Chapter 61 Chapter 61 The one with the most advanced concealment skills, probably...
After several storms, the river returned to calm.
Amidst the chattering suggestions from the other passengers, the boatman rowed faster, swaying the awning boat as it drifted to the outskirts of Yingzhou City.
Passengers walked to the bow of the ship, stepped onto the deck, and walked to the shore.
Ji Fuguang waited until most of the people on the boat had left before getting up and walking out.
Sheng Zhiyi followed behind him, looking around.
Yingzhou City is situated by the water, with many houses built on the riverbank.
The trees along the shore are lush and verdant, their reflections shimmering in the clear water. White walls and black roofs appear and disappear intermittently, while red carp leap out of the water, causing the algae to swirl and then vanish in an instant.
Summer had arrived, and the lush green lotus leaves cast long, round shadows. Occasionally, one or two lotus buds stood gracefully, ready to bloom.
This was the first time Sheng Zhiyi had seen such a magnificent sight, and she couldn't help but take a second look.
When she came to her senses, Ji Fuguang had already reached the shore and was talking to an old man carrying a basket. She was the only passenger left on the boat.
She lifted her skirt and hurriedly ran to the bow of the boat, but just as she was about to walk over, she was startled.
I originally thought the bow of the boat was right next to the shore and I could just stretch out my leg and step over, but I didn't expect the hull to be a full meter away from the blue stone steps on the shore.
The bluestones on the riverbank, constantly soaked in water vapor, have long been covered with a layer of moss and algae, making them look damp and slippery. Stepping on them is already unstable, let alone rushing over them, as one might slip on the spot and fall into the river.
Unfortunately, it was agreed beforehand that we should disguise ourselves as ordinary people and not use our spiritual power.
...
Life is full of trials.
Seeing that she was not moving, the boatman urged her on:
"This isn't difficult; you can jump over it with just a little effort."
Before Sheng Zhiyi could speak, he explained:
"This is already the closest we've come to the shore. The bottom of these steps extends into the river. Any closer and my boat will be hit."
Sheng Zhiyi watched as the passengers gradually dispersed from the shore, among whom was a little girl of six or seven years old.
If she can jump up there, why can't I?
Sheng Zhiyi took a deep breath and just lifted her foot.
"Understand the meaning."
The sudden sound shattered all the confidence she had managed to muster.
Sheng Zhiyi looked up, annoyed. "What?"
Ji Fuguang had already walked back to the shore at some point and stretched out his arm to Sheng Zhiyi.
He was dressed in white, and in his arms he was holding two or three lotus flowers. He bent down slightly, like a banished immortal guiding a spirit.
A conical pink bud reflected on his handsome profile, and a hibiscus bloomed on one side of his face.
"come over."
For some inexplicable reason, Sheng Zhiyi felt her ears getting hot.
"Go quickly."
The boatman urged them on, but there was a hint of teasing in his voice.
Sheng Zhiyi grabbed Ji Fuguang's hand and was lifted up firmly, landing steadily on the stone steps by the shore.
Once she regained her footing, Ji Fuguang immediately let go.
As Sheng Zhiyi tried to pull her arm back, a round object was immediately stuffed into her palm.
It turned out to be a green lotus pod, filled with plump and fresh lotus seeds.
Sheng Zhiyi's almond-shaped eyes widened immediately, both surprised and delighted, "Where did this come from?"
Ji Fuguang said with a smile, "The old lady was selling lotus flowers just now. She said this was the first lotus seedpod of the year, and since it was the only one available, I bought it first."
The lotus pods still carried a faint mist, and the lotus flowers Ji Fuguang held in his arms exuded a delicate fragrance. Sheng Zhiyi couldn't put them down and kept admiring them.
The boatman had already rowed away, perhaps having seen off all the passengers, feeling relaxed and content. He sang a folk song passed down through the trees and on the clear water:
"My sister is like a pink lotus, blooming in a clear, green pond. My brother is like a green lotus leaf, wholeheartedly protecting my sister from the wind and waves... The lotus seeds grow from the point of unity... We share the bitterness... We share the sweetness..."
Sheng Zhiyi held the lotus flower in her arms, and the two entered Yingzhou City side by side.
I thought she would be quite conspicuous carrying a bouquet of flowers, but I didn't expect that Yingzhou City was teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder, as if all the men, women and children in the city had come out together, and the streets were full of people.
They were dressed in their finest clothes, with elaborate makeup, and many even wore various flowers in their hair.
In comparison, Sheng Zhiyi was only holding flowers, which was already quite restrained.
"What are they doing?" Sheng Zhiyi asked in surprise.
She had only spoken subconsciously, not expecting to get a definite answer, since Ji Fuguang had come with her and wouldn't know much more than she did.
Before the question could even be asked, Ji Fuguang's voice rang out: "Today is the 'River Lantern Festival' in Yingzhou City."
"How do you even know this?" Sheng Zhiyi asked, slightly surprised.
“I not only know that the river lantern festival is being held today, but I also know its origins.” Ji Fuguang waved his folding fan, his voice trailing off softly.
Sheng Zhiyi knew he was deliberately teasing her, so she said half-jokingly, "Alright, if I give the storyteller a penny, can I hear the next part?"
As he spoke, he took out a copper coin from his storage bag and stuffed it into Ji Fuguang's palm.
Then, with feigned seriousness, he said, "This is all the copper coins I have. It's a small gift but carries great meaning."
That's true; she only had one coin left.
