159: Lantern Festival

“It seems I’m still not good at faking it. After so many years of experience, I was seen through by you, Han Boy… Did you guess something long ago?”

After a long silence, Bai Sanren suddenly gave a bitter smile.

“I’m not an idiot. I haven’t eaten all this dry rice in vain. How could I not remember all these deliberate things…”

Han Yi smiled indifferently, speaking in a teasing tone.

“Speak, Sanren Bai, why did you do all these things? Just say it!”

“Alas, Han Boy, to tell you the truth, ever since I met you and experienced so many things with you, I’ve regarded you as my own direct descendant in my heart. My actions weren’t for anything else…”

“Han Boy, you must know that severing emotions is not the Righteous Path! Love between men and women is human nature, it is the ethics of heaven and earth! Han Boy, don’t get lost in Cultivation and forget your true seven emotions and six desires!”

Bai Sanren said solemnly.

As I thought…

At this moment, a hint of realization suddenly dawned on Han Yi’s mind: why Bai Sanren always urged him to go out, to travel more, and not to stay in his heart too much…

“Yes, Junior will remember!”

Then, Han Yi’s expression became serious. Bai Sanren’s words indeed struck a chord with him.

In his previous life, when he watched many TV series and novels, there was often a saying that only by being emotionless and desireless could one achieve Immortal Ascension. He had always scoffed at such a crude notion.

Humans are not plants; how can they be emotionless? Humans are called humans precisely because they have emotions. What is the difference between being emotionless and being wood or stone?

Moreover, if you are emotionless, desireless, and have no pursuits, would you still want to achieve Immortal Ascension?

“Sanren Bai, please rest assured. I, Han Yi, was able to climb out of the outer sect not because I am a bitter Cultivator who is obsessed with Cultivation and ignores miscellaneous matters. I naturally have a clear understanding of these things, and my actions have their own principles…”

Han Yi chuckled softly, adding.

“That’s good, that’s good. Today, you were able to open your heart to me and clarify your intentions, and I feel relieved!

Otherwise, this matter would have weighed on my heart like a heavy stone, truly troubling me. I was really afraid that you would be like…”

Bai Sanren’s brows relaxed. After listening to Han Yi’s words, he nodded repeatedly and responded with a smile. Suddenly, his words paused again, as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat, making the remaining few words difficult to utter.

“I was really afraid that you would embark on a path of no return…”

Bai Sanren turned his back, and after a long while, he pretended as if nothing had happened and finished the sentence in a calm tone.

But Han Yi, who was behind him, clearly heard the choked sound in his voice and the obvious mist in his eyes.

Han Yi knew from Huang Ze that Bai Sanren seemed to have had a relative before who became obsessed with Cultivation and eventually met an unfortunate end. This matter was long ago and was a sad and painful memory for Bai Sanren.

Therefore, in this situation, since Bai Sanren was unwilling to mention it further, Han Yi also found it inconvenient to inquire deeply…

“Hey, I say, are you two out to play or to fight? Why are you both looking so gloomy!

Come over here and help me pick out some accessories. See which ones are suitable. I want to bring some back for Mother!”

Just then, Qian Xue, who was buying accessories from a small vendor, looked up and shouted at the two. The variety of accessories here was abundant, and the styles were beautiful, dazzling her eyes.

“Coming, coming…” Han Yi and Bai Sanren exchanged glances, their faces adorned with gentle smiles, and quickly walked over.

“Hmm, how about these two hairpins?” Han Yi glanced at the quality of the jade bracelets and skipped them. As for the hairpins, although they were carved from wood and not valuable, their craftsmanship was delicate, and they looked more exquisite.

“This hairpin is carved from green sandalwood, which has the effect of regulating the body and prolonging life, making it most suitable for elders in the family to wear. The other one is made of peach wood. Peach wood hairpins symbolize blessings and warding off evil. Most importantly, I wonder if the guest has heard the poem ‘Human faces and peach blossoms reflect each other’s redness.’ Peach wood hairpins can nourish the skin, beautify, resist aging, and enhance charm, especially suitable for beautiful young girls like you…”

This boss was indeed a shrewd businessman. Han Yi only asked one question, and he rattled off a long speech, praising the hairpins as if they were out of this world and extraordinarily miraculous!

“Good, good, good!

I’ll take these two!”

Han Yi quickly interrupted the boss’s endless talk and handed him the broken silver from his pocket.

The boss took the broken silver, weighed it with a small steelyard, showed Han Yi the weight, and then gave him the remaining change.

“Alright, honored guest, have a good trip!”

Then, he swiftly packed the two hairpins separately in gift boxes, presented them with both hands, and sent Han Yi off with a beaming smile.

“Yi Gege, I still want that jade bracelet…”

At this moment, Qian Xue tugged at Han Yi’s white fox fur cloak and said pleadingly.

“The quality of those bracelets is too poor…”

Han Yi said, shaking his head.

“But, I just want it…”

“I’ll buy you a more expensive, bigger, brighter one another day… Look, there’s a vendor selling candied hawthorns over there. Let’s go buy some candied hawthorns to eat!”

Han Yi comforted her, employing the distraction method.

“Okay, okay!”

Qian Xue said excitedly, following Han Yi excitedly. However, no one saw the cunning smile curling at the corner of her lips.

Bang!

Just as Han Yi and his two companions were enjoying their candied hawthorns, one in each hand.

Suddenly, several fireworks were lit by the roadside, soaring into the sky and bursting open, dazzling and brilliant, illuminating the market under the winter clouds in an instant!

