Chapter 36: A Festival Interruption

So, why exactly did it turn into just me and this person strolling through the streets alone?

Amidst the dazzling, bustling night market, Hua Yan turned to look at Yun Xueshang beside her. The other woman quietly turned her face, blinked, and tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

What exactly had happened? It was best to start from the beginning.

***

“Ahem, now that the demonic evils of Great Chu have been vanquished, our business here is concluded. It’s time I took Yun Xueshang back.”

The group had returned to Yunjing. During lunch, Hua Yan cleared her throat and declared:

“These past days with Daoist Qu and Daoist Lin have been truly pleasant. Alas, the time has come to say goodbye…”

“But Mother, I don’t want to leave yet.”

A small hand reached out from the side, tugging at her sleeve, interrupting her words.

“What’s wrong? Could it be you don’t wish to return to the valley soon, take your maternal mother to meet your great-grandmother, and play with your Golden-winged Magpie?”

Hua Yan raised an eyebrow, looking down at Hua Xiangrong, who sat beside her.

“No, I really do want to go back.”

Hua Xiangrong shook her head, then spoke in a soft, sweet voice:

“But Uncle Li from the Hunyuan Hall said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days, and the city will be so lively. Can we stay for a few more days, please?”

Hua Yan watched her little face upturned, her big eyes fluttering, and felt her heart waver a little.

‘Ugh… Actually, it’s not impossible. I haven’t mentally prepared myself to take Yun Xueshang back anyway, so a few more days won’t hurt…’

“That’s right, Daoist Hua. Then you and Daoist Yun can take Rongrong to explore the city together. How wonderful that would be.”

Qu Linglong, who was nearby, also chimed in to help.

“Ahem… Alright then. Since you’ve all said so, we’ll return after the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Hua Yan cleared her throat, crossed her arms, and reluctantly agreed, feigning an air of being put upon.

“Yay! Mother is the best!”

The pink-haired girl immediately cheered, then asked, puzzled:

“Oh, Mother, why did you call Maternal Mother by her name just now? Weren’t you two calling each other nicknames a few days ago?”

As soon as these words left her mouth, Hua Yan instantly felt two pairs of gossiping eyes lock onto her.

Qu Linglong & Lin Qianqian: [Curious, gossip-hungry faces.jpg]

“That’s not it at all! Those days were to hide our identities; we had to pretend to be intimate Daoist companions, which is why we called each other nicknames! Our relationship isn’t, isn’t that good!”

Hua Yan’s face flushed instantly, and she frantically tried to explain herself to the two women.

“Ohh~~ So you ‘had no choice’ but to pretend, did you~~”

“Just acting with our Senior Sister, were we~~”

Both of them stretched out their words, nodding, their expressions clearly saying, “I understand, I understand,” making it obvious they didn’t believe her at all.

‘No! What exactly do you understand?! Why are my explanations completely useless!’

Hua Yan’s face burned even redder with embarrassment. Little did she know, it was precisely her flushed, innocent, and flustered appearance, like a maiden in love, that made the two women completely misunderstand her words.

However, there seemed to be one person at the table who actually took her explanation seriously.

“Boohoo… So, so Mother and Maternal Mother aren’t that close? Have you been lying to Rongrong all this time?”

Hua Xiangrong’s big eyes immediately welled up with tears, her nose turning red.

“Will you two quarrel… and then Rongrong won’t be able to be with both Mother and Maternal Mother at the same time? Boohoohoo…”

“Uh…”

Hua Yan’s body stiffened, and she immediately pulled the child into her arms, flustered and at a loss, comforting her:

“No, no! Mother was just joking! Your maternal mother and I are very close! Right, Yun Xueshang!”

She urgently shot Yun Xueshang a look that pleaded, ‘Please cooperate with me!’

“Yes, our relationship is very good.”

Yun Xueshang also leaned closer, gently stroking the pink-haired little girl’s head in Hua Yan’s embrace.

“Then I want to see you keep using nicknames, otherwise, you’re still lying to me!”

Hua Xiangrong sniffled, making a childish demand through her sobs.

“…Fine!”

Hua Yan gritted her teeth.

‘It’s just using nicknames, isn’t it? It’s not like I’ll lose a limb! I’ll call them! It’s better than this little girl clinging to me and crying incessantly.’

