Luna Lian glanced at the beautiful hairpin on Lily Bai's head, her eyes dimming for a moment before she reached out to hug her. "Don't worry. I'll always be by your side."
"You know what? Sometimes I really hate not being a guy," Lily Bai blurted out.
"Why's that?"
"If I were a guy, I'd totally marry you!" Lily Bai declared. "I'd bring the best Luna in the world home!"
Luna Lian burst out laughing. "You? A little immortal like you? Please, I wouldn't even consider you!"
Lily Bai grinned. "Just wait! I'm going to cultivate like crazy!"
...
Hand in hand, the two walked over to the Portal Array leading to the New Divine Realm.
Just then, someone else approached from the side.
Lily Bai's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. "High Immortal Quinn!" she called out.
The newcomer was High Immortal Quinn, who'd once brought gifts for Lily Bai's aunt and even helped them out.
"Saint Maiden Luna, Little Fish," Quinn greeted, bowing to both of them.
"High Immortal Quinn, where are you headed?" Luna Lian asked.
"I'm here to deliver an umbrella," Quinn replied, presenting a rain umbrella to Lily Bai with both hands.
Lily Bai blinked in surprise. "You're... giving me an umbrella?"
"It's snowing heavily in the mortal world," Quinn said, still holding out the umbrella.
"Uh..." Lily Bai accepted it, bowing politely. "Thank you, High Immortal Quinn!"
"I heard Little Fish entered the Wildlands Tribulation Thunder Array. How come you're here now?" Quinn asked.
"We barely made it out," Lily Bai said. "Just me and my junior brother escaped. That place was terrifying! There was no way we could break that array!"
Quinn nodded slightly, not pressing further. Then he turned to Luna Lian, "Saint Maiden Luna, in a few days it'll be Young Lord Adrian Drake's five-thousandth birthday. Will you attend?"
Luna Lian answered, "I'll go if my Mother Goddess tells me to!"
Quinn smiled gently. "The Guardian Drake Lord is usually low-key, but Young Lord Adrian Drake's five-thousandth birthday is the first big celebration since his hundred-year transformation. Even the Divine Lord will attend. Saint Maiden Luna, you really shouldn't miss it."
Luna Lian gave a little smile.
"Oh, and I heard Leo Drake borrowed the Chrono Dial from Southcourt Palace," Quinn added. "Sounds like there'll be plenty of excitement at the banquet!"
Luna Lian's smile faded as she heard this, her breath growing a little uneven.
Lily Bai shot her a curious look.
After some casual chatter, Quinn smiled at Lily Bai, "Little Fish, the snow in the North Wilds is pretty fierce. Don't let yourself freeze out there. Farewell."
Lily Bai gave an awkward smile and bowed, watching him leave.
So... was High Immortal Quinn interested in her?
Otherwise, why would he randomly give her an umbrella?
"Luna," Lily Bai called softly.
"Hmm?" Luna Lian seemed a bit distracted.
"Next time you see High Immortal Quinn, could you gently mention that... I've already got a family lined up for a future betrothal ceremony?" Lily Bai said. "But make it subtle, okay?"
Luna Lian paused, then burst out laughing. "What are you thinking? He's been married for ages! He's got several kids already!"
"Huh?" Lily Bai weighed the umbrella in her hand. "Then why'd he give me an umbrella?"
Luna Lian bit her lip, then said in a gentle voice, "An umbrella's not just for rain—it's a promise to keep you safe, no matter what blows your way."
When someone gives you an umbrella, they're saying, 'I'll be your shelter. I'll keep you safe from all the storms.'
Lily Bai blinked. "Huh?"
"Or maybe it really is just snowing hard outside," Luna Lian backtracked quickly. "As a Divine Attendant close to the Divine Lord, Quinn's just being a good host, making sure a visiting cultivator doesn't freeze."