After exiting the Taoist Temple, Tong Zhihuan looked down at the mountain path.
He thought for a mont before stepping forward. Bending down, he said, “I’ll carry you down the mountain.”
Tao’er blinked in surprise. “I can walk down myself.”
But Tong Zhihuan insisted, “I don’t care. I want to carry you.”
Hearing this, Tao’er paused briefly, then broke into laughter.
“Don’t drop ,” she said, looping her arms around his neck.
Tong Zhihuan carried her as he descended the mountain step by step.
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
Moyuan shook his head repeatedly, clicking his tongue.
The little fish-girl Yu Hongjin perched on his head copied him, shaking her head too.
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
Hu Junhan glanced at the pair, blinking slowly.
The dragon and fish actually seed quite in sync.
“What are you tsking at?” Moyuan snapped.
Yu Hongjin hiccuped, still dazed. She gasped, “Why is the big black horse talking?”
Moyuan yanked her down, holding her suspended in his hand.
“Ah! My tail will get hurt! Hurt!”
She squealed loudly, dangling in mid-air.
“Ooh!” Yu Hongjin whispered. “Flying…”
Moyuan chuckled. “Want to fly higher?”
He swung her upward—
Then kicked her hard.
“Bang!”
A loud smack echoed.
“My tail!”
Yu Hongjin shrieked as Moyuan’s kick sent her soaring into a real flight…
Straight toward Autumn Moon Market.
Moyuan watched her disappear, nodding in satisfaction.
Hu Junhan rubbed his forehead. “You really do all sorts of bad things—even pick on kids.”
“None of your birds business!” Moyuan shot back.
Hu Junhan shrugged. “Fine, I’ll shut up.”
Moyuan glanced at the wedding procession at the mountain’s base. “We should go too. We’ll miss the vows if we’re late.”
“Hey, those invitation cards—why hasn’t anyone shown up?”
“Wait, should we bring a gift or sothing?”
“Hm?”
Moyuan turned to Hu Junhan. “Say sothing!”
Hu Junhan smirked. “Nope.”
Moyuan froze. “Are you out of your head?”
“You are!”
“You!”
“You too!”
“Got no dad!”
“Got no fool!”
“…”
The dragon and fox squabbled noisily on their way down.
Their argunts made little sense yet never stopped. Had the wedding drums any rhythm, their bickering would’ve drowned it out.
Chenghuang lingered, unsure whether to join.
Seeing Mr. Chen still inside the temple, he stayed.
At the backyard, Yun Xiang asked, “When will you go down, Mr. Chen? They must’ve saved you a seat for the vows.”
Chen Changsheng nodded. “Soon. I need to prepare sothing first.”
Yun Xiang followed him to the front courtyard.
She watched him enter a room.
“May I co in, Mr. Chen?” she asked.
Chen Changsheng nodded. “Of course.”
Yun Xiang stepped into the Library Pavilion. Shelves filled with Taoist Scriptures lined the walls. Further in, she spotted books on crafts and arts—rows cramd with subjects of all kinds.
Then she saw him take out a red string.
She looked up as he started tying knots.
“Mr. Chen knows knotwork?”
“I learned so years ago.”
Yun Xiang watched him weave the thread.
Chen Changsheng paused halfway.
He forgot the next steps.
Seeing his frown, Yun Xiang gently asked, “What kind of knot are you making?”
Playing with the cord, he answered absently, “A Love Knot.”
Yun Xiang noticed him fumbling. “Perhaps…”
“Let try?”
Chen Changsheng halted. He raised his gaze to hers.
After a mont of quiet, he held out the string.
“My thanks, Miss Yun.”
“It’s no trouble. I learned needlework as a girl. Though I’ve forgotten most, knots shouldn’t be a problem.”
Yun Xiang undid so strands and resud weaving.
Dim light filled the Library Pavilion.
Chen Changsheng stood nearby, watching her careful hands.
They stood rather close—each could hear the other’s soft breaths.
Yun Xiang beca aware of it… The weight of Mr. Chen’s quiet breath reaching her ear.
Slowly, her cheeks flushed. The blush crept down her neck.
Chen Changsheng noticed.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat. “I… should step out.”
With that, he walked out the door.
Only then did Yun Xiang breathe steadily again.
Recalling the sound of Mr. Chen’s breathing, she pressed her lips together.
Clinging to the half-finished Love Knot, the girl in the Library Pavilion felt a lingering warmth. Monts passed before the rose tint over her face and throat softened.
When Yun Xiang finally erged, she held the completed Love Knot.
“Mr. Chen…”
She glanced aside, offering it while avoiding his eyes.
mories of the pavilion still shad her.
Chen Changsheng accepted it. “My thanks.”
He swept rainwater from the wall’s damp tiles.
Using a finger as a brush, he dipped it in the source-less rainwater. Then, he wrote a pair of double-happiness characters on the knot.
He returned to the temple hall.
Lighting incense and candles, he gathered traces of marriage blessings from the incense into the knot.
A strand of Golden Light sank into the threads. The knot was done.
Chen Changsheng tucked away the Love Knot.
Glancing at Yun Xiang, he said, “Miss Yun, let’s go.”
Yun Xiang nodded. Mortal eyes like hers couldn’t grasp such things—but she understood Mr. Chen needed them.
Outside the wedding feast, the streets sward with people.
Villagers smiled widely, sharing blessings filled with joy.
“The bride’s coming!”
Children skipped into the crowd, eager for a look.
Behind Tong Zhihuan, Tao’er sat veiled, holding onto his waist.
“So many people…” Tao’er whispered.
“Fellow villagers,” Tong Zhihuan reassured. “Plus folks I’ve treated.”
He freed one hand to cover hers at his waist.
“Fear nothing. I’ll help you inside.”
Tao’er leaned against his back and nodded.
Tong Caizheng and his wife greeted their new daughter-in-law.
“Father,” Tong Zhihuan called.
Tong Caizheng bead. With a wave, his wife escorted Tao’er in.
Then he asked, “Has Mr. Chen arrived?”
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