Chapter 768

Chapter 768: Life Unfulfilled

During the intermission, the royal physician of the Dynasty hurried over to treat several contestants. Though he couldn’t completely heal all their hidden injuries, he ensured they could still perform at around eighty to ninety percent of their full strength.

Lolan Hill sat in a pavilion today, dressed in a Western-style dress with a mix of dark blue and black. Next to her sat Ye Ling in a white ceremonial robe.

Her milky-white twin tails draped behind her, accentuating her somewhat slender figure. Ye Ling curiously watched the scene on Mirror Lake, the two small horns on her forehead faintly glowing with a silvery light.

“Lolan Sister, who do you think will win today?”

“Well, I guess it might be Sudeng Lou or Huai Chang,” Lolan Hill replied after some thought and comparison.

In fact, among the eight finalists, Sudeng Lou, Gu Lie, and Huai Chang were all in the same tier. Perhaps Sudeng Lou was slightly stronger, but the difference wasn’t particularly significant. However, if any one of them faced Yi Miaoxin, they would surely lose, as this witch’s powers seemed to have a special effect on men.

Unfortunately, Yi Miaoxin drew a bad lot and ended up facing Xie Zhuyan, a rather unique woman. If she had encountered other female contestants like Princess Xiao Yubing, she could have easily enchanted them.

However, Xie Zhuyan had practiced a special secret technique from the Crimson Immortal Sect called the Ice-Clear Heart Venom.

Skill: [Ice-Clear Heart Venom Lv. 7] (Perfect): Can suppress various emotional changes, keeping the host in a highly calm and clear state of mind akin to a machine.

Because of this venom technique, she could significantly enhance her resistance to chaotic illusions when advancing, making it easy for her to progress. In fact, among these eight people, Xie Zhuyan’s talent was truly far inferior to the others.

If ranked by their strengths in Lolan Hill’s heart, it would be roughly like this:

Yi Miaoxin

Sudeng Lou, Gu Lie, Huai Chang

Xiao Yubing, Zhuo Fengtang, Ling Shan Jun

Xie Zhuyan

But Xie Zhuyan completely countered Yi Miaoxin, just like in a game of Beast Chess, quite marvelously interesting.

As dusk fell, the afterglow in the sky dyed the flowing clouds a beautiful lavender, and this grand event finally came to a slow close.

The champion this time was Sudeng Lou. Perhaps it was fitting with his name; Sudeng Lou, ascending to the top of the Crimson Tower.

Watching this graceful swordsman remove the only glass fish-tail tassel from the roof, the audience on both sides of the lakeside erupted into thunderous applause. Countless people shouted out his sole name.

“Qinglian Xijian Palace!”

“White-robed Sudeng Lou!”

“Number One Under Heaven!”

The overwhelming tide of sound surged across the audience stands like waves, countless eyes filled with fervent gazes, fixed on the white-clad figure.

This graceful and handsome white-robed swordsman, after removing the glass fish-tail tassel, tied it to the end of his sword hilt, sparking another wave of cheers.

“I’ve decided,” Ye Ling looked at the bustling scene in the distance, her pupils shining with an indescribable light.

“Decided what?” Lolan Hill looked curiously at this little girl beside her.

“I want to be number one under heaven!” Ye Ling said excitedly, sharing her grand ambitions.

“But that would be quite hard, needing daily practice and early morning exercises,” Lolan Hill pressed her finger to her chin, tilting her head in thought.

“Is there a cultivation method that can make one stronger while sleeping?” Ye Ling placed her hands on the chair in front of her, widening her pure dragon eyes to look at this nearly omnipotent Lolan Sister.

“Well, probably not. After all, combat is also a skill that requires constant practice and real battles to keep up with the times.”

“Just like in ancient times, everyone used stone weapons, then later copper, iron, armor, horses, and eventually firearms and cannons. Times are always moving forward.”

“Even the most powerful person would fall behind if they don’t pay attention to changes in their surroundings.”

“So sleeping won’t make one stronger,” Ye Ling pouted.

“You know, your bloodline ability hasn’t fully awakened yet, so actually, sleeping is a good way to grow,” Lolan comforted this lazy but ambitious little one.

“Really?” Hearing this, Ye Ling perked up again.

“Really, hehe,” Lolan Hill stroked the hair on top of Ye Ling’s head.

The two spent some more time playing and chatting in the viewing room until night fell, then they got up and left.

The streets were bustling with tourists. The audience leaving the sword-fighting arena flowed like countless ants.

