Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 28 - Shifting Tides of the Night

After the banquet concluded the previous night, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji embarked on a nocturnal quest in search of rivers with robust currents. Though Qinghe boasted a picturesque landscape with its majestic mountains in the backdrop, it lacked rivers with the necessary force. This prompted the brothers to undertake a journey to Khufu, a trek that spanned six hours of uninterrupted flight on their swords from Qinghe. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the mesmerizing waterfalls nestled within the Khufu rainforests.

Their quest centered around locating the elusive Cascade Glow Oysters. Thanks to the rigorous endurance training they had endured as children, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji's sturdy legs and bodies easily withstood the strong river currents. They scoured the entire river system and then moved on to the next, yet the elusive oysters remained elusive. Lan Xichen began to question their existence, and just as he was on the verge of giving up, he inadvertently stepped on a peculiar rock with a shining white spot illuminated by the moonlight. Intrigued, he picked up the rock and noticed a chipped section that revealed a gleaming oyster shell when held up to the moonlight.

"Could it be...?" Lan Xichen pondered in silent, his curiosity piqued. Determined, he decided to crack open the oyster's outer shell, revealing its contents. With resolute hands, he pried the oyster apart, revealing a pair of Aquamerald Pearls nestled within.

"I've found some," Lan Xichen announced, glancing over to where Lan Wangji stood. Lan Wangji approached, cradling a couple of oysters in his hands.

The brothers proceeded to open all the oysters they had collected, uncovering four more pearls within the ones Lan Wangji had found. Two of the pearls from Lan Wangji's oysters gleamed a rich crimson red, while the other two displayed shades of violet and delicate cherry blossom pink. However, none of them bore the true emerald hue of the Aquamerald pearls.

"It seems luck is on your side, brother," Lan Wangji remarked. In one of Lan Xichen's oysters, there were two Aquamerald pearls with the authentic emerald color.

Lan Xichen smiled appreciatively. "Aquamerald pearls, a sight unseen till now. Their beauty truly knows no bounds."

Lan Wangji held one of the pearls aloft, its radiance cutting through the darkness. "They're not only larger than regular pearls but also possess an ethereal glow," he noted.

Lan Xichen maintained his smile and gazed at his Aquamerald pearls, still glowing in his palm. "Prince Shuyan wasn't mistaken about these pearls. I think I'll keep one for myself."

Lan Wangji glanced at his brother with a playful smile. "And the other, perhaps for your 'spirited little brother?'" he teased.

Lan Xichen laughed, shaking his head. "Wangji, you've grown more mischievous." He turned to face Lan Wangji, a touch of concern in his eyes. "Do you think Qing Yi will appreciate this?"

Lan Wangji nodded thoughtfully. "If the pearl is a gift from you, I believe he will."

Lan Xichen smiled, but a hint of uncertainty lingered. "Do you think it might stir up memories from the past if he sees it?"

Lan Wangji sighed softly. "It's hard to say. The only way to know is to give him the pearl and see how he reacts."

Lan Xichen smiled warmly at his brother, a sense of gratitude filling him. Lan Wangji's words and actions never ceased to surprise and impress him. He cherished having such a thoughtful and lovable sibling in Lan Wangji.

As the sky began to brighten with the approaching dawn, the brothers discovered several more Cascade Oysters nestled deep within the strong river currents. With a clearer idea of how the oysters appeared, they managed to retrieve a few more Aquamerald pearls. Among them, there was one more emerald green pearl, while the others shimmered in true sapphire and cherry blossom pink hues. Satisfied with their findings, the brothers decided it was time to head back to Qinghe before the day grew too late.