Chapter Eighteen: The Bonfire Gathering

After a satisfying meal, the two of them felt their fatigue melt away. Though they had planned to rest well, they found themselves unexpectedly energized and far from sleepy. Instead, they wandered about and soon discovered a small doorway on a certain street, through which many tourists were coming and going.

Curiosity got the better of them, and they stopped someone to ask what was happening. They learned there was to be a bonfire party at around seven o'clock, where Mosuo beauties would make their dazzling appearance every evening. Naturally, this piqued their interest, and they willingly bought tickets to join in.

Passing through a short corridor, they arrived at a modest open-air stage, somewhat reminiscent of a stepped sports arena, with seating on all sides and a flat area in the center. The venue was small, with only a semicircle of tiered seats rising in a 180-degree arc. Tourists sat sparsely behind the railings on primitive wooden benches. The performance had not yet begun, so everyone was waiting, the stage empty and bare.

The audience chatted quietly among themselves, likely exchanging mischievous remarks. Chen Tianyu and his companion sat in silence, simply observing without a word.

They rarely commented on unfamiliar people or matters.

At about half past seven, several staff members appeared on stage. They arranged dozens of meter-long branches into a conical shape, stuffing the center with kindling. The bonfire party seemed about to begin. The murmur of conversation in the stands softened, the crowd gradually quieted, and those milling around ceased their restless wandering.

“Look!” Liu Zichen’s sharp eyes were first to spot a familiar woman, sitting quietly in a corner.

“What is it?” Chen Tianyu followed her gaze.

“That tea master from Lashi Lake… interesting!” Chen Tianyu’s sharp eyes had noticed her as well.

Liu Zichen thought aloud, “I remember, I think her name is He Jiping… is that right?” She instinctively reached into her bag for a business card.

Chen Tianyu smiled, “No need to check, her name is indeed He Jiping. I remember it well.”

His gaze flickered, thoughtful.

Liu Zichen gave a light snort and teased, “So the beauty with dark skin made a strong impression on you?”

“Ahem, that’s a bias,” Chen Tianyu chuckled. “It’s not her skin I remember, but her features.”

Liu Zichen wasn’t foolish; she nodded. “So you stubbornly believe she’s Xiaoya?”

“I always trust my first instincts,” Chen Tianyu said with conviction. “There are many people in the world and quite a few with similar looks or skin, but true resemblance is rare—unless they’re twins…”

“Even so, it’s nothing special,” Liu Zichen mused. “We only met Xiaoya once, years ago. Not even friends, really. After all this time, she may not even recognize us. I’ve heard that many people have facial blindness toward foreigners; perhaps Xiaoya is the same.”

Chen Tianyu shook his head, almost talking to himself. “Zichen, don’t forget—Xiaoya was originally a practitioner of RB ninjutsu. If she’s pretending not to know us, there must be a deeper reason.”

Liu Zichen nodded. “That’s true. Shall I find a chance to sound her out?”

“Better not. Let’s watch and see for now,” Chen Tianyu stopped her. “Perhaps she’ll approach us herself.”

---

Before long, rhythmic background music echoed across the stage. A group of actresses in exotic costumes waited in the wings—no doubt wearing traditional Mosuo dress, though few tourists had ever seen it before.

Liu Zichen kept He Jiping in her peripheral vision, growing increasingly uneasy. Was she truly Chiya Ryoko, the assassin who once aided the wicked and held hostages years ago? The more she looked, the stronger the resemblance grew, sending a chill down her spine.

Meanwhile, Chen Tianyu’s attention was entirely captivated by another woman near the stage. She was strikingly tall, at least one meter seventy-five, also dressed in Mosuo costume. Her face was cold as frost, her gaze indifferent, never once glancing at the audience. Though her features—square jaw and high cheekbones—differed from the Han ideal, there was an uncommon beauty to her, making her stand out among the dancers like a crane among chickens.

Yet what truly drew Chen Tianyu’s attention was neither her looks nor her figure, but her eyes.

