New Year's Eve (67k)

Those who practice spiritual cultivation do not celebrate holidays, but most disciples eventually develop worldly desires.

On New Year's Eve, the Xuanxiao Sect was already quite lively. Disciples would spontaneously organize some activities, and the elders or stewards would not spoil the fun at this once-a-year occasion; on the contrary, many of them enjoyed themselves.

This ancient and solemn sect of immortals was now draped in a vibrant red, bringing with it a touch of festive joy that belonged to the foot of the mountain.

You Su sat in the courtyard warming herself by the fire, waiting for night to fall.

Ji Lingruo reluctantly practiced swordplay under his supervision, with You Su explaining that even though it was Lunar New Year's Eve, her studies couldn't be interrupted.

"You're practicing well; you're increasingly showing the demeanor of a little sword immortal."

You Su squinted and praised, Ji Lingruo wiped the sweat from her forehead and scoffed at her senior brother's praise.

"As a reward, I'll treat you to go see the lantern festival with me at Henggao City tonight."

"Real?!"

You Su's words successfully shut Ji Lingruo she could even complain.

The girl's cheeks were rosy from the activity she had just done, and her eyes were sparkling, making her look incredibly cute.

"Of course it's true. Henggao City is the largest and best city in the Central Yuan Continent, so its lantern festival is naturally the most beautiful, at least a hundred times more beautiful than Chuyun City."

Ji Lingruo's eyes also showed longing, and she immediately looked forward to the evening.

Just then, an unexpected guest visited Lotus Peak; it was none other than the white-haired, withered-faced First Elder.

You Su quickly bowed, Ji Lingruo bowed in return before stepping away, leaving the two of them alone.

"I heard you've done something good again in Jinhua City?"

The First Elder also sat by the stove, and despite being impervious to heat and cold, he approached the brazier with his hands like an ordinary person.

You Su felt that his aged voice no longer had the same vibrancy as before; on the contrary, the old man seemed somewhat tired this time.

"That evil spirit is weak and not worth mentioning."

"The more insignificant something is, the more dangerous it is."

The old man spoke slowly and deliberately, rubbing his hands together, truly like a frail old man warming himself by a fire. "Even your senior sister almost couldn't handle the evil spirit, but you exorcised it with ease. This is the best way to slap those people in the face."

You Su hadn't thought that far ahead, but after listening to the First Elder's explanation, she gained a lot of insight. Many people in the Evil Warding Department recognized Wangshu's identity Goddess, but they had doubts about You Su's identity as a divine son. However, facts have proven that the two are complementary and indispensable.

"I just saw some evil spirits and eliminated them on a whim, I didn't think much of it. First Elder, did you have any results from tracking down that Evil Cultivator?"

You Su was more interested in Cai Ling and the origins of the faceless man, but the First Elder shook his head upon hearing this, looking helpless.

"Some filth is hidden deeper than I imagined. When I find that Jade Bead, guess where it is?"

"Where?"

"That's a well in Xining city, and the water in it is salty."

Is the well water salty?

When You Su was on the mountain, he would also study the geography of the Five Continents. He knew that Xining City was a city on the west side of the Central Yuan Continent.

"Could that be a well that's been dug from the Western Sea all the way inland...?"

"You guessed right. The manpower and financial resources required to dig such a well are unimaginable. They even spent a lot of resources to maintain it, just so that evil spirits in the sea could secretly sneak inland along this shortcut."

The First Elder was filled with worry as he watched the sparks burst forth and vanish in an instant, as if he were witnessing the fate of all living beings across the five continents.

"Divine Radiance Stone by the sea, and cultivators sent by the divine mountain are on guard day and night. How could such a thing happen so quietly?"

"These impurities have ultimately reached out to the pristine sacred mountain."

The First Elder's words were pointed, You Su could not hide her shock, but another question suddenly arose in her mind:

"But..."

What are you trying to say?

"Why did that Evil Cultivator leave the Jade Bead there? I feel it's a bit too deliberate. If she sensed the First Elder was following the Jade Bead, since she could have run away, she could have taken the Jade Bead with her for a while longer. It would have been better than exposing such an important secret passage..."

"You think she deliberately placed it there so I could destroy that hideout?"

"It's not impossible."

You Su boldly speculated that she always felt that Cai Ling and the person behind her were shrouded in mystery.

The First Elder, however, suddenly smiled, his gaunt wrinkles deepening into a smile:

"I will investigate thoroughly. Don't be frightened by my words. Have a good New Year. Your and your senior sister's task is to deal with the evil spirits. Leave the rest to us."

He stood up and patted You Su on the shoulder:

Where is your senior sister?

