“Alright, then let’s welcome this couple onto the stage with a round of applause!”
At Yue Jue’s call, amid cheers and clapping from the crowd, Hua Yan and Yun Xuechang stepped onto the stage side by side.
Yue Jue guided them to opposite sides, and the platforms beneath their feet slowly rose, lifting them onto two elevated stands.
“The rules are simple. Each of you will answer my questions.”
She raised a slender hand and announced:
“One of you will respond, and the other will provide the matching answer. If the answers match, you win the reward for that question.”
She took out two writing boards and brushes from her storage pouch and placed them in front of them.
“These are small magic treasures that can be written on repeatedly. Just use your spiritual power to erase the writing. Later, write your answers on these boards.”
Hua Yan and Yun Xuechang nodded.
“Are you ready?”
They nodded again.
“Good. Since you’re ready, let’s begin!”
Yue Jue smiled brightly.
“First question!”
“Yun Xuechang, please listen!”
Startled at being called, Yun Xuechang hugged her writing board and quickly composed herself.
“Where did you and Hua Yan’er first meet?”
That simple? What could this reveal?
Hua Yan was puzzled.
Soon, both revealed their answers at the same time.
Hehuan Sect.
“Wow, who would’ve thought you two first met in a place like the Hehuan Sect~”
Yue Jue drawled playfully, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Well now… I wonder if back then at the Hehuan Sect you two might have—”
Seeing the displeasure forming on Hua Yan’s face, she quickly changed the subject.
“Ahem, correct answer! Let’s move on!”
“Second question—Hua Yan’er, you answer!”
“What dish is Yun Xuechang best at cooking?”
Hua Yan almost laughed and quickly wrote her answer.
—Hua Yan’s board: “Dishes that don’t need seasoning.”
—Yun Xuechang’s board: “Without Yan’er, I don’t know how much seasoning to use, so I’m not good at any dish. But if Yan’er is there, I’m good at almost everything.”
“Wow, it seems little Xuechang really can’t do without little Yan’er~”
Yue Jue teased, her tone turning deliberately affectionate.
This blockhead… why did she write something so ambiguous?
Hua Yan glanced at her answer, her cheeks flushing.
“Correct again! Let’s continue!”
“What is Hua Yan’er’s favorite color?”
“Red.” “Red.”
Match.
“What does Yun Xuechang like to eat the most?”
“Tanghulu.” “Tanghulu.”
Still a match.
“What is Hua Yan’er’s biggest hobby?”
“Yan’er likes many things: reading storybooks, browsing shops, eating good food, joining in the fun everywhere. She likes a lot of things.”
“Going out and having fun.”
Hua Yan glanced at the densely written board and nodded silently.
“What kind of books does Yun Xuechang like most?”
“Sword manuals.” “Sword manuals.”
“When you first met, what was Hua Yan’er wearing?”
This made Hua Yan hesitate. First meeting… Hehuan Sect… She tried to recall. Probably a red-and-gold robe?
“Red-and-gold robe.”
Unable to remember clearly, she wrote that.
Yun Xuechang thought briefly, then wrote quickly and flipped her board:
“That day, Yan’er wore a red brocade robe with gold trim, tied with a sash, and a white jade hairpin.”
Hua Yan couldn’t help glancing sideways.
Xuechang… remembers it so clearly…
‘Of course I do.’
Yun Xuechang replied silently in her heart. ‘That day, she lost at the Hehuan Sect and turned into a woman, still wrapped in oversized men’s robes. I held her to keep her from being exposed, and she suddenly kissed me…’
Thinking of it, a faint blush appeared on her cool face.
“Correct again! Next question—Hua Yan’er!”
“What is your partner’s favorite sleeping position?”
What kind of question is that?!
Hua Yan blushed instantly.
How would I know her favorite sleeping position? I’ve never asked something so embarrassing!
No choice… I’ll have to guess…
Recently, she’s always been holding me while sleeping… maybe…
She forced herself to write.
—Hua Yan’s board: “Sleeping while holding someone.”
—Yun Xuechang’s board: “Holding Yan’er while sleeping.”
?!
Hua Yan stared at the board, then at Yun Xuechang’s calm, elegant face, her embarrassment practically overflowing.
Even if you like holding me while sleeping, can you really just write that?!