Ant-like figures dispersed into this already bustling city, adding more congestion and liveliness.

Long red lanterns hung on both sides of the buildings, adorned with the names of their shops, enticing passing guests. The night sky above occasionally burst with fireworks—yellow, glow-green, radiant red, and deep blue—cutting through the clear atmosphere and filling the air with the scent of celebratory gunpowder.

Some children, dressed in new, beautiful clothes, held spinning colorful windmills and ran about the streets, shouting and laughing. Occasionally, shouts from adults calling them to stop echoed behind them.

“Come, come, the specialty of the Bynight River, grilled fish with herbs, everyone should try it~”

“Five Dukes and Seven Generals, birds and beasts, all kinds of sugar figurines, we have everything~”

“Sweet sesame balls, soft and delicious~”

“Cold yuanzi with sugar snow~”

Lolan Hill and Ye Ling walked down the street, watching the night market bustling with various food stalls. Among the crowd trying these dishes were not only people from the Eastern Region but also many from other continents.

Among them were forest elves holding long strings of sweet dumplings, lion-maned beastmen carefully tasting the grilled fish out of curiosity, and white-winged folk happily munching on roasted meat pies. Many wore Western-style clothing, not all Eastern, giving off a unique exotic flair.

Compared to the often warring Western Continent, the Eastern Continent was much more peaceful. With numerous maritime routes, it had frequent interactions with other continents, and the capital, Luo Capital, was filled with visitors from all directions.

“Jialan~” a joyful voice came from beside them.

Lolan Hill turned around and saw two familiar elves: Princess Aitexi of the Forest Elves and Erin with her ice-blue hair.

“It’s great that Jialan is also in Luo Capital~” This forest elf girl was dressed in Eastern formal attire today, holding a small lantern, looking quite special.

“Are you talking about Lolan sister?” Ye Ling curiously looked at Lolan Hill beside her.

“Yes,” Lolan Hill nodded and greeted the two elves.

“I never expected to meet little Jialan at the night market.” Aitexi cheerfully circled around Lolan Hill.

“Oh, it seems little Jialan hasn’t grown up yet.” This elf girl slightly surprised and playfully commented on Lolan Hill’s figure.

“I won’t grow anymore,” Lolan Hill cutely shook her head, indicating she didn’t care about her figure.

“By the way, my real name is Lolan. The name Jialan I used earlier was a pseudonym,” Lolan Hill explained briefly.

“Oh, does that mean little Lolan is really part of the royal family? That’s quite something,” Aitexi, still as lively as ever, remarked. Though, it was true that elves had very long adolescences.

After chatting for a while, they decided to find a quiet place to sit.

“Nowadays, everywhere is packed; streets and alleys are full of people,” Erin slightly shook her head, recounting what she had seen on their journey.

“Well, we need to ask our little local expert here,” Lolan Hill pulled Ye Ling in front of her and introduced her to the two elves.

“A child of the Ye family, how cute,” Aitexi bent down, curiously examining this similarly small girl.

“Mmmph,” Ye Ling puffed her cheeks; she preferred being called cool.

After some thought, Ye Ling seemed to remember something. “Follow me~” She then led the group to one side of the street.

“Where are we going?” Aitexi and Erin held hands, curiously looking at the even more splendid pavilions and buildings around them, where music and singing could be heard intermittently.

“Seems like many of these are music halls or places for watching plays and dances,” Erin analyzed somewhat seriously.

“Not those, follow me,” Ye Ling shook her twin pigtails under the night sky and suddenly led them into a dark alleyway.

Guided by the occasional light of fireworks overhead, the girls stepped over the cold, broken cobblestones, turning left and right until they finally reached a riverside in the heart of the city.

On the opposite bank, the terraces were lit up with lanterns—orange and deep red—reflecting in the water, creating a more vibrant and beautiful night scene.

“Where are we?” Lolan took a look at the willow trees beside her. Many branches dipped into the water, swaying gently in the breeze, bringing a sense of comfort.

“This is the Bynight River, also called the Jade Ribbon River, which runs through Luo Capital,” Ye Ling explained as she turned around.

“In the evening, there are many pleasure boats on the river, and smaller boats can be rented. One can take a boat tour across Luo Capital and enjoy the scenery on both banks.”

“We of the Ye family

There were quite a few properties along the River of No Night. I asked them to bring me a small boat, so we could cruise at night.”

