Proposing to Mistress

As the lights dimmed, He Kongyue and You Su bid each other a reluctant farewell amidst the crowd.

Ji Lingruo thought to herself, "Why is the separation of two men being made to look like a matter of life and death?"

On the way back, the night was bright with stars and lights, and You Su was holding the hands of two girls, one on the left and one on the right, which was truly enviable.

Even though they were wearing tiger masks, many of the people who came to Henggao City to participate in the lantern festival were also cultivators. They vaguely guessed the identities of these three extraordinary individuals and were all quite surprised.

After this night, countless men must have been heartbroken and women must have shed tears.

Actually, Ji Lingruo was still a little shy and embarrassed to hold hands with You Su so openly in public. But You Su was about to let go after watching the fireworks, while Wangshu wouldn't let go, which made Ji Lingruo want to compete with him, so she refused to let go. She had no choice but to let You Su hold her hand, and they continued to hold hands all the way back to Lotus Peak.

"Junior sister, senior sister, weren't the fireworks beautiful?"

You Su herself could not witness the splendor of the fireworks, she hoped that the two women's expectations would not be disappointed.

"Um!"

Wangshu nodded emphatically, deeply moved by the beauty of the thousands of flowers blooming in the east wind tonight.

Ji Lingruo pouted her pink lips, "It looks quite nice, but He Kongyue is a bit superfluous."

You Su didn't pay much attention to Brother He's presence; after all, with so many people around, it wouldn't make much difference whether one more or one less person was by his side.

"It was Brother He who invited us this time; with his guidance, we were able to find the most spectacular viewpoints. Now that we're familiar with the route, let's go with the three of us next time."

"You said it yourself."

Ji Lingruo thought to herself, "Why can't it just be the two of us?"

"Next time, we don't necessarily have to go to a place with so many people. The fireworks are in the sky, so it doesn't matter where we watch them."

She was still a young girl at heart. She had imagined it would be like in the stories, with the male and female protagonists sharing a passionate kiss under a sky full of fireworks. But with so many people around, she was afraid she wouldn't even feel comfortable embracing him.

Besides, her senior sister is right there. If she were asked to imitate this, she would definitely chime in too. Could the three of them kiss at the same time? That's impossible!

You Su joked with her a few more times, Wangshu watched them silently, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. The three of them first hung up the red lanterns they had bought at the market, adding a touch of festive cheer to the desolate Lotus Peak. Then they sat in the courtyard chatting and watching the stars, but none of them were willing to go back to their rooms.

Ji Lingruo know what the other two were thinking, but it was indeed understandable that she didn't go back to her room. At this important moment when the year was coming to an end, how could she bear to leave You Su alone with her senior sister, even though the other sister had just come out of seclusion? She had to uphold the dignity of her 'boss'.

"Senior sister, do you know why we can't sleep on New Year's Eve?"

"Why?"

"This is called 'staying up all night on New Year's Eve.' Legend has it that there is a powerful beast called 'Nian,' which would come out to cause trouble every New Year's Eve and then return to the mountains at dawn. Every New Year's Eve, people regarded the night when the Nian beast raged as a critical juncture to endure. To pass the time, families would gather together and talk, as a way of praying for a safe passage through the night. Over time, this has become a custom of New Year's Eve."

"Then we're family now."

Wangshu's blue eyes were crystal clear, and her legs under her white dress were very long. When she sat down, her knees were raised high, and she placed her slender white hands on her knees, which made her look particularly well-behaved, forming a stark contrast with Ji Lingruo's carefree sitting posture.

"Shouldn't Senior Sister ask how powerful the Nian Beast is?" Ji Lingruo wanted to show off her knowledge to her Senior Sister, but the other sister didn't seem interested in the legend.

"It's okay, I'll protect you if you're really that good," Wangshu replied innocently.

Ji Lingruo wanted to complain, but the other party had just broken through to the middle stage of the Feather Transformation Realm, making them an existence far beyond her reach, so she couldn't bring herself to say anything.

"Senior sister is right, we Lotus Peak are one family."

You Su smiled and went along with it. He had long regarded the women around him as family, so he naturally agreed with his senior sister's words.

Upon Ji Lingruo tilted her head and rolled her eyes playfully. Although she thought You Su was shameless, she couldn't bear to nitpick her senior sister's words. So she simply changed the subject and continued:

"To ward off the Nian monster, we not only stay up all night, but also set off fireworks and firecrackers, and give children 'money to ward off evil spirits.' These New Year customs all have their reasons."

"Junior sister is amazing, she knows so much!"

Wangshu praised her sincerely, Ji Lingruo proudly raised her chin.

