Chapter 342 Mo Shi

As night falls, Xinlian City is enveloped by a brilliant light, as if it has turned into a dreamlike world.

On the streets, colorful lanterns are hung high, each of which is like the brightest star in the night sky, illuminating every corner of the city.

These lanterns are of various shapes, some are like blooming flowers, some are like flying phoenixes, and some are painted with various mythological stories. Every detail is vivid and dazzling.

The air is filled with the festive atmosphere, and people's laughter and conversations rise and fall, forming a cheerful symphony.

The children hold various small lanterns in their hands and shuttle through the crowd excitedly. Their faces are filled with innocent smiles, adding infinite vitality to this night.

Couples walk hand in hand under the lanterns, and their figures appear more intimate under the reflection of the lights.

Some young girls and boys stop in front of the lanterns and make wishes, hoping that these beautiful lanterns can bring them good luck and love.

The vendors set up various stalls on the street, selling all kinds of snacks and handicrafts.

Some stalls were filled with candied haws of various flavors, some were roasting fragrant skewers, and some were selling exquisite masks and lanterns.

These delicacies and handicrafts not only attracted the children's attention, but also made the adults stop and enjoy the deliciousness of this festival.

On the lake, lotus-shaped lanterns floated, swaying gently with the waves, as if the elves in the lake were dancing.

Some couples and families put lanterns by the lake, made wishes, and then gently pushed the lanterns to the center of the lake, watching them gradually go away, carrying their wishes and blessings.

The gate of Xinlian City was very lively, as if it was the heart of the city, pumping vitality and enthusiasm continuously.

Under the city gate, the crowd was bustling, they were either in groups of three or five, or with families, their faces were full of expectation and excitement.

These tourists who came here to see the grand occasion of the Lantern Festival were all there to see it. Their footsteps were hurried, but they were also light and festive.

Among the crowds coming and going, a man and a woman walked in hand in hand, and their figures were particularly eye-catching in the crowd.

The man was wearing a moon-white robe, and the hem of his clothes fluttered in the wind, looking elegant and refined.

The woman was wearing a cyan dress, and the hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, like dewdrops on a lotus leaf, fresh and refined.

The man and woman were naturally Xiao Ling and Xun'er who arrived at Xinlian City.

Xiao Ling had a handsome face, and his eyebrows revealed a calm temperament. His eyes were clear, as if he could see into people's hearts. He always had a faint smile on his face, which made people feel good at first sight, and he exuded a fresh breath.

Xun'er's temperament was like a lotus, elegant and refined, as if she was not stained by dust. Her nobleness was naturally revealed, and people couldn't help but feel that she was unattainable. But when she looked at Xiao Ling beside her, her eyes were full of tenderness, as if all the coldness melted in front of him.

Because the temperament and appearance of the two were too outstanding, passers-by at the city gate looked at them sideways and talked about them one after another. The man was elegant and the woman was stunningly beautiful. The two stood together, like a pair of immortal lovers.

The men around saw that Xiao Ling could walk with such a beautiful woman, and they all cast envious and jealous eyes at him. In their eyes, it was clearly written, "How can this guy be so lucky to be favored by such a beautiful woman."

"Look, that couple is so well matched, just like they walked out of a painting."

"Yes, the man is handsome and the woman is beautiful, they are so well matched!"

"I guess they must be the sons and daughters of a big family. Look at their clothes and temperament. They are definitely not ordinary people."

"I don't know whose son that boy is. It must be extraordinary to win the heart of such a beautiful woman."

"Hmph, what's there to envy? Maybe that boy won the favor of the beauty because of his family background."

"Who cares about them? Anyway, today is the Lantern Festival. It's worth the trip to see such a beautiful scene!"

Listening to the discussions of the people around him, Xiao Ling just raised the corners of his mouth and showed a nonchalant smile. Such envy and jealousy are already commonplace for him.

After all, it would be really strange if he didn't attract the attention and discussion of others if he was accompanied by a beautiful woman like Xun'er.

Xun'er was also a treasure in the family, and was used to all kinds of praise and attention. But when she heard people around her whispering about her relationship with Xiao Ling, although she tried to keep calm on the surface, her heart was still rippled.

As if sensing Xun'er's subtle emotions, Xiao Ling gently pinched her soft little hand and said with a hint of teasing: "My Xun'er is really charming. No matter where she goes, she can attract everyone's attention. Look at those people's eyes, they are almost sticking to you."

After hearing this, Xun'er blushed slightly, and pretended to be angry and said coquettishly: "Brother Xiao Ling, you are talking nonsense again."

She secretly glanced around, and the eyes of those young women seemed to be glued to Xiao Ling, full of enthusiasm. When they looked at her again, there was a hint of envy and jealousy in their eyes, as if they were eager to squeeze her out and replace her.