“Xue, Xueshang…”

Her cheeks burned crimson as her gaze drifted to the side, calling out in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Mm, Yan’er.”

Yun Xueshang’s eyes softened slightly, and she responded with utmost naturalness.

Hua Yan lowered her head slightly. In her peripheral vision, she saw Yun Xueshang’s profile, calm yet tinged with a faint tenderness. For some reason, she suddenly felt a dryness in her throat.

****

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“Wow! Maternal Mother, Mother, come quickly! It’s so beautiful outside!”

“I know, I know. Little one, don’t run off. Come and hold my hand properly.”

Hua Yan, a little helpless, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Hua Xiangrong, who was about to dash into the crowd. A moment later, she turned back to look at Yun Xueshang, who was slightly lost in thought behind her, and called out loudly:

“What are you still standing there for? Hurry and catch up.”

“Oh, alright.”

Yun Xueshang nodded blankly. Just now, seeing the lamplight reflecting Hua Yan and Hua Xiangrong’s figures, merging into the bustling crowd, she had indeed been somewhat entranced. Hearing Hua Yan’s call, she quickly stepped forward and took the pink-haired girl’s other free hand.

“Daoist Qu and Daoist Lin said they went ahead to wander on their own, so let’s just go.”

And so, the family of three merged into that flowing river of light. Countless lanterns stretched along eaves, treetops, and market stalls, a continuous display of scarlet, bright yellow, and luminous white… various hues of light swirled into warm halos, illuminating every face with a soft, joyful glow.

The air was filled with complex yet enticing aromas: here, the sweet fragrance of freshly baked mooncakes, there, the clear sweetness of osmanthus wine, enticing both the pink-haired girl and the white-haired immortal to gaze left and right.

The surroundings were exceptionally lively—the vigorous beats of gongs and drums, the shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, the melodious strains of string and wind instruments, all blended warmly together, creating a joyful din.

What a vibrant and magnificent earthly spectacle.

“I heard it used to be even livelier in previous years. This year, because of Zhao Mingyuan’s death, the people’s festive spirit has dampened quite a bit.”

Hua Yan glanced at the large and small figures beside her, speaking as they walked.

Before long, she looked at Yun Xueshang, who was peering around with Hua Xiangrong, a behavior completely unbefitting her usual aloof demeanor. Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask:

“Tell me, you haven’t by any chance never participated in a human festival like this, have you?”

“Mm, no.”

Yun Xueshang turned her face at the sound, softly explaining:

“I cultivated with my master in the sect since childhood and rarely descended the mountain. My journey ten years ago was merely traveling between various immortal sects; I never lingered long in the human world.”

“I see…”

Hua Yan nodded, suddenly enlightened.

‘No wonder both of them look so fresh and new; turns out this person has never brought a child to play in a human city before.’

She quietly glanced at them again.

“Since that’s the case, today I’ll be the one to guide you…”

“Oh my! Daoist Hua! Daoist Yun! And little Rongrong! What a coincidence, I was just looking for you!”

Before her words could finish, Qu Linglong, carrying a large wooden box on her back, suddenly popped out from the crowd. This was rather surprising; although her figure was petite, the large wooden box behind her should have been very eye-catching, yet she had appeared so silently.

“There’s a shop ahead holding an event, specifically for qi-refining little ones to challenge stages! If you win, you can get a lot of good stuff! I was just about to look for little Rongrong, and what a coincidence, I found you all here!”

“Wow! Master, is that true? I want to go, I want to go!”

Hua Xiangrong’s eyes instantly lit up at the news.

“Of course it’s true! Would your master ever lie to you?”

Qu Linglong laughed, taking Hua Xiangrong who had pounced on her. The master and disciple quickly exchanged a glance.

“Then I’ll take Rongrong to participate in the event now. It might take some time. You two… just wander around on your own for a bit!”

She hugged Hua Xiangrong, waved cheerfully, and vanished into the bustling crowd in the distance in the blink of an eye, leaving only a floating voice:

“I’ll make sure to bring Rongrong back safely tonight!”

“Rongrong and Master are going to play! Mother, Maternal Mother, you two have fun too!”

And so, almost before Hua Yan could even react, on the lively long street, only she and Yun Xueshang remained.

Hua Yan: ?????