Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Sang Nian, I Heard You’re Quite Famous?

Sang Qiyan arrived late:

“Aren’t we supposed to be setting off fireworks? What are you all standing around for?”

Sang Nian: “Fireworks?”

Mentioning this, Shen Mingchao immediately forgot the little incident just now, excitedly saying:

“Yes, we didn’t get enough just now, your brother specially went to buy more fireworks.”

“This one’s for you.” He threw a box of fireworks at her, then tossed another to Xie Chenzhou, “This one’s for you.”

Xie Chenzhou turned his face away, coldly saying:

“I don’t want it, take it away.”

“Tsk.” Shen Mingchao forcefully shoved it into his hand, “Don’t be polite with your senior brother, as the saying goes, ‘Elder brother is like father,’ I’m also like half your…”

Xie Chenzhou looked at him with a chilling gaze:

“Say another word, and what’s going up in the sky won’t be fireworks.”

Shen Mingchao: “Then what will it be?”

Sang Nian said softly: “You.”

Shen Mingchao: “!”

“Who wants to light it?” Over there, Chu Yao made a fire spell, shouting, “Come over quickly.”

Shen Mingchao hurriedly ran over.

Seeing this, Sang Nian cheerfully shook Xie Chenzhou’s arm:

“Come on, let’s go set off fireworks.”

Xie Chenzhou picked up the box of fireworks that had been thrown on the ground, and curved the corners of his lips:

“Okay.”

On the balcony, everyone stood in a row, igniting the fireworks in their hands.

In an instant, the sounds of explosions rang out one after another.

The dark sky bloomed with countless fire trees and silver flowers.

They all raised their heads, their eyes reflecting the dazzling brilliance, their brows and eyes filled with smiles.

Even many, many years later, in their midnight dreams, they would often recall this moment.

At that time, they were in their prime.

…

After a whole night of revelry, feasting, and having their fill of fun, the group finally bid farewell to Sang Qiyan.

They walked shoulder to shoulder towards the inn, laughing and joking.

Occasionally humming a tuneless song.

On the top floor of the Dream-Blowing Tower.

Xiao Zhuochen stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes lowered as he gazed into the distance.

A young man who shared three-quarters of his features walked over, following his gaze, but saw nothing.

“What are you looking at?” he asked Xiao Zhuochen.

Xiao Zhuochen retracted his gaze and replied softly:

“I’m watching a group of… very happy people.”

Xiao Jing “Oh”ed, not interested in this, and changed the subject:

“Brother, you’re sure to win the Heroes’ Assembly this time, right?”

Xiao Zhuochen shook his head slightly:

“Not necessarily.”

Xiao Jing didn’t believe him:

“You’re the most powerful senior brother among the younger generation of the Immortal Sect, everyone says you’ll win.”

He pointed to the banquet hall where people were clinking glasses and chatting:

“Look, some people have already come to congratulate Father in advance, if you really lose then, I don’t know how many people will laugh at our family.”

“You can only win, you can’t lose.”

Xiao Zhuochen pressed his temples:

“Your birthday has already passed, I’m going back to the Changsheng Palace first.”

“These people are all here to attend my birthday banquet because of you.”

Xiao Jing stopped him:

“If you leave now, everyone will be unhappy.”

Xiao Zhuochen: “A Jing…”

“Brother.”

Xiao Jing interrupted him:

“You are the glory of our Xiao family.”

Xiao Zhuochen’s raised foot froze in mid-air.

Xiao Jing said:

“Did you really become so emotionless after cultivating the Path of No Emotion?”

For a long time, Xiao Zhuochen sat back down at the table in silence.

Almost at the same time, his table was filled with crystal wine goblets.

He looked up, and saw countless faces smiling obsequiously.

“Young Master Xiao is a rare talent, we are all in awe!”

“The Immortal Sect’s top disciple, truly has an extraordinary bearing!”

“A mere Heroes’ Assembly, Young Master Xiao will surely win first place!”

…

Xiao Zhuochen remained silent.

The atmosphere turned cold, and everyone looked at each other in confusion.

Xiao’s father reminded him:

“Zhuochen.”

Xiao Zhuochen picked up the wine cup in front of him and drank it down in one gulp.

The atmosphere became lively again.

Xiao Zhuochen turned his head towards the open window.

The night sky was silent.

The fireworks had gone cold.

The next day, before dawn, Sang Nian was pulled out of bed by Chu Yao.

“Come on, let’s go practice swordsmanship.”

Sang Nian was awake but her soul hadn’t woken up yet, she asked blankly:

“Where are we going to practice?”

Chu Yao: “The Changsheng Palace’s martial arts field is open to all Immortal Sect disciples, if we go late, there won’t be any space left.”

Sang Nian struggled to get up:

“Then let’s go quickly.”

The two of them went out, Su Xueyin and Wen Buyu were already waiting at the foot of the stairs.

Sang Nian knocked on Xie Chenzhou’s door, then kicked open Shen Mingchao’s room.

Shen Mingchao sat up in fright, his messy hair standing on end:

“Who is it!”

Sang Nian patted the door:

“Get up, practice swordsmanship.”

Shen Mingchao fell back onto the bed and threw a pillow at her:

“Close the door and then get out.”

Sang Nian said: “Alright, then we’re going.”

Shen Mingchao couldn’t sleep anymore:

“You’re all going?”

Sang Nian: “Mhm.”

Shen Mingchao grumbled as he got out of bed and put on his shoes, rushing out while putting on his outer robe:

“I’m done with you guys, we finally left the sect, can’t we just rest for a day?”

“You can rest,” Sang Nian said, “We’re not forcing you.”

Shen Mingchao’s expression was ferocious:

“Then you all break through like crazy, and I’m the only one stuck in place, right?”

Xie Chenzhou, who was fully dressed, came out of his room, hearing his words, he said coolly:

“Maybe even if you tried hard, you wouldn’t be able to break through.”

Shen Mingchao covered his ears:

“I’m going to beat both you and Wen Buyu, don’t try to mess with my resolve.”

Xie Chenzhou chuckled softly.

Seeing that he had put on his black clothes again, Chu Yao was relieved:

“Thank heavens, Xie Chenzhou, you’re finally back to normal, I didn’t even want to go out with you today.”

Xie Chenzhou, with his hands behind his back, turned his face away:

“I’ve always been normal.”

“You’re putting on an act.” Chu Yao rolled her eyes, pushed past him, and strode downstairs.

Most areas within Yujing City were under a no-flying restriction, except for travel to and from the Changsheng Palace.

The group flew their swords to the Changsheng Palace’s martial arts field.

It was barely dawn, but there were already quite a few people there.

Not only sword cultivators, but other cultivators as well.

There were even a few music cultivators.

Sang Nian looked at them with anticipation, wanting to know what kind of music they would play.

They took out an erhu and played a piece called “Moon Reflected in the Second Spring.”

Those who heard it couldn’t help but shed tears of sadness.

Sang Nian: “…”

She suppressed the urge to throw copper coins, silently turned around, and wanted to find something from her storage bag to block her ears.

Suddenly, a shadow fell in front of her.

Looking up, she saw a group of female cultivators standing a few steps away, their expressions unfriendly:

“Are you Sang Nian from the Xiaoyao sect?”

Sang Nian didn’t understand:

“What’s the matter?”

They crossed their arms, looking Sang Nian up and down, and sneered repeatedly:

“Sang Nian, I heard you’re quite famous.”

Sang Nian: “…”

Sang Nian slowly typed out a question mark.