Chapter 40: An Unexpected Apology and a Sudden Change of Plans

Knock, knock, knock.

“Coming, coming!”

Early in the morning, a young girl with a teal side braid scurried to open the door.

“Fellow Daoist Qu, you’re here so early… Eh?”

Lin Qianqian pulled the door open, her head bowed. Instead of the petite, dark-haired girl she expected, her gaze fell upon a figure clad in plain white robes—and a flat chest. She looked up, meeting Yun Xueshang’s serene, cool face.

“Oh, Senior Sister? Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be returning with Fellow Daoist Hua to see her grandmother today? Are you here to say goodbye?”

As Lin Qianqian spoke, she stepped aside, inviting Yun Xueshang into the room.

“No, we won’t be departing until noon.”

Yun Xueshang entered the room but remained standing, shaking her head.

“I actually came to ask you for some advice, Junior Sister.”

“Ah? Could it be that Senior Sister has comprehended a new sword move? But our cultivation paths are entirely different. I’m afraid I truly can’t offer any good advice…”

Lin Qianqian looked perplexed.

“It’s not about sword cultivation.”

Yun Xueshang shook her head again.

“Actually… I wanted to ask how to make someone stop being angry with me.”

“I seem to have upset Yan’er.”

“Ah?”

Lin Qianqian froze. Was Senior Sister… having a spat with Fellow Daoist Hua?

She looked at Yun Xueshang’s face, still cool and composed, revealing little emotion, and felt a surge of surprise.

Truthfully, Lin Qianqian had never quite understood this Senior Sister. Though both belonged to the Carefree Sword Sect, they hailed from different peaks and had different masters.

While their interactions were not few, and Yun Xueshang’s past deeds were widely known within the sect, Lin Qianqian never truly grasped what this usually taciturn and emotionless Senior Sister harbored in her heart.

Before meeting Hua Xiangrong, she had even believed that Senior Sister’s world consisted solely of sword moves, demon slaying, cultivation, and candied hawthorns. She had never imagined that her Senior Sister would fall in love, let alone have a daughter.

And now, Senior Sister had actually come to her for advice on matters of the heart.

“Senior Sister, don’t worry! I’ll definitely help you reconcile with Fellow Daoist Hua!”

Lin Qianqian immediately grinned, patting her chest confidently. “After all, my romantic experience is quite extensive!”

“…Junior Sister, I actually don’t believe that your previous experiences of being swindled out of spirit stones can be considered ‘romance.'”

Yun Xueshang replied sincerely after a moment of silence.

“Th-those don’t count! I’m talking about me and Xiao Li!”

Lin Qianqian hastily defended herself. “Xiao Li and I have a great relationship! We’ve only argued once, and we made up very quickly!”

“Mm. So, how did Junior Sister reconcile with her?”

Yun Xueshang nodded, asking earnestly.

“By giving gifts, of course! Xiao Li forgave me after she received the gift!”

“…”

“…Junior Sister, are you truly not being targeted for your wealth again?”

“No way! I gave her a handmade gift, something I made myself!”

Lin Qianqian puffed out her cheeks, waving her hands repeatedly. “Anyway, Senior Sister, you can’t go wrong listening to me! Prepare a thoughtful gift, then apologize properly, and Fellow Daoist Hua will definitely forgive you!”

***

‘Honestly, after all that, it turns out Yun Xueshang doesn’t like me at all.’

The red-haired girl sat alone before a mirror, holding an ivory comb, slowly stroking her soft, long hair.

‘So, all this time, I’ve been imagining things on my own? What kind of situation is this?!’

She put down the comb, pouted, her cheeks slightly puffed out.

‘And, where did that guy run off to so early in the morning? Honestly, she’s supposed to return to the valley with me today, yet she’s running around outside. I can’t even find a trace of her…’

Last night, she had walked ahead in embarrassment and anger, with Yun Xueshang following her all the way back to the inn. Upon entering, they found Hua Xiangrong waiting.

For some reason, Hua Xiangrong was exceptionally clingy to both her and Yun Xueshang last night, making it impossible for her to unleash her full fury. She could only grudgingly wash up with them, one after another, and eventually, they all squeezed into one bed to sleep.

