Chapter 28: The Evil Devil Part 3

“How do you have time to come here?” Shen Sheng sat up, water droplets trickling down her neck and onto her collarbone.

Jiang Wan leaned over, looking down at her. “What are you doing in the water?”

Shen Sheng gave an awkward laugh, too embarrassed to say she’d eaten too many of those fruits and was burning up inside.

“Just soaking a bit.”

“Eaten too many of the fruits?” Jiang Wan saw through her immediately. She took the fruit from Shen Sheng’s hand and bit into it herself.

Shen Sheng raised an eyebrow. A small fish suddenly jumped out of the water, leaping right before her face before splashing back down, sprinkling her face with water.

Shen Sheng shook her head, flicking the water away, and reached out to catch the mischievous fish, but it swam off happily.

“Next time I see you, I’ll roast you and eat you,” Shen Sheng cursed in playful frustration.

Jiang Wan smiled as she watched her, her gaze gentle. “I’ve heard the streets of the mortal world are very bustling, far more interesting than the Boundless Mountains. Shall we go and take a look?”

“The mortal world? But you’ve eaten the fruit… want to soak together?” Shen Sheng narrowed her eyes and invited her into the water.

In the South River Water, clothes didn’t get wet. Only here, in this small stream, could one truly feel the fun of water.

Jiang Wan shed her outer robe and stepped barefoot into the water. The soft water wrapped around her ankles. Shen Sheng grabbed her ankle, but she shyly pulled away. “Don’t tease.”

If she said no teasing, Shen Sheng didn’t tease. She waited for her to settle.

Jiang Wan gave a bashful smile.

The stream water rippled. They’d blocked the flow of water, and the fish upstream couldn’t pass. Shen Sheng caught one. It was too small and kept swimming in her palm.

Jiang Wan watched her, her lips pressed in a smile.

Time was still. The sun was glorious.

Jiang Wan took her hand and released the fish back into the water. Then, she lowered her head and kissed the back of Shen Sheng’s hand.

Shen Sheng was stunned. She’d just said “no teasing,” and yet here she was, teasing. Shen Sheng didn’t hesitate; she kissed the corner of Jiang Wan’s lips.

Under the tree, sunlight was fragmented, cut into countless pieces by the leaves, falling softly on their fair skin.

Beneath the tree, two figures were one, their necks intertwined. Delicate sounds rose and fell—soft, slow, then slow and tender.

Shen Sheng gazed at the reflection on the water’s surface, the stream flowing gently beneath her.

The trickling water wasn’t loud, perfectly covering Jiang Wan’s sounds.

Jiang Wan lifted her neck and kissed the tightly pressed corner of Shen Sheng’s lips. Her responsiveness made Shen Sheng very happy.

The mortal world was a place of endless prosperity, with nightly revelries and Taverns everywhere.

The floating lanterns on the city moat were particularly beautiful, their lights creating a night that never slept.

Shen Sheng used a Flight Talisman to land directly by the riverbank. At this time, the nation of Nanqian didn’t yet exist. The clothing styles weren’t as elaborate as those in Nanqian, and the standard of living was also lower.

The mortal world’s lantern lights were incredibly beautiful, covering the water surface like a hundred blooming flowers. Jiang Wan stood with her hands behind her back and murmured, “At least this disaster won’t spread to the mortal world.”

Jiang Wan smiled gently.

Shen Sheng bought two water lanterns. She handed one to Jiang Wan and gave her a brush and paper. “Write down your wish, let it flow with the water, and the gods will help you fulfill it.”

Jiang Wan laughed. She was a god. To whom could a god pray for help?

But she still took the brush and wrote a line. She tucked it into the water lantern. She smiled. “Let’s set the lanterns afloat now.”

Large rafts of lantern blossoms unfurled on the river surface, representing the wishes of mortals.

Shen Sheng suddenly spoke. “Do you have a Wish Talisman?”

“What is a Wish Talisman?” Jiang Wan asked, puzzled.

“It’s a talisman that lets you see someone’s wish.”

Under Shen Sheng’s gaze, Jiang Wan felt strangely confused. She shook her head. “I don’t know of such a thing.”

“There is one. I used it last time, and it showed… it showed…” Shen Sheng couldn’t continue. Her face turned bright red, her eyes reflecting the thousands of water lanterns.

Jiang Wan watched her, her lips slightly pursed. Shen Sheng stomped her foot in frustration, then blurted out with a “do-or-die” attitude, “I used one before, and I saw that kind of scene. Indecent ones.”

“I understand what you mean. Follow me.” Jiang Wan grabbed Shen Sheng’s hand and turned towards the riverbank.

They arrived at a lantern shop. The shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced her lanterns.

“We don’t need lanterns. Let’s just borrow some Cinnabar Talisman Paper,” Jiang Wan said, taking out some money.

The payment was generous, so the shopkeeper immediately went to get the materials.

Jiang Wan used the Cinnabar Talisman Paper to draw a talisman and handed it to Shen Sheng. “Chant the spell.”

Falling for it once before, Shen Sheng refused to chant it again. Jiang Wan couldn’t help but laugh. Ever considerate, she said, “Go chant it secretly in the corner.”

Jiang Wan’s dark eyes looked at the constrained, reserved person. She gently nudged her forward. “Hurry now.”

Shen Sheng took the talisman and went.

Jiang Wan waited for her at the entrance.

A moment later, Shen Sheng came out, her face bright red. Jiang Wan asked her, “Was it the same?”

Shen Sheng nodded.

Jiang Wan laughed, her smile carrying a hint of mischief. “This isn’t any Wish Talisman. It just shows the scene you’re constantly thinking about, that you can’t forget. It has nothing to do with wishes.”

“Can’t forget…” Shen Sheng was stunned. So what Anu couldn’t forget wasn’t her, but the South River.

In Anu’s heart, the South River was the most important thing.

She immediately grabbed Jiang Wan to go back. “Draw another one. Let’s see yours.”

“Mine?” Jiang Wan was pulled inside.

Talisman Paper and cinnabar brush were laid before her.

Shen Sheng stared at her intently. “Try it, try it.”

Jiang Wan’s heart softened under her pleading gaze. She took the Talisman Paper and drew another talisman exactly as before.

“What is it you can’t forget?” Shen Sheng pursed her lips.

Jiang Wan blinked, her eyes shimmering with moisture. “Do you care that much?”

“Of course I care. What I can’t forget is you.” Shen Sheng said nervously.

Right in front of Shen Sheng, Jiang Wan chanted the spell. The Talisman Paper in her hand burst into flames, and then an image appeared.

A woman in a red dress, with a Red Silk Ribbon in her hair. Shen Sheng recognized it—it was the one Anu used, the one Jiang Wan used too.

Then, Shen Sheng’s own form appeared in the image.

Shen Sheng was stunned. The woman in the image had a pretty face with mature features. She looked like Shen Sheng, but her temperament was different.

And beside the woman, stood Jiang Wan.

The two faced the vast sea, where water and sky merged into one color.

Shen Sheng knew—this person wasn’t her.

The image vanished in a flash. Silence returned before them.

She felt a little desolate. But Jiang Wan pulled her hand and led her out of the lantern shop. “Let’s go look at other places. I like rabbit lanterns. What do you like?”

“Me?” Shen Sheng pressed her lips together, holding Jiang Wan’s hand tightly. “There’s nothing in particular I like.”

“How can there be nothing? With so many lanterns, there must be something you like.” Jiang Wan was nonchalant, smiling. “Shen Sheng, the only one I like is Shen Sheng.”

Shen Sheng blinked and immediately replied, “The only one I like is also you.”

“That scene just now… it was us in a dream.” Jiang Wan smiled, her dark eyes reflecting the street full of lanterns. The colors of the mortal world’s lights were brilliantly beautiful.

Shen Sheng, I truly like you!

Shen Sheng’s burden lifted. She smiled brightly, pulling Jiang Wan’s hand and running forward. “I like rabbit lanterns too! Rabbits are so cute.”

“I prefer pink rabbit lanterns. Anu, what color do you like?”

Jiang Wan: “Red. Red is festive.”

They chose two rabbit lanterns, one red and one pink, and carried them through the bustling streets, drawing attention.

After a full circle, they returned to the city moat. Jiang Wan casually fished a lantern out of the water. Shen Sheng cried out, “What are you doing?!”

Jiang Wan pulled out the slip of paper inside the water lantern and said, “Let’s do a good deed. Read what they wrote, and we’ll help fulfill it.”

“Great idea!” Shen Sheng was instantly excited and leaned over to look.

Written on the paper were wishes for parents’ health and a younger brother’s success in the examinations. There was nothing about the writer herself.

Jiang Wan put the paper back, placed the lantern back in the water, and scooped up another. This time, the wish was to marry a loving husband.

“Let me divine her fate for her,” Jiang Wan said.

After a brief calculation, Jiang Wan looked utterly disdainful. “She’ll encounter a scumbag. We should warn her.”

At this, she kept the water lantern, and on the back of the paper, wrote down the scumbag’s name and his despicable deeds.

“Let’s go find the lantern’s owner.”

Shen Sheng was amused into laughter by her. “You’re a lofty god, yet you personally deliver lanterns.”

Jiang Wan didn’t answer, pulling Shen Sheng along to find the lantern’s owner.

After some searching, they finally found the girl.

She was crouched by the roadside, buying a Beaded Hairpin. Jiang Wan stealthily placed the water lantern beside her, where she’d see it if she just turned her head.

After this deed was done, the two returned to the riverbank and continued their fishing.

Another water lantern scooped up. This person wished for their eyesight to be restored.

“Is this one difficult?” Shen Sheng asked.

Jiang Wan shook her head. “Not difficult. The South River already specializes in the Art of Healing. It’s not a difficult matter.”

Shen Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go find her.”

“This person was born into a wealthy family. Her parents committed evil deeds, and the karmic retribution has fallen on her.” Jiang Wan placed the river lantern back onto the water surface, a trace of confusion in her eyes.

Shen Sheng’s mood also became somewhat complicated. “Has she done evil?”

“No.”