Chapter 018

“Alright, you little rascal,”

Zhaolan finished her shaved ice, jumped out from behind Zhaoxue, and angrily scolded Ji Xueshou, “You gave a gift to big sister behind my back. So sneaky!”

Zhaoxue was startled and instinctively hid the sword tassel. “He’s going to the Heavenly Star Sect. This is a parting gift before we separate.”

She felt a bit guilty.

Ji Xueshou didn’t say anything, probably silently agreeing with her explanation.

Zhaolan was unhappy and muttered, “So many tricks. I haven’t prepared anything for big sister yet.”

Zhaoxue grabbed her hand, “I’m just happy you came out to play with me. Besides, I didn’t prepare anything for you either. Zhaolan, don’t worry about it.”

Zhaolan carried a sweet strawberry scent on her and snuggled against Zhaoxue’s arm like a little puppy, humming softly as if convinced. But after glancing at Ji Xueshou a few times, she stood up unwillingly.

“No way, I can’t just accept that.”

“This morning, when this kid was chosen at the Heavenly Star Sect, he was already taller than me by half a head. His mother looked at me like a tiger ready to pounce, all alert and watchful. It made me uncomfortable. Everyone knows Ji Xueshou is quiet and hardworking, but actually, he’s pretty playful and always clings to you, big sister. I can’t stand it, so I have to compete with him.”

Zhaolan leaned against Zhaoxue’s chest, eyes slanting sideways at Ji Xueshou with a challenging look.

“This time, no matter what, I have to make him admit defeat.”

She said this with a sly smile, jumped on the spot, and turned to leave.

Zhaoxue asked, “Where are you going?”

“The ultimate grand prize of the Lantern Festival’s riddle contest changes every year. This year, no one knows what it is yet. Everyone wants to win it and give it to their lover.”

Zhaolan looked back and smiled sweetly, “No matter how special a gift is, it can’t compare to this honor. This year, I have to win it for you, big sister!”

The ultimate grand prize of the riddle contest?

Before Zhaoxue could fully react, Ji Xueshou, who had been silent beside her, also stood up, his dark, tangled hair brushing past her eyes.

A low, clear, youthful voice came:

“…I’m going too.”

Zhaoxue was momentarily stunned. She instinctively reached out to grab his hand but stopped halfway, tightening her fingers.

She had just been about to ask him if he had given up on her elder sister.

After all, since he had already been rejected, no matter what, he wouldn’t still be holding onto that unspoken affection.

But…

The Lantern Festival riddle contest happens once a year, and the prize is unique. Even after giving her a gift, he still wanted so passionately to win this singular honor, and it was obvious who he wanted to give it to.

Who could refuse the desire to win an honor for someone they liked?

Besides, her elder sister had already rejected the gift box that expressed his feelings. If Ji Xueshou treated this riddle contest prize as a farewell gift for her sister, she would have no reason to refuse it.

Sure enough, love doesn’t easily fade just because it’s been rejected.

The strange feeling she had earlier suddenly felt unnecessary.

Ji Xueshou really was a straightforward and sincere person.

Clearly, the other party had no feelings for him, so why was he still so persistent?

“Are you trying to compete with me again? Ji Xueshou, are you crazy?”

“Without me, you might not even win.”

“? You think you can win? I’m the one giving this to big sister. Be smart and back off. Don’t compete with me.”

“I have my own reasons why I must win.”

“Give it to big sister? Come on, you’ve already been rejected once… Fine, just stay in the arena and be properly defeated by me! Oh, and—”

Zhaolan suddenly remembered something, turned around, and looked at Zhaoxue with warmth and anticipation.

“Big sister, are you going to watch the competition? Watch me completely defeat this guy!”

Zhaoxue smiled slightly. “There will be too many people. I don’t want to go. You two go ahead, have fun, and don’t fight.”

“Oh, alright then. Big sister, just have a look around first. We’ll be back within half an hour!”

