PID Chapter 78

(2/5)

(๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)

 

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The two watched their river lanterns join the sea of lights from others’ wishes, drifting into the distance. They then picked up their respective lanterns and crossed a small bridge to reach the street on the other side.

 

The bridge was adorned with bird-shaped lanterns, resembling a magpie bridge. As people walked across it, their reflections rippled in the water below. Without realizing it, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan carried lanterns that complemented each other perfectly as they crossed this earthly magpie bridge side by side.

 

Lanterns hung from trees along the riverbank as well—firelight mingled with silver blossoms, making everything bright and radiant. Everywhere they looked was picturesque. After crossing the bridge, they found themselves just in time to see the large decorative lantern parade passing through this street. They stepped aside to blend into the cheering crowd brimming with excitement.

 

The parade consisted of a moderately long procession led by a stage adorned with butterfly motifs and floral arrangements. Onstage were dancers dressed as butterfly fairies performing graceful movements. Following them were five towering double-story lanterns in various designs that illuminated the entire street.

 

Though surrounded by lively chatter and cheers, both Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan had sharp hearing as cultivators. Their gazes remained fixed on the lanterns until they both spoke at nearly the same time: “You—”

 

In this bustling atmosphere, they precisely caught each other’s voices but immediately fell silent simultaneously.

 

The lantern in Xiao Mo’s hand swayed slightly as he said with a smile: “You go first.”

 

This wasn’t their first time speaking in sync like this. Following their usual pattern, there was no need for back-and-forth politeness—whoever started speaking should just continue naturally.

 

Lantern light reflected on Chu Jinglan’s face as he spoke without raising his voice—he knew Xiao Mo would hear him clearly: “I wanted to ask… Is your wish something you hope to gain or something you need to accomplish?

 

Chu Jinglan added softly: “If it troubles you, I can help.”

 

Hearing this, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

 

So, as the two of them walked across the bridge from the other side, neither said a word, but both were secretly wondering what wish the other had made?

 

Indeed, Xiao Mo was also curious about Chu Jinglan’s wish. At this moment, their thoughts were perfectly aligned.

 

It seemed that it wasn’t just their timing when speaking—they often shared the same thoughts as well.

 

“Neither,” Xiao Mo replied with a slight tilt of his head toward Chu Jinglan. “It was just a blessing. What about you? Is there anything I can help with?”

 

Chu Jinglan realized they had been thinking along the same lines and replied, the soft light reflecting in his eyes: “Also just a blessing.”

 

As for the specifics of their blessings, neither pressed the other for details—it was an unspoken understanding.

 

The large decorative lanterns passed by, and people returned to strolling through the streets. This particular street had many food stalls, but unfortunately, Xiao Mo could only look and not eat. Chu Jinglan, however, pulled out a packet of spiritual dried fruits from his storage device and handed it to Xiao Mo.

 

He had prepared exceptionally well for this outing—his supplies were more than sufficient.

 

Thus, Chu Jinglan carried both flower lanterns in one hand while Xiao Mo freed up his hands to eat the dried fruits. Chu Jinglan wrapped a touch of spiritual energy around the two lanterns so that even if they touched, their surfaces wouldn’t be damaged by each other’s heat.

 

The two differently colored flower lanterns stayed close together as the pair continued walking side by side.

 

Amidst the bustling crowd, Su Baimo was also out enjoying the lantern festival with Lingxiao Sect’s Golden Core disciples.

 

One of the Golden Core disciples faintly noticed that Su Baimo’s attitude toward him seemed to have shifted. While Su Baimo still smiled at him charmingly, something felt different—gone was that tantalizing sense of closeness that had once left him yearning and restless. But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

 

In truth, Su Baimo’s attitude had indeed changed.

 

Previously, he had chosen this disciple to aid in his preparation for forming his Golden Core. However, during this outing, Jun Bushu had taken back the black crystal Su Baimo had secretly acquired but compensated him with something far more useful—enough to ensure his successful advancement to Golden Core stage.

 

As a result, this Golden Core disciple was no longer of any use to him. Su Baimo stopped stringing him along and instead maintained only surface-level politeness as sectmates.

 

Having consumed Crossing Core Herb, Su Baimo’s aptitude would undergo a significant leap after forming his Golden Core. Naturally, those who could stand by his side would need to be equally impressive—and this Golden Core disciple no longer measured up.

 

When it came to people who were truly remarkable, there was Mu Jian; Dai Zisheng, whose cultivation progress had accelerated after arriving in the Upper Realm; and… Chu Jinglan.

 

Yes, Chu Jinglan was undoubtedly the most dazzling star among them all.

 

As Su Baimo pondered this, he suddenly caught sight of Chu Jinglan amidst the crowd.

 

Chu Jinglan was holding a lantern and speaking to someone beside him—a person eating dried fruits with a radiant smile. It was none other than Chu Jinglan’s Dao companion: Mo Lan (Xiao Mo).