Amidst the crisp sounds, like spring thunder exploding, people throughout the city looked up at the sky, facing the bleak cold wind. Some timid children, the elderly, women, and children even covered their ears.

Today was the New Year’s festival, the most important day of the year, a day for family joy and reunion.

On this special day, the various markets in An Yan City also had their shops open, and the curfew was lifted, a rare occurrence.

The guarding soldiers also shed their usual serious expressions, no longer extorting entry fees, and cheerfully returned greetings to the passing commoners.

And in the nearby villages, many households, old and young, with their entire families, driving ox carts, rarely came to the city to enjoy this once-a-year excitement.

The sky was filled with brilliant lights, and sparks scattered sparsely in all directions, then disappeared. Immediately after, another firework bloomed in the sky, reflecting people’s smiling faces.

Brilliant fireworks bloomed one after another in the sky, making the originally dark sky even more colorful and vibrant.

After a brief, deafening roar.

Immediately, there was a surging crowd and deafening cheers…

‘I hope I can Breakthrough to Connecting Veins soon!’

At this moment, with fireworks dazzling in the sky, red lanterns complementing below, and shining lamp beads, Han Yi secretly made a wish in his heart.

“Qian Xue, what was your wish?”

He looked at Qian Xue, who was beside him, hands clasped, murmuring to herself, and asked curiously.

“Hehe, I won’t tell you!”

A hint of playfulness appeared on Qian Xue’s delicate face, and the last embers of the fireworks reflected a unique brilliance in her beautiful eyes.

“Oh…”

Han Yi drew out his words, speaking with a deeper meaning.

“It wouldn’t be a little dwarf wishing to grow taller next year, would it!”

“Han Yi, you!”

“Ah, it hurts!”

As soon as Han Yi finished speaking, Qian Xue’s heavy punch followed immediately, and he instantly clutched his stomach, feigning pain.

“Hmph, that’s what you get for teasing me…”

Qian Xue said triumphantly.

“Don’t dawdle, there’s a performer playing with a broadsword up ahead!”

On the distant street, a burly man was patting his chest, shouting for his companion to place a large stone on it. Afterward, his companion raised a large iron hammer and prepared to strike.

Nearby, a short, thin Old Man, resembling a monkey, held a whip and shouted commands, directing a monkey in an open space to perform various difficult tricks. At this moment, the Old Man was grimacing because the monkey refused to jump through a ring of fire.

Looking from high above, songs and dances moved, carriages and horses bustled, and the noisy sounds stretched for tens of miles without ceasing. Auspicious clouds shone high, and silver light poured down, making the scenery splendid and shining across thousands of households in continuous succession.

Looking closely, there were storytellers and colorful banners, puppet shows and fluid movements, monkeys performing various tricks, and fish jumping through sword gates. Whether they were from the three religions and nine currents, or the Five Elements and eight trades, on this day, they all put forth their full efforts, creating a joyful atmosphere to earntips (reward money).

All sorts of scenes, ingeniously crafted and unforgettable, offered a refreshing experience.

Behind Han Yi and Qian Xue, Bai Sanren quietly watched the two play and tease, stroking his beard and smiling, but saying nothing.

……………

“System!”

The sky deepened, and all sounds were still. The flow of people at the lantern festival gradually thinned. Han Yi and his two companions saw that it was late, so Han Yi sat cross-legged on the bed and silently recited a phrase.

【Name】: Han Yi (17/121)

【Realm】: Refining Blood Middle Stage (60/100); Sword Realm: Ten Steps, One Kill; Blade Realm: Solid as a Mountain

【Cultivation Technique】: Yang Yuan Skill (Incomplete, Trait: Rejuvenation, Minor Achievement 12/50, can be upgraded); Golden Muscle Jade Bone Skill (Yellow Rank High Grade, Proficient 6/20, Trait: Iron Wall, can be upgraded)

【Martial Arts】: Ben Lei Palm Technique (Yellow Rank High Grade, Traits: Stone Crushing Earth Splitting, Frenzied Strike, Minor Achievement (7/50), can be upgraded); Flying Swallow Kick (Yellow Rank Low Grade, Trait: Swift Wind, Minor Achievement (11/50), can be upgraded); Dual Blade Sword Kill (Profound Rank Low Grade, Traits: Concentration, Dual Wield, Proficient (8/30), can be upgraded); Yan Shen Technique (Yellow Rank Low Grade, Major Achievement, Traits: Bone Shrinking Disguise)

【Elemental Power Value】: 66

He observed carefully, and the first thing that caught his eye was his age, which had changed from sixteen to seventeen!

“Alas, it’s truly being a stranger in a strange land, wandering to the ends of the earth and breaking one’s heart…”

For some reason, at such a quiet and still time of night, it particularly evoked a sense of sadness. No wonder the ancients once said that it’s most taboo to have a myriad of thoughts before sleep.

The loneliness of midnight gave Han Yi a faint sense of sorrow.

But then, he touched the small jade Buddha hanging on his chest, and his whole body…

Han Yi casually picked up the small jade Buddha, feeling its incredibly warm and smooth touch, with threads of coolness seeping into his body, instantly invigorating his spirit.

The chaotic thoughts brought by the loneliness of the night instantly vanished!

“No matter what, it’s best to get some good rest first! Tomorrow, I still have to send Qian Xue home!”

Today, after the lantern festival ended, Bai Sanren reminded Han Yi about this, saying that Qian Xue also had to go home to visit tomorrow.

And Han Yi had nothing to do; the Black Market he was responsible for was also closed during this period, so he set the itinerary for tomorrow.

Outside An Yan City, Moon Concealing Daoist Temple!