Chapter 179: Magpie Bridge Meeting

There are four great joys in life.

After a long drought, sweet rain arrives; in a foreign land, an old acquaintance is met. The bridal chamber lit by candlelight, and the moment of being named on the golden list.

Being able to meet Ouyang Lanlan in Dantai City, and a few days later reunite with Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan, truly is one of life's great joys.

Zhang Xingyu decides to stay in Dantai City a while longer, both waiting for Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan and touring the mountains and waters.

After Ouyang Lanlan and Meng Ruyan become acquainted, they feel as if they've known each other forever.

The two girls chatter all day long, leaving little sidekick Zhang Kaixin hanging aside.

Thus Zhang Xingyu resumes playing the role of a nanny for the child.

Fortunately, it doesn't last long.

A few days later, disciples from various immortal sects who came to Dantai City for the Immortal Sprout Summit arrive one after another.

While the summit hasn't started yet, sect disciples shop, set up stalls, and the streets become bustling.

Every early morning, Ouyang Lanlan drags Meng Ruyan out, only returning to their inn at sunset.

On the 22nd day of the 8th month, year 100,006 of the Immortal Era.

In the evening, Joyful Residence.

Zhang Xingyu sips celestial mushroom wine while competing with Zhang Kaixin for spirit deer roast.

Ouyang Lanlan and Meng Ruyan walk in together, both beaming.

"What's the matter? Why so happy?" Zhang Xingyu asks Meng Ruyan.

Meng Ruyan smiles, "What else could it be? These past few days Junior Sister Ouyang has been waiting near Yingxian Courtyard!"

"Junior Brother Zhang, Fifth Senior Brother has arrived!" Ouyang Lanlan says brightly.

"Is that so? Great. I'll go visit Fifth Senior Brother in a moment," Zhang Xingyu puts down his cup and exclaims happily.

"By the way, Senior Sister, have you met Fifth Senior Brother?" Zhang Xingyu asks.

Ouyang Lanlan shakes her head.

"Several others came with him. I haven't had a chance to greet him yet!"

"Then why did you come back? Hurry to Yingxian Courtyard to find him!" Zhang Xingyu shouts at Ouyang Lanlan.

Meng Ruyan glances at Zhang Xingyu, "What do you know? Junior Sister still needs to groom and dress, so she can appear before his beloved Fifth Senior Brother in her most beautiful form."

Meng Ruyan and Ouyang Lanlan return to their rooms to freshen up.

After Zhang Xingyu and Zhang Kaixin finish eating and drinking, they return to the room and fall into a deep sleep.

In his dream, he vaguely hears a woman's sobbing.

"Wuwu, wuwu..."

Then, it seems someone softly offers comfort.

The voice is intermittent and indistinct.

Zhang Xingyu wakes from the dream, rubs his eyes, and fumbles to push open the door.

It is now past the rooster's crow.

A waning moon hangs high in the night sky, shedding thin, cool rays.

In the courtyard, moonlight flows like water, and tree shadows sway.

Under the shadows, the silhouettes of two women appear and disappear.

Looking, they are Ouyang Lanlan and Meng Ruyan.

Ouyang Lanlan is sobbing. She hangs her head, fingers the hem of her robe, shoulders trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks like threads.

Meng Ruyan sits beside her, holds her hand, gently pats her back, and continuously whispers comfort.

"What are they doing? Staying up late, running to the courtyard to cry."

Zhang Xingyu tiptoes over.

Hearing Zhang Xingyu's footsteps, Meng Ruyan turns her head and makes a shushing gesture toward him.

Zhang Xingyu nods, standing quietly outside the pavilion to eavesdrop.

Listening to a girl cry is not a pleasant task.

Ouyang Lanlan's sobs cut his mood like a small knife, leaving it in shreds.

After half an hour, Zhang Xingyu finally understands the reason from Meng Ruyan's comforting words.

In the evening, Ouyang Lanlan, full of hope, goes to Yingxian Courtyard to look for her lover Cheng Haonan.

At the entrance of Yingxian Courtyard, she asks someone to tell Cheng Haonan: she has already arrived at Dantai Immortal City and invites him to meet her tonight on the Magpie Bridge over Meeting Immortals Lake.

The moon rises atop the willow tips; lovers meet after dusk.

The Magpie Bridge is one of Dantai Immortal City's most famous attractions.

It is said that the Dantai Immortal Maiden and Nanhua Daxian once met at Meeting Immortals Lake.

On the day of the meeting, one arrived at the lake's east shore, the other at the west shore.

At that time, their cultivation levels were low, unable to cross the wide lake.

Having no choice, the two conveyed their feelings through songs from opposite banks.

Their love songs were vivid and moving.

The magpies by the lake saw this, called their friends, and used their bodies to build a Magpie Bridge for the pair.

Thus, Nanhua Daxian and the Dantai Immortal Maiden stepped onto the Magpie Bridge, embracing each other deeply.

Later, people built an arched bridge on the lake based on this legend, wishing for sweet and beautiful love.

For the upcoming meeting, Ouyang Lanlan feels sweet, nervous, and anticipatory.

She leans against the Magpie Bridge's railing, recalling their past love, her heart filled with sweetness.

She touches the parcel in her hand, thinking to herself: I wonder if Fifth Senior Brother has grown taller; will the Dao robe I bought for him fit?

She gazed at the far end of the Magpie Bridge, hoping that in the next moment the handsome, dashing figure of the Fifth Senior Brother would appear.

She thought while waiting.

At midnight, a figure appeared on the shaded path beside the Magpie Bridge.

It must be the Fifth Senior Brother.

Ouyang Lanlan waved excitedly at the newcomer.

"Fifth Senior Brother, I'm here!"

The person emerged at the bridgehead of the Magpie Bridge.

In the next instant, Ouyang Lanlan lowered her jade arm in disappointment.

The newcomer was a woman.

She wore a white silk dress, a long sword on her back, and her jade‑like face was veiled with endless frost.

The woman stepped onto the bridge, gently walking to stand beside Ouyang Lanlan.

"Are you Ouyang Lanlan?"

Ouyang Lanlan nodded, looking at the newcomer with puzzlement.

"And you are?"

"My name is Qin Rushuang, an inner disciple of the Li River Sword Sect; Cheng Haonan is my junior brother."

"So you're Senior Sister Qin. Senior Sister Qin, does the Fifth Senior Brother have something preventing him from coming?"

Qin Rushuang nodded, her face still as frosty as ice.

"Senior Sister Qin, is the Fifth Senior Brother all right?"

"He is fine. Miss Ouyang, Junior Brother Cheng has already joined the Li River Sword Sect; he is no longer your Fifth Senior Brother."

Qin Rushuang said expressionlessly.

"Oh, Senior Sister Qin, I bought a few Dao robes for the Fifth and for Cheng Haonan; could you pass them to him for me?"

Ouyang Lanlan handed the parcel to Qin Rushuang.

A flicker of something strange flashed in Qin Rushuang's eyes, but after a moment her icy expression returned.

She did not reach out to take it.

She pulled a scent sachet from her bosom and handed it to Ouyang Lanlan.

The sachet was shaped like a pink heart, its surface crudely embroidered with a pair of water‑playing mandarin ducks.

The sachet was plump, emitting faint wisps of jasmine fragrance.

"Junior Brother Cheng asked me to pass this scent sachet to you. He wants me to tell you: Forget me!"

The parcel in Ouyang Lanlan's hand fell silently.

Tears involuntarily streamed from her eyes.

"Forget him! He's not right for you!"

Qin Rushuang left.

In the icy night wind, Ouyang Lanlan clutched the sachet and wept alone.

The sweet words of the past still echoed in her ears, as did the mountain‑oath and sea‑vow once sworn.

May we become paired birds in the sky, may we become entwined branches on earth. Heaven and earth may have their end, but this lingering grief knows no end.

Ouyang Lanlan lifted the sachet in her hands and leapt into the icy lake water.