This was my first birthday when there was no banquet. This was my first birthday without uncle Yao. This was my first birthday when I didn't meet uncle Jiang. He wanted me to enjoy the auspicious lantern lighting festival in Cloud Recess. It wasn't like lanterns were never before lit on my birthday. I remember lighting lanterns on my birthday holding hands of my grandmother. It was not only me whose face lit up seeing them in sky, even Rusong ignited lanterns with aunty Qin Su. All of them always made each and every birthday of mine special.
It is not like I dint enjoy it today. Yuan can never make me unhappy. He has changed the way I have been looking my life throughout. With him I am not only happy but I feel I am living each and every moment. He has changed me so much. I have finished packing and now I have to leave to fulfill my responsibilities. I shall be going first to Yunmeng and then tomorrow to Lanlingjin. I know even if uncle Jiang dint say but in his isolated world he would be waiting to celebrate my birthday with him.
As I am about to leave there was a knock on door. It is Wu Xin. "Hanguang-Jun and Senior Wei wants to meet you". If it is Hanguang-Jun who has called then definitely it must be something important. Leaving all my bags in our dormitory, I and Wu Xin left . As I took turn towards Jingshi he said, "No, they are not in Jingshi"
"Where are they then?"
"Just follow me"
We flew on swords and landed on top of the mountain. It was decorated with lights and flowers. Uncle Jiang was also there with Wei uncle, Hanguang-Jun and other disciples.
When I entered all of them shouted in unison. "Happy birthday Jing Ling!". I was suprised and overjoyed. I never expected this. We all chit chatted, uncle Jiang and Wei both drank Emperors smile. Few of the disciples were thinking why is Hanguang-Jun here?
Jing Ling - "When did you guys prepare this? How come I dint realize ?"
Wei Wuxian - "When Sizhui said he will be making lantern with you we gave him the task to keep you busy. Who knew you two will have fight? When you went back to your room after some time Wu Xin came to check you in your dormitory. But, he saw you going to Suzhui's room so our plan remained intact".
I looked at Yuan. "You knew?"
He simply answered with a smile.
Jingyi - "You are really a young mistress. No one ever imagined that there will be a possibility of Yuan getting annoyed."
Jin Ling - "It is not like that. Wait, I will ask Suzhui in front of you."
I called, "Yuan! dint you enjoy the time when we were in your room?". Sizhui was startled. Keeping my hand on his shoulders I rephrased "Did you feel you made wrong decision choosing me as your partner?"
Jiang uncle called me and I had to excuse myself. Turning back I saw Yuan standing amid crowd blushing wondering what did I ask him in public. It is rarest of times when Yuan is speechless.
Late night with uncle I went back to Yunmeng. My eyes searched for the lantern which I and Yuan had ignited together. But, I was not able to locate them. They must have found their world away from everyone's prying eyes.
Jiang Cheng - "Is there anything you want as a gift on your birthday?"
I took uncle towards Fairy's kennel. She was expecting.
"The house is sufficient only for Fairy and her Prince. I want a bigger dogshed so all he babies can stay with her inside". She was free to roam wherever she wanted. Its only when Wei uncle visited she was made to stay inside her shed. I knew this is something which uncle will be happy to do. Immediately he smiled and agreed to my wishes. He promised to take care of her in my absence.
Inside my room when I was changing my clothes my eyes landed on my reflection in mirror. I blushed thinking of our debauchery. Seeing myself I realised even I am marked by him.
Somehow, I could only remember Wei uncle's love confession inside Guanyin temple. Now I knew what he meant, what he felt.
Dint I fancy you Yuan? My heart knows it. It is only you whom I craved all my life. Ask me how difficult it is to leave you there and me living here without you. I love you Yuan. You are definition of perfection for others but I like you with all your imperfections. I liked you I like you now and forever. I like you the way you are. It is only you that I want. If this is how it feels then definitely I want to sleep with you everyday. I want to wake up seeing your face. I want your heartbeats to be my lullaby. I want to go on night hunting with you. I want to spend my each and every moment of life with you. As you say, it is Only You that my heart desires.
