The New Year approached and the excitement under Blackwood Cliff was unreasonable. The two men were standing side by side, one red and one black. Dongfang Bubai’s personality was chilly and unstained by dust, while Yang Lianting was extraordinarily handsome. Walking through the market, the two people attracted countless people’s sideways glances.
“Dongfang, do you still remember that girl from back then?” Yang Lianting glimpsed at the girls, who cast flirtatious glances at the two of them when they passed by, and chuckled, “That girl who wanted to gift you a fan and promise herself in marriage.”
Dongfang Bubai shook his head. He never remembered such trivial matters. He was solely interested in Yang Lianting.
Not surprised by his reply, Yang Lianting simply laughed out loud and reached out to hold the hand of the one walking beside him under everyone’s gaze.
“Fortunately, my heart isn’t blinded in this life. It would be a shame if I missed you again.”
Dongfang Bubai had not heard him clearly. Slightly doubtful, he was about to ask him when they heard a burst of noise not too far away. Listening to the bustling and lively excitement, he felt a little curious.
“Want to go and take a look?”
Dongfang Bubai lightly nodded.
In truth, he usually avoided such crowded events and did not care for excitement. However, Yang Lianting had asked him out and they had made a trip down the cliff to drive away their cares. It was great to stroll around the street market once in a while.
“Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s head over and take a look together.” Yang Lianting tilted his head upward and looked in the direction of Blackwood Cliff and chuckled, “It’s still early anyway.”
Hand in hand, the two of them walked over unhurriedly.
Many people had already gathered around. The place bustled with fervent noise and excitement. Taking a closer look, it turned out the village under the cliff was holding a collective marriage.
“Young Masters you must not be aware, this is an old custom of our village.” Seeing the affluent Yang Lianting and Dongfang Bubai’s attires and adornments that differed from the plain locals a middle-aged man enthusiastically stepped forward at once and explained, “In fact, today may be New Year’s Eve but many of our village’s engaged couples choose to marry tonight. Firstly, they can save money. Secondly, everyone unites to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. It’s a nice beginning.”
“Young Masters, you two do not appear to be locals, are you passing by?” The middle-aged man chuckled, “This Lowly One is this place’s village head. If you two do not disdain us, please sit down and have a few cups of wedding wine with us. Meeting tonight must be fate, come rejoice in our joy.”
Dongfang Bubai looked at Yang Lianting, who then nodded and smiled at the village head. Bowing his head slightly he said, “Please excuse our disturbance, thank you for your hospitality.”
The village head could not help but laugh at these words and quickly waved his hand to say, “It’s our blessing that the two of you want to sit down and have a drink with us.”
“Well, although I’ve never left our village throughout my life I do have a good eye. Such appearance and attire, you both must not be ordinary folks. For immortal-like figures such as you two to grace our village might add to our village’s face in the future.”
“Please take a seat you two.”
Once the two of them sat down nearby, they quickly attracted the crowd’s attention. Yang Lianting took the teapot on the table and poured a cup of water for Dongfang Bubai. Laughing lightly he said, “This is the first time I’ve seen such a custom. It’s lively and loud, but also s little interesting.”
Not too far away, a large stage was set up on top of which a number of wind instruments were blown and string instruments plucked. Surrounded by the crowd’s great fervor and enthusiasm the newlywed couples paid their respects and drank the wedding wine. The villagers crowding under the stage were cheering and applauding loudly. The sky above the village was brightly lit up by the warm light of fireworks, the atmosphere thoroughly filled with happiness.
Deep into the winter night the air was cold as ice, white mist was exhaled between each word. Softly sighing, Yang Lianting rubbed his hands, took a sip of the wine on the table, then raised his eyebrow and said lightly, “This wine is crude, but it’ll warm your stomach after burning down your throat. Don’t drink wine on an empty stomach, you should eat something first.”
Dongfang Bubai laughed out loud, his bright eyes wandering in a fluid glance. In the shine of the nearby lanterns’ mellow light he looked good beyond words. Clearly, he was in a great mood. “Lian di, you’re now the Chief Steward of the Holy Cult who is respected by everyone. Why are you still as cautious and careful in all matters as before, just like when you were a little guard?”
“That’s because you’re my dear Cult Master!” Yang Lianting softened his eyebrows and tightly held Dongfang Bubai’s hand. Tenderly and indulgently smiling, “I… I’ll be beside you as your little guard for an entire lifetime.”
