XIAO SHUXIANG'S

150 - Festival 1000 Lanterns [Revised]

In just five minutes, the three had reached their destination. The market at night is completely different.

Lan Guan Zhi started to descend, followed by Xiao Shuxiang and Feng Ying. Their Moon Tiger mounts attracted everyone's attention.

Although all those people knew that Lan Xiao was the pride of the Sky Sword Sect and used to see him fly, but still he was the center of attention. Especially when he found out that the owner of the Moon Tiger was a Lan Guan Zhi.

Lan Xiao immediately turned her body as big as a kitten and jumped into Xiao Shuxiang's arms. He let out a snoring sound as a sign that he liked the child.

Feng Ying invited Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi to take a walk enjoying the festival while waiting for the arrival of her friends.

Xiao Lu, Dai Chen, and the others had only arrived after three hours. Fortunately they were able to find Xiao Shuxiang, Feng Ying, and Lan Guan Zhi.

The 1000 Lantern Festival was truly festive, Xiao Shuxiang was several times overwhelmed by being pulled over by Xiao Lu and Yi Wen. They invited him to buy many decorations that Xiao Shuxiang thought were useless.

"Haaahs.. These children." in the end Xiao Shuxiang kept paying for the goods that Xiao Lu and Yi Wen had bought.

How not to get paid?! The two girls immediately left after picking up the item making the merchant almost yell at them thief. It would be a shame if the Butterfly Sect was known for its disciples who were thieves, and Xiao Shuxiang did not want that to happen..!

Xiao Shuxiang asked Jing Mi, Hou Yong, and Bao Yu to watch over their main friends Xiao Lu and Yi Wen, ".. They can be the source of my bankruptcy if they're not stopped now.."

"Give it to us, brother." Jing Mi, Hou Yong and Bao Yu immediately approached their two targets.

Xiao Shuxiang then noticed Ro Wei who was currently in front of the Tanghulu merchant, he was with Feng Ying and Ying Liu. The two girls looked like elder brothers to Feng Ying.

Compared to the two girls who almost gave him a headache.. Ro Wei and Ying Liu were much better off, they were both very relaxed looking through the various sweets in this huge market.

Somewhat far in front of him, Xiao Shuxiang could see Zong Ming and Dai Chen were talking over something that seemed like fun. They occasionally looked at the landscape painting of one of the merchants and exchanged opinions.

Nyawn~

The Moon Tiger that Xiao Shuxiang was holding thrashed while in front of one of the sweets merchants, as if he wanted to say that he wanted the sweets.

Nyawn~

"Human food is not good for your stomach. You eat carrots only," Xiao Shuxiang took out a silver carrot from his Spatial Ring, the fruit he obtained from the Lotus Root Sect.

Xiao Shuxiang then turned to look at Lan Guan Zhi who was beside him, since this man had not spoken in the least. He watched Lan Guan Zhi from the ground up, his posture and the way his friend walked was like an Emperor.

Xiao Shuxiang shook his head slowly, what a result of the perfect upbringing of the Sky Sword Sect.

Along the way, Xiao Shuxiang spoke more and Lan Guan Zhi only occasionally responded. Xiao Shuxiang only discussed trivial matters such as Lan Xiao's food, or the daily activities that this Moon Tiger was doing.

"How's Dai Chen's brother doing?" for the first time Lan Guan Zhi asked Xiao Shuxiang.

"It was so bad, the veins in his body were in the wrong position and many cracks in his bones. Dai Chan still can breathe is a miracle.." Xiao Shuxiang explained, "I once felt like I had successfully treated Dai Chan, even the girl was already able to sit down and not lie down anymore."

"... He also started laughing when he heard me tell a story. But the next day, his body condition worsened.." Xiao Shuxiang exhaled as he gently rubbed Lan Xiao's head.

Without feeling the time passes quickly, the moment that is anticipated by everyone to fly a paper lantern. Xiao Lu drew a flower on the side of the paper lantern before he ignited it, Yi Wen and Ro Wei did the same.

Everyone was holding their own paper lanterns, except for Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi. The two just watched her friends so seriously draw and write their hopes.

Xiao Shuxiang snorted slightly as he read Jing Mi's wish which turned out to be given a girl as beautiful as Xiao WeiWei.

Xiao Shuxiang then noticed what Feng Ying had written, he almost choked on his own breath as he read this friend's wish which turned out to be asking for a beautiful butt girl.

Lan Guan Zhi noticed the change in Xiao Shuxiang's face, he then went along to see what Feng Ying had written.. Yet Xiao Shuxiang instantly closed his eyes. He was forbidden to see let alone read Feng Ying's writing.

Xiao Shuxiang had just lowered his hand when Feng Ying went to Ro Wei's place. Somehow he closed Lan Guan Zhi's eyes spontaneously. There was something in his heart that said that Lan Guan Zhi should be spared from such things.

"Young Master Lan, Brother Xiao, where are your lanterns? Soon it's time to fly the lantern.." Ying Liu walked over to Lan Guan Zhi and Xiao Shuxiang, everyone had lanterns other than these two friends.

Ying Liu then gave the one that had not been ignited to Lan Guan Zhi, he did not have another lantern for Xiao Shuxiang.

Nyawn~

The Moon Tiger that was held by Xiao Shuxiang looked very eager to hold the lantern, he seemed to see a toy that he loved so much.

"Well, do you like those paper lanterns, Lan Xiao?" Xiao Shuxiang asked who was immediately answered enthusiastically by Lan Xiao.

Nyan, New!

Lan Guan Zhi thrust the lantern at the Moon Tiger. Lan Xiao was completely overjoyed even his voice until it could be heard by everyone near them.

"Sugary.."

"A adorable kitten.."

Praise began to be directed at Lan Xiao, this made Xiao Shuxiang wipe the squash of the Moon Tiger's head that he was hugging. "You've taken all the attention without leaving it for me, you know.."

Jing Mi gave Xiao Shuxiang brush and ink and asked her brother to decorate the side of the paper lantern with writing or drawing.

"Lan Zhi, you wrote it for me. I want Lan Xiao to continue to live a long life,"

The Moon Tiger was so happy, many people were approaching in order to see the writing from Lan Guan Zhi. Xiao Shuxiang gave a bit of ink to one of Lan Xiao's front legs and used it as a stamp.

Nyawm!

Lan Guan Zhi then handed the brush in his hand to Xiao Shuxiang, "You also write."

"Hm? Oho! All right, so what's your hope Lan Zhi?" Xiao Shuxiang understood that he had been asked to write his friend's wish.

"… to be human.." Lan Guan Zhi gently rubbed Lan Xiao's head and then looked at Xiao Shuxiang.

!

"Lan Zhi, you should use a clear word. Like, 'I want Lan Xiao to be human'. You only said two words to surprise me," Xiao Shuxiang shook his head slowly, he then wrote Lan Guan Zhi's wish on the other side of the paper lantern.

Xiao Lu who looked at his sister's writing and spontaneously let out a piercing opinion, "Oh my goodness, your writing is so ugly..! Here's how to write properly, pay close attention..!"

Xiao Lu with his own brush instead wrote his hopes on the lantern paper belonging to Lan Guan Zhi, Xiao Shuxiang, and Lan Xiao. His other friends also did it, they made the lantern filled with images and writing that I don't know.

Lan Xiao himself looked delighted as his lantern was filled with ink graffiti, but not Xiao Shuxiang. "Obviously they have their own lanterns.. But instead of messing with our lanterns, you naughty boys..!"

"Look at Lan Xiao, Auntie's picture is good, right?"

"This one, made by Aunt Yi Wen.."

Xiao Shuxiang's upper lips twitched, his friends were extremely outrageous.

Xiao Lu then gave the lantern to Lan Guan Zhi, he then took the lantern himself.

All of the citizens including Xiao Shuxiang's friends stood up while looking at the sky, they were still holding onto the lanterns that were starting to be ignited.

"Now what? Why don't they fly it..?"

"We must wait, Brother Xiao." Jing Mi touched Xiao Shuxiang's shoulder as her gaze continued to point towards the sky.

"Wait until the first lantern is seen," Hou Yong narrowed his eyes, he focused on finding a point of light moving in the sky.

Someone then exclaimed and the next second Hou Yong also called out to him. He saw a small light start to slowly fly, it was the first lantern as their marker.

Xiao Shuxiang also started to look at it, beside the lantern was another smaller lantern. As he asked, Jing Mi replied that the one flying the lantern was the Middle Sun Emperor.

"That means that the little lantern probably belonged to Li Qian Xie," Xiao Shuxiang saw his companions start flying their lanterns.

Xiao Shuxiang used his blue flame to ignite the lantern in Lan Guan Zhi's hand, he shook his head as this lantern had many ink ornaments that he knew nothing about.

Nyawm!

Lan Xiao made a sound as the lantern with the stamp of his front leg began to slowly fly. The scenery in the sky was instantly filled with many lanterns with different paintings.

Only the Moon Tiger lanterns have blue flames, although among the many paper lanterns that fly.. They could still tell apart the lanterns painted by Xiao Shuxiang and his companions.

Xiao Shuxiang remembered that in his first life, he had only seen those lanterns in the distance. The Black Stream region did not have this kind of annual tradition, hence he had been confused earlier.

A lantern with a red inked inscription slowly descended and was right in front of Xiao Shuxiang. This lantern has a slightly dim fire that makes it unable to fly high.

"'I hope uncle can live a long life, I always love him, '" Xiao Shuxiang smiled as he read the inscription on the side of the paper lantern.

He then used his blue flame on the lantern, making it fly back slowly. Xiao Shuxiang exhaled softly as he continued to look up at the sky. Shouxing's words immediately flashed across her mind.

… You have parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends around you..

.. Live your second life better..

"Hm, I'm still trying. But until now, I haven't felt that connection, Shouxing. They are my friends, but if they die in front of me.. I wouldn't care. Just like when I saw my parents die in my previous life.. I haven't found a relationship that can make me care about them.."

