Chapter 166: Grand Celebration Day

As the memories faded, Gu Qingyi let out a soft sigh. He reached out to gently pat Nangong Lin’s head, his tone brimming with affection.

“There, there, my dear Lian’er. If you keep crying like this, it’ll break my heart. I might just have to lick those tears away from your eyes!”

Nangong Lin’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Gu Qingyi, disbelief written all over her face.

“Oh, you! In just two and a half years, you’ve gone and picked up bad habits out there, haven’t you?” she huffed, grabbing both of Gu Qingyi’s ears with an indignant pout.

“Come on, Lian’er, give me a little face here. We’ve got tens of thousands of eyes watching us down there.”

“Hmph! I don’t care!”

Nangong Wentian and the White-Clad Fairy, who had been chatting casually nearby, along with the gathered disciples, all froze in stunned silence at the sight.

A young male disciple couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, the Holy Maiden is fierce! One wrong word, and she’s already yanking the Saint’s ears. All I can say is… impressive!”

“If I remember right, isn’t the Saint already at the mid-tier level of Peerless Sword God? And the Holy Maiden is only at the third level of Sword Saint Realm, right?”

An older male disciple scratched his head, utterly baffled, his mind buzzing with confusion.

“I thought no one would dare mess with someone as powerful as the Saint. Yet here we are, watching the Holy Maiden drag him around. What a spectacle!”

“Hey, kid, you don’t even get the gossip right. What do you mean ‘drag him around’? It’s clearly the power of love at work!”

“Nonsense! You’re just a newbie. What do you know? I was one of the first to join the Heavenly Martial Sacred Land. How could you possibly understand more than me?”

“Oh, really now? As far as I know, the Saint hasn’t even been at the Sanctuary for the past two and a half years. And you think you know everything?”

“You little contrarian! I’ve had enough. Today, I’m teaching you a lesson!”

Nangong Wentian gazed down at the crowd below, nearly ready to throw punches over their gossip. With a helpless sigh, he sent a private message to Nangong Lin.

“Look here, my precious daughter, what are you doing? Let go of Gu, will you? This isn’t the time for your little lovers’ spat…”

“Fine, I get it!”

Nangong Lin pouted for a moment before gently releasing her grip. With a light turn, she spun away from him.

“Lian’er, it’s been two and a half years, and you’ve blossomed even more. You seem so much more mature now. And your hair… it carries the faint scent of jasmine.”

Gu Qingyi stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He lifted a strand of her hair and inhaled softly.

As his hand brushed against her softness, a tingling sensation shot through him. Unable to resist, he gave a gentle squeeze to her striking curves.

“Heh, Lian’er, this feels so soft, like I’m holding something precious.”

“Gu—Qing—Yi, you jerk!”

Nangong Lin’s face flushed crimson as anger flared within her. Without hesitation, she swung a slap toward Gu Qingyi’s left cheek.

But in the next instant, Gu Qingyi caught her hand mid-air. Not missing a beat, he lifted her delicate fingers to his lips and blew on them playfully.

“Lian’er, my face is tough as leather. If you hurt your little hand by accident, your future husband would be heartbroken,” he teased with a sly grin.

“You scoundrel! We’re not even married yet. What husband are you talking about? This isn’t over!” Nangong Lin gritted her teeth and yanked her hand free.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing. In a little while, I’ll come to propose properly. I’m sure Uncle Nangong will agree, and then we’ll be official, won’t we?”

“You jerk! My cultivation isn’t even high enough yet. Why do you keep bringing this up? Besides, I’m only in my early twenties. I haven’t seen the world yet!”

“That’s perfect, then. Once we’re married, I’ll take you to explore mountains and rivers. We’ll be a pair of lovebirds the whole world envies. How does that sound?”

Down below, the crowd watched as Gu Qingyi and Nangong Lin bickered in mid-air for a good fifteen minutes, even flaunting their affection right in front of everyone.

