Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

“Both men and women.” Gu Ruoxiao’s words shocked Yun Chu once again, and she clenched her fists.

"Has the person been rescued?" she asked.

Gu Ruoxiao shook her head. "Not yet."

Yun Chu looked at Gu Ruoxiao with a puzzled expression.

“The guards are too tight. Today is the sacrificial ceremony, and there are activities in the town, so the defenses in the manor will be reduced. It’s a good opportunity. Chiwu has already contacted the town’s secret guards.” Gu Ruoxiao explained, “I’ve sent people to keep an eye on Wang Xiang. He didn’t leave the courtyard yesterday.”

Yun Chu nodded; indeed, one cannot be impatient.

As evening fell, Shen Yuezhen arrived, followed by Murong Yu.

"Sister Yun Chu, let's hurry up and have dinner. We'll go to town later. It's so lively there today," she said happily.

As night fell, the stars shone brightly, and although the moon was not yet full, the countless stars added to its brilliance. The town was already bustling with activity. The streets and alleys were dimly lit, with colorful lanterns hanging high, casting a warm and enchanting glow on the stone paths. The cries of vendors rose and fell, a constant chorus of voices. Some sold candied hawthorns, the bright red fruit strung on bamboo sticks, coated in a glistening layer of sugar, tempting the eye; others sold Qixi Festival items, such as colorful threads, needlework, and Qixi cakes. Performers lined the streets, playing instruments, singing, or performing acrobatics, drawing applause and laughter, adding to the romantic atmosphere. Children, holding small bamboo windmills, played and frolicked among the crowds, their laughter filling every corner. Couples strolled hand in hand in this interplay of light and shadow, whispering sweet nothings or exchanging knowing smiles.

"There are poems and riddles ahead, let's go take a look." Shen Yuezhen pulled Yun Chu forward.

"Would you two ladies like to join us?" the shopkeeper asked hurriedly upon seeing the visitors.

"Literary pursuits are Yulang's forte! Yulang, come quickly!" Shen Yuezhen hurriedly called out.

"Brother Xiao?" Murong Yu asked modestly.

"You come, I won't participate," Gu Ruoxiao said with a smile.

Yun Chu stepped aside to make way for Murong Yu. Murong Yu stepped forward, examined the riddle for a moment, and then gave the answer, winning applause from everyone present. Shen Yuezhen clapped her hands happily. After receiving her prize, Shen Yuezhen looked around and her eyes lit up. "Sister Yun Chu, I know what suits you!" she shouted, and then ran to the front.

Shen Yuezhen led Yun Chu to a stall and exclaimed, "Sister Yun Chu, look how beautiful those lanterns are!"

Yun Chu nodded; the rabbit lantern on top was indeed quite nice.

"Boss, how do you play this?" Shen Yuezhen asked loudly.

"You can get the little gadgets below by shooting an arrow at them, and the lanterns above require two people, one blindfolded and both of them, to shoot an arrow at them together to get them," the shopkeeper explained the rules.

Shen Yuezhen handed over the money, saying, "We want to participate in the lantern making." With that, she pushed Yun Chu and Gu Ruoxiao forward.

The shopkeeper hurriedly handed over a red blindfold. Yun Chu looked at Gu Ruoxiao and thought for a moment, then picked up the blindfold first. Although she was good at archery, everyone knew that Gu Ruoxiao knew kung fu in this dangerous place, so let her be the unexpected weapon.

Yun Chu quickly tied the ribbon and said to Gu Ruoxiao, "All done."

Gu Ruoxiao looked at the person before her. At that moment, a bright red ribbon, fiery and mysterious, gently covered those deep eyes, seemingly carrying endless passion and fervor, yet instantly obscuring the world within them. Under the ribbon's glow, everything around seemed to lose its color, leaving only this vibrant red, swaying gently in the breeze, inspiring endless reverie.

After a moment of silence, and with only red obscurations in sight, Yun Chu couldn't help but ask again, "Are you there?"

The sound brought Gu Ruoxiao back to reality. He turned Yun Chu around, placing his hands on her shoulders. He picked up the bow with his left hand, gently took Yun Chu's hand, and placed his hand on the back of her hand. Yun Chu felt Gu Ruoxiao's warmth through the touch, and she involuntarily tightened her grip on the bow.

Gu Ruoxiao drew an arrow from the quiver and nocked it, letting Yun Chu hold the fletching while he held her hand. At that moment, Gu Ruoxiao wrapped his arms around Yun Chu from behind, and Yun Chu felt her ears burning slightly. She heard Gu Ruoxiao's voice in her ear, "Close your eyes and concentrate. I'll count to three, and then you can let go."

Yun Chu felt the bow tighten.

"One, two, three." Releasing his fingers, the arrow shot out like a bowstring, piercing the sky with a whistling sound, heading straight for the bullseye.

"How is it?" Yun Chu asked hurriedly.

"Congratulations to you two on winning!" the boss said hastily.

"Really?" Yun Chu asked Gu Ruoxiao. She hadn't removed the ribbon yet, but Gu Ruoxiao could feel the light shining in her eyes behind it. He subconsciously reached out and pulled off the ribbon. The ribbon fluttered down, revealing her clear and bright eyes as she looked at Gu Ruoxiao.

"Come on, you two, come and choose your prizes!" Shen Yuezhen interrupted their staring contest.

Yun Chu turned around and went to the gift stall. "I want that rabbit lantern."

The shopkeeper took down the rabbit lantern and handed it to Gu Ruoxiao, who then passed it to Yun Chu. Yun Chu looked at him and accepted the rabbit lantern.

"Sister Yun Chu, let's hurry up and release the wishing lanterns! Otherwise we'll miss the good spots!" Shen Yuezhen said from the side.

Soon, the servants bought two wishing lanterns. The lanterns were quite cleverly designed; the upper part was an oil lamp that could be lit, and the lower part had a small compartment where things could be placed.

"Sister Yun Chu, don't worry, I've already told Yu Lang and the others the number of our wishing lantern, it's definitely correct." Shen Yuezhen said while placing her purse and lighting the oil lamp.

So that's why each little wishing lantern is engraved with a number. No wonder when Yun Chu looked around, all the women were releasing lanterns, while the men were standing on the opposite bank of the river.

Yun Chu took out a small purse from her bosom, hesitating whether to put it on the table. She looked up at Gu Ruoxiao on the opposite bank, who was talking to Murong Yu.

After placing her own wishing lantern, Shen Yuezhen turned around and noticed that Yun Chu hadn't made a move yet. She quickly said, "Sister Yun Chu, what are you waiting for? Hurry up, or there will be too many people later." She snatched Yun Chu's purse, put it into the wishing lantern, and handed the lantern to Yun Chu, "Hurry up and place it."

Yun Chu bent down and placed the wishing lantern into the river. As soon as it entered the water, the lantern swayed gently and drifted slowly forward. The light from the lantern illuminated the river, and as it drifted, it gradually formed a flowing ribbon of light on the surface, illuminating the darkness.

Boom! Suddenly, a crisp and resounding explosion shattered the silence, followed by a dazzling pearl bursting into bloom in the night sky, instantly illuminating the heavens with a blaze of fireworks. Layer upon layer, colorful and sparkling, they rained down with overwhelming force, like a meteor shower.

The fireworks illuminated people's faces, reflecting the amazement and joy in their eyes. Children jumped excitedly, and cheers erupted from the crowd.

"There's a fireworks show!" Shen Yuezhen exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't expect Yulang to have prepared such a surprise."

Not far away, Murong Yu was running across the bridge.