Sharing the Breeze and Moonlight Today
"Where's Senior Sister? Off wandering again?"
In Sheng Mansion, ever since Xu Shulou shrank in size, this conversation repeated almost daily.
Feng Yi shielded his eyes as he gazed at the sky: "Up there."
Bai Roushuang followed his line of sight and looked up, just in time to see a swallow swoop by, tossing something from its beak. Bai Roushuang caught it deftly and found her tiny senior sister in her palm. She straightened Xu Shulou’s collar, which had been ruffled by the swallow’s grip. "Senior Sister, how did you end up being carried off by a swallow?"
Xu Shulou sighed. "I hinted that I wanted to hitch a ride, but it only understood half my intention—so it just flew around with me in its beak."
Bai Roushuang chuckled. "But you can still fly even when you're small, can’t you?"
Xu Shulou shrugged. "Sure, but having a swallow as a mount is way cooler."
Feng Yi grinned. "Has the gecko mount from yesterday already fallen out of favor?"
"Don’t remind me. When danger struck yesterday, that traitorous gecko abandoned me, leaving only its severed tail behind," Xu Shulou lamented, shaking her head. "And I hadn’t even gotten around to scolding it for leading me into a rat’s nest."
"..." At the mention of a rat’s nest, Bai Roushuang’s hand trembled slightly.
"Don’t worry, I’ve bathed," Xu Shulou reassured, hugging her junior sister’s finger. "Miss Sheng made me a little bathtub."
"She also crafted you a table, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, a wooden bed, a screen, and even carved a tiny wooden sword," Bai Roushuang said, glancing skyward. "Given more time, I think she’d have built you an entire house."
"Yeah, Miss Sheng is so kind and talented," Xu Shulou replied cheerfully, oblivious to the implications.
She fluttered onto Bai Roushuang’s shoulder and sat down, swinging her legs. Xu Shulou was in high spirits—whenever there was no one standing in her way that needed slaying, she was always happy.
Now that she was tiny, Sheng Mansion had transformed into a vast new world for her. In just a few days, she had already pestered every snake, insect, rat, and ant in the vicinity. The day before yesterday, Jiang Yan had rescued her from a spiderweb while passing through the garden. The day before that, Shan Yu had fished her out of the pond after she was chased by fish mistaking her for food. And the day before that, Ji Ci had noticed the mansion’s swans brawling with the neighbor’s geese—with Xu Shulou standing proudly on the lead swan’s back, seemingly orchestrating the fight.
Everyone agreed that if they took her back to the sprawling Dustless Island, it wouldn’t be surprising if she disappeared for months at a time.
Bai Roushuang eyed her mischievously. "Senior Sister, let’s go change your clothes."
"Why? I just changed into this dress two hours ago." Xu Shulou fluttered in front of her junior sister, spinning to show off her emerald-green dress with silver trim. Sheng’s Mother had personally picked the fabric, and since sewing tiny dresses was both fun and effortless, she and her maids had made over a dozen in one go.
Bai Roushuang couldn’t help but clutch her chest.
"Miss Xu," Sheng’s Mother called from the corridor, having just arrived in time to witness the display. She approached with a smile. "This morning, I had the servants gather dew and flower nectar. Would you care to join us for dinner?"
Dew and nectar? Xu Shulou suspected Sheng’s Mother had mistaken her for a mythical fairy. She shook her head. "I prefer hearty meals—meat and fish!"
"Of course, of course! Whatever you like, I’ll have the kitchen prepare it," Sheng’s Mother agreed readily, extending her hand. "Miss Bai, might I... ahem... take care of her for a while?"
"..."
Xu Shulou tilted her head suspiciously, studying Sheng’s Mother’s earnest expression before finally fluttering over to land in her palm. "Where are you taking me?"
"I’ve sewn a few more dresses for you. Shall we try them on?"
"I’m coming too!" Bai Roushuang chimed in before Xu Shulou could respond.
"...Maybe just the two of you should go?"
Carried into the room on Sheng’s Mother’s palm, Xu Shulou found Sheng Wuyou waiting inside. After changing into a crimson pleated skirt, Sheng Wuyou dipped a clean brush tip into vermilion and painted a delicate floral design on Xu Shulou’s forehead. She then adorned her hair with a tiny silk hibiscus and a custom-made golden hairpin before stepping back to admire her handiwork. It took every ounce of her refined upbringing to resist poking Xu Shulou’s cheeks. "Perfect!"
Surrounded by their doting, Xu Shulou had no choice but to resign herself to being their living doll.
Dinner featured her favorite black bean steamed ribs—a signature dish of the mansion’s chef, tender and flavorful. Unfortunately, she could only manage two small bites before feeling full. Afterward, Sheng Wuyou served her a plate of crescent-cut pears, grapes, dates, and peeled pomegranate seeds.
Xu Shulou felt like she was living the life of a pampered noble—clothes brought to her, meals fed to her.
Though she repeatedly assured everyone she could take care of herself, they never seemed convinced.
Occasionally, she’d sneak out hidden in Bai Roushuang’s clothes. Other times, Sheng Wuyou took her on carriage rides through town. And sometimes, she simply floated above the streets, high enough that passersby below mistook her for a brightly colored bird.
If she spotted something she liked at a market stall, she’d hover overhead and mentally nudge her junior siblings to make the purchase.
