Story Reader / Festival Event Story / The Night Train on Reunion / Story
Festive Lanterns
>Told you they're just some drunkards. Don't sweat it...
Chiwen just got in touch saying that the night market is going to last for another four hours. Oh boy...
I say we find a restaurant first and treat ourselves first to something nice and hot...
Listen to me, kid. You aren't going to find your mother there...
Hello? Hey? It's so noisy there and I can't hear anything...
The chilly wind traverses through the hustle and bustle of the streets with the aroma of street food, while the nearby fireworks bang and ruffle the red lanterns hanging over the cornices and decorated archway.
There are kids in the distance running around or watching the fireworks from their parents' shoulders, with the elders cursing the chilly wind as they stuff grubs into the kids' hands.
Beyond the bustling street and atop a pavilion, a figure stands leaning against the railings.
Ma'am, I've brought you... Pulao.
Very well.
She stands facing the bone-chilling wind coming in from the street, all the while waiting for Bai Gui to retreat into the shade, leaving a dubious Pulao alone with her.
Qu, however, remains calm and silent—leaving one wondering whether she's noticed the look on Pulao's face, or whether she just doesn't care at all.
Are you Lady Qu?
Working up her courage, Pulao asks the question—and with it, Qu takes her penetrating eyes off the bustling street and looks instead at Pulao, who's keeping a safe distance from Qu in awe.
Those penetrating eyes carry with them a power so strong—stronger than the shackles back on the Nighter.
Why do you ask?
...No, never mind.
Shaking her head, Pulao decides to not press further.
Qu—or "Qu" as Pulao remembers her—stubbornly refused to let the Nighter sail back to Kowloong, and this is from before the Battle of Kowloong.
After the battle, however, the Nighter was docked permanently away from the port, and the people on it slowly built their new home upon Kowloong's ruins. The real "Qu" was never seen making an appearance since, and Kowloong sort of just allowed the people on the Nighter back.
Standing right in front of Pulao now is none other than the Lord of Kowloong herself, except Pulao is uncertain how to face her.
You can doubt whatever you want—including everything you're seeing.
Kowloong, however, is the only thing you need not doubt.
Loneliness grasps Qu—but for a split second only, vanishing before being caught by Pulao.
I'm sure you learned about the situation from Bai Gui on your way here?
Pretty much.
Pulao nods dubiously. She can't find a logical explanation for what's happening at this very moment, but she finds it hard to convince herself that it isn't all just a dream.
Am I... in a dream?
To put it more accurately, everything—including you and I—is a byproduct of Huaxu's calculation, and this is how Huaxu brings back the past and fixes calculations that went wrong.
This happens every year, and he chose to do it on such a special day for ceremonial purposes.
And you are here because you've crossed paths with Huaxu.
History is a mirror that shows the past—one that serves best if kept clean, that is.
Qu runs her hand along the railings, as though trying to rub the metaphorical mirror clean.
This place here is just a virtual space within Huaxu's system.
But it all feels so real...
The smells, feelings, and emotions—all of these come together to form this special day in Kowloong, and all of these were stored into Huaxu a long time ago.
Says Qu as she looks away from Pulao at the lights in the distance.
...Just like a dream, then.
Pulao, too, looks into the fiery red skies in the distance, her tone having softened.
Yes.
Well... when can I leave, then? I want to go back to the ship.
You'll wake up when the calculation ends.
It's just a matter of time—so just treat this as a chance for a break and relax.
Letting out a sigh, Qu returns her gaze to the night sky, lamenting over dreams of the past and future that she can speak of to no one...
Albeit unreal and existing only in the virtual night sky.
