Chapter 6 The Moonlight is Beautiful Tonight

Chapter 6 The Moonlight is Beautiful Tonight

The lanterns have just been lit.

Today's banquet is hosted by the Tianzhu Sect to celebrate the new disciples' first month of joining.

Before taking their seats to eat, according to the sect rules, each disciple must personally write their wishes on a wish lantern and then release it into the sky to pray for the sect's prosperity.

Pei Xuanxuan wandered about, under the guise of "supervision," to peek at the "little thoughts" of each disciple.

When it was Tian Yuanbai's turn, she noticed that he was holding the brush for a long time without writing anything, so she crept up behind him and teased, "Junior brother, what grand wish is holding you back? Or do you have too many wishes and feel that this small piece of paper is not enough?"

Caught off guard by her sudden appearance, Tian Yuanbai's hand trembled, causing a drop of ink to fall onto the paper, creating an unsightly ink blot.

"You..."

Tian Yuanbai sighed and helplessly reached for a new piece of paper to replace it.

"My bad, my bad~"

She stuck out her tongue, taking the new paper from his hand with a smile, and re-tied the red string on the lantern for him.

"Haven't thought of what to write?"

She pulled out the chair next to Tian Yuanbai and plopped down, propping her face in her hands, looking like she was ready to enjoy the show.

"Just jot down what's on your mind, why be so secretive?"

Pei Xuanxuan muttered to herself, but Tian Yuanbai still heard it.

"I have no wishes to pray for, nothing worth writing."

He wore an indifferent expression, showing no emotion. Pei Xuanxuan noticed he had been acting oddly these past few days, but if pressed, she couldn't quite pinpoint it.

In any case, his attitude towards her was lukewarm, which made her feel quite uncomfortable.

"What's been up with you lately? Junior brother Tai Ding mentioned you've been slacking off even in sword practice, is something on your mind?"

She tried to sway him with Hua Zhu's words, but unexpectedly, it only got her a defensive look from him.

"Pei Yuxuan, are you spying on me?"???

Baffled, Pei Xuanxuan looked at him with a hint of naive foolishness in her eyes, which extinguished the anger he was about to ignite, and he turned his attention back to the wish paper.

"Done." He scribbled a few words with a flourish, looked at them for a moment, and then put down the brush with satisfaction.

"Yikes! These characters are hideous, even worse than the chicken scratch I wrote in elementary school."

Pei Xuanxuan leaned over to look, then turned to him with a face full of doubt.

"You handled the brush so masterfully, and this is the result???"

What a waste of ink!

Her face twitched uncontrollably, trying hard to hold back her laughter, but the words that came out still carried a mocking tone.

"World peace, that's it?"

"Seriously, how is this any different from my elementary school paper crane wish: 'I hope for world peace'?"

"Got a problem?"

Seeing she was barely holding back her laughter, Tian Yuanbai crossed his arms, glaring at her with annoyance.

"No, no, hurry... haha, hurry up and release it."

Feeling like she couldn’t hold it in any longer, Pei Xuanxuan grabbed the sky lantern and shoved it into Tian Yuanbai’s arms, ordering him to release it quickly.

If she waited any longer, she’d burst out laughing.

Tian Yuanbai took the lantern with a scowl, shot her a look, almost rolling his eyes, then extended two fingers, igniting a small flame at his fingertips, and lit the lantern. The lantern’s glow lit up his handsome face, casting a warm glow that made him appear more tender and gentle.

Maybe the warm glow softened his mood, as he couldn’t help but crack a small smile, slowly raising the lantern with his palm. The light shone into his eyes, as if painting a layer of radiance over them, instantly brightening his previously gloomy expression.

Much better than walking around with a scowl like someone owed him big time.

Pei Xuanxuan bit her lip, smiling despite herself.

At that moment, an idea popped into her head, but she didn't have time to think about whether it was appropriate. She jumped up and marched over to Tian Yuanbai.

"Only newly initiated disciples can release sky lanterns. I haven’t gotten to release one since I joined." After saying this, she even fluttered her lashes playfully, her thick lashes fluttering, looking pretty cute in the lantern light.

"But I’ve got so many wishes~"

"Junior brother, could you share one with me?"

She stepped closer, her footsteps light, and Tian Yuanbai frowned, ready to step back. But for some reason, even though he knew it was her, he couldn’t make himself move. Until she stood right beside him, so close that her head nearly touched his shoulder, he still didn’t want to pull away.

He expected her to make the next move after stopping, but to his surprise, Tian Yuanbai saw her close her alluring eyes, clasp her hands together, as if making a wish to the lantern.

"I've made my wish~ Now it's your turn, junior brother."

Only when she opened her eyes, her amber eyes meeting his dark gaze, did Tian Yuanbai realize he had been staring at her in a daze.

"My wish is already written on the lantern," Tian Yuanbai finally snapped out of it, his eyes darting around guiltily before he pretended to be serious and raised the lantern, preparing to release it.

"Wait!" Pei Xuanxuan interrupted his action, causing him to pause.

"Since we're making wishes together, we should release it together."

With that, her delicate hands gently rested on his scarred hand, and together they lifted the lantern.

This seemingly casual but actually well-calculated move caught the unprepared Tian Yuanbai off guard. He couldn't tell if she did it on purpose or not, but the thought of her true identity made his disgust for her surge once again.

Yet, the same scene reminded him of the angry expression she had during their sword practice that day, and the words she said afterward: "I shouldn't have done that. Don't worry, I've already talked to Junior Brother Tai Ding. From now on, he'll be the one to teach you sword techniques. I won't interfere."

And she really hadn't lied to him.

Since then, she had rarely come to his courtyard to look for him.

It was indeed his fault.

