After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

The two continued to wander aimlessly.

Xie Jinchen seemed to know Changling City very well. He led her away from the most crowded areas, but they always managed to find some interesting stalls.

Finally, as night deepened, Xie Jinchen led Jiang Dusheng through the dwindling crowds, turned into a quiet alley, and stopped in front of an inconspicuous courtyard.

Upon entering, the courtyard is extremely spacious and impeccably cleaned.

Most surprisingly, the few lush locust trees in the courtyard and the upturned eaves of the house were all covered with lanterns in a neat and orderly fashion.

The entire courtyard was enveloped in a hazy, tranquil sea of ​​light, a world apart from the bustling night market just moments before.

Jiang Dusheng was stunned for a moment.

Xie Jinchen suddenly turned to face her, and in the flickering lantern light, spoke:

Happy New Year, Jiang Dusheng!

Jiang Dusheng snapped back to reality, his eyes wide with astonishment: "?"

She almost thought she had misheard.

New Year's Day? There are still several months until the Lunar New Year.

Before she could even voice her question, the next moment—

"Whoosh! Bang!"

A clear blast pierced the night sky, followed by a burst of dazzling fireworks that bloomed brilliantly in the night sky above the courtyard, radiating light.

Under the dazzling light, Xie Jinchen turned his head and looked deeply into Jiang Dusheng's astonished eyes.

His eyes clearly reflected the dazzling fireworks, yet it was as if they pierced through that fleeting brilliance, clearly only holding the figure of Jiang Dusheng.

"Master said," his voice rang out in the silence between fireworks, lower and gentler than usual, "that you hate New Year's Day the most. Because it's a day for family reunions, with firecrackers popping and lights shining brightly, but you..."

He paused, a hint of barely perceptible heartache in his voice, "At this time of year, you feel that the sound of the bell at Nanzenji Temple is filled with loneliness."

"Go down the mountain alone, find those wandering evil spirits, chant sutras for them to be saved, and escape that hustle and bustle."

Jiang Dusheng was stunned.

This was a secret she kept buried deep in her heart, one that she herself rarely touched.

Abandoned in childhood and raised in a temple, she seemed detached, but during every festival, especially the New Year's Day which symbolizes reunion, a sense of loneliness would follow her like a shadow.

She hadn't expected that her master would tell her even this.

Xie Jinchen took a step forward, closing the distance between them until they could feel each other's breath.

Fireworks burst behind him, illuminating his sharply defined profile. "Although New Year's Day is still a long way off," he said.

He looked into Jiang Dusheng's eyes, his voice not loud, yet it seemed to drown out the roar of fireworks, "But Jiang Dusheng..."

"On New Year's Day in the future, you will no longer have only a lonely lamp and scriptures, nor will you need to seek out those wandering souls to pass the time."

"From now on, year after year, through all four seasons and eight festivals, on every day of reunion, I will be by your side."

His words, though lacking in flowery language, were like a resolute vow, imprinted against the radiant night sky:

"If you wish to see lanterns, I will hang this courtyard full of lights for you; if you find it too noisy, I will stay with you and guard this quiet corner."

Xie Jinchen grasped her hand, his fingertips warm, his grip firm: "The Dao follows nature, Yin and Yang complement each other. Isolated Yang cannot produce life, isolated Yin cannot grow."

"Jiang Dusheng, from the day you held my hand and prevented me from falling into the boundless sea of ​​evil, our destinies have been intertwined, our karma intertwined. Whether this world is bustling or desolate, I will share it with you."

Xie Jinchen's words lacked the cheesy sentimentality of vows of eternal love, yet they carried a promise even heavier than any oath.

Just then, the last giant firework burst open in the night sky, transforming into a shower of countless golden stars that slowly fell to the ground.

Xie Jinchen clearly saw that Jiang Dusheng's eyes reflected only his image, and a satisfied smile curved his lips.

"Jiang Dusheng, I'm greedy. I don't want our consummation to be for any ulterior motive. I want you to only have eyes for me, and only desire me in your heart..."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Dusheng suddenly stood on tiptoe, tilted her head back, and kissed his lips.

It was a kiss tinged with the smell of fireworks and the faint sweetness of candied hawthorn.

Xie Jinchen was stunned for only a moment. The next moment, he was like a prisoner who had been waiting for a long time, finally receiving the imperial edict.

He immediately took the initiative, supporting her waist with one hand and gently stroking the back of Jiang Dusheng's neck with the other, deepening the kiss.

It was no longer a superficial attempt, but rather a display of long-suppressed emotions.

His tongue forcefully pried open her teeth and entangled with hers.

Jiang Dusheng was caught off guard by his sudden and intense response. Her initial initiative crumbled instantly, and she could only passively endure his storm of kisses.

Xie Jinchen put his arm around her waist and began to move into the house.

Their lips remained entwined as they staggered through the courtyard adorned with lanterns, their clothes brushing against the flower branches, creating a soft rustling sound.

Jiang Dusheng was so weak from his kisses that she almost clung to him, supported only by the strength of his arms.

Upon entering the house, Xie Jinchen kicked the door shut with his heel, shutting out the dim lights that filled the courtyard.