I didn't understand what Long Lin was trying to say, and I didn't want to either.
I kept trying to light the fire.
The two of them watched me tirelessly trying to start a fire but failing every time.
In the past, they would have laughed at me mercilessly, but today, for some reason, instead of laughing, there was worry on their faces.
I gave Long Lin a silly smile and said, "Normally, Gu Yuan lights the fire. I rarely do it. But it's okay. He should be back soon. You two just wait a little longer... Hehe..."
After saying that, I turned back to focus on starting the fire. I patiently blew on the kindling and then put it into the stove.
But no matter how hard I tried, the fire would go out as soon as it reached the edge of the stove. Long Lin couldn't stand it anymore. He stood up, snatched the kindling from my hand, and pulled me to sit on the stool.
"Forget it. Don't light it. We're not thirsty."
"Yeah... Without Gu Yuan, I'm just a useless person in daily life..." I sat on the stool, lowering my head. I didn't know what to say to him, so I just kept fidgeting with my fingers.
"How could you be? You're very capable, Lan Lan... The Celestial Realm needs you. Come back to the Celestial Realm with me." Long Lin's voice was full of concern and tenderness.
"No way. Lan Lan has to come back to the City of Eternal Night with me." As soon as Jun He heard that Long Lin wanted to take me away, he immediately got anxious.
"The Celestial Realm is leaderless now. Lan Lan, you're the spirit of the snake scales and are meant to be the ruler of the Three Realms. Now that you've restored order, you're the best candidate for the position of the Celestial Emperor in the Celestial Realm..."
"What a joke. What's so good about the Celestial Realm? It's full of old-fashioned and rigid Taoist priests. Lan Lan is the goddess of our Netherworld. The goddess statue is proof. So she has to come back to the City of Eternal Night with me."
They kept arguing back and forth, which made my ears ache. I covered my ears and didn't want to listen to their argument anymore.
"Come on, come on. Stop talking. I'm not going anywhere. Gu Yuan will be back soon. I'm going to wait for him here. You two should leave quickly."
"Lan Lan, elder brother he..." Long Lin wanted to say something else, but Jun He stopped him.
Long Lin was very helpless. His peach blossom eyes were full of sadness. He raised his hand and gently tapped on my forehead. I only felt a warm sensation on my forehead, and then he withdrew his finger.
"The peach blossom curse has been lifted. I'm sorry for making you bear so much. Now that the Celestial Realm is in turmoil, I have to go back immediately to deal with it. I'll come to see you in a few days."
Long Lin raised his hand and stroked the back of my head, then turned around and left the cave first.
Jun He tilted his head and looked at me, with his signature smile on his face.
"Lan Lan, my goddess. He's not competing with me anymore. Are you going to come back with me?" He still looked so annoying.
"I've said it. Gu Yuan will be back soon. I'm not going anywhere. I'll just wait for him here."
"It's too cold here. The firewood is all wet and won't light. You'll freeze to death." Jun He got anxious. Seeing that gentle persuasion didn't work, he resorted to force.
"I've said it. Gu Yuan will be back soon..."
"He's dead..." Before I could finish my sentence, Jun He interrupted me. These three words were like three steel knives stabbing at my heart.
I raised my hand and slapped Jun He. "Slap..." Five finger marks appeared on Jun He's face.
"You're lying. He's not dead..."
Jun He rubbed his cheek and pressed his tongue against his cheek. Without saying a word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside.
No matter how I struggled, he just wouldn't let go.
"I don't believe I can't handle you." He was going to drag me back to the Netherworld.
Just as we were in a stalemate, A Yin suddenly appeared in front of us.
"Jun He, what are you doing? You're hurting Lan Lan." She stepped forward and shook off Jun He's hand, then looked at me with concern.
"Lan Lan... Let me see. Did he hurt you?"
I bit my lower lip and shook my head at A Yin.
She dusted off the dirt on my body and then took out a tissue to wipe the dirt off my face.
"How did you get like this? If Third Master saw this, he'd surely scold you for being slovenly again."
"Really? Is my face very dirty?"
A Yin took out a small mirror and let me look at my face. Sure enough, there were black smudges around my mouth like a beard.
I quickly snatched the tissue and wiped the dirt off my face vigorously. For some reason, without even thinking, tears welled up in my eyes and flowed down my cheeks.
Jun He looked worried and wanted to step forward to wipe the tears off my face. I subconsciously took a step back, afraid that he would drag me away again.
A Yin gave Jun He a look, signaling him not to come closer.
"Lan Lan... How about I go to the City of Eternal Night with you?" She asked gently.
Before I could refuse, she continued, "I heard that today is the Sky Lantern Festival in the Netherworld. All the common people will release a sky lantern for their loved ones at the Goddess Temple. You and Third Master are so in love. Don't you want to release one for the two of you?"
Sky lanterns, making wishes. Right! Gu Yuan had also said before that after everything was over, he would take me to the Netherworld to release a sky lantern just like the one on the River of Forgetfulness.
Now that he hadn't come back, I could secretly release one for him first. It would be a surprise for him when he came back.
"Okay. I'll go with you." I gave A Yin a smile and said firmly.
As soon as Jun He heard this, his worried face immediately broke into a smile.
"Right. Hurry up. If we don't go, it might be too late."
"Wait... I have to leave a note for Gu Yuan. I'm afraid he'll be worried if he comes back and can't find me."
I quickly ran back into the cave, left the note, and then rushed out.
Jun He heaved a heavy sigh but didn't say anything. He took the two of us and turned into a dark shadow, disappearing from the entrance of the cave.
It was always night in the Netherworld. As soon as we arrived, I saw countless sky lanterns hanging in the sky. The sight was simply spectacular.
I simply counted them. There were at least three or five thousand sky lanterns.
Those sky lanterns with wishes written on them were floating beside the goddess statue. It seemed as if they were praying for their loved ones, but more like they were praying for the goddess statue.
"Lan Lan... Wait here for a while. I'll go buy the sky lanterns."
"A Yin... Go with Jun He." I pushed A Yin.
"I'd better stay with you..." A Yin was a bit worried about me, afraid that I couldn't handle things alone.
"Don't worry. I just want to take a walk alone..." I pushed A Yin's hand. If she didn't go quickly, Jun He would be out of sight.
"Lan Lan, then don't go too far. I'll be back soon."
I nodded. With my hands in my pockets, I took a stroll on the stone bridge. Looking into the distance, the red moon was hanging high, as if competing for glory with the sky lantern on the River of Forgetfulness.
Thanks to the light of the red moon, I noticed that there was a small fluorescent green firefly flying around the sky lantern.
On the day Gu Yuan left, a firefly also appeared beside me. Now, there was also one around the sky lantern. This was just too much of a coincidence.