“Oh my, it seems little Xuechang really likes Yan’er a lot~”
Yue Jue teased again, ignoring Hua Yan’s flustered glare.
“Next is the final matching question!”
“What is your partner’s greatest unfulfilled dream?”
Hua Yan paused, then quickly wrote.
—Hua Yan’s board: “To eliminate all evil cultivators in the world and prevent tragedies like those they cause.”
—Yun Xuechang’s board: “To eliminate all evil cultivators in the world and prevent tragedies like those they cause.”
Exactly the same.
Yue Jue was slightly surprised.
She didn’t expect Hua Yan to know this so clearly… their bond seemed deeper than she thought.
“Correct again! Once more proving how well you understand your Dao companion!”
She paused, her tone turning more serious.
“Now for the final question. No matching answer is needed. Yun Xuechang, just give your own answer.”
“Please list at least three impressions you have of your partner.”
Hua Yan froze.
She immediately looked at Yun Xuechang, who lowered her gaze, thinking instead of answering right away. A strange heaviness settled in her chest.
Me? What good impression could there be…
From childhood, she had been mischievous, lazy, and unfocused.
Someone as gentle as Xuechang is probably thinking how to praise me…
No wonder she only likes my appearance. What else about me is worth liking?
That must be difficult for her.
But soon, Yun Xuechang began writing quickly.
Her brush moved like flowing water. After a long while, she flipped the board—it was completely filled.
“When I first met Yan’er, I thought she was very strong, skilled in many techniques, and a worthy opponent.”
She smiled softly, holding the board toward Hua Yan.
“She was beautiful and also very handsome. That was my first impression.”
“A few months ago, when I first saw Yan’er and Rongrong, I thought she was a good person. After going through the events in Great Chu together, I realized she punishes evil and promotes good, and handles things far more cleverly than I do. She’s an impressive and good person.”
“Later, as we spent more time together, I saw even more of her strengths.”
“She may not show it, but she cares deeply for Rongrong and is very patient with her. She’s a good mother.”
“She pays attention to my feelings, makes Tanghulu for me, and stays with me when I feel down. She’s very thoughtful.”
“She invites me to do many things I’ve never experienced before. It’s very enjoyable.”
“She dresses herself beautifully every day, decorates Mianyun Peak beautifully, and even chooses nice clothes and jewelry for me and Rongrong. She loves beauty—and she is beautiful.”
“When I make mistakes, she forgives me quickly. She never holds grudges.”
“When I cook, I don’t know how much seasoning to use. Yan’er patiently helps me try again and again.”
“Sometimes I’m not very clever, not good at dealing with people, and not good at joking. Yan’er tolerates my clumsiness. She helps me bargain for sword manuals and assists with matters I’m not good at as Acting Sect Master… she has always been understanding of me.”
Hua Yan read every word.
Looking at the white-haired fairy across from her—holding the board, smiling gently—her chest filled with a warm, aching feeling.
So… someone can really see me this clearly.
So… she has always noticed my good points.
So… she never only liked this appearance…
“In fact, Yan’er has many more strengths.”
Through slightly blurred vision, Yun Xuechang tilted her head and continued:
“But the board is too small to write them all.”
She paused, then turned to Yue Jue:
“But this is more than three points, right?”
“We’ve answered all your questions. Can we receive the grand prize now?”
“Ah? Oh—of course!”
Yue Jue snapped back to her senses and loudly announced:
“Congratulations to tonight’s first couple for successfully completing the challenge! All answers correct! Please accept your prize!”
Amid falling streamers and cheers, Hua Yan wiped her tears as Yun Xuechang walked toward her with concern.
“I’m fine…”
She shook her head stubbornly, though tears wouldn’t stop.
“You answered very well. I’m just happy… happy we won the prize.”
Yun Xuechang relaxed.
Together, they accepted the giant plush salted fish.
At this moment, Hua Yan didn’t even care about the prize’s strange taste.
She kept stealing glances at Yun Xuechang—at her calm, ethereal profile as she smiled at the crowd.
‘I think… in this lifetime, I’ve already chosen this blockhead.’
Since you value me as a person, not just my appearance…
Since you’ve already drawn me in…
‘Then don’t even think about escaping for the rest of your life, Yun Xuechang.’
‘I, Hua Yan, have chosen you.’