Chapter 34 – Ghost Festival

As the only person who could completely understand Gu Qingyu's words, Little 70k could only do one thing: Refrain from laughing!

Qi Wan's face was void of expression, "Mm, we're a group of g.a.y.l.o.r.ds."

After having finished the "g.a.y.l.o.r.d" discussion, the group walked in a leisurely manner along the street, solving lantern riddles.

To begin with, Gu Qingyu didn't really have any interest towards these things, just a spur of the moment, that's why she didn't really get too many of them. However, on the contrary, Qi Wan guessed the riddles, one after another. Every correct answer was awarded with small prizes.

"I'm starting to suspect that you're using "Baidu Search"1." Gu Qingyu batted an eye at Qi Wan.

"Muahaha, how could the handsome and young, I, Qi Wan, even need "Baidu Search"?" Qi Wan stuck a, what he thought was a very cool, "pose".

"Please get lost for me." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, then caught sight of a riddle, "Untie late fall leaves, bloom early spring buds… isn't that "Wind"?"

"Young lady, you're so clever!" A smiling old man walked up to her, and handed over a small lantern, "This is your prize."

"Thanks!" Gu Qingyu smiled and received the prize.

"Brother Zhu, let's go and make some wishes!" Qi Yichen, him solving riddles could be called as vigorous and fierce, nothing less of a scholar! He carried large and small packets of "spoils of war" in his hands.

"Eh? Sure!" Gu Qingyu was immediately interested and pranced forward with delight.

"Brother Zhu…" Murong Zuoyu raised his eyebrows, "You're exceedingly lively today."

"Thanks for your compliment." Gu Qingyu walked towards the wis.h.i.+ng area, "Yi? So pretty…"

Lotus flower lanterns of all sizes were seen floating over the water. Each and every one of them had a person's wish recorded on it..

Before they knew it, Qi Wan arrived with a couple lotus lanterns in his arms, "Come here, everyone! Don't be shy! Only ten coins for one! First come, first serve!"

Gu Qingyu just took and distributed the lanterns to everyone, "You pay."

"Ah, I'm hurt." Qi Wan picked up the brush and wrote down his wish on the only remaining lantern in his hands.

Gu Qingyu curiously reached out to have a look— "Stay safe, Boss. Let's go home quickly!"

Eee… I have no words for this…

She took a glance at Qi Yichen's— "Study hard and improve every day!"

… All right, the moon is not seen where the sun s.h.i.+nes.

Let's have a look at Mo Bai's— "All herbs under the heavens, serve my needs!"

… It's fine as long as it sounds awesome!

What about Murong Zuoyu?— "May the country prosper! May the people be in peace!"

I have already no idea what to write to boast! Why are their wishes each one cooler than another!

Xiao Qi's should be more common, right?— "Enjoy yourself, Xiao Yu. Hope you will be happy for an eternity."

Okay, I'm touched.

Gu Qingyu picked up the brush, held it, thought, then wrote down— "May peace be with everyone through all the years."

Those who helped her and followed her. Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu, Qi Wan, Xiao Qi, Venerable Flames, and err… Xue Zang.

She was unsure of how Jia Qizhe fared, so she wrote down once more three words, "Jia Qizhe".

I'll just pray some good fortune for him for the time being.

Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a loud, earth shattering clap of thunder.

Gu Qingyu shuddered, "It's starting to rain a lot, let's hurry up and go back!"

"… Are you afraid of the thunder?" asked Murong Zuoyu curiously.

Gu Qingyu nodded: More than just afraid! Her current state was all because she transmigrated during a thunderstorm and rainy day!

Mo Bai opened the umbrella that he brought prior, and held it over Gu Qingyu, "Brother Zhu, let's leave."

Gu Qingyu laughed merrily and took Mo Bai's hand, "Thanks a lot, Brother Mo!"

Qi Wan also laughed and went up to them, "My beloved Brother Mo…"

Before he finished his sentence, Mo Bai, dressed in white, had already vanished together with Gu Qingyu.