Zhaolan felt a little disappointed but still cheered herself up and left with determination.

She was set on a quick and decisive victory! After all, there was the grandest fireworks show of the year to watch later that evening.

Ji Xueshou stayed where he was, glanced at Zhaoxue’s turned-back figure, then turned and disappeared into the crowd of the Lantern Festival like a black cat.

Among the noisy crowd, Zhaoyang finished buying his things and saw the largest arena in the center of the night market.

Above hung a huge red curtain, dazzling and colorful, with lanterns of all shapes and sizes casting a warm orange candlelight glow, gently swaying in the night breeze.

Excited chatter filled the air without pause.

Zhaoyang stood in front of the arena, carrying his purchases, and his eyes fell on the beautiful, graceful lanterns.

“Senior Brother, are you good at guessing lantern riddles?”

“Not really.”

“Zhaolan and I both liked these games as children. Unfortunately, Zhaoxue hates crowds. This is the first time she’s come out to see the lanterns this year. I’m surprised, but as long as she’s willing to go somewhere lively, I’m happy.”

“…”

“I want to try this year’s competition. If I’m lucky enough to win the final champion’s prize, I want to give it to you, Senior Brother, so you can present it to Zhaoxue.”

“…”

“That girl has always been afraid of you. Since the incident when she fell into the water, she’s had some faint resistance toward you deep down. Of course, I understand she’s just a child, and you wouldn’t hold a grudge against her, but since she’ll be with us from now on, even if we don’t expect her to be close, I just want to remove this barrier.”

Zhaoyang lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought, then smiled softly.

“Senior Brother, you know well that back then I only wanted to join the Sword Sect and become Master’s disciple—not because of any grand ideals about the sword, but just to make connections and gain better access to spirit medicines to treat Zhaoxue’s illness. After all, she was my only younger sister in the big family and very important to me.”

“No need for you to say more. I will naturally take care of her.”

Jiang Lingfeng also followed her gaze as she looked up, seeing the cute lanterns tied to red strings, with tassels swaying in the wind. Among the two rabbit lanterns—one large, one small—there was, quite unexpectedly, a curled-up, lazy little cat lantern.

The little cat was nestled on a lotus-shaped base, relaxed and comfortable, swaying gently under the moonlight, full of vivid life and spirit.

“Then thank you very much, Senior Brother.”

Zhaoyang put away the things he was carrying into his spirit ring and walked into the crowd.

Jiang Lingfeng stood away from the crowd, feeling the cold wind, arms crossed, watching the people. Soon, he spotted two kids playfully bickering: the girl ran toward the registration area, arguing as she went, afraid to fall behind the boy beside her, the boy, as always, was quiet, focusing solely on the upcoming competition.

Were they also trying to win an honor for that girl?

But even so,

Jiang Lingfeng looked into the distance.

The girl was still squatting alone under the wishing tree, hugging her knees, looking incredibly lonely.

Jiang Lingfeng thought,

Just like he once was.

—

Zhaoxue sat bored beside the wishing tree for a while, then walked along the riverbank, releasing a few lotus lanterns. At a nearby stall, she bought three bright red wish slips embroidered with gold edges.

The stall owner specially told her that after writing down your wish on the slip, you could throw it onto the tree. As long as it hung on the tree, your wish would come true.

Although Zhaoxue had heard of this before, it was her first time seeing it. In past years, she had heard of parents writing wish slips for their newborn children, but this kind of thing had nothing to do with her.

Just as she was about to head back to where she started, Zhaoxue noticed people looking at her. Touching her face, she suddenly remembered she had forgotten to take off her half-mask.

But her big sister, Zhaolan, and Xueshou… they all recognized her at a glance.

Might as well not wear it at all.

Zhaoxue pulled off the mask, feeling a bit discouraged.

At first, Zhaoxue had thought it would be a touching night before parting.

The system still hadn’t come online, so she couldn’t check the favorability levels.

Sighing, Zhaoxue slipped her fingers through the eye openings of her mask and walked back in circles to the wishing tree.

