“I say, as the prestigious Chief Disciple of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect, can you really not even produce a single spirit boat?”
Early the next morning, on a small path outside the East Gate of Fulong City, Hua Yan stared at Yun Xuechang’s cold face, which didn’t seem to be joking in the slightest.
Her expression was unreadable.
“Every time the sect issues her monthly stipend, Senior Sister spends it all buying various messy sword techniques, learning strange skills, or simply getting scammed,” Lin Qianqian explained from the side.
“She hasn’t been able to save any Spirit Stones at all.”
“Then how did you two get here?” Hua Yan asked, still finding it hard to believe.
“I flew here via Sword Kinesis. It saves Spirit Stones and allows me to train my long-distance flight capabilities,” Yun Xuechang said, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather.
“As for me, I didn’t buy a spirit boat either,” Lin Qianqian chimed in.
“I came on the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s Evil Purging special offer boat. Since this is an Exorcism Operation, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion offers discounts to all disciples participating in the mission. Only someone like Senior Sister would try to save even the boat fare.”
“Sigh, in a way, trying to earn Spirit Stones from Daoist Friend Yun is both easy and difficult,” Qu Linglong added, shaking her head with a light chuckle.
“Then… how are we getting to Yunjing?” Hua Yan twitched her lips.
“I will continue to fly via sword,” Yun Xuechang replied. She drew the long sword from her back.
The sword hummed and vibrated twice as if in silent protest, but it eventually hovered obediently in mid-air, waiting for its master to step on.
“Mother, Mom is so pitiful flying all by herself… Let’s help her and let her ride on the boat too, okay?” Hua Xiangrong pulled on Hua Yan’s sleeve.
Her large pink eyes were watery, and her voice was soft and pleading.
“…”
Hua Yan hadn’t expected Yun Xuechang to be this impoverished.
Then how had she sent the child to the Hundred Flowers Valley back then?
Had she gritted her teeth to rent an ordinary spirit boat, or had she flown the whole way via sword with the child on her back?
For some reason, the latter image seemed incredibly strange.
The red-haired girl shook her head vigorously to dispel the stray thoughts.
‘Still, this is an opportunity. Since she has no Spirit Stones and has to ride on my boat, wouldn’t that mean she is accepting a favor? Wouldn’t she have to follow my orders every day for the rest of the journey?’
Imagining herself commanding Yun Xuechang to serve tea, pour water, wash clothes, and cook meals on the boat, the corners of Hua Yan’s mouth couldn’t help but curl upward.
“Ahem, very well. After all, I can’t bear to watch Yun Xuechang flying alone in the cold wind.”
She cleared her throat and reached out a hand toward Yun Xuechang, her smile dazzlingly bright.
“Yun Xuechang, why don’t you ride on my boat with Rongrong?”
Yun Xuechang was slightly stunned. “But my Sword Kinesis training…”
“Where can’t you train? Can’t you just meditate and practice your sword forms on the boat? You can work on your Sword Kinesis later!”
Hearing those words, the smile on Hua Yan’s face almost faltered. ‘Yun Xuechang, I’m inviting you out of the kindness of my heart. Don’t be ungrateful!’
“This…” Yun Xuechang looked at the smiling girl before her who was trying so hard to invite her, seemingly considering her every need. She felt a bit dazed.
She then looked at Hua Xiangrong, who was full of anticipation.
‘Could it be… they don’t actually resent my absence over these years and are willing to give me a chance to get closer?’
Thinking about how they had shared a bed over the last two nights, her daughter’s unreserved closeness, and every little moment spent with the red-haired girl, a wave of warmth flooded Yun Xuechang’s heart.
“Alright, then I shall travel on the same boat as you.” The white-haired girl’s lips curved slightly, and a faint smile blossomed on her usually calm face.
“I will be troubling you for the next few days, Daoist Friend Hua.”
…..
“Ahem, Yun Xuechang, listen up! Since you’ve boarded my boat and haven’t paid any Spirit Stones, you must follow my orders and do things for me these next few days!”
