As the villagers of Xiushui Village were about to exchange New Year's greetings with their families, they suddenly noticed flashes of light in the night sky, followed by a series of loud "bangs." At first, some villagers, startled and fearful, thought it might be thunder. But when they looked up, they were met with a dazzling display of colors.
Huge fireworks blossomed across the ink-black sky, brilliant and spectacular. The initial fear in the villagers' hearts slowly gave way to awe as they were captivated by the breathtaking scene above them. These enormous floral bursts, each different from the last, were colors they had never seen before.
Although each firework was fleeting, another even more beautiful one would immediately take its place. The villagers' eyes reflected the brief, magnificent displays, as if these ephemeral bursts were filling the voids in their lives, painting a surprising dream for their New Year.
The children, unlike the adults, were not as shocked. After a brief moment of surprise, they were filled with joy. Children don't suppress their emotions—they screamed and shouted excitedly in response to the booming fireworks. Covering their ears, they ran out of their homes, eager to find their friends and celebrate under the unprecedentedly lively night sky.
As they burst out of their doors, they saw that their neighbors' children had done the same, and soon the village was filled with bands of kids chasing and playing under the fireworks, their faces full of happiness as they looked up at the sky.
On the mountain, the elders, after Lin Xiao's earlier announcement, had been eagerly anticipating what the youngsters were planning. They had their own guesses, but the sight that met their eyes still took them by surprise.
Even Liao Pantou and Liu Chun were amazed. They had seen countless dazzling sights in the cultivation world, many far more magnificent than this. But what moved them was the shared joy that these young ones were creating.
In the past, they had never thought that their cultivation—beyond self-preservation and striving for advancement—could be used for something like this. It wasn't until they met Lin Xiao and joined Lingxian Sect that they realized: cultivation could also be about sharing joy with others, with friends and family.
They imagined that the young cultivators must be filled with immense happiness right now. And indeed, as Lin Xiao and the others watched the fireworks they had created bloom across the sky from their hidden spots in the village, they were filled with satisfaction.
The entire village was enjoying the spectacle they had brought to life. They thought that, as Lin Xiao had said, the villagers must be feeling something called happiness.
He Siyou, who was standing in his courtyard with his wife and daughter, was equally stunned by the fireworks. Holding his wife close as they sat on the stone platform in their small courtyard, He Siyou murmured, "This... this must be a fairyland..."
Although he had seen fireworks before, these were nothing like the small, dim ones he had known. The fireworks he had once thought so beautiful, which he had eagerly taken his wife and daughter to see during festivals, now seemed dull in comparison.
These fireworks were as large as blooming peonies, filling the entire sky above Xiushui Village. Their colors and shapes were constantly changing.
"Dad, look! It's a rabbit!" His daughter, He Shaojun, was overwhelmed by the display, her small head swiveling back and forth, afraid to miss a single firework.
After about a quarter of an hour, the fireworks began to taper off, and everyone sensed that the show was coming to an end. The sky wasn't as filled with as many patterns, and the frequency of bursts decreased. Although there was a sense of reluctance, everyone understood that such beauty, lasting as long as it did, was more than enough.
Beautiful things are precious because they are rare.
Of course, this was the sentiment among the villagers. The elders on the mountain, like Liao Pantou, knew the real reason: the children had exhausted their spiritual power. The remaining fireworks were likely the work of the most powerful among them—Lin Xiao, Jiang Youfu, and Sun Yigao.
Indeed, as expected, everyone else had already run out of spiritual energy and joined the village children in their games. Only Lin Xiao, Jiang Youfu, and Sun Yigao continued to light up the sky.
However, they had agreed not to deplete all their energy, deciding that half an hour would be enough.
So, as the fireworks show was about to conclude, the villagers noticed that the fireworks suddenly changed from various patterns to words.
In Village Chief Du's house, his three-year-old grandson tugged at his sleeve and asked in a soft, innocent voice, "Grandpa, are those words?"
Chief Du smiled warmly and nodded, "Yes, my clever little boy. Those words say 'Fu Shou An Kang.'"
"Fu Shou An Kang? What does that mean, Grandpa?"
"It means that you and everyone in our village will live long, healthy, and peaceful lives."
Meanwhile, in He's courtyard, He Siyou's daughter was pulling at his sleeve excitedly, pointing to the sky, "Dad, look! 'Ping An Xi Le'! That's our teacher's handwriting! It has to be!"
His daughter, He Shaojun, had been studying under Sun Yigao, so she recognized his calligraphy immediately.
He Siyou raised an eyebrow, teasing her, "It looks just like the ones sold in the market. How can you be so sure?"
His daughter, arms crossed and full of pride, retorted, "No way! Our teacher's handwriting is the best! Every stroke carries a unique charm, far better than those ordinary prints."
Her mother, Madam He, laughed, "No wonder you haven't been practicing your calligraphy at home. You must think those practice sheets aren't as good as your teacher's writing."
He Siyou, who doted on his only child, had always wanted to give her the best education. Even though private schools initially refused her admission, he ensured she received proper training from a young age. So, He Shaojun's keen eye for calligraphy was not surprising.
Seeing her so delighted, He Shaojun exclaimed, "Dad, Mom, let me tell you, our teacher is amazing! His lessons are nothing like the ones we had before—he can explain everything so well and make learning fun. And on top of that, he's an immortal! He knows magic!"