The sky gradually darkened, and the streets were adorned with lanterns and fires, with people crowding the riverbanks to release them.
Thousands of paper lanterns floated on the lake, their flickering candlelight reflecting on the water, making the surroundings as bright as day.
Ye Ziling watched the lanterns drifting on the river and was instantly filled with excitement. She tugged at Ling Xi's sleeve, her eyes sparkling with fireworks, and said joyfully, "Ling Xi, give me a lantern."
Seeing her as if she had never witnessed worldly splendor, Ling Xi smiled and pulled her to the riverbank to release a lantern.
As Ye Ziling lit the lantern and was about to release it into the river, Ling Xi stopped her with a gesture, his eyebrows slightly raised, "Miss Ye, don't you know you must make a wish before releasing a lantern?"
A wish? Ye Ziling smiled at him abruptly. She had forgotten about the ritual.
What wish should she make? Revenge?
Ling Xi watched her bewildered expression, took the lantern from her hand, and examined it. The flickering light illuminated his face, making his handsome features even more stunning.
"Since you can't think of a good wish, how about I make one for you?" The man's eyes were gentle as he gazed at her devotedly. His bright eyes and well-defined brows were as elegant as ever.
"I see Miss Ye is from a wealthy and noble background. Success should be within your grasp, so I wish you peace and safety every year."
Ling Xi's star-like eyes shone brightly. His tall shadow, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared even broader and more upright. His expression was slightly more restrained than usual. His smile, touched by the moonlight, even with its mischievous glint, seemed inexplicably warm.
Ye Ziling looked at his serious expression and felt a sudden discomfort. After a moment of disorientation, she averted her gaze. "Let's release the lantern."
After releasing the lantern, the night grew deeper. Ye Ziling realized she hadn't removed her mask yet. She looked at Ling Xi, "Scholar Ling, it's getting late, and I've promised to tour the streets with you. When will you help me take off this mask?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the man stepped forward, raised his hand, and still smiling, his handsome eyebrows tilted upwards. With a light touch, he easily pulled off the mask, and her enchanting face was reflected in his eyes.
Their gaze didn't linger for long before a commotion erupted on the bridge.
The crowd panicked and scattered shortly after.
The wedding procession on the street also fell into disarray. The sound of suona music abruptly stopped, replaced by cries of pain.
"A monster! There's a monster, run!"
"The bride! The bride has been abducted by a monster!"
"Flee for your lives! Who cares about the bride anymore!"
...
Before long, the once lively street was left with only an empty bridal sedan.
Ye Ziling stood stunned, staring at the empty sedan, her heart tightening.
She had overheard a rabbit-like beast selling mooncakes say that tonight was the wedding day of the Jade Rabbit Fairy. Could the person abducted by the monster be the Jade Rabbit?
Ye Ziling bypassed Ling Xi, but he grabbed her sleeve.
Ling Xi knew she intended to rescue the person.
"I'll go with you."
"No need. I saw two figures fleeing in different directions just now. Let's split up and pursue them." Ye Ziling's phoenix eyes turned cold, and without waiting for his reply, she leaped forward, disappearing into the night.
Ling Xi watched her retreating figure quietly, his gaze deep. After a long while, he withdrew his gaze, his gentle eyes now calm and undisturbed.
Ye Ziling followed the dark figure to a ruined temple and stepped inside, her toes barely touching the ground.
The night was as dark as ink, and the surroundings were so silent that only her own breathing could be heard.
After taking a few steps, a sinister laugh reached her ears. The greasy, vulgar voice made her stomach churn.
"Are you the legendary Jade Rabbit Fairy? So full of spirit, give me a smile, to amuse me!"
"How dare you! I am the Jade Rabbit Fairy from the Moon Palace, how can you, a mortal, insult me!"
"So what if you're a Jade Rabbit? Even if Chang'e came down, she'd still be at my service! Immortals? What's so great about them? I'm going to have my fun today!"
The burly man laughed lewdly and reached out to grasp the beauty's waist. However, a figure descended and kicked him to the ground.
He staggered to his feet, intending to curse, but upon seeing another beauty delivered to him, even more exquisite, his smile grew more lewd. "Oh, a pair of sisters? Beautiful ladies, you won't escape my grasp today!"
Seeing the man roll up his sleeves and strip off his clothes with a wicked smile, Ye Ziling watched as he lunged at her.
"You're courting death."
Ye Ziling's gaze grew cold. Her back appeared solitary and pure, like the distant ice and snow of the polar regions, exuding a chilling, bone-piercing cold.
Ye Ziling kicked the man down again, grabbed his wrist, and with a swift hand, severed his bloody wrist.
"Ah! You bitch! How dare you treat me like this! Just wait until I play with you later!"
Before the burly man could cry out again, Ye Ziling plunged her palm into his abdomen, spilling his bloody intestines.
From a corner, a beauty in a wedding dress, her face painted with celebratory makeup, peeked out cautiously. A hint of astonishment flickered in her peach blossom eyes. "...Tu Yao Goddess?"
Hearing someone calling her immortal name from behind, Ye Ziling turned and their eyes met.
With that alluringly beautiful face and a few fierce moves, who else could it be but the former Goddess Tu Yao?
"Jade Rabbit greets the Goddess." The beauty curtsied to her.
Ye Ziling took out a clean handkerchief and meticulously wiped the bloodstains from her dagger, her expression still cool. "Jade Rabbit Fairy, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I am merely a mortal."
Every time she heard this immortal name, her hatred surged.
"No, I can feel your primordial spirit is still here. You are Goddess Tu Yao." The Jade Rabbit straightened up and walked towards her, gazing intently for a moment. "Ten years ago, you destroyed the Sun and Moon Divine Lamp and shattered the Heavenly Pillar, which allowed me to descend to the mortal realm and be with the one I love."
Since her identity had been seen through, Ye Ziling no longer intended to hide it. She put away her dagger, inserted her silver hairpin into her bun, and looked at her with confusion. "The one you love? I recall you were in love with Immortal Lord Fuhua before. Why would you marry a mortal?"
The Jade Rabbit frowned, her gentle eyes holding a hint of melancholy. She sighed softly. "That mortal is precisely Immortal Lord Fuhua."
It turned out that ten years ago, the Jade Rabbit had already been betrothed to Immortal Lord Fuhua. With the whereabouts of Marshal Jun Lan unknown and Goddess Tu Yao banished to the mortal realm, the Heavenly Court needed someone to guard it. Thus, Emperor Qingbai entrusted this important task to Immortal Lord Fuhua.
Unexpectedly, his strength was insufficient, and the fragments of the Sun and Moon Divine Lamp were stolen by someone. Emperor Qingbai, in his rage, banished Immortal Lord Fuhua to the mortal realm, permanently revoked his immortal examination qualification, and forbade him from ever stepping foot in the Heavenly Court again.