Volume One: All Things Awaken, and Every Season is Spring Chapter Twenty-Two: A Rendezvous After Dusk, When the Moon Hangs on the Willow’s Tip

After bidding farewell at Zhao Tiansheng’s small residence, Lin Xi shoved the car keys into Mo Wen’s hand and slid into the passenger seat herself. Sword Dog, grinning shamelessly, hopped into the backseat, sprawling out comfortably.

“Alright!” Mo Wen dutifully assumed the role of driver. It was rush hour in Modu, and the roads were choked with traffic. The interminable wait at the traffic lights left Lin Xi feeling drowsy; she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest.

“What’s special about March 1st?” Mo Wen asked suddenly. Lin Xi slowly opened her eyes, her answer casual: “My father’s sixtieth birthday.”

Mo Wen was so startled he almost rear-ended the car in front, slamming on the brakes. Caught off guard, Lin Xi jerked forward, nearly hitting her nose on the dashboard.

“Are you trying to kill me?” Lin Xi glared, clearly displeased by Mo Wen’s reaction. Mo Wen swallowed nervously. “Meet the parents? Isn’t this a bit soon? I haven’t even graduated yet!” He sneaked a glance at Lin Xi, gauging her mood.

Lin Xi stretched lazily, her face expressionless. “Go if you want, don’t if you don’t.”

Mo Wen chuckled sheepishly and dropped the subject. What should have been a half-hour drive dragged on for over an hour. When they finally arrived at Ziyuan—Lin Xi’s home—Mo Wen was already familiar with the routine: he fetched slippers from the cabinet, hung up his jacket, and flopped down comfortably on the sofa.

“Lin, what’s for dinner?” The scene was reminiscent of a man returning home after a long day at work, warm and quietly sweet. But Sword Dog chose that moment to chime in, “Got any meat, old lady?”

The term “old lady” nearly made Lin Xi explode. She hurled a bunch of greens at Sword Dog, who caught them nonchalantly and spat them out with a scoff.

After half an hour of bustling in the kitchen, four exquisite dishes were placed on the table, and Sword Dog finally got his wish—a generous piece of meat.

Thinking about his future father-in-law’s upcoming birthday, Mo Wen pondered what gift he could offer. The only thing of value was the Zelin medicine he’d obtained from Mount Emei. He retrieved it from the coal ball, only to find the piece had shrunk noticeably—apparently, the coal ball had nibbled at it. Still, it was presentable. Mo Wen found a ginseng box at Lin Xi’s home and carefully packed the medicine.

After dinner, it was still early. Sword Dog, noticing the increasing intimacy between the two, muttered something about “shameless pair” and went to sleep on the balcony.

Mo Wen mentioned several times that he should return to school, and Lin Xi offered to drive him, but neither made a move. One was reluctant to leave, the other unwilling to let go. Their eyes met—and Mo Wen finally leaned in for a kiss.

Lin Xi’s breathing grew ragged, her body flushed, trembling with nervous anticipation. The air between them thickened with a new tension. Lin Xi dared not meet Mo Wen’s gaze, her voice barely audible.

“To the bedroom.”

Like a frog leap, Mo Wen swept Lin Xi into his arms. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, high heels already kicked aside to reveal sheer black stockings. Mo Wen tossed her onto the soft bed, hooking the door closed with his foot.

Outside, the new moon hung in the sky, a perfect reflection of the springtime gleam in Lin Xi’s eyes.

When Mo Wen awoke, it was already ten in the morning. The warmth beside him lingered, a faint fragrance still in the air, bearing silent witness to the night’s wild abandon. Rising to wash up, he found Lin Xi had thoughtfully laid out a towel, toothbrush, even an unopened razor.

The congee and flatbreads in the pot were still warm. Mo Wen couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Xi, so gentle and attentive.

He took out his phone and sent her a message. She replied after a long while, succinctly: “At work!”

She’d left the car for him. Mo Wen took Sword Dog, bought some gifts at random, and even managed to snag a meal at Aunt Zhao’s house. Not only Mo Wen, but Sword Dog, too, ate until they were both stuffed, barely able to move.

Bored, Mo Wen decided to buy some new clothes, when suddenly Lin Xi called.

Mi Lu had arrived in Modu.

Clearly, Mo Wen was growing more adept in his role as driver. Lin Xi instructed him to pick up Mi Lu, adding pointedly, “Little brother, keep it proper!”

A blunt warning. Mo Wen rubbed his nose, grabbed the pup, turned the wheel, and headed for the train station right on time.

At the south exit of Modu South Station, Mo Wen spotted Mi Lu in the distance, dragging her suitcase and glancing anxiously at her phone. Mo Wen pulled up in front of her and let out a playful whistle. “Hey beautiful, how about coming home with me?”

Mi Lu, recognizing him, covered her mouth to hide a laugh. She put her suitcase in the trunk and slid into the passenger seat.

“Handsome, anywhere you want to go! Let’s hit the road.”

Mi Lu flirted right back, but Mo Wen was no longer the naïve rookie he’d been at the police academy. Just as he was about to retort, a chill ran down his spine—a sense of being watched, hair-raising and ominous.

The car shot forward like a rocket as Mo Wen wove through traffic, but the feeling of being surveilled wouldn’t abate. Mi Lu complained about his reckless driving, but Mo Wen’s face was grim. “Shut up,” he snapped.

Pedal to the floor, he raced through the city. The sense of pursuit grew ever closer. Even Sword Dog gazed warily out the window, eyes full of dread.

If you asked Mo Wen where in Modu was safest, it would be the Transportation Academy. But it was too far to reach quickly. Another option came to mind: police headquarters.

On the elevated expressway, the traffic thinned. A terrifying pressure pressed down. Out of nowhere, a giant hand descended from the sky, crashing toward the front of Mo Wen’s car. He slammed the brakes just in time to avoid being flattened.

A thunderous crash—the overpass shattered as the hand struck, tons of concrete flying through the air, crushing nearby cars into sheets of metal. Mi Lu screamed in terror.

Mo Wen recognized the hand instantly. The Murong clan of Gusu—Murong Xiuwo!

With the way ahead blocked, Mo Wen told Mi Lu to stay in the car. He opened the door and strode forward, raising his voice to the sky. “Murong Xiuwo! You’d better kill me today, or I swear I’ll wipe out your entire clan!”

Surprisingly, Sword Dog, who usually bullied the weak and feared the strong, also leapt out, standing by Mo Wen’s side. The giant hand loomed overhead again; Mo Wen gathered all his inner strength, raised both hands to the sky, and struck with all his mig