Chapter 66: Looking Back Again, a Thousand Years Beyond

That night.

Inside the Le Xian ship, voices were bustling.

The reopening of the “Le Xian Floral Festival” naturally became a major event on the ship. Anticipating crowds flocked in, gathering in front of the main stage in the center of the cabin, discussing animatedly, some waiting curiously, just like every other time before the festival began.

However, this time, things were a bit different.

“Have you heard? The performer Le Lian this time is a newcomer! It’s been ages since the Le Xian ship recruited new members, right?”

“Well, it can’t be helped. There were too many applicants last time, remember? They planned to hire just one person but ended up taking three due to overwhelming enthusiasm.”

“Yup, the benefits here are so great! Besides hosting the ‘Le Xian Floral Festival,’ there’s hardly any other work, and usually, you only get to perform once every month or two. Plus, you even get personal guidance from Miss Mengrui! What a sweet gig… If I were a girl and had any looks, I’d definitely want to try my best to snag it.”

“Benefits? Do you even know what that means? It’s out of reach! The ‘Le Xian Floral Festival’ is the authoritative event recognized by the music world. Just being able to listen to the enchanting music from the valley a few more times and experience the essence of music, I’d be willing to pay for it!”

“Don’t get too excited, brother… We’re just considering it from a common person’s perspective. After all, Le Lian’s selection process is notoriously strict. Not only do they need exceptional musical talent, but I’ve also heard they have to possess certain skills. I wonder what the criteria are.”

The noisy discussions drifted into the ears of the black-haired girl. She lifted her head, looking at her delicate features in the dressing mirror, her heart stirred by the music. Suddenly, she felt a pang of sentimentality.

“Before I knew it… I’ve completely gotten used to it.”

“Hmm? Used to what?”

As she gently placed the final hairpin into the rarely styled long hair of the girl, Mengrui didn’t pay much attention to her previous muttering but took a step back, satisfied as she looked up and down at the priestess, who had carefully dressed up for her performance, smiling and nodding.

“Done! Wow… you’re too beautiful! No need to mention your looks and temperament, but how do you maintain such hair and skin? Vilyric, I heard you’ve been traveling everywhere, exposed to the elements—how do you manage it?”

“As a girl, it’s truly enviable~”

“Uh-huh, it’s probably just good luck.”

Vilyric couldn’t help but get lost in thought.

I often heard similar questions from Leila and Renée before; it’s been so long, I wonder how those two girls are doing now… Feeling a bit nostalgic.

However, with the situation in the Holy Empire already settled, not to mention Edwina’s existence, even for Xī’s sake, those three Saints would definitely treat them as honored guests, not to mention the two sisters already possessing superior strength and carrying their life-saving gear, along with Xiao Guang’s presence…

Though I miss them, there’s no need to worry.

“Is this okay now?”

Mengrui nodded again.

“Yup, Vilyric, you’re naturally beautiful. Even without any makeup, you’d already be a stunning beauty. Overdoing it would only hide your exceptional temperament. Just a light touch-up like this is more than enough.”

She teased with a smile.

“Hey, even among the beauties on this Le Xian ship that has the looks to rival the Kaigen River, you’re truly in a league of your own! Though you do seem a bit youthful, that doesn’t overshadow your charm—many might even prefer that.”

“I can already imagine the expressions of those talented young men and literati below when you walk out, their jaws dropping, utterly amazed.”

“What do you mean by a bit youthful… Well, that doesn’t matter. I’m not dressing up for them anyway…”

Vilyric stood up and spun around a couple of times, taking in the reflection in the copper mirror.

Her already familiar pretty face was adorned with a light pink makeup, adding a freshness and maturity that wasn’t there before. Her long black hair, usually cascading down, was pinned back beautifully like a butterfly, decorated with golden and silver hairpins—noble yet pure.

The elegant white robe had been replaced by a luxurious pink dress similar to what Mengrui wore during her solo performance, with her delicate and fair skin peeking through the pale fabric, but not revealing too much, appearing effortlessly beautiful and evocative.

Soft curves were accentuated on her chest, and just above, the smooth neckline of the girl shimmered with the cross-shaped pendant of the [Holy Healing Necklace], radiating a gentle glow under the lights, exuding a beauty of holiness and purity.

The girl lowered her head, glancing at the embroidered short shoes snugly fitted on her delicate feet. Despite the pink toes being hidden inside, the unusual design of the shoes revealed part of her fair instep, and her smooth ankle arched gracefully upward before disappearing beneath the skirt.

Miss Vilyric was wearing these short shoes with characteristics of the Ancient Spirit Realm for the first time. Honestly, she felt a bit unaccustomed to the exposure of so much skin all at once, so she tried shaking her little feet helplessly.

“Though I don’t mind, performing in these shoes during winter must be pretty cold for you girls…”

“Ah? Uh, that’s true…”

For some reason, Miss Mengrui awkwardly turned her head away slightly, as if trying to hide something, before quickly turning back to grab the guqin that had long been prepared, patting the shoulder of the black-haired girl encouragingly, finally gently covering half of her tender face with a pink veil.

“It’s about time! Let’s get ready to go on stage!”

Ignoring those little details, Vilyric nodded, holding the guqin and walking out of the inner room.

Behind the curtain, the girl sat down, laying the exclusive guqin lent to her by Mengrui across her lap, nodding at the other several Le Lian girls who were secretly glancing at her with curiosity.

“Swish~”

Then, the curtain opened.

“Hehe, it’s just a newcomer. You guys don’t need to be too harsh, oh, let’s…”

“Wha… what?!”

“Is there really such a divine being in the world…?”

The once noisy audience abruptly fell silent.

It seemed Mengrui’s previous predictions were not unfounded.

The girl lifted her head, her gem-like silver-blue eyes scanning the entire venue, meeting the various expressions of shock, or those momentarily speechless from her ethereal aura, as she saw a white-clad middle-aged man nodding in approval and two girls, one guard and one master, smiling differently.

She didn’t say anything, offering no self-introductions or opening remarks, and even with her true face hidden beneath that pink veil, her clear, flowing voice resonated along with the notes from the guqin, rising from the stage and echoing across the Kaigen River.

“Ancient mountains and rivers, the holy path and the truth, I’d rather sing a song.”

“A song of celestial sounds begins, dream back to a thousand years lost to glass.”

“A smile blossoms like a cluster of brocade; you, like the warm breeze of spring days.”

“On the river, on the river, as time flows by, countless flowers… who do they bloom for?”

“We meet in the mortal world, parting at the edge of the sky.”

“Sigh, looking back again… it’s already a thousand years beyond.”

Sigh, when we meet again, it’ll already be a thousand years away.

   

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