Lucian, filled with curiosity and doubt, finally arrived before the Wishing Tree.
He stood still, glancing around, only to find the area completely empty. Unable to suppress his bewilderment, he murmured to himself, "Seems like no one's here..."
Yet, before his words fully faded, a faint sound suddenly reached his ears—it seemed to come from behind the Wishing Tree.
Lucian raised an eyebrow and cautiously moved toward the source of the noise.
As he ventured deeper, the light grew increasingly dim.
When he rounded the massive trunk of the Wishing Tree, a dazzling shade of pink instantly filled his vision.
There, bathed in moonlight, stood a young woman with her back turned to Lucian.
Her snow-white hair cascaded like a waterfall down her slender shoulders, contrasting vividly with the delicate pink dress she wore—a hue as vibrant as peach blossoms in full spring bloom.
In this dimly lit corner, she shone like a radiant pearl, impossible to overlook.
At that moment, a gentle breeze swept through, sending pink leaves fluttering down from the tree.
As if drawn to her, the leaves swirled and danced around her figure.
And the girl amidst this dreamlike scene was breathtakingly beautiful, as if she had stepped out of a painting—a peerless beauty in the mortal world.
Lucian instinctively held his breath, afraid of disturbing the exquisite sight before him.
But the ground was littered with fallen leaves, and despite his careful steps, the rustling still reached her ears.
She turned her head slowly, revealing an exquisite face. Her deep, enchanting eyes held a subtle charm that captivated Lucian completely.
"...Jinhsi? Why are you...?"
Jinhsi smiled softly. "You're here."
She turned back, clasping her hands behind her, gazing at the lively crowd below.
Lucian stepped beside her, studying her attire with curiosity.
This Jinhsi was unlike her usual self—gone was the simple, dignified Magistrate's robe, replaced by a pink ensemble that erased all traces of authority, making her resemble nothing more than an adorable girl next door.
Lucian couldn't help but reflect—Jinhsi was still young, after all. This pink outfit accentuated her youthful charm to the fullest.
Her face was adorned with a smile, as if she was thoroughly pleased with the bustling Moonlit Fair.
Before Lucian could ask, Jinhsi spoke first. "As I walked here, I saw everyone wearing genuine smiles, vendors passionately managing their lively stalls..."
"Everyone is truly enjoying the Moonlit Fair... That's exactly what I wanted to see most right now."
Lucian's gaze never left Jinhsi's face. He nodded slightly. "This is the purpose of protecting Jinzhou."
Noticing the intensity of his stare, Jinhsi tilted her head slightly, her eyes carrying an indescribable emotion.
"Mmm, I'm happy to see the Moonlit Fair, which everyone worked so hard to prepare, turn out so successfully."
"I always believed everyone could pull it off, but seeing it unfold before my eyes still moves me deeply."
Lucian offered praise. "Without your excellent governance, Jinzhou wouldn't be able to host such a thriving festival on a day like this."
Jinhsi turned to face him fully, her eyes curving into crescents. "I should be thanking all of you instead—for helping Jinzhou and Mt. Firmament resolve so many issues."
At this moment, Jinhsi was breathtakingly beautiful. In this dimly lit space, Lucian felt as though she was glowing.
Lowering her lashes slightly, Jinhsi pinched the hem of her skirt with delicate fingers, then twirled lightly on her toes before Lucian. "Well? How do I look?"
Like a flower fairy dancing under the moonlight, her skirt fluttered gracefully with her movements.
"Stunning."
"I don't think I've ever seen you wear this before."
A faint blush spread across Jinhsi's cheeks at his words. She explained, "This was specially tailored for the Moon-Chasing Festival. In a way, it symbolizes my hope for Jinzhou's bright future."
Lucian smiled faintly, glancing up at the Wishing Tree overhead.
"I once heard a story and opera in Jinzhou called The Dragon Maiden and the Wish."
Jinhsi's lips curled into a faint smile as she looked at him. "Oh?"
Lucian recalled the tale he had heard and spoke slowly. "Back then, Jinzhou was plagued by scarce resources, internal strife, and external threats. The harder challenge was restoring the courage and hope of people already worn down by life."
"In such circumstances, people needed a spiritual pillar they could trust."
"So, during a post-disaster reconstruction, the young Magistrate staged a 'miracle'—'The Sentinel and the Wish.'"
"This village was remote. Though the Tacet Discord tide had receded, years of frequency disturbances caused persistent anomalies—dark clouds loomed, and snow refused to melt."
"The young Magistrate asked the villagers to voice their wishes."
"At first, no one responded. Then, a sneeze broke the silence, followed by a tiny, timid voice murmuring, 'It's so cold... I wish it weren't this cold.'"
"The Magistrate stood at the center of the crowd, holding a dragon scale in her hands. She closed her eyes and nodded. 'I will convey your wish to the Sentinel.'"
"In an instant, dragon horns emerged from her head. A light resembling the Sentinel pierced the oppressive clouds and shattered the snow on the ground—suddenly, the ice melted, winter faded, and spring arrived."
"The crowd gasped in awe. The dragon-shaped radiance reflected in their eyes, reigniting the light of hope."
"The tale spread far and wide, and the custom of making wishes gradually swept through Jinzhou."
"Wishes big and small gathered near the City Hall, reaching the young Magistrate's ears."
"From these fragmented wishes, she extracted key insights and formulated corresponding strategies."
"Within three years, the defensive walls were revitalized, new weapons emerged, the Tacet Discord tide was pushed back miles away, and the city flourished with harmony and prosperity."
"People slowly realized that 'The Sentinel and the Wish' was just a well-intentioned ruse by the young Magistrate."
"After all, no matter what happened in Jinzhou, the Magistrate would always rush to the scene, personally understanding the situation and solving the people's problems."
"After all, the lights in the City Hall office never went out—even late into holiday nights, the Magistrate would listen to everyone's wishes while writing tirelessly."
"After all, even without a dragon scale in hand, the Magistrate could still summon the light to break the ice, still make time flow, still bring an end to winter and herald spring..."
Jinhsi's face flushed slightly as she coughed lightly. "The storytellers exaggerated parts of that tale. It shouldn't be taken too seriously."
Hearing this, Lucian suddenly took Jinhsi's delicate hand in his. Her heart tightened as he spoke.
"Even if the story is embellished, its core is one of sincere devotion."
"Jinhsi, I actually have a wish too. Can you grant it for me?"
Jinhsi looked at him curiously.
Lucian leaned down, slowly drawing closer to her face as he whispered tenderly, "I hope... that Jinhsi won't have to work so hard in the future, that she'll take more time to relax..."
"And I hope that someday, I can take you to other places, to see different sights together. What do you say?"
Jinhsi's breathing slowed. Her beautiful eyes fluttered shut as she responded with a whisper as soft as silk.
"...Mmm."
...
A spring breeze brushes past, peach blossoms in full bloom,
Their radiant pink dazzles beneath the sun.
Light rouge scents the path, smiles like flowers in tune,
A waiting beauty—will you be the one?