Chapter 321: Pan Ning City

Night fell over Pan Ning City.

The grand city had been recently refurbished, its walls restored and gleaming, free of any trace of wear.

Merchants and travelers bustled around the city gates, hauling goods and filling the air with lively chatter—a prosperous scene. The city guards, sharp-eyed and vigilant, scanned the crowd for wanted criminals, ready to haul any offenders straight to the Lord of Justice!

Qian Country had been at peace for years, its people ruled by the cultivation world, and no one dared to stir up trouble. This peace allowed for prosperity, and the common people’s lives grew better day by day; smiles were a frequent sight.

Three figures appeared at the city’s outskirts, gazing at it with a mix of curiosity and an undeniable sense of strangeness that lingered heavily in the air.

“Brother Xun, just ordinary folk,” Xiao Chi commented, perched on Brother Ox’s back, eyeing the crowd passing by. “Doesn’t look like a cultivator city.”

Now a little more worldly, Xiao Chi couldn’t help but feel that Pan Ning City was small, lacking the grandeur of any city in Da Li.

Nearby citizens stole glances at the trio, shaking their heads and laughing softly. It wasn’t every day you saw a mutated giant dog riding an ox. Quite the strange combination!

“Xiao Chi, this is a grand city,” Chen Xun remarked, glancing at Brother Ox. “Isn’t that right?”

“Moo moo~~”

Brother Ox let out a snort, raising a small puff of dust as he stared intently at the city walls.

Chen Xun began walking, with Brother Ox following closely behind. They moved calmly, their excitement subdued, replaced by a sense of tranquility.

Xiao Chi darted his eyes around, sensing he might have spoken out of turn. This place likely held significance for Brother Xun and Brother Ox, much like Heaven’s End Plains did for him.

Once inside the city, the streets grew wider, filled with vendors and the loud calls of people selling their wares. Lanterns lit up the night, and in the distance, towers and pavilions cast their light into the night, with the faint sound of poetry being recited by couples drifting through the air.

A gentle smile formed on Chen Xun’s face. Everything seemed so familiar, yet different, a peculiar feeling that left him both nostalgic and detached.

Brother Ox spread out his divine sense, scanning the city with interest as he nudged Chen Xun with his head. “Moo?”

“What is it, Brother Ox?”

Chen Xun raised an eyebrow, giving him a light pat. “Craving some candied hawthorn?”

“Moo moo!!” Brother Ox nudged Chen Xun eagerly. He remembered the ones from Pan Ning City as the best he’d ever tasted.

Xiao Chi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he scanned the area. “Brother Xun, what are these candied hawthorns? I want to try them! I’ve got savings now.”

“Let’s go, I’ll show you,” Chen Xun said, guiding them forward. “How to describe candied hawthorns… Well, let’s just say…”

He gave Brother Ox an affectionate hug and continued, “Brother Ox and I… love them!”

Xiao Chi looked dazed, trying to process this new information as he was pulled along.

Walking along the streets, they couldn’t spot any woodcarvers like in the past. Instead, they picked up a few supplies, and Chen Xun crafted three wishing lanterns on the spot.

Later, on the street:

Chen Xun held two sticks of candied hawthorns, eating one himself while feeding the other to Brother Ox, who squinted with pleasure, savoring the taste.

Xiao Chi, holding his own stick, took a tentative lick, then another, unimpressed. It didn’t taste as amazing as he’d expected.

But the sight of him nibbling on the treat sent nearby citizens into fits of laughter, with some pointing at him, causing Xiao Chi to bark at them in frustration from atop Brother Ox’s back.

A few young women laughed, teasingly calling Chen Xun “Old Ancestor,” to which he smirked back, “Oh, perhaps you’re trying to catch my eye?”

At that, the women blushed, rolling their eyes before scurrying off, muttering about his cheekiness.

Xiao Chi took this very seriously and barked in reply, spitting a large mouthful of saliva their way, making the women shriek and scatter in panic. Chen Xun and Brother Ox’s expressions changed as they bolted from the scene!

