After staying in Yongning City for two days, Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui planned to head to their next destination.

As they were checking out and leaving the inn, they noticed that the lobby had suddenly become crowded with guests. Several attendants were running around frantically, and there was even a line at the counter for those checking in.

Not only the inn, but the entire Yongning City was bustling with activity, much livelier than usual. It seemed that some event was about to take place.

When it was finally their turn to check out, the innkeeper kindly reminded Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui: “In a few days, it will be the founding day of Yongning City. Would you two like to stay a few more days? If you check out now, it might be hard to find a room available when you want to come back.”

Chu Xinghui looked puzzled: “Founding day?”

Seeing that they were both from out of town, the innkeeper took the initiative to explain: “Yes, the founding day is a big festival in Yongning City. Merchants from nearby areas come, and you can find many things that aren’t available on regular days. This year, the Saintess will also attend. The city is quite lively right now, as most people are here for the festival.”

Xie Liufeng pondered for a moment and speculated: “The Saintess… from Bihai Taohua Island?”

Apart from those reclusive, mysterious sects, no other sect had such an odd title.

The innkeeper nodded, smiling: “You’re well-informed. It’s indeed the Young Mistress of Bihai Taohua Island. I heard that if you’re fortunate enough to receive a token from the Saintess, you can ask her a question.”

Xie Liufeng seemed curious: “I’ve heard that the people from Bihai Taohua Island usually live in seclusion. Why would she appear at a festival?”

The innkeeper hesitated for a moment, shaking his head: “Well… I’m not sure. The cultivators from Bihai Taohua Island are hard to predict. But when the city was founded, they did contribute, and since the two places are not far apart, the Saintess or other cultivators from Bihai Taohua Island sometimes appear at the festival.”

Although the innkeeper was also a cultivator, he was of a lower rank and rarely had the chance to interact with the higher-ups, so he didn’t understand the actions of such prominent figures.

Xie Liufeng thanked him politely and turned to ask Chu Xinghui: “Since it’s the lively season, do you want to stay for a couple more days?”

It was rare for someone of Chu Xinghui’s age not to enjoy a bustling atmosphere. He had been following Xie Liufeng for a long time and seemed to be missing out on the typical pleasures of his peers.

Chu Xinghui hesitated: “Would your matters be delayed?”

Xie Liufeng was quite open-minded: “I’ve lived for hundreds of years, a few more days won’t make a difference.”

Chu Xinghui quickly picked up on Xie Liufeng’s intention: “You want to inquire about something from the people of Bihai Taohua Island?”

Xie Liufeng nodded and didn’t hide it: “Yes, I have some favors from people at Bihai Taohua Island. Since we’re here, it’s a good opportunity to see if they can help with your matters.”

Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but glance at him

Bihai Taohua Island was one of the most mysterious sects in the cultivation world. No one knew its exact location, only that it was somewhere near the East Sea.

Unlike other sects that focused on a disciple’s talent, Bihai Taohua Island recruited disciples based on divination and spiritual testing. The sect did not care about a disciple’s cultivation base but only their spiritual affinity. Since its establishment, the number of disciples at Bihai Taohua Island had always been fewer than a hundred, and aside from some impostors who claimed to be from the island, the disciples rarely appeared in public.

Chu Xinghui wasn’t particularly interested in the festival, but… he nodded.

The innkeeper saw that they had made up their minds and seized the opportunity to add: “Ahem, our inn is a small business, and during the festival, the prices will be 20% higher than usual. I wonder if…”

Xie Liufeng placed a spirit stone on the counter.

The innkeeper immediately beamed with joy: “We’ll keep your original room reserved, honored guests. Enjoy your time. If you need someone local to accompany you, I can arrange that as well.”

Xie Liufeng politely thanked him: “No need, and I wish you prosperity in your business.”

*

Chu Xinghui and Xie Liufeng stayed an extra two days at the inn and finally waited for the founding day of Yongning City.

On the day of the festival, a light drizzle fell outside.

Yongning City, being located by the East Sea, was naturally a humid and rainy place. But now that it was close to winter, the rain had turned colder and sharper.

Chu Xinghui took an umbrella and opened it to shield them from the rain.

Over the past year, he had grown quite a bit taller.

But compared to Xie Liufeng, he was still quite a bit shorter.

He stubbornly held the umbrella high, trying to keep it firmly above both of their heads.

Xie Liufeng couldn’t help but laugh, taking the umbrella from him and gently touching his hand. Feeling how cold it was, he passed him a jacket.

Chu Xinghui stood quietly under the umbrella for a moment and glanced at Xie Liufeng’s profile.

Maybe the umbrella was too small, or it was just really cold today… but whatever the reason, he expressionlessly inched closer to Xie Liufeng.

The festival was held in the largest square in the center of the city.

Festivals throughout history usually had a few common elements. Everywhere there were small vendors filling every gap, and a distant area was designated for bulk goods trading. At the very center, a high platform had been set up for performances, and there would be competitions after people squeezed in and lit the fire.

Although Chu Xinghui wasn’t particularly interested in these things, Xie Liufeng was full of energy, dragging him around and buying him all sorts of little trinkets with no apparent use.

The two of them wandered from dusk until nightfall, and Chu Xinghui felt more exhausted than after any cultivation session.

He absentmindedly nibbled on the osmanthus sugar cake Xie Liufeng had bought for him, while keeping a tight grip on the sleeve of Xie Liufeng’s clothes to avoid getting lost. Suddenly, he heard someone gasp: “It’s the people from Bihai Taohua Island!”

Everyone looked up towards the sky.

Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui exchanged a glance and looked up.

A light, ethereal carriage pulled by two spirit cranes glided down from the air and landed steadily on the performance stage.

A young woman with an exquisite face walked out of the carriage.

She wore a light blue dress, a thin veil covering her face, and held an exquisite round fan in her hand. She looked nothing like a cultivator, but rather like a refined and diplomatic young lady from a noble family in the mortal realm.

She was, in fact, the Saintess of this generation from the Bihai Taohua Island, Yue Yao.

She whispered a few words to the Lord of Yongning City, who stood beside her, then smiled and walked to the center of the high platform.

A stream of light flew out from her sleeve, and without deviating, it struck directly at Chu Xinghui.

Chu Xinghui reached out to catch the light, then looked down at what was in his hand.

It was a jade ornament in the shape of a white jade fan pendant. It was smooth to the touch, and it seemed to have some formation carved inside it, with faint runes flowing under the light.

Chu Xinghui raised his head and looked around. The woman on the high platform was already gone.

The rule of Bihai Taohua Island was that the token would not be taken back once it had been given, and everyone present knew this.

The people around looked enviously at the lucky recipient of the token. When they saw that there was no more excitement to be had, they dispersed in groups of two or three.

Chu Xinghui looked at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment, patted his head, and smilingly suggested: “How about we play a ring toss? I want that stuffed rabbit on the stall.”

Anyway, the people from Bihai Taohua Island never went back on their promises, so it would be fine to wait for them to come find them later.

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He put on a serious face and voiced his opinion: “We can play, but that rabbit is too ugly. After you win it, you can’t display it.”

Xie Liufeng was troubled for a moment but could only sigh: “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

He actually thought that the rabbit’s expressionless demeanor strangely resembled Chu Xinghui’s, making it rather cute.

 

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