Qi Wan, "…" Could it be that my charm is gone?

Qi Yichen gloated over Qi Wan's humiliation, then hurriedly dashed after the others, "Brother Zhu~"

Mo Bai gently folded up the umbrella as they shortly returned to the inn.

A strip of white fabric held up a part of his hair, while the rest was let down, fluttering in the wind. His eyes were gentle, dressed in simple white clothing and the s.p.a.ce between his eyebrows revealed a trace of an otherworldly air, as he gracefully put away the oiled paper umbrella.

"Like a fairy in a painting, a single smile would overthrow the world."

Gu Qingyu suddenly thought of this phrase very timely, unsure of which book she read from.

This phrase was the perfect fit to describe Mo Bai.

"What is it?" Mo Bai smiled gently at her.

Gu Qingyu quickly came back to reality, "Oh, nothing at all! It's just… how are things with Jia Qizhe?"

"Hmm, not sure." Mo Bai rested his chin on his hand, "Do you want me to take a look?"

"Ah, no need. Let me go instead! You should go rest, it's so late already!" She hastened to say, "It's a pity though…  that he got sick on such a fun night."

"Didn't you bring back presents for him, Yu'er?" Mo Bai pointed at the lotus lantern in her hands.

"Oh, right!" Gu Qingyu suddenly realized, "Thank you, Mo Bai! I got it!"

"Mm, then I shall retire for the night." Mo Bai turned, took two steps, then pause and looked back, he waved his slender fingers and smiled softly, "Byebye."

"Byebye!" Gu Qingyu smiled and waved back.

Whenever she was together with Mo Bai, there was always this settling feeling. As if… he would still be there, even if the sky were to collapse.

While everyone returned to their respective rooms, Gu Qingyu arrived outside Jia Qizhe's room.

She mustered some courage and lightly knocked on Jia Qizhe's door.

The door wasn't locked and opened with just a tap.

Gu Qingyu called out softly at the doorsteps, "Jia Qizhe? Brother Jia? Hero Jia?? I'm going to just walk in if no one answers, ok?"

As she approached, the door closed.

Gu Qingyu jumped in fright when the door closed. Fortunately, the small lantern she carried emitted a faint light.

"Jia Qizhe?" She called out tentatively again.

A figure softly responded to her in the darkness.

"Jia Qizhe!" Gu Qingyu startled when she heard the sound and quickly ran up to the bedside, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Jia Qizhe's face looked elusive and mysterious under the faint light.

"He has been poisoned." Venerable Flames rested his chin on his hands, and looked curiously at Jia Qizhe. He floated about in the air in the shape of a spirit, very ghostlike.

Gu Qingyu was scared out of her wits by his sudden appearance. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Venerable Flames' ghastly voice, "Calm down, you're the only one who can see me. If you don't want him to think that you've gone crazy, you best retract that surprised look on your face and close your mouth."

Gu Qingyu hurriedly closed her mouth, then looked at Jia Qizhe. His eyes were faintly closed, his forehead creased slightly, as if in pain. To her surprise, he didn't seem to have noticed anything unusual.

"What kind of poison?" asked Gu Qingyu with her inner voice.

Venerable Flames floated around Jia Qizhe in a circle, then came to a conclusion, "Frost Toxin. When it flares up, the afflicted ones will turn incomparably cold, but they will feel their body heat up as though it is burning from the inside out, as well as terrible itching bones. Even losing one's consciousness would be considered a luxury. If one accidentally loses control and cannot bear the pain, then it will cause one to suffer a major nervous breakdown. … Seeing his current state, I would estimate that he's been like this for at least a couple of years. It's not that easy to simply bear it, and it's a torment every time it flares up. I'm really impressed by his endurance." Although he mentioned it casually, he didn't look too "impressed".

"Frost Toxin?" Gu Qingyu repeated the thought over and over again in her mind, "How do we cure it?"

