Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

In the backyard of Lin'an Temple, there is a thousand-year-old cypress tree that requires three people to encircle, with its thick branches covered with dense red prayer ribbons.

Xie Wang and Su Qinghe stood in front of the divination table.

Following the example of the worshippers in front of him, Su Qinghe placed a brand-new red banknote into the donation box.

She held the bamboo skewer holder, worn smooth by time, in both hands, closed her eyes, and gently shook it.

The bamboo skewers collided inside the tube, producing a rhythmic, crisp sound.

With a snap.

A thin bamboo skewer slid down the slanted groove onto the red velvet cloth.

Xie Wang stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over the bamboo skewer.

The 100th sign.

Su Qinghe opened his eyes, picked up the bamboo stick, and handed it to the fortune teller behind the table.

The master craftsman glanced at the number on the lot after putting on his reading glasses, then looked up and scrutinized the girl in front of him who exuded a cool and reserved aura.

The fortune teller took out a yellow fortune slip from the wooden box behind him.

"Madam, this is an extremely auspicious divination slip, a perfect one."

Su Qinghe took the signing paper.

Several lines of vigorous ink characters were printed on the paper.

May your wishes come true as spring blossoms, and may you enjoy both happiness and longevity like a radiant sunset. May good things come in pairs, a blessing from heaven, and may your love blossom in harmony and bliss.

The fortune teller stroked his half-white beard.

"This is an auspicious sign, indicating that everything will go smoothly. In particular, the phrase 'harmony and happiness' signifies that the benefactor's marriage is ordained by heaven, with deep and unwavering affection. It is a rare and auspicious sign for marriage."

A hint of joy flickered in Su Qinghe's eyes, which usually remained unmoved even when looking at physics formulas.

She carefully folded the slip of paper.

Looking at her earnest expression as she carefully preserved feudal superstitions, Xie Wang felt a warm current flowing through a corner of his heart.

"Teacher Su never believed in these things before," he said jokingly in a low voice.

Su Qinghe put the folded slip of paper into the inner pocket of the tote bag.

"Science cannot explain all coincidences."

Su Qinghe glanced at Lu Wen, who was still frantically writing Lin Lu's name beside him, and then turned to look at Xie Wang.

"Don't you want a cigarette?"

"You are my best fortune, Teacher Su."

Su Qinghe didn't react for a moment, and her face turned red.

"Hurry up, stop joking."

Xie Wang compromised.

He tossed a fifty-yuan note into the donation box, then picked up the fortune-telling stick container with one hand and casually waved it twice in the air.

A skewer flew out quickly and landed on the ground.

The craftsman glanced at it and took out a slip of paper from another box.

"This is an extremely auspicious divination slip for you, benefactor." The fortune teller pushed the slip of paper over.

Xie Wang raised an eyebrow and glanced at the note on the table.

"The Dragon Abyss Sword emerges from its dusty lament, the moon shines through the broken clouds, its shadow serene. Do not say this journey is fraught with peril, for a benefactor will surely appear by your side."

The fortune teller glanced at Xie Wang's unrestrained youthful arrogance.

"Your first half of life has been full of hardships, but a sharp sword is forged through tempering, and the divination slip mentions that you will have a benefactor by your side. That benefactor is the light that will help you break through the fog."

When Xie Wang heard the word "light," his gaze instantly fell on Su Qinghe.

In that dark night filled with mud and torrential rain, the girl before him was the only source of light that pulled him back to the world.

Su Qinghe met his deep and gentle gaze.

Amidst the clamor of incense burning around them, their eyes met, a profound understanding that transcended words.

"Let's go, let's go hang up the ribbons too." Xie Wang put away the fortune slip and went to the side to buy two blessing ribbons.

The two walked to the ancient cypress tree covered with red ribbons.

Su Qinghe picked up a brush and wrote two lines of text on the red ribbon.

May your career be smooth sailing and may you enjoy peace and safety year after year.

Xie Wang simply wrote the three characters "Su Qinghe" on the red cloth strip using a slightly unrestrained cursive script.

"Teacher Su, the tree is too tall for you to hang it up."

Xie Wang watched as Su Qinghe slightly tiptoed over.

He took the blessing ribbon from Su Qinghe's hand, raised his arm, and tied the two red ribbons, each inscribed with a different wish yet closely connected, to a thick, sun-facing branch of the ancient cypress tree.

He tied a tight knot to ensure that the two straps wouldn't be blown off by the winter wind.

After doing all this, Xie Wang looked down at Su Qinghe, who was still standing in front of him.

The girl's eyelashes cast a soft shadow in the sunlight, and he reached out and gently rubbed Su Qinghe's cool cheek with his knuckles.

Just then, a very unpleasant complaint came from behind the tree trunk next to them.

Lu Wen peeked out from behind the tree, holding his pile of red ribbons that he hadn't finished hanging.

"Could you two please behave yourselves a little in a quiet and solemn place like a temple?"

Lu Wen looked at the pile of Lin Lu's writings in his hand, written in an effort to break the deadlock, and then at the two people opposite him, who were engaged in a seemingly peaceful tug-of-war.

He felt that being a single dog and a third wheel was even more torturous than the financial loss the fortune teller had mentioned.

Xie Wang glanced at him and pulled Su Qinghe's hand into his coat pocket.

"Boss Lu, take your time hanging them up. If you don't finish, Buddha will blame you."

Lu Wen was so angry that he stomped his feet on the spot.