Chapter 54 – Ancient Era: A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy (24)
On the night of Qixi, the Yue Lao Temple was at its busiest, filled with worshippers hoping for a blessing in love. Jiang Liangwu and Bai Tang had to wait in line for a long time before it was finally their turn to draw a fortune stick.
“Tok, tok, tok, tok, tok—”
Bai Tang imitated the others, closing his eyes as he shook the bamboo fortune tube, silently making a wish in his heart. Before long, a single fortune stick fell to the ground. He picked it up and saw that it bore only one word: “Eternal.”
Bai Tang didn’t understand its meaning, but when Jiang Liangwu saw it, something stirred in his heart. Together, they walked to the temple’s fortune interpretation counter to find the corresponding explanation.
“The golden wind and jade dew meet but once, yet it surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world. If two hearts remain true for a long time, what need is there for constant togetherness?”
The temple elder who received the fortune slip exclaimed in excitement.
“How rare! In all my years serving at this temple, I have never seen anyone draw this lot. A love destined to span lifetimes—your bond is truly extraordinary!”
Hearing this, Jiang Liangwu suddenly felt enlightened. He turned to Bai Tang, who still looked adorably confused, and a deep, tender gaze settled in his eyes. Then, with a soft chuckle, he reached out and ruffled Bai Tang’s dark hair.
“Ah-Wu! Don’t mess up my hair!” Bai Tang huffed, immediately reaching up to protect his precious locks.
Jiang Liangwu’s heart melted into a puddle. With a gentle smile, he took Bai Tang’s fortune slip and tied it to the temple’s Tree of Fated Love.
“I, Jiang Liangwu, humbly pray to the heavens—please let me meet Bai Tang in every lifetime. Let me love him, cherish him, and protect him for all eternity…”
After his heartfelt prayer, he turned to Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, in our next life, don’t forget me, okay? Wait for me to find you.”
“Okay. But Ah-Wu, you have to find me quickly~” The boy’s voice was as sweet as honey.
Jiang Liangwu pulled him into a warm embrace, pressing Bai Tang close to his chest. “How could I ever stop loving you?”
Then, taking the Red Thread of Fate they had received from the temple, he carefully wrapped it around both their left ring fingers. “No matter where you are, I will always follow this thread and find you.”
“Alright, it’s a promise.”
Behind them, fireworks exploded in a dazzling display, painting the night sky with brilliant colors. Bai Tang’s radiant smile shone even brighter than the fireworks, his soft voice vanishing into the warmth of their kiss.
…
After a full day of fun, Bai Tang was completely exhausted. Sleepiness overtook him.
Jiang Liangwu looked at Bai Tang’s eyes, now reddened from rubbing, and felt a slight ache in his heart.
According to legend, if two people walk across the Magpie Bridge together, their fate will continue into the next lifetime.
Yet Bai Tang refused to return to the palace. Stubbornly, he held onto Jiang Liangwu’s hand, insisting on walking the so-called “Magpie Bridge Path” with him.
Jiang Liangwu crouched down, then turned around and lifted Bai Tang onto his back.
“Ah—” Bai Tang let out a small yelp as he clung to Jiang Liangwu’s broad back. “Put me down! We have to walk together for it to work!”
“From now on, you have me.”
No matter what Bai Tang said, Jiang Liangwu refused to let him go. He carried him the entire way.
Bai Tang didn’t say anything, but his heart was warm and sweet. If he could meet Ah-Wu in every world, no matter how dangerous that world was, he wouldn’t be afraid.
…
Not far away, a man dressed in white watched Bai Tang and Jiang Liangwu’s interaction before turning to the young woman beside him.
“Ah-Shang, now that we’re in the capital, do you want to visit home?”
The girl snapped out of her daze and forced a smile. “No need. My parents wouldn’t want me to go back.”
The young woman in pink was Bai Shang.
After escaping from her arranged monastic life, she had set out into the martial world full of hope, dreaming of adventure. But reality was far crueler than the stories she had read. She had no martial skills, no protection, and was strikingly beautiful—making her an easy target.
Before long, she was ambushed, knocked unconscious, and sold to a brothel.
The brothel’s madam had seen many girls who refused to surrender to their fate, and she had all sorts of ways to break them. On Bai Shang’s very first night on display, she could be considered either incredibly lucky or extremely unlucky—because instead of being sold to a customer, she was kidnapped by the Demon Sect and offered as a gift to the Demonic Sect’s leader.
She had been scrubbed clean by the sect’s attendants and forced to await the infamous, ruthless, and bloodthirsty Demonic Sect Leader.
Just as the leader was about to make his move, the righteous Martial Alliance Leader led an attack on the sect, rescuing all the women who had been kidnapped. Bai Shang was among them.
However, because she had been found inside the Demonic Sect Leader’s chambers, many assumed she was his favored concubine and debated whether to execute her.
Fortunately, the Martial Alliance Leader found her beauty captivating. Using some subtle manipulations, Bai Shang managed to make him fall for her.
Now, he had personally escorted her back to the capital, believing she was a noblewoman who had suffered unjustly.
Author’s Note:
The long-missing female lead has finally appeared! 🍬 Now that the sweet moments are over, it’s time to move the plot forward~