“Xiao Chi, you fool! Ever heard of using words instead of spit?!”

Chen Xun growled, grabbing him by the scruff. “This isn’t the cultivation world. The Lord of Justice oversees this city, you know?!”

“Moo moo moo!!” Brother Ox looked panicked, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he nodded fervently.

“B-Brother Xun?! I didn’t even use my claws!” Xiao Chi stammered, horrified to learn that a single person could subdue both of his elder brothers. “Brother Xun, Brother Ox, I was wrong!”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In a dark alley, waves of spiritual energy stirred, rustling the fallen leaves.

A nearby beggar turned in his sleep, scratching himself drowsily and muttering, “Who dares disturb my royal slumber… Ladies, I’m coming.”

By the riverside, where it was quiet and uncrowded in this off-season, Chen Xun and his brothers found a prime spot. In the past, the area was too crowded with townsfolk for him and Brother Ox to even get close.

“Xiao Chi, write down your wish on the lantern, then set it free. It will surely come true!”

“Moo moo~~”

Brother Ox had already picked up a brush, giving Xiao Chi a look of encouragement. Chen Xun’s words were always reliable.

“What did you write, Brother Ox?” Xiao Chi asked, craning his neck to peek.

“Moo?” Brother Ox frowned, swatting him away with his tail.

“Aaaah!” Xiao Chi yelped, spiraling through the air.

“Xiao Chi, you’re not supposed to let others see your wish, or it won’t come true,” Chen Xun said, sitting cross-legged as he carefully wrote his own. “You can’t mess up Brother Ox’s path like that. Some rules must be followed.”

“Oh, I see.” Xiao Chi lay flat on the ground, lost in thought. “I’ll make my wish carefully then.”

To live a long, peaceful life!

With a sparkle in his eye, he prepared to write but suddenly hesitated, pausing in silence.

Then, he slowly wrote down, “To stay with Brother Xun, Brother Ox, and Brother Crane forever…”

Brother Ox, quietly mooing, wrote the same wish as before: “To follow Chen Xun forever.”

Chen Xun’s wish was written in tiny, crowded letters, filling nearly every inch of the red lantern, which had turned a shade closer to black. His hopes were numerous, many layered into the lantern’s fabric.

A cool breeze passed by as the three wishing lanterns rose gently into the night.

Chen Xun stood with one hand behind his back, gazing up at the sky, while Brother Ox stayed close by his side, looking up as well.

For the first time, Xiao Chi felt an unfamiliar emotion rise within him, and he simply watched the three lanterns drift higher into the night.

Boom!

The night sky suddenly brightened as fireworks exploded overhead, bursting in colorful displays that illuminated the entire city.

All of Pan Ning City watched in awe, citizens rushing from their homes, some even clutching pots and bowls as they stared at the sky in shock.

“Wow! Mom, Dad, come look! Huge fireworks!”

“Heavens!!”

“Is this the work of immortals?!”

…

Citizens flooded the streets, even kneeling with hands clasped, murmuring their awe, while children squealed in excitement, running around the square.

From inns to rooftops, people held their wine cups aloft, gazing skyward, inspired to recite poetry amidst the breathtaking view.

Even the cultivators in the city blinked, feeling the waves of spiritual energy—such a grand display, yet undeniably beautiful.

Meanwhile, the Lord of Justice stood in his backyard, hands behind his back, peering deeply into the sky. Whoever dared disrupt the peace of his city had better hope he didn’t catch them!

Boom! Boom!

Fireworks painted the night brighter and brighter, echoing through the city as smiles broke across the faces of many, marveling at the spectacle.

Amid the dazzling lights, three small wishing lanterns drifted into the stars, merging into the glow, becoming one with the festive lanterns, disappearing from sight.

The streets buzzed with chatter and laughter as the three figures slipped through the edge of the crowd, quietly walking past without drawing a single glance.