Chapter 176 Fireworks' Fleeting Brilliance

A healer quickly stepped forward to stop the bleeding and take Tang Huairou's pulse.

The competition was temporarily suspended. Several immortals from the Enforcement Division took the lead in suppressing Luo You, using their power to immobilize her. The sudden heaviness caused Luo You to stagger, but ignoring the sound of her bones breaking, she stood firm and did not kneel down despite being restrained.

With violent coughing, blood mixed with fragments gushed from her mouth.

A chill touched her chin, and Luo You looked up to meet the gaze of the silver-haired, white-clad woman before her. Then, she tilted her head slightly, only to have the sword tip pressed even closer to her throat.

Familiar pattern.

Even the chill was so sharp, it sent shivers down her spine. Memories shared with others flooded back, and she finally recognized the sword.

And then there's the sword's owner.

The sword seemed dull; though it had slain countless of her kin, it now failed to recognize Luo You's true identity, remaining silent for a long time. Meanwhile, the demons, like a deadly poison, had already infiltrated every corner, devouring the flesh and blood of the original humans, replacing them, inheriting their memories, donning their skins, and lurking among ordinary people in disguise.

This has been going on for a very, very long time. Since the collapse of Luochuan, everyone's soul has begun to split, from initially splitting into two to shattering into many more, gradually disintegrating into many fragments, and each fragment can transform into a new demon, but it has become increasingly devoid of the consciousness of being "human" and has lost all memories of being human.

They're becoming more and more like zombies.

Erosion, division, until the last grain is torn apart and nothing is left.

Shattered into millions of pieces, this is the "reproduction" of the demon race.

But she is special...

She was raised by Luo Yang.

She was like a shadow of Luo Yang, and all her qualities could be seen in the behavior of Luo You in the past; she once joked that she, who was being led behind Luo Yang, was both a student and a daughter, and would become the new ruler of Luochuan in the future.

As love and a broken soul vanished together, all she remembered was that person's deeply wounding side. She inherited this side, just as she inherited all the other endearing aspects of Luo Yang, such as how she had stripped away her meridians, dispersed her cultivation, and even ultimately sacrificed her life. Shortly after awakening, Luo You shared the lingering Luo Chuan aura within her with all the monsters banished to the underworld and reduced to the "Demon Realm," as well as with the people who had once been citizens of Luo Chuan.

They were banished because of Luo Yang, but now that person has changed his name and intends to forget the past, abandon them, abandon her, and start a new life.

How could Luo You allow that?

She accelerated the process, causing the soul to shatter earlier, with each piece given to her sisters so that it could infiltrate more smoothly.

Didn't Luo Yang say that they were family? Even if they were exiled to the barren Demon Realm, living a life of despair as sinners, they wouldn't die easily—

Instead, they will support each other and deliver a fierce revenge to the foreign race.

Although Heaven punished them for their crimes, it did not deny the existence of the entire Luochuan region; it merely destroyed it and left it as ruins. Therefore, this wisp of energy has not yet fallen into depravity; it belongs to the River of the Underworld and can overwhelm all evil spirits.

As long as they don't use demonic energy, this outer layer can help them evade the detection of cultivators forever. In addition, the demon-detecting array has been tampered with, making it difficult to identify even their closest relatives who have been corrupted.

If even a wisp of breath can achieve this, then Luo You, who still carries a part of Luo Yang in his body, must be even more capable.

"You are disqualified from the upcoming competition. Other matters will be decided later."

The woman's deep voice came from the other end of the sword. It was not as gentle as she remembered, but the coldness in it was exactly the same. It was as if she could see the shadow of her teacher scolding her when she crossed the line.

She stubbornly raised her head, stared into Yan Xueya's cold eyes, and replied, "Yes."

Aside from those concerned for the injured, most eyes were on her. Luo You smiled slightly, then suddenly turned her head to look in Qiao Yanshen's direction again. Her action was obvious, drawing everyone else's attention to that direction as well.

Yan Xueya was no exception. She slowly turned her face, and following her gaze, her eyes swept over the crowd on the stage. She locked onto one spot based on her intuition and suddenly stopped.

A familiar face came into view. Even through the crowd, one could see that Qiao Yanshen's expression was complex. Unlike the others who were simply worried or afraid, his expression was fixed on Luo You.

It was as if... he knew her well.