"Currently in seclusion, breaking through to the middle stage of the Feather Transformation Realm."

"That was fast... it felt like he broke through just like that..."

The old man sighed softly, his eyes gleaming as he gazed towards the room where Wangshu Fairy resided. He then stroked his beard and nodded.

"But I observe that the Qi vortex around her has stabilized, so she should have already successfully broken through."

You Su was somewhat surprised, "Then why hasn't Senior Sister emerged from seclusion yet?"

The old man pondered for a moment, then smiled knowingly, "Perhaps you should go and call her. Today is New Year's Eve, take her to see the world."

After saying this, the old man slowly descended the mountain.

You Su pondered the words left by the First Elder before pushing open the door and entering her senior sister's room.

He squatted down in front of his senior sister, slowly opened his Black Eyes, and looked at Wangshu, who was sitting quietly in meditation.

There is a small crack in the lower right corner of this Rabbit Mask, but nothing can be seen inside; the only visible part is the eye socket, where only delicate white eyelashes can be seen.

"Senior sister, it's time to get up."

You Su called out softly.

Surprisingly, Wangshu actually opened her eyes, her blue pupils clear as water.

"Junior brother."

Wangshu's eyebrows were curved, and she was smiling.

You Su smiled wryly. It seemed the First Elder was right; his senior sister was indeed pretending to be asleep. She had actually already successfully broken through.

How could someone who is an unparalleled genius who has to wait for others to catch up with her before she can break through to a higher realm be judged by ordinary standards?

"How come Senior Sister has already succeeded in her breakthrough, yet she's still in seclusion meditating?"

Wangshu felt a little shy after her thoughts were exposed, and lowered her head slightly.

"That way, you and your junior sister can take turns keeping me company."

There are twelve two-hour periods in a day. You Su and Ji Lingruo each of them would take six hours to watch over their senior sister. Even if they didn't stay in the room, they would at least not leave the small courtyard on Lotus Peak.

You Su found it amusing. "Senior sister, you've been keeping your eyes closed and not saying a word. Don't you find it boring?"

"I don't think so. I've always been like this before you guys came."

Wangshu's words pierced You Su's heart. He held the girl's delicate hand in his own, trying to offer her some warmth.

"Senior sister, you don't need to pretend to be asleep. We'll stay with you the whole time."

Wangshu nodded heavily, then stood up, her eyes filled with hope, and said:

"Junior brother, I also want to go see the lantern festival."

You Su naturally knew what she was talking about. She never expected that her conversation with her junior sister outside would be overheard by her senior sister, who was pretending to be asleep.

He secretly rejoiced; thankfully, after his junior sister found out that her senior sister was really in the room, she absolutely refused to let him cultivate together in the courtyard like before...

"Okay, then the three of us will go see it together."

You Su gently agreed; how could he possibly leave his senior sister alone on such an important day?

On New Year's Eve, it gets dark very early.

Ji Lingruo, seeing a dazzling light suddenly flash in the mountain mist, exclaimed with ecstatic joy:

"It's fireworks!"

But now is not the time to set off fireworks, and Xuanxiao Sect is not a place where fireworks can be set off casually, so it seems somewhat lonely.

"Let's go down the mountain."

News of Brother He has arrived through the Xuanji Token.

You Su then led two stunningly beautiful young women up the cloud ladder, both of whom appeared very excited.

As we walked out of the sect's gate, the old man guarding the gate was very kind.

"Wangshu is going down the mountain to play again."

Wangshu nodded happily, "It was my junior brother who took me out to play."

You Su then remembered that her senior sister was not allowed to go down the mountain at will. This pure-hearted girl had always lived within the circle drawn up for her by the Xuanxiao Sect and the higher-ups of the Evil Warding Department.

However, it seems that I did not encounter any obstacles when I went to Tianxin Bookstore to deliver books last time, nor when I planned to go down the mountain to see the lantern festival this time.

Recalling the First Elder's instructions, it's not hard to guess who temporarily lifted the restriction on Wangshu. Only the First Elder could have absolute authority in both the Xuanxiao Sect and the Evil Warding Department.

Walking along the main road leading from the sacred mountain to Henggao City, one can already see the brightly lit Henggao City in the distance, with red lanterns and colorful ribbons hanging all over the city walls. Under the dark night sky, it is like a piece of burning coals, radiating warmth and dyeing the sky orange.

The three of them plunged into this dazzling world of lights. The city was brightly lit, and people thronged like ants. The sounds of firecrackers and laughter rose and fell. Men, women, and children alike were dressed in festive attire, their faces beaming with joy.

