Chapter 507: Still That Kindness of the Past

As dusk fell, the streets lit up with countless lanterns. Inside the small building, lights were also kindled.

The little horse lantern of Lady Calico had been nurtured with spiritual energy. Though slightly aged, it was still well preserved. She used a spell to light it and held it in her hand. Likewise, the lantern that Song You had received from a little ghost at the monster and ghost market in the great mountains of Pingzhou remained intact. He invited Lady Calico to illuminate it and handed it to Yan An.

The two young demons, each holding a lantern, obediently followed the Daoist out the door.

“The two grandest lantern festivals in Changjing throughout the year must be the Shangyuan Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since we're in Changjing, there's no way we can miss the Shangyuan Festival,” Song You remarked.

“Yan An didn't go last time!” the little girl chimed in.

“Don’t be intimidated by the crowd at the lantern festival. They're all strangers—you may brush past them once in a lifetime, never to interact again. They’ll never know who you truly are. At most, if you’re good-looking, they might glance at you a couple more times, but the moment they return home, it will be as if they never saw you at all,” Song You explained. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Nothing to be afraid of! No one knows me anyway!” the little girl declared, raising her lantern. “I won my little horse lantern at a Mid-Autumn Festival riddle contest!”

“Got it...”

Yan An, now a young boy, clutched his lantern tightly and followed closely behind.

The dim evening light, despite the street being illuminated by numerous lanterns, could only reach so far—oil lamps and candles had their limits.

In the half-lit, shadowy ambiance, another kind of atmosphere took form. The streets were packed with people, moving through the festival in a constant flow.

A sea of heads bobbed like a river in the darkness.

Yan An felt as though every passerby was staring at him, and those countless eyes made him uncomfortably self-conscious.

But his teacher was right.

Changjing was famed for its prosperity, renowned across the land. The most bustling times of the year were none other than the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival and Shangyuan Festival, as well as the annual temple fairs. Since they were here, how could they not experience it at least once?

The people passing by were all strangers, never to cross paths again. They were no different from the roadside trees and grass.

So, he mustered his courage.

And in truth, it was not entirely the fault of the onlookers.

A delicately beautiful little girl and a strikingly handsome young boy, each carrying a lantern, were walking through the night beside a Daoist. The glow of their lanterns illuminated them like celestial beings, making it impossible for people not to steal glances.

Moreover, the Shangyuan Festival was different from the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Shangyuan Festival carried a deeper sense of romance, much like a lover’s festival[1].

For those with affection in their hearts, this was the night they would have long arranged to meet their beloved.

If unmarried young men and women of appropriate age—especially well-educated noble ladies and scholarly young men—had grown up hearing stories in poetry, essays, and local legends about lovers coming together on the Shangyuan Festival, then this rare opportunity to release the emotions they had suppressed for an entire year was naturally something to yearn for.

They would form groups of three or five, sometimes bringing along their servants or maids, carrying lanterns as they strolled through the streets, their gazes unconsciously drifting toward members of the opposite sex.

The young man was strikingly handsome. It wasn’t just the young women or middle-aged ladies—even some men couldn’t help but glance at him.

The boy had no choice but to lower his gaze, fixing his eyes on his nose.

Or, he would glance at the little girl beside him. Seeing a familiar face always made him feel more at ease.

“Look at those little people, they're all staring at my little horse lantern,” the little girl said proudly, her bright eyes gleaming. “But only I have one.”

“...”

Hearing her nonchalant remarks, Yan An seemed to be infected by her ease and relaxed a little.

“I remember—this place should be near where the Daoist priest and I once solved lantern riddles,” the little girl said, staring ahead. “If they have riddles again, we should win another one.”

Hearing this, Yan An also looked forward, then lifted his gaze to the buildings above.

Unknowingly, they had reached the riverside.

Here, the lanterns were particularly bright, illuminating the street. Along the way, several establishments lined the riverbank—places of entertainment and pleasure, with beautifully constructed pavilions and small buildings.

From the windows above, exquisitely dressed women leaned out, adorned in colorful, dazzling attire. They gazed down at the lively festival below, both appreciating its splendor and beckoning potential patrons.

Up ahead was Qinghong Courtyard.

Qinghong Courtyard was still ablaze with lantern light, with a large crowd gathered in front of it, solving lantern riddles.

Song You led the girl and the boy forward to take a look. The scene was much the same as a few years ago, except that the one hosting the riddle contest was now a different young woman. She was youthful and stunning, yet unfamiliar.

The riddles were far more complex than before.

A young scholar, surrounded by his friends, listened confidently to the riddles. While others struggled to think, he merely paused for a brief moment before giving the correct answer, his quick wit evident. He accompanied his responses with playful, flirtatious remarks, drawing both curious glances and bursts of laughter from the crowd.

Song You stood among the people, observing the scene. Then, behind the young hostess, he noticed another woman.

It had only been a few years, yet she had already lost her youthful radiance. Still, her face held a certain familiarity.

The woman stood almost at the very edge of the lantern light, watching the young hostess, as if guiding her successor.

At the same time, she also saw the Daoist.

She seemed to find him familiar as well. Her gaze lingered on him, her head tilting slightly in thought. Then, as her eyes drifted downward, she caught sight of the lantern in the little girl's hands behind the Daoist—only then did she remember.

“...”

Song You offered her a slight bow.

The woman continued to gaze at him before glancing back at the younger woman ahead. Seeing that she handled the crowd with ease, exuding a charm no less than her own in the past, the older woman no longer felt concerned. Instead, she gracefully stepped forward, walking toward the Daoist.

