Chapter 15: A Thousand Lights
As the Lunar New Year approached, a festive atmosphere filled the air. The Ejian Sect, secluded from the mortal realm, had a small village nestled at the foot of the mountain, a haven from the hustle and bustle of city life.
In reality, the village was simply too remote and impoverished to attract much attention. Despite this, the spirit of the New Year was alive and well. Every house was adorned with bright red lanterns, casting a warm glow upon the snow-covered streets.
Bai Jingxue, nestled in Luo Nianshang’s arms, found herself unexpectedly moved by the scene. She wasn’t one for crowds, but there was something undeniably charming about this simple celebration.
However, she noticed Luo Nianshang’s arms tense, her muscles hardening, making Bai Jingxue’s perch rather uncomfortable.
The other two weren’t exactly behaving themselves either. They darted ahead, their attention caught by the street vendors and the children bundled up in thick winter clothes, their eyes wide with wonder as they explored the world.
This festive atmosphere was a rare treat, a brief respite from the usual routine.
Laughter and chatter filled the air, dispelling the darkness of the winter night.
Bai Jingxue stretched, peering out from Luo Nianshang’s embrace. The New Year celebrations in her past life had become increasingly commercialized, losing their charm. She hadn’t expected to experience such a genuine celebration here.
But she couldn’t forget about the baleful energy clinging to the infant. Luo Nianshang, however, was completely captivated by the festivities. There was no way to distract her.
“A kitty!”
A small voice, filled with delight, reached their ears. A little girl, bundled up like a penguin, stood before Luo Nianshang.
She barely reached Luo Nianshang’s knees, no older than three, her eyes wide as she stared at the cat in Luo Nianshang’s arms.
She longed to pet the cat, but Luo Nianshang’s expression was too intimidating. She glanced at Luo Nianshang cautiously. “Big sister,” she asked timidly, “can I pet your kitty?”
Luo Nianshang looked down at the child, then turned to the cat in her arms. “What do you think?”
Bai Jingxue, surprised by the female lead’s consideration, glanced at the child. Meeting her hopeful gaze, she shook her head.
Luo Nianshang had already petted most of the fur off her head. If everyone was allowed to touch her, she would be bald in no time. She might be intelligent, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be hairless.
Seeing the cat’s refusal, Luo Nianshang walked away, carrying Bai Jingxue with her.
From a young age, Luo Nianshang had never fit in. She had always been different, her actions often perplexing those around her. They had called her strange, a freak.
But those who had mocked her were long gone, their faces fading into the mists of time. No one dared to call her a freak anymore.
Yet, she still felt like an outsider, detached from the warmth and camaraderie of the crowd.
Her disciple had wandered off, but she knew where to find her.
Firecrackers exploded, showering the streets with red paper scraps and smoke. Children covered their ears, their parents smiling indulgently. Elders watched with amusement, their faces etched with wrinkles. And perched on a rooftop, a dog and a cat observed the scene with varying degrees of interest.
Luo Nianshang stood below, gazing up at her disciple. Their eyes met, and Luo Nianshang was the first to look away.
As the festivities continued, she flew up to the rooftop, settling beside her disciple. But unlike Hong Ying’s relaxed posture, Luo Nianshang sat ramrod straight, as if she were still meditating.
The moment Lü Qingyan spotted Bai Jingxue, she wriggled out of the Demon Lord’s arms and dashed towards Luo Nianshang, snuggling up to the cat.
“Jingxue!” she exclaimed. “You’re finally here! I was so worried! I couldn’t even eat!”
Bai Jingxue glanced at the candied hawthorn crumbs clinging to the fur around Lü Qingyan’s mouth and closed her eyes, refusing to engage.
Lü Qingyan wasn’t worried about Bai Jingxue’s safety. After all, Luo Nianshang was currently the most powerful being in this world.
And the Demon Lord had been surprisingly generous, sharing her snacks with the dog, nearly spoiling her rotten.
Lü Qingyan licked her lips, realizing there were crumbs on her face. She grinned, revealing a flash of white teeth, then a wave of contentment washed over her. Life was good.
She didn’t want to return to the Demon Palace. It was too far from Bai Jingxue. The thought of being separated from her again was unbearable.
“Jingxue,” she whimpered, “this all feels like a dream.”
The sadness in her voice melted Bai Jingxue’s feigned indifference. She opened her eyes and placed a paw on Lü Qingyan’s head.
Memories of their past life surfaced. Unlike the quiet, reserved Bai Jingxue, Lü Qingyan had been a ray of sunshine, her laughter infectious.
Their paths had been intertwined for years. They had attended the same schools, from elementary to university. But before their senior year of high school, they had never been friends. Lü Qingyan had gone through friends like water, but Bai Jingxue had never been part of that ever-changing circle.
Bai Jingxue had been too quiet, too withdrawn. If it hadn’t been for her exceptional grades, she would have been invisible, a ghost haunting the hallways, her chin resting on her hand as she stared blankly into space.
Their parallel lives had finally intersected during their senior year. Lü Qingyan’s grades were abysmal, and her parents, desperate to salvage her academic career, had approached Bai Jingxue.
Their offer had been too generous to refuse. Bai Jingxue, struggling financially, had moved out of the student dorms and into the apartment Lü Qingyan was renting.