Unexpectedly, those two were already waiting there.

“Big sister—”

Zhaolan, feeling wronged, rushed over, “It’s gone! The ultimate grand prize that was almost within reach slipped away—boohoo.”

Zhaoxue hurriedly caught her, “What happened?”

So quick to be decided?

“Lost narrowly, didn’t get the prize, only got the cash prize to buy this for you,” Zhaolan said sadly, lowering her head and pulling out a rabbit sword tassel with pink tassels from her pocket and handed it to her. The white jade rabbit had two long ears standing upright, adorable and pure as snow.

“Lost in the round of eight to six,”

Ji Xueshou suddenly spoke from the side.

Zhaolan snorted, turned her head, and rolled her eyes, “Never says a word when it counts, but suddenly talks when he shouldn’t. And you weren’t any better—lost in the round of six to four.”

She grabbed the hibiscus cake from Ji Xueshou’s hand. “Too ashamed to face big sister, so I bought some food to give to my big sister—bought it, but then you don’t give it, what, do you expect it to warm up in your arms or something?”

More hibiscus cake was stuffed into Zhaoxue’s arms.

She stayed blank for a moment before reacting, “You both lost?”

Zhaolan: “…ahem.” Turning her face away.

Ji Xueshou: “…yeah.” Lowering his head.

Zhaoxue asked curiously, “So who won the championship?”

Zhaolan replied, “I don’t know, but it doesn’t really matter. We came back early because we were worried you’d get impatient waiting, big sister.”

Zhaoxue looked down at the pile of things in her arms.

Wishing tags, hibiscus cakes, mask, sword tassel.

She paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Zhaolan covered her face, “I was already so sad, and now you’re laughing at me? That’s not fair!”

“No, I’m not,”

Zhaoxue said, grabbing Zhaolan’s wrist and shaking her head.

Zhaolan probably didn’t know what she was laughing at, but Zhaoxue didn’t want to explain. Instead, she slipped the wishing tags into the palms of both Zhaolan and Ji Xueshou.

“Let’s play this.”

“Wishing tags?”

“The vendor told me that if you write down your wish on one of these and throw it onto the wishing tree, your wish will come true.”

Zhaoxue thought for a moment, then added, “I heard that the higher your wishing tag hangs, the more likely your wish will be granted!”

Hearing this, Zhaolan immediately relaxed her previously furrowed brows.

“There’s even a rule like that!”

She became full of fighting spirit, “This time, I’m definitely going to be first!”

They borrowed pens from the vendor and leaned over the small stall, writing their wishes on the red ribbons.

Zhaolan happily weighed the wishing tag in her hand, then looked up at the tall wishing tree.

“My wish is that big sister, eldest sister, mother, and father all stay safe and healthy, and that we’ll always be together!”

After she finished speaking, she jumped and threw the wishing tag upward with force. The red cloth ribbon traced an arc in the night sky and hung securely on a high tree branch.

“Big sister, what’s your wish?”

Zhaoxue looked at the wishing tag in her palm and clenched it tightly.

“—I’m not telling you.”

Zhaolan exclaimed, “Hey!?”

She widened her eyes, watching as Zhaoxue curved her lips slightly and threw her red ribbon up. Although it didn’t hang very high, it was steady and secure. The girl lowered her head, closed her eyes, interlaced her fingers, and silently repeated her wish in her heart.

“Big sister is cheating!”

“I never said I’d tell Zhaolan my wish.”

“Wait—why did you just throw it like that!?”

“…I’m not telling either. If I say it out loud, it won’t come true.”

“You—you—ah, how come yours is hanging even higher than mine? That doesn’t count, that doesn’t count! We’re doing it again!”

“…”

—

As the final celebration drew near, the grand Lantern Festival was finally coming to an end.

Beautiful fireworks bloomed in the sky, and Zhaolan happily chased after them into the crowd.

“I’ve never seen fireworks this brilliant in my life.”

