Chapter 29 Trapped in a Loop, The Sea of Time
As soon as Huali stepped into the city lord's mansion, the gatekeeper Agui took the initiative to step forward and inquire.
Who are you three?
"We are sorcerers from the Astrological Observatory, here to deliver a message to Lord Songran." Rongxing said it verbatim, simply turning a written letter into a verbal message.
"Please wait a moment, the city lord has left early this morning and has not returned. I will take you to the front hall to wait."
Huali, familiar with the place, arrived at the front hall. The swing under the crabapple tree was still there, and even the blue-crowned birds above it were still there.
But her heart was no longer as calm as before.
Not long after, Songran returned, still dressed as he had been when they first met, carrying a bamboo basket. He paused slightly when he saw Huali and the other two, "A guest has arrived?"
Agui stepped forward and whispered in Songran's ear. Songran nodded and smiled gently, "So you are fellow Daoists from the Astrology Platform. I am sorry for your rudeness in coming from afar."
The situation was the same as last time; Rongxing readily accepted his invitation and successfully settled into the mansion.
Lanxin led Huali to the door, "You may use whatever you need inside, young lady. The cabinet..."
"Okay, no problem, thank you," Huali replied quickly.
Lan Xin paused for a moment, then nodded and stepped back.
"I never expected that even Song Ran would be trapped in the Sea of Time." The thought of so many innocent people dying while the mission was still at a standstill drove Hua Li to the brink of madness.
She couldn't just sit and wait to die; she had to act immediately. She pushed open the door to find Song Ran, hoping he might have some clues.
After searching the city lord's mansion without finding him, it was only after Agui reminded her that Huali finally found him in the flower garden on the back mountain.
It's so late, and this person is still tending to the flowers and plants.
Huali watched as he carefully planted the small purple violets, soil and all, gently removing the stray bits of dirt from the petals. "Lord?"
Song Ran looked up and saw Hua Li, and smiled naturally: "Miss Hua Li, did you need something from me?"
Huali lifted her skirt and walked over, squatting down naturally. She took out the remaining violet flowers from the bamboo basket and handed them to him, then made up a lie with her eyes wide open: "The city lord's mansion is very beautiful. I got lost while wandering around and saw a figure here. When I got closer, I realized it was the city lord."
Song Ran noticed the hem of her skirt trailing on the ground and reminded her, "Miss, your skirt is dirty."
Huali didn't seem to care. "It's alright, it's just dirty."
Hearing this, Song Ran's smile deepened. "You have something to ask me, right?"
Even after being exposed, Huali wasn't ashamed. "Indeed, there is. Tomorrow is the God-Celebrating Festival. Since this God-Celebrating Lamp has been the guardian of Chenliu City for generations, does the City Lord know of any way to forcibly activate it?"
"So the young lady came for the Blessing Lamp." A look of understanding flashed in Song Ran's eyes. "It's not easy for a divine artifact to recognize a master, let alone be used without a master."
"Is there absolutely no way?"
“There is a way, but it’s too risky.” Song Ran sighed. “To force the magic lamp to obey, we need either powerful spiritual energy or a divine soul sacrifice, neither of which you can do.”
Powerful spiritual energy?
Karin suddenly recalled the mysterious person who had choked her that night.
Could it be him? "Do you mean that the caster needs to be near the blessing lamp to accomplish both of these things?"
“Of course,” Song Ran nodded. “You must not try this, young lady.”
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Huali stood up. "These purple violets are also plentiful in my hometown; they grow very easily, covering the mountains and fields." She looked around. "The city lord's back mountain is full of spiritual energy; why not plant more spiritual plants?"
Song Ran shook his head, "Spirit plants are good, but they are not what I truly love."
Noticing the sensitive word "Huali," she paused, instinctively asking, "Is this the violet flower that the city lord cherishes?"
Song Ran nodded, "That's true."
Did happiness come so suddenly? The task was completed so easily? Although she didn't believe it, it didn't stop Karin from waiting expectantly for a miracle to happen.
One minute... two minutes...
Karin's gaze shifted from admiration to a deadpan expression: "...Fake."
Song Ran blinked: ? ? ?
*
It was late when they came out from the back mountain. Huali jogged around the crabapple trees in front of the North Garden's barrier. This place was very strange; even a candied hawthorn could be blown away by the wind.
"According to Song Ran, this is the only person who fits the criteria."
