The stream gurgled softly.
Around the Magpie Bridge, many young men and women were engaged in friendly and innocent emotional exchanges. Yunzhou had liberal customs—holding hands, embracing, or even stealing a kiss were all understandable behaviors.
So, what was unreasonable about massaging a little foot?
At least, that’s what Li Mo thought.
Besides, he had a strange condition.
Today, she was an understanding ice block—she would surely sympathize with him. The way her little feet trembled slightly from time to time, especially when he touched the soles, made it clear.
The ice block was more talkative today, though still not as much as Li Mo.
Li Mo spoke of his time at the Sword Tower, their childhood memories, the challenges he faced while observing divine intent and tempering his body, and the amusing incidents caused by the haze of the womb.
As everyone knew, $2he ice block had practically no sense of humor.
"Wasn’t there supposed to be fireworks? Why haven’t they started yet?"
After a while, Li Mo squeezed the warmth in his palm and looked up at the sky, murmuring:
"If we can see the fireworks, this trip to Yunzhou will truly be perfect."
Her toes, delicate as flower buds, curled slightly. Ying Bing instinctively reached to tuck the hair behind her ear but realized she was wearing a jade hairpin now—no need for that.
She didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the distance.
If... only this could last forever.
Even without turning, Li Mo could already see the shimmering light in her eyes.
A rose-gold flame shot into the night sky and burst with a bang, scattering into a shower of sparks before being swiftly drowned out by the next firework.
Under Yunzhou City’s night sky, a rain of stars began, dyeing the layered clouds in hues of glazed crimson, mirroring the splendor of the mortal world.
"These fireworks are so bright."
The quality of Yunzhou’s fireworks surpassed Li Mo’s expectations—they could rival those from his past life.
But the brighter they shone, the more obvious the things happening in the shadows became.
Let’s just say, the youths of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands were quite passionate and unrestrained.
Taking advantage of the fireworks, they kissed and clung to each other, nibbling away.
If Senior Brother Ouyang or Brother Murong saw this, they’d surely be shocked—how could there be so many hidden demonic beasts in Yunzhou, brazenly giving in to their wild instincts?
They’re gnawing on people! Isn’t anyone going to do something about it?!
Li Mo curled his lips. It almost made him want to nibble on something too.
Ying Bing felt the pressure on her foot increase slightly. She glanced at the boy’s lips, her fingers curling briefly before she looked back at the sky.
So that’s how pigs run?
But this was a bit...
"Li Mo, close your eyes," Ying Bing said softly.
"I won’t tell you yet."
Li Mo’s brain short-circuited for a moment before he obediently shut his eyes. Just before doing so, he caught a glimpse of the faint smile on the girl’s lips.
Then the warmth in his palm vanished, leaving an abrupt emptiness.
A rustling sound followed—perhaps the ice block was standing up?
A subtle fragrance drifted to his nose as she drew closer...
Cool fingertips brushed his wrist—she was holding his hand now... Li Mo felt like his heart might leap out of his chest.
But it wasn’t what he expected.
The anticipated sensation never came.
"You can open your eyes now."
Li Mo opened his eyes to find a red string tied around his wrist.
It was the same one Ying Bing had used to tie her hair earlier.
"Happy Autumn Festival."
Ying Bing’s voice was soft.
"Mm... Happy Autumn Festival." Li Mo twisted the red string, deliberately avoiding looking at the jade-like lips nearby.
What had he been thinking earlier?
Even if the ice block wasn’t as cold and distant as before, there was no way she’d take the initiative to kiss him.
Too sci-fi. Utterly sci-fi.
Besides, wasn’t this kind of thing usually the boy’s role—
Suddenly, a blazing orange streak of light tore across the southern sky, turning night into day in an instant.
It was so bright it could probably be seen far beyond Yunzhou.
"What kind of firework is that? So bright... and why is it falling from the sky?"
That wasn’t a firework—it was a meteor, right?
But no meteor was ever this luminous.
The hand gripping his wrist tightened. Li Mo noticed the smile fading from Ying Bing’s jade-like face as she watched the "meteor" streaking toward the Southern Border.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she sighed inwardly.
"The fireworks are ending."
"Mm, let’s head back. My socks—"
Seeing the boy’s blank expression, Ying Bing’s gaze drifted meaninglessly toward Li Mo’s pocket.
Li Mo reached in and blinked in surprise.
"Huh? When did your stockings sneak into my pocket? Ah, I get it—must be muscle memory from the full-service routine. Turns out I’ve got an occupational disease."
"To make it up to you, I’ll help you put them on."
Mainly, he was curious.
After helping Ying Bing with her shoes and stockings, the two returned to the lakeside inn at Fish-Dragon Lake.
The inn was eerily quiet—everyone was probably still outside enjoying the festivities. The only one still inside was Murong Xiao, sitting silently without a word.
Seeing the two return hand in hand, Murong Xiao’s eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. His face seemed to grow even more sorrowful.
They climbed to the rooftop of the inn.
By now, $2he "meteor" hadn’t yet faded. From this height, the faint fluctuations of divine intent were even more discernible.
It didn’t even resemble a meteor anymore—more like a divine bird descending upon the Southern Border.
Li Mo closed his eyes again.
Not that he particularly believed in such mystical things.
But meteors were rare in a lifetime—he might as well make a wish for the occasion.
"Ha, I just made a wish."
"That’s not a meteor..."
Ying Bing didn’t finish her sentence, instead asking softly:
"What did you wish for?"
The boy grinned brightly. "I hope for peaceful days ahead, for everyone in the Qingyuan Sect... and for you, to always be happy."
The greatest wish in everyone’s heart, yet the hardest to attain in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
Misfortune and tomorrow—no one knew which would arrive first.
Though they were considered outstanding among their peers, in the grand scheme of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, they were still insignificant.
Right now, they could do little to alter the Qingyuan Sect’s impending crisis.
She had tasted the desolation of life after the Qingyuan Sect’s collapse.
"In a few days, you’ll return to Purple Sun Prefecture with the elders. I need to go to the Southern Border—it won’t take long. Don’t fall behind in your training."
"The Southern Border? What for?"
"To retrieve the meteor you wished upon."
Ying Bing’s voice was clear and bright as she watched the light vanish completely. The boy’s hand was warm in hers.
She turned to him with a smile, her eyes still shining.