157: Thousands of lights

The most overbearing tracking and binding mark in the Demonic Path.

"May Revered Master, through all lives and all Reincarnations, always see me as the first person upon opening his eyes."

She murmured softly, placing the Lotus Lantern, tinged with a bloody scent, into the water.

The moment the river water touched the bottom of the lantern, the surrounding fish and shrimp instantly scattered.

Meanwhile, Chu Weiwei turned her back, covering it with her hand, afraid of being seen.

She had densely covered the lantern petals with tiny characters.

"May Revered Master be healthy (crossed out), May Revered Master catch a slight cold, requiring Weiwei's day and night care."

"May Revered Master's cultivation advance (crossed out), May Revered Master be powerless, unable to care for himself without Weiwei."

"May Revered Master..."

By the end, there wasn't enough space.

She gritted her teeth and wrote a large character in the very center:

"Lock."

Then, with a pious expression, she clasped her hands together and bowed three times to the River Lantern, which carried countless 'dark desires,' before carefully placing it into the water.

Three lanterns slowly drifted away with the current.

Su Lin's lantern was at the front, stable and quiet.

Luo Ximei's lantern followed closely, domineeringly pushing aside all surrounding lanterns, even knocking over a few that blocked its path.

Chu Weiwei's lantern, like a sinister viper, always lingered beside Su Lin's lantern, sometimes close, sometimes distant, as if ready to entwine itself at any moment.

"What did you wish for?" Su Lin asked casually, looking at the river.

"World peace," Luo Ximei lied without batting an eye.

"Revered Master's health," Chu Weiwei deceived with a radiant smile.

Su Lin glanced at them but didn't expose them.

"Let's go."

...Leaving the riverside, the three followed the crowd to a shop called "Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

This was Yunhe City's largest Cultivator trading market, primarily catering to low-level Cultivators, but it often had strange and rare trinkets.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Su Lin led the way inside.

Since it was a "date" (though forced), he had to buy something to appease these two, otherwise, who knew what trouble they'd cause upon returning.

Inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, goods were dazzlingly arrayed.

Luo Ximei had no interest in low-level Magical Artifacts; her gaze swept around the shop and finally landed on a Brocade Box on the top of the counter.

"Shopkeeper, bring that down."

The Shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Seeing the demeanor of the three (though they had restrained their auras, the posture of superiors could not be hidden), he dared not delay and quickly took down the Brocade Box.

Inside the box was a pair of Hairpins.

They were not made of ordinary gold, silver, or jade, but from an unknown black metal. The Hairpin head was a hollowed-out mandarava flower, with a blood-red gem inlaid in its pistil.

The design was exquisite, yet it exuded an eerie coldness.

"What excellent taste, young lady!" The Shopkeeper gave a thumbs-up. "These are the 'Ink Blood Hairpins,' consigned by a Golden Core Stage Senior. Though not of great practical use, their material is special and indestructible, and they come as a pair, perfect for..."

"I'll take them."

Luo Ximei didn't wait for him to finish, directly tossing out a bag of Spirit Stones.

She picked up one of them and walked up to Su Lin.

"Revered Master, lower your head."

Su Lin looked at the Hairpin, which clearly had a Demonic Cultivator's aesthetic, and felt some resistance.

"I don't wear this kind of..."

"Revered Master promised to make us happy tonight," Luo Ximei interrupted him, a hint of threat in her eyes. "Does Revered Master intend to go back on his word?"

"..."

Su Lin sighed and slightly lowered his head.

Luo Ximei's lips curved upward. With a gentle motion, she inserted the Ink Blood Hairpin into Su Lin's Hair Bun.

The black metal blended with Su Lin's ink-black long hair, and the blood-red gem shimmered faintly in his hair, adding a touch of sinister charm.

"So beautiful."

Luo Ximei took half a step back, admiring her masterpiece, then unceremoniously inserted the other Hairpin into her own hair.

"A pair."

She pointed to the one on Su Lin's head, then to the one on her own.

"Couple's style."

Chu Weiwei, standing by, turned green with envy.

She frantically searched the counter and finally found a white jade carved Medicine Gourd pendant in a corner.

"Revered Master! I want to give you something too!"

She grabbed the pendant and, without explanation, tied it to Su Lin's belt.

The Medicine Gourd was warm and smooth throughout, emitting a faint Herbal Fragrance.

"This is a Medicine Gourd, symbolizing 'hanging a gourd to save the world,' it perfectly matches Revered Master's temperament!"

"Unlike some people, whose gifts are like weapons."

Luo Ximei snorted coldly and reached out to flick the Medicine Gourd: "Does this piece of junk deserve to be hung on Revered Master?"

"Slap."

Chu Weiwei slapped her hand away: "Don't touch it! This contains my... feelings! Can you afford to pay if you break it?"

Su Lin looked down.

A mandarava flower Hairpin in his hair.

A white jade Medicine Gourd hanging from his waist.

And an indelible kiss mark on his neck.

If any of the powerful figures he knew before saw him in this state, they would probably laugh their heads off.

This was no Grandmaster; this was clearly a display rack of spoils divided by a female Devil Head and a Demoness.

"Are you done shopping?"

Su Lin's voice was a little tired.

"Done shopping!" Both said in unison, clearly satisfied with the marks they had left... A loud bang broke the night sky of Yunhe City.

The first firework exploded in the sky, its brilliant light illuminating the entire city.

The crowd erupted, everyone stopping to look up at the sky.

"The fireworks have started!"

Someone shouted, and the crowd began to surge towards the City Gate Tower, where the view was open.

In the crush, Su Lin felt his hands simultaneously grasped by two distinctly different hands.

His left hand was tightly clasped by Luo Ximei, fingers intertwined, her palm warm, with an unyielding grip.

His right hand was gently held by Chu Weiwei, her fingers threading through his, soft and delicate, yet coiling around him like vines.

"Revered Master, let's go up there to watch."

Luo Ximei pointed to the top of an unmanned Tall Tower nearby.

That was the highest point in the entire city, a place inaccessible to Mortals.

Before Su Lin could nod, his waist tightened, and he was lifted off the ground.

The wind whistled.

The next instant, the three were already standing on the Flying Eaves of the tower's peak.

That was the highest point in the entire city, a place inaccessible to Mortals.

Before Su Lin could nod, his waist tightened, and he was lifted off the ground.

The wind whistled.

The next instant, the three were already standing on the Flying Eaves of the tower's peak.

The night wind ruffled their sleeves.

Below them were the Myriad Lights of homes, and above, a sky full of fireworks.

"So beautiful..."

Chu Weiwei murmured, watching the constantly exploding fireworks.

The brilliant light shone on her face, masking her usual sickly pallor, making her look like an ordinary girl next door.

Luo Ximei did not look at the fireworks.

She turned her head, her heterochromatic eyes, in the flickering light of the fireworks, stared unblinkingly at Su Lin's profile.

"It is beautiful."