As a unique festival of the Da Yan Dynasty, the most important part of the Yuan Lantern Festival was, of course, releasing lanterns to pray for blessings.
On the day of the Yuan Lantern Festival, all across the Imperial Capital, one could see all kinds of beautifully crafted Kongming Lanterns and Lotus Lanterns.
Su Chen had already bought the tickets for releasing Lotus Lanterns on the river in advance. Now, with a heart full of joy, he brought Ruo Ximeng to the Jinling Riverside.
At the Jinling Riverside, although it was already nighttime, the place was still bustling with excitement. Moreover, many torches had been lit in the area, illuminating everything in brilliant light.
“Master, let’s go to that Narrow Bridge over there and release the Lotus Lanterns.”
Ruo Ximeng happily clung to Su Chen’s sleeve. She had heard long ago that releasing Lotus Lanterns on the river was a very interesting thing to do.
Unfortunately, ever since she was a child, she had never even seen Lotus Lanterns being released on the river, let alone done it herself.
“All right.”
Su Chen nodded, casually taking out two tickets and handing them over.
The section of the river where one could release Lotus Lanterns was quite particular. Ordinary people could only release their lanterns into the Jinling River from some rather average spots.
However, by spending a hefty sum on tickets, one could naturally release their Lotus Lanterns upstream.
If one was interested, they could even follow their own Lotus Lanterns as they floated down the Jinling River, passing through the entire Imperial Capital.
After arriving by the Narrow Bridge, Ruo Ximeng immediately rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of snow-white wrist, and then placed her Lotus Lantern into the Jinling River.
Afterward, Ruo Ximeng pressed her hands together and began to make a wish in her heart.
‘May I not let Master down, become a truly formidable cultivator… and have the strength to protect Master!’
When her wish was finished, Ruo Ximeng’s long lashes fluttered, and then she opened her beautiful eyes. At this moment, Su Chen had also placed his Lotus Lantern into the water.
The two lanterns floated together, drifting downstream, slowly passing through the Imperial Capital.
“Master, did you make a wish?”
At this moment, Ruo Ximeng tilted her little head, asking with great curiosity.
“Mm.”
Su Chen nodded slightly. In reality, he hadn’t made a wish at all. He didn’t care much for such rituals. He had simply come here because he’d overheard Yanhuang and Ruo Ximeng talking, and decided to bring this silly little disciple to have some fun.
“Ximeng, let’s go. We can still release Kongming Lanterns. That seems even more interesting.”
The Yuan Lantern Festival wasn’t just about river lanterns; there were also Kongming Lanterns that floated gently into the sky.
Compared to river lanterns, Kongming Lanterns seemed even more interesting and a bit more dreamlike.
“Okay! Master is the best!”
Ruo Ximeng was so happy that she threw herself onto Su Chen.
The two soft, full mounds on her chest pressed against him, stirring Su Chen’s heart.
‘Tsk tsk… This feeling, nothing to complain about… ahem…’
Su Chen sighed inwardly and coughed lightly twice, then led Ruo Ximeng toward the place where Kongming Lanterns were being released.
They walked through the streets and alleys, crossing several streets, but then Su Chen was dumbfounded, and Ruo Ximeng also showed a look of surprise.
The area for releasing Kongming Lanterns was simply packed with people. The number of Kongming Lanterns rising into the sky was astonishing.
Looking at the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd and the Kongming Lanterns that were almost being squeezed out of shape, Ruo Ximeng pouted, her delicate brows furrowing.
A wry smile appeared on Su Chen’s face as well. He hadn’t expected so many people to come here to release Kongming Lanterns.
At this rate, after he and Ruo Ximeng released their lanterns here, they probably wouldn’t even be able to spot their own among so many.
Many people were waiting helplessly at the side, and as time went by, more and more people gathered around, waiting.
“I didn’t expect so many people to come to Phoenix Terrace this year.”
A local of the Imperial Capital sighed. In past years, plenty of people came to Phoenix Terrace to release Kongming Lanterns and pray for blessings, but never this many.
“There’s nothing to be done. In the Imperial Capital, Phoenix Terrace is the place with the widest view. If you want to release Kongming Lanterns, you can only come here.”
Someone else sighed helplessly. Although the Imperial Capital was vast, within it, the only suitable place to release Kongming Lanterns was Phoenix Terrace.
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Just as he finished speaking, someone immediately retorted.
“Haha, brother, you must be from out of town, right? The Imperial Capital may be vast, but the only place suitable for releasing Kongming Lanterns is right here at Phoenix Terrace.”
After being contradicted, the young man in purple laughed and spoke.
He was a local of the Imperial Capital. Every year, he liked to release Kongming Lanterns and had even searched the city for other places like Phoenix Terrace.
Unfortunately, there weren’t any. Considering the direction, the openness of the view, the absence of obstructions, and other factors, apart from Phoenix Terrace, nowhere else in the Imperial Capital was suitable for releasing Kongming Lanterns.
“Look over there.”
The young man in blue spoke slowly.
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed.
Everyone curiously followed the direction of his finger, and many of the onlookers were instantly dumbfounded.
Goodness, this guy must have some nerve!
The place he pointed to was indeed higher in elevation, with a wide, unobstructed view, and the wind conditions were just right.
But damn, that was the Forbidden Peak!
Who would dare go up there to release Kongming Lanterns? That’s just asking for trouble!
“Hahaha… Please don’t mind me, gentlemen. I was only making a little joke.”
As everyone stared in shock, the young man in blue clasped his hands in salute to the crowd.
He was just bored from waiting and wanted to make a small joke.
“Hahaha… So that’s how it is.”
At this, everyone around naturally exchanged smiles.
But very soon, the smiles on their faces froze completely!
Because at that moment, Su Chen, dressed in long white robes, lightly tapped the ground with his foot, and his whole body soared upward like a feather.
Su Chen held Ruo Ximeng in his arms, and the two of them landed straight on the peak of the Forbidden City!
“Crack!”
Inside the Golden Luan Hall, the Emperor of Da Yan did not even look up, yet he already knew who it was on the flying eaves of the treasured hall.
The Liu Li Lamp in his hand was crushed to pieces in an instant.
The faces of the gathered ministers changed color, and at the side, the Guardian Daoist, God of War Yanhuang, and Yulin Army Commander Pei Wuji all shifted their gazes.
They could all see that at this moment, His Majesty the King was desperately suppressing his fury.
As the ruler of a nation, someone actually dared to act recklessly above his head—this was a grave insult, a direct challenge to the majesty of the entire Da Yan Dynasty!
When the King is enraged, corpses will pile a million high, and the world will be plunged into misery!
At this moment, the Emperor of Da Yan was utterly furious. Since his Succession to the Throne, no one had ever dared provoke him like this.
Now, that hateful Su Chen and Ruo Ximeng were actually standing above his head, utterly disgracing him!