NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 285: Lantern Festival
After breaking through to the next realm, Feng Fan happily returned to the White Crow Sect. Since he had promised to meet Huang Xue, he made his way to her quarters.
"Xue, it's me, Feng Fan," he said, knocking on her door.
It barely took a second for the door to swing open, as if she had been waiting right beside it, ready to answer at the first sign of him.
"Come in," Huang Xue said, her cheeks slightly flushed. She was dressed in a flowing light blue gown, its silky fabric draping elegantly over her graceful figure. Delicate white sandals peeked from beneath the hem, complementing her innocent beauty.
"I made too much food. Why don't you eat some with me before we go out?" she added, her voice softer than usual.
Feng Fan's gaze drifted to the table. A steaming bowl of lotus seed porridge sat at the center, its gentle aroma laced with hints of honey and goji berries.
Huang Xue shifted nervously under his gaze. "I-I hope you like it…"
Feng Fan chuckled and sat down without hesitation. At their current cultivation level, food was unnecessary for survival. It was obvious that Huang Xue hadn't made all this for herself—this was for him.
She quickly turned away, busying herself with pouring tea, but the tips of her ears betrayed her by turning an even deeper shade of red.
Feng Fan ate slowly, savoring each bite. Huang Xue was one of the best cooks he had ever known, and every dish was crafted with care. The warmth of the freshly made food, combined with the quiet atmosphere, made the moment feel almost too peaceful for someone like him.
Even if he no longer needed to eat, that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it. And with a beautiful girl treating him to such a meal, how could he not indulge?
A small smile tugged at his lips. "You went through all this trouble just for me?" he teased, glancing at her.
Huang Xue huffed, still avoiding his gaze as she poured tea into his cup. "I just… made too much. It would be a waste to throw it away."
Feng Fan smiled but chose not to say anything else.
They finished their meal, enjoying the quiet comfort of each other's presence, before stepping out of the White Crow Sect.
"I heard there's going to be a lantern festival in the Qian Empire's capital tonight," Huang Xue said, glancing at Feng Fan. "The emperor decreed that it should be held every year for the next hundred years to celebrate the expulsion of the invaders. Want to go?"
"A lantern festival?" Feng Fan raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Anywhere is fine."
With their destination set, they took off, parting the clouds as they soared through the sky. In mere minutes, they arrived at the Qian Empire's bustling capital, its towering pagodas and grand streets already adorned with glowing lanterns in preparation for the night's festivities.
However, with two hours left before sunset, Huang Xue's eyes gleamed with excitement for something else. Without warning, she grabbed Feng Fan's wrist and pulled him toward the lively streets.
"Since we're here early…" she said, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "Let's go shopping."
Feng Fan sighed in defeat but didn't resist. It seemed that, for tonight, he would have to face a trial even more fearsome than any tribulation—accompanying Huang Xue on a shopping spree.
The first place Huang Xue dragged Feng Fan into was a clothing shop, one of the most elegant ones in the entire capital. The exterior was lined with delicate silk banners, fluttering gently in the evening breeze, while faint incense drifted through the air, filling the shop with a subtle, calming fragrance.
Feng Fan glanced at the shop's golden signboard. "Ethereal Silks Pavilion." The name alone sounded expensive.
Huang Xue tightened her grip on Feng Fan's wrist and pulled him inside.
The moment they stepped in, a well-dressed shopkeeper hurried forward, bowing with grace. "Welcome, esteemed guests. Are you here for new festival attire?"
Huang Xue nodded slightly before turning to Feng Fan, her gaze scanning him thoughtfully.
"You need something new," she declared. "Your robes are always the same."
Feng Fan glanced down at himself. He didn't see a problem with his usual black robes—after all, they were comfortable and practical. Besides, he even had some white ones to switch things up, so it wasn't like he wore the exact same outfit every day!
Well… he had been wearing the same robes for the last five years. But they were still in perfect condition! That counted for something, right?
"I don't see the point," he said. "My robes are comfortable, and I have enough robes."
Huang Xue narrowed her eyes. "You should at least try something different for once."
Before he could protest, an attendant appeared at her side, holding up a deep-blue robe embroidered with golden threads.
"This would suit the gentleman well," the attendant said with a smile.
"Not bad," Huang Xue mused, tilting her head. She then picked up a crimson robe with black accents and smirked at Feng Fan. "Or maybe this? Red would make you look less like you just walked out of a funeral."
Feng Fan sighed, realizing resistance was futile. "Fine, I'll try one."
Satisfied, Huang Xue nodded. "Good. While you're at it, I'll pick something for myself too."
As Feng Fan reluctantly made his way to the fitting area, he muttered under his breath, "Who would've thought the usually shy Huang Xue could become so commanding over something as simple as clothes? How can someone change so much just because they like something?"
After Huang Xue convinced Feng Fan to buy five sets of clothes he would most likely never wear, he stepped out of the store wearing the first outfit he had laid eyes on—a deep blue robe embroidered with golden threads. She had been eager to drag him to another shop, but by the time they left, she had spent so long picking out clothes that the lantern festival was about to begin.