“Pfft, hahahahaha! Rongrong, your outfit today is just too cute, hahahahaha!”
Hua Xiangrong raised her small hands and looked down at her clothes—it was a red and green, tacky, and somewhat bulky flower-patterned padded jacket.
Worn on the usually beautifully dressed pink-haired girl, it looked especially comical.
She puffed out her cheeks, pouted her small mouth, and looked with slight resentment at Hua Yan, who hadn’t stopped laughing since she came out wearing this outfit:
“Mother, you’re still laughing! It was clearly you who intentionally only prepared this outfit for me when you took me to bathe last night, leaving me with no choice but to wear it when I woke up this morning!”
“Hahahahaha! Little girl, do you want to think back again? It was clearly Xuechang who brought you your clothes last night; it had nothing to do with me.”
Saying so, the overjoyed Hua Yan nudged Yun Xuechang beside her with her elbow:
“Isn’t that right, Xuechang?”
Beside her, Yun Xuechang, who had been lost in thought about who knows what since leaving the bedroom, finally snapped back to reality:
“Hmm? …Yes, Rongrong, I picked out this outfit for you. Is there a problem?”
The white-haired girl bent down slightly to look at Hua Xiangrong, a trace of confusion on her aloof face:
“I specially made these clothes for you when I went down the mountain a few days ago. I carefully asked the elders at the foot of the mountain at the time, and they all said that children dressing in red and green is festive. So, I specifically bought some fabric and made an outfit for you according to your measurements.”
She looked earnestly at her daughter in front of her, a hint of helplessness revealing itself in her expression:
“Is there… something you don’t like about it?”
‘This…’
Hua Xiangrong hesitated a little.
If this tacky flower-patterned padded jacket had been chosen by Hua Yan, she would definitely argue with her and then use her status as a child to shamelessly demand to change out of it. But this outfit was specially made for her by Yun Xuechang.
Unlike Hua Yan—if Hua Yan had bought it, it would definitely be to laugh at her expense, and she naturally wouldn’t wear it. But with Yun Xuechang, it contained the feelings of an innocent girl, a pure and heavy motherly love.
Ultimately, the pink-haired girl sighed in resignation.
She took the initiative to stuff her small hands into Yun Xuechang’s hands, putting on a happy appearance:
“No, not at all! Rongrong really likes the clothes Mom picked out for me, thank you, Mom!”
Seeing this, Yun Xuechang also relaxed and smiled gently:
“Alright, since Rongrong likes it, I’ll go make a few more for you another day.”
“Uh.”
The smile on Hua Xiangrong’s face froze slightly. She whispered tactfully:
“Actually, Mom, I think next time you make clothes, you can bring Mother along—she definitely wants to make clothes for me together with you.”
Saying so, she turned her small head toward Hua Yan, her large pink eyes full of a plea for help.
‘Oh, now you think of me?’
Hua Yan, having laughed enough, raised an eyebrow slightly. But looking at how well-behaved Hua Xiangrong had been when coaxing Yun Xuechang just now, and seeing her somewhat pitiful gaze at this moment, she ultimately couldn’t bear it.
‘Forget it, if my, Hua Yan’s, daughter goes out wearing clothes like this in the future, what would others think of my taste?’
Thinking this, she stepped forward and smiled at Yun Xuechang:
“That’s right, Xuechang, I am also Rongrong’s mother, and I also want to make clothes for Rongrong together. I don’t know how to cut or sew, so next time you make clothes, call me along—I will pick out the fabric and draw the style of the clothes, and you can make them. How about it?”
“Mhm.”
Yun Xuechang looked at the approaching, brightly smiling red-haired girl and nodded gently.
/
“Happy New Year, Grandpa Sect Master! Wishing you prosperity!”
“Mhm, Happy New Year, Rongrong! Your outfit today is truly festive! Did your Mother or your Mom pick it out?”
Inside the Xiaoyao Hall, Ye Qingyuan looked at Hua Xiangrong in her red and green flower-patterned padded jacket, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling with his smile. He reached out and rubbed the top of the little girl’s head, then stuffed a red envelope into her hands.
“It was made from the fabric I chose.”
Yun Xuechang stepped forward, a hint of pride faintly audible in her ethereal tone.
