Chapter 54: Lotus Festival

Seeing two pairs of watery eyes, Auntie Xue’s heart wavered.

The Madam’s discipline had always been strict, and her expectations for the young Miss and Master were exceptionally high. From a young age, they were only permitted to focus on cultivation and studies such as formations and alchemy. On ordinary days, unless it was a major festival, the Miss and Master were not allowed to go out. Even if they did, they had to be accompanied by someone and were required to return to the manor before dark, with no permission to linger outside.

While this approach ensured the Miss and Master possessed outstanding cultivation, it also hindered the children's natural inclinations.

Sometimes, Auntie Xue also wanted to let the two of them laugh and play like ordinary children, but the Madam placed heavy hopes upon them. If their cultivation were delayed due to playfulness, her own sin would be immense.

Bai Zisheng said, "Auntie Xue, I'll just go for a stroll for a bit. I haven't even seen what this Tongxian City looks like yet."

While Auntie Xue was still hesitating, Bai Zixi’s small hand tugged at her sleeve, and she also called out, "Auntie Xue..."

Auntie Xue’s heart completely softened. "Alright, but you can only wander until the hour of Hai."

"Thank you, Auntie Xue!" Bai Zisheng instantly brightened up.

Auntie Xue then smiled and said to Mo Hua, "We are newcomers and are not very familiar with Tongxian City, so we shall rely on you to lead the way."

Auntie Xue’s attitude was kind, and seeing the bright-eyed Bai siblings, Mo Hua felt it would be impolite to refuse.

He had originally intended to go back early to draw a few more formations, but he had drawn quite a lot lately, and his meditation technique hadn't fully recovered; taking a night off would be good.

The group followed the streets, wandering through the night market of the Lotus Festival in Tongxian City.

Although Tongxian City was a small immortal city and not particularly prosperous, the intersecting crowds and the sky filled with lanterns created a unique, bustling atmosphere of festive splendor.

Mo Hua, Da Hu, and Shuang Hu led the way at the front, while the Bai siblings walked a few paces behind, looking left and right with eyes full of novelty and wonder. Auntie Xue, still feeling uneasy, followed silently behind the two children.

On the way, Shuang Hu whispered to Mo Hua, "Mo Hua, do you know them?"

Mo Hua nodded. "We are registered disciples under Master Zhuang together."

"They aren't from Tongxian City, are they?"

"No, they seem to be children from a rather distant great clan..."

"Distant? Outside of Tongxian City? I've never even left Tongxian City..."

"Probably even further, likely outside of Lizhou."

"Outside of Lizhou... then how long will it take to walk there?"

The group felt both curiosity and trepidation toward the unfamiliar cultivation provinces.

Xiao Hu suddenly asked, "Mo Hua, are you very close with them?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "Not particularly close. We're barely half-fellow disciples; we don't talk much on ordinary days."

Xiao Hu nodded. "Those children from great families really don't have much to say to people like us."

Mo Hua felt there was something slightly off about that statement, but upon reflection, he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

In the cultivation world, great families and rogue cultivators were as different as clouds and mud. The more ancient and profound a family's foundation, the more unreachable they were to ordinary rogue cultivators. Though cultivators from great families and rogue cultivators were both practitioners, they could essentially never be considered the same kind of cultivator.

As the group wandered, Da Hu and the other two felt somewhat constrained following Mo Hua while leading the Bai siblings, and they weren't able to play to their heart's content.

Seeing them acting awkward along the way, Mo Hua laughed and said, "Go play by yourselves. I'll just wander around with them for a bit and then head back. I have a few formations to draw tonight."

Xiao Hu clicked his tongue. "You have to draw formations tonight too? Being an array master is truly hard work..."

Shuang Hu added, "Then if we encounter anything fun later, we'll buy one for you too."

"Do you want the sugar figurines from Pan Datou's stall? We want to buy tiger-shaped ones for ourselves, so we'll get one for you as well."

Da Hu scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said earnestly, "If anyone dares to bully you, just shout, and we'll come over to help you beat them up!"

"I know." Mo Hua smiled, and the three of them ran off like birds released from a cage.

Seeing this, Auntie Xue called Mo Hua over and asked, "I wonder what festival it is today to be this lively."

