Forty-five, the years within the box pass without measure

Crackling and popping sounds burst forth. In the dilapidated courtyard of the Liu family in Huayin, on the old street by the southern pond, firecrackers suddenly erupted, followed by the ringing of bronze bells and clanging gongs, filling the air with cheerful music.

Next, a flood of guests, both men and women, poured into the courtyard, placing their gifts and wedding money before gathering outside the main hall to witness the newlyweds bow to heaven and earth.

“Bridegroom, bride, first bow to Heaven and Earth!” cried the master of ceremonies, Hua Chenyu, who stood to the left of the hall. He was short and stout, his face full of jest. Sun Rong, clad in a red short robe, and the bride beside him, dressed in crimson with a bright red veil, bowed reverently to the heavens.

“Second bow, to parents!”
Sun Rong and the bride turned to face the portraits of their parents on the wall and bowed again, full of respect.

“Third, bow to each other as husband and wife!”
Sun Rong smiled, clasped his hands, and exchanged bows with the bride.

“The ceremony is complete—hurry to the bridal chamber!” The master of ceremonies tossed red flowers and wedding candies into the air and shouted loudly.

“Wait!”
A sharp voice rang out, mingling with the startled cries of several guests. A young woman, wielding a violet-blue sword, burst into the hall.

She was dressed in red gauze, her steps graceful and light, and in a flash she stood before Sun Rong. With a sharp sound, she drew her sword, pointing it at Sun Rong’s throat, her voice furious, “Sun Wukong, how dare you betray me?!”

“Qingxia, today is my wedding day with Chan’er. Don’t make a scene!” Sun Rong suppressed his voice, trying to reason.

“Make a scene?!” Qingxia, the woman in red gauze, pressed forward, sword raised, and demanded, “You tricked me out of my Moonlight Treasure Box just to return and marry her?!”

“Qingxia! I have never deceived you. It’s always been you who mistook me for Sun Wukong!
And I’ve always treated you as a younger sister—never had any romantic feelings!”

“Oh? But on Mid-Autumn night, when you watched the moon with me, you said otherwise!”
Qingxia glared at Sun Rong and then turned her gaze to the silent bride, her voice bitter. “I want to see what this little wife looks like—what beauty could make you forsake immortality, don a human form, and marry her!”

With that, Qingxia swept past the crowd, reaching out to snatch the bride’s red veil. Yet Sun Rong blocked her, grabbing her wrist and growling, “Stop!”

“You care for her so much—just as you did when we first met!”
Qingxia broke free of Sun Rong’s grip and looked at him coldly.

“Qingxia, let the past rest. Today is my joyous day with Chan’er. You should leave.”
Sun Rong raised his hand and pointed toward the door.

“Fine! I’ll leave!”
Qingxia sheathed her sword and strode out. From far off, her words carried on the wind, laden with murderous intent:

“Three days from now, meet me at the western gate tower of Luoyang! If you don’t, I’ll slaughter everyone here!”

Sun Rong watched Qingxia’s retreating figure, clenching his fists, a pang of sorrow rising in his heart for reasons he could not name.

After some time, the festive atmosphere was restored by the lively efforts of the master of ceremonies and the villagers. The guests crowded around Sun Rong and the bride as they entered the bridal chamber...

Six days later, at the gate tower west of Luoyang.
A man and a woman stood at opposite ends of the tower, facing each other in silence. The dusky western sunlight cast beautiful shadows upon them.

Below the tower, crowds of Luoyang’s citizens had gathered, pointing and whispering as they guessed at the pair’s identities—

Yet all the spectators could say was that the two had stood on the tower for three days and nights, neither resembling enemies nor lovers, which seemed most peculiar.

“Looks like I shouldn’t have come,” said the handsome man to the south, Sun Rong, clad in golden armor and holding a long sword. Seeing more villagers and idlers gathering below, he broke the silence.

“Now you realize it? Too late!”
The elegant woman to the north, Qingxia, dressed in red gauze and clutching her violet-blue sword, stared intently at him.

“Can’t we leave some memories behind?” Sun Rong spoke indifferently.

“I don’t want memories—I want you!”
Qingxia clearly wished for lifelong companionship, not empty words.

“If you wish for that, you’ll have my body but never my soul!”
Sun Rong said earnestly, “Besides, I already have someone I love. We will never work out—please let me go!”

“Fine, I’ll let you go. But before you leave, you must kiss me!”

“Even as a sunset warrior, if I kiss at your command, won’t my image be ruined?”

“You’re lying! You won’t kiss me because you still like me!”
Qingxia grew agitated. “I’m telling you, if you refuse me now, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”

“Even if I regret it, I won’t kiss you! If there’s blame, blame ‘meeting too late, fate’s cruel hand’!”
Sun Rong refused without hesitation.

“You—”
Qingxia was so angry she could not speak, only gazing at the man she loved, her heart bleeding drop by drop.

“Kiss her, hurry up!”
The crowd below began to heckle, shouting at Sun Rong, “If you don’t kiss her, I’ll go up and do it myself!”

Yet Sun Rong stood motionless in the sunset, sword in hand, with no intention of acting. As dusk deepened, the crowd grew increasingly restless and urged him on.

Suddenly, a demonic wind swept through, carrying sand and dust and obscuring everyone’s vision.

After a moment, the wind cleared. The spectators were astonished to see Sun Rong transformed, swaggering over to Qingxia and, without a word, pressing a deep kiss to her red lips—

“Bravo! Wonderful, wonderful!”
The crowd below finally witnessed the melodrama, cheering and applauding.

“I will never leave you—I love you so much!”
Sun Rong embraced Qingxia tightly, declaring solemnly.

“Good!”
Qingxia’s face lit with joy, clutching the armored man as tears of excitement welled up, believing her sincerity had moved the heavens.

But in the next instant, Sun Rong looked at Qingxia in his arms, confusion dawning on his face, uncertain what had just happened.

Qingxia sensed the change in Sun Rong, turned her head and gazed at a lonely figure below the tower, a strange expression in her eyes.

“What are you looking at?”
Sun Rong released Qingxia and stepped back, asking.

“That person looks odd.”
Qingxia, not noticing Sun Rong’s withdrawal, stared at the figure.

“I see it too… He looks like a dog!”
Sun Rong fixed his gaze on the westward figure, pondering.

Qingxia burst out laughing, playfully pounding Sun Rong’s chest before nestling into his arms, whispering, “I want to hear those three words again.”

“Which three words?”

“You’re so bad…”
Qingxia teased, “The three you said right after you kissed me!”

“When did I kiss you?!”
Sun Rong’s face was full of shock.

“Sun Wukong! Are you trying to deny it again?”
Qingxia pointed at the Luoyang crowd below. “They all saw it—you hugged and kissed me!”

“How could I? I only see you as a sister; how could I do something so beastly?
And I’ll say it one last time—stop calling me Sun Wukong. My name is Liu Yanchang!”

Sun Rong pushed Qingxia away, retreating several steps. “I should go home—my wife is waiting for me!”

“You—”
Qingxia saw Sun Rong’s expression and movements, all genuine; her face alternated between pale and flushed, finally gritting her teeth. “Sun Wukong, if you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“Qingxia, what are you planning?”

“Long before you came to Luoyang, I told the God Erlang where his sister Yang Chan was! By now, your little wife must have been taken back to Heaven for punishment!”