“Hahahahaha, not bad, Xuechang! I’ve told you before to dress a bit more beautifully and not always be so plain in all white. Now that you’re a mother, you know how to dress up a child? In the future, dress yourself up more too, then you’ll look like a young person!”
Ye Qingyuan stroked his beard, nodding and smiling in satisfaction.
‘Is that so? Sure enough, this kind of dress is more likable. Should I… also dress like this in the future?’
‘Perhaps Yan’er would be happy; she has always liked bright and pretty things.’
Thinking this, Yun Xuechang nodded:
“Alright, Sect Master, in the future I will also—”
“Wait, wait, wait! I’ll be the one to pick out your clothes! You have to listen to me!”
Seeing this, Hua Yan hurriedly stopped Yun Xuechang.
She was truly afraid that this blockhead would actually put on a large flower-patterned padded jacket from now on and wander around in front of her all day—she wouldn’t be able to stand that.
Yun Xuechang looked at Hua Yan, who had suddenly interrupted, and blinked.
‘Hmm… Yan’er loves picking out clothes for people, I know this. She’s picked out quite a few for me before; I shouldn’t spoil her mood…’
Thus, the white-haired girl nodded once more:
“Alright, then I will listen to Yan’er in the future.”
Only then did Hua Yan breathe a sigh of relief.
Ye Qingyuan watched the scene before him and spoke again with a chuckle:
“Right, Xuechang, regarding the matter of the South Sea Secret Realm that I mentioned to you after I returned, how have you considered it?”
‘How has she considered it? Mom will definitely go, of course—the South Sea Secret Realm is the main storyline coming up in the book.’
Beside them, Hua Xiangrong pulled a large-denomination Spirit Stone ticket out of the red envelope, her eyes lighting up as she secretly thought to herself.
‘Wow, it seems like wearing this flower-patterned padded jacket really does make you well-liked by the elders! Should I wear this outfit every time I go to pay New Year’s calls and collect red envelopes from the older folks in the future?’
Recalling the reactions of the Sect elders along the way, the little girl silently weighed the pros and cons in her heart.
“Apologies, Sect Master, I’ve thought about it carefully these past few days, and I’ve indeed decided not to go to the South Sea.”
‘???’
As soon as these words came out, Hua Xiangrong, who was holding the red envelope, immediately raised her head and looked at Yun Xuechang in astonishment.
“Rongrong is still young. Exploring a Secret Realm usually takes months or even years. I don’t want to miss her growing up.”
The white-haired girl gently shook her head and said earnestly:
“Therefore, I still won’t be going to this South Sea Secret Realm.”
“Wait! Mom, you can’t not go!”
Hua Xiangrong hurriedly spoke up, and for a moment, the gazes of the several people in the hall all fell upon the little one.
“I have a premonition that this trip to the Secret Realm is very important to you, Mom—you absolutely must participate!”
The pink-haired girl looked earnestly at her own Mom.
“But… the treasures in the Secret Realm are ultimately worldly possessions; compared to them, I care more about you.”
Yun Xuechang rubbed Hua Xiangrong’s small head, her tone gentle:
“Rongrong, let’s not talk about this matter…”
“But what if there’s an Immortal Artifact in the Secret Realm this time? That is a Secret Realm left behind by immortals!”
Hua Xiangrong interrupted her again, her tone firm.
“Wait, Rongrong, are you saying… an Immortal Artifact?”
Hearing these words, Ye Qingyuan hurriedly pressed for details. At the same time, a hint of doubt surfaced in his heart:
‘Able to prophesize an Immortal Artifact… can the Heaven-Blessed Dao Body truly reach such an extent? Even if she is favored by the Heavenly Dao, that is, after all, an Immortal Artifact…’
“Yes, an Immortal Artifact.”
Hua Xiangrong nodded heavily, then looked earnestly at Yun Xuechang again:
“So Mom, you absolutely have to go.”
“But…”
Yun Xuechang still wanted to say something, but this time it was Ye Qingyuan who interrupted her.
“Xuechang, I know that as a mother, you want to spend more time with Rongrong. But this Secret Realm is different. If what Rongrong says is true, then this is an opportunity involving an Immortal Artifact, and you should understand how important that is.”
Ye Qingyuan had a serious expression on his face.