"Cure?" Venerable Flames let out a disdainful snort, "Do you think this is your common cold or fever? Just because you say the word cure, it can be cured? If it can be cured that easily, why do you think Hero Jia has endured it until today?" He paused, "I do have something that can temporarily ease up the poison. What do you say? Do you want it?"

"Yes! Of course!" Gu Qingyu hurriedly answered.

Venerable Flames slowly took out a white porcelain bottle from his sleeve, "I do have a condition…"

"Tell me later!" Gu Qingyu swiftly grabbed the porcelain bottle and subtracted a pill, then placed it in Jia Qizhe's mouth.

Slowly, the frown on Jia Qizhe's forehead eased away.

Shortly, Jia Qizhe opened his eyes, "Thank you."

"Don't be so polite with me." Gu Qingyu waved her hands. She went to open the window to let in some fresh air, then went back to Jia Qizhe's side and poured up some water, "Are you feeling better? Do you want some water?"

Jia Qizhe nodded and took up the gla.s.s and drank at a gulp.

"Did you have fun?" Jia Qizhe smiled faintly. The faint light from the small lantern illuminated his pale white and beautiful face.

Gu Qingyu nodded, "Yupp, a lot. Here, this is for you! … But sadly, there's no moonlight tonight." She picked up the small lantern.

Jia Qizhe chuckled and lifted up the small lantern, "It's very adorable." He propped himself up on the bed, "Do you wish to see the moonlight?"

"Yeah… I do." Though, it was only a mere thought. Gu Qingyu mocked herself inwardly.

Jia Qizhe suddenly stretched out his hand and rubbed his hand across the air. She had no clue was he was rubbing.

Out of a clear sky, a gentle silvery and white light shone through the windows. The moonlight sprinkled over his faint smile and across his pair of light blue eyes.

Gu Qingyu couldn't resist but take a look outside—

The moon! The big and round moon!

"Woah! Jia Qizhe, you really have two brushes!2 " Gu Qingyu exclaimed, but didn't notice Jia Qizhe was paler than before.

"As long as you're happy." Jia Qizhe followed her gaze and looked outside.

The moonlight is so beautiful.

Gu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes again. It was already early morning.

Wait a minute, when did I fall asleep? I think I was too tired yesterday and just slept in Jia Qizhe's room, then I never went back to look for Venerable Flames…

*Looks around* Oh, thank goodness, I'm in my own room.

She twisted her neck, and to her surprise, discovered Venerable Flames floating about in the air.

Crack.

Venerable Flames opened her eyes and lazily yawned, "Mm? Did you sprain your neck? I told you not to become so surprised every time. Let your master help you ma.s.sage."

"Uhh… why are you out here?" Gu Qingyu held her neck stiffly, "And also, how did I get back to my room?"

"Your master, I, absorbed some of your energy until I had sufficient power to come out." Venerable Flames was dressed in a red robe, and floated back and forth in the air. She would be scared to death if she woke up in the middle of the night and saw this. "Regarding your second question, you should go and ask Jia Qizhe."

"Nevermind then…" Why does it always feel like this rock always like to lecture others? Ever since he has become her master, he has been slowly changing his self-proclaimed "this venerable" into "your master"? Given time, will he start to claim himself as her "daddy"? The more she thought about it, the more frightening it felt!

Gu Qingyu straightened her clothes and went downstairs.

She woke up comparatively earlier today than usual, but Qi Wan was already standing downstairs waiting.

"Mornin'." Gu Qingyu greeted lazily.

"Morning." Qi Wan smiled, "Did you sleep well yesterday?"

"Yeah, I guess. Quite good." Gu Qingyu summarized it with five words. She sat down and nibbled on a meat bun.

Qi Wan sat in front of her, "Are we setting out today? Or take a couple more days off?"

"No, let's not. We've been here for quite a few days already." Gu Qingyu waved her hands dismissively, "Speaking of which, weren't you the one who wanted to hurry back home?"