Chapter 19

The three arrived on the street as night was gradually falling, but the entire street was brightly lit. Large red lanterns were already hanging high in front of every shop, and a giant boat on the river that spanned the entire Eastern City was also covered with lanterns swaying in the breeze. Five or six gorgeously dressed dancers on the boat were waving their sleeves and dancing, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

Su Mu and Ren Dong were stunned by the sight and stared at it intently.

Honeysuckle asked the person next to her, "Is it like this every day here?"

A passerby replied, "Today is Master Dongfang's birthday; there will be a performance later."

"What program is it?" Ren Dong asked, intrigued.

"You'll see in a moment."

Honeysuckle pulled Jingtao out onto the street and bought her a candied hawthorn.

Suddenly, a crowd gathered in front of them, and Honeysuckle also stood on tiptoe to look.

A group of people rode slowly towards them on horseback. Ren Dong squinted and took a closer look. The leader was none other than that brat who had caused trouble at the restaurant earlier.

The man led the way, followed by a group of servants who kept throwing copper coins around.

"What? They're just throwing money at us?" Honeysuckle immediately pulled Su Mu forward, pushing and shoving. "Hurry up and grab it, you idiot!"

Honeysuckle and sappanwood immediately bent down!

Jing Tao stood there blankly, eating candied hawthorns, watching the two disappear.

Dongfang slowly moved forward, and seeing that everyone in the city was happy for today, he couldn't help but smile. But just as he got closer to Jing Tao, Dongfang noticed her.

The clothes he was wearing shimmered under the light and shadow, and the unfamiliar face suggested he wasn't from the city.

Jing Tao also noticed the gaze and looked up, her eyes meeting Dongfang's.

Dongfang Jingjing looked down at the girl who was silently eating candied hawthorn, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

Just as Dongfang passed by and walked away, he couldn't help but look back, but at that moment the girl stopped staring at him.

Honeysuckle and sappanwood are still busy.

Dongfang dismounted at the city gate, walked to the highest point of the city, and personally lit the first fireworks display for the birthday celebration.

Brilliant and beautiful fireworks burst forth from the city, dazzling yet fleeting, but the continuous barrage of fireworks made Dongfang City a city that never sleeps tonight.

Honeysuckle couldn't help but look up as well; the city was filled with noise and joy.

I never knew there was such a wonderful place in the world. I wish I could stay here forever.

Standing on the city wall, Dongfang took large red envelopes from the servant beside him and distributed them downwards.

Each red envelope contained one or two taels of silver. Dongfang didn't know how long he had been distributing them, only that the people in the city were enjoying this feast.

"The old man must have had a very happy day."

As soon as he finished speaking, the earth shook violently, the ground cracked open, and the joy in the entire city suddenly turned into fear and screams.

Dongfang immediately steadied himself. "What is this? An earthquake?"

The fireworks ended, and the fallen red lanterns immediately ignited a sea of ​​fire.

Su Mu immediately took Ren Dong's hand and ran to safety.

"Xiao Tao! Xiao Tao is missing!" Ren Dong shouted at Su Mu.

"Let's get to a safe place first. Do you think she still needs us to rescue her?"

Honeysuckle agreed, and she and Su Mu fled to a safe place.

Jing Tao jumped up and found a high place to observe quietly.

Upon sensing the tremor, Master Dongfang immediately dispatched his demon-slaying masters to provide support.

One by one, the demon hunters rushed to the city gate to put out the fire and rescue people, while Su Mu and Ren Dong, who were on the run, also joined in, rescuing the injured.

The cracks in the ground at the city gate grew deeper and deeper, and the monsters inside finally broke through the soil.

A giant golden toad leaped from the crack to the ground.

Jing Tao frowned as she looked at the enormous monster; she hadn't brought any weapons.

The golden toad didn't do anything else. It stuck out its tongue and swept all the copper coins on the ground. Then it looked around and immediately locked its gaze on the east above the city gate.

Dongfang also sensed the danger and immediately left the city.

But the speed of the golden toad far exceeded his expectations.

With a great leap, the golden toad broke through half of the city gate, and then immediately ran eastward.

"Damn it! Why is this piece of junk chasing me?" Dongfang complained as he fled for his life.

Jing Tao also leaped from rooftop to rooftop, heading east.

A quick glance revealed that the girl from before was heading in his direction. "You'd better run! He's after me!"

But Dongfang noticed that she showed no sign of slowing down and shouted again, "Don't come any closer, you'll die!"

Seeing that Dongfang was distracted, the golden toad stuck out its tongue and attacked Dongfang. Dongfang couldn't dodge in time, rolled to the ground, and was caught up.

Seeing its target fall to the ground, the golden toad leaped to the side of Dongfang.

Looking at the enormous thing in front of him, Dongfang couldn't help but worry: It seems that today is truly an unlucky day.

Just as the giant tongue stretched eastward...

A burning stick struck it, and the golden toad immediately retracted its tongue.

Dongfang looked to the side and saw that it was the girl who had just saved him.

When the golden toad saw that someone was ruining his plans, it immediately lunged eastward with one of its claws.

Jing Tao swiftly grabbed Dongfang and rolled several times to escape the attack.

Dongfang looked at Jing Tao's profile: Why did she come to save me? Isn't she afraid of dying?

Jing Tao turned to observe the golden toad.

Dongfang stood up, grabbed Jing Tao, and ran away into the distance. "Run! Let's get to a safe place first!"

Jing Tao didn't know what Dongfang said, but she grabbed Dongfang's hand and ran even faster.

Dongfang suddenly slammed on the brakes, pulled Jing Tao around a corner, and rushed into a shop to search for something.

"This is the best weapon shop around here." Dongfang found two fine swords and handed one of them to Jing Tao.