Unlike Yan Xueya, who placed great trust in her disciple, other cultivators with keen insight also noticed this. They frowned, some releasing their divine senses, others radiating pressure, all pointing directly at Qiao Yanshen's direction, their hearts filled with doubt.

Yan Xueya said in a deep voice, "Enough! Take the injured away from here first, and then deal with the situation according to the specific circumstances. The rest of you, please be patient and continue the competition after resting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

She silently stopped others from probing Qiao Yanshen's spiritual power or divine sense. Her eyes were full of coldness. She glanced at Luo You again and sheathed the Frost Heaven Sword.

This was not an internal matter for Emperor Huizong. Without sufficient evidence, she could not even imprison the person on the spot.

Even when using spiritual power to probe, one only senses an unusual coldness, but it is not demonic energy.

Both left the arena, leaving the remaining students somewhat uneasy. Qiao Yanshen, of course, sensed the chill directed at her, and the spot on her abdomen where the previously disappeared scar had begun to throb again. She had truly forgotten something very important, and her intuition told her...

"This person is definitely suspicious."

Shen Lixia's voice rang in her ears. She frowned, looking worriedly at Tang Huairou, who was being supported by two apprentices, and only sighed after the other's figure disappeared.

"The competition is almost over. Let's go visit our senior sister afterwards."

Perhaps due to her anxiety, Shen Lixia seemed uninterested in the following competitions, even though they were still exciting.

As the sun set, the evening glow cast a mysterious and hazy arc of light over Taihui. The bells rang out once more, announcing the end of the first day.

Except for Wu Zhuyue, they all advanced smoothly. However, Wu Zhuyue didn't seem to have much regret; on the contrary, she was quite relieved.

On the way to visit Tang Huairou, she smiled easily and said, "Anyway, there's always next time." The soft glow of the sunset cast a gentle and serene light on her face.

Suddenly, both of her hands were grabbed.

Shen Lixia was in front, and Lu Changqing was behind. Gentle water elemental power flowed into her meridians, soothing the last trace of ferocity brought by Minghong; the touch of raging fire scorched her scabbard, suppressing Minghong's fierce blood aura and making him tremble.

Then, Shen Lixia let go of his hand, leaving Lu Changqing to lead Wu Zhuyue, and went ahead to follow Qiao Yanshen. During the previous competition, she had seen the blood energy rising from Wu Zhuyue's knife, which was particularly eerie. In this instant, she probed her spiritual sense and actually sensed a subtle aura.

Sharp, ruthless, and insane. It's almost like...

Someone from my memory, an old friend.

Who is it?

When they arrived at the Medicine Pavilion, the apprentice guarding the door told them, "Senior Sister Jinyu's injuries are not serious. She can continue the competition tomorrow after a night's rest. There's no need to worry." As she spoke, she handed the medicine to Lu Changqing.

"Since you've arrived, let's give her the medicine."

Shen Lixia then realized that Luo You's sword strike had only broken through Tang Huairou's protective spiritual energy and injured her, making it appear terrifying. In reality, the wound was not serious, and there was no sword energy involved. Therefore, her purpose became even more ambiguous—neither to kill nor to win.

Lu Changqing exclaimed, "Huh? Could it really be because he was too eager to win and made a mistake?"

As Qiao Yanshen pushed open the door first, Lin Yuxian's voice mingled with the sound of the wooden door rubbing against the floor, sounding slightly faint: "It doesn't seem like it."

She hesitated for a moment, bit her lower lip, and said hesitantly, "On the contrary... it's as if I want to leave a wound for Senior Sister Tang."

"That's going too far? Did you take on some kind of commission, or did you make a bet with someone...?" Lu Changqing exclaimed in surprise, "This will ruin your reputation."

She quickened her pace, walked to the bedside, found a chair, sat down, and took out a porcelain bowl. She scooped up a spoonful of medicine, gently blew on it to cool it, and prepared to feed it to Tang Huairou. The young man on the bed looked slightly pale, as if he had been startled. Only when he saw them did his brows relax slightly, revealing his usual warm smile.

Seeing Lu Changqing bring the spoon over, Tang Huairou deftly took the medicine bowl, skillfully turned the porcelain spoon full of medicine, pinched it between her fingers, and then put it in her mouth.

The bitter, steaming medicine in her hands was like a bowl of sweet rice balls, gently stirred and slowly drunk. Tang Huairou didn't seem to be as afraid of bitterness as the other students; she was so deliberate, and her face didn't contort with bitterness. Shen Lixia, who had a piece of candy in her hand, suddenly didn't know whether she should offer it to her.

