Celebrating the Festival

After a day of snow, Eastsea Academy was blanketed in silver. Meng Li got out of bed, and the sorrow in his heart had lessened somewhat.

Life still had to go on. Meng Li habitually touched the silver pendant in his hand before washing up.

After tidying himself, he changed into winter clothes, ate something simple, and began another day of cultivation.

During the holiday, all he did was cultivate. He had no entertainment whatsoever, and his progress was astonishingly fast, though it did carry the risk of forced growth.

Day after day passed, and soon it was time for his appointment with Gu Yue.

Gu Yue did not break her promise and returned to the academy early.

"Have you been cultivating this whole time?"

The moment Gu Yue entered, she saw Meng Li meditating.

Hearing Gu Yue's voice, Meng Li woke from his cultivation and smiled. "I had nowhere else to go."

"You're too lonely!" Something stirred in Gu Yue's heart.

"But now you're here, aren't you?" Meng Li smiled.

"I brought some food. It tastes decent." Gu Yue set her backpack aside and took out some local specialties she had bought from somewhere.

Meng Li got up and walked over to Gu Yue. There was a wide variety of snacks, and he picked something resembling bread and started eating it. It tasted like chicken... Barely edible.

"It tastes good." Since she had brought food all this way for him, Meng Li naturally could not spoil the mood. Smiling, he took another bite, then pulled a red envelope bearing the words "New Year's Greetings" from his pocket.

"Here, a red envelope for you!"

"What's a red envelope?" Gu Yue took it and asked in confusion.

"It's called lucky money. It carries good wishes, for everything to go as you wish in the new year," Meng Li explained. "Now that you're back, I'm not in the mood to cultivate anymore. Come on, let's buy some ingredients and cook. Consider it a welcome feast for you."

"How could I let you do that?"

"If you feel bad about it, then don't hold my hand."

"I did. So what?" Gu Yue ran toward the convenience store with a perfectly justified look on her face.

"Slow down..."

"Wow, I'm digging in." Gu Yue looked at the table full of dishes the two of them had made together. They smelled wonderful and looked equally appetizing, making her swallow involuntarily.

Gu Yue picked up another piece of pine nut fish, closed her eyes, and savored the touch of the food on her tongue. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"I've been looking forward to this for nearly a month. I finally get to eat it again. By the way, you're not drinking today?"

Meng Li paused with his chopsticks halfway to a dish, then said, "I quit!"

"You're afraid that if you drink too much, you'll say what's really on your mind."

"..." Meng Li's lips twitched, but he did not respond.

"After all these days, did you miss me?" Gu Yue's especially captivating eyes suddenly fixed on Meng Li.

"Why would I miss you? No!" Meng Li deliberately turned his head aside.

Gu Yue said with a grin, "Your face is red, and you still say you didn't miss me!"

Is it really okay to be this straightforward? Meng Li muttered inwardly.

"Fine, I won't tease you anymore. Otherwise, you might start avoiding me, and then I'll never get to eat such delicious food again." Gu Yue chuckled and continued eating earnestly.

After dinner, according to the rules, Gu Yue washed the dishes.

Once she was done, Gu Yue said impatiently, "Let's move on to the next part of the Spring Festival."

"Let's go, let's go. I'll take you to set off fireworks!" Meng Li handed Gu Yue a snow hat.

"It's cold out. Don't catch a cold."

"I'm a Soul Master. How could I possibly catch a cold?" Though she said that, Gu Yue still put the white fur hat on her head.

That day, the two of them set off fireworks in the snow for a full hour. The surrounding pedestrians watched the dazzling fireworks in the sky, and while they watched, they cursed too—cursing whoever was so immoral as to disturb people in the middle of the night instead of sleeping.

"Ring-ring!"

The Soul Tool Communication Bracelet rang, waking Meng Li, who was still asleep well into the morning. He yawned. The number was unfamiliar, and he answered curiously.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Long Hengxu!" A middle-aged man's voice came through the Soul Tool Communicator.

"Brother Long, what is it?"

"..." There was a long silence from the other end of the Soul Tool Communicator. "Go pick someone up at the academy gates. I've got something to deal with and can't get away!"

"Why me?" Meng Li rubbed his eyes.

"You're the only one in the entire academy. If not you, then who? Once you find her, have her stay in Room 503 for now!"

"Alright. What's her name?"

"Xu Xiaoyan!"

"What are you going out for?" Gu Yue stood with her hands behind her back, smiling as she looked Meng Li over.

"What a coincidence, seeing you first thing in the morning."

"Brother Long asked me to pick someone up." Meng Li stopped walking.

"Who? A boy or a girl?" Gu Yue asked curiously.

"I don't know her. Judging by the name, probably a boy?" Meng Li thought for a moment.

At the academy gates, a ten-year-old girl stood with a suitcase. Her light blue hair was tied into two braids, and she looked exquisitely pretty, like a doll. She looked left and right, seemingly searching for something.

When her light blue eyes noticed a boy and a girl walking out from the academy gates, she hurried forward. "Excuse me, do you know Meng Li? Director Long told me to wait for him."

Gu Yue frowned and instinctively moved closer to Meng Li, her intent to assert her claim obvious.

"Are you Xu Xiaoyan?" Meng Li asked.

"Mm!" Xu Xiaoyan gave a playful smile, her eyes never leaving Meng Li.

"Is your luggage heavy?" Gu Yue frowned even more deeply and grabbed Meng Li's left hand.

"A little!" Xu Xiaoyan said.

"You're not a child anymore. You need to learn to carry your own burdens!" Gu Yue said. "I'll take her to Room 503. Meng Li, don't you have other things to do?"

"..." Xu Xiaoyan.

Is this jealousy? Meng Li scratched his head. "Mm, I do have some things to take care of. I'll be going first."

The day before the new term began, the winter chill had faded considerably, and early spring was quietly arriving. Meng Li leaned on the balcony railing with both hands, drinking coffee as he watched the boys and girls entering the academy. He was in an excellent mood.

"Brother Meng, did you miss me? Surprised? Shocked?" Xie Xie, who had grown a little taller, pushed open the dormitory door.

"Ahem, could you knock before coming in?" Meng Li complained.

When Xie Xie arrived, Meng Li had been drinking coffee, and the peaceful atmosphere was abruptly ruined.

"Let's fight, Brother Meng! Let me show you my strength!" Xie Xie held the Shadow Dragon Dagger in his left hand and the Light Dragon Dagger in his right, while Ghost Cutter floated behind him. He looked quite impressive.

Boom!

A loud crash erupted from the staff dormitory.

"I was wrong, I was wrong! I shouldn't have challenged Brother Meng's ruling position." Xie Xie lay on the ground, looking at Meng Li rubbing his fists as he begged for mercy.

Just moments ago, he had attacked Meng Li, who was drinking coffee, with his full strength. In the end, he could not even break through the other's Soul Power shield and was sent flying into the wall by the rebound.

"It's good that you know you were wrong. But you spilled my coffee. Since you're back, how about treating me to dinner tonight?" Meng Li poured out the remaining coffee. It had scalded his mouth, and he no longer felt like drinking it.

"Sure, Brother Meng. You can insult my strength, but you absolutely cannot insult my financial power." Xie Xie looked extremely confident.

"When Tang Wulin gets back, we'll call Teacher Wu too. Today, we're going to the best restaurant in Eastsea."

"After dinner, we'll go soak our feet."

"Who wants to soak their feet?" Gu Yue walked in just then.

"Him."

Meng Li pointed at Xie Xie.