"Should we set off firecrackers?"

"No, Senior Sister, these are folk customs. Even mortals don't follow them all, so we cultivators certainly don't need to. It's already good enough that the Xuanxiao Sect allows fireworks in the evening. It's late at night. If we set off firecrackers to disturb the peace of the immortal sect, we'll probably get a scolding from the elders of the Discipline Hall," You Su advised gently.

"Oh..." Wangshu replied softly, but there was still a hint of disappointment in her voice.

To everyone's surprise, Ji Lingruo playfully curled the corners of her lips, took out a firecracker thicker than her forearm from her Universe Bag, and confidently said:

"What's so difficult about that? I know a soundproof Formation Technique; I guarantee no one will hear me!"

"Real?"

Wangshu looked at Ji Lingruo with surprise. It is worth mentioning that although Wangshu is a genius in cultivation and her Qi control technique is exquisite, she does not know Technique Method.

Even the most basic ignition technique was beyond Wangshu's ability to perform.

But her exceptional talent in Way of the Sword overshadowed this flaw, transforming it into a praiseworthy purity.

In fact, many people speculate that Wangshu Fairy was not exceptionally talented in Way of the Sword, but simply happened to be a disciple of someone who wielded a sword. If she were using any other weapon, she would still be among the most brilliant and talented.

You Su scanned the firecracker with his Divine Sense and exclaimed in amazement:

"When did my junior sister buy such a big firecracker?"

"Hehe, I bought it from a kid. These firecrackers have to be thick and big to be powerful!"

You Su raised an eyebrow slightly, while Wangshu looked at the large firecracker in Ji Lingruo's hand with an admiring gaze.

"Watch me!"

Ji Lingruo chuckled, then moved her lips and gestured with her hands, instantly creating an invisible soundproof Formation Technique.

She carefully picked up a piece of burning coal and placed it on the fuse of the firecracker. Even though the explosion was insignificant to her at the Spirit Platform Realm, she still instinctively flinched.

In an instant, sparks flew everywhere, followed by a deafening explosion. Fragments scattered like a rain of fire. Smoke filled the air, and the pungent smell of gunpowder permeated the atmosphere.

The brief yet intense explosion left Wangshu stunned and speechless.

You Su also felt a pang of emotion, thinking that it was indeed missing something if there were no firecrackers under the red lanterns of the New Year. However, it was a hardship for Ji Lingruo who was casting Technique Method.

Ji Lingruo, her face covered in dust, emerged coughing. Her Technique Method had a limited range, so to suppress the noise, she had to be extremely close to the blast radius of the firecrackers. Even though the girl wasn't afraid of the flying firecracker fragments, she couldn't escape the onslaught of smoke and ash.

When Wangshu saw that Ji Lingruo's face was covered in smudges, she quickly came over to ask her what was wrong.

Ji Lingruo casually wiped her face, trying to appear more bold, but ended up shaving it even more smudged.

Wangshu tilted her head, her eyes crinkling, and took out a handkerchief to wipe Ji Lingruo's face.

Ji Lingruo a warmth in her heart, but she was too embarrassed to let her fair-skinned senior sister get her hands dirty. "Senior sister, no need... I'll just go take a shower."

Ji Lingruo felt really embarrassed. Her senior sister was so good to her, and she still had to keep an eye on her senior brother and be wary of her senior sister. It was really not right of her. So she found an excuse to give the two of them some space alone.

Wangshu didn't understand Ji Lingruo's thoughts, and just stood silently beside You Su. She rarely spoke, but this pure-hearted girl seemed to be oblivious to awkwardness. Even when she was speechless in front of You Su, she was content.

"Senior sister, let's go find our Mistress." You Su remembered her Mistress's instructions.

"Um."

Wangshu nodded. She actually had many questions she wanted to ask the Lotus Sword Venerable, who was like a teacher and a mother to her.

After nodding, she even thoughtfully ran to the bathroom and reported her and You Su's whereabouts to Ji Lingruo, who was taking a bath inside, afraid that her junior sister would worry if she couldn't find them after her bath.

Ji Lingruo submerged half her head in the water and simply uttered an "oh." Bubbles gurgled and rose to the surface, revealing that the girl's cheeks were puffed up with anger, as red as apricots.

She was always very perceptive about these kinds of things. The relationship between her senior sister and senior brother had been irreparably damaged by this ordeal. Once they went to their master's place, everything would probably be set in stone.

The master who was so gentle with his senior brother would never refuse his 'marriage proposal'.

She wasn't particularly jealous, after all, her senior sister was really well-liked by her, and she had known this day would come, so she had mentally prepared herself.