In the end, she still handed the candy over.

After Tang Huairou finished drinking the medicine, she unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth, pressing it against the tip of her tongue to make the candy slightly bulge out on her cheeks.

Qiao Yanshen also found a chair and sat down. The five of them, like soldiers, closely surrounded the bed, making Tang Huairou quite embarrassed, and she bit her lower lip.

"How are you feeling, Senior Sister?" Qiao Yanshen asked with concern.

Tang Huairou shook her head. "That person didn't intend to kill me. She just concentrated all her power into that one strike, which broke my protective spiritual energy... It was really just a superficial wound. But I don't think she lost control. Rather... it was as if that was enough."

After she finished speaking, she coughed twice. Although she spoke lightly, her body didn't seem to be in that state, as if she hadn't fully recovered.

"But I always feel a bit cold. Even when I ask someone to add a blanket, I still sometimes feel like I'm immersed in ice water," Tang Huairou sighed.

"Then Senior Sister, please rest well these two days." Shen Lixia frowned, wanting to take her hand and transfer spiritual energy to her, but Tang Huairou dodged her and flicked her forehead instead.

She smiled and said, "Junior sister, you don't need to worry about me. I should still be able to go on stage in tomorrow's competition. This little injury is nothing to worry about."

"Senior sister, don't push yourself too hard," Qiao Yanshen said softly. "If you feel unwell, it's best to rest more..."

“That’s right, Master won’t blame Senior Sister.” Lu Changqing lay on the edge of the bed, playing with the turquoise chain on Tang Huairou’s hand, and pinching the jade on it.

Tang Huairou lowered her eyelashes and sighed softly, "But I still want to try my best..."

Strictly speaking, this was her first time participating in the Grand Competition. She had spent most of her life in the mortal realm, and when the Grand Competition came around again a hundred years later, her cultivation level was not yet high enough to participate. Even though Ruan Luoying wasn't here, she knew that Ruan Luoying must have placed high hopes on her.

Besides, as the senior sister, I should set a good example for my junior sister. If I were to leave halfway through, not only would it be regrettable, but it would also be completely unbecoming of the senior sister of Emperor Huizong...

She didn't want to give up.

Qiao Yanshen seemed to understand Tang Huairou's thoughts—or rather, because they always had similar attitudes toward expectations, they could quickly understand each other's ideas. She smiled slightly and said gently, "Okay, then I look forward to seeing Senior Sister Jinyu display her prowess on the stage tomorrow."

Seeing this, Lu Changqing took Tang Huairou's hand and shook it gently, "Senior Sister will definitely win."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Lixia suddenly stood up, clenched her fist in her palm, and said as if she had just realized something, "Senior Sister, would you like something to eat?"

I always remember bringing some fruit when visiting patients, but I forgot this time because I was in such a rush. Although everyone present was fasting, delicious food does more than just fill the stomach; it also brings comfort to the soul.

—At least that's what Shen Lixia thinks.

Tang Huairou blinked, quickly understanding her meaning, and couldn't help but chuckle: "Oh dear, this..."

She thought about it seriously for a moment, "The glutinous rice cakes made by the Wang family apprentice in town... the night market should be open by now, right? A plate of fried noodles, and a bowl of sweet wine. Oh, and candied hawthorns too..."

She listed several items in one breath, then seemed to realize that she wanted to eat a lot. She coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, and said, "Just two will do, no need to trouble my junior sisters."

“No, no,” Shen Lixia smiled, “We will definitely bring them all back to Senior Sister.” As they turned around, Lu Changqing also stood up.

"My mother sent some local specialties over; I'm going to pick them up." She turned to Wu Zhuyue, "Would you like to come along, Xiao Wu?"

Wu Zhuyue nodded, and after telling Tang Huairou to "rest well," she followed Lu Changqing. For a moment, only Lin Yuxian was left behind. She moved to the chair by the bed, held Tang Huairou's hand, and carefully felt her pulse.

Tang Huairou asked curiously, "You're a formation cultivator, can you sense anything too?"

Lin Yuxian said in a low voice, "No, but I just feel... it's quite strange." Her pulse was normal. Even though Tang Huairou was not on guard and let her probe with her spiritual power, she could only see that the spiritual power in her meridians was trying to repair her slightly weak body and try to heal the wounds perfectly.