After evening study hall, Bai Jingxue had instinctively started walking towards the dorms, but she caught herself, turning towards the school gate instead.
The familiar sound of a bicycle bell reached her ears. Lü Qingyan, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail, her blue and white uniform crisp and clean, extended a hand towards her. “Hop on, brainiac,” she said, grinning. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Walking home alone was dangerous. Bai Jingxue hesitated for a moment, then took Lü Qingyan’s hand and climbed onto the back of the bicycle.
The cool night air dispelled her nervousness about going to a stranger’s home.
Lost in thought, she followed Lü Qingyan up the stairs. The key rattled in the lock, and Lü Qingyan pushed the door open, flicking on the light. She then retrieved a pair of cat-shaped slippers, offering them to Bai Jingxue with a smile.
Bai Jingxue slipped on the slippers and settled onto the sofa. It was already 9:45 pm, but she wanted to get some studying done. She retrieved her math textbook and began to work on some practice problems.
Lü Qingyan, fresh from her shower, watched her, her movements quiet as she didn’t want to disturb Bai Jingxue’s concentration.
The soft scratching of pen on paper lulled Lü Qingyan towards sleep. She yawned, wiping a tear from her eye.
When she opened her eyes, she saw that Bai Jingxue was looking at her.
The warm light from the lamp illuminated the girl’s face. She was thin, almost too thin, her hair barely long enough to cover her ears.
Many students had cut their hair short to save time during the stressful exam period, but Bai Jingxue’s short hair had a different reason. She had sold it to make some extra money.
The old woman who had bought her hair had been ruthless, leaving her with an unflattering cut. But Bai Jingxue, blessed with good features, had somehow managed to pull it off.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask,” Lü Qingyan said. “Oh, and where do I sleep?”
The small apartment had only one bedroom. Lü Qingyan shrugged. “With me,” she said.
Bai Jingxue blinked, but she didn’t seem particularly bothered. She resumed her studying.
Lü Qingyan, suddenly wide awake, settled across from Bai Jingxue, observing her with a newfound intensity.
She remembered Bai Jingxue’s worn-out canvas shoes, the fabric faded and thin. A wave of sympathy washed over her. She waited until Bai Jingxue paused in her work before speaking. “Where do you want to go to university, brainiac?”
“C University.”
Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion, but Bai Jingxue had the grades to back up her ambition.
Lü Qingyan was impressed by her confidence. “Do you want to be a teacher?” she asked.
What had Bai Jingxue’s response been? Something about not being interested in teaching, that she had chosen this path for…
And in the end, she had become a teacher.
A strange sense of unreality washed over Bai Jingxue. She closed her eyes, her voice losing its usual detachment. “Do you like this dream?” she asked.
“Of course,” Lü Qingyan replied without hesitation.
Bai Jingxue fell silent. She remembered a sunny afternoon, the warm light filtering through the window.
Lü Qingyan had vowed to get into the same university as her. And through sheer determination, she had succeeded, though barely scraping by.
Their homes were far apart. Bai Jingxue, despite Lü Qingyan’s persistent attempts to keep her close, had refused to impose on her any longer.
She had packed her meager belongings, preparing to leave. As she zipped up her suitcase, Lü Qingyan burst through the door, waving her acceptance letter in the air.
“Jingxue!” she exclaimed. “We get to stay together!”
Bai Jingxue opened her eyes, the familiar words echoing through this strange, unfamiliar world.
Lü Qingyan beamed. “Meeting you again must be fate, Jingxue.”
Bai Jingxue didn’t reply, merely letting out a soft “mm-hmm,” her thoughts unreadable.
The Demon Lord, watching Luo Nianshang surrounded by her cat and dog, couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. She resorted to passive-aggressive tactics, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “My, my, Master. You certainly have a way with animals.”
Luo Nianshang turned to face her, noticing the flicker of sadness in her eyes. She decided to offer some reassurance.
She looked up at the night sky, her voice calm and even. “No, I’ve always been disliked.”
The Demon Lord feigned surprise, her voice laced with disbelief. “How could anyone dislike you, Master?”
Luo Nianshang had long since come to terms with her past. She stroked the cat’s head, her gaze downcast. “I was quite unattractive in my youth,” she said. “I was often ostracized.”
The Demon Lord stared at her profile, illuminated by the moonlight, her lips twitching.
Unattractive? With a face like that? This woman was subtly bragging.
But that face, adorned with a touch of rouge, would be even more captivating.
The Demon Lord decided to forgive her.
Gazing at the thousand lights twinkling in the village below, she fell silent, then sighed. “I have no family,” she murmured. “None of those lights are for me.”
The firecrackers continued to explode, their booms mingling with the laughter and singing.
A peaceful, joyous atmosphere enveloped the village, highlighting the isolation of the four figures perched on the rooftop.
Luo Nianshang’s family had long since succumbed to the passage of time. She, too, had no light waiting for her.
But it didn’t matter. What mattered was…
“I don’t need someone to light a lamp for me,” she said, her voice filled with conviction. “I will be the one to light a thousand lamps for others.”
The Demon Lord’s gaze snapped towards her, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. Finally, she scoffed.
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