The plainly dressed villagers chatted idly, the remnants of fireworks in the sky seemed as if they’d never disperse, a large firework exploded, small red lanterns plummeting downward, resembling stars.
Such a beautiful sight.
The scent of incense, fireworks, and various delicacies mingled together, oddly grounding and comforting. Smiles appeared on people’s faces. The man with the severed arm seemed to notice Li Guanyi’s gaze and said, shyly:
"Was I speaking too loudly?"
Li Guanyi shook his head and smiled, "Not at all, this is a temple fair after all."
The man relaxed a lot, smiling and replied, "Indeed."
He held his child with his remaining arm, looked up at the sky, his eyes reflecting the light of stars, the moon, and the falling traces of fireworks, then looked at Li Guanyi and said, "It’s really nice."
"Peaceful days are coming soon."
"I was a soldier for a few years, fought for Chen Country, and got my arm chopped off by the Yue Family Army, but I didn’t give up, even killed an enemy infantry; guess I came out ahead."
"My family used to have a few acres of farmland, but they laid fallow since I wasn’t there."
"Once the fighting stops, I can finally cultivate the land peacefully, plant some crops, maybe some other vegetables in my yard, cabbages, and eggplants, and when the vines cover the fence, they might even bear gourds."
"Those gourds, once dried, removing the seeds inside, can make fine wine gourds, and if there’s a surplus during a bountiful harvest, we can make some rice wine."
He had a smile on his face as he laid out a stack of copper coins on the table.
That evening, his child had an egg with the first few bites of noodles, and his wife had left just under half a bowl; then the man ate the rest of the noodle soup and tasted it, looking thoroughly satisfied, he left the money and said:
"Hope you live well in the coming peaceful days."
He couldn’t help but smack his lips, his wife giggled and lightly scolded, and the man laughed saying, "These noodles are really tasty."
"Haven’t had such a fulfilling meal in a long time."
Li Guanyi watched their figures disappear into the distance, ordered a bowl of vegetarian Yangchun noodles for himself, cradled the bowl, finished eating, and remarked:
"It truly feels fulfilling."
He looked up at the bustling festival, everyone seemed very happy.
Li Guanyi simply finished his noodle soup, sat alone amidst the bustling temple fair, but felt so out of place, as if the crowds coming and going were from another world.
Shaking Light and Murong Longtu had gone around the temple fair, leaving him here sitting alone.
"I should probably join Grandpa and Shaking Light now."
Just then, he suddenly perceived a clear sound of a bronze tripod ringing near his ears, Li Guanyi was briefly stunned, then turned his inward gaze upon the bronze tripod; in this moment, the flowing light within the tripod had stabilized.
Inside, the deep green Jade Liquid had finally calmed down.
It no longer churned and roiled restlessly as before.
After such a long duration, the Primordial Qi, a fragment of the Martial Arts Legend scattered by Zhang Ziyong, had finally fully condensed; Li Guanyi, looking at the final outcome, was slightly astonished.
It wasn’t Jade Liquid.
The majestic, vigorous Jade Liquid had condensed into a spherical pearl.
It was warm and bright, emitting a golden-red light.
Why does it look so familiar?
Li Guanyi was puzzled.
Meanwhile, in a distant forbidden territory.
At the intersection of the Sea of Clouds and the surging waves, the Ancient Red Dragon, which had been slumbering, suddenly opened its eyes: