Chapter 1 (1/2)

I.

Shengyuan* night-- numerous bright lights hung around the capital's streets, both men and women no matter what age along with their entire families went outside to view the lights, the city's bustling with activities (idiom). Occasionally someone would lit fireworks in the open air, “bang”, the vast blooming flames would burst forth brilliant rays of light, drawing the crowd's endless laughter.

* Shengyuan festival or known as the Lantern Festival; celebrating the fifteenth day of the first month according to lunar calendar.

This year the winter is particularly long, the snow began to fall frequently and more so mid-autumn, but two months earlier than usual. Although experiencing the bitter coldness, Shengyuan Festival is still the busiest holiday of the year. Rarely the weather would be sunny and cloudless like this, the bright moon hung in the sky, soaring through the frozen river, and both sides of the river are like an acc.u.mulation of star bundles.

Youthful men and women do not fear the coldness, wearing bright clothing, and walking on the streets, be it viewing lanterns or people, laughter all around, like lanterns that decorate the night.

“Do you see that man?” On the stone bridge a voice rang, “Who wears a blue robe.”

“En,I see it.”

“And that purple robe woman carrying a lamp.”

“En, I also see that.”

“I will go, you can stand here and observe.”

A soft breeze blows across the river, yet almost no one noticed; only the willow branches of the bridge edge gently sway.

A Chan open her eyes wide, under the moonlight, a soft white face full of curiosity.

Immortal child (xian tong) Qing Ming mumbled, soon some thin red strings from hand toss upward. The red strings s.h.i.+mmer within the darkness, the light is as soft as smoke, they began to move and fall toward the surging crowd. A Chan saw the red strings entangled around the hands of the blue robe man and purple robe woman, after a moment the red strings immediately disappeared.

“Zhou Kui, Chen Er niang.” Qing Ming muttered, looking down at the You Ming book, uses a vermillion ink brush to dot a bit (down).

A Chan: “&h.e.l.lip;” She looked at the man and woman staggering away in the crowd, it did not take long for two person to be not seen.

In the past the mortal realm legend of Yue Lao's red strings that determine love fate and marriage she had heard countless times, but to be witnessing it brings about a wonderful and fresh feeling. Becoming a new immortal child/helper of Yue Lao, A Chan looked at the senior's demonstration, feeling anxious and eager to try (idiom).

“Well then, the next pair is your turn.” Qing Ming continue to glance at the book, finished speaking, he rode on the cloud, did not go far, suddenly found A Chan could not catch up.

“Rest a.s.sured, you are immortal, and mortals cannot see you.” Qing Ming on top of the clouds shouted to A Chan.

A Chan was relieved, jump on, rides the cloud to follow after.

Qing Ming: “&h.e.l.lip;”

“Why do you ride the cloud using a rabbit hop?” He asked.

A Chan blushed, embarra.s.singly scratched her head: “I'm used to it&h.e.l.lip;”

Qing Ming did not speak any further nonsense, sighed, and gave the You Ming book to her: “Find person.”

A Chan nodded and read the names on the You Ming's register, her eyes closed.

The bustling building noises between heaven and earth bounds disappeared, remaining countless flickering stars. She felt them, not long after, she opened her eyes, and flew to a corner of a street. There are two neighboring children; this time they are watching the lanterns together. A Chan spoke the chants, threw the red strings, and tied around the two children’s hands.

Qing Ming looked at A Chan, his face surprised.

“Before you did not use Ling Jiao spell?” He asked.

A Chan shook her head: “I do not know how.”

“How did you find them?”

A Chan said: “I closed my eyes and saw them.”

“Close your eyes? The rabbit lineage magic?” Qing Ming looks suspicious.

“This &h.e.l.lip;is probably so” A Chan scratched her head.

“Forget it.” Qing Ming decided not to ask any further, look up at the sky and said, “You’re pretty clever, the time is not early, I have to rush to Luo Yang, matters at the capital I will let you handle them.”

“Me?” A Chan was surprised.

“Yes ah, you.” Qing Ming said, handed A Chan the You Ming book and vermillion (ink) brush, “Tonight there are many people thus easier to find, a little bit hards.h.i.+p is not bad. After the Shengyuan festival, everyone will be at home, I have to look at each house one at a time, so troublesome. ”

Understanding, A Chan nodded.

Qing Ming rides the clouds away, leaving A Chan standing there.

“Bang”, in the city someone lit the fireworks. The city buildings erected and lighted up many colors, decorated with lights, the courtesans perform dances upstairs along with acts of comedy slideshow, attracting people to watch along with bursts of applause.

A Chan joins the fun, forgetting and abandoning riding the clouds, followed the crowd everywhere.

“Selling lanterns! Selling lanterns! The rabbit lamp was newly made with a red string attached to its leg, Yue Lao protects love fate/marriage!” said a peddler, rubbing his red hands due to coldness while greeting pedestrians as they walk across, “Hey little lady! A rabbit lantern that protects love fate/marriage! This gentleman, buy a rabbit lantern to gift to your wife &h.e.l.lip; what? Not buying rabbit lantern? There is still sheep lantern, cattle lantern, and horse lanterns; all carrying red strings gentleman &h.e.l.lip; ”