Chapter 88 The Real New Year's Eve

Dongtang did not hesitate and held that hand tightly.

Lin Chengye extinguished the candle that was providing light and draped his black robe over Dongtang, making him almost blend into the thick night.

In the distance, the Shengde Hall still shone brightly with thousands of torches, its golden walls gleaming. Lin Chengye led Dongtang past the palace guards and arrived at the hidden door in the palace wall.

Dongtang was somewhat surprised; she didn't know how Lin Chengye had learned this secret. In a daze, she realized that she hadn't seen this door for a very, very long time, nor had she seen the world outside the walls.

"...Where is Jiang Jinmeng? Is he in Linsu City?"

Dongtang swallowed hard, asking a question just as she was about to cross the threshold. Knowing that her indecisive nature was acting up again, she lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly.

"No, it's not within the territory of Lai. It's in the south, so it shouldn't be this cold at this time of year."

Lin Chengye smiled, and she stopped at the opportune moment, her hand lightly resting on the door. This was her last chance, and she was willing to wait for this woman a little longer.

Suddenly, Lin Chengye blinked and let out a soft "ah".

"But if we wait any longer, it seems like we might miss a parade called... exorcism?"

Dongtang suddenly raised her head.

"Yes, sir. Let's go, let's hurry."

She heard herself say that.

The hidden door closed behind her, and her feet firmly touched the ground. In an instant, Dong Tang felt the air rushing into her lungs; she had been so nervous that she hadn't dared to breathe and had almost suffocated.

The city of Linsu remains as it always has been.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and every household has its own fire burning brightly in the courtyard. Lanterns hang under the eaves along the street, and children hold them in their hands, making the night as bright as day.

She could clearly see the young man before her; his black hair was tied up, half his face was covered by a mask, and his dark eyes held a smile as he gazed at her gently.

Lin Chengye spoke up.

"You still haven't answered me: have you ever seen New Year's Eve outside the palace?"

"I've seen it before, I've seen it before."

Dongtang inexplicably started crying, her vision blurring. She thought she had long forgotten the streets and alleys of Linsu City, only remembering the Imperial City Road, yet she knew the route so well when she pulled Lin Chengye to find the exorcism team.

She remembered everything. However, she had grown so much taller and bigger this time that she no longer needed to sit on anyone's shoulders; she could see clearly just by standing on tiptoe. Lin Chengye, on the other hand, was a head taller than everyone else and could see the Nuo woman dancing wildly in front of the procession without even standing on tiptoe.

"It still feels like New Year's Eve here; it's definitely more lively than the northern frontier," Lin Chengye remarked.

This was the New Year's Eve she remembered from her time in Litao Prefecture, where even the bitter cold couldn't dampen the people's enthusiasm. Dressed in thick clothes, they gathered around a huge bonfire, jingling and dancing until night fell and dawn broke again. Only then could they be considered to have successfully returned to this northern land for the following year.

"This is the liveliest time in Lin Su City. Would you like to go ahead and try to grab some of the flowers thrown by the Nuo woman? It's said to bring good luck in the coming year," Dong Tang asked.

"I won't, I'm not young anymore." Lin Chengye touched the tip of her nose. She had never really joined in these kinds of crowds since she was little, but Lin Chengtong would drag her into the crowd without saying a word.

"Then let's walk down this street."

Dong Tang smiled, took Lin Chengye's hand, and squeezed into the crowd, like two fish returning to the sea, becoming one of the masses.

"My lord...did you intend to take me away the moment you asked me the question?"

As they approached the end of Central Street, and the exorcism procession was nearing its end, Dong Tang suddenly spoke. Her voice was soft, almost drowned out by the jubilant crowd. She thought that if Lin Chengye didn't hear her, she would let it go, but unexpectedly, Lin Chengye actually bent down slightly and spoke earnestly.

"At that time, I only knew that you would die because of this, so of course I had to find a way to save you. But later I really felt that Jiang Jinmeng was a good match for you."

This was taken for granted. But a servant's life was so worthless that she wouldn't complain even if she were ignored.

"Oh, right, here you go."

Lin Chengye suddenly took something out of his pocket and placed it in Dongtang's palm.

The sharp edges of the object pressed against the soft flesh of his palm. Dongtang immediately recognized what it was, but still found it hard to believe.

A rough-looking carp lay in her palm.

"You must know the owner of this carp, right? I saw you with the same one on your waist the other day." Lin Chengye smiled.

"I won't ask about the rest."

"I know, I know why Dongli..."

Dongtang stared blankly at the carp, tears falling and pooling in her palm, engulfing the fish. It seemed that in her tears, the carp came back to life.

"What?" Lin Chengye really didn't hear clearly this time.