However, a sudden chill, like a fleeting moment, invaded her fingertips and pierced her heart.

Cold sweat instantly soaked her forehead and hair. Lin Yuqian subconsciously touched her chest and found no marks. It was as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion, a delusion.

-

Lu Changqing walked to the front of her small courtyard and, sure enough, saw a sealed box quietly placed at the gate. Lu Jun'an's doting affection for her was almost common knowledge in Guyu Peak, because many of the disciples who cultivated here had lost their loved ones, some even losing their families the moment they entered. Moreover, many sayings in the mortal world claimed that those with a predestined connection to immortality were destined to be separated from their families; once one entered the immortal realm, one should no longer dwell on those kinship ties.

Therefore, receiving a letter from home once every ten years is something that one's mother and sisters especially miss, which is something to be envied.

The box was huge, almost half his height. Being made of wood, it was also exceptionally heavy. Lu Changqing slowly removed the cloth strips and nails sealing the top, inhaling a pungent, dusty odor, before finally opening the box.

She suddenly opened her eyes wide and exclaimed, "Fireworks!"

Wu Zhuyue, who was standing not far away, rushed over when she heard her shout, thinking it was something extraordinary. Her gaze fell on the box, which contained a pile of cylinders or cubes wrapped in fancy colored paper, as well as many thin, long objects with clusters of brightly colored wires at the top.

She had never seen anything like this before. She only knew that during the New Year, a long string of firecrackers would be hung on trees or in front of houses, like a majestic red dragon. Once lit, she would quickly run back inside and cover her ears, and the dragon's roar would crackle and pop the next moment.

"Is this a firecracker?" Wu Zhuyue peeked out, curious but not rashly picking up anything inside.

Lu Changqing excitedly checked the items one by one, and replied with a smile, "No, these are fireworks. They're much more fun than firecrackers, and they're very pretty."

So it's just a game, like the ever-burning streetlights, something to be released into the sky, or a fleeting beauty?

Wu Zhuyue nodded seriously, "Then let's play with our senior sisters."

“Hmm…” Lu Changqing stopped what he was doing, then turned his face and stared intently at her.

"Shall we go set them off first? Let's leave some for the senior sisters to play with. The fireworks go off very quickly, maybe we'll be able to catch Senior Sister Shen and the others when they get back."

As she spoke, she divided the fireworks in the box into two parts, taking out a small portion separately and leaving the other part in the box, sealing it away. After dividing them, Lu Changqing put them all into a mustard seed bag, then took Wu Zhuyue's hand.

"Come with me to set off fireworks, Xiao Wu!"

Night was falling, the sun had set, but Lu Changqing's eyes seemed to possess a gentle, beautiful, and vibrant spirit, forever bright and fervent, burning ceaselessly with each passing month, never waning, as if to guide her into an endless fairytale world.

Wu Zhuyue still couldn't do anything about her, and never had any way to deal with her.

A sudden flutter of the heart is like a belated joy, gently tapping at the tip of the heart, telling her the fact that she has fallen to the clouds, yet is standing on the edge of an abyss.

But Wu Zhuyue was unexpectedly unwilling to think about what pain might come next; she only wanted to hold Lu Changqing's hand in this moment.

And so she did. Casting aside the heavy feeling weighing on her heart, she grasped Lu Changqing's hand tightly and nodded. They trudged through the fragrant grasses and marshes, searching for a spacious yet secluded spot.

After a while, Lu Changqing led her to a flat area. Moonlight shone down, casting a clear glow over the vast expanse. The two shadows were stretched out long, swaying gently in the wind.

Wu Zhuyue had never set off fireworks, just as Lu Changqing had never flown a kite. They grew up in different places and had different joys. At this moment, watching Lu Changqing carefully find a wooden pole, tie that strange cylindrical thing to the pole, and then carefully light the fuse, Wu Zhuyue felt as if she had traveled through time and was able to see that little boy again.

Little Lu Changqing, just like her, looked on with anticipation, completely oblivious. Wu Zhuyue wanted to go over and pat her head, but then she heard a splash, and sparks flew, shattering the begonia hidden deep in the mirror and giving the boy a bouquet of blooming azaleas.

Fireworks shot upwards, exploding suddenly in mid-air. Beams of pink and purple light fell like a curtain of light, countless threads becoming tiny stars, disappearing into the night with fading crackling sounds.