She never neglected her martial training either, practicing daily with the wooden sword Sheng Wuyou had carved. But whether skilled or not, everyone loved watching her train—Xu Shulou assumed it was because her swordplay looked exceptionally dashing. Pleased with herself, she’d always end her sessions with a haughty glance or a cool pose to cement her majestic image.
Bai Roushuang had already sent word to Dustless Island. The masters, upon learning of Xu Shulou’s condition, were brainstorming solutions.
Back at Sheng Mansion, Errong had returned. Youthful emotions ran swift and deep—after a tearful reunion hug with Sheng Wuyou, she quickly bounced back to her usual cheerful self.
The incident had stirred the cultivation world. Led by Qingcheng Sect, major sects established strict rules against cultivators harming mortals, with severe punishments for violations.
How effective this would be remained to be seen. Even a madman like Shen Zhuang knew to hide his crimes—Xu Shulou doubted such formal decrees would change much.
Yet amid the shifting tides outside, their days in Sheng Mansion remained peaceful.
The Sheng family never once found their presence burdensome. Even when Xu Shulou mentioned leaving, they insisted she stay longer.
Before they knew it, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. Following mortal customs, they joined the Sheng family in admiring the moon and osmanthus blossoms before heading out to see the lantern displays.
The city brimmed with fragrant osmanthus blooms, its countless lanterns rivaling the starry sky above.
On a whim, they brought wine to the outskirts to release sky lanterns. Each person took up a brush to inscribe their wishes upon the glowing paper.
The outskirts were dotted with small groups of people, many taking advantage of the festive occasion to release lanterns and make wishes.
Bai Roushuang didn’t hesitate, quickly writing down her own wish before turning to her senior sister. "What’s your wish? Let me write it for you. Wait—is it still ‘peace across the three realms’?"
Xu Shulou smiled and nodded. "What did you write?"
Bai Roushuang shifted slightly, revealing the Kongming lantern behind her. On it was written a simple phrase: "May every year be as joyful as today." She grinned. "I truly have nothing else to ask for."
"Qixi Festival is for praying for love. At the very least, one should wish for personal cultivation breakthroughs." Bai Roushuang’s words from years ago in Tianshui Town still echoed in her mind. Now, she no longer sought love and understood that cultivation depended solely on herself.
Seasons had passed, the words still lingered, but she was no longer the same person as before.
"Hey, I’ll sit on the lantern, and you can release me with it," Xu Shulou suddenly suggested.
"Senior sister, that’s dangerous!"
"What’s so dangerous about it? Come on, let’s do it!"
"……"
Amidst laughter and exasperation, the group released Xu Shulou along with the lantern. She soared into the sky, her robes fluttering, looking almost like an immortal ascending to the heavens. At the peak of her flight, she let herself fall, mimicking the flight of a bird as she glided through the air before finally landing.
Bai Roushuang’s eyes sparkled. "I want to—"
Xu Shulou immediately cut her off. "Don’t even think about it."
Sheng Wuyou chuckled. "Miss Bai, what were you thinking?"
Bai Roushuang wrinkled her nose at Xu Shulou. Having failed in her earlier plan involving a rabbit hat, she now hatched another scheme. "I want to make a pair of little wings for senior sister. She’d look adorable wearing them."
Xu Shulou raised an eyebrow. "Have I ever reminded you that shrinking my size doesn’t diminish my strength?"
"……"
Song Ping and Sheng Wuyou, hand in hand, released their own lantern together.
Someone teased them, "What did you wish for? Eternal sweetness? Undying affection?"
Sheng Wuyou smiled. "We don’t ask for a lifetime together, only that we live without regrets."
Xu Shulou noticed Sheng’s Mother turning away to discreetly wipe a tear. When it was her turn to release a lantern, she glanced back at her daughter and son-in-law, and everyone knew her wish must be tied to them.
Song Ping wrapped an arm around Sheng Wuyou’s shoulders as the two quietly watched their lantern rise.
During this time, the newlywed lovebirds hadn’t been inseparable, but even in group settings, a single shared glance between them was enough to make everyone feel their sweetness.
Sometimes, Bai Roushuang sat on the veranda with Xu Shulou perched on her shoulder, and seeing such moments would make them smile knowingly.
Now, Feng Yi also smiled faintly, lowering his head to play a bamboo flute. The night breeze brushed against his green robes, his demeanor serene and elegant.
Bai Roushuang gazed up at the full moon and scattered stars. "It’s strange. Back in the mortal world, I always thought things like moon-viewing and lantern-releasing were boring. But now, after traveling the cultivation world and meeting so many people, my horizons have broadened—yet I’ve come to find even the simplest things have their own charm."
Xu Shulou’s eyes held warmth. "I understand."
Feng Yi’s flute melody drifted softly through the night, and distant travelers who had also come to release lanterns began singing in harmony.
The group listened carefully, recognizing it as a song about lovers sharing a deep connection—fitting for the occasion. The lyrics and melody were tender, stirring a gentle warmth in their hearts.
After releasing their lanterns, they shared fine wine they had brought.
"Tonight, we share the breeze and moon—a bond of fate," Sheng’s Father raised his cup in a toast. "I offer this drink to the esteemed members of Dustless Island. Borrowing Master Liu’s words: ‘May heaven and earth alike know joy, year after year, on nights like this!’"
