"Woah…"
That was all Lin Xuanji and the Liu twins could say as they gazed in awe at Tianxun Sect under the night sky.
The entire sect was aglow with lanterns—vibrant reds, soft blues, golden yellows—lighting up the night like a sea of stars. Children ran about laughing, vendors shouted from their stalls, the aroma of street food filled the air, and the sound of music and joy echoed throughout. It was the liveliest place within the cultivation world.
Especially for Lin Xuanji—Mo Tianzun in his previous life—it was a rare sight. He had spent most of his existence in his own realm, where death and war were commonplace. Peace like this… was foreign to him.
"Sugar candy shaped like animals! Come get your sugar animals!" a vendor called out.
Xuanji's attention was immediately caught. He approached the stall, eyes bright as he picked a rabbit-shaped candy. Without a word, he handed over a gold coin.
"T-Thank you, Young Master! Thank you!" the vendor stammered, overjoyed by the generous payment.
Xuanji simply smiled and walked off, casually nibbling the candy as the Liu twins trailed behind, busy buying snacks of their own.
As they strolled through the festive streets, a particular lantern caught Xuanji's eye. He picked it up and tossed another gold coin to the vendor. "You two, light this for me."
The twins nodded and quickly lit the lantern. As it glowed to life, Xuanji let out a soft gasp and grinned.
"Woah~ predator and prey," Zhenhai remarked dryly, looking at the lantern's artwork.
"No! It's forbidden love between a rabbit and a tiger!" Fenglan argued, glaring at his twin. Zhenhai rolled his eyes—because somehow, his brother's ridiculous logic made sense.
They continued wandering until they reached a vast lotus pond, where a grand restaurant floated on the water's center, connected by ornate bridges.
"Let's go there!" Xuanji shouted suddenly and darted off, weaving through the crowd with surprising agility.
The twins gave chase, but the thick crowd soon separated them. They stopped, panting.
"YOUNG MASTER! YOUNG MASTER XUAN! Where are you!?" they cried in panic.
Unbeknownst to them, Lin Xuanji had already slipped away—again.
———
Perched high in a tree deep within the nearby forest, Lin Xuanji laughed heartily.
"HAHAHAHA—!"
He sat with one leg dangling from the branch, the village lights still visible in the distance. Leaning back against the trunk, he held the glowing lantern in his right hand and closed his eyes, savoring the rare moment of calm. The crisp night breeze caressed his face.
Finally, peace.
But then, his body suddenly froze. He couldn't move, couldn't open his mouth, nor his eyes. Panic surged.
'What's going on?! A spell?!'
He struggled internally but remained immobile—until he felt something warm and soft press against his lips.
'IS SOMEONE KISSING ME?!' his mind screamed.
His thoughts raced. 'A kiss? While I can't move?! Who—?!'
And just like that, the strange enchantment faded.
Xuanji bolted upright, eyes flying open as he scanned the area—but no one was in sight. His senses picked up nothing, but then—
BANG!
A tree not far off exploded into splinters. He turned just in time to see someone's figure... punching the tree?
"Zhao Longxuan?!" he blinked in disbelief. "Crown Prince?!"
The Crown Prince turned, clearly startled. His cheeks were flushed red.
"O-Oh… Concubine Xuanji… You're here. The Liu twins have been searching everywhere for you," he stammered awkwardly.
Xuanji rolled his eyes, sighing. "Shall we go back together then?"
The prince simply nodded.
———
"YOUNG MASTER XUAN!"
The Liu twins came barreling through the trees, breathless.
They were about to throw themselves into their Young Master's arms when they saw who stood beside him. Zhao Longxuan.
"Oh… you were with the Crown Prince," Fenglan said awkwardly, suddenly standing up straight. Zhenhai also quickly composed himself.
"I shall return first," said the Crown Prince, nodding politely before turning to leave.
The three bowed respectfully. Once he was out of sight, the twins immediately surrounded their Young Master with teasing grins.
"So~ what were you two doing alone in the middle of a forest?" Fenglan wiggled his brows.
"Right, right? You can't just say it's a coincidence," Zhenhai added smugly.
Xuanji rolled his eyes. "You two are ridiculous."
But suddenly, his expression changed.
"…Hey, what kind of clan or bloodline is capable of casting a spell that prevents someone from moving, opening their mouth, or even opening their eyes?" he asked seriously.
The twins fell into thought. A few moments later, Fenglan snapped his fingers. "Ah! The Zhao family! It's one of their unique bloodline techniques!"
Zhenhai nodded. "It fits perfectly."
Xuanji froze.
Zhao… Zhao Longxuan… The Crown Prince… He was there. In the forest. Punching trees…
His eyes widened.
'He kissed me!?'
A wide, toothy grin stretched across his face, sending a chill down the twins' spines.
"W-What is it, Young Master? Why are you smiling like that?" Fenglan asked nervously.
"Nothing," Xuanji replied sweetly, stroking his own cheek. "Let's return to the Imperial Palace. It'll be morning soon, and I need my beauty sleep."
He began walking, practically skipping back toward the palace.
The Crown Prince will choose his future consort soon… There's still time to replace Mu Shuirou.
Victory is near.
Suddenly, Xuanji burst into maniacal laughter, his voice echoing in the night.
"…Did our Young Master just go insane?" Fenglan whispered.
"…I think he did," Zhenhai muttered, walking faster to keep up.