Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“It’s open! It’s open!” everyone cried out in delight while they all looked at Lin Mufeng with an impressed look.
The Chess Fanatic jolted. His dull eyes instantly sparkled as the game kept unfolding in his mind. He mumbled to himself, “I see… I see… I understand now… I understand now…”
Lin Mufeng looked at the stone wall and said to him, “Why don’t you come in with us?”
“No need. I already got what I needed. I’ll wait outside.” The Chess Fanatic waved as he staggered to a nearby corner and sat cross-legged. His mind was still replaying the game from earlier.
“Thank you for your help.” The other cultivators thanked Lin Mufeng and turned into light. Then, they headed into the secret border.
Lin Mufeng and Old Man Sun exchanged a look and said, “Let’s go in. That’s all the expert can help us with. If we still fail to complete the mission, we don’t deserve to see him again!”
…
Five days passed by quickly.
The sky was darkening while Li Nianfan brought Daji out to the town like usual. Today was the Lunar New Year and night time was the busiest time of all. Standing on the mountain, Li Nianfan looked down to see that the Fallen Immortal Town had lit up, glowing like a bright red sea. He could feel the festivity from afar!
“Let’s go!” Li Nianfan brought Daji down to town with him.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
As they arrived at the foot of the mountain, they could hear the sound of drums coming from the Fallen Immortal Town. Once they entered the town, they could see houses lit up with decorations. The stalls by the side of the road had different kinds of lights and flowers as decorations, making the city glow. There were also toys for the kids, as well as sweets and snacks. There were plenty of choices that would catch anyone’s eyes!
The kids surrounded the stalls as they pointed at their desired toys, looking up at their parents with their tiny sparkling eyes and hoping that their parents would buy them the toys. The adults stood behind their children, smiling helplessly. Eventually, they bought the new toys for their children to make them happy.
Six circus performers were performing in the middle of the street as well as groups performing the lion dance and dragon dance to entertain the audience. Cheers and applause filled the air.
Li Nianfan smiled at Daji. “What do you think? Feeling festive?”
He remembered being captivated by the festive celebration of Lunar New Year the first time he came here. This was way more festive than the celebration back home in his previous realm.
“Yeah, it’s hard to believe that ordinary men can live so freely, too.” Daji looked at them curiously, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
This was her first time mingling with the ordinary men. The entire festive celebration really impressed her.
Li Nianfan shook his head and said, “You’re wrong to have said that. So what if they’re ordinary? Though we only have a mere hundred years to live, it teaches us to cherish the beauty of life and to live to one’s fullest potential with joy and happiness. Your life depends on the way you choose to live it, not based on your identity.”
He wanted to correct Daji’s thinking.
In this Immortal Realm, every ordinary man envied the high-above cultivators. However, the ordinary men had their way of living, too. No one should envy how others lived.
A look of awe appeared in Daji’s eyes. She looked at Li Nianfan with her beautiful eyes as she said after taking a deep breath, “Daji will remember Mr. Li’s teaching.”
She felt a wave in her heart. Li Nianfan’s words were like a bomb ringing in her head. It was as if she had grasped something, but she was uncertain of what it was.
‘Master’s realm is indeed way beyond this realm. It’s a privilege to be able to follow him around and to hear him teach. Even his words are beneficial!’ Daji thought to herself.
“It’s not teaching! I’m just speaking my mind. Just treat it as ‘Chicken Soup’,” Li Nianfan said nonchalantly.
“Chicken Soup?” Daji looked at him as she paused slightly, confused.
She felt disheartened. It seemed that her understanding was not good enough and she still had many things to learn since she did not quite understand Li Nianfan.
As they walked further, there was a river bisecting the street. There was a stone bridge crossing the river, decorated with many lights and flowers of different colors. Below the bridge were some nicely decorated boats where countless men and women chatted and flirted with one another.
“Sir, fancy a cup of tea?”
“Yeah, sir. Come and listen to the music.”
The flirtatious sounds of women were heard coming from a building at the other end of the bridge, turning one’s imagination wild.
Daji looked at the lit-up building and instinctively frowned. She asked out of curiosity, “Mr. Li, what place is that?”
Li Nianfan’s lips twitched slightly and said, “Hmm…it’s a place where men and women work together.”
On the top of the building.
An elderly man in a black cloak narrowed his eyes as he observed the passer-by walking below him. His dry and slender fingers were wrapped around a bottle of wine as he tasted it. Behind him was a big red bed. On the bed, a naked woman was staring at him wide-eyed, resembling the terror on the face of an animal just before its impending death.
Suddenly, the elderly man’s eyes narrowed further as a woman in white clothes caught his eye. His eyes sparkled with desire as he licked his lips and said, “Who would’ve thought there’d be such a beauty in this ordinary town?”
Behind him, a follower saw Daji as well. He called out in shock, “Master, I’ll bring her here right away.”
The elderly man said with a cold smirk, “Of course, a beautiful woman like her can’t be left with that ordinary man.”
However, his brows furrowed in the next instance. He called out, wearing a suspicious look, “Wait!”
The follower was shocked. He said, “This ordinary man knows the Holy Emperor?”
The elderly man said with a low voice, “Follow them. Keep an eye on them.”
…
The Holy Emperor was enjoying the festive lights with Zhong Xiu and Luo Shiyu. When he saw Li Nianfan, he walked up to him in delight, “Mr. Li, Miss Daji, you’re here for the light festival!”
Li Nianfan nodded and smiled. “Yeah, what a coincidence to see you here!”
“Haha! Yeah! What a coincidence!” The Holy Emperor laughed with excitement. He then suggested, “Mr. Li, I know a place where we can watch the lights from above. You’ll be able to catch the entire festival from up there. Are you interested?”
Li Nianfan thought for a moment but shook his head. “Perhaps not. I heard the sects will be recruiting disciples tonight. I’d like to have a look.”
The Holy Emperor said, “Oh, so Mr. Li wants to go there. I was going that way, too. Why don’t we walk there together?”
“Sure!” Li Nianfan smiled and nodded.
