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墨書 Inktalez
As Feng Liulang departed, a figure slipped out from the side of his family's outhouse, a smirk of triumph curling at the corner of their mouth. "Xia Muxin, after tonight, let's see how you can face the world!"
Xia Muxin had made her way up Daimiao Mountain, and the night had fully enveloped the surroundings. She was still some distance away from Cross Pavilion. The wind was clear and crisp, but under the dense foliage, it was pitch black below. A sense of resentment bubbled within her; Shen Muhan had sent her alone to Cross Pavilion at this late hour. If she encountered any wild beasts, she wouldn't stand a chance.
Moreover...
Suddenly, a thought struck her as suspicious. She paused for a moment before turning back.
Just as she spun around, she found herself enveloped in a familiar embrace.
"I knew you were timid; I was waiting right here for you!"
The wind howled sharply by her ears as Xia Muxin found herself tightly held by Shen Muhan, unable to move. His low, teasing voice echoed beside her.
Shen Muhan rested his chin atop her head, inhaling the faint scent of her hair. With a swift motion, he draped a cloak over her shoulders.
"Uncle, are you asking me to catch ghosts in this pitch darkness?"
As she caught a whiff of his unique minty fragrance, Xia Muxin felt her mind clear up. In the night, she slightly lifted her head to meet his deep black eyes and asked him irritably.
In the dim light, Shen Muhan grinned widely, revealing a set of white and even teeth. Xia Muxin felt a chill run down her spine; he always knew how to create an atmosphere.
"Once we return, you can catch a couple of ghosts to take home!"
Shen Muhan secured the cloak around her and tousled her hair that had been ruffled by the wind. He then wrapped an arm around her slender waist and began leading her forward step by step.
"Uncle, are you planning to abduct a beautiful girl?"
Xia Muxin was very familiar with the terrain of Daimiao Mountain, but at that moment, they were heading towards Zitong Bridge. In the distance, the gentle sound of flowing water could be heard.
Zitong Bridge was the only bridge in Daimiao Village and the sole concrete structure. It stretched over four hundred meters long and was about five to six meters wide. Beneath it flowed a clear stream, its waters transparent and cool in summer while warm in winter. On either side of the stream, willows swayed gracefully, their catkins floating like cotton.
She had seen it from afar many times but never had the leisure to appreciate its unique scenery.
The villagers rarely visited as well; to put it plainly, they had little interest. With mountains, water, and greenery surrounding Daimiao Mountain, the bridge and stream seemed the same to them. What mattered most was working hard to ensure their family's livelihood.
Shen Muhan was focused on guiding her along the path. Although Ming Yi and the others had checked it thoroughly and assured them there were no snakes or poisonous insects, he still carefully kept Xia Muxin close, his ears slightly twitching, fearing he might miss any unusual sounds.
When Xia Muxin mentioned this, he raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked in a somewhat off-topic manner, “Have you thought about your lifelong affairs?”
Xia Muxin was taken aback by the question. After furrowing her brow for a moment, she replied, “Well, ideally at sixteen, best at eighteen; twenty-two is considered normal!”
As soon as she said this, Shen Muhan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Sixteen, eighteen, twenty-two...
That meant he might have to wait three years, five years, or even seven years. He would be an old bachelor by then and would be laughed at by his brothers.
But gazing at her developing figure, his eyes darkened slightly as he sighed in resignation.
The moonlight cast a soft glow; the wind rustled through the willows; the stream babbled gently; a refreshing breeze blew. This was Xia Muxin's first impression upon arriving at Zitong Bridge.
It was truly beautiful here, especially under such a night sky.
In the distance, layers of mountains rose and fell amidst a veil of white mist, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
Unable to resist, she broke free from Shen Muhan's embrace and jogged ahead to stand in the middle of the bridge. She spread her arms wide and tilted her head back to breathe deeply. In the moonlight, her blue windbreaker danced in the breeze while her cascading hair swirled like waves of black silk. The fragrance she exuded filled the air as she tilted her head back in blissful delight, a faint smile gracing her lips.
The scene seemed to freeze in Shen Muhan's eyes.
He knew she was different.
Suddenly, he took a few big steps forward, covering her eyes with his hands, and whispered in her ear, "Today is your birthday. I grant you one wish. So, tell me, what do you most want to hear or see right now?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin let out a soft gasp. Her thoughts drifted from her childhood in the modern world to her adulthood, then to her self-reliance, and finally to the little moments of this era.