"It's nothing." Dong Tang grinned, revealing a smile. She tucked the fish into her waistband and placed it next to her own.

The red ropes binding the two carp slowly intertwined, becoming inseparable.

She finally understood when she saw the carp.

Why would Dong Li die for her, and why would she want to die for the boy in front of her?

Simply because in that instant, she glimpsed a completely new world, entirely different from the present. Her numb heart screamed, struggling to unleash intense emotions. Even if it was just a fleeting glimpse, she wanted to see it again; that moment was eternity to her.

Even if it's like a moth drawn to a flame.

...

The streets of Lin Su City gradually quieted down. Lin Chengye stood alone by the campfire, tossing bamboo tubes into it one by one. He watched as sparks exploded in mid-air with a loud bang.

She looked rather forlorn, though she was just lost in thought and bored. Lin Chengye suddenly realized this, clicked his tongue, and threw seven or eight bamboo tubes into them, leaving only the last one.

"The person has been sent to Jiangjin Medical Clinic in Linsu City. We will find an opportunity to send her away from here soon."

The voice arrived first, and Chai Hu Nan reappeared beside Lin Cheng Ye like a ghost.

"A letter has also been sent to the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mystery Sect as quickly as possible."

"Okay." Lin Chengye slowly exhaled, a white mist swirling around her, and then handed the last bamboo tube in her hand to Chai Hu Nan.

"Let's give it a try."

"...He played around a lot when he was in Jiangjin Alliance, and he was stingy... But when it came to the New Year, Dongzi didn't care about money anymore. He spent money like water, saying that he had earned a year's worth of money just to spend it now."

Chai Hu Nan threw the last bamboo tube into the fire, and the two watched as it shrank and twisted from the heat of the flames, before finally exploding with a bang.

"What a pity, I also wanted to see Jiang Jinmeng's New Year's Eve."

Lin Chengye sighed. If they were in Jiangjinmeng, they would probably already be sitting together enjoying a reunion dinner, waiting for the next day to arrive by the warm fireplace.

"Yes, but you're just unconscious."

Chai Hu Nan replied abruptly.

"However, the entire Jiangjin Alliance didn't really celebrate the New Year that time. The Alliance Leader was worried and didn't eat or sleep, so Dongzi didn't hold a big celebration. The four of us elders just had a meal and that was it."

"...That time doesn't count."

Lin Chengye awkwardly touched the tip of his nose.

Suddenly, the two fell silent, with only the continuous crackling sound in their ears. Lin Chengye felt a coolness on his cheek, looked up, and saw that light snowflakes were beginning to fall from the sky.

"...What are your thoughts going forward?"

Chai Hu Nan crossed her arms and leaned against a huge, withered tree. She vaguely sensed that things had reached a stalemate, with many mysteries remaining unsolved, but Lin Cheng Ye's behavior didn't seem to bother her much.

"...I do have a very strong feeling."

She thought the imperial court was the end of her journey, but her investigation has revealed that various martial arts forces have managed to infiltrate this capital city.

Since everything originated from the martial arts world, why not trace its source once again?

By the firelight, Lin Chengye took out the small brocade pouch that Cai Bailing had given him from his bosom, and slowly unfolded it. On it were only four simple words:

Return to the origin.

"What a coincidence!" Lin Chengye tossed the note into the campfire, turned to face Chai Hu Nan, and said, word by word.

...

Southern Qi Dynasty, Mengshan City, Qingluan Carrying a Branch Viewpoint.

Even on New Year's Eve, this place was unusually quiet compared to other areas. However, compared to its usual size, it had a few more red lanterns, making it look like a residence.

"Young Master." A disciple approached the warm spring behind the mountain and bowed to Chu He, who was meditating.

"What is it?"

Chu He raised his eyes. For a martial arts fanatic, there is no such thing as a New Year, especially since the Hundred Knowledge Tea House recently issued another list of amazing figures, and Lin Chengye was actually ranked first alongside Masked River—'Dead Man's Umbrella' Ni Xiao.

Lin Chengye has probably already broken through to the sixth level of internal strength.

"When I was going down the mountain, a beggar gave me a bowl. I thought the man was out of his mind, but I didn't expect there to be words on the bottom of the bowl. I don't know what they mean, so I wanted to ask you."

Chuhe took the bowl and looked at the bottom of it; there was a line of words engraved on it.

"Is Mengshan safe? Are the people safe? Are the monarchs safe?"

She clicked her tongue softly and waved to her disciples.

"Okay, you can go now. Here's what's for me."

As soon as the disciple left, Chu He smashed the bowl onto the rocks, shattering it into pieces. She gazed northward and murmured to herself.

"If you're worried about it, then come back and see for yourself. Why be so hesitant?"

