Min Hong locked the door as if he was subconsciously guided by some mysterious, divine and noble law governing the lives of all mortals.

Then he looked towards the best gift he could ever wish the gods gave him.

​​

In fact, if he was to write the only wish he wanted as his birthday gift, he wouldn't wish to be the most powerful cultivator in existence, neither would he ask for long life and prosperity or some sh*t of that sort.

He knew and she knew and even the gods who created him knew that if he was to die today, the only thing that would be his last wish was to spend a single minute more with his only vulnerability in life; Min Qing…

Though, he knows that having such a vulnerability is dangerous, he didn't care one bit.

In fact, he didn't care if he had to die a thousand times just to spend a minute with the only person his heart and every fiber of his being cared about the most.

Min Qing who knew how Min Hong truly felt about her, blushed intensely when she noticed him stutter.

She knew that if Min Hong was superman, then she was his kryptonite, and this made her only pleased as she was happy that Min Hong could value her so much that he would rather die, if it meant that she would be exempted from harm…

Then as if led by the god of stupidity, he asked the dumbest question ever;

"Hi, why are you here?"

But the moment the question came out of his mouth, he realized that he might have just did the stupidest thing ever recorded since the creation of mankind.

But Min Qing instead saw her face turn tomato red as she averted her gaze away from him towards her foot before abruptly staring straight into Min Hong's eyes once again.

Then as if coming to a final decision, she took a step towards Min Hong as she gradually but –oh so slowly- approached the Min Hong whose heart thumped heavily with every step she took.

Though Min Qing's steps were graceful, soft and elegant, within Min Hong's mind and heart those steps felt like several stars and planets were crashing down within his heart sending several intense tremors and quakes through his heart as he gulped once again…

Then when Min Qing got to about three feet away from Min Hong, she softly spoke;

"Even if the one who created us forgets or even if you also fail to remember, I; your only Little Qing, would never forget what today signifies not only in your life, but in both our lives…"

She took one more step and was now so close to Min Hong that he could feel the intense level of shyness that was weighing down on her as she could also hear how rapid his heart was racing…

"Happy birthday, Hong-ge… I wish the heavens grace us which so much luck that we would be able to repeat this statement till it becomes our second nature…"

She wished Min Hong as she planted a neat, innocent and love-filled kiss on Min Hong's 'firm to the eyes but soft to the touch' lips…

The moment her lips touched his, Min Hong felt a bolt run through his lips, up to his brains, short-circuiting his nerves before running down his spine as he got goose bumps.

Though, this was not the first or second or third time they have both kissed, but strangely, this one felt different.

It was like it held another meaning, and transmitted some information entirely different from the usual ones two hormonal teenagers would get.

Min Hong, himself sensed no dirty thoughts from the kiss and neither did he grow any from the deepest depths of his 'vault of lechery', instead he absorbed all the unspoken message Min Qing relayed through it and basked in the warmth of the genuine love the kiss brought.

It wasn't a deep kiss or the world famous 'fbi style' of kissing, it was just a lip to lip, soft, non-aggressive and blissful kiss.

Min Hong then opened his eyes which he had subconsciously closed when he was being showered by Min Qing's love, then he responded softly;

"Thanks a lot, Qing'er. I love you to the unexplored depths of my heart."

Min Qing smiled sweetly as she teared a single drop at Min Hong's confession, then they sealed their feelings with a deep hug.

Min Hong once again basked in the warmth of this 'new born, fresh and deep love' he had now signed Min Qing into.

"I feel like taking a walk through the Tai-Hu Bridge with you, Qing'er…"

Min Hong whispered into her hair as they hug which caused Min Qing to blush from her necks straight up to her tender cheeks.

The way he made that statement appealed to her inner lady; she replayed the sensation of his hot breath brushing against the tiny hairs on her neck before the swishing of his mystical language and words echoed beneath her earlobes.

Then came the tiny numbing sparks of his true emotions which he savagely used to convey that message which instantly put her beneath the spot light of the most romantic and female-fulfilling romance literature ever written before the time of the gods and into our technology-dominated futures.

The 'Tai Hu Bridge'…

A seemingly simple 10 meter long bridge with barricades only 2 feet tall on both sides.

Gently arching over the clear heat springs of the outer sect, decorating its surroundings with the most colorful and scent-billowing flowers.

The flowery vines that weaved around the several 5-metre poles that held the marble clad and painting covered sealing, high above any lovely couples who cared so much to welcome its grandeur as a tourist point.

