Cliffhanger warning! I will post the next 3.5 week updates in a slightly different time since I’ll be visiting my family on the other side of the world. Instead of posting it at 11:30 AM EST, I’ll probably post it at 10 AM EST so you’ll get the updates earlier. The last few times that I visited there, my jet-lag was really really bad. I literally had a jet-lag the whole time I was there…

This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY at the translator’s and editor’s own free times. So rude & ent.i.tled people aren’t welcome to read this translation!!! So GO AWAY….

By Qian Lu

Chapter 85

Lantern Festival (Part 1)

Cheng Du City was not big, but because of its position as a traffic hub, the people who were watching the Lantern Festival were actually many, many people from the various regions and dialects were actually gathered here. Actually the colored lanterns that were on the street, were not many, they were not very elaborate either. But since it was Winter Solstice Festival, the atmosphere showed everyone’s faces that were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with happiness and smiles, everything seemed to look especially harmonious.

Murong Shu Qing’s party were looking around while they walked all the way, they were wandering on this simple and enthusiastic small town, but one could feel more pleasant walking here than wandering around the bustling Capital City’s main street. The vendor stalls on the side were selling some rough handicrafts, or they were from the swapping of stuffs from the neighboring areas. Even though there was no expensive and quality goods, but Murong Shu Qing looked very interested. She was still choosing some unusual things to give to Lu Yi and Zi Yuan so these two girls felt happy incessantly.

Lu Yi looked at the lotus flower lantern by the curbside, she smiled at Murong Shu Qing and said: “It is a pretty lantern ah, Miss, look at it quickly.”

Murong Shu Qing looked at it, and it was indeed very pretty, the complete shape of the six sections of the lotus flower was very innovative. But there was still a poem that was written on each of the leave petals of the lantern to describe the lotus flower, which was mixed with a picture of a flower. Some flowers might be completely blooming, and some would be lotus flowers that had not yet opened up, it really complement one another well even more, just liked icing on a cake. Murong Shu Qing nodded her head and sincerely praised: “En, very pretty.”

At this time, there were a group of people who were encircling together in front of them, they let out a few exclamation and applause sounds. One could not see what kind of performance that was going on inside, from the sound of applauses from the spectators, one could guess that the performance should be quite wonderful. Lu Yi was pulling Murong Shu Qing’s sleeve, and lightly shaking it, she said in a whisper: “Miss, there is a juggling show up front, let’s go and see it.”

Murong Shu Qing lightly nodded her head, Li Yi waited until she gave an approval and pulled Zi Yuan to push themselves within the crowd. How was this girl so excited like this, it seemed that they were really bored during this period of time. Looking that they looked like fishes that were shuffling back and forth within a tide of people, Murong Shu Qing raised her voice a little and said: “Do not get lost.”

“Alright.” Her mouth was saying it properly, but her body was still pus.h.i.+ng strongly inside the crowd. Murong Shu Qing was helpless and could only follow them to walk forward, Mo Can was always standing behind Murong Shu Qing, just like a boulder that was standing there, he used his body and hands to block the crowds of people. Murong Shu Qing gratefully looked one glance at him, she definitely could not do anything with regards to these crowds of people. In the past, she was always at home and going to the library, she had never been to a place where there were so many people. Today, she was forced to go to this lively place because of these two girls.

Murong Shu Qing squeezed into the crowd with great difficulty, and just stood there firmly, then she heard Lu Yi’s startling and sighing sound: “How awesome oh, how can he make the flowers come out.”

Looking at the inside of the large open s.p.a.ce, there were two men inside, one was about 40 some years, the other was a little more than 20 years. Each of their skills were different, he was not a boxer, nor was he performing a monkey to do tricks or singing songs. One could only see that the young man was taking a black brocade to cover his empty hand, when he lifted it open again, his hand was actually holding a flower. After he gave out the flower from his hand to another person, he covered it again, but there was a flower again, he seemed to take out a stream of flowers that stirred the spectators to incessantly scream in surprise, and clapped their hands to incessantly cheer.

Lu Yi turned around to look at Murong Shu Qing who was behind her, she asked puzzlingly: “Miss, how did he do it?”

Murong Shu Qing softly smiled, how could she explain this? This should be a primary level of magic show, even though the technique was still quite clumsy, but it was already better that this era had this show, it was so rare. After thinking for a moment, Murong Shu Qing said: “Actually, he already had those stuffs in his body at an earlier time, they were hidden inside his robe, when he put the cloth to cover his hand, he made a quick action to take out the flowers. This was only a slight diversionary tactic, it was impossible that he would continuously take out the flowers without an end.”

Lu Yi clearly understood and nodded her head, at this time, a skinny man who was wearing a plain clothing, suddenly b.u.mped into Lu Yi strongly. Trying to squeeze out of the crowd, and when he pa.s.sed through in front of Murong Shu Qing, Mo Can grabbed and lifted the back of his collar. Mo Can’s cold eyes were staring at him, and he took out a light green lotus embroidery pouch from the man’s wide sleeve.

Lu Yi touched her waist, and her complexion was suddenly gloomy, taking the embroidery pouch from Mo Can’s hand, she said: “This is my purse.”