Vendors kept passing by, shouting loudly. You Su bought several couplets and paper-cut window decorations to paste in the courtyard, Ji Lingruo bought a lot of melon seeds and candied fruit. However, when it came time to pay, Wangshu insisted that she pay.

Under the lamplight, Ji Lingruo's face and Wangshu's mask were flushed, which, combined with her elegant demeanor and exquisite figure, truly attracted countless envious glances.

You Su proclaimed himself a protector of the beauties, but no matter how straight he stood, he couldn't block the gazes shooting from all directions. In particular, many of those burning gazes weren't directed at the two women behind him, but rather at his handsome and dashing appearance.

Unable to bear the annoyance any longer, You Su suddenly had a brilliant idea and bought three masks from a small stall.

This year is the Year of the Tiger, and the masks depict a tiger father, tiger mother, and a family of tiger cubs.

"I want to be a tiger mom!" Wangshu declared, seizing the initiative.

"Senior sister, aren't you wearing a mask? It's not convenient to change, is it? Let me put it on." Ji Lingruo pouted; of course, she also wanted to be the other's 'mother'.

"I can wear another one, it's okay." Once Wangshu made up her mind, there was almost no going back. "I'm older than my junior sister, so of course I'll be the tiger mom."

Ji Lingruo twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling that her senior sister had to come out of seclusion at this time of year. What she thought would be a sweet date between her and her senior brother turned into her and her senior brother taking their 'daughter' shopping.

But her senior sister was unwilling, and she couldn't argue with her senior sister, lest it seem like she was bullying her.

In the end, Ji Lingruo wore the tiger father mask, Wangshu wore the tiger mother mask, and You Su in the middle became their 'child'.

You Su didn't care much about suddenly becoming a son, after all, it was all for the sake of harmony within the sect.

The further into the city you go, the more vibrant the lights become.

At Zuixianju, the best restaurant in the city, He Kongyue had already reserved a top-class private room. Sitting high on the balcony, she could overlook the beautiful city lights.

He Kongyue, who had been looking forward to the He Kongyue the door opened, suddenly frowned slightly. Even though all three of them were wearing masks, she could recognize them at a glance.

"Brother You, why did you bring your Family Member along when you went out to play...?"

Ji Lingruo raised her eyebrows slightly, sensing a strange sour undertone in the other person's words. She didn't pay much attention, assuming the pale-faced young master was simply jealous of You Su's good fortune with women.

You Su found it amusing. It wasn't like they were going to do anything shady; what was wrong with bringing Family Member?

"Shouldn't you bring your Family Member during the New Year? Brother He said he would show me the festive atmosphere of Henggao City, and since I've never met my senior and junior sisters before, I took the liberty of bringing them along. But has this disturbed Brother He's plans?"

You Su felt a little embarrassed, since the other party hadn't directly invited the two women.

He Kongyue concealed the strange expression on her face. She secretly regretted not telling You Su that he was the only one who could come. With two burdens around, how could she and You Su enjoy their trip together?

"Brother You is very thoughtful; it's hardly an inconvenience. I just thought you were coming alone, so the table I booked was a bit small. But it's alright, I'll have the people at Zuixianju change it for me."

Her words were arrogant, but on New Year's Eve, Zuixianju was already packed with people, so there was no room available for He Kongyue.

"Young Master He, please spare me. Every restaurant in Henggao City is packed right now. There's no way we can find a table for you."

Even though He Kongyue was willing to spend a lot of money to buy it, the restaurant owner could only express his helplessness. Those who could afford to dine in the private rooms here were all important people, and naturally they didn't care about He Kongyue's money.

"How about... I take my senior and junior sisters to eat somewhere else, so as not to disturb Brother He's enjoyment. I'll come back to find Brother He after we've finished eating."

You Su didn't want to put He Kongyue in a difficult position regarding this matter, since it was he who brought the people here.

"How can that be? If Brother You and the two Fairy don't mind, I can take you to another shop."

"Is this a treat from Young Master He?"

Ji Lingruo she said this, so she pulled You Su's arm and hid behind him, half of her forearm sinking into that full mound.

He Kongyue saw this and felt a mix of emotions, reluctantly saying:

"That's natural."

She wasn't big-breasted, but she was really generous.

"Then we can both!" Ji Lingruo a smile.

Ji Lingruo stared in shock at the red-sleeved beauties filling the building before her. This brightly lit building, filled with singing and dancing, was none other than Phoenix Perch Tower, the largest brothel in Henggao City.

She turned and glared at He Kongyue, as if she could see through the ugly thoughts of this hypocritical young master. No wonder he was so disappointed when he saw that his senior brother had brought them along. He even felt that his senior sister and I would spoil their 'fun'.