On the Flower Boat, as soon as Hua Yan led Yun Xuechang into the cabin, she cleared her throat and immediately revealed her fox tail.
“Alright.”
“Even if you are Rongrong’s mom, this is my territory, and your objections — ” Hua Yan suddenly stopped mid-sentence, looking startled. “Wait, what did you just say?”
“I said, alright. I agree, Daoist Friend Hua.”
Yun Xuechang turned to look at her and repeated herself seriously.
“Since I am hitching a ride on your boat, it is only right that I help with whatever chores I can.”
“Ah? …Ah, as long as you know!”
‘Why did she agree so quickly?! She’s the prestigious Chief Disciple of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect — doesn’t she have any pride? How could she be willing to follow my orders so easily?’
Hua Yan stared at that cold face with total disbelief before continuing.
“You will be responsible for watering the herbs in the cabin.”
“Alright,” Yun Xuechang nodded and accepted.
“You’ll be responsible for supervising Rongrong’s cultivation.”
“Alright,” Yun Xuechang followed along readily.
“You also have to be responsible for the laundry and cooking. The food isn’t allowed to taste bad, and you must call me to watch you while you cook!”
“Alright.” Yun Xuechang agreed again, then hesitated before speaking. “It’s just… Daoist Friend Hua…”
“Hmm? What is it?” Hua Yan stood with her arms crossed, looking at her with a half-smile.
‘Ha! Finally reached your limit and want to negotiate? Let me tell you, there’s no way!’
“Could you please explain all the necessary tasks at once and record them into this Jade Slip? That way, I can arrange my schedule to balance the chores and my cultivation,” Yun Xuechang said as she took out a blank Jade Slip from her Storage Pouch.
She held it out with both hands, her tone remaining sincere.
“…”
“There’s nothing else! Record it yourself!” Hua Yan flicked her sleeve and turned away in a huff.
‘Curse it… Why isn’t she angry at all? How am I supposed to mess with her like this!’
‘Could it be… this Yun Xuechang person likes me that much? So much that she’s willing to do whatever I ask?!’
Stepping into the small building alone, the red-haired girl bit her lip. A crimson flush suddenly rushed to her cheeks, growing deeper and deeper.
‘Is… is there something I did wrong?’
Yun Xuechang stared blankly at the red figure disappearing up the stairs, feeling somewhat lost.
‘I clearly agreed to her requests, and none of those tasks were excessive. As Rongrong’s mom, I had planned to do them anyway… Why does she seem unhappy instead?’
The white-haired girl silently withdrew her hand, lowering her eyes in confusion.
“Oh, Mom, don’t take it to heart. Mother is just a tsundere. She’s actually very happy!” Hua Xiangrong tugged on her hem and whispered comforts while standing on her tiptoes.
“Tsundere? What does that mean?” The unfamiliar term confused Yun Xuechang, and she looked down at her daughter.
“It means that Mother only looks unhappy on the surface, but she’s actually delighted inside. She likes you very much. She just refuses to say it, but in her heart… well, she already likes you more than anything!” Hua Xiangrong began to talk nonsense with a straight face.
“She… is happy? And she likes me?” The explanation left Yun Xuechang even more stunned. “Rongrong, are you telling the truth?”
The simple Sword Immortaless truly found it hard to understand — if one felt joy, why act displeased?
Wouldn’t it be better to just speak directly?
“Of course it’s true! I would never lie to Mom!” Hua Xiangrong nodded her little head, sounding very certain.
Looking at the girl’s clear and sincere eyes, Yun Xuechang fell into deep thought once more.
‘Well… Rongrong grew up with her, so she naturally knows her mother better than I do. Since Rongrong says she is a “tsundere,” then she must be.’
“Okay, Rongrong. If I want to get along well with your mother in the future, is there a good way?”
Without a single doubt regarding her daughter’s words, the white-haired girl knelt down to look Hua Xiangrong in the eye and asked softly.
“Of course!” A huge smile broke out on Hua Xiangrong’s face.
“Mom just needs to get closer to Mother more often, and then… just be yourself!”