Qinghong Courtyard was a distinguished establishment in Changjing, and back in her prime, she had been one of its most renowned figures. Achieving such status required more than just beauty and a graceful figure—it demanded talent and the skill of conversation. In those days, countless scholars and literati in Changjing had admired her.

Yet in merely six or seven years, as she walked through the crowd now, few eyes followed her anymore.

All attention was focused instead on the young woman under the lantern’s glow, laughing and chatting effortlessly.

A new generation replaced the old.

Smiling with composure, the woman approached the Daoist and softly asked, “Daoist Master, are you the same one from the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival years ago?”

“It is rare that you still remember us,” Song You replied with a bow. “I must thank you for giving us that lantern back then.”

“...”

Hearing this, the woman's smile deepened slightly. Her gaze lowered, her eyes now calmer than they had been in the past. She looked at the little girl behind the Daoist and the small horse lantern in her hand, still bearing the faintly visible characters “

Changjing Qinghong Courtyard

,” its colors unfaded even after all these years.

“That was a prize you won by solving a lantern riddle. What does it have to do with me?” she replied indifferently. “I never expected we would meet again.”

“Such is fate.”

“It's a pity, though—Qinghong Courtyard is not what it once was. Though we still hold lantern riddles during the festival, we no longer give out lanterns as prizes. Now, it's just a jug of cheap wine from the house,” she said, shaking her head with a rueful smile, a hint of melancholy in her expression.

“What happened?” Song You asked.

“What else? Last year, when Prince Shun entered the capital, his soldiers did not spare us. We were not considered 'respectable women' in their eyes,” she said, her smile bitter.

She continued, “The loss of money was the least of our worries. Many of my sisters couldn't endure the humiliation and took their own lives. Who knows how long it will take for Qinghong Courtyard to recover? In another two years, I will have to leave Changjing as well.”

“I see,” Song You sighed, feeling a deep sense of regret.

Who said courtesans had no dignity?

“By the way!”

Suddenly, Song You raised his hand, slipping his left hand into his right sleeve and pulling out a folded talisman. He held it out respectfully toward the woman.

“Back then, thanks to your help, I won this lantern, and my young one here has cherished it dearly ever since. I have heard that the world is becoming more turbulent, with demons and dark forces stirring everywhere. Please accept this talisman—it may offer you some protection.”

“How could I possibly accept this?” The woman smiled warmly, naturally reaching out to accept the talisman while instinctively reaching for the money at her waist.

“That won’t be necessary.” Seeing her intent, Song You immediately chuckled. “I am not selling talismans today. This is merely repaying the kindness you once showed me. Besides, it’s just a piece of talisman paper with a trace of cinnabar—hardly worth mentioning.”

“That...” The woman paused, momentarily stunned, her hand stopping in place.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“The world is not kind. I doubt fate will allow us to meet again. Please take care,” the Daoist said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

“You as well, Daoist Master...”

She looked up at his expression, and for a moment, she felt dazed. Memories surged back, and she suddenly recalled why she had shown kindness to this Daoist all those years ago, despite never having met him before.

It wasn’t out of any sense of pity but rather because he had been gentle and sincere, treating her with respect and courtesy.

“I see...”

The woman murmured softly.

The scene from that day became vivid in her mind again, and naturally, she remembered the calico cat that had followed the Daoist back then. That was, in fact, one of the reasons she had felt such a strong impression of him. But as she glanced around now, she saw no sign of that cat.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, “I seem to recall that you had a calico cat by your side that day. May I ask where that cat is now?”

Upon hearing her question, the Daoist merely smiled at her. He said nothing, simply turning to leave.

Yet the lantern light in front of her did not move.

Lowering her gaze slightly, she finally noticed that the little girl holding the red wooden pole with the small horse lantern was staring up at her, unblinking. The three-colored robes she wore resembled the very pattern of a calico cat.

Under the glow of the lanterns, her delicate face looked almost too refined to belong to a mortal. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes as clear as gemstones—so much so that she didn't seem entirely human.

Rather, she looked like a cat staring into her soul.

The two locked eyes for a moment.

As the Daoist walked further away, the girl remained silent, only glancing briefly at him before suddenly springing into motion.

Like a startled rabbit, she darted off, swiftly catching up to him.

And as she followed alongside him, she kept glancing back at the woman.

Now she looked even more like a cat...

The woman stood there, stunned, withdrawing her gaze and looking down at the talisman in her hands.

“...”

She shook her head slightly.

Nearby, the young scholar's flirtatious banter with the hostess carried through the air, his words laced with playful vulgarity.

“Ha...”

What did it matter if it was Qinghong Courtyard? What did it matter if it was one of Changjing’s famed establishments? No matter how refined a brothel was, it was still a brothel. It could never compare to the late Miss Wanjiang of the Hexian Pavilion.

In times of peace, it was fine—the people in the city still observed proper etiquette. But the moment the world and people's hearts fell into chaos, those who truly still regarded them as worth anything... As far as she could think, the only one left was probably this Daoist priest, whom she had only met twice and had little connection with.

1. In ancient China, women usually weren’t allowed out of the house and there was a curfew system to prevent criminal activity during nighttime hours such as gambling and stealing. No one was allowed to travel between 7pm and 5am, except for funeral arrangements, medical treatment, and marriage. Violators would be flogged at least 20 times with a rattan cane as a punishment.

But on the night of Shangyuan Festival, everyone could stroll freely. By lighting lanterns, playing games, and other wholesome fun, women were free to interact with men outside of regular hours. The loosening of the rules and the frolicking that supposedly ensued is why some deem Shangyuan Festival the true Chinese Valentine’s Day. ☜