...

In the Southern Qi Dynasty, fifty li east of Jiuchen City, lies the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mechanism Gate.

"Mother! I believe! I believe! I believe!"

The door was slammed open with a bang. Guan Xiaoxian didn't even look, but frowned, immediately pinched the chopsticks in her hand with two fingers, and threw them out like a throwing knife, shouting.

"What do you believe! I've told you so many times, you're a grown man, can't you be a little more mature?"

She glanced at Guan Yuenan, who was running away with his head in his hands after being hit by chopsticks, and became even angrier.

Yan Zhou, that good girl, went back to Fengquan Manor to spend the New Year with her mother. Even if I liked her, I couldn't force her to stay. Otherwise, her in-laws, who doted on their daughter, would definitely come here on New Year's Eve and stab her with their swords.

As for Cheng Ye… Guan Xiaoxian couldn’t help but sigh when she thought of her daughter.

In a letter Cheng Ye sent not long ago, besides his usual concern for his health, he also attached the blueprints for his improved hidden weapon, the "Lotus Pattern Ring." Unusually, he mentioned his own affairs, saying that he was about to enter Su City, where everything required caution, so he could not send letters as frequently as before.

He feared he wouldn't be able to enjoy New Year's Eve while he was in the sweltering heat of the imperial city. Thinking of this, Guan Xiaoxian's heart sank even further.

But soon Guan Xiaoxian showed a depressed expression. She thought that she and her silly son were the only two people sitting at the dinner table, facing each other in silence. Even the best food tasted like cardboard.

"Oh my, it's a letter from Chengye! Are you happy now?"

Guan Yue was not angry this time. Instead, he smiled and placed a tortoise shell the size of a palm on the dining table.

"I was walking down the street when someone bumped into me and dropped this tortoise shell at my feet. Luckily, I picked it up and looked at it; there are words on it."

Thinking this way, every time Guan Xiaoxian opened a letter sent by Lin Chengye, Guan Yuenan would come over and say, "What's wrong with reading my sister's letter?"

"What? Quick, let me see it!"

Guan Xiaoxian had just picked up a piece of juicy duck meat and put it in her mouth, and was about to sigh that it tasted bland, when she heard Guan Yue's words. Her eyes lit up immediately, and the duck meat in her mouth was suddenly filled with the sour plum aroma that it should have.

"You're just being biased," Guan Yuenan said with a grin, but he pushed the tortoise shell right under Guan Xiaoxian's nose, and the two of them squeezed together, their heads touching.

This letter must have been extremely difficult to send; it had no signature, only a few words.

"A woman travels far away, longing for her mother and brother."

As if sensing something, the two women looked towards the north-facing window, where they saw fine snowflakes gently falling. In the warm south, this scene was rare, as if conveying a longing from afar.

...

Lai State, Qingyun County, Linjun Mountain Peak.

Bian Yi sat on the cliff beside the two tombstones, her legs dangling in the air. She was only wearing a white shirt, and the wide sleeves of her shirt swayed in the mountain wind, making her look like a semi-transparent ghost about to fly away from the human world.

She originally intended to go down the mountain to buy two bottles of wine and have a drink with her master and senior sister, getting herself completely drunk so she wouldn't think about the past. However, when she passed by the noodle shop from her childhood, the young owner called her over and handed her a piece of wood.

"Can you read? This was stuffed under my door this morning; there are words on it."

Bian Yi glanced at it, then suddenly smiled deeply, her eyes crinkling. She put away the wooden sign and handed a few copper coins to the young shopkeeper.

"This is for me, thank you."

Hundreds of red lanterns slowly rose into the sky above Lin Su City in the distance. A cold, metallic glint flashed from the lotus-patterned ring on Bian Yi's hand as his fingertip pressed against the wooden plaque.

The wooden sign had only six characters on it.

"I wish that you would be by my side tomorrow night."

She smiled slowly, and suddenly snowflakes fell on her head, gradually coating her silhouette in white. She looked at the distant city of Lin Su and murmured.

Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, Chengye.

Author's Note: This chapter was updated at 10 PM on October 11, 2025. I made it in time!

I'm very sorry that this time there are only 2400 words. I've been too busy with work three times in the past few days. I was notified by my boss to work overtime until 11 pm... I don't know if I can still update before midnight. I found that I can disconnect here, so I'm posting it here for now.

If I get off work early, I'll finish the remaining five or six hundred words of this chapter today! I'll also try to add another chapter over the weekend. I'm so sorry TT...

Also, thank you everyone for the nutrient solution and comments. The fact that I've been able to keep writing this rambling post until now is inseparable from everyone's encouragement and the support of my friends. I've been beaten up three times recently, but I will try my best to adjust my state.