But when she opened her eyes this morning, Yun Xueshang was nowhere to be found. Even Hua Xiangrong claimed she had something important to do and slipped out of the room alone.

‘Yun Xueshang… if it weren’t for Rongrong, would she not come back with me at all?’

‘That’s natural. After all, she and I originally had no connection. The only reason we interact is because of our suddenly appearing daughter…’

‘No, no, why am I thinking about this? What Yun Xueshang thinks has nothing to do with me! So what if she doesn’t like me? Even if I’ve transformed into a woman, plenty of people like me. Am I lacking just her?’

‘Hmph! Once I return to the valley, this young master will find some maidens! Then I’ll bring a different one home every day, just to infuriate that cold-faced sword-idiot!’

The huffing red-haired girl extended a slender, pale hand and opened her jewelry box. Just as she was about to choose a hair ornament for the day, her gaze was suddenly caught by a pair of pearl tassel earrings within.

—Those were the prize Yun Xueshang had won in the pot-throwing game last night and given to her.

‘Tsk, these common market trinkets are so tacky. Only someone as poor as that fellow, who can’t even afford a flying boat, would give these as a gift.’

Her gaze swept past the earrings, turning to a pair of agate earrings beside them.

‘I should just wear the earrings I brought back from Hundred Flowers Valley.’

‘…

‘Forget it, I’m tired of all these other earrings. Those pearl ones do look quite fresh, though.’

‘I’ll reluctantly try them on.’

And so, the red-haired girl’s hand reached for the pearl tassel earrings, happily adorning herself with them.

‘Oh, these are actually quite nice. As expected of me, everything looks good on me!’

She looked left and right in the mirror, her lips curving into an uncontrollable smile.

“Yan’er, there’s something I want to tell you.”

A clear, cool voice suddenly came from behind her.

“Ah? What is it? Just say it.”

Hua Yan turned around with a beaming smile, looking at Yun Xueshang who had just entered.

“It’s… Yan’er, you’re wearing the earrings I gave you.”

Yun Xueshang’s words paused, her gaze falling upon the lustrous glow on the other’s delicate earlobe. She couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

“??!!”

Hua Yan immediately raised her hands to cover her ears, her pretty face instantly flushing crimson. “What earrings?! I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“The pair I gave you last night…”

“Ahhh! So what if they are! I just got tired of my old jewelry and wanted to try something new! You’re not allowed to think nonsense!”

The red-faced girl, whose cheeks were nearly dripping blood, abruptly turned her back, her hands still tightly covering her ears. “And you! Where did you run off to so early in the morning?! And now you suddenly show up, what do you want to say? If it’s nothing important, hurry up and get out!”

“…I came to apologize to you.”

“Eh?”

Hua Yan couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“I’m sorry, Yan’er. I upset you again last night. This is something I made this morning. I hope you can forgive me.”

The serene, white-haired immortal took out a small wooden carving from her embrace. It was intricately carved with a brightly smiling red-haired girl, her almond eyes curved, her lips upturned, and her hair ornaments and clothing lines all lifelike.

Undoubtedly, it was a carving of Hua Yan.

“This… is for me?”

Hua Yan carefully took the exquisite craftsmanship, cradling it in her palm, and looked up at Yun Xueshang.

“Mm. I carved it based on how you looked last night while watching the fireworks.”

Yun Xueshang nodded, explaining softly, “For practicality, I also infused sword intent into the carving. It can protect you from—”

“So, why are you apologizing?”

Hua Yan lowered her head, her expression unreadable, abruptly interrupting her. “You clearly know you didn’t do anything wrong. It was me who suddenly lost my temper with you.”

“Then why… why are you apologizing to someone like me?”

“…”

Yun Xueshang paused slightly, seemingly not expecting her to ask this question.

“I don’t know.”

She thought for a moment, head bowed, then looked up and answered sincerely, “I just don’t want you to be angry. I don’t want you to ignore me… so I did this.”

“…”

“Al-alright, I’ll accept the gift… Considering how sincere you are, I’ll, I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”

Hua Yan cradled the pendant