In the fading light of the amusement park, Master Pengpeng scrutinized the mischievous ghost before her.
There was no malevolent aura clinging to it, no trace of great evil in its essence.
It seemed harmless enough.
With a deft motion, she prepared to bind the spirit, intending to take it back to Yuan Yi Temple for further handling.
The ghost, trembling with regret, whimpered in a plaintive tone.
“I thought Xiluo was such a chaotic place, with you mages and monks too busy to notice a little troublemaker like me. Who’d have thought you’d catch me so fast? I’ve barely been here a week…”
Master Pengpeng’s voice was cool, almost detached.
“That’s why, whether human or ghost, banking on luck is a fool’s game.”
Tears streamed down the ghost’s translucent face.
“You’re right! I should’ve known better. When I jumped off that rollercoaster and didn’t hear you shouting, I should’ve realized you weren’t to be trifled with. I shouldn’t have come back to interrupt your… your kissing…”
Its voice broke into a sob.
Yan Jing, already in a sour mood, grew even more irritated.
His face darkened as he snapped, “Done talking? If you are, it’s time to be sealed.”
The ghost pleaded desperately, “Can’t you just let me go?”
“What do you think?” Master Pengpeng pressed a talisman to its forehead.
“Be more careful in your next life.”
The ghost fell silent, its form quivering as the talisman took hold.
With the ghost securely sealed and tucked into her bag, the sky had deepened into dusk.
The golden sun dipped below the amusement park’s rolling skyline, its last rays swallowed by the inky tide of night.
Pengpeng sighed, a touch of regret in her voice.
“What a shame. We barely got to enjoy the park.”
She glanced at Yan Jing and said, “Brother, let’s grab some food.”
Yan Jing’s response was listless, barely a murmur.
“Sure.”
***
At that moment, a resonant “dong” echoed through the air.
The clock tower at the park’s edge tolled, its deep chime rolling across the grounds like a signal.
As if flipped by an invisible switch, the entire park blazed to life.
Lights flared across the grand castle, the bustling streets, the dizzying rides, and the whimsical balloon trees, bathing everything in a radiant glow.
The scene was a cascade of brilliance, as if the stars themselves had spilled onto the earth.
Shi Pengpeng and Yan Jing stood beneath one of those balloon trees, its floating orbs revealed to be enormous, glowing lanterns.
As the lights ignited, the tree transformed into a vibrant bouquet of color, shimmering in the night.
Master Pengpeng gazed upward, her breath catching.
“Wow… it’s beautiful!”
“Very beautiful,” Yan Jing agreed, though his eyes never left her.
The lights danced in her gaze, clearer than crystal, brighter than stars.
The grandeur of the amusement park, in all its splendor, was nothing but a blurred backdrop to her presence.
His heart swelled with a tide of emotion, and he called out softly, “Pengpeng.”
“Hm?” She turned, her eyes meeting his.
He stood close, his head slightly bowed, eyelids half-lowered, shielding his gaze from the light.
His dark eyes were like the ocean at midnight, deep and silent, fixed on her with an intensity that stole her breath.
Her heart flared like the park’s lights, blooming in an instant.
She remembered the kiss she still owed him.
“Brother…” she whispered, her hands finding his neck as she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Her kiss was tentative, a shy brush of lips, but it stopped Yan Jing’s breath.
His mind went blank for a fleeting moment.
Then, instinct took over.
He reversed their roles, one hand circling her waist, the other cradling the back of her neck, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.
His kiss was heavy, deliberate, a slow grind that carried a feverish heat.
Pengpeng’s head spun, her heart pounding so fiercely that her legs—unshaken even when facing down evil gods—began to tremble.
She stepped back instinctively, two small steps.
Yan Jing noticed but didn’t resist.
His eyes flicked briefly to the balloon tree behind her before he let her momentum carry them forward.
With a gentle push, he guided her until her back met the painted concrete trunk of the tree.
No escape now.
His kiss deepened, lips lingering, teasing at the seam of hers.
Heat flooded Master Pengpeng’s cheeks.
Her fingers tightened on his collar, but she parted her lips, clumsy yet willing.
A burst of laughter broke the moment—passing tourists.
Master Pengpeng stiffened, embarrassed, and tried to duck her head.
Yan Jing, undeterred, simply shifted them, turning so the tree shielded them from the road.
“Mmm…” she let out a soft moan, struggling to catch her breath.
Yan Jing pulled back just enough to let her breathe, his forehead still pressed to hers, his lips brushing the damp corner of her mouth.
Their breaths tangled, eyes clouded with a shared haze.
“Brother…” Master Pengpeng murmured, dazed.
“Yeah,” he rasped.
“Have I ever told you?”
“Told me what?”
“I like you too.”
Yan Jing had confessed to her countless times—some deliberate, some unconscious, some formal, some not.
Even before she recognized his words as confessions, he’d made promises to her.
Master Pengpeng wasn’t one to dwell on emotions, but looking back, Yan Jing had always been special.
Despite his spoiled demeanor, all bravado and pretense, she saw through him instantly—and couldn’t resist teasing him.
He was terrified of ghosts and the dark, yet for her, he’d ventured into desolate mountains and graveyards in the dead of night, time and again.