 

Su Baimo’s grip on his own lantern tightened instantly.

 

The resentment and unwillingness in his eyes surged uncontrollably and were impossible to conceal. Just then—of all times—Mo Lan turned around and happened to catch sight of him.

 

Startled, Su Baimo quickly looked away in panic.

 

After looking away, Su Baimo felt a wave of regret. Why did I act like that? It made me seem as if I were afraid of him.

 

Resolving not to appear weak, he turned back again, only to see that Chu Jinglan seemed to have noticed something and was about to turn around. However, before he could, Mo Lan (Xiao Mo) grabbed his arm and stopped him, then led him away.

 

The two disappeared into the crowd, leaving Su Baimo standing motionless for a long time until the Golden Core disciple beside him called out in confusion.

 

Su Baimo looked at the lantern the Golden Core disciple had bought for him, then at the person standing next to him—someone who was far from dazzling. The dissatisfaction in his heart only grew stronger. Finally, he said, “I’m tired, Senior Brother. Let’s head back.”

 

—

 

Meanwhile, Xiao Mo pulled Chu Jinglan by the arm as they walked briskly through the crowd before finally letting go.

 

Both of them had sensed someone’s gaze earlier, but Xiao Mo’s position allowed him to spot Su Baimo first.

 

The system had mentioned that no traces of Heaven’s Will had been detected near Su Baimo for now. As long as Su Baimo wasn’t empowered by Heaven’s Will, Xiao Mo believed he posed no real threat to Chu Jinglan. To avoid unnecessary complications in a situation where information was incomplete, it was best to simply stay far away from Su Baimo.

 

Thus, before Chu Jinglan could turn around to investigate, Xiao Mo had grabbed his arm and swiftly led him away.

 

Though puzzled, Chu Jinglan followed quietly without resistance.

 

When Xiao Mo finally stopped and released his grip, Chu Jinglan asked, “What did you notice?”

 

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Mo replied casually. “I just suddenly felt like moving forward a bit… Oh? There’s a storybook stall tonight.”

 

Halfway through fabricating an excuse, Xiao Mo was genuinely distracted by the sight of the stall selling storybooks. Chu Jinglan followed his gaze and saw it too—nestled among flower lanterns and food stalls, the storybook stall did indeed stand out.

 

Lanterns hung above the stall as well; it seemed that every vendor tonight wanted to bask in the festive glow of lantern light.

 

Xiao Mo approached the stall and found several storybooks he hadn’t read before. Intrigued, he began browsing through them. Before long, he had selected about ten books that looked interesting. When he looked up, he noticed that Chu Jinglan was also holding a small stack of storybooks in his free hand.

 

In the past, it was always Xiao Mo who picked books while Chu Jinglan waited patiently. He hadn’t expected Chu Jinglan to actively choose books this time.

 

Xiao Mo teased with a smile: “Have I really sparked your interest in storybooks?”

 

Chu Jinglan paused briefly before putting the books into his storage device and replying with calm indifference: “They’re fine for passing time.”

 

He spoke so nonchalantly and even paid for both their selections without hesitation.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t think much of it and simply stored away his chosen books.

 

What he didn’t know was that Chu Jinglan wasn’t reading storybooks for entertainment—he approached them with a mindset of study and research.

 

While certain answers no longer needed to be sought from storybooks, some of their depictions—such as expressions of care and ways to convey affection—seemed worth referencing in Chu Jinglan’s eyes. After all, learning never ends.

 

That’s just how scholars operate.

 

The two continued wandering until late into the night. By then, the lantern parade had ended, and some vendors were beginning to pack up for the day. Only then did they start heading back.

 

Xiao Mo finished eating his dried fruits and picked up his silver-blue lantern again. As they walked through streets once filled with countless glowing lights, fewer and fewer sources of light remained around them. Yet no matter how dim their surroundings grew, the glow from their two intertwined lanterns continued to illuminate their path forward.

 

—

 

The next day, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan bid farewell to the three children and exchanged parting words with Jun Bushu as well. With their mission complete and having enjoyed the lantern festival thoroughly, the group from Yingyue Sect set off on their journey back home.

 

The injury on Chu Jinglan’s arm no longer required bandages, though he still needed to take medicine for another day. The group boarded Xi Tie’s flying boat as usual, but less than an hour after their departure, both Chu Jinglan and Yue Ming received messages from their sect.

 

The elders of Yingyue Sect informed them that the Junzi Order had been issued by Jinxiu Pavilion, instructing them not to return to the sect but to head directly to Yuzhou.

 

Yuzhou was home to the main pavilion of Jinxiu Pavilion in the Upper Realm, as well as the prominent families that governed it.

 

Since Chu Jinglan wasn’t originally from the Upper Realm, Yue Ming explained to him what the Junzi Order entailed.

