The snow gradually stopped, and faint rosy clouds drifted across the horizon.
The winter glow was different from the summer sunset; it wasn’t scorching or intense, but rather a shallow, soft bleeding of colors—a thread of pale purple, a touch of light pink, wisps tangling amidst the clouds, contrasting beautifully with the clean, cold, snow-capped mountains.
“I see the hour is getting late. Ice fishing is fun, but surely you don’t intend for us to spend New Year’s Eve on this ice?”
Hua Yan tossed another fish into the bucket and turned to ask Yun Xuechang.
“Naturally not.”
Yun Xuechang shook her head, her voice gentle.
“One must find a good place for the New Year—setting off fireworks, staying up late, welcoming the new year, and praying for blessings. I still understand these customs.”
She turned her head to look at Hua Yan, her eyes containing a slight inquiry.
“Yan’er, why don’t we take Rongrong to the Outer Gate for a walk in a little while?”
“There are many people there, and it will be lively. The decorations for this year’s festival were also done with great care. She should be happy if we take her for a stroll.”
‘Outer Gate?’
Hua Yan was slightly startled.
From the sounds of it, Xuechang also planned to spend the night celebrating within the Sect? In that case, those secret arrangements she had made… wouldn’t they be perfect?
Her eyes curved into crescents as she nodded repeatedly.
“Alright! We’ll head to the Outer Gate to take a look later then!”
……
Night fell at the Xiaoyao Sword Sect Outer Gate.
Lanterns hung all along the mountain paths, their warm orange glow casting a cozy light over the accumulated snow.
Vendors on both sides had set up stalls; steaming pots of tangyuan bubbled with white mist, and the sweet scent of sugar-roasted chestnuts mingled with the charred aroma of roasted sweet potatoes, lingering in the cold air like a warm blanket of worldly life.
In the square, children holding lanterns darted through the crowd, their crisp laughter shaking bits of snow from the branches.
“How is it? This New Year arrangement that I led personally?”
Hua Yan held Hua Xiangrong’s left hand and looked at the lively scene before her. She raised an eyebrow proudly and asked the mother and daughter beside her.
“Yes, Yan’er’s plan is naturally excellent,” Yun Xuechang said with a gentle nod.
“Of course. If this were back in my… I mean, in my hometown, it would be much more lively than this.”
Hua Yan had almost said Hundred Flowers Valley, but realizing there were many ears around, she changed her words just in time.
She shook her head and continued, “A few days ago, I heard you say that New Year at the Xiaoyao Sword Sect was just visiting houses, giving out red envelopes, and bowing to the ancestors—that’s far too boring.”
“Mother, Mommy, look! Someone is setting off fireworks over there!”
Hua Xiangrong, who was being held between the two of them, suddenly shouted in excitement.
“Yes, I see them.”
Hua Yan responded nonchalantly, but the corners of her mouth quietly curled up. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the White-haired Fairy beside her.
Yun Xuechang was looking down at her daughter, her expression soft. The light from the red lanterns reflected on her face, coating her usual coldness in a layer of warm color.
Suddenly, an exclamation of surprise came from not far away.
Everyone turned their heads to see several young disciples gathered around a pile of firework tubes in the corner of the square that Hua Xiangrong had pointed to.
They were setting them off excitedly. One of them, perhaps caught up in the moment or having lost his composure, let a cluster of bright yellow flames sprout from his fingertips.
He actually dared to manifest Fire Magic in public, flicking it violently toward the sky.
Whoosh—
A bull formed of flames soared into the sky, exploding with a roar in the night, blooming with a brilliance several times more dazzling than ordinary fireworks.
But at the same time, sparks of Spiritual Power began to fall. They were about to land on several stalls selling silk flowers and ribbons. The crowd immediately cried out and scattered!
“It’s on fire! Put it out quickly!”
The culprit’s face turned pale. He frantically tried to form hand seals, but the more flustered he became, the less he could condense any decent Water Magic.
Seeing the fire about to climb up the eaves along the withered vines that the snow hadn’t reached—
Suddenly, an ink-black figure swept down from mid-air. Amidst the fluttering of wide sleeves, a sharp cold energy struck out like a frost blade!
“Disperse.”
Ji Ling formed a seal with one hand. Before her cold shout had even finished, a blast of icy Spiritual Power covered the raging flames.