Xun'er curled her lips slightly and continued, "Hmph, Brother Xiao Ling, don't just talk about me. Look at those girls, their eyes are almost growing on you. They just want to eat you alive, as if I have become an obstacle in their eyes."

Xiao Ling couldn't help laughing when he heard Xun'er's words. He shook his head gently, his eyes full of pampering: "It seems that my Xun'er is not only charming, but also has first-class observation skills. However, those mediocre women can't compare with my Xun'er. I only care about your vision, Xun'er."

He blinked exaggeratedly while speaking, causing Xun'er to laugh.

Xun'er gently patted Xiao Ling's arm, and the smile on her face was like a flower blooming in spring: "Brother Xiao Ling, how can you coax girls so well with your mouth? Do you often say this to others?"

There was a hint of ridicule in her words, but her eyes were full of happiness.

"No way, I only say this to Xun'er, no one else gets this treatment..." Xiao Ling pretended to be serious, but his eyes revealed a hint of smile.

Xun'er was amused by his appearance, she shook her head gently, and the smile on her lips became stronger: "Okay, I believe you..."

The two talked and laughed, strolling in the scenery of the city. The light of the lanterns stretched their shadows out long outlines on the street. On both sides of the street, the lanterns were like stars in the night sky, embellishing the whole night like a dream.

Every time they passed by, they always attracted envious eyes from others, but they didn't care much about these eyes. The two just enjoyed their warm time.

As Xiao Ling and Xun'er walked, they came to a shop decorated with colorful lanterns.

The storefront was not big, but the lanterns hanging at the door were extremely attractive. They swayed gently in the night breeze, making a pleasant bell sound.

The lights in the store shine through the windows onto the street, complementing the lanterns outside, creating a warm and dreamy atmosphere.

The store is filled with all kinds of lanterns, some of which are delicate and small, and some are gorgeous and atmospheric. Each lantern is unique and makes people want to stop and watch.

The lanterns hanging on the wall are like stars in the night sky, while those on the table are like gems scattered on the grass, emitting soft light.

In such an artistic store, the owner is an old lady who looks to be in her fifties or sixties.     Her hair is gray, but it is neatly combed and fixed behind her head with a simple wooden hairpin. Although her eyes are a little cloudy, she always shows warmth and enthusiasm in her eyes whenever someone enters the store.

The old face is full of traces of time, but those wrinkles seem to tell warm stories.

The old lady's clothes are simple and clean, a dark robe with some simple patterns embroidered on it, which looks both solemn and kind.

She was holding some materials for making lanterns in her hands, and she would repair or adjust the lanterns in the store from time to time. Every movement revealed her love and care for these lanterns.

Although everyone pursues practicing Dou Qi in this Dou Qi continent, this old lady obviously does not have a high talent for practice. In Xiao Ling's perception, she is just an ordinary Dou Master.

But in this world where strength is respected, she chose to create beautiful lanterns with her hands to bring joy to people, which is also a good pursuit.

Xiao Ling and Xun'er were attracted by the atmosphere of this store and the various lanterns placed inside, and they couldn't help but stop.

The old woman noticed their arrival, stopped her work, and looked up at the young man and woman. There was a friendly light in her eyes, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to be smiling, as if welcoming their arrival.

"Hehe, two young friends, welcome. My lantern shop has been open in Xinlian City for more than 50 years. My craftsmanship is pretty good. If you are interested, you may come in and see if there are any lanterns that suit your taste." The old lady showed a kind smile and greeted them warmly.

After Xiao Ling and Xun'er greeted the old lady with a smile, they walked into the shop and began to check out the various lanterns.

The soft lighting in the shop formed a sharp contrast with the bright lanterns outside, giving people a warm and peaceful feeling. Their eyes wandered over the various lanterns, each of which was like a work of art, making people want to savor them carefully.

Xun'er's eyes lingered on the lanterns, and she was full of curiosity about each lantern. Xiao Ling accompanied them patiently, his eyes lingering on Xun'er's face from time to time, his eyes full of pampering.

The two walked into the shop and were attracted by the dazzling array of lanterns. They couldn't help but slow down their pace and chat while walking. Xun'er's eyes wandered among the many lanterns until she was attracted by a lantern in the shape of a blue lotus.

This lantern was not ostentatious, but it stood out with its exquisite blue lotus shape. Each lotus leaf seemed to be swaying gently, exuding a fresh and refined temperament.

Xun'er raised her finger and pointed at the blue lotus lantern, and said to Xiao Ling excitedly: "Brother Xiao Ling, look at that blue lotus lantern."

Xiao Ling looked in the direction of Xun'er's finger and immediately discovered the uniqueness of the lantern. Its fresh temperament was so similar to Xun'er, as if this lantern existed just for Xun'er.

"It really matches Xun'er's temperament. This lantern seems to be tailor-made for you. Xun'er, do you like it?" Xiao Ling said with a slight smile.

Xun'er looked away from the lantern, turned to Xiao Ling, and nodded, her eyes full of fondness, and her meaning was self-evident.

