CHAPTER 409: CHAPTER 361: WATER DRAGON FIRE PHOENIX, DRAGON AND PHOENIX CHIME TOGETHER_2

Soon, Hong Yuan returned to the Ji Family. The Dragon Sun Festival was drawing near!

The Dragon Sun Festival, a holiday established to commemorate the Dragon Sun Emperor, was similar to the Spring Festival from Hong Yuan’s past memories. Every year, this festival was extremely worth celebrating and incredibly lively.

Ji Family.

Colorful Butterfly Garden.

In her boudoir, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint was dressing up before a mirror, applying a yellow floral appliqué to her forehead. Beside her, the delicate and exquisitely pretty Hua Menghuang widened her eyes at the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, her mouth slightly agape, a look of shock on her face.

"So, so beautiful..."

Hua Menghuang had thought she was already immune to the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint’s beauty. However, after watching her put on a skirt, arrange her hair, and attend to other such details, she still found herself deeply moved by the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint’s allure.

Hua Menghuang looked at the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, who was humming a little tune, and a phrase inexplicably came to her mind: A woman adorns herself for the one who delights in her. Is First Master dressing up for Second Master to see?

The Butterfly Sword Martial Saint was naturally tall, with an elegant and beautiful face—the epitome of a cool, aloof beauty. After dressing up, she became even more stunning and incomparable, like a celestial fairy descended to the mortal realm.

Hua Menghuang gazed at the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, mesmerized.

"Menghuang, what’s wrong?" asked the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint.

"First Master, you... you’re so beautiful~" Hua Menghuang praised sincerely from the bottom of her heart.

"Hehe, thank you. You look very pretty today too," the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint replied with a smile, her usual stern expression softening as she spoke to Hua Menghuang. That smile truly brightened the boudoir. It could be said that her smile alone outshone all other beauties, rendering them colorless in comparison.

In the Colorful Butterfly Garden, Hong Yuan sat in the long pavilion, awaiting the arrival of the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint and Hua Menghuang. He wasn’t idle, however. With the help of the Soul Dragon mark, he could roughly observe Long Gui’s current situation.

Long Gui’s life was currently very difficult. He found no favor within the Guyue Clan and was repeatedly dispatched on dangerous missions, enduring many hardships. He was planning to leave Qing He Mountain and follow a merchant caravan to venture out and seek his fortune.

After a while, Hong Yuan’s ears twitched slightly. He looked up, and his eyes immediately brightened. He saw the meticulously dressed Butterfly Sword Martial Saint walking hand in hand with Hua Menghuang. They moved with such grace and exuded an overwhelming elegance that it was impossible for anyone to look away.

THUMP THUMP...

THUMP THUMP THUMP...

Hong Yuan’s unruly heart skipped a few beats, fluttering wildly in his chest.

"Qing? Qing?"

Seeing Hong Yuan somewhat lost in thought, as if stunned by her appearance, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint’s lips curved slightly upwards, a hint of smug satisfaction in her expression.

"Limin, you look truly beautiful today," Hong Yuan said earnestly.

This pleased the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint even more, though she didn’t show it on her face, merely letting out a light "hmph."

"Let’s go. We’ll stroll around LuoYing City."

「Dragon Sun Festival.」

The trio—Hong Yuan, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, and Hua Menghuang—wandered through LuoYing City, admiring flowers, viewing lanterns, and solving riddles.

Whenever they appeared in a crowd, their presence caused an uproar, leading to chaos. Consequently, Hong Yuan and the others had to withdraw from the public eye, concealing their figures to silently enjoy the lively atmosphere.

They soon arrived at the banks of the Falling Sakura River. Numerous flowers bloomed there, their sweet fragrance filling the air.

TAP TAP...

The sound of footsteps approached. Hua Menghuang’s left hand was held by Hong Yuan, and her right by the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint. The three of them, resembling a small family, strolled leisurely, sharing their thoughts and feelings.

"First Master, will I be as beautiful as you when I grow up?"

"Of course, Menghuang, you will be."

"Hehe... then Second Master, when I grow up, will I also meet someone as wonderful as you, just like First Master did?" Hua Menghuang asked, looking up innocently, her eyes brimming with hope.

Someone as wonderful as me... Hong Yuan felt a twinge of shame. How am I wonderful? I’m just a despicable, shameless scoundrel!

Despite these thoughts, his face conveyed absolute certainty as he said, "You will. You definitely will!"

"Yay!" Hua Menghuang exclaimed, overjoyed.

Nearby, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint gazed at Hong Yuan, her limpid eyes filled with tenderness. Hong Yuan felt that gaze. Ripples stirred in his heart once more, unsettling him for a moment before calm returned.

Seeing Hong Yuan remain silent, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint’s willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, a truly heart-stirring sight of delicate beauty. The atmosphere grew a little chilly. Thankfully, Hua Menghuang kept chattering with questions, preventing the mood from becoming awkward.

As dusk approached, the sky began to echo with the explosions of fireworks. Beneath the dazzling display, Hong Yuan and the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint found themselves back in LuoYing City, unsure how they had returned there.

Suddenly, Hua Menghuang tugged hard on Hong Yuan’s large hand, motioning for him to look towards a corner of the city gate. There, an old woman in tattered clothes, her face sallow and unhealthy, shakily held up a flower basket, her voice weak as she called out her wares.

"First Master, Second Master, may I use the Copper Coins you gave me to buy some flowers?" Hua Menghuang asked, her voice filled with concern. Seeing the old woman reminded Hua Menghuang of her own first family member and the difficult days of her childhood. Though those times were filled with hardship, she had been happy.

"Of course, you may," Hong Yuan said.

"Yes, go ahead," the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint added.

They both released Hua Menghuang’s hands simultaneously, a perfect understanding between them.

After thanking them, Hua Menghuang hurriedly trotted off, clutching her small purse, to buy the flowers. Once Hua Menghuang had briefly disappeared, the atmosphere between Hong Yuan and the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint became somewhat strained.

Just moments later, however, both turned their gazes forward, looking with puzzlement at an approaching person.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, madam!" the old woman said, having returned. "Thank you for your immense kindness. I wish you a hundred years of marital bliss and a life full of happiness!"