Just when Wu Zhuyue thought it was the end, the vanished spark suddenly blazed brightly again, bursting into several clusters of golden fireworks.

Wu Zhuyue opened her eyes wide in surprise, watching the direction of the fireworks intently until they subsided, as if waiting for more spectacular displays.

No wonder it's called fireworks...

Flowers formed by intertwining and bursting flames.

So beautiful.

Lu Changqing's joyful voice came from the side: "This one's done, Xiao Wu. Let's have another one."

This time it was different from the previous ones. After the fire line hissed and burned out, a wave of heat suddenly shot out from under the tube, and then the entire firework shot into the sky with a whoosh.

Bang--

Colored smoke formed thick clouds, spreading out layer by layer, intertwining to form a blooming five-colored lotus flower. In the center of the lotus, a beam of light appeared, like the Bodhi seed, the culmination of the Buddha's life's work, bursting forth with boundless golden light after his passing.

The light illuminated Wu Zhuyue's face, and she was captivated, almost unable to look away from the brilliance. She subconsciously gripped Lu Changqing's sleeve.

"It changes so quickly, it's dazzling... I can't take it all in."

Her voice wasn't loud, and it was already drowned out by the sound of the fireworks. Lu Changqing, however, heard it and cheerfully shouted:

"Things that keep changing are more interesting!"

Only after the last flame had burned out did Wu Zhuyue slowly come to her senses, her eyes sparkling. Lu Changqing smiled brightly and turned to her, saying, "It's all done."

Wu Zhuyue let out a soft "Eh," belatedly realizing she had already seen many different fireworks, but still said with some regret, "It's over already..."

For some reason, I felt a sense of loss.

Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, Lu Changqing couldn't resist and secretly took out two more fireworks from his bag, each with a wire base and colored paper fuses.

She handed one to Wu Zhuyue, saying, "This is an electric flower. But where I'm from, some people also call it a fairy wand."

"A sparkler?"

“Because she’s like a fairy, dazzling and radiant.” Lu Changqing laughed. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea, because a fairy sister shouldn’t be so fleeting…”

“Then let’s call it Electric Flower.” Wu Zhuyue gripped the wire tightly. “That’s even better.”

A cluster of spiritual fire leaped from her fingertips, igniting colored paper for herself and Lu Changqing one by one. As the colored paper burned to its last bit, bright sparks hissed and burst forth, scattering a dozen or so fragments that fell into the grass and disappeared without a trace.

"Xiao Wu, look!" Lu Changqing stood next to Wu Zhuyue, turned his wrist, and used fireworks to draw a heart shape for her.

Wu Zhuyue also imitated her by waving fireworks, and the stars no longer just fell into a fixed place, but were scattered all over the grass in front of her, falling freely.

A single sparkler has a short lifespan to begin with, and after being swayed back and forth like that, it will burn for only a few more breaths. The burnt-out sparkler emitted a wisp of white smoke, and Lu Changqing put it away, wanting to check on Wu Zhuyue again and comfort her that they could set off another one with their senior sisters later.

But then a pair of hands reached out and gently cupped her cheeks. The soft, warm touch, along with a smile on her lips, brushed against Lu Changqing's lips.

A moment later, they left again.

Wu Zhuyue smiled and said softly:

"Thank you, Lu Changqing."

Her kisses and her laughter faded quickly, like fireworks that vanish in an instant, just as Wu Zhuyue's tenderness did.

"—I'm very happy."

Tonight will be unforgettable; it could be a dazzling memory.

But Lu Changqing felt that everything ended too soon, and wished he could keep the fire burning forever for thousands of years.

Wu Zhuyue left first, using fatigue as an excuse to decline the invitation to visit Tang Huairou again. Lu Changqing also had no mood to set off fireworks with others. After confirming that Tang Huairou was alright, he handed the box to Lin Yuxian.

Night fell, and the moonlight was serene.

Lu Changqing returned to the courtyard, where the intense fragrance of crabapple blossoms wafted towards him as always. The young man stroked the vibrant flowers, closed his eyes, and gently leaned against the wall.

At that moment, she decided to truly love her, regardless of the pain and anxiety that lay ahead, no matter how far away Wu Zhuyue was...

In any case, from the moment loneliness left, Lu Changqing understood his own feelings.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Let's start with a sweet taste.

*Please note that the next two chapters focus on Si Liuhua; those who are not interested can skip to the next chapter.