The old woman sitting quietly aside noticed Xun'er's love for the green lotus lantern, so she came over with a gentle smile and explained softly:

"This green lotus lantern was carefully made by me recently. It not only represents purity and elegance, but it also has a special meaning in our Heart Link City. The green lotus lantern symbolizes the purity and eternity of love. It is given to your beloved. It means that your love will be like a lotus flower, which will remain pure and flawless and never fade no matter what it goes through.”

The old woman's eyes turned between Xiao Ling and Xun'er, with a hint of smile in her tone: "Young man, since your girlfriend likes this lantern so much, this is a good opportunity to express her feelings. Lanterns like this are rare. If you miss it, you won’t have it.”

The old woman's teasing made Xun'er's cheeks dyed with a faint blush, but her eyes could not conceal the light of joy and expectation.

"Since this green lotus lantern is so meaningful, of course we have to take it away. Old lady, can you help us pack it?" Xiao Ling gently shook Xun'er's hand and said to the old lady with a smile.

"Okay, okay, it seems that my craftsmanship as an old woman has not gone out of date. I won't take your money for this green lotus lantern, just think of it as my blessing to you two. May your love be like this green lotus lantern." Like lotus, pure and beautiful, always blooming." After hearing this, the smile on the old woman's face became even brighter, and her words were full of kindness and joy.

As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman reached out for the green lotus lantern, preparing to carefully pack it for the two of them and seal the beautiful wishes together.

"Haha, I wonder if I can give this green lotus lantern to you. I am willing to pay 100,000 gold coins to buy it." At this warm moment, a slightly frivolous voice suddenly broke the tranquility in the store.

As the words fell, a man's figure slowly walked into the store.

The visitor walked calmly, was dressed in fine clothes, and had a sense of arrogance in his brows. He was obviously a young man with an extraordinary background.

The old woman's hand was hanging in the air, and she looked at the uninvited guest with a hint of embarrassment. Although she was just an ordinary fighting master, her years of experience made her intuitively feel that the person who suddenly interrupted had a lot of background and seemed to be hostile. Faced with such a person, she knew it was best not to mess with him.

"I have promised to give the lanterns to these two young people," she turned to Xiao Ling and Xiao Xun'er with a bit of helplessness, "I can't make the decision in this matter..."

There was a trace of help in her eyes. If these two young men could not make the uninvited guest change his mind, she could only listen to that person for her own safety.

Xiao Ling frowned slightly. It was very unpleasant to be interrupted, especially at such a warm moment. His eyes glanced at the visitor coldly, with a hint of displeasure in his tone: "Who are you?"

The person who came appeared to be young, tall and handsome, almost as handsome as a woman. But the imperceptible anger between his brows made his outstanding appearance a bit colder.

"Haha, my name is Mo Chen, I'm just a nobody."

He answered easily, but as soon as the name came out, it seemed to have a chill that was imperceptible, making people feel a little oppressive.

While speaking, Mo Chen's eyes stayed on Xiao Ling and Xun'er for a moment. The fire and greed in his eyes flashed through. Although they were well concealed, it was enough for Xiao Ling and Xun'er to catch them.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling couldn't help but frown slightly, and already had a plan in mind to find a place where no one was around later and teach that guy a lesson.

He could feel that the man's cultivation level had barely reached Seven Star Douzong. To have such cultivation at this age must be of extraordinary origin, but if you dare to offend him, the result is destined to be unlucky.

If Xiao Ling and Xun'er hadn't deliberately restrained their auras, this guy wouldn't have had any bad intentions based on his Seven Star Douzong cultivation.

Xun'er also noticed Mo Chen's gaze, but her face remained calm. She didn't care at all for such a small role, and didn't want to waste any more words.

Despite this, Xun'er unconsciously moved towards Xiao Ling, cleverly blocking Mo Chen's gaze from time to time with her body, obviously hoping to let Xiao Ling deal with the upcoming episode.

Xiao Ling noticed Xun'er's movements. He gently placed his hand on Xun'er's shoulders and gave her a reassuring look.

"We like this green lotus lantern very much, and the old lady has promised to give it to us." Xiao Ling's voice was calm, but there was an unquestionable meaning in his tone, "So, no matter how much you pay, this lantern will be I won’t sell it to you.”

A trace of surprise flashed across Mo Chen's face, obviously he didn't expect Xiao Ling to reject him so directly. There was a trace of amusement in his eyes, and he seemed to be interested in Xiao Ling's courage.

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth and he said: "Oh? Really? Then I am more interested. However, I never like to force it. Since you like it so much, then I will be an adult. But I hope to have the opportunity to be with you. Make friends, especially this beautiful lady."

After saying that, Mo Chen took a deep look at Xun'er, then turned and left the shop. His figure disappeared into the night, but the cold and harsh aura did not dissipate for a long time.