“That’s right, Xuechang, that’s an Immortal Artifact. There are only about a dozen or so in the entire Shenzhou, and every single one is the guardian treasure of the major sects. Do you want to reconsider?”
Hua Yan, who had been silent on the side for a long time, also spoke up now, her expression serious:
“If it were an ordinary Secret Realm, I would definitely support you staying behind to keep Rongrong company. But this is an Immortal Artifact—almost any Immortal Artifact can allow a major sect to rise to power; it’s different. Moreover, according to what Rongrong said, this Secret Realm is extremely important to you, which means the probability of you obtaining the Immortal Artifact in this South Sea Secret Realm is likely quite high.”
She turned her head to look at Hua Xiangrong, and Hua Xiangrong immediately cooperated by nodding vigorously.
“Rongrong still has me; I can watch over Rongrong as she grows up for your share as well. Besides, Secret Realms with Immortal Artifacts usually don’t last for years—you won’t miss too much of Rongrong’s growing up.”
Yun Xuechang looked at the three people taking turns to persuade her and remained silent for a moment.
‘Indeed, if it is an Immortal Artifact, as the Sword Head of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect, I truly should consider the Sect and cannot just sit by and do nothing…’
‘And if it’s only a few months, it shouldn’t be that as soon as I leave the Secret Realm, I’ll see that Rongrong has suddenly grown up, missing her time…’
‘Moreover, Yan’er and Rongrong also support me like this…’
“Alright, then I will go.”
She faced the three of them and nodded solemnly:
“I will return with the Immortal Artifact from this Secret Realm.”
/
Meanwhile, in a deep and secluded cave, Yin energy was extremely dense.
Flickering faint blue firelight illuminated the cave in shifting light and shadow. Several figures dressed in black robes sat around a square bone table, their faces obscured.
“Qingluo died just like that? I said long ago that the method to corrupt the Xiaoyao Sword Sect was unreliable.”
A figure on the left side of the square table panted heavily, their tone disdainful:
“That old thing Ye Qingyuan is very shrewd—if Ji Ling genuinely favored us, how could he not notice? He’s probably already cleaned house himself.”
“So what?”
A mature, gloomy female voice took over the conversation:
“Haven’t we discussed this matter long ago? Everyone knows that Ji Ling might not be reliable. It was originally that stupid woman Qingluo who insisted on clinging to Jiang Changge, which was why she sought out her junior sister to act as an inside contact. In any case, we didn’t reveal any crucial information to Ji Ling—even if she really is a spy arranged by Ye Qingyuan, what does it matter?”
“Then what about Qingluo’s death? What should be done?”
A calm male voice asked.
“If she’s dead, she’s dead. I’ve long been annoyed by that stupid snake anyway.”
The female voice’s tone was full of mockery:
“Besides, I don’t believe you guys are really that worried about her death; you’re just afraid of being implicated yourselves. For figures from the Righteous Path like you, you still have to maintain an outward image of justice—am I right?”
“You—”
“Enough.”
The person at the head seat of the long table spoke up. It was a steady and powerful middle-aged male voice:
“No matter what thoughts you all have, or where you come from—since stepping onto this path, we are all grasshoppers tied to the same string. Once exposed, neither the Righteous nor Demonic Paths will tolerate us. I trust everyone is also clear on this point, which is why we have gathered here.”
The two arguing individuals snorted and said no more.
“Qingluo’s death will not affect our upcoming plans.”
The man in the head seat continued:
“The layout in the South Sea remains unchanged. Just add a few more people, but not too many—after all, the Righteous Path currently doesn’t know there’s an Immortal Artifact in the South Sea Secret Realm, and we shouldn’t alert the enemy.”
He turned to the calm man who had just been arguing with the gloomy woman, and the other party nodded to him.
“Once we obtain this Immortal Artifact, our plan can advance a step further.”
The man in the head seat had a resolute gaze, faintly carrying a bit of fanaticism:
“Everything is for the supreme Great Dao—”
“The false God of Siheng establishes rules to imprison all living beings, while we—”
“Shall shatter the shackles and reopen heaven and earth!”
“Shall shatter the shackles and reopen heaven and earth!”
The black-robed crowd present all shouted in deep voices in unison.