Years ago, after she’d vanquished a great spirit, too exhausted to keep her eyes open, she’d climbed onto his back to sleep.
He’d grumbled the whole way but carried her faithfully through rugged paths and endless night.
In her half-dreaming state, she’d vowed never to scare him again.
But then his grandfather’s teasing remark had spooked him, and he’d kept his distance ever since.
What a pity, she’d thought, that she never got to show him her kinder side.
So when they reunited in Xiluo, she decided to treat him better.
Somewhere along the way, though, her feelings had grown tangled, tinged with a bittersweet ache.
Hearing he’d once gone on a blind date stirred a quiet unease in her, a strange feeling she couldn’t quite name.
Sharing a lavish meal with him made her so happy she’d posted it online.
Those emotions were vague, shrouded in their shared history and their recent employer-employee dynamic, making it hard to parse their meaning.
But when Yan Jing finally bared his heart, she’d hesitated, puzzled, and hoped—but never once considered refusing him.
Her heart had fallen for him before her mind even noticed.
“Pengpeng,” Yan Jing said, his throat tight.
He leaned in again, but this time his kiss was soft, like spring rain, like feathers, like peach petals melting against her lips.
Above them, the balloon bouquet bloomed in radiant splendor.
Fire and silver flowers merged, the moon chasing their light.
***
In the passenger seat, Master Pengpeng scrolled through her phone, searching for nearby restaurants.
“Brother, let’s not go far. Just find a place nearby to eat.”
“Sure,” Yan Jing replied, but he didn’t start the car.
Instead, he called her name again.
“Hm?” She looked up, only to find him leaning across, his voice low.
“One more kiss.”
Master Pengpeng blinked, caught off guard.
‘Still not satisfied?’
“Okay,” she said softly.
Yan Jing, now craving more, couldn’t hold back.
Soon, the confined space of the car filled with the soft sounds of their kisses, the air growing heavy despite the cool blast of the AC.
Their breaths burned, almost scorching.
Her phone buzzed, shattering the moment.
Xiao Lingshu’s name flashed on the screen.
She glanced at it and hit the speaker.
“Senior Sister, we’re in big trouble!” Xiao Lingshu’s voice boomed, obliterating the tender atmosphere.
“Woodie has been kidnapped by Ouyang Jue!”
“What?” Master Pengpeng snapped to attention, shoving Yan Jing back and sitting upright.
“Wasn’t Ouyang Jue under guard? How did he escape? Why would he take Woodie?”
“No idea!” Xiao Lingshu wailed.
“But Master just arrived with a ton of Mystic Sect members!”
Master Pengpeng and Yan Jing raced to Yuan Yi Temple.
The once-tidy courtyard was in disarray, her carefully laid talisman array now in ruins.
Several Mystic Sect members were casting spells, searching the grounds.
Xiao Lingshu stood under the eaves, covered in dust, while the injured Nian beast and E-beast whimpered at his feet, licking their wounds.
At the sight of Master Pengpeng, the trio—man and beasts—rushed toward her, tears in their eyes.
“Senior Sister, you’re finally here!” Xiao Lingshu cried.
“That bastard Ouyang Jue made a mess of us!”
“Woof woof woof!” barked Little Nian beast, rearing up.
“Woo goo woo goo!” wailed E-beast, clinging to her leg.
“What happened?” Master Pengpeng scanned the scene.
“Where’s Master?”
“Senior Sister Liu got badly hurt trying to save Woodie,” Xiao Lingshu explained.
“Master and Elder Zhong from Qinglian Temple are treating her now.”
Just then, Yin Cong and Zhong Ziqing emerged from the house.
“Master, Elder Zhong,” Shi Pengpeng greeted them quickly.
“How is she?”
“Is Sister Liu okay?” Xiao Lingshu added, voice tight with worry.
“She’s stabilized but hasn’t woken,” Yin Cong said, stepping aside to let them see.
On a desk inside, a small bat lay on a pillow, covered with a soft cloth, its breathing faint and frail.
“She’s too injured to take human form,” Zhong Ziqing explained.
“Let’s discuss this elsewhere so we don’t disturb her.”
They nodded and started to leave, but the bat twitched, its wings trembling as it mumbled, “Ouyang… Ouyang Jue, let Woodie go… ‘squeak’…”
Everyone was moved.
Xiao Lingshu sighed, “Who would’ve thought Sister Liu would risk her life for Woodie after just a few days together?”
In the reception room, Master Pengpeng couldn’t wait and asked, “Master, Elder Zhong, what happened? Why did Ouyang Jue escape?”
Yin Cong and Zhong Ziqing exchanged grim looks, their brows furrowed.
After a long pause, Yin Cong spoke carefully.
“Last night, we finally unraveled Ouyang Jue’s dark arts and uncovered his hidden secret.”
The others leaned in, alert.
“What secret?” Master Pengpeng pressed.
Yin Cong’s voice was heavy.
“We discovered that the National Master isn’t the true owner of Longevity Island. He’s merely a deputy managing the mainland park. The real owner has been in the country all along.”
“Ouyang Jue isn’t just working with Longevity Island. He controls its funds, its organization, and its entire criminal network. He’s the true mastermind behind it all.”