Of course, she would not wish for someone to bestow upon her wealth and a life without worries. She had never fantasized about marrying a rich heir or a government official's child. She wanted to rely on herself, using her own wisdom and hands to create wealth. After some contemplation, she said, "Fireflies, Red Dandelion!"
Her favorite TV show in this life was "The Legend of the Sword and Fairy," so classic that every time she thought of it, tears would dampen her pillow. One does not seek perfection in life; the more ordinary you are, the more ordinary happiness Heaven will grant you. The more extraordinary you are, the more Heaven will test whether you can bear the happiness that comes with excellence.
Thus, what she wanted was very simple: ordinary happiness.
Seeing Red Dandelion had always been her dream.
Red Dandelion...
Listening to her calm yet infinitely yearning words, Shen Muhan's brow furrowed tightly.
How did she know about this?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "Why do you want to see Red Dandelion?"
Xia Muxin didn't think much before blurting out, "Because it represents unwavering love until death!"
Ah... Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan chuckled softly.
Then he gently said "Alright" and released his hands from covering Xia Muxin's eyes.
Xia Muxin rubbed her eyes, feeling somewhat disoriented. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of flickering lights and looked up in surprise to see hundreds of fireflies dancing around them.
She was an ordinary person, easily moved by beauty. However, having crossed into this world, she could not afford to complain or express pain. No matter how tired she felt, she had to hold on—not just for her family, but for herself as well.
Her heart soared, and the smile on her lips gradually widened. Finally, when she met Shen Muhan's deep, affectionate gaze, she softly said, "Thank you!"
Unbeknownst to them, the moon had slipped behind the clouds, and the wind had turned sharp with the night. Yet the fireflies scattered in all directions with the breeze.
Suddenly, Shen Muhan waved his hand, and a layer of dark fabric seemed to fall away from his vision. On a large tree, numerous pearl-like orbs appeared out of thin air. They were white and emitted a dazzling light that illuminated the area.
In that brilliant glow, wisps of something fluffy danced in the wind.
Xia Muxin suddenly covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Red Dandelion!"
Seeing her lose composure made Shen Muhan smile slightly. He took her hand and led her under the tree, allowing her to twirl and dance amidst the swirling Dandelions.
He wasn't entirely sure what she liked, but one day he had seen her embroidering this design on the hem of a newly sewn garment using fine red thread. Upon returning to Kyoto, he had taken note of the pattern she created and researched it. Eventually, he discovered it was a Dandelion.
As for the red Dandelion, it seemed no one had ever seen one before. Once, he stumbled upon a mention of it in a biography and decided to search for it on his way back to Daimiao Mountain. To his surprise, he actually found it.
"Wow, thank you so much!" Xia Muxin exclaimed.
After playing until she was tired, she sat down on the ground. Her eyes sparkled like stars in the sky as she looked at Shen Muhan and sincerely thanked him.
Shen Muhan walked over and sat down beside her. They chatted casually for a while.
Finally, when Xia Muxin fell asleep, Shen Muhan wrapped his arms around her and adjusted her position for comfort. Concerned that the light from the Night Pearl might be too bright, he snapped his fingers. A shadow passed by, and all the Night Pearls on the tree vanished. He quietly watched her serene sleeping face against the backdrop of night...
Life can be wonderfully strange; among millions of people, some can capture your heart with just one glance. For Shen Muhan, life had never required compromise.
He liked to hold her close, even if the Emperor tried to stop him; he would do anything to keep her by his side.
Just like that, after living for twenty years, he finally had his own weakness—Xia Muxin...
*
Meanwhile, Feng Liulang rushed to the Cross Pavilion, panting heavily. The evening wind was sharp and howled around him, while the Cross Pavilion was shrouded in darkness, so thick that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. Terrified, his legs trembled uncontrollably as he listened intently for any sign of life, but there was nothing.
Suddenly, he felt dejected and lowered his head.
However, having run so fast, he felt weak all over. If he were to go back now, he would feel unsatisfied, and besides, he didn't have the strength to run anymore.
So, he sat down right where he was.
Fortunately, the trees were sparse in this area, and the faint moonlight that filtered through gave him a bit of courage.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting there when he seemed to drift off into a light sleep. Eventually, he was awakened by the cold. Everything around him was pitch black; looking up, he noticed that the moon had hidden behind the clouds at some point. Deep down, he inexplicably felt resentment toward Xia Muxin.
She must have sent someone to say such things on purpose to make him look foolish. In the distance, he could vaguely see some lights. Feng Liulang's heart tightened as he sprang up from the ground and ran back along the path he had come.
- End of Chapter -
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