“Big Brother, you look so good.”
The two of them were talking to each other when a young girl in coarse linen cloth abruptly ran over and tilted her head upward to stare at Dongfang Bubai. The young girl’s face had reddened due to the cold air. She seemed about four or five years old, very cute and loveable.
Looking at the young girl, Dongfang Bubai expression turned milder and he smiled slightly but did not speak. Yang Lianting waved the young girl towards himself, took one of the delicious dim sum from the table and gave it to her. Pointing at Dongfang Bubai, he smilingly asked, “Little Sister are you praising him for his good looks?”
“Good-looking!” The young girl nodded her head excitedly, “He looks better than our village’s Big Brother Lizi.” The young girl took the dim sum from Yang Lianting while she chatted, but after taking a bite she felt shy and her cheeks flushed red. “My mother said I’ll look good when I grow up. Big Brother, wait for me to grow up then I’ll marry you, alright?”
Listening to her childish words, Yang Lianting could not help but laugh out loud. He raised his and Dongfang’s clasped hands and shook them in front of the girl, “Too late, too late. The good-looking Big Brother is already married.”
The young girl was still ignorant, not understanding that two men in love with each other was an issue. Feeling disappointed, her smile deflated into a frown. Rubbing her red eyes with plump hands, she looked like she would start crying any moment. After reluctantly glancing at Dongfang Bubai a few times, she turned her head and ran away with the dim sum in her hands.
Looking at her back, Yang Lianting clicked his tongue.
“Dongfang, fortunately we married early. Even such a small young girl is thinking about you.”
“It’s a pity, but in this lifetime the one Cult Master Dongfang likes is solely me, this Yang.”
Dongfang Bubai helplessly threw him a glance and shook his head, “Lian di, she’s just a child–”
Yang Lianting smiled, gently caressed his hand, and warmly said, “Dongfang, I like that everyone likes you. Look, ever since we sat down, the eyes of these villagers never left you.”
“My Dongfang is so great, you’re like an immortal. Everyone thinks it’s blasphemous to even glance at you.”
“It’s my, Yang Lianting’s blessing of three lifetimes.”
Dongfang pursed his lips, shook his head, and softly replied, “Lian di, I think it’s my blessing of three lifetimes.”
Yang Lianting cheerfully laughed out loud and lifted his hand to toast Dongfang Bubai, but he could not avoid sighing deep in his heart. In his past life, he had never found the preciousness of this person. Instead, he had bluntly and forcibly pulverized a rare piece of clear jade and ruthlessly thrown it into an abyss. Never to be recovered, doomed to eternal damnation. Day after day, he had seen him wither and fall into despair.
Fortunately, everything had been in the past.
Dongfang Bubai lowered his head and drank wine, then lifted his head to gaze at the lively married couples on the distant stage. The red lanterns’ flickering candlelight was reflected in his eyes, for an instant his faintly hazy and wet eyes looked absentminded. But only for an instant.
Yang Lianting estimated the time and pulled Dongfang Bubai to stand up. Puzzled, Dongfang Bubai knit his eyebrows slightly and looked at Yang Lianting, but before he could speak he heard a series of loud exclamations. Looking towards the origin of the sound, he was stunned still in an instant.
Myriad fireworks bloomed in the sky like vivid flowers from Blackwood Cliff’s direction. The entire dark night sky was lit up nearly as bright as day.
Everyone’s eyes were attracted by the spectacular scene, they were all humble folks and had lived in their village all their lives, when had they ever seen such a spectacle?
It was like a miracle.
The brilliant fireworks blooming in the black sky shone upon Dongfang Bubai’s face, flickering between bright light and deep shadows. Standing in place, he seemed a little foolish.
Yang Lianting walked next to him and stretched out his hand to gather his outer garment and drape a cloak over his shoulders. Standing side by side, they watched the fireworks loudly bloom.
“Earlier, you mentioned that every New Year seems dim and dull, boring and bothersome, so I especially told Tong Baixiong to prepare this well.”
“Dongfang, do you like it?”
Dongfang Bubai pursed his lips, for a while he stayed silent. Eyes red and lips curved into a soft smile.
“Lian di, no one has ever treated me so well.”
The myriad fireworks blooming brightly in the background, Yang Lianting reached out and gently took the man beside him into his arms. Embracing him with the greatest possible patience and dear love of this lifetime, he tenderly patted Dongfang Bubai on his back.