"Auntie Xue, today is the Lotus Festival."

Auntie Xue looked puzzled. "I have never heard of such a festival in the cultivation world."

Mo Hua explained, "It's a small festival, only celebrated around Tongxian City. It probably doesn't exist elsewhere."

"Why is it called the Lotus Festival?"

Bai Zisheng asked curiously, and Bai Zixi, who had been looking around, also turned her head to look at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and replied, "I asked my parents when I was little. They said the Lotus Festival is used to commemorate the Loose Cultivator Lianhua."

"The Loose Cultivator Lianhua? Could this Lianhua be a great cultivator?" Auntie Xue asked.

"To us, he would be considered a great cultivator, but to the entire cultivation world, he might not be that significant," Mo Hua said. "I'm not quite sure of his exact cultivation level, but I've heard some elderly grandfathers say that Lianhua was likely at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Of course, some say he was at the Golden Core stage."

"It is said that back then, Lizhou was suffering from extreme heat, and the vegetation withered. Starving demon beasts descended from the mountains to eat humans, triggering a beast tide. The cultivators of Tongxian City fought hard to defend the city, but they were helpless against the sheer number of beasts. Just as the city gates were about to break and countless cultivators were about to perish in the mouths of the beasts, the passing Loose Cultivator Lianhua held back the beast tide single-handedly. In the end, he saved the lives of the Tongxian City cultivators, but he died due to the exhaustion of his spiritual power..."

"It is said that today is the anniversary of his passing. Since then, every year at this time, the people of Tongxian City light various kinds of lotus lanterns and send them into the sky, using the spectacle of brilliant lights to commemorate him."

Bai Zixi listened intently, and Bai Zisheng felt his blood boiling.

Thinking of the scene from back then, he felt as if he were in the midst of the beast tide, fighting against various fierce and cruel demon beasts. After a desperate battle, although he had slain the beast leader, he had also died from exhaustion.

Many years later, many cultivators still remembered the feats of that era, and his name remained etched in the minds of the city's cultivators.

Filled with passion, Bai Zisheng said, "To live without fear of death, and to live toward death—such a tragic and soul-stirring life is the true destiny a cultivator should seek."

Auntie Xue sighed helplessly. "Young Master, the Madam has only you as a son. Please conduct yourself with dignity."

Bai Zisheng felt a bit dejected and lowered his head.

Mo Hua burst out laughing, prompting a slightly indignant Bai Zisheng to say, "Are you mocking me?"

Mo Hua replied perfunctorily, "No."

Bai Zisheng became even angrier, while the corners of Bai Zixi's lips curled up slightly, her face appearing even more radiant than the sky full of lanterns.

Auntie Xue thought for a moment, still feeling doubtful. "The physical bodies and demonic qi of demon beasts are far stronger than those of cultivators. Even a Golden Core cultivator would find it impossible to hold back a beast tide alone. Let alone a cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment; it hardly seems worth the city's massive effort to commemorate him in such a grand way..."

As they spoke, they arrived at a small stall displaying various kinds of lotus lanterns. They were exquisitely crafted, and one could be purchased for just five points of broken spirit stones.

Mo Hua took out five points of broken spirit stones, placed them on the stall, and chose a lotus lantern in the shape of an unrecognizable auspicious beast. He lit it with a flame, and the light made the auspicious beast look lifelike.

As Mo Hua let go, the lantern slowly floated into the sky, merging into the sea of lights above.

Looking at the many lanterns in the sky, Mo Hua murmured

"Among the cultivators of this world, even those whose cultivation reaches the heavens and earth, how many can discard their own cultivation and Dao foundation for the sake of strangers? What the cultivators of Tongxian City commemorate is not the cultivation level of the Loose Cultivator Lianhua, but the breadth of his heart that brought blessings to all living things."

Bai Zisheng nodded, chose a majestic red tiger-shaped lantern, and sincerely lit it before sending it into the sky.

Bai Zixi released a golden phoenix-patterned lotus lantern, brilliant and magnificent.

Auntie Xue hesitated for a moment, glanced at Mo Hua, and finally chose a cyan phoenix-shaped lotus lantern to send into the night sky.

Throughout Tongxian City, the points of light gathered, illuminating the pitch-black night.