After saying this, the young lady of the Ye family came to the riverside and gently dipped her hand into the cold water, stirring slightly. A series of fragmented glimmers spread out like ripples towards the opposite bank and far away.

“This river can be considered a tributary of the Dragon Vein of Luo Capital. I am a Dragon Witch; it’s easy for me to use the Dragon Vein within to transmit information.”

Ye Ling flicked off the water from her fingers and walked over with small steps. Her dragon eyes shone like jade under the night sky, very beautiful.

Not long after, indeed, a painted pleasure boat slowly sailed downriver. The person steering the boat saw the young lady on the shore and slowly brought the boat to the shore, then came down to inquire.

“Miss Five, do you have any arrangements?” A woman in red sleeve dress stepped down from the boat and approached them, sizing up the group with some interest.

“Yes, yes.” Ye Ling nodded happily, seemingly a bit proud.

“I want to take a boat ride on the River of No Night with my friends. Prepare a small boat for us, and make sure it’s equipped with all sorts of delicious food and fun activities.”

“Oh, I understand,” the woman seemed very familiar with Ye Ling’s way of speaking and quickly nodded, then went back to arrange everything.

Soon, a small boat was lowered from the painted pleasure boat. It resembled a larger version of a black-roofed boat, but more delicate. The hull was made of fine wood, colored purple sandalwood, with palace lanterns hanging on both sides of the arched canopy, illuminating the railings and the river surface. At the bow of the boat, there was a small table and chair, and beside it, several food boxes were stacked, many containing freshly prepared delicacies.

“Let’s get on board,” Ye Ling nodded contentedly and led everyone onto the boat.

As they stepped onto the wooden deck, a soft sound echoed, and the boat swayed slightly beneath them, breaking the reflection of lantern lights and stars on the river surface.

They bent their bodies and entered the small boat’s canopy, passing through it to reach the bow where they sat around the small table.

“The river here flows rather gently. We don’t need to row; just let it drift downstream,” Ye Ling briefly explained and curiously opened the food boxes inside the boat.

“Oh, this seems very delicious,” Aitexi looked at the roasted duck slices arranged in the food box, emitting faint steam and fragrance, with dipping sauces prepared on the side.

“Let me see what else there is,” Ye Ling continued to open the next layer of the food box.

Two large red-shelled crabs surrounded by tender green herbs and seasonings were presented on a porcelain plate, emitting a sweet aroma of wine, as if they had been steamed and marinated to perfection, waiting for someone to enjoy.

“More…”

Ye Ling uncovered another layer of the food box, revealing a six-compartment food tray, which contained crispy fried chili peanuts, crispy bone meat, cold bean salad, pickled vegetable chips, and so on.

“There’s a lot,” Erin looked at these freshly made dishes, many of which seemed to have just come out of the kitchen.

“There are a few more food boxes in the cabin for snacks,” Lolan Hill finally emerged from the dark canopy, holding a food box, though its shape was different.

Opening it, she found layers of prepared pastries, including the famous goldfish cake from the Autumn Lantern Festival, as well as various types of sticky rice balls, plum cake, and four-color green cakes.

“It seems the steward of the painted pleasure boat is very familiar with Ye Ling’s preferences,” Lolan Hill smiled and winked, then placed several pastries from the food box onto the table.

Thus, several young ladies sat around the small table at the bow of the boat, drifting downstream with the river, gazing at the endless pavilions and buildings on both banks, the layered orange-red lights reflecting in the water, and the dazzling fireworks occasionally bursting in the sky. They enjoyed the bustling and prosperous night scenery of Luo Capital.

Occasionally, they would pass through elegant arch bridges built with blue stone, where young men and women stood by the carved railings, sharing their feelings and confessions.

The people on the bridge admired the pavilions and boats on both banks and the river, while those on the boats appreciated the fine-dressed scholars and beauties leaning against the railings, creating a dreamlike moment that left them enchanted.

Seated at the bow, the young ladies talked about their experiences and observations across the continent, describing the unique beauty of the Eastern region distinct from the West, and marveling at the prosperity and grandeur of the thousand-year-old dynasty.

In the sky, the White Jade City; on the ground, the River of No Night; the most captivating place in Luo Capital.

Life lasts less than a hundred years, yet one often worries about a thousand years.

Daytime is short, nighttime long, why not hold a candle and wander?

Pleasure should be enjoyed in time, how can one wait until later?

Fools cherish their wealth, only to be ridiculed by future generations.

Immortal Wangzi Qiao, hard to compare.

(The End)