Liuli and Shichan strolled through the streets and alleys of the outer city, chatting and laughing as they walked. Ahua looked up from Liuli's arms and saw that Liuli's smile was particularly joyful, and her gaze toward the little monk had a faint, sparkling light.
Ahua was very clever; in her opinion, Liuli must like this little monk.
After a moment of thought, Ahua said, "Sister, I'm tired. I want to go back first, okay?"
"Okay." Liuli nodded and said with a smile, "Then be careful, I'll be back in a bit."
"Okay," Ahua replied, and lightly jumped down and ran forward.
Liuli watched Ah Hua disappear into the alley before her, then turned to Shi Chan and asked, "Little monk, you still haven't told me what your Buddhist sect is doing in Yingyang City."
Shi Chan replied gently, "Have you ever heard the story of Nuwa mending the sky?"
Liuli thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I've heard it. My grandmother told me about it."
Shi Chan nodded and continued, "Legend has it that when Nuwa mended the sky, she left behind a stone used for patching it. However, for many years, only this legend has been passed down in the world, and no one knows who actually possessed the stone. Now, ten thousand years later, the righteous and demonic paths are vying for control of the Central Plains again, and various divine artifacts from the Buddhist, Taoist, and demonic paths have emerged one after another. Suddenly, an elder of my Buddhist sect comprehended an ancient proverb. The proverb states that the stone left by Nuwa in mending the sky eventually fell into the hands of the Yellow Emperor and was made into the Imperial Seal of the State. That seal has survived the long years and has been passed down from generation to generation. People even say that whoever possesses the Imperial Seal of the State will rule the world. People do not know that the seal is made of divine stone. Because it is translucent like jade, it is called the Imperial Seal."
Liuli nodded in realization and said, "No wonder Li Molin and the others came to Yingyang City at this time and made a point of getting close to Zhang Chao, and even sent Yu Ke to the emperor's side as a guard. It turns out it was all for the Sky-Mending Stone!"
“Indeed.” Shi Chan said in a low voice, “That stone used to mend the sky is the hardest stone in the world, and it contains the divine power of Nuwa, so it is naturally unfathomable.”
"The Sky-Mending Stone," Liuli laughed, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. "I want the Sky-Mending Stone!"
Shi Chan smiled gently and said, "Treasures have spirits. If the Heaven-Mending Stone is destined for you, then it will naturally belong to you."
"That Sky-Mending Stone must be destined for me!" Liuli spread her arms wide and laughed joyfully, "All the treasures in this world are destined for me!"
Shi Chan turned to look at Liu Li's joyful and cheerful appearance, and felt inexplicably happy as well. He gently smiled and said in a soft voice, "Yes."
"Haha!" Liuli turned to look at Shichan, her eyes, which were curved into crescents, were full of joy and laughter. She said sincerely, "Little monk, I am really happy to meet you today."
Shi Chan felt a warmth in his heart, as if his whole heart had been immersed in a pool of warm spring water. He smiled warmly and nodded, saying, "I am also very happy to meet you today, young lady."
"Mmm!" Liuli nodded emphatically, put her hands behind her back, and skipped forward.
Shi Chan lagged slightly behind Liu Li, his gentle smile lingering on his face. His gaze towards Liu Li's back was exceptionally tender, even more tender than the moonlight in the sky.
--
When Liuli and Shichan parted ways and returned to the Grand Commandant's mansion, it was already past 3:45 AM. At that time, all the lights in the guest courtyard had been extinguished, and the courtyard was pitch black.
She tiptoed to the west warm pavilion next to the main hall, and by the moonlight from the window, she saw Ah Hua curled up asleep on the bed at the very back of the pavilion.
She tiptoed to the bed, lay down fully clothed, and was about to sleep when she heard Ah Hua groggily open her eyes and ask in a lazy voice, "Sister, you're back?"
"You're still awake, Ahua?" Liuli turned around, hugged Ahua in her arms, and asked softly.
Ahua stretched her arms and legs, yawned widely, and said lazily, "I just got back not long ago too."
"Oh." Liuli yawned and said sleepily, "Go to sleep, Ahua, it's getting late."
"Sister," Ahua asked lazily, her eyes closed, "Do you like that little monk?"
Upon hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Liuli's lips. Her voice was soft as she nodded and said, "Yes, I really like little monks. I like little monks the most!"
Ahua opened her eyes, looked up at Liuli's little face, and asked curiously, "Sister, you like little monks, what kind of liking is that?"
Liuli was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Ahua, why are you asking me the same question? Li Molin asked me the same question too... But I don't know what kind of liking it is. I only know that I especially like being with the little monk. If I don't see him for a while, I miss him... Ahua, what kind of liking do you think it is?"
Ahua looked a little confused, shook her head, and said, "I don't know either... But sister, didn't you notice that Young Master Li seems to like you? When I came back just now, he was still awake. He asked me where you went, and I said you were with a little monk. He seemed angry and went back to his room to sleep in a huff."
"Really?" Liuli pouted and said unhappily, "There's no way he could like me, he's a jerk!"
Ahua shook her head dismissively, meowed, closed her eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
But Liuli couldn't fall asleep. She opened her eyes wide in the darkness and murmured, "He likes me? That bastard... likes me?"
"Little monk... what exactly is it about my affection for this little monk?..."
Liuli's thoughts drifted, and in a blur, she recalled the phantom spirit from that day's illusion. Her eyes gradually became unfocused, and she murmured to herself, "Love? What exactly... is love?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