He Kongyue keenly noticed the look in his eyes and felt slightly embarrassed.

"Young Master He, you're not going to invite us to dinner at Phoenix Perch Tower, are you? Just like in Moxie City?" Ji Lingruo sneered coldly.

"It smells so good."

You Su took a deep breath and felt that the fragrance of rouge filled her nostrils, mixed with a rich aroma of chicken soup.

"This is it, boss, four bowls of wontons, please."

He Kongyue called out to a roadside stall, which surprised Ji Lingruo even more. So He Kongyue hadn't brought them to Phoenix Perch Tower, but to a roadside stall next to it?

"Oh, Mr. He has brought a friend! Please wait a moment, let me finish serving the people in front of me first!"

The vendor deftly scooped up another tray of wontons and put them into the pot. Steam rose from the pot, creating a lively and comforting atmosphere in the cold winter.

"Brother He, do you often eat here?"

You Su was somewhat surprised, feeling that this roadside stall was really not in line with Brother He's status. But then she thought that He Kongyue probably came to Phoenix Perch Tower quite often in order to maintain his image as a playboy. Just going in would not be enough, so he naturally had to linger at the stall at the entrance for a while so that more people could see him.

"I only pass by occasionally, but I always can't resist trying it because of the taste. If you don't like it, Brother You, I'll take you somewhere else."

He Kongyue first came to the wonton stall next to Phoenix Perch Tower to be seen, but later, she was genuinely moved by the taste of the wontons.

"Brother He does have a down-to-earth side. Compared to the lonely and aloof Zuixianju, I actually prefer these lively roadside stalls."

Ji Lingruo didn't really care, as long as it tasted good. Her disdain was only because she hadn't been able to fleece Young Master He.

Soon, the steaming hot wontons were served.

The white wontons are filled with finely ground meat, and the chicken soup is topped with an enticing layer of oil. Sparse chopped green onions and small river shrimp are sprinkled on top of the soup, making it incredibly appetizing just by smelling it.

You Su didn't care about the heat and quickly scooped up a wonton and put it in her mouth. She sighed that the wonton was indeed extremely delicious. No wonder He Kongyue remembered this shop. Even the weakest starving man would be revived after taking a bite.

The owner of this wonton stall made an incredibly wise decision to open his shop next to Phoenix Perch Tower.

You Su not only finished her own portion, but also ate Wangshu's portion cleanly.

He Kongyue smiled slightly as she saw You Su's expression of enjoyment. She felt very satisfied that You Su liked what she liked.

She was initially worried that bringing You Su here would make You Su unhappy, but now she realized she had been overthinking it.

Why is this snake demon so rude? Your senior brother only ate two bowls, but you've already eaten three?

Spending money on his brothers is fine, but spending money on his brothers' women always makes He Kongyue feel uneasy.

Despite the freezing weather, the group warmed up after eating a hot meal and continued their journey together amidst the bustling traffic and dazzling lights.

The four handsome men and beautiful women, who appeared to be living in harmony, were actually secretly divided into several factions around You Su.

Wangshu was naturally a curious person focused on sightseeing, content as long as her junior brother was by her side. Ji Lingruo and He Kongyue, on the other hand, were openly and secretly at odds, regarding each other as an obstacle.

Ji Lingruo thought this man was incredibly tactless; she and her senior brother were a couple, and he, a man, insisted on coming along and making a fool of himself. He Kongyue, on the other hand, thought Ji Lingruo incredibly immature; what kind of woman insisted on following the men out to have fun?

Seeing that the He Kongyue naturally wouldn't use her real face to accompany them, so she bought a tiger mask for herself as well.

However, the style of the painting was completely different from the faces of the three people; they looked more like a bullying tiger from the neighboring forest.

When onlookers saw that the two women were close to You Su and wearing masks, while He Kongyue was distant and wearing a fierce tiger mask, they knew that this was not a couple shopping together. They speculated that there was a slightly sad story behind it and secretly cursed the man wearing the tiger cub mask as a terrible person.

Shopping naturally involves buying things—lanterns, candy, and all sorts of novel trinkets. He Kongyue had to admit that this was indeed something more suitable for couples to do.

Even though He Kongyue tried to take on everything so that she could contribute some money and feel involved, Ji Lingruo didn't give her that chance. She bought this and that on her own and even fed You Su a peanut candy. Seeing this, Wangshu followed suit and ate one candy after another, making You Su's teeth hurt from the sweetness. He Kongyue, on the other hand, was so angry that she gritted her teeth.

Perhaps I really am superfluous...