Ji Fuguang pinched the copper coin, solemnly put it into his storage bag, and cleared his throat, saying:
"Legend has it that when Yingzhou City was first established, torrential rains would pour down every summer, lasting for months on end. The floods would destroy houses and fields, and many people would perish, leaving the people destitute. Later, someone released river lanterns to pray for blessings, and that year the weather turned out to be favorable, with abundant harvests. The people of Yingzhou City believed that river lanterns could communicate with the gods, and the custom of releasing lanterns has been passed down ever since. On the River Lantern Festival, there are various street parades during the day, and at night people release lanterns by the water to pray for blessings. It is the grandest festival in Yingzhou City."
After hearing his explanation, Sheng Zhiyi deliberately expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, "Why is the book you described so brief after you gave me the reward?"
"Sir, a reward of one copper coin is equivalent to one copper coin's worth of books. But if it were a silver ingot, that would be a different story," Ji Fuguang said slowly, fanning himself with his folding fan.
"It's just a secondhand book, why is the price so high?" Sheng Zhiyi grabbed the lotus stem and gently knocked the flower bud onto Ji Fuguang.
It's obvious that Ji Fuguang learned these things from the old flower seller when he bought lotus flowers, and he's just showing them off to her now.
The lotus flower was already delicate, and when she pounced on it like that, the petals shook off and gently fell.
Sheng Zhiyi was taken aback by this and instinctively reached out to grab it.
Before her fingers could grasp it, a larger hand had already caught the petal.
Ji Fuguang raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face, and said, "So you cherish it?"
Sheng Zhiyi was taken aback, but then said confidently, "I am a kind-hearted person. I can feel pity and reluctance even for fallen petals."
He had mocked her in the same way when she took the puppet bird of the gods from the Ten Thousand Swords Tomb in the secret realm, and when she reached out to grab the ashes of the burned silver silk.
These are his exact words from back then!
Sheng Zhiyi reached out, snatched the petal from Ji Fuguang's fingertip, put it into her storage bag, and walked forward with her chin raised.
Ji Fuguang watched her proud and upright back and chuckled softly.
He strode forward and lightly tapped Sheng Zhiyi's shoulder with his finger.
"Understand the meaning."
Sheng Zhiyi dodged for a moment, pretending not to hear.
Ji Fuguang said unhurriedly, "If you keep going, your lotus petals will fall off and you'll become bald."
fraud.
Sheng Zhiyi didn't turn her head back.
...But, could it really be true?
Sheng Zhiyi continued walking, subtly glancing sideways.
One glance was enough to cause a great shock.
The lotus flower had indeed shrunk, and several layers of petals had fallen off.
She turned around hastily, already prepared herself for the petals along the way to be trampled into mud by passersby.
Turning around, she saw that the ground was clean, and a few slender fingers were holding a thick stack of lotus petals, stretched out in front of her.
Seeing that she didn't answer, Ji Fuguang calmly said, "What's wrong? Are you no longer kind-hearted, compassionate, or reluctant to part?"
He slowly stretched his hand toward the river beside him, deliberately saying, "Then I shall return these petals to dust and ashes?"
Sheng Zhiyi's almond-shaped eyes sparkled, and she suddenly stood on tiptoe to grab the flower petal in his hand.
She wasn't going to engage in verbal sparring with him; it would be faster to just take action.
Ji Fuguang had anticipated her actions and took a half step back, just as Sheng Zhiyi threw herself into his arms.
Just then, a procession of people scattering flowers passed by the two of them.
The women in the parade were dressed in their finest attire, carrying bamboo baskets filled with flower petals, and tossing the petals into the air with a gentle wave of their arms.
The falling petals were like a sudden snowfall in summer.
A sweet fragrance filled the air, flowing into the two figures under the lush summer shade. The shadows of flowers rippled like a tide, weaving a floating river of fragrance.
In an instant, the world felt both near and far to Sheng Zhiyi.
She seemed unable to hear the hustle and bustle of the crowd; all she could hear was a steady heartbeat, transmitted through the thin fabric of her clothes. However, that heartbeat seemed to be a beat off.
The next second, her five senses were amplified rapidly, and those distant sounds returned to her ears at lightning speed, noisy and clear.
She seemed to hear kind laughter, children asking about their relationship, and teasing voices from teenagers.
Sheng Zhiyi snapped back to her senses, stepped back to steady herself, and said, "Give me back the petals."
His tone was direct and crisp, but his eyes darted around.
This time, Ji Fuguang unexpectedly didn't tease her; he simply placed the flower petal gently in her palm.
Just as Sheng Zhiyi was about to withdraw her hand, her wrist was grabbed, and she looked up in surprise.
But then Ji Fuguang placed a storage bag on a lotus petal and gently pushed her hand back.
"Could Sheng Zhiyi's storage bag, which is full of kindness, compassion, and reluctance to part, hold so many things?"
His voice carried a faint smile and something Sheng Zhiyi couldn't quite make out, like a flowing river with petals floating on it, beautiful yet profound, gently wafting in Sheng Zhiyi's ears.
Sheng Zhiyi was somewhat stunned. The lotus petals, with their slightly upturned ends, resembled a small boat, upon which sat a delicate and exquisite storage bag, faintly shimmering with a spiritual light.
Suddenly remembering something, Sheng Zhiyi quickly put all the lotus flowers and petals inside and put the storage bag away.
She leaned closer to Ji Fuguang, lowered her voice, and said fiercely:
"You forgot, we can't reveal our identities this time; we have to investigate secretly!"
How could you forget such important information at such a crucial moment? What if the demons find out?
Sheng Zhiyi glanced around warily and breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that everyone was talking about releasing river lanterns and no one was paying attention to the two of them.
Ji Fuguang slowly spoke: "Don't be afraid, there are no demons around."
Sheng Zhiyi gave him a disapproving look. "How do you know? What if the demons are exceptionally skilled at concealment?"
Hmm... the most skilled at concealment probably won't let you find them.
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