Summary

A world-building chapter starring our favorite group. A festival in a grand floating nation of course will have a banger start, and boy was that never more right than now!

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When Luo Binghe awoke, he was in a room with Shen Jiu staying by his side. He then remebered that he fainted due to the shock he felt. He got up groggily and looked at his A'Jiu.

-Forgive me, A'Jiu. This one got a bit lightheaded when he spotted our destination. Please forgive this one.- Luo Binghe said while scratching his neck.

-What are you sorry for? I was also shocked when I found out about this place.- Shen Jiu admitted. When he saw this place, he cannot help but be baffled. Is Mother really trying to show off how much qi she has in her reserves by making a platform half the size of the entire country float? Who knows how many people are at risk of falling to their dooms once her reserves run out!

(Not like that'll ever happen though)

-And stop being so formal. It's unnerving.- Shen Jiu continued as he fixed Luo Binghe's hair. They were supposed to be close, weren't they? Why is he speaking so formally to him?

-I wish I didn't listen to Akabane. Then I wouldn't have to fix this mess people call hair.- He mumbled. Luo Binghe's hair really was a hassle to fix. He pities the washer woman that was Luo Binghe's adoptive mother. Poor woman must have been so tired after keeping the locks in an acceptable look with a worn out ribbon.

-Where are we, A'Jiu?- Luo Binghe asked.

-In an inn. Xie Yan and Akabane are waiting downstairs for us. We arrived about an hour ago.- Shen Jiu replied.

'At least it hasn't been that long' Luo Binghe thought to himself.

After Shen Jiu finished fixing Luo Binghe's hair and robe (*ahem* cue blushing Binghe), he started walking towards the door.

-We should get going, Binghe. The festival is about to start.- Shen Jiu said as he opened the door.

-Alright, A'Jiu.-

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-Ughh, what's taking them so long?- Akabane groaned.

-Jiu'er said that Bing'er is already awake and that he would fix his appearance first.- Xie Yan said after he finished reading the letter Jiu'er sent with a talisman. -Besides, it was your idea to surprise him, so you have to deal with the consequences.- Xie Yan continued.

Akabane let out an exaggerated sigh. He thought that A'Bing could handle the surprise considering he visited every part of the continent and the demon realm, he didn't expect him to faint!

-We're here.- A'Jiu's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

-Finally! Let's go!- Akabane said impatiently.

Both Shen Jiu and Xie Yan let out an exasperated sigh.

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They go out and they see people setting up stalls and putting up decorations. Binghe notices that most of the decorations are flowers of five kinds, each with a different color. Purple Lotuses, Dark Pink Dianthus barbatus (Sweet Williams), Green Clematis, Yellow Desert Roses, and Blue Lavenders.

-Why are most of the decorations flowers?- Luo Binghe asked them curiously.

-Those flowers are symbols the Five Founding Huaban chose for themselves.- Xie Yan replied. He continues after spotting Luo Bingh's interest on the subject. -They each represent the general specialty and power of the Five, with the Lotuses being an exception. The Leader chose it not because of her profession or power, but because she felt attached to it. Unlike the others where their flower represents their role and the color their power, the Leader's is in reverse, color representing her role and flower her power.-

Luo Binghe took in that information with awe. The Leader must be really well respected by the others of they allowed such a thing to happen.

-Oh! Master Xie, A'Jiu, hello! Would you like to try this new candy?- Luo Binghe snapped put of his thoughts when he heard a young lady call out to Xie Yan and Shen Jiu. He also looked up in time to see Shen Jiu approach the stall faster than even Liu Qingge whenever the man went to find the formidable opponent he was promised to face during a mission.

-New candy?- Shen Jiu asked as he stared curiously at the swirly-patterned treats with glittering eyes. The lady giggled at the cute sight. -Yup! Leader Wan[1] made them. She predicted you would cross the street of my stall and asked me to make this new recipe of candy! She calls it "Peppermint". 5 teals of bronze for one bag.- The lady explained.

-Three bags, please.- Shen Jiu decided.

-Coming right up! Here you go!-

-Thank you, Xing[2星星]'jie.- Shen Jiu said with a smile. The lady, Xing, smiled back, a big and beautiful smile.

-Anytime for A'Jiu!- Xing exclaimed. -You should go to the city square now, the main event of the first day of the festival is about to start. In fact, I was just about to close my shop to go watch.- She added.

-Why don't you come with us?- Xie Yan asked and Xing brightened.

-Sure! Let me just finish closing the store first.- Xing said happily as she went behind her stall.

They talked about anything while walking towards the town square. Luo Binghe found out that Jiong[3炯] Xingxing was actually a brothel worker who comforted Shen Jiu during his time as Wu Yanzi's disciple.

-Aren't you supposed to be dead then?- Luo Binghe asked. After all, that was decades before he was even born and add two more decades to that plus all the years she already lived through.

Shen Jiu smacked Luo Binghe's head with his fan. What kind of question was that?! But Xing just laughed and answered.

-A little after A'Jiu was taken to Cang Qiong, Leader Wan took me in and the other brothel ladies. We were the types of prostitutes whose establishment was rich enough to object men whenever we wanted, so we were glad. And we got to watch over A'Jiu. It was painful, but we were relieved when the ladies from the Warm Red Pavillion gave him what he needed.- she said with a sad smile. The four internally panic. Luo Binghe barely knew this lady and he made her sad! The other three have never seen XingXing this sad. She always had a huge happy smile on her face.

-Our resolve to help A'Jiu and help him adjust when he comes here was strong enough to make the River of Aionia Filodoxia[4] turn us immortal. After our resolve has been fulfilled, we can choose to stay immortal or turn back to mortals. I chose to stay and some others as well, most turned back though but they were happy so everyone else was happy too.- Jiong XingXing added, smile full of joy once more. The others were relieved. She may be older than Shen Jiu and Luo Binghe but she had the personality of a happy and content child all the time.

-Ah! We're here!- Akabane said with excitement.

Luo Binghe stared in awe. The town square was huge and thousands of people were there. In the middle of the town square was the shrine with a tree in the center that Luo Binghe saw when they were flying over. The shrine gates open and he can now take a better look at the tree.

The tree at the center was as tall as the mansion his mother used to work at. It looked like a wisteria tree, but they whistled a never-ending song as the wind brushed through them, something wisteria doesn't do. There were daffodils flowing down the trunk of the tree, and on the roots of it is where red spider lilies grew. Surrounding the tree was a moat with begonias on top of the water. The people were talking and children's heads bobbed left and right.

Then they heard a huge bang.

Everyone turned their heads to the entrance of the shrine to see a man the size of a 12-year-old, banging the gong with one huge drumstick.

"जबकि दुनिया बुराई से घिरी हुई है, आकाश शुद्ध रहता है। इसमें मैं अशांति से दूर अपनी माता की बाहों, शरीर और आत्मा की शरण लेता हूं।"[4]

And with that the festival began.

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Notes:
Ok so, before making the final edits and publishing, I got a new phone, so all my notes are gone ;-;. I'm sorry for the inconvenience