“Where?” Xiao Kun asked puzzled.
“There, look at the center of the lake?” Xiang Xian naturally draped an arm over his shoulder and said, “Don’t make a sound.”
Xiao Kun focused his gaze. The next moment, Xiang Xian counted down, “Three, two, one.”
Dong—— The Bell Tower rang out earth-shatteringly, startling Xiao Kun. The entire Kaifeng City woke up in an instant!
Cheers erupted from all directions across the city. Suddenly, trees around Longting Lake burst into fireworks. In the center of the lake, flower boats shot fireworks in all directions, and fire trees and silver flowers came alive in that moment.
“Waaah——” Chaosheng was woken by Wu Yingzong on the high platform of Ming Tower. He excitedly gazed at Kaifeng, the world’s number one city. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the fireworks lit up heaven and earth. On Kaifeng’s Eight Great Buildings, flying eaves spewed swirling embers of light, like countless dragons weaving through the city.
The common folk waiting in the streets lit their fireworks one after another. Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian stood on the eaves, watching the scene unfold before them.
Kaifeng’s New Year’s fireworks rose from the ground like a curtain of light, slowly ascending into the sky. Everywhere one could see glowed with brilliant colors, illuminating the long, pitch-black night from just a quarter-hour ago.
Xiang Xian turned amid the brilliant fireworks backdrop and affectionately slung an arm around Xiao Kun, casually punching him.
“Lord Xiao!” Xiang Xian laughed. “Please take care of me this year too!”
Xiao Kun was amazed both by the beauty of Kaifeng and by Xiang Xian himself. He couldn’t help but size him up, thinking: You rascal… Fortunately, with so many missions weighing on him and so many worldly affairs, he wouldn’t look down on them. Otherwise, with this temperament, if he were born a mere mortal, who knew how many lovesick men and women would pledge their lives to him.
Xiao Kun said seriously, “Master, I’ll rely on your care next year too.”
The two exchanged smiles. The dazzling fireworks lasted a full quarter-hour before slowly fading.
“Are those Lord Xiang on the roof?” The household finally noticed them—or perhaps they hadn’t dared disturb earlier. The housekeeper hurried to the courtyard and said respectfully, “It’s cold tonight. Master invites Lord Xiang to come down for some hot cakes.”
“No thanks!” Xiang Xian said. “We have duties. Sorry for the intrusion—we’re leaving now.”
After the fireworks died out, Xiang Xian pulled Xiao Kun back to the main road. Xiao Kun asked, “Whose house was that?”
“Cai Jing’s,” Xiang Xian answered. “The grandest mansion in Kaifeng. Come on, Chief Emissary, let me introduce you to the Exorcism Division’s first job of the new year…”
Xiao Kun: “?”
“Fire!” someone shouted.
After the fireworks, water wheels mobilized across the city. Dragon Pavilion Lakeside was the fire officials’ station. Horse-drawn water wheels clattered onto the roads, and sightseers made way, scattering to all directions.
“Let’s go fight the fire,” Xiang Xian said. “Starting from the west side of the city—most poor folk there.”
Xiao Kun: “If they’re afraid of fires, why does the imperial family start so many fireworks?!”
The city was filled with drifting sulfurous smoke; many began coughing. Fires flared up in the distance, making it look like a battlefield. Everything had its price. Xiao Kun’s beautiful eyes stung from the smoke, unwilling to open.
Xiang Xian said, “If he wasn’t afraid of nowhere to live, the Official Family would’ve torched Wansui Mountain too.”
“Fire! Fire——”
Xiao Kun had no choice but to follow Xiang Xian to the west side of the city. In previous years, Xiang Xian had rushed everywhere, casting spells and hauling water. But this year, with Xiao Kun—who specialized in Water System Spells—a single slash of his blade unleashed towering waves that blanketed the sky, extinguishing the fire hazards.
“Whoa——” Xiang Xian stood by, cheering as if it were none of his business. “Big Brother is like the water god descended! So heroic!”
Xiang Xian cheered wildly beside him while bossing him around—it made Xiao Kun want to turn and give him a slashing wave too.
“On to the next spot.” Xiang Xian leaped onto the back of a water wheel and headed with Xiao Kun to the next fire.
Xiao Kun: “You’re not helping?!”
Xiang Xian: “I cultivate the True Flame Technique. Not convenient.”
Xiao Kun: “Then how did you handle missions in previous years?”
Xiang Xian chuckled.
All of Kaifeng had gotten too excited—even the eastern corner of the Imperial Palace caught fire. After watching the fireworks, Xiao Kun ran himself ragged, dragged by Xiang Xian to put out fires everywhere. By dawn, they returned to the Exorcism Division covered in soot.
Wu Yingzong had cooked New Year’s cakes and prepared hot water for washing. He and Chaosheng waited for their return. The moment Chaosheng saw them, he burst into mad laughter.
“Hahahahaha! Your faces are so black!” Chaosheng collapsed laughing.
Xiao Kun wiped his face and glanced at Xiang Xian, meaning: Just you wait!
Xiang Xian’s face was covered in black ash too. He smiled, revealing white teeth, snapped his fingers, and said, “Want to see a firework?” A brilliant burst of light bloomed from his fingers, scattering in all directions.
Xiao Kun: “Eat the cakes! I’m going to sleep!”
“Not going to pay respects to the gods?” Xiang Xian asked.
“No, tomorrow.” Xiao Kun finished the cakes and lay down on the couch. Thus, he spent the first, tumultuous, exhausting New Year’s Eve of his life in Kaifeng, full of surprises.