For a moment, they were dumbfounded, unsure if they’d come to attend the Grand Celebration Day or to be force-fed public displays of affection.

Yet, oddly enough, they didn’t mind this sweetness. Instead, a flicker of envy sparked within them, as if love was meant to be just like this.

Nangong Wentian glanced at the time, his aged face darkening with a hint of irritation. Deciding enough was enough, he sent a sharp message to the pair.

“Lian’er, Gu, haven’t you two had enough? I know it’s been a long time since you’ve seen each other.”

“But there are more important matters at hand. The celebration is about to start. Hurry down already!”

Gu Qingyi and Nangong Lin instantly stopped their playful squabble, scratching their heads with a touch of embarrassment.

“Understood, Holy Master. I’ll bring Lian’er down right away.” Gu Qingyi nodded, then extended a hand to Nangong Lin. “Let’s go, Lian’er.”

“Hmph! I don’t need your help. I have my own feet. I’ll go down myself.” Nangong Lin turned away and vanished from the spot in a flash.

Gu Qingyi watched her figure disappear, shaking his head with a faint smile before following close behind.

Their forms streaked across the sky like two brilliant meteors, descending gracefully to the ground.

The disciples on-site swarmed forward the moment they landed, surrounding the pair in an impenetrable crowd within seconds.

Some were so overwhelmed with excitement they nearly fainted. The crowd split into two fervent groups—female disciples swooning over Gu Qingyi, and male disciples captivated by Nangong Lin.

“Wow! Mom, I’ve made it! I finally saw the Saint in the flesh!”

“The Holy Maiden is truly breathtaking, rivaling even the White-Clad Fairy! Her beauty defies description!”

“You don’t get it. The White-Clad Fairy is an ice queen, but our Holy Maiden is lively and bright. She’s like a little sun, warming my heart!”

Nangong Wentian’s face turned green with frustration as he watched the scene unfold. He couldn’t fathom how a perfectly good Grand Celebration Day had turned into such a chaotic mess.

The event had been delayed for so long and still hadn’t started, all because of Gu Qingyi, who had vanished for two and a half years. He was on the verge of losing his temper.

Sensing the chill radiating from him, the White-Clad Fairy shivered and quickly stepped in to mediate.

“Holy Master, don’t let this upset you. It’s not worth harming your health over such trifles. Let me handle this.”

“Very well, I’ll leave it entirely to you, White-Clad Fairy. I’m a bit weary. I’ll take my seat for now.”

Nangong Wentian gave a satisfied nod, flicked his sleeve, and vanished. In the next moment, his figure appeared on the Holy Master’s throne.

The White-Clad Fairy breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to the noisy crowd below, her tone sharpened with authority.

“Everyone, quiet down! Today is the Sanctuary’s Grand Celebration Day, not a marketplace. You’re squawking like vegetable vendors outside. What kind of decorum is this?”

The once-rowdy scene fell silent in an instant. Everyone exchanged glances, hardly daring to breathe.

Seeing this, the White-Clad Fairy nodded with satisfaction. Her voice rang out loud and clear. “I declare the annual Grand Celebration Day officially open!”

As her words echoed, the Tianwu Arena was suddenly engulfed in a sea of red. Brilliant, multicolored lights dazzled the eyes.

A massive red carpet unfurled like flowing clouds across the ground.

Then, wave after wave of enchanting celestial music filled the air, while petals fluttered down from the sky.

Dozens of women in white robes with flowing sashes descended like fairies from the heavens. They glided into view, dancing gracefully amidst the ocean of melody.

Their movements were light and elegant, like butterflies fluttering or petals drifting in the breeze.

Every gesture brimmed with poetry, every turn exuded an ethereal charm.

The male disciples stared in a daze, their jaws slack and drool pooling on the ground. They yearned to rush forward and dance with these celestial maidens.

The female disciples, meanwhile, were filled with awe and admiration. Many dreamed of becoming one of those dancing fairies themselves.