Chapter 119: A Day of Leisure

Gao Shu immediately blocked the giant wolf, but the beast was extremely clumsy and couldn’t stop in time. It charged straight ahead, only to become dizzy and stagger shortly after.

After a moment of wobbling, it collapsed onto the ground. Meanwhile, the rabbit, which had fled long ago, suddenly hopped back, turned its rear to the wolf, and wagged it playfully, as if to say, “Come and hit me!”

Seeing this, Bai Qirui nearly burst out laughing but lowered his head slightly to suppress it. His previously complicated and troubled mood brightened considerably; the dark clouds in his heart began to dissipate with Bo Meng’s arrival.

Bo Meng smiled upon seeing him, and a few wisps of gray mist gathered again. A gust of wind blew through, scattering the dense fog, and as it cleared, Bo Meng gradually materialized before Bai Qirui.

She stepped toward him, sat across from him, propped her chin on her hand, and smiled with narrowed eyes. In a soft voice, she said, “This is a story of a foolish wolf and a rabbit. The wolf wants to kill the rabbit, but years ago, the rabbit helped the tree spirit. So, at the rabbit’s moment of peril, the tree spirit pulled out all its roots and desperately grew in front of the foolish wolf, blocking it just in time.”

Then, as if recalling someone, Bo Meng added, “This is a story my mother often told me.”

Bai Qirui was momentarily stunned, then nodded with a smile. “It seems your mother was a person of passion.”

“Yes, that’s right!” she nodded. “It’s just a pity her life was short; otherwise, she would have enjoyed my filial devotion in the future.”

When she said this, her expression was calm, her eyes devoid of any ripple, as if she had long since become numb and indifferent to her mother’s early departure.

Bai Qirui remained silent for a moment.

He could not truly understand Bo Meng’s feelings since his own parents were still alive, albeit secluded from the world. Yet, he sensed that Bo Meng had once suffered deeply and had expended immense effort and time to escape that pain.

At this moment, he felt that this young girl before him was exceptionally strong-willed, not the type to seek others merely as stepping stones for cultivation or to flee at the first sign of trouble.

Bai Qirui looked at Bo Meng with both admiration and sympathy.

Noticing his gaze, Bo Meng looked up and, seeing his expression, giggled lightly, feigning nonchalance. Yet, deep in her eyes, a numbness lingered, as if she was still disguising the profound sorrow of the past years.

“Oh, right,” she suddenly remembered her purpose for coming. “Benefactor, I want to ask: is there anywhere fun in this Immortal Sect? I’ve grown used to wandering in the Evil Sect, but now it feels strange. I really want to go out and explore.”

Hearing this, Bai Qirui thought for a moment. Today was the Lantern Festival in the mortal world. Every year at this time, the towns near Gu Feng Mountain would be lively and bustling all through the night.

He said, “Today is the Lantern Festival in the mortal realm, quite lively. How about we visit one of the mortal towns?”

Bo Meng’s eyes brightened.

She had only heard of the mortal world before, never having truly been there. Her fellow disciples had told her that the real mortal world lay within the Immortal Sect. The Evil Sect was filled with wandering souls, ghosts, evil cultivators, and demons—no place truly vibrant or interesting.

Therefore, she nodded eagerly. “I want to see it!”

“Good.” Bai Qirui raised his hand to indicate the way. “Go down from the north gate of Gu Feng Mountain, walk straight ahead for several miles, and pass through a small grove. You’ll arrive at a mortal town. There will be armored generals and soldiers guarding the town and its gates. If you see them, you know you’re on the right path.”

Bo Meng listened in a daze, then asked, “Benefactor, aren’t you coming?”

Bai Qirui smiled and was about to decline, but seeing the hint of disappointment in Bo Meng’s eyes, he recalled how she had playfully split herself into several gray mists to tease him earlier.

To thank her, Bai Qirui finally nodded. “Alright, I’ll come too. It’s been many years since I last went. Now that I have some free time, a visit sounds good.”

