What does it mean that they all lived with lifelong regrets?

The two then strolled around the temple fair for quite some time.

Today is the Lantern Festival, so this temple fair is naturally a grand affair.

Lotus lanterns, acrobatics, pitch-pot, archery, roasted chestnuts, candied hawthorn, sugar painting...

These temple fairs have all the standard activities, and there are quite a few people who want to join in the fun.

Lin Wuhua and Xie Jiexue first watched the acrobatic performance—

"Wow, that fire-breathing is awesome!"

Watching people play ring toss again—

A young child, clutching a bamboo ring, struggled to throw it into the pitch-pot game for a long time, and began to cry in frustration in front of the stall.

Before the stall owner or an adult could reprimand them, Lin Wuhua led Xie Jiexue over.

"Go, intercept Xue, let the arrows see our power."

Xie Jiexue sighed helplessly and picked up a bamboo arrow at random.

Accurate hit.

"Good, as expected of you."

Xie Jiexue's lips curved into a smile as she raised her hand to smooth her hair.

It was clearly a simple favor, but she became self-important: "You know that's good enough."

Lin Wuhua handed the prize he had won—a small porcelain figurine—to the child.

"Come on, say thank you, sister."

"Thank you, sister."

"Good girl, go find your parents."

Next came the target shooting.

"Watch me shoot a purse down for you."

However, because the bow was soft and the arrows were light, he naturally missed the target after a long time, and the money he spent far exceeded the price of his purse.

"Why don't you use your magic?" Xie Jiexue couldn't stand it anymore.

Lin Wuhua gritted his teeth and fired another arrow, which missed its mark: "No, the important thing is—the feeling of being able to shoot as many arrows as I want."

In the end, she won by sheer numbers, and her wallet was finally taken.

But Xie Jiexue suspected that the vendor had taken pity on the situation and secretly replaced the arrows with better ones.

But she didn't say anything; as long as Lin Wuhua was happy.

There are also roasted chestnuts, candied hawthorn skewers, sugar paintings...

The two of them tried almost all of these local specialties.

It was getting late, and the temple fair was about to end.

The moon rose inch by inch, the light of day dimmed little by little, and the candlelight and charcoal fire flickered and diminished.

Thin wisps of smoke rose from the temple gate, mingling with the moonlight, and drifted silently into the night sky. Some vendors who had sold out had already begun to pack up.

Looking at the scene before her, Xie Jiexue felt a strange sense of reluctance.

She knew that today was coming to an end.

Lin Wuhua's words caught her attention.

"Let's release some lanterns," he explained, meeting Xie Jiexue's curious gaze. "They're lotus lanterns."

He led her, following the shadowy flow of people.

Not far from the city, there is a small stream where people often wash clothes, fetch water, and fish.

But at this moment, flickering lights were already floating on the black stream—lotus lanterns that had been placed there long ago.

The lanterns flickered and drifted away, looking like a group of fireflies carrying lanterns, leisurely walking away in a line in the night.

"Let's go too."

Lin Wuhua accepted two lotus lanterns from a vendor.

The lamp is shaped like a lotus flower, with the bottom sealed and fixed with wax. The small cup in the center contains the wick and lamp oil.

"Will you let him go?" Lin Wuhua asked.

Xie Jiexue shook her head.

Lin Wuhua nodded: "I don't have any either, I've only read about it in books."

Because the two were agile, he carried the lantern and led Xie Jiexue into the darkness.

He pulled her down to squat down a little upstream in the stream.

However, Lin Wuhua did not immediately light the lotus lantern. Instead, he and Xie Jiexue silently watched the lantern between them.

"Let's talk."

The candlelight from the lantern shone through the red paper onto his face, making his vision slightly blurred.

"Jie Xue, I haven't come to see you for a while."

Xie Jiexue said softly, "It's my fault for not coming to find you."

After being shown around by Lin Wuhua, her already slight awkwardness had long since disappeared.

Lin Wuhua neither responded nor corrected her, but instead started talking about something else.

He talked about contemplating the essence of things and briefly shared his insights.

"To condense one's intent, one should unite the mind with the intent, the intent with the sword, and then the mind with the sword."

"Intention is the intention of the heart, and sword is the sword of the heart."

His words were difficult to understand, and Xie Jiexue didn't quite grasp what he meant.

So Lin Wuhua explained in plain language: "It means that to achieve a state of concentration, one needs a focused mind and a clear goal, as well as a peaceful state of mind."

"Otherwise, the intention will not be formed, and naturally, progress will be impossible."

Xie Jiexue remained silent.

Lin Wuhua is right; her mind has been in turmoil lately.

She wanted to find Lin Wuhua, but didn't know how to face him; she wanted him to come to her, but was afraid he would see her vulnerable side; she felt it didn't matter that he had beaten her, but also felt that she had lost and disappointed others.

Therefore, the responsibility lies primarily with her, not with Lin Wuhua.

But before she could say anything, Lin Wuhua continued, "Are you feeling better now?"

Xie Jiexue paused for a moment, then realized that her previously chaotic thoughts had dissipated.

She tried to recall, but could only remember her own thoughts; she could no longer recapture that feeling.

Lin Wuhua continued:

"Jie Xue, I think you're in too much of a hurry."

"Before the competition, I trained with you for a month or two. You didn't rest for a single day; you trained every single day."

"I'm not saying this is bad, but you seem very tired, and like this..."

Lin Wuhua paused and gave a wry smile.

"Actually, I don't know much about swords, nor do I know which path you want to take, so I can't say for sure."

Xie Jiexue looked at Lin Wuhua intently.

He wasn't hesitating about what to do, but rather whether what he said was appropriate for her.

"I didn't know if my path was right, so I didn't come to find you, even though my strength is inferior to yours."

"Then, I will only dare to come if I am strong enough."

Xie Jiexue suddenly asked, "Wuhua, is it because you're unsure if your path is right for me that you haven't told me?"

Lin Wuhua's brows relaxed.

"Yes, I know which way to go, but since I've never been there before, I don't know if I'm on the right path."

"I want to see... another path for the sword."

His expression became resolute.

"It's because I've been promoted that I'm able to answer your questions."

He looked at Xie Jiexue: "Jiexue, I estimate that you will advance to the Condensation Realm soon."

"Only by emptying your mind can you concentrate it."

He said nothing more, struck a match, and lit the lotus lanterns for the two of them one by one.

Xie Jiexue chuckled.

Even though they had just been discussing the issue of cultivation levels, Lin Wuhua still remembered the requirement that "one cannot use magical power."

"Lotus lanterns can be used to offer blessings to the living."

Let's make a wish upon the lamp, each of us making our own wish.

Lin Wuhua closed his eyes and silently recited a few words.

"May Jie Xue's peace last forever, and may her path be bright and without error."

Xie Jiexue stared at the boy's face in the candlelight, momentarily lost in thought.

But soon, Lin Wuhua opened his eyes.

He realized she hadn't made a wish, so he teased her, "Am I pretty?"

Xie Jiexue punched him and closed her eyes.

May the snow and the beauty of nature last forever, and may we never lose this moment of peace.

After a pause, she followed Wu Hua's example and made another promise: "Jie Xue will cut off the frost and snow of life for Wu Hua."

She opened her eyes and glared at Lin Wuhua.

"Let's light the lanterns."

The lamps merged into the river of light, sharing in everyone's joys and sorrows.