Chapter 60: Watching Lanterns and Li Yabing

After the two finished their meal, Xiao Yifeng summoned the waiter. He instructed him to prepare two superior guest rooms—specifically, adjacent ones. The waiter accepted the silver and hurried off to make the arrangements.

A short while later, the waiter returned, beaming as he led the way toward the North Courtyard in the rear garden.

As they walked, the waiter couldn’t stop chattering about their luck. Today coincided with Wangtian City’s quadrennial Lantern Festival. Accommodations were scarce, and these were the very last two rooms available. Had they arrived even a moment later, they would have been turned away.

Xiao Yifeng’s interest was piqued. He smiled, tossed a piece of broken silver to the man, and asked for details about this Lantern Festival.

It turned out to be a local custom held once every four years, lasting for three days. It was a time for releasing lanterns, praying for blessings, and setting off fireworks—the grandest celebration in Wangtian City. The festival attracted a massive influx of travelers, and today happened to be the final night.

Once they were settled, they found their rooms were indeed close together, situated in a courtyard with elegant, serene scenery. Su Miaoqing was thoroughly satisfied, looking around with bright eyes.

Xiao Yifeng spent some time organizing his belongings in his room. He had been sitting for only a short while when a knock sounded at his door. Opening it, he found Su Miaoqing standing gracefully in the doorway, her smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

She had clearly freshened up, having changed into a newly purchased red dress. The tailoring was exquisite and the material top-tier, perfectly accentuating the young girl’s slender figure.

Her fair face was slightly flushed from her bath. She was truly a lotus emerging from the water—fresh, unadorned, and peerlessly stunning. The sight struck Xiao Yifeng dumb.

Su Miaoqing laughed softly. “Xiao Feng, staying cooped up in this room is so boring. Why don’t we go out for a walk? I heard from the Senior Brothers and Sisters of the Wentian Sect that the nightlife in Wangtian City is incredibly lively. Didn’t the waiter mention it’s the Lantern Festival? The city must be bustling right now.”

Xiao Yifeng knew she just wanted to go out and play. He smiled. “Alright. I’d like to see it, too.”

The two companions walked out of Wangtian Tower together. Night had fallen, and the city was transformed. Wangtian City was decked out in lanterns and colorful streamers. The brilliant lights illuminated the streets, turning night into day.

Lanterns hung from every tree, accompanied by trailing red ribbons that created a jubilant, festive atmosphere.

The streets were even more crowded than during the day. Vendors lined both sides of the road, hawking everything imaginable: jewelry for young women, lantern riddles for the scholars, and Kongming sky lanterns for the hopeful. The variety was dazzling, almost overwhelming to the eye.

The crowd was full of young men and women. Girls had dressed with meticulous care for their evening strolls, while dashing young masters waved folding fans, posturing for attention. Families, young and old, wandered leisurely, basking in the joy of the holiday.

It was a prosperous, bustling scene of a flourishing age—extraordinarily lively and completely different from the daylight hours.

As soon as Su Miaoqing stepped onto the street, she was captivated. “It’s so lively!” she exclaimed in admiration. “Not like our Wentian Sect. As soon as the sun goes down there, everyone shuts their doors and windows. It’s completely lifeless.”

Xiao Yifeng shook his head. “Senior Sister, you’re just used to it. If these mortals saw our sect, they would envy our immortal sect’s grandeur.”

Su Miaoqing pouted. “I don’t want to see that at all. I’m sick of looking at it. Hey, look! What’s that?”

Before he could answer, she grabbed Xiao Yifeng and ran off.

Su Miaoqing was like a cheerful butterfly, darting from one side of the street to the other. Before long, her attention was snagged by a specific vendor’s stall.

The stall was run by an old man and had gathered quite a crowd. In front of him sat a large wooden basin filled with dozens of small goldfish swimming happily. They were vibrant red and shimmering gold, beautiful to behold.

