Douluo Continent: The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? A Soul Beast Pagoda!

Chapter 27 Lanterns

After admiring the giant phoenix lantern in the center of the city for a while, the two wandered around.

They bought a pair of lanterns and went to the riverbank in the city.

The river shimmered with tiny fireflies in the night, and the lanterns hanging on both banks were reflected on the water.

Countless lanterns carrying wishes drifted slowly along the river, like a flowing galaxy.

Qian Renxue squatted on the riverbank and carefully placed the lotus lantern in her hand into the water.

Following her example, Jiang Bai also pushed his own lamp away from the shore.

The two lamps swirled on the water's surface before quickly drifting downstream side by side.

"Where will they drift to?" Qian Renxue asked softly, her gaze following the receding lights.

"Who knows?" Jiang Bai squatted down beside her. "Maybe it will be pulled up by the children downstream, or maybe it will bump into something and sink—"

Before the words were finished, a gust of evening wind blew across the river, and the lotus lantern suddenly accelerated, drifting into the distance.

"Oh dear, why is it floating so fast?"

Qian Renxue stood up, stamped her foot in annoyance, and followed the light that was gradually receding and almost merging into the distant river of lights.

She stood on tiptoe, trying to see further, her long golden hair fluttering gently in the night breeze.

A moment later, she seemed to have thought of something, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she turned to point to a three-story teahouse next door.

"Let's go up there and see! From up there we should be able to see where they're drifting to."

Jiang Bai looked in the direction she was pointing.

It was an elegant wooden building with strings of lanterns hanging from its upturned eaves, making it particularly eye-catching in the night.

Both the second and third floors have riverside terraces, which were already quite full of guests.

"Okay," he nodded in agreement.

The two entered the teahouse.

The lobby on the first floor was bustling with noise as a storyteller recounted a legend of a Soul Master, the sound of his gavel striking the table ringing out from time to time.

The waiter greeted them warmly and, upon hearing that they wanted a riverside table, led them up to the second floor.

Compared to the hustle and bustle downstairs, the second floor is much quieter.

The wooden floorboards creaked softly underfoot, and the air was filled with the aroma of tea and a faint scent of incense.

The private booth they chose was on the outermost side of the terrace, with a view of the flowing river just beyond the wooden railing.

"What would you two like to order? We have the finest Yunwu tea and freshly arrived Osmanthus cake—" the waiter announced the menu with practiced ease.

"A pot of black tea, two servings of osmanthus cake, and a few other snacks."

Qian Renxue casually gave the order, her gaze already drifting towards the outside of the railing.

The waiter acknowledged and withdrew.

Qian Renxue couldn't wait to walk to the railing, put her hands on the wooden handrail, and leaned out slightly to look outside.

From this height, the entire river channel can be seen.

Hundreds of lanterns moved slowly across the water, like scattered stars.

"Found it!"

She suddenly exclaimed excitedly, pointing downstream, "Our light is over there!"

Jiang Bai walked to her side and looked in the direction she was pointing.

Indeed, the two small lanterns were stuck tightly together in the river.

The waiter quickly brought tea and snacks.

Steam rose from the white porcelain teapot, and the osmanthus cake, shaped into an exquisite flower, was served on a porcelain plate.

Qian Renxue, however, paid no attention to tasting the food. She remained leaning on the railing, her right hand supporting her cheek, gazing dreamily at the river.

The lanterns on the second floor are sparser, and the light is softer and dimmer.

The warm yellow light shone on her face from the side, outlining her delicate features.

A few stray hairs slipped from her temples, fluttering gently in the night breeze.

"If only things could always be like this—how wonderful that would be—"

She sighed softly, her voice carrying a rare sense of relaxation and longing.

Jiang Bai's heart stirred slightly.

Perhaps—this girl, leaning on the railing, worrying about the two lanterns, is the most authentic version of herself after she has shed all her burdens.

The river breeze carries the hustle and bustle of the distant streets, as well as the faint sound of a zither from the teahouse.

In this situation, I really want to—

"The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night," he murmured.

Qian Renxue turned her head slightly to look at him.

"The wind blows down, and stars fall like rain."

Jiang Bai continued reading, his gaze sweeping across the bustling street below, brightly lit and teeming with people.

"The road is filled with the fragrance of fine carriages. The sound of phoenix flutes stirs, the jade pot shines, and fish and dragons dance all night."

Qian Renxue turned around completely and leaned against the railing, her purple eyes shining brightly in the dim light.

She didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Jiang Bai paused, then shifted his gaze from the street scene back to the person in front of him.

The girl's fair face was faintly visible in the sparse lamplight, and her long golden hair seemed to be the radiance of the night.

"Moths, willows, and golden threads." He recited slowly, each word clear and solemn, "Laughter and fragrance linger as they depart."

Qian Renxue's fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the railing.

"I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd." Jiang Bai took a step forward, the distance between them shortened until they could clearly see the reflection of the lights in each other's eyes. "Suddenly, I turned around—"

"But there he was, in the dim light."

Just as the last few words were finished, a clear and melodious zither tune drifted from the teahouse, as if bringing the poem to a perfect close.

Qian Renxue was stunned.

"I searched for him among the crowd—a thousand times over—"

She unconsciously repeated the sentence, her heart suddenly pounding.

Qian Renxue's pretty face flushed red at a visible speed, spreading from her cheeks to her ears and then to her neck.

"Jiang Bai—" Her voice trembled slightly, "You can write poetry too?"

"I wouldn't say I know how, it's just that—it just happened to come to mind."

Jiang Bai smiled and took out a brocade box that he had prepared in advance from his storage bracelet.

The brocade box was opened, revealing two hand-sewn puppets inside.

One is a little angel with golden hair and wearing a white dress. The workmanship is exquisite, and you can tell what it is.

The other is a boy in blue, holding a small seven-story tower in his hand. Compared to the little angel, this puppet is obviously much simpler, and the tower in his hand is just a small pillar made of cotton.

"This is----?"

"No, little angels and the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!"

Jiang Bai put one on each hand, letting the two hand puppets face each other. "I made these myself, and my craftsmanship isn't very good—"

He manipulated the puppet of Li Jing, clumsily touched the little angel's head, and then said, "Li Jing wins!"

""

Qian Renxue finally realized what was happening. She puffed out her cheeks and snatched the two hand puppets away: "Hmm—no! The little angel should win!"

She held the two hand puppets in her palms and examined them carefully.

The little angel was indeed exquisite and adorable, but the simple "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" was even more captivating to her.

Although the stitches were crooked, each stitch was very tight.

The blue fabric was the color she often saw him wearing, and the protruding pillar on the doll's right hand was clearly his martial spirit.

"It's really ugly," she whispered, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.