, and so are the people." As he spoke, he turned to look at Bibi Dong, his meaning clear.

Bibi Dong's face heated beneath his gaze. She hurriedly lowered her head and ate her candied hawthorn, mumbling, "Then... then Teacher should go less often in the future."

"Mm. If I can turn them down, I will."

"With that time, I'd rather study something interesting or take Dong'er out for a walk."

His teasing made Bibi Dong's heart race.

Just then—

Whoosh—boom! Boom! Boom!

Several shrill whistles tore through the night sky, followed by fireworks even grander and more beautiful than those of the previous two nights.

Golden chrysanthemums bloomed, silver willows draped their threads, fiery trees and silver flowers shone, and seven-colored stars rained down... layer upon layer, dazzling and brilliant. They lit Yelin City's entire night sky as bright as day, making even the countless floating lanterns on the river pale in comparison.

The crowd erupted in waves of astonishment and cheers.

"Wow, they're so beautiful!" Bibi Dong lifted her little face.

But Qian Xunji was not looking at the fireworks.

His gaze remained on Bibi Dong beside him.

He reached out and took Bibi Dong's hand.

Bibi Dong froze and instinctively turned her head.

Their eyes met.

"T-Teacher..."

"Dong'er..."

"..."

Bibi Dong's mind went blank. Her heart seemed ready to burst from her chest, pounding so hard that her ears buzzed.

She watched Qian Xunji's face draw closer, watched him lower his head, watched as his lips seemed about to descend...

Is he... going to kiss me?

Under such dazzling fireworks?

Her heart pounded so fiercely she could barely breathe. Then, she obediently closed her eyes.

Yet just as their lips gradually neared each other, Qian Xunji's face flashed through Bibi Dong's mind.

But it was not the face before her now, with its gentle, smiling eyes. It was the eternally stern face from her memories.

And those eyes, which had once held nothing but severity and possessiveness whenever they looked at her.

"!!!"

Bibi Dong was startled, and her body reacted before her mind could.

She pulled her hand from Qian Xunji's grasp while stumbling two steps backward.

The splendid fireworks continued bursting overhead, illuminating her flustered expression.

Qian Xunji's movement stopped. Watching Bibi Dong suddenly retreat as if frightened, he was puzzled.

Only after several seconds did Bibi Dong come back to herself.

Teacher was clearly so kind, so gentle. Just now... how could she...

"I-I'm sorry, Teacher..."

"Between us, is it... is it too fast?"

"I... I'm not ready yet..."

Qian Xunji fell silent for a moment, then looked up at the fireworks again.

"No, it was my fault."

"I was... too forward."

"Let's keep watching the fireworks. Look, they're beautiful."

Hearing that made Bibi Dong feel even worse.

She bit her lip, reached out, and took Qian Xunji's hand of her own accord.

Qian Xunji paused and turned to look at her.

Bibi Dong opened her mouth, but she still lacked the courage to ask, "Teacher, do you like me?"

That's too direct!

Too embarrassing!

And besides... I just pulled away from Teacher's advances, and now I'm asking something like that. Wouldn't that make me seem terribly pretentious?

"Teacher..."

Qian Xunji clasped her hand in return. "Mm, I'm here. Let's watch the fireworks."

The two stood side by side like that, hand in hand, looking up at the final grand round of fireworks in the sky.

About half an hour later, the magnificent fireworks display finally came to an end.

The crowd began to slowly disperse. Some continued discussing the show with lingering excitement, while others started to leave.

Bibi Dong suddenly remembered that Ling Yuan had not returned.

"Right, where's Ling Yuan? The fireworks are already over. Why hasn't she come to find us?"

She was a little worried. Ling Yuan was clever, but she was still a girl, and Yelin City was crowded with all kinds of people.

"She has indeed been gone too long. With her personality, if nothing had happened, she should have returned long ago."

"Teacher, shall we go look for her?"

"Mm." Qian Xunji nodded, then closed his eyes.

A wave of Spiritual Power spread outward from him.

Everyone's Soul Power fluctuations, Martial Souls, ranks... countless streams of information flooded into his senses, then were instantly filtered, sorted, and pinpointed by his powerful Spiritual Power.

A few breaths later, he opened his eyes.

"Found her."

"Where is she?"

"She's near the entrance to Yelin City's plaza. She has just come out of the plaza, where the fireworks were launched earlier."

"The plaza? What was she doing there?"

"We'll find out when we get there." Qian Xunji took her hand and followed the flow of people toward the central plaza.

At the entrance to the central plaza, the crowd was dispersing.

Ling Yuan stood there alone, her gaze somewhat unfocused, as though she were thinking about something.

Her expression shifted between confusion and inner conflict.