Put in a much less romantic terms; it would be the place where any true lovely couple in the entire outer sect, would certainly go for a walk on a date…

Min Hong had raised the bar of his feelings for Min Qing to such a high extent that he actually proposed to take her to the 'Tai Hu Bridge'.

A shrine for every lovers in the outer court; in front of so many faces!

He opened himself from the hug and took Min Qing's tomato red cheeks in his hands as he kissed her cuteness, before walking back to the bath to change into a more presentable outfit.

When Min Hong came out, he was clad in a silvery robe with a bluish hue at the chest level which depicted the sky, and the boiling-red, larva-filled land at his thigh area which depicted the earth.

He was in some nice strapped sandals with a few but moderately expensive accessories on his wrists.

He took the damsel Min Qing by her hands as they gracefully marched out of his apartment.

The moment they came out, three shadows actually landed far away from them; it was Long Sha, Mu Bai and Mu Li who were looking at the Min Hong duo head out on a romantic walk.

"I told you they love each other…"

Mu Li said with a smile as Mu Bai sighed at the complications that accompanies love.

But Long Sha only had a happy smirk tear the corners of his lips as he said;

"Let's make sure they are not disturbed. Mu Bai you will take their left flank and make sure no one disturbs them from there…"

"Mu Li, you take their right flanks, block intruders with calm at first and aggression if needed." He added.

"I will secure their backs and prevent intrusion." He finished his tactics.

Instantly, the trio split apart as they began their mission to give the Min Hong duo, their most private date.

Min Hong kept walking as they gradually approached the 'Tai Hu Bridge' but for some strange reasons, this naturally crowded area of the entire outer sect was silent today.

But he shoved the thought to the back of his mind as he enjoyed the blissful feeling that this cupid-blessed bridge brought to his soul.

They walked through the Tai-Hu Bridge unhindered as they kept whispering sweet nothings to themselves whilst exchanging several occasional but embarrassed laughs.

When they both got to the end of the bridge, Min Hong took his time to look at Min Qing once again under the spotlight inducing glow of the moon.

He saw every sparks that reflected from the various layers of cosmetics she had carefully applied. He saw her lashes that stood firmly to her eyelids like a flag stuck to the wall of a castle…

He saw the slight blushes she had applied to her cheeks to cover whatever embarrassing scenarios she might experience on this date.

He saw her smart and organized sense of wearing accessories from her neck down to her ankles.

Then her choice of clothes and shoes to wear, which was princess-like…

All in all, he could vividly see how much effort Min Qing had put into looking so good for him.

He also knew that she came to show him love and remind him that he wasn't and would never be alone in this world.

Thus he was pleased and happy to have a girl hold him in such regards.

After all, this is something he had never felt before from anyone in his three lifetimes;

A true heart that romantically loves him... He allowed Min Qing to first of all, enjoy the scenery and feeling, before choosing the nearest bench nearby to sit on…

They both sat leaning on each other, as they looked up and enjoy the showering of the moonlight over them.

After that, came the small talks and little promises. Then they finally hugged once more under the moonlight and kissed.

After enjoying their unplanned and very natural date, they initially wanted to return, but then, they saw the hot springs that was flowing -beneath and across- the 'Tai Hu Bridge' and remembered they had yet to make a wish.

Thus, Min Hong took Min Qing to the edge of the bridge as they both whispered their wishes into their empty folded palms.

Min Qing then brought out a little ribbon which they both used to bind their wishes.

Then, they threw the ribbon into the hot springs which carried it into its unknown ends.

After sharing another kiss by the 'Bank of Wishes', They finally returned home as they savored the sheer privacy and first class experience they both had on this date.

As they both entered Min Hong's apartment, they were so caught up in their separate feelings that they could only lay on the bed and cuddle as Min Qing snuggled into Min Hong's broad arms and chest…

The tremors of blissful experiences then began to wriggle all over the duo as they appreciated each other's comfy company.

They both slept with smiles on their faces, Min Qing had the smile of a newly-wed whilst Min Hong had one of fulfilment.

The Long Sha trio returned to their apartments, but still continue doing their guard duties as they gave Min Hong a single moment of peace and warmth; a fit rarely achieved in this bitter and brutal cultivation world they found themselves.

Min Hong slept like a baby while Min Qing woke up a lady; as they shared a morning kiss before Min Qing hurried over to check on the Qing Tan she had left for an entire night…