Wandering my thoughts they landed on our time spend together on his room a while ago
Don't worry, we will not paste this but one with an invisible ink will be tied inside so that nobody knows what is in it and when it is ignited it will blossom like our love away from everyone's prying eyes
How bold were his thoughts! I never ever thought of doing anything like this before. He had the guts to fly our lantern with such pictures in front of everyone then why his grip loosened when I asked him to accompany me to Lanlingjin. Will we be always hiding our love from world or there will be a day when we will be one in front of our realm
Donning my night robes, I slept dreaming about Yuan, our time in Cloud Recess together. Earlier I forced myself to divert my thoughts so I dont have anymore nightmares. But, I dint realize when he became part of my dream then part of my life and now my life in few months. I love you and it will always be Only You.
After coming to Lanlingjin for few days I asked disciples if there are any issues reported by localities. Visiting few lookout towers, I tried to gather information about any hassels faced by pranks of demons, ghosts or corpses.
Once in our dormitory I and Wu Xin were discussing about what a sect leader should do and in general about Lanlingjin. He shared his story and I liked his viewpoint. "There were many people who came to temple telling god how they were harassed by demons and corpses. If you visit your sect as one of them and not as sect leader you may understand the true picture".
Considering Wu Xin's opnion I went out in normal clothes with my cannister filled with swords on my back and hiding my sword with cloth. I enquired with few vendors and nearby villagers whether they are facing any issues with corpses.
One of the villager - "In the nearby village, few corpses of domestic cows are destroying farm fields".
"Why dont you tell this to sect leader?"
"Who? Sect leader? He is just a spoilt brat. He doesn't listen to anyone. To trap few demons he will set deity binding nets trapping everyone - both villagers and demons. Like his uncle who knows he may just hit us with hunter. Having him as sect leader is same as having none".
In continuity of keeping my identity secret, "I know sect leader personally. I will convey him your problems. Maybe he might help you".
"Even if you are dressed like us, you look delicate. And you have vermilion mark on your head like the cultivators of our sect. I felt it that you too belong to cultivation sect".
Thanking her for sharing information I tried to convince her that if there are any such trivial matters of hassels faced by demons, zombies or corpses then inform sect leader. He will surely help you.
Moving towards the farm I hunted corpses of cows. I continued roaming the sect as a nearby resident and solving issues.
After two months I came to Yunmeng. Fairy had given birth to three puppies. I and uncle named them - Jasmine, Pretty and Princeling.
On dinner table I got to know from uncle that there was a demon hiding under sea inside Zhang yu cave. The demon residing inside had body of Octopus and neck of Salamander looking as giant as the one which was inside Xuanyu cave years back. This time it was young master of Lan who slit its throat.
Young master of Lan could be none other than Yuan. I was happy but at same time worried for him. Without wasting a second I left for Gusu.
On reaching Gusu I realised he was out with Wen Ning, Wei uncle and other disciples to celebrate their victory. Spending some time with Hanguang-Jun, I realised Yuan is fine. He discussed how is it with me in Lanlingjin and how is uncle Jiang doing? Later in the evening when even Hanguang-Jun was also not sure at what time everyone will return, I left leaving a note for Yuan in his room.
Next few days, I visited lookout towers and stayed there to streamline things. The disciples who were posted in some of the towers were not at all serious of their job. Identifying few casualties in the nearby region we hunted demons together.
On reaching back to Lanlingjin at gates, I saw a young master returning. Stopping him I realised he was left unattended by the disciples. I heard his plea and assured him that the issue will resolved. Scolding them I moved inside the palace. I knew there is huge struggle to discipline and gain trust of commoners in sect.
Inside my room there were three golden butterflies. Letters from Sizhui.
With excitement, I opened the first letter.
"Hey, I got to know from Hanguang-Jun that you had come to Gusu. Why dint you inform earlier? I would have made any excuse and stayed back".
I laughed thinking Yuan making excuses and breaking Gusu rules.
His letter instantly changed my mood. Opening second letter, "I, Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun had been together to resolve a case. Suddenly Wei Wuxian bluffed that only I can guard the door from corpse as the guardian should be virgin. When he doged the question at me I fumbled thinking what should I answer. There was no other choice rather than telling lie. I will say you in detail when we meet next time. It was quite an interesting case".
His third and last letter was short and simple. "Will you join us for night hunting next week?"
Even if it was only few months I haven't met him; still it felt like ages.
Days passed. We met on night hunts. Wei uncle, Yuan and Jingyi accompanied me to resolve Master Qin's case as well. We had our painful past of previous night hunt experience. But, still when we met I couldn't control myself pulling him inside a lone cave away from everyone.