 

It all started with the Wang family’s Nine Secret Treasure Tower.

 

The Nine Secret Treasure Tower of the Wang family was a nine-story tower standing a hundred zhang tall. Each floor contained secret realms filled with rare treasures and served as one of the Wang family’s exclusive cultivation grounds. Normally, such a valuable location would be reserved for their own family members. However, there was one problem.

 

Years ago, an ancestor of the Wang family, angered by internal family disputes, split their inheritance and sealed part of it within a painting called the Golden Thread Diagram. This painting was placed on the ninth floor of the treasure tower, with the declaration that only a “fated person” could retrieve it from there.

 

Currently, the Wang family’s inheritance remained incomplete—they were missing this crucial piece. The ancestor never explained what constituted a “fated person,” and although some claimed to have seen the diagram on the ninth floor over the years, no one had been able to retrieve it.

 

After generations of failed attempts by their own family members, they finally decided to open up the Nine Secret Treasure Tower to outsiders in hopes of retrieving the Golden Thread Diagram.

 

“The Junzi Order is essentially a pass to enter the Nine Secret Treasure Tower,” Yue Ming explained. “The order is enchanted—accepting it means signing a contract with the Wang family. Anyone who manages to retrieve the Golden Thread Diagram cannot keep it for themselves; otherwise, they’ll suffer backlash from the curse. Of course, if someone does bring it out for the Wang family, they’ll be handsomely rewarded.”

 

Yue Ming added: “The highest cultivation level allowed inside is early Divided Spirit stage. The tower is opened once every three years for outsiders. Each floor contains plenty of treasures—if not for their inheritance issue, there’s no way the Wang family would willingly open it up.”

 

Chu Jinglan asked: “Have you been there before?”

 

Yue Ming raised his chin proudly. “Of course! But I didn’t make it to the ninth floor. The entrance to that floor supposedly changes constantly—even members of the Wang family haven’t figured out how it works. Getting to the ninth floor requires some luck.”

 

He also warned: “The Wang family is in business—they don’t limit entry based on race or faction. Humans and demonic cultivators alike can enter with a Junzi Order. Treasure hunting in secret realms is already intense; given current tensions between humans and demons, things could get even more heated when competing for treasures.”

 

Xi Tie hadn’t received any orders from his master, so clearly he wasn’t involved in this mission. He would have to return to Yingyue Sect instead—this time, he wouldn’t be joining them at Nine Secret Treasure Tower. It seemed their paths were about to diverge.

 

Xi Tie glanced toward Xiao Mo as Yue Ming asked: “Mo Lan—are you heading back to Yingyue Sect with Xi Tie or…?”

 

Chu Jinglan answered decisively: “He’s coming with me.”

 

The sect had instructed Chu Jinglan and Yue Ming to head to Yuzhou first and wait for the others to arrive later. They weren’t meant to enter the Nine Secret Treasure Tower immediately. Given that the Yingyue Sect would be sending a large group, bringing Xiao Mo along wasn’t an issue, even though he was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Besides, with all the magical tools and treasures Xiao Mo carried, even ordinary Golden Core cultivators wouldn’t be able to deal with him easily.

 

It was clear that Chu Jinglan treated Xiao Mo like a precious gem—wherever he went, Xiao Mo had to come along.

 

Xi Tie turned to Chu Jinglan and said, “After you took on the task of escorting me, my master began refining your flute. It might be finished by now. When I return to the sect, if it’s ready in time, I’ll have someone bring it to you.”

 

Chu Jinglan nodded. “Thank you.”

 

Naturally, Xiao Mo stayed with Chu Jinglan. Chu Jinglan brought out the flying boat gifted by the Moon Lord. With Yue Ming joining them, the three transferred to this new vessel. Xi Tie waved goodbye as he continued toward Yingyue Sect, while Chu Jinglan, Xiao Mo, and Yue Ming set off for Yuzhou.

 

When Yue Ming heard that the flying boat belonged to the Moon Lord, he was filled with excitement and admiration. With Chu Jinglan’s permission, he eagerly explored every corner of the vessel.

 

Meanwhile, Xiao Mo’s thoughts were occupied with the Nine Secret Treasure Tower.

 

In the original story, it was Su Baimo who brought out the Golden Thread Diagram from the tower. By then, he had already reached Golden Core stage, which led Wang Yichen from the Wang family to take notice of him.

 

However, what no one knew was that it was actually Chu Jinglan who had retrieved the diagram.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t care about the original story or how things had played out in his incomplete memories of his previous life. This time, no matter what happened, there was no way Chu Jinglan would hand over the diagram to Su Baimo.

 

The treasures of the secret realm and the favor owed by the Wang family rightfully belonged to Chu Jinglan. Since Xiao Mo was here now, he would ensure that these things remained with Chu Jinglan.

 

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter