Chapter 15: Birds and Fishes (Part 3) "The value of a wish lies in its fulfillment...
Lian Qiang was still guessing, and when she came back to her senses, she met Chi Xingji's eyes.
"Did you think of something?" he asked softly. Lian Qiang nodded: "Yes." "I have something in mind too."
After saying this, the two of them just turned their faces away tacitly and remained silent.
There are so many people around, and now may not be a good time to communicate.
Fortunately, the commotion died down quickly, and the line began to move forward again. Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji joined the line just in time, and it was soon their turn.
"What are your names?" The merman checking in the guest list was a merman, who naturally lumped the two seemingly familiar faces together. Chi Xingji unhesitatingly gave an alias: "Chi Xiao, this is..." He looked at Lian Qiang, who understood: "Lian Qiang."
She was not as famous as Chi Xingji, so she did not have so many concerns.
"Alright," the mermaid finished registering the two, jokingly saying, "There's also a Concentric Pond in the palace where people can make wishes. You two might want to go and have a look when you have time. But there are so many guests here today, so be careful not to get separated."
His voice was not loud, but it was obvious that he had a hidden agenda, mistakenly confusing the relationship between the two. Lian Qiang was about to retort when Chi Xingji left first, and she had no choice but to follow.
"...Why would a decent cultivator get involved with a demonic cultivator..."
Suddenly, someone whispered behind her. The voice was quiet, but Lian Qiang heard it. She froze in her tracks, first laughing at herself, then subtly concealing the sarcasm on her face. However, from beginning to end, Lian Qiang didn't even think about looking back at the person's appearance.
She and Chi Xingji had always been on different paths, and she hadn't just learned this today. As a single demon cultivator, she had encountered a lot of coldness and contempt over the years, so why should she be upset over someone else's careless words?
Lian Qiang fell back a few steps in deep thought. Chi Xingji noticed something was wrong with her and returned, asking, "What's wrong?"
Lian Qiang felt that she had suppressed her disappointment and shook her head in denial: "Nothing."
She had wanted to ask Chi Xingji why he had tacitly accepted the subtle meaning in the other party's words, but now she didn't want to think about it anymore. Perhaps he didn't mean that. If she asked, it would seem like she was being too sentimental.
"But you don't look as cheerful as before," Chi Xingji hesitated.
Lian Qiang was slightly startled, and then she felt as if he was deceiving her. She herself did not feel that the difference in her emotions before and after was too great, and she did not think that she could be called cheerful before. If you really want to examine it carefully, it is true that she has been much more tense since meeting Chi Xingji.
"You must have seen it wrong. I was just a few steps slower." Lian Qiang took a few quick steps and passed Chi Xingji in one breath. "Isn't this how I caught up?"
"Yes, I caught up." Chi Xingji didn't dwell on this matter anymore. He took big steps and walked forward side by side with her.
Although the mermaid palace is large, there is also red mermaid silk spread on the ground, one for decoration and the other to guide the way. Both walls are illuminated by mermaid beads infused with spiritual power.
"...How extravagant." Lian Qiang took a breath of cold air. Mermaid silk is worth a lot of money. Although mermaids can weave it by themselves, this is a bit too luxurious.
Chi Xingji coughed lightly and said, "When the Mermaid King gets married, the ceremony will naturally be grand."
"I wonder if the Mermaid King is marrying within his own clan, or with other races?" Lian Qiang casually asked. The majority of the attendees were demon cultivators, but there were also quite a few ordinary cultivators. The fewest were probably demon cultivators like her.
Along the way, I heard a lot of rumors about this king, saying that he had great ambitions and was wise and decisive. He sounded young, but he already had the intention and determination to make a career.
"If he wants to leave this Canglang Sea, the queen can't be just a mermaid." Seeing the two of them walking to an empty place where no one was around, Chi Xingji commented lightly.
"...Leave Canglang Sea?" Lian Qiang was quite puzzled. Canglang Sea was the foundation of this group of mermaids' survival. If they left here, wouldn't they have to start all over again?
Chi Xingji saw through her confusion and patiently explained, "If they were content to live in seclusion, they wouldn't have left the South China Sea years ago. Regardless of which rumor is true, the Canglang Sea is less than one-tenth the size of the South China Sea. Living here is obviously not what they want."
He paused, then continued, "Besides, the Mermaid King might not be interested in reproducing his own offspring by marrying with a foreign tribe. I heard that he nearly died as a child due to congenital deficiencies, and the previous king even considered replacing the heir, but the Queen strongly opposed it, so he held back."
Lian Qiang listened and couldn't help but sigh, "For them, marriage is just a way to add icing on the cake."
"Many times, it's more than just them," Chi Xingji continued naturally. Perhaps he'd just said it casually, but when Lian Qiang heard it, it took on a different meaning. She really wanted to ask, "What was your motivation for marrying her in the first place?"
Not only did she fail to add icing on the cake, but she also made it difficult for him to provide timely assistance.
But Lian Qiang didn't ask this question in the end. She knew very well that even if she asked it, Chi Xingji would not be able to answer her now.
The two of them chatted as they walked, and didn't realize they had reached a crowded place.
The roof is deliberately left uncovered to allow for a sea view. Standing there, looking up, you'll see the water everywhere.
In the center stood a pool that, from a distance, looked like two circles fused together. Nearby, a number of guests lit a special material that appeared to ignite in the water, creating a dazzling display. Placed in the pool, it flickered and shimmered.
There were quite a few guests, but they were all in pairs. Lian Qiang realized where she and Chi Xingji had gone and was about to suggest leaving when Chi Xingji walked in first. Lian Qiang stamped her foot and followed, praying that Chi Xingji would not act on his own again.
She had never thought that he loved to disregard other people's wishes and do his own thing so much.
Fortunately, Chi Xingji was just very curious, so he picked up the candle and observed it carefully.
"So it's a mermaid candle," Chi Xingji handed one to Lian Qiang. Seeing her puzzled, he explained, "This is a special craft that mermaids are good at. Unlike ordinary candles, it can burn forever even in water. It's often used to make wishes."
"It sounds nice, but it's just an ordinary lamp. Even if I make a wish, it may not come true." Lian Qiang used to be most enthusiastic about these beautiful visions. If she could have ten wishes, five would be given to her family, three to Chi Xingji, and the remaining two would be hers.
One year, the Wuji Sword Sect organized its disciples to go down the mountain to participate in the Lantern Festival. Although the two had not yet married, Lian Qiang excitedly dragged Chi Xingji along, bought lanterns, guessed lantern riddles, and even insisted on releasing Kongming lanterns.
"Why should we place our hopes on this ordinary lamp?" Chi Xingji was not slandering, he simply did not understand.
Lian Qiang was a little angry, but she still patiently explained to him: "Sometimes, we make wishes not because God can help us realize them, but because the sincerity from your heart when you make a wish is the most precious."
Chi Xingji's expression at the time seemed to be that he understood, but also seemed not to understand. In the end, he still released a lamp under Lian Qiang's urging.
Lian Qiang no longer remembered what wish she made at that time, she only remembered that Chi Xingji's profile with his hands clasped together and eyes closed silently was very beautiful.
“The most important thing about making a wish is not whether it comes true or not, but the sincerity of your heart when you make it.”
Reality and memories overlapped, Lian Qiang suddenly raised her eyes, her lips trembling slightly: "You..."
"Hmm?" Chi Xingji, who was trying to light the mermaid candle, looked up at her leisurely.
——He had indeed forgotten. Lian Qiang confirmed silently. If he hadn't lost his memory, his words would have been more of a test. But she couldn't find any disguise in his eyes; they were as clear as ever.
But she still wanted to give it a try: "What a novel idea... Who told you this?"
As soon as these words came out, Lian Qiang clenched her five dangling fingers into fists in her sleeves. However, Chi Xingji only shook his head at her astonished gaze: "I can't remember, maybe I saw it in some ancient book."
"Is that so..." Lian Qiang's voice was as soft as a mosquito's. That's right, if Chi Xingji still remembered, what would happen if he pretended to have lost his memory? Was he trying to reconcile with her and mend their past?
It's impossible. Regardless of whether he has this intention or not, the rift between the two of them can never be mended. The reason they live in harmony now is only because he has forgotten and still treats her as a stranger.
Lian Qiang can't bear hardship and is afraid of pain. She will never fall in the same place twice.
"Even someone as powerful as the Immortal King would have a wish to make?" Lian Qiang smiled and changed the subject.
"You can say yes and no, but you can also say no. But since I'm here, I shouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. Let's give it a try." Chi Xingji first lit a candle with his spiritual power. The pure spiritual power gave birth to a green flame, which was very elegant.
Lian Qiang didn't want to try, but Chi Xingji was waiting nearby, seemingly determined not to leave until she tried. But as soon as the demonic energy touched the wick, black flames erupted, and Lian Qiang instinctively extinguished them.
Chi Xingji frowned slightly: "Why destroy it?"
"...It doesn't look good. I don't like black. It's not as pretty as yours." Lian Qiang lied. In fact, compared to black, she felt that such candles were too out of place when placed next to Chi Xingji's.
Although this lie was crude, it was hard to refute. Chi Xingji thought for a moment and said, "Didn't you say that cyan looks good? Then why don't I light the lamp for you and you make a wish."
Lian Qiang finally realized what it meant to shoot herself in the foot. She could only watch as Chi Xingji carefully placed the two cyan lanterns into the pool. Unfortunately, the two lanterns seemed to be stuck together. While the other lanterns were swimming alone, theirs remained in pairs.
"Okay, make a wish." Chi Xingji didn't think there was anything wrong with this. Lian Qiang nodded, but when he closed his eyes, he urged a small wisp of demonic energy to shoot over, causing it to separate the two lamps.
When Chi Xingji opened his eyes, she pretended to have just opened her eyes as well.
Lian Qiang couldn't wait to escape this place and offered, "Let's go! It would be bad if we missed the auspicious time for the Mermaid King's wedding."
Chi Xingji nodded, and the two turned and left. At the moment they turned around, the young man looked into the pool as if he sensed something.
——Where are the two mermaid candles traveling together?
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