Bo Meng was pleasantly surprised.

The two rose from the stone bench and set off down Gu Feng Mountain.

Meanwhile, Bai Shengyun, following the notes on several torn pages, gathered all the magical implements needed to fend off the upcoming attack by Tian Hu Chuyuan from the treasure pavilion.

He was heading to his hall when he saw Xie Yingying sitting on the steps, looking utterly bored.

She faced away from Bai Shengyun, drawing something on the ground with a stick.

Bai Shengyun approached quietly, softening his footsteps.

Xie Yingying didn’t notice him at first, muttering to herself while poking the earth, “Ah… so boring. I wish I could go out and take a walk.”

Bai Shengyun heard this and initially wanted to ignore her, but then remembered what day it was. His steps paused.

The Lantern Festival—no one returns home at night. The streets are adorned with warm lanterns, full of joyous crowds celebrating together.

It had been a long time since he had a chance to relax during the Lantern Festival, and now that he finally had free time, why not enjoy it?

He looked at Xie Yingying, thinking that having someone to help carry things wouldn’t be bad.

With that, Bai Shengyun walked toward her.

This time, hearing the footsteps growing closer, Xie Yingying quickly turned and saw Bai Shengyun’s impassive face.

“What?” she asked.

“It’s the Lantern Festival today. We’re going down Gu Feng Mountain,” Bai Shengyun said coldly.

Without waiting for her response, he pulled her up and started heading out.

At first, Xie Yingying wanted to resist, but the thought that she had never experienced the ancient Lantern Festival before piqued her interest. She stopped struggling and quietly allowed him to lead her down the mountain.

Once down the mountain, they headed toward the largest and liveliest of the nearby mortal towns.

After walking several miles, they saw the city in the distance.

The city was surrounded by high walls, seemingly cutting off those inside from the outside world. Yet the gates were wide open, with many people coming and going. The townsfolk wore joyful expressions that could be felt even from afar.

Though there were no bright red silk banners, this place’s atmosphere was far livelier than Gu Feng Mountain’s current mood.

Xie Yingying grew excited.

Bai Shengyun glanced at her, then disguised them as ordinary commoners. Together, they entered the city.

Though their disguises were simple, their bearing remained striking. Many townsfolk turned to look, sensing the presence of a beautiful woman and a handsome man. After staring for a while, their features seemed ordinary, yet they couldn’t look away.

Inside the city, such people became more common.

Xie Yingying was completely captivated by the bustling scene.

Although it wasn’t night yet and the lanterns were not yet lit one by one, the streets were lively.

Crowds filled the streets, and numerous vendors sold all kinds of goods. Some even displayed small mechanical toys that changed shapes like delicate paper, drawing applause from many children.

She wanted to buy one, instinctively reaching for her money pouch. Opening it, she found only spirit stones.

Xie Yingying felt disappointed.

Spirit stones weren’t currency in the mortal realm, so having them was useless; they weren’t jade or silver coins.

In the next moment, her eyes caught something bright and shiny. Turning to look, she saw Bai Shengyun holding a silver ingot.

The vendor in front of him looked delighted, thrilled to see the silver.

Bai Shengyun bought a whole bag of red bean cakes from another vendor.

Xie Yingying licked her lips; she hadn’t eaten all morning, and her appetite surged. She watched as he took a red bean cake from the bag and popped it into his mouth.

This made her even hungrier.

Bai Shengyun continued walking, casually buying the mechanical toy Xie Yingying had admired and tossing it into a bag.

She almost rolled her eyes but continued following him.

She desperately wanted to run, but being unfamiliar with the place and directionally challenged, she knew she couldn’t get back if she ran off.

After a long while, Bai Shengyun’s bag of cakes was nearly empty. He tossed the rest to Xie Yingying and said, “Eat. Don’t starve.”

Xie Yingying wanted to curse him silently but couldn’t resist her rumbling stomach. She quietly took a red bean cake and began eating.