Murong Shu Qing lightly stoke her waist, and secretly relaxed, the exquisite jade that Chu Yin gave her, was still there. This exquisite jade was a priceless treasure for Chu Yin, as it could solve a mystery of Mo Can’s past history, and it was also an important clue. So she always carried it around with her, as she really did not know where to put this even more. Murong Shu Qing sighed, no matter where, there were always thieves and robbers in this world.

The plain clothing man had already sensed Mo Can’s cold stare, since he had been mingling in the market for a long time, he knew which kind of people he could provoke and which kind of people he could not provoke. So he immediately did not dare to struggle, and promptly scowled miserably, he said with a bitter cry: “Uncle, I, I was wrong, I still have an 80 year old mother in my house, I ___”

It could be said that the man had frequently staged this kind of show, so he was saying it very smoothly. There must be a grim and pitiful suffering about his life even more, but Murong Shu Qing wanted to smile. This person should fabricate a more realistic story, he seemed to look about 20 years old at the most, how could he have an 80 years old mother ah!? Mo Can also showed an inpatient face, so he coldly threw out these two words: “Get lost”, then he just threw out the man to the side.

The man promptly got up from the ground, while he cried out and said: “Thank you, Uncle, I will take a hike immediately”, while he was trying to escape frantically and going towards inside of the small alley, he disappeared before their eyes very quickly.

The show ended, seeing that the crowds were gradually dispersing out, Murong Shu Qing looked at Lu Yi and Zi Yuan, and softly asked: “It is late, we should go back?”

“Alright.” The two people answered it together. Getting mixed up with the thief, they did not have any more interest to continue strolling again, luckily, they had strolled for a while.

Today was a holiday so there were many people on the street, the small road was already filled with a tide of people, so Murong Shu Qing did not take a carriage. Several people were talking and smiling on the way back, but Murong Shu Qing did not say anything all the way and was just walking side by side with Mo Can. Listening to the two girls who were talking by the side, she could not help but to have a smile, sometimes people were really emotional creations during this auspicious and festive holiday. Even the chilly and cold wind seemed to disperse people’s enthusiasms so they became warmer.

Mo Can did not quite understand when he looked at Murong Shu Qing who was smiling happily, he felt that she was similar like him, that she did not like this kind of crowded environment, but because of the two girls’ wanted to go, she gladly went to this kind of place?! He had never thought what was important for other people, even if it would also be dispensable for his own things. Was it or was it not a type of happiness if one’s heart was somewhat tied up?!

Feeling a gaze from her side, Murong Shu Qing turned her head and looked at Mo Can face to face, she could only see that his brows were wrinkled thoughtfully. It seemed that he was looking at her, but again it seemed that he was looking at some stuffs through her. So she lightly patted his shoulder wanting to ask him what was going on. But before she started talking, Mo Can’s eyes suddenly flashed a murderous aura, his arms rapidly seized Murong Shu Qing’s waist and dodged to the furthest side of the road.

Murong Shu Qing was barely standing, when she saw Yan Yu quickly vaulted out to take Lu Yi and Zi Yuan to leave the middle of the road. At this time, a group of black shadows appeared from a distance and came close to them, they were very fast, their paces were light and relaxed. Looking at them, there were about ten people, but they did not make any noise at all, as if they were flashes of demons, and they were continuously closing in.

Murong Shu Qing was somewhat startled and sighing with regards to their strange martial arts, they looked like the j.a.panese ninjas, if this was directed to her, she was afraid that the battle would be very tough. Mo Can who was behind her, was stretching his body and already stroking his red sword, this movement showed her that her perception was right, and this group of people were their problem.

But before she could think too much, they (bad guys) were already approaching in front of them (MSQ & gang), Mo Can and Yan Yu were vigilant, and Murong Shu Qing was quietly watching to see the situation.

Just when they were about to meet up, Murong Shu Qing could see clearly that the group of people gradually vanished within the darkness, they were actually chasing someone. That person was wearing the same black clothing as them, but his face was not covered by a towel, and his strange figure was quickly and gradually approached by the black shadows who were behind him. When he brushed past Murong Shu Qing, he was surrounded by a group of black shadows.

After the black clothing man was surrounded by a group of black clothing men, they were standing still, then she just found out that there were still another group of people who were standing by the side of the road. After a moment of hesitation, but they were divided into two groups very quickly, the majority of the people were still surrounded the black clothing man, the other three people were tightly staring at them.

Mo Can and Yan Yu would protect the three people from behind, the two people were originally icy arrogant and uninhibited, at this moment, they released cold and imposing manners even more. Especially Mo Can, with his expressionless face, cold and tranquil eyes, furthermore, the long scarlet sword looked as if it was in charge of taking the dead souls under the moonlight, even Murong Shu Qing unconsciously withdrew one step behind him.

The black clothing people clearly felt Mo Can and Yan Yu’s murderous aura, so they took two steps back as a precaution, and did not dare to act blindly. Mo Can would only guard for the attack, as these group of people were not good to deal with, Murong Shu Qing and the two ladies did not have any martial arts, if they really wanted to fight, it would be difficult to escape from injuries.

Being surrounded in the middle of the black clothing men, one could see their strange appearances, the gasping atmosphere to maintain a status quo.

Just like this, the three side of the groups were standing in confrontation on this small official road!