Xiong Da thought that he would be able to eat something first but he had already ordered three black pepper buns when he was waiting for Jin to open his shop. “Yes, Boss!” Xiong Da knew that what he was doing was all to regain his pride and give Ruo Ying back her freedom, so these sacrifices were worth it.
Bin Yong and Jia Le managed to get in early and secured a Station. Compared to previous dungeons, the advertisement stated that a cultivator needed to bring their loved one for the Qixi Festival Dungeon. Hence the Qixi Dungeon instance was ideally for two cultivators, a couple would be ideal. If the cultivators wished to participate as a group, they would not be rejected though they may have a slightly different dungeon experience in comparison to the couples.
“Oh my god! The new Qixi Festival Dungeon Instance is that expensive without the ticket?” Bin Yong caught a glimpse of the menu when he was thinking of getting some drinks before he entered the dungeon.
“How much is it?” Jia Le took a look before she immediately covered her mouth in surprise. “It’s that expensive?” Jia Le looked at Jin and he nodded. “The perks of using the loot box machine. In the future, the loot box machine will sell a themed dungeon at the start of every month and that will be the only way to get to the ticket cheap. Do not worry, since when have my dungeons not given you a nice and proper experience?”
“Never, at least not that I know of any.” Bin Yong wiped his cold sweat away, thanking his stars that the whim to buy two loot boxes for both him and Jia Le was the right choice. A whopping 500 Yuan for a ticket instead of the loot box price of 100 Yuan.
There were some customers who saw the ticket price and were taken aback too, only to shamelessly ask if there were any loot boxes left. “There is a limited quantity every day until the actual Qixi Festival, so grab it while you can.” Jin smiled and the moment he finished speaking, a number of customers began rushing up the stairs just to use the Loot Box Vending Machine.
“What a scary tactic you used.” Jia Le commented as she knew that the price for the dungeon was probably inflated due to it being the Qixi Festival, just like every other store. Jin could only shrug at her reply and continued to serve the customers.
“Woah, Ms Yun! You are not in the recovery instance?” a fairly regular customer queried when he saw the rumoured Nightingale of Jin’s store. “Jin found someone more proficient than me in the art of healing so I offered to relinquish my place to her. Even I approve of her. You will soon understand why she is the real Nightingale of Jin’s Store.”
“Bin Yong, let’s go!” Jia Le noticed Station 5 was blinking, waiting for the couple, so they quickly rushed over. Even though the new Qixi Festival Dungeon Instance had a recommended slot of two people, the dimensional space station was able to facilitate up to eight cultivators so it could effectively handle four different dungeon instances at the same time.
When Bin Yong and Jia Le teleported into the dungeon, they realised that they were already caught in the action. “Catch those two!!!” A senior palace guard shouted and both Bin Yong and Jia Le found that they were beside a couple palace guards that were clad in the same heavy armour as the one shouting at them.
“You two mercenary immortals! What are you two staring at? Quickly go catch the traitors. This is under the orders of the Heavenly Empress herself!” The senior palace guard shouted at them and ordered them to do so. It was then that Bin Yong and Jia le realised the two that were running were the Cowherd boy, Niu Lang and the Weaver Girl, Zhi Nu.
“Do we really have to catch them?” Jia Le looked at Bin Yong as they started to chase after the running couple. The legend of Qixi festival originated from the legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu. Zhi Nu was the immortal weaver girl that served under the Heavenly Empress and she was the granddaughter of the Heavenly Emperor. Niu Lang, on the other hand, was just a kind-hearted mortal and a simple cowherd boy.
The legend went like this. One day, when Niu Lan was out tending to his cows as usual, he found the Zhi Nu’s clothes through pure chance. Searching for the owner of the clothes, he happened to see Zhi Nu bathing in a pond near his cottage. When he returned the clothes to her, somehow or other, they fell in love at first sight. Now, in this dungeon, it seemed that the Empress found out that her granddaughter had decided to marry a mere mortal just for love so she was probably ordering the palace guards to capture Zhi Nu.
For Bin Yong, the Qixi lore resonated with him a lot. He, a kind-hearted man, though he wouldn’t say it out loud, had fallen in love at first sight with Jia Le, which till this day he could not believe actually happened. And so, he knew how the cowherd and weaver felt. If in this dungeon, he was somehow able to change the course of the legend, it would bring him great joy.
“Let’s pretend to chase after them but provide them with our assistance if needed.” Bin Yong sent a transmission message to Jia Le, which she readily agreed to. Although Jia Le’s love for Bin Yong was from an obsession rather than a love at first sight, she slowly but truly appreciated that she had made the right choice, even if the tactics both she and Bin Yong’s friends had used were rather underhanded.
“We cannot outrun them Niu Lang!” Zhi Nu turned her head to check how many people were chasing after them. Neither of them was fighters and both knew that every second they spent together could be their last.
“Do not worry, just a little further away from the heavenly palace and I might be able to buy us some time!” Niu Lang held tightly onto the Ox leather hide cape he was wearing. It was actually the skin of the dead Heavenly Astral Ox, Taurus, whom Niu Lang had unknowingly taken care of for many years when Taurus had been exiled from the Heavens for a selfless crime. In return for Niu Lang’s kindness and upon hearing his love situation, Taurus told Niu Lang that should he ever die from old age, Niu Land should preserve his skin and carve his horns out as a blowing horn. Lastly, he should keep his tail hair for protection.
“If you ever feel like you are in a pinch and require help desperately, express your desire for help as you blow the horn. Help will arrive. Give some of the tail hair to your loved one the moment you see her again and ask her to hold onto it properly. You will understand why when the situation comes. For now, I shall return to Earth and gaze upon the stars from the ground.” The dying words of the Heavenly Astral Ox had always stayed in Niu Lang’s heart and mind and he had never forgotten them.
“Lady Zhi Nu! Stop at once and you will be forgiven for your crime!” The senior palace guard who was chasing them shouted boomingly at them.
“It is not a crime for me to love someone I like!” Zhi Nu replied as she stuck her tongue out at them.
“Do not make things difficult!” The Palace Guards began to move even faster the moment the senior guard gave the order. Meanwhile, Bin Yong and Jia Le ran quietly behind them, hoping to find the right opportunity to strike them and save the star-crossed lovers.
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