In the Demonic Realm, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not called Mid-Autumn but rather "Moon Sacrifice." Tao Mian and his companions arrived at Moon Hill, the city where the Thousand Lantern Tower had its singing event last time.
Xue Han had made arrangements early on, allowing Tao Mian to smoke the Soul Return incense in the mountains and reserving a table for a moon-viewing feast at the Ascending Cloud Tower, just for the three of them. Tao Mian initially wanted to laze around at the tavern, but Chu Liuxue forcibly dragged him out to wander the lantern festival.
As the lanterns lit up, shadows danced around. The long street was bustling with traffic, and Tao Mian walked side by side with Chu Liuxue.
It was Chu Liuxue's first time attending such a lively lantern festival, and everything seemed novel to her.
Perhaps calling it "first time" wasn't entirely accurate. In her days of wandering, she had stumbled into a human festival once, after stealing someone's purse and being chased, accidentally crashing into the festivities.
Young men and women on the street adorned with flowers and carrying lanterns laughed and chatted. The small-statured Chu Liuxue walked against the flow of people, countless joyous voices brushing past her.
The liveliness belonged to others; everything on the street was warmed by the lanterns' glow, except for her, who remained in the shadows.
She envied others for their ordinary lives, free from the constant upheaval and the struggle of hunger. Meanwhile, she was caught by the young master whose purse she had stolen, grabbed by the collar, and beaten on the ground.
As she was dragged away from the crowd, she snagged a girl's rabbit lantern. The rabbit-shaped lantern was lifelike, but unfortunately, it fell and shattered on the ground. When Chu Liuxue fell, the lantern landed on her right side. The girl hesitated, looking at the lantern, wanting to approach but not daring to, until her parents bought her another one to cheer her up.
The abandoned, broken rabbit lantern was picked up by Chu Liuxue.
Her back bore several heavy punches, her knees were bruised, and her face was scraped in several places. Getting beaten was routine for Chu Liuxue, and she no longer cared; she only thought about that lantern.
One of the rabbit's ears had fallen off, and its mouth was chipped, but it didn't matter; it was still her first lantern. Chu Liuxue turned her clothes inside out, finding a clean spot, and carefully wiped the dust off the rabbit's face.
Carrying the lantern, she felt as if she had blended into the surrounding crowd, experiencing a brief moment of happiness that belonged to her.
She even thought about taking the rabbit lantern back to show Sui Yan.
However, when she realized she was indulging in such fantasies, Chu Liuxue stopped in her tracks. Fantasies were the most useless things; they couldn't fill her stomach, just like drinking poison to quench thirst.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Things that didn't belong to her were useless, whether stolen, robbed, or picked up. Chu Liuxue expressionlessly threw the rabbit lantern into the river, watching it bob in the waves until it finally disappeared from sight.
For her, the lantern festival was never a fond memory.
She was just an accidental intruder.
"San Tu, what are you thinking about?"
Tao Mian's voice brought Chu Liuxue back to reality. She looked up in the direction of the voice, not seeing him at first, but instead, a brand-new rabbit lantern.
The rabbit lantern was far more exquisite than she remembered, but in that instant, it triggered unpleasant memories.
Chu Liuxue raised her hand and knocked the lantern out of Tao Mian's hand with a slap.
The Immortal wore a mask, obscuring his expression, but his suddenly stiff shoulders indicated he was clearly taken aback.
"I..."
Chu Liuxue opened her mouth to speak but didn't know where to begin. This was a scar hidden deep in her heart, and speaking of it meant tearing it open herself.
The girl turned her face to the side, seemingly preparing to escape reality, letting the crowd separate her from Tao Mian, thinking to herself in despair that perhaps it was better if they never met again.
She and Tao Mian were originally on different paths. If it weren't for her fondness for the Peach Blossom Mountain scenery and the Immortal's gentleness, she might have discarded the mountain and the Immortal just like she did the rabbit lantern.
Such happiness was stolen.
The demons and monsters blocking the way grew more numerous, gradually separating the two of them, as if Tao Mian and she were standing on opposite shores.
Chu Liuxue stubbornly refused to look up.
Until a slender hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her out of the surging crowd.
"Why did the crowd suddenly grow? I was scared, thinking you got lost."
Tao Mian dragged her to a less crowded area, muttering as they walked.
"If you don't like the rabbit shape, we can buy something else. What kind do you like? Shi Fu will buy it for you."
Chu Liuxue suddenly looked up.
"Honestly, I don't like that rabbit either, with its crooked mouth and slanted eyes, it's ugly. Shi Fu will get you a tiger one, at least it looks majestic."
Tao Mian continued his rambling, only realizing after a while that his disciple hadn't responded.
He turned his head and found Chu Liuxue, at some point, had tears streaming down her face.
The Immortal was startled; his third disciple never showed her emotions. Let alone crying, even when arguing with someone, she would coldly mock without much expression.
He was at a loss, having no idea how to handle a girl's tears. Chu Liuxue, however, turned him around by his shoulders, not letting him see her face.
"Weren't you going to buy lanterns?" she mumbled, "Hurry up, buy them and let's go eat."
"Ah... okay."
In the end, Tao Mian returned to the Ascending Cloud Tower with an armful of lanterns in various shapes.
Xue Han, brewing tea in the private room, was surprised to see the items in his arms.
"You're too old to be interested in things kids like."
"They're not for me," Tao Mian said, tired from holding them, and dumped them onto an empty seat. "They're meant to amuse a child."
Chu Liuxue kept her mouth shut, saying nothing.
Shopkeeper Xue glanced at the silent girl and pointed to two chairs opposite.
"Have a seat."
Tao Mian sat down unceremoniously, and Chu Liuxue thanked him before taking her seat.
Not long after the three sat down, the dishes began to arrive. Tao Mian, never one to be polite in front of Shopkeeper Xue, picked up his bowl and ate heartily.
Over the years, Chu Liuxue's eating habits had become more refined, overcoming the habit of wolfing down food left from her early days of hunger.
Shopkeeper Xue, on the other hand, sipped his wine slowly, barely touching the food in front of him.
Midway through their banquet, they heard voices from the neighboring private room.
They were discussing gossip from the Demonic Realm, particularly about Tan Fang, the young son of the Netherworld Hall who had recently returned home.
The Hall Master of the Netherworld Hall, Tan Yuan, originally had an only son to inherit the position, but for some reason, this son drowned a few days ago while boating with friends.
How absurd for a pure-blooded demon to drown.
Outsiders were abuzz with speculation. The old Hall Master was ailing, with little time left, and the Netherworld Hall needed someone to take over.
But with the only son gone, what could be done?
In this difficult time, the Netherworld Hall somehow found a young man, claiming he was the Hall Master's biological son.
No one except Hall Master Tan Yuan acknowledged this, causing chaos in the Netherworld Hall.
Tao Mian was engrossed in the gossip, forgetting to eat. Just then, someone knocked on the private room door.
A young waiter stood at the door, holding a wooden tray, saying that the guests in the neighboring room had sent over a pot of wine, inviting the esteemed guests in this room to enjoy it.
After he finished speaking, the three in the private room were momentarily stunned.
Where did this acquaintance come from?