The fire dissipated instantly, leaving only a few wisps of green smoke.
“Who is using Fire Magic here without permission?”
Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it was enough for everyone to hear clearly.
The disciple broke into a cold sweat and bowed repeatedly.
“Elder… Elder Ji… This disciple was wrong! I was just acting on a whim and wanted to try the fire spell I recently learned to add to the festival atmosphere. I… I didn’t expect it to catch fire…”
“According to the rules, how should damage to Sect property be handled?”
“According to… the rules…” The disciple’s voice was as quiet as a mosquito. “According to the rules, one must pay compensation according to the price and spend ten days in confinement.”
“Since you know the law, you have broken it knowingly.”
Ji Ling looked down at him, her tone flat.
“Considering today is New Year’s Eve, your confinement will be postponed. Pay the fine first, and head to the Punishment Hall to receive your punishment yourself after the new year. If there is a second offense, the penalty will be doubled.”
The man’s bleak vision suddenly brightened. He nodded repeatedly, feeling as though he had received a grand amnesty.
“I say, has this Elder Ji become a lot gentler?” Hua Yan whispered.
“Perhaps it is because the matter with Qingluo was settled,” Yun Xuechang replied softly.
“I can hear you two speaking. If you think I was difficult to talk to in the past, just say it directly.”
Ji Ling finished handling the matter at hand and walked over, letting out a cold snort.
“I haven’t even mentioned you two yet. Since becoming the Acting Sect Master, you’ve created such a noisy New Year. Setting aside the clatter, there have been far more people starting fires these past few days than usual—you’re just making trouble for me.”
“Ahaha, but I see Sect Master Ye didn’t say anything when he returned, did he?” Hua Yan laughed it off.
‘That old prankster, as long as he doesn’t have to spend any Spirit Stones, what could he possibly say!’ Ji Ling muttered in her heart.
Suddenly, two female disciples flew over hand-in-hand and landed in front of the group.
“Master, let me take the shift for today. Why don’t you take Sixteen and walk around?” the short-haired disciple spoke tentatively.
“What, you don’t need to spend the festival with your lover?”
Ji Ling turned to look at her, then glanced at the long-haired disciple whose fingers were interlaced with hers.
“Oh, no need, no need! Thank you for your concern, Elder Ji. I will naturally be on duty with Xiao Lian—as long as we are together, every moment is New Year’s Eve, isn’t it?”
The long-haired disciple waved her hand with a smile.
“It’s just that Xiao Lian and I were able to get together thanks to Rongrong and Little Sixteen. On such a grand festival, I really can’t bear to see Little Sixteen spend the New Year alone. That’s why I thought of taking over your shift. You should take Sixteen for a walk.”
“Do you think… that would be alright?”
Ji Ling was startled for a moment, then nodded.
“Fine. I leave the rest to you two.”
The two female cultivators smiled at each other and stuffed a handful of candy into Hua Xiangrong’s hand before turning to leave.
“Elder Ji, are you going to play with Little Pomegranate later?”
Hua Xiangrong looked up with her small head, gazing at Ji Ling expectantly.
“I want to play with Little Pomegranate too. Is that okay?”
Ji Ling raised an eyebrow slightly.
“But don’t you need to spend the New Year with your mommy and mother?”
Even though she knew Hua Xiangrong and Ning Shiliu were close, she hadn’t expected the girl to choose to spend New Year’s Eve with a friend instead of her family.
“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine! We can just pick Rongrong up later. It’s a festival; it’s good for the children to have a strong bond and play together!”
Hua Yan was delighted in her heart and hurried forward, sending a secret Telepathy message:
[Please, Elder Ji! Take Rongrong away so I can have some alone time with Xuechang tonight!]
Ji Ling looked at Hua Xiangrong’s expectant face, then at the look of pleading in Hua Yan’s eyes.
She nodded silently.
Then, she took Hua Xiangrong’s hand and stepped into the air, flying away.
Yun Xuechang and Hua Yan stood side by side, waving together at the two figures, one large and one small.
When she lowered her hand, the warm lamplight reflected on Hua Yan’s smiling profile.
She felt as though this scene… was somewhat familiar?
The white-haired girl blinked her cold red eyes.
‘It seems… on that Mid-Autumn night in Yunjing, Rongrong also suddenly disappeared, leaving only Yan’er and me to spend the festival together?’