Chapter 28: The Land of Fireflies

Evening, the hill behind the residential complex.

“Qingfeng, are there really fireflies on the hill behind the complex?” Jidou asked curiously. After living in G City for so many years, she’d only seen fireflies twice, and never heard of anywhere with swarms of them.

“There are. The spot is a bit off the beaten path, probably because it’s on the undeveloped slope of a wild hill, so not many people know about it.” Qingfeng held a flashlight, illuminating the ground for them, moving lightly along the mountain path as if weightless, not at all winded.

“Qingfeng, your… stamina is remarkable. This steep mountain path… you walk as if it's flat ground,” Jidou panted.

“Perhaps that’s the benefit of cultivation. Sister, maybe you should learn some strengthening techniques from Master. It could improve your constitution too.”

Qin Xiaomo listened to their talk about the climb, and didn’t feel tired at all. In the past, climbing a thousand steps would nearly cost her half her life. She looked up at the height of the hill; even with carved stone stairs, reaching the top would take three thousand steps. Now, they were traversing unpaved paths through the woods and rocks, making it much harder. Yet Qin Xiaomo felt no discomfort, her breathing steady and smooth, as if endless strength surged within her, a warm current in her lower abdomen constantly delivering energy throughout her body. Before she could ponder this, Qingfeng noticed it too.

“The sister in the back—have you trained before? I hear your breathing: calm and full, like someone with cultivation experience. Are you also a disciple of Master?” Qingfeng, five steps ahead, turned to ask Qin Xiaomo.

“Me? No!” Qin Xiaomo thought for a moment. Whether it was the bright moon or something else, she could see the stones and sand on the path clearly. She wasn’t tired from the climb, but it was too noisy. She’d never noticed it before, but today the constant chirping of insects and calls of small animals were almost unbearable; she wished for a pair of earplugs.

“Right, Qingfeng didn’t mention it… I hadn’t noticed. Xiaomo, your stamina used to be worse than mine. How come… today you seem perfectly fine? Maybe crossing over really does help with cultivation? Next time… take me with you, I want to cross over too.” Jidou trudged ahead, grumbling.

“I’m not sure, I’ll ask Master later. Sisters, the place is just ahead.” Qingfeng suddenly stopped, pointing to a dense, shadowy thicket not far off.

Following Qingfeng’s gesture, Qin Xiaomo said doubtfully, “It’s so dark—doesn’t look like a place for fireflies.”

“That’s exactly why they survive so long. Let’s hurry, there’s more important things tonight.” Qingfeng rolled up her sleeves, ready for action.

“Qingfeng, stop calling us ‘sister’—it sounds awkward. I’m Jidou; you can call me DouDou or Sister DouDou.”

“Qingfeng, I’m Qin Xiaomo. You can call me Xiaomo, or Sister Xiaomo.” For the first time, Qin Xiaomo introduced herself seriously.

“DouDou, Sister Xiaomo—Qingfeng will call you that from now on.”

When they reached the edge of the dense thicket, Qingfeng whispered some incantation, pulled apart a gap just wide enough for a person, and slipped through first; Jidou and Qin Xiaomo followed closely.

Looking up, they were greeted by countless yellow-green points of light—fireflies, leaping everywhere, hovering within two meters above the grass. The moon was exceptionally bright tonight, and the meadow was bathed in both moonlight and firefly glow, stretching endlessly to the horizon, like a sky full of stars fallen to earth—stunning and romantic beyond words.

Besides the breathtaking sight, Qin Xiaomo heard a chorus of humming wings. Weren’t fireflies supposed to be silent? She didn’t have time to think; Jidou pulled her into chasing fireflies.

Qingfeng was agile, catching any firefly she fixed her eyes on. Jidou, less nimble, lunged left and right but caught none. Still, the rare leisure moment made the two girls play and laugh, running and chasing through the fireflies, just as described in Zhou Bangyan’s verse: “Leisurely by the dew well, laughing as they chase drifting fireflies, brushing against delicate fans.”

Qin Xiaomo lay on the grass with Jidou, gazing at the stars and chatting. The starlight was clear and bright, nothing like the polluted city sky; sometimes a meteor streaked across, and in their comfort, each wore an earbud and played pure music from a phone, immersed as if in a fairyland, reluctant to leave.

Soon, Qingfeng returned with a bottle full. “Sister Xiaomo, Sister DouDou, it’s getting late—we should go.”

“So soon?” Jidou was reluctant.

“Let’s go, time for serious business!” Qin Xiaomo sat up, pulled Jidou along.

“If we miss the timing tonight, I’ll bring you back next time—you can enjoy it fully then.” Qingfeng led the way, chanting and parting the thicket again.

Curious, Qin Xiaomo asked, “Qingfeng, you can't see the firefly field from outside the thicket. Did you use some spell to raise them here?”

“You caught on, Sister Xiaomo! Yes, if we didn’t keep them here, they’d be gone by now.”

“Qingfeng, your skills are impressive! You caught so many so quickly.” Qin Xiaomo affectionately patted Qingfeng’s head.

“Hehe, thank you, Sister Xiaomo.” Qingfeng scratched her head shyly, continuing to lead.

Qin Xiaomo wasn’t sure if it was an illusion or her imagination, but behind Qingfeng, not far from a tree, she glimpsed a handsome man in white robes with flowing hair, leisurely leaning against a branch, watching them, a teacup in his hand—he looked just like Qian Mubai. Startled, she shook her head hard and looked again. Only a bare branch remained—nothing there. Was she missing him? That couldn’t be; after all, she’d been unmoved for twenty years, let alone for a game world NPC.

After they walked away, a figure appeared on the branch—a handsome man in white robes and long hair, sipping tea and muttering, “I searched the world for her, and here she is, playing with kids and catching bugs, even patting his head, not a trace of ladylike reserve. Little one, have you already opened your meridians? You can actually sense me.” With that, he vanished again.

Qianjin Pavilion.

“Master, we’re back.” Qingfeng showed off tonight’s spoils to her teacher.

“Good. I’ve finished the runes as well. This should be enough. It’s just after eight. Qingfeng, go find some thin fishing line. When it’s quieter, we’ll head out.” Liu Banshen packed the runes into his cloth bag.

“Um… Master Liu, I’ve fought the earth fish before. Is there anything I can help with?” Qin Xiaomo knew her own limits, but wanted to contribute somehow.

Liu Banshen thought for a moment, then handed her a few runes. “These two are protective talismans—one for each of you. When the creature appears, press the rune to your chest, and it will conceal you.”

“Thank you, Master. If you have a suitable weapon, I could help you kill the fish.” Qin Xiaomo didn’t know where her confidence came from.

“Tonight, just watch from a distance. If needed, lend a hand—that counts as merit.”

“Master, what about me?” Qingfeng stepped forward to ask about her task.

“Haven’t you always wanted to improve your cultivation? If luck is on your side tonight, you might break through.” Liu Banshen squinted and grinned.

“Master, that look…” Qingfeng sensed that nothing good awaited her tonight.