At the edge of the basin, a little girl with twin pigtails was trying to scoop up a fish with a net. The catch was that the net was made of paper. The moment it touched the water, it softened. The instant a goldfish struggled, it tore.

The little girl tried several times, but the net broke without fail. She caught nothing.

“I’m not playing anymore! I’m not playing!” she cried out angrily. “It’s all a scam!”

The onlookers, seeing the little girl’s naive and adorable temper tantrum, let out kindly laughter. The old man didn’t get angry either. He merely chuckled. “Three coins a net. Honest trade, young and old alike! No credit!”

Xiao Yifeng frowned slightly. The little girl looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place where he had seen her. Hearing the crowd’s laughter, the girl turned around, her cheeks puffed out in anger.

Because of where they were standing, she turned to face Xiao Yifeng and Su Miaoqing directly, giving them a clear look at her face.

She was about six or seven years old, with delicate features like carved jade. Her large, round eyes were dark and spirited, resembling black grapes. She was undeniably cute. In one hand, she clutched the broken fishing net; in the other, a stick of candied haws she had just angrily bitten into.

Seeing the candied haws, Xiao Yifeng’s memory clicked.

It was Li Yabing.

He had only ever seen her as an adult, which was why he hadn’t recognized her immediately.

It made sense. With the Lantern Festival being such a huge event, how could Li Daofeng and his daughter not come to join the fun? But if Li Yabing was here, where was Li Daofeng? Probably off swindling someone nearby.

Li Yabing noticed Xiao Yifeng staring intently at her. Far from being afraid, she glared back. “What are you looking at? My dad says guys who stare at girls like that are bad people!”

Xiao Yifeng was left speechless, forcing a wry chuckle. Beside him, Su Miaoqing saw him get scolded by a child and couldn’t help but giggle.

Li Yabing looked at Su Miaoqing, who was covering her mouth and laughing prettily. The child’s eyes darted around mischievously, and she flashed an innocent, carefree smile. “This big sister is really pretty. You should be careful of the big brother next to you.”

Xiao Yifeng awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Su Miaoqing, however, found the girl utterly charming. She walked over, bent down to eye level, and patted the child’s head. “Big Sister will catch a goldfish for you, okay?”

“Really?” Li Yabing’s eyes lit up. “Big Sister, you’re so nice!”

Su Miaoqing smiled and nodded, squatting down beside the basin.

The old man saw fresh business arriving and grinned. “Miss, three coins per net.”

Xiao Yifeng handed over 30 coins. “Give us ten to start.”

The old man looked at Xiao Yifeng and beamed. “Coming right up!” He took the money and handed Su Miaoqing ten paper nets.

Su Miaoqing held her breath and concentrated, lowering the net with unusual seriousness.

Li Yabing whispered a reminder from the side. “Big Sister, don’t go for the big ones. They’re too strong. Hard to catch.”

Su Miaoqing nodded repeatedly. The two of them, one big and one small, looked incredibly harmonious together.

However, the game was rigged by physics. Every time she lowered the net, she failed. The moment she tried to lift the scoop, the paper tore.

At first, she tried for the slightly larger goldfish. Then she aimed for smaller ones. But no matter how tiny the fish, she couldn’t land a single one. On her last attempt, she actually managed to lift a fish out of the water, but it flopped once and jumped back in.

“It really is a scam,” Li Yabing said, hanging her head in dejection. “You can’t catch any.”

The old man beside them chuckled happily.

Su Miaoqing, refusing to admit defeat, shouted, “Give me ten more!”

Yet time and again, she would barely lift the net before it broke. It made Su Miaoqing grit her teeth in frustration, muttering under her breath, “Just a little more… just a tiny bit more!”

By now, Li Yabing was fully invested. “Come on! Come on!” she cheered, as if she were the one fishing.

Su Miaoqing was feeling generous. She bought another ten nets and handed five to Li Yabing.

Despite their combined efforts and determination, neither of them managed to catch a single fish. Both girls slumped their shoulders, utterly defeated. They looked at each other, sharing the profound, silent bond of those in the same sinking boat.