Walking onward under the shade of the cherry trees, the excitement of the Sakura Festival washed over him. Stalls lined the roadside with colorful lanterns, and the scent of cherry blossom cakes and red bean soup filled the streets. Children ran by holding magic windmills, their blades shimmering with faint light. Couples in festival costumes held hands and took photos beneath the cherry blossoms, their laughter clear as silver bells.
Shi Jin stopped occasionally to watch vendors bake cherry blossom cakes with magic. The dough turned over the flames on its own, and when cooked, was coated with a layer of cherry powder, its sweetness rich and inviting. He bought one and took a bite; the dense sweetness was even stronger than the candy. Passing a game stall, he watched for a while as a child used magic to control a ring and accurately hook the largest doll, drawing cheers from the crowd.
As the sky darkened, lanterns along the street lit up one by one. Their warm yellow light filtered through the cherry petals onto the ground, like scattered gold. The Sakura Festival was even more lively at night. On the stage, dancers in traditional costumes spun, their sleeves swirling, and cherry petals fluttered around them, forming a pink whirlwind, beautiful as a dream.
Shi Jin found a quiet corner and sat down, watching the crowd not far away. Someone released sky lanterns, and countless lamps carrying wishes slowly rose into the night sky, merging with the stars. Magic fireworks exploded above from time to time, their pink and golden light reflecting on every face. The air was filled with the scent of fireworks and cherry blossoms.
He touched the cherry blossom jade pendant in his pocket, then pressed the necklace against his chest. It remained calm, without any abnormality. Shi Jin looked up at the fireworks filling the sky. Cherry petals landed on his shoulder, then were blown away by the wind.
Having lived for ten thousand years, he had seen grander celebrations, yet never had he been a mere bystander like this — no killing, no mission, only the liveliness and warmth before him.
But he knew clearly that this peace would be completely broken in a day or two.
Watching the tourists head toward the island's center, Shi Jin followed curiously. After passing a few lanes hung with lanterns, a massive cherry tree appeared before him — its trunk so wide that five or six people would be needed to embrace it, its branches spreading like a giant umbrella.
Petals glowed softly under the lantern light, and the ground was covered in a pink carpet of blossoms.
Tourists gathered quietly beneath the tree. Moments later, several white-robed priests stepped onto a high platform beside the tree. Then, the crimson figure that had bumped into him during the day also walked up — the clumsy little priestess.
In her hand, she held a snow-white longsword carved full of cherry patterns, its blade glowing faintly. It was clearly no ordinary weapon.
The young priestess stood at the center of the platform, closed her eyes, and chanted ancient incantations, her voice clear as a mountain spring. As she chanted, cherry petals swirled around her into a pink vortex. The tourists clapped and cheered, whispering among themselves:
"Sakura Priestess's ceremony is beautiful every year!"
"I heard the Luo Fei Sword in her hand is a divine artifact of Floating Cherry Island; it protects the island's cherry blossoms from ever fading!"
The word "divine artifact" reached his ears, and Shi Jin's heart stirred. He instinctively pressed his chest — sure enough, the colored stone burned hot at once. The trembling frequency of the tiny wings matched the Luo Fei Sword in the priestess's hand perfectly.
He sighed inwardly. What he sought had come without effort. He never imagined the clumsy girl he bumped into during the day was actually one of the divine artifact holders he was looking for.
But as he watched Sakura chanting earnestly, surrounded by swirling petals, a faint sense of regret welled up in him. He had thought his target would be someone who lived on the edge of a blade, just like him.
He never expected it to be such an innocent little priestess who even bumped into people while walking. Striking at someone like her felt like shattering something extremely beautiful. Yet he knew better — in this world where the strong preyed on the weak, soft-heartedness would only lead him to eternal doom.
The ceremony soon ended. Sakura sheathed the Luo Fei Sword, bowed to the crowd, and turned into the wooden house behind the platform. Shi Jin watched her back, squeezing the cherry blossom jade pendant in his pocket.
It seemed he would have to find a chance to "talk" with her tonight. No matter how much regret he felt, he had to obtain the divine artifact.
The festival ended, and the tourists gradually dispersed. Shi Jin leaned against a stone lantern, his fingers brushing the pendant Jiang奈 had dropped. The aura of the divine artifact was engraved in his bones; he could sense the general location of the Luo Fei Sword through the pendant without deliberate searching.
Before long, Chiba Kana emerged from the wooden house holding the Luo Fei Sword, wrapped in magic that concealed her vitality. She stepped lightly through the lane toward the eastern cliff of the island.
Just as she thought she was safe, Shi Jin stepped slowly out of the shadow of the woods behind her.
"Chiba Kana?"
Kana spun around sharply. The Luo Fei Sword flashed out of its sheath at once, pale purple magic surging into the blade. Lightning condensed at its tip, crackling loudly. She stared at Shi Jin, her eyes full of vigilance.
"Who are you? How did you break through my concealment magic?"
Shi Jin held up the jade pendant, his tone calm.
"You bumped into me during the day and dropped this. I'm only here to return it."
He did not draw his blade, nor did he release any aura — he seemed like an ordinary person returning a lost item. Yet this calm struck Kana as unusually dangerous. To approach her silently and remain so composed… his power must be unfathomable.
"Following me here just to return a pendant?" Kana's grip on the sword tightened. "You know my name, you found me, and you're not even surprised by the Luo Fei Sword… You're clearly here for the divine artifact!"
She dared not risk his goodwill. To a stranger this powerful, the best move was to strike first.
Shi Jin watched her determination and sighed inwardly. Having lived for ten thousand years, he had seen too many guardians like Kana — cautious, alert, never giving their enemies a chance.
He had wanted to return the pendant and leave, waiting for the right moment to claim the sword. But now, it seemed Kana would not give him that chance.
"I told you, I'm only here to return the pendant." Shi Jin frowned slightly. "If you insist on fighting, I won't wait to be struck."
He had barely begun to say "I mean you no harm" when Kana's magic exploded upward. She instantly entered combat state, her eyes sharp as blades. Her arm holding the Luo Fei Sword lashed out, and a sword aura crackling with lightning tore through the air straight at him.
Shi Jin's heart jolted. The speed and power of this strike far exceeded his expectations — there was no time to block. Relying on his ten-thousand-year combat instinct, he twisted and leaped aside the instant the aura struck.
He moved like a shadow, cherry blossoms exploding beneath his feet. The lightning aura grazed his chest, the wind cutting his skin. Even so, the aftershock tore his sleeve, burning a hole through the fabric, the smell of char rising at once.
The sword aura slammed into the ground behind him, blasting a shallow crater. Stones and electricity scattered, startling nearby night birds into flight.
Shi Jin landed steadily, his gaze finally turning from calm to grave. He looked at Kana, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Would it kill you to let me speak?"