Zhaoxue’s eyes shone bright, and the corners of her lips naturally lifted into a smile. “So beautiful.”

The young man glanced at her slightly from the side:

“…Yeah.”

Yes, she had never seen such a relaxed smile on her before. So beautiful.

Zhaoxue sighed and looked away. “After I’m gone, I’m leaving Taxue in your care.”

Ji Xueshou met her gaze, paused for a moment, then slowly turned his head and said softly, “Mm.”

“And Zhaolan—you’re all part of Heavenly Star Sect now. You have to take good care of her.”

Zhaoxue lowered her head, playing with the cute lantern in her hands, her eyelashes drooping. “She’s very competitive and acts boldly and freely. She might unintentionally offend some people… Please don’t let her get hurt.”

She couldn’t help but smile again. “In front of Zhaolan, I’m still considered a sister.”

“I promise you.”

“Thank you, Ji Xueshou.”

Zhaoxue looked at him. “Zhaolan is young and might be a little antagonistic toward you, but I think it’s probably just the possessiveness of a child. Like a favorite toy, anyone who takes away their own sister will upset them. She once told me we are family, but maybe neither of us truly understands what family really means yet.”

As she spoke, her eyes curved like a gentle moon.

She added, “But it’s okay, we still have plenty of time. And because of you, I feel at ease.”

Ji Xueshou felt the fireworks crackling loudly near his ears.

—

The curtain fell, the crowd dispersed, and the evening breeze blew, making the red ribbons on the trees flutter in the wind.

Zhaoyang and another person stood not far away, watching the grand celebration come to an end.

After the three children played around, they left. Not long after, the young man quietly came back alone, looked around carefully to make sure no one was watching, and carefully buried something from his arms beneath a tree.

Zhaoyang, with her keen ability, could easily hear and see sounds and people from afar.

She could clearly see that it was the gift box the boy had been holding earlier.

In the end, the gift box that was never sent out, carrying years of heartfelt feelings, was quietly buried deep in the soil.

“When will it sprout?”

Zhaoyang couldn’t help but ask aloud.

The young man knelt beside the tree, imitating how the girl had done before—interlacing his fingers, closing his eyes, and silently repeating his wish.

“I often say in front of you, Senior Brother, that Zhaoxue is so insightful and clever. How could such a child not see through these things?”

Zhaoyang lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile. “Perhaps it’s because she understood everything too early, making her believe prematurely—believe that her honest childhood companion wouldn’t lie, or wouldn’t hide anything from her.”

“…”

“Or maybe, she just doesn’t dare to believe.”

Zhaoyang clenched the item in her palm and whispered, “She doesn’t dare to believe that someone could like her, that someone without any blood relation could love her. No… maybe she doesn’t even want to believe in family—doesn’t believe in kinship, or even in herself.”

“Our family owes her too much. I can only do my best to make up for it.”

As she spoke, Zhaoyang looked up at Jiang Lingfeng and smiled gently. “Thank you again today, Senior Brother. Without you quietly passing me hints on the final lantern riddles, I wouldn’t have been so sure.”

“No need to mention it.”

“It’s just a pity.”

Zhaoyang sighed and opened her palm, where quietly lay a silver-gray spirit ring. “The champion’s prize spirit ring requires a person with spiritual power to wield it. Zhaoxue is still mortal for now and cannot claim it. So for now, let the prize stay with you.”

Jiang Lingfeng took the spirit ring. “For now?”

“Yes, for now.”

Zhaoyang looked up at the moon in the night sky. After the fireworks faded, the moon shone even clearer and more graceful, its light quietly flowing.

She smiled, firm and calm.

“I have successfully entrusted a cultivation friend of mine to forge a marrow-cleansing pill for Zhaoxue—of course, I know how precious such a pill is, how rare the herbs are, and how much I will owe. But no matter how priceless the ingredients, how difficult the process, or how dangerous this wonderland is,”

“I absolutely will get it for her.”