Xiao Shuxiang continued to pay attention to the paper lanterns that were gracing the skies of the Middle Sun Empire, an exclamation then made him turn his head.

The one exclaiming earlier was one of the disciples of the Heaven Sword Sect, he called out to Lan Guan Zhi.

"Young Master Lan, thank goodness I was able to find you. Huh.. Huh.. The Second Patriarch told me to look for you," the disciple of the Sky Sword Sect who was a 16-year-old man seemed to be gasping for breath.

Xiao Shuxiang handed Lan Xiao to Lan Guan Zhi, he smiled as he said that this friend of his should leave.

"Get yourself,"

Xiao Shuxiang smiled and replied to Lan Guan Zhi. He kept seeing his friend start walking away until he completely disappeared in the crowd.

Xiao Shuxiang was intending to get closer to his companions when a hand smothered his mouth and pulled him into a quiet place.

He did not feel the Killing Aura from the person who had smothered him, so he did not feel the need to fight back.

When he reached one of the hallways, Xiao Shuxiang's stock began to break apart. He eventually finds out that the one who kidnapped him from the crowd was a boy, looks 13 years old and has short white hair.

"Young Master Xiao, I'm so happy to finally see you again..!"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was shocked when he was suddenly hugged tightly, he did not know this child. Soon he asked the child to let go of his embrace.

"Who are you..?" tanyakanya.

"Young Master Xiao, even if you change a lot.. I can still recognize you. It's me, Hu Li."

Feeling that Xiao Shuxiang did not recognize him, Hu Li instantly changed his ears and pulled out a white tail. Making Xiao Shuxiang instantly recall.

!!

"Hu Li's..! You brat, how can you be human?! How old are you now, huh?!" Xiao Shuxiang instantly stirred, he twisted Hu Li's body, rubbed his fox ears and squeezed his tail.

Xiao Shuxiang naturally knew with Hu Li, he was a Snow Fox-shaped Demonic Beast that came from the Northern Continent. One of the comrades in his first life before he met Zhou Yuan.

Hu Li traveled all the way to the Eastern Continent. He met Xiao Shuxiang in a dying condition from being hunted by warriors including cultivators. From then on he raised Xiao Shuxiang as his master.

"Young Master Xiao, ever since the Traitor Mu Zan poisoned and attacked us until we fell into the sea. That time ... I thought I couldn't ... See you again.." Hu Li started crying, she still remembered the incident that separated her from Xiao Shuxiang.

".. For years I have wandered on my own. Had to face many Demonic Beasts and cultivators who were intent on killing me. Until I finally heard your big name .. And that massive war.."

Xiao Shuxiang gently rubbed Hu Li's back, he still could not believe this unexpected encounter.

".. At that time ... I was in the Empire of the Sun Drowning. I immediately rushed off towards the Empire of the Rising Sun to meet you .. But everything is already.." Hu Li wept even more, he hugged Xiao Shuxiang tightly again.

"Relax, man. It's all the past, I've long forgotten it all. Stop crying, your master is here now.." Xiao Shuxiang rubbed and patted Hu Li's back gently.

"Young Master Xiao, after the explosion .. I still wish you were alive .. I looked for you everywhere, and all I found was your sword grip.."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was shocked as Hu Li said he found the handle of his Night Star Sword. Hu Li's cries and story still continued, Xiao Shuxiang tried to hold back his question.

".. I waited for you very long .. For over a hundred years, I have always waited for you.. Until I finally saw the sign in the sky. And it turns out that this is really you..! Young Master Xiao..!"

"Already, already.. You must have had some tough days, right? You should be proud of the many hardships of life, from which you can be mature and wise. Be calm.. Calm yourself, man. Let me buy Tanghulu, will you?"

Xiao Shuxiang removed his embrace from Hu Li, he helped her wipe away the tears of the boy. Instantly he flinched,

"Ah, right. Fox tears are of great quality, I can use in my pill-making trials." Xiao Shuxiang inwardly began to smile, something in his brain had just given himself an idea.

"Hu Li, there's a lot of suffering and sadness that you're going through.. You held it for too long without being able to tell anyone.. Now that we've met again, I'll listen to everyone, man. Eject, hm.. Xiao Shuxiang is in front of you.. It's really me.."

"Young Master Xiao..!" Hu Li was crying more and more making Xiao Shuxiang embrace him, he knew very well the nature of the Snow Fox Demonic Beast.

They were Demonic Beasts loyal to one master. When the master dies, they will continue to wait until the master is reincarnated again.

No matter where..

No matter how long it takes..

They will keep waiting..

Even if their master doesn't remember.. They will remain faithful.

Hu Li was too innocent, he raised Xiao Shuxiang as master was a mistake. This Destroying Star was completely unconcerned with the feelings of any creature.

There were only two reasons why Xiao Shuxiang was doing such a favor as saving Hu Li. First, because he wants something, and the second is a fad.

He saved Hu Li in a dying state first was just a mere fad, just playing around to fill the time. No Xiao Shuxiang thought, his help at that time made Hu Li raise him as 'Master'.

***