With this in mind, He Kongyue already had the intention to back down.

"Senior brother, you go upstream to release the lanterns, senior sister and I will come down to meet you!"

Ji Lingruo enjoyed playing some so-called fate-related games, and Wangshu was also very interested.

You Su sighed helplessly, "Then you all wait for me here. The fireworks festival is about to begin. Brother He, would you like to come with me?"

He Kongyue was slightly taken aback, but naturally agreed to go with him. After waiting all night, she finally got the chance to be alone with You Su.

"Brother He won't mind if I brought my female relatives along, will he?" You Su asked tentatively.

Going against the current was a bit crowded, He Kongyue was much thinner than You Su, had no choice but to squeeze into You Su's arms.

She rolled her eyes playfully. "I really was taking you guys to eat wontons, did you think I was going to take you to Phoenix Perch Tower?"

You Su smiled noncommittally, then stepped aside to stand in front of He Kongyue, acting like a bodyguard to shield her from the crowd.

Their hands brushed lightly against each other, He Kongyue suppressed the urge to hold them, her fair face flushing slightly.

"You Su, after tonight, I'm going to the He Family's secret realm for secluded cultivation."

For some reason, He Kongyue was no longer willing to address the other person as "brother".

"No wonder Brother He invited me out tonight."

"Yes..."

For the first time He Kongyue was troubled by her breakthrough in cultivation level, regretting that she couldn't wait until You Su was in seclusion to do it together.

Watching You Su's retreating figure, she finally mustered the courage to speak:

"Actually... you didn't come here to see He Shutong at all, right? You know where she is. You came to the He family just to test the possibility of her returning to the He family."

You Su stopped in his tracks in surprise. He Kongyue bumped into his back without noticing, and felt her heart flutter.

"Brother He, you saw it all along?"

Your acting is terrible.

He Kongyue smiled, but still didn't reveal that she had known all along that the Lotus Sword Venerable was He Shutong.

"I..."

"No need to say more, didn't I only agree to this because I wanted you to join the church?"

He Kongyue's honesty put You Su at ease. He was worried that the other party might misunderstand and think that he had ulterior motives in befriending him. But even if Brother He wasn't his Mistress's brother, he was still willing to befriend him.

"I originally wanted to chat with you more during dinner, but now I think it's pointless. Here's a New Year's gift for you. When I come out of seclusion, will you take me to meet her? In return, while I'm in seclusion, will you spend more time with my father? I've made arrangements, so you can see him as soon as you enter."

He Kongyue spoke calmly, but she knew that this was not a New Year's gift. She wanted to make You Su completely give up the idea of letting He Shutong return to the He family, and also take the opportunity to sever You Su's feelings for He Shutong.

You Su was naturally delighted that the other party had taken the initiative to suggest a meeting; he didn't believe that the other party would still harbor such prejudice against his current Mistress.

"Okay! I will definitely take good care of your father!"

"Remember to put on makeup and wear a skirt," He Kongyue teased.

The two walked to the upper reaches of the stream and released lanterns together. He Kongyue also released one, joining the dazzling stream of lights, not expecting anyone to catch it.

"Alright, Brother He, go keep them company. I'm leaving now; I don't want to be a thorn in your side."

As she spoke, He Kongyue prepared to leave alone, leaving the three people with their unspoken feelings to themselves. However, her departing figure still appeared somewhat melancholic.

"Let's go together, Brother He. Before you go into seclusion, you should definitely remember the splendor of this mortal world. Otherwise, when you emerge from seclusion, you'll have completely ascended to immortality and forgotten your little brother."

You Su's words were also a joke at He Kongyue's expense; breaking through to the Feather Transformation Realm could indeed be considered 'ascending to immortality'.

"Anyone can forget, but how could we forget Brother You, who clearly couldn't swim but loved to bathe naked in the river?"

He Kongyue felt a warm glow in her heart after being persuaded to stay by You Su. She no longer cared that it would interfere with the two women's sweet moment. She was determined to force her way in; let them try and drive her away in front of You Su if they dared.

Having completely abandoned He Kongyue suddenly became confident, ignoring Ji Lingruo's strange gaze.

Fortunately, his gaze was quickly overwhelmed by the fireworks that filled the sky. With the sound of a firecracker, fireworks burst brilliantly in the sky above Henggao City.

A fiery tree brushes against the clouds as a crimson phoenix soars; rare flowers carpet the ground, their crimson petals falling like snow.

You Su couldn't see the fireworks clearly, but she could feel the overwhelming joy all around her.

He gently took the hands of the two women beside him, feeling that it was truly wonderful to be alive in this world...