A word came to him, unbidden: decisive, ruthless! He felt he’d seen such eyes before, but couldn’t recall where, which left him frustrated. Since arriving in this city, he sensed his judgment had dulled markedly.

This was involuntary—perhaps the effect of a leisurely journey, or relaxed nerves, or simply the unique intoxication of a bustling city. He felt somewhat at a loss. At heart, Chen Tianyu was not a true police officer; he lacked the numbness bred by criminal investigation, his sensitivity all the keener for it.

In this, he was nothing like Li Yiting.

Lost in thought, the bonfire party officially began. Flames soared skyward, more like gasoline than kindling, casting a red glow over the faces of the tourists, their blood heating, hormones rising.

The girls took the stage in timely fashion, forming an unusual pattern. With traditional music as their backdrop, they danced—sometimes lively and adorable, sometimes in perfect unison, sometimes forming a ring to jump and dance around the fire.

Applause broke out among the tourists. Halfway through the performance, the director or host beckoned everyone to come down from the seats and join the dance. Most people were eager, but only a few bold souls dared step onto the stage, joining hands with the Mosuo girls in wild celebration.

At first, no one knew the seemingly simple steps; their awkward, clumsy moves drew a wave of laughter from the seats.

But, guided by the onstage instructors, these brave pioneers soon got the hang of it. The audience’s laughter turned to envy, and more and more tourists joined. The formation grew from a double circle to an oval, then finally to a twisting, rambling snake.

Chen Tianyu and Liu Zichen remained still.

Liu Zichen was tempted to join in, but seeing Chen Tianyu unmoved, she quietly stayed seated, though her eyes betrayed longing, her gaze drifting sideways from time to time.

He Jiping’s face remained calm, eyes wide, watching with a faint smile.

Chen Tianyu’s eyes never left the lead dancer—so tall and aloof, her expression unchanged. As more tourists joined, a fleeting hint of disdain crossed her eyes, making him even more curious.

Liu Zichen nudged his side. “Hey, what are you daydreaming about? It’s cold sitting here. Should we get up and dance for a bit?”

“Alright,” Chen Tianyu answered unexpectedly readily.

Liu Zichen was surprised, but quickly delighted, taking his arm as they left their seats to join the throng. Neither of them was skilled at dancing, but they kept up with the rhythm well enough.

Now only He Jiping remained in the stands, propping her chin with a giggle in her corner.

The “dancing pandemonium” lasted about fifteen minutes. The tourists, having enjoyed themselves, broke formation. The host then invited everyone to take photos with the girls, and soon cameras were clicking nonstop, groups gathering for pictures.

Inevitably, the lead dancer drew the largest crowd, especially among single male tourists, who vied for a solo photo with her. The lead dancer did not refuse, striking poses for a steady stream of admirers, occasionally flashing a professional smile. Clearly, this was part of her special role.

At last it was Chen Tianyu’s turn. Liu Zichen joked, “Go on, take a picture with the goddess! Quick, I’ll snap it for you!”

Chen Tianyu could only smile wryly, but stepped forward as instructed. A strong scent of powder and perfume wafted over; he wrinkled his nose involuntarily as Liu Zichen pressed the shutter.

“Hey, look happier!” Liu Zichen complained. “One more.”

Just as Chen Tianyu was about to change his pose, the lead dancer suddenly turned away, ignoring the crowd, and especially Chen Tianyu, as if something urgent had come up. Without hesitation, she pushed through the throng and headed straight for the exit.

Some tourists tried to follow, but soon gave up, retreating sensibly.

The lead dancer quickly left through the narrow door with He Jiping.

Liu Zichen, camera in hand, looked a bit disappointed; Chen Tianyu, however, watched their departing figures with a subtle, inexplicable smile.

“So aloof?” Liu Zichen muttered under her breath.

Chen Tianyu replied confidently, “Don’t worry, we’ll be seeing them again very soon.”

“Who?” Liu Zichen asked, puzzled.

“Why, our destined acquaintance, of course!” Chen Tianyu suddenly burst out laughing, full of anticipation.