For some reason, he was afraid the same situation would happen again, because he didn't want to apologize to a demon, even though he knew he had sometimes gone too far.

But he also didn't want to reject her and make her feel sad.

Conflicting emotions tugged at his heart, neither side gaining the upper hand. Tian Yuanbai simply shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore.

The two of them stood under the starry sky, holding the lantern, each lost in their own thoughts, as if wearing thick masks, trying to hide their true emotions from each other.

"Hurry up and let it go, the candle’s almost gone."

Seeing Tian Yuanbai frozen in thought for so long, Pei Xuanxuan elbowed him, snapping him out of his thoughts. She glanced at the sky lantern in her hand, hinting at him.

"Alright."

Tian Yuanbai nodded obediently, a rare sight, like he was playing the part of a well-behaved puppy.

They both let go of the lantern, and it drifted upward with the wind. Pei Xuanxuan gazed up at the starry night sky, the twinkling stars and sky lanterns, each carrying a wish, made for a warm and touching sight.

How long had it been since she’d seen something so heartwarming?

It had been ages.

She’d been wandering alone in the mortal world for ages.

Pei Xuanxuan mused, unusually silent.

"What’d you wish for, senior sister?"

Tian Yuanbai initiated the conversation, his tone surprisingly light.

"I’m not stupid; if I say it, it won’t happen."

She didn’t look at him, her eyes still locked on the beautiful sky.

Right then, she felt the need to burn this scene into her memory, to hold onto this rare moment of warmth in her life, so she could lean on it for comfort during tough times.

"Senior sister, the banquet’s starting."

Surprised to see her so calm, so unlike her usual loud and carefree self, just standing there quietly, staring at the sky, Tian Yuanbai figured she had something on her mind but didn’t know how to cheer her up.

"Alright, let’s sit down." She withdrew her gaze from the distance, patted his shoulder, and turned to walk towards Hua Zhu.

The whole banquet, the two of them stayed quiet, and Tian Yuanbai just kept poking at the food in his bowl. Noticing she hadn’t touched the food in front of her, he scooped some of his favorite dishes into her bowl, only to get a gentle scolding from Hua Zhu.

"Xuanxuan doesn’t like shepherd’s purse."

"She dislikes fish; it has bones."

"Don’t add river shrimp; she gets stomachaches if she eats too much."

By the end of the meal, Tian Yuanbai’s efforts to serve her kept getting shut down, and he awkwardly retracted his chopsticks each time. He wasn’t bothered by Hua Zhu’s deliberate interference, but watching her quietly eat plain rice left a bitter feeling in his chest.

What was wrong with him?

Why did he care so much about her?

What she ate, whether she was full, what did it have to do with him?

Asking himself these questions in his heart, Tian Yuanbai bit his lip and resolved to focus on eating his own meal, no longer interfering with her.

Finally, the strange atmosphere of the meal came to an end, and Tian Yuanbai, using the excuse of "escorting the chief disciple back to her residence," walked side by side with Pei Xuanxuan along the tree-lined path. The night draped over them, cooling the atmosphere between them.

"Senior..." He was about to speak but was interrupted by Pei Xuanxuan.

"I’m here, you can go back."

From the latter half of the banquet until now, Pei Xuanxuan finally gave him a smile, lifting his previously gloomy mood, and a hint of joy appeared in his phoenix-like eyes.

"Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet Elder Wentian..." she swallowed and continued.

"By the way, I’ll take you to see my armory~"

"I’ll pick a weapon that suits you."

Hehe, you little rascal, I just don’t buy it.

I’ve poured my heart out to you, and you’re still not convinced?

Pei Xuanxuan was secretly scheming, her mind racing with plans.

Earlier, she had calmed down as she pondered how to handle this tough nut tomorrow, unaware that her actions would spark a flurry of wild assumptions in his mind.

"Alright."

Seeing her happy expression, the weight in Tian Yuanbai’s chest finally lifted, and he readily agreed, smirking at her and giving a polite bow. Just as he was about to turn away, she called him back.

"Junior brother, aren’t you curious about what I wished for earlier?" Pei Xuanxuan clasped her hands behind her back, wearing a confident smirk.

"?" Tian Yuanbai looked at her, unsure if he was more confused by her sudden openness or her timing.

"Tian Yuanbai, you wrote your wish as ‘world peace,’ so my wish is—"

She dragged out her words, swaying gently from side to side. The moonlight shone on her face, highlighting her smooth skin and the soft fuzz on her face, making her look playful and cute.

"—May you stay safe and sound, year after year."

"You pray for world peace, but I pray for your safety."

Seeing him rooted to the spot, Pei Xuanxuan broadened her smile and sneakily pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her wide sleeve. Tian Yuanbai looked closely and realized it was the wish paper he had discarded earlier.

"Sometimes, flaws can be beautiful," she said.

"Just like the moon in the sky, it’s not always a full moon. It has its own phases of waxing and waning."

"So, you shouldn’t feel bothered by today’s little hiccup."

It hit him like a thunderclap.

Tian Yuanbai felt as if a mountain inside his heart had collapsed and exploded rapidly. A blush spread to his ears, burning his face under the cool moonlight.

Yes! Nailed it~

Seeing his reaction, Pei Xuanxuan knew her plan had succeeded. She smiled happily and, without another glance at Tian Yuanbai, left him with a sentence before heading back to her courtyard.

"Tomorrow at dawn, meet me at your courtyard gate."

The chilly moon couldn’t hold her back; her shadow trailed long under the moonlight.

Tian Yuanbai let out a self-mocking smile.

He’d meant to comfort her, but never expected to end up being comforted by her instead.

Raising his head to gaze at the high-hanging moon, he pursed his lips as if wanting to say something, but stopped.

Tonight’s moonlight is truly stunning.

Tian Yuanbai thought to himself.