NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 41: I Will Love My Master Forever
Chapter 41: I Will Love My Master Forever
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”
As Ye Shu recited the poem “Water Melody,” the insects in the bowl went into a frenzy, chirping incessantly as if they had entered a state of madness.
“This…” The old man holding the lantern was still in a daze.
Before he could react, Ye Shu unceremoniously snatched the lantern from him. “Give it here!”
“Young man, you’re amazing!” The old man, drenched in sweat, gave a thumbs-up in admiration.
He had no idea who this young man in front of him was, but every poem he recited was filled with profound meaning and charm. Each word seemed to resonate deeply, pulling listeners into a fantastical realm, as if they were wandering through the intricate maze of his verses.
In his seventy-plus years of life, the old man had encountered countless scholars and poets—no less than a thousand—but none could compare to the young man before him, who effortlessly recited timeless verses that could shake the literary world as if they were second nature.
The old man couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Young man, keep going! I’ll have more lanterns made for you right away! Recite as many poems as you like, and I’ll give you as many lanterns as you want!”
The lanterns behind him were nearly depleted, but the old man was so captivated by Ye Shu’s poetry that he wished the young man would keep reciting endlessly. Even if it meant ordering more lanterns to be made on the spot, he was willing to do so.
Ye Shu exchanged a glance with Luo Jiuyan, noticing a proud smile on her face.
“That’s enough.”
Ye Shu decided not to continue. After all, his memory was limited, and he could only recall so many ancient poems. If he kept going, he might expose himself.
“What a pity!” The old man had already started jotting down the poems, but his memory wasn’t great either, and he only managed to scribble a few lines.
“Let’s go release the lanterns.”
Ye Shu slung a large bundle of lanterns over his back, carried a bunch in his hands, and even tied some to his feet. He was completely surrounded by lanterns, looking like a walking lantern display—a sight he seemed to relish.
“Why don’t you just store them in your spatial pouch?” Luo Jiuyan, holding a few lanterns herself, asked with a hint of exasperation.
Ye Shu put a finger to his lips and pointed behind them. “Listen!”
Luo Jiuyan frowned and turned her attention to the murmurs behind them.
“Wow! That guy is incredible! He won so many lanterns!”
“Did he make them himself? There’s no way he could’ve won that many!”
“No, I saw him win them fair and square from the lantern vendor. It’s true!”
“Good heavens, where did this literary genius come from?”
“I’d say the woman beside him is so lucky. To have a man like that winning lanterns for her—it’s so romantic.”
“Ugh… I wish I could find a man who’s handsome, talented, and romantic like that!”
“Hmph.” Luo Jiuyan let out a soft snort, her lips twitching slightly as she absorbed the envious comments, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction wash over her.
She glanced at Ye Shu, who was now buried under a mountain of lanterns, looking rather silly. For some reason, she found him much more endearing in that moment.
As they walked, she found herself drawing closer to Ye Shu. Their arms occasionally brushed against each other, and the soft, tingling sensation nearly made Ye Shu yelp in surprise.
“Hmm, I guess this was the right move.”
Ye Shu thought to himself. Why bother storing the lanterns away? There was nothing shameful about them. He had earned them through his “borrowed” talents, so why not show them off? Let others envy him!
After navigating through a series of winding paths—despite the destination being a straight shot, perhaps to bask longer in the attention—Ye Shu finally stopped wandering aimlessly under the admiring gazes and envious whispers of the crowd.
“Time to release the lanterns!”
Looking up at the scattered lanterns floating in the sky, Ye Shu felt they lacked grandeur. His lanterns, on the other hand, would surely dominate the sky once released.
“Do we need to write wishes on the lanterns?”
Ye Shu noticed the words written on the lanterns in the sky and seemed to understand the tradition.
Writing wishes on lanterns was a crucial custom. When the lanterns floated up to the heavens, the immortals would pick them up, read the prayers and praises, and, if pleased, bestow blessings upon the writers.
Whether or not the immortals actually saw the lanterns, this tradition had been practiced for thousands of years across the land.
“What should I write?”
Ye Shu picked up a brush and looked at Luo Jiuyan.
Luo Jiuyan leaned in and asked, “Do we need to write something?”
Ye Shu smiled.
Immortals? In Luo Jiuyan’s eyes, she was already akin to an immortal. If writing wishes could truly bring blessings, why would she refuse?
“Let’s just pray for a good tomorrow.”
Ye Shu decided to write, not for the sake of some mythical immortals, but for himself.
With a flourish of his brush, he wrote a line on the lantern.
“May my master and I share a bed soon!”
Luo Jiuyan read the words and immediately blushed, glaring at him. “What nonsense are you writing?!”
She raised her foot, ready to kick the lantern.
“Master, please! Let me keep this wish!”
Ye Shu quickly shielded the lantern, pleading with her.
“Today is the Lantern Festival, such a special day. Master, you must be magnanimous!”
Hearing Ye Shu’s words, Luo Jiuyan’s murderous intent gradually subsided. She snorted, “Fine, I’ll let it slide this time. But next time—”
“I want to have eight chubby babies with my master!”
Before she could finish, Ye Shu had already written another line on the lantern. Luo Jiuyan’s expression froze, her eyes burning with fury, as if she wanted to incinerate Ye Shu on the spot. Yet, beneath her anger, a flicker of exasperation hinted she was growing accustomed to his antics.
“Last one! I promise, this is the last one!”
Ye Shu patted his chest, making a solemn vow.
“You rebellious disciple!”
Luo Jiuyan’s chest heaved with anger, her ample bosom swaying dangerously in front of Ye Shu. He nearly drooled at the sight.
Good heavens, one hand probably wouldn’t be enough to hold them. Had his master’s temper made them grow even larger?
“Master, look!”
Ye Shu wrote another wish on a lantern and presented it to Luo Jiuyan, seeking her approval.
“I will love my master forever!”
Luo Jiuyan read the words aloud, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Ye Shu gazed at her with sincere eyes, and though she snorted, “What nonsense are you spouting? This is just a temporary act to help you overcome your inner demons. Once that’s done, we’ll return to our normal relationship,” a trace of softness lingered in her tone.
Despite her words, Ye Shu noticed the blush on her face and the subtle joy in her expression.
He wanted to say, “Girl, your words may lie, but your body doesn’t.”
“Master, I mean it,” Ye Shu said earnestly. Then, he lit the lantern inscribed with “I will love my master forever” and released it into the sky.
The lantern floated upward, a warm beacon illuminating the night and warming hearts.