"What are you doing sneaking around like that?" A muttered voice came from beside her ear. Huali was startled and slapped Rongxing on the head. "How can you be so annoying?"
Rong Xing covered his head and ran away, "I just came to check on you since you hadn't come back so late, and I was so kind, but I got no good reward for it."
Huali looked around to make sure no one was there, then waved to him, "I have something to tell you..."
"Really? If he's that powerful, we're no match for him at all."
"Are you stupid? Can you guess why this person hasn't made a move yet, but instead has to wait until the day of the festival to celebrate the gods?"
Rongxing immediately realized, "You mean, the magic lamp can only be controlled on the day of the Blessing of the Gods?"
“Correct! So all we need to do is prevent him, or anyone else, from getting close to the God Lamp tomorrow night.”
Rong Xing nodded and gave a thumbs up, "It has to be you again, thank you for your help."
Huali nodded, then suddenly stopped: "What can I do for you?"
"Weren't you going to use the same trick you used against me to trap the person who set this trap?" Rong Xing blinked his big eyes, and seeing that Hua Li looked like she was about to hit him, he quickly waved his hand: "I can't do it. Although I am a cultivator, I mainly cultivate magic and I am not good at fighting. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let a little half-demon hurt me."
The two stared at each other, then turned to look at Lian Zhuo, who hadn't said a word the whole time.
Lian Zhuo sighed, "Amitabha."
*
The next day was the routine porridge distribution. Huali watched the well-behaved little girl thank her and listened to the old woman and Songran exchanging pleasantries, feeling somewhat depressed.
Disasters often strike in an instant; how could they have imagined that the festival of blessing the gods, which they had looked forward to for countless days and nights, would be the day they were buried?
With something on her mind, time seemed to pass more slowly than usual. Finally, evening arrived, and Huali stood at the foot of Mingyue Pavilion before stepping upstairs.
"Is there something you need, young lady?" Wen Tingyun appeared just in time, blocking her path with his folding fan.
"The magic lamp is about to be lit, young lady, you'd better find a spot with a great view quickly."
Huali looked at the handsome young man before her and recalled the first time she met him, when he said that he would be in charge of guarding the blessing lamp for the next few days.
Ordinary people would not easily give up their soul, so the person who controls the Blessing Lamp must have powerful spiritual energy. The mysterious person in Beiyuan is one of them, but this Wen Tingyun is also very suspicious.
As fellow chosen ones, how could they not sense the changes happening in the city?
Rong Xing, who was not far away, secretly made a hand gesture. Hua Li immediately stepped forward to block Wen Tingyun's gaze, looking sincere: "Although you might think I'm crazy for what I'm saying, I really have a compelling reason to go up there."
Wen Tingyun carefully examined Huali's eyebrows and eyes. Although there was no resemblance between her and Ranran, he felt that they were the same kind of people.
The way he looked at people seemed to know everything, carrying a condescending gaze that he himself was unaware of. Wen Tingyun smiled and said, "Oh? Why don't you tell me about it?"
"Someone wants to use the Blessing Lamp to self-destruct, turning Chenliu City into ruins."
Wen Tingyun showed no surprise. He tucked the fan into his palm and asked, "You have a way?"
He knew it all along!
"As long as no one is allowed to get close to the blessing lamp, it cannot be detonated."
Wen Tingyun suddenly laughed out loud. Under Hua Li's puzzled gaze, he slowly lowered his head, and their faces got closer and closer, clearly exceeding the normal social distance.
Before Huali turned her head, Wen Tingyun sighed again, "She's different. She would never have such a simple side."
Huali: ? ? ? Is this person sick?
“I can let you go, but you need to answer one question for me.” Wen Tingyun stared directly at her. “Why did you try to stop all of this from happening? What does this have to do with you?”
"Therefore, there is a scientific reason. If you want to know, ask yourself." Huali took a step back.
If you don't know, then so be it. But since you can stop it, why not do it? But Huali didn't want to waste words with him; the way he looked at her made her very uncomfortable.
Unlike Song Ran's inherent gentleness, this person gave her a very fake feeling.
In short, a show-off.
Wen Tingyun was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this answer.
His gaze toward Hanari became even more intrigued. "Alright, then you can go up there."
Huali looked at him suspiciously, then ran upstairs in a few quick steps.
"In this place that eats people up without spitting out the bones, there are actually such interesting people," Wen Tingyun covered his face and laughed until he was done, then stroked the fan handle and sighed, "Little girl, let me see how powerful you are, don't die so soon."
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