The girl was still a little sad, worried that You Su was giving her less affection. But if You Su were to abandon his senior sister and love her alone now, she would probably be the first to disagree, and might even call his senior brother a 'scumbag'.

A young girl's thoughts are as tangled as a silkworm's cocoon, inside which lies a tender butterfly.

Thinking about life on Lotus Peak in the future, she suddenly felt that the idea of the three of them kissing wasn't impossible...

Her only hope now is that her senior sister will find her own face soon, otherwise they'll really be eating the same candied hawthorn on the same stick...

Ji Lingruo buried her entire face in the water, trying to numb her racing thoughts...

The two walked side by side towards the back of the fairy forest. You Su hesitated for a moment, but finally made up her mind and gently took Wangshu's hand.

Soon, the two passed through the fairy forest that He Shutong could control with her mind, and arrived at the warm pool that faintly glowed in the night.

Through the misty fog, He Shutong saw the two hands clasped together. Although she was prepared, she still couldn't hide the strangeness in her heart. On the day she was preparing to bring You Su back to Lotus Peak, she had never imagined this situation.

"Master."

"Mistress."

"You've arrived."

He Shutong replied calmly that she lacked experience as an elder and was inevitably a little embarrassed about what she was about to face, worried that she might not handle it well.

"What brings you two to see your master so late at night?"

"My junior brother sent me."

Wangshu was indeed frank, but unfortunately, her words sounded somewhat like she was trying to shift the blame.

You Su sighed inwardly, "Didn't you tell me to bring people here...?"

However, even if he thought that way, he certainly wouldn't say it like that:

"Tonight is New Year's Eve, and since it's an auspicious day for my senior sister to emerge from her seclusion, I've brought her to pay my respects to my Mistress's Mistress and also to extend my greetings."

Today is New Year's Eve...

He Shutong felt a pang of emotion, realizing how quickly time flies and how fleeting life is.

In her memory, Wangshu was still that simple and obedient little child who would tirelessly ask her what the New Year meant; while You Su was that little child who would hold a bowl of steaming dumplings and call out to her at the door during the Spring Festival.

But these two little children, at this very moment, came to find her hand in hand.

"Wangshu, it's truly astonishing that you've reached the mid-stage of the Feather Transformation Realm at such a young age. I'm very happy for you. You've almost never relied on my help along the way. I'm truly fortunate to have you as my disciple."

"Thank you, Master."

Wangshu didn't say polite words or pretty phrases like "Master is also my good fortune," but her tone revealed genuine joy.

She knew that her master had changed. In the past, her master rarely praised her, but now she could feel the genuine joy in his heart.

"Unbeknownst to us, you've been at Lotus Peak for almost half a year now. Are you getting used to it?"

After praising his eldest disciple, He Shutong then turned his attention to his second disciple.

"I've long since gotten used to it; it feels just like my own home."

You Su wasn't ashamed at all; he knew that the more honest he was, the happier his Mistress would be.

"That's good. You brought your senior sister to find me... is there nothing else?"

For some reason, He Shutong felt her heart pounding wildly, and she was incredibly nervous.

You Su held his senior sister's hand, which was a little cold to the touch. His desire to warm the girl grew stronger, which gave him the courage to speak frankly:

"I hope my Mistress will agree to let my senior sister be my dao companion!"

You Su spoke clearly and distinctly, and with each word he uttered, You Su's heart pounded like a drum, growing more and more intense, feeling so nervous that his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Neither his junior sister nor Xue Ruo had ever experienced a marriage proposal to the woman's elders, so how could he not be nervous?

He Shutong also clenched her hands tightly in the water, her feelings were complicated and hard to describe, with relief as well as a little bit of resentment.

She couldn't help but recall that day when You Su felt guilty for falling in love with Lingruo's older sister at the same time. She had tried to comfort him then, telling him that in this world, the capable should rule, and as long as one's abilities matched one's ambitions, that was enough. In just a few months, his ambitions had spread to his senior sister.

Looking back now, did I perhaps open the door to the boy's inflated ambition...?

Of the three present, only Wangshu Fairy seemed unfazed; a hint of doubt flashed in her blue eyes.

"But haven't I already been my junior brother's dao companion?"

He Shutong and You Su's pupils dilated simultaneously. He Shutong looked at You Su in disbelief, her voice trembling slightly, a rare occurrence for her.

"You... you... you've already... taken your senior sister?!"

I played Black Myth yesterday and am working overtime today. I'm guilty, so I owe you 4,000 words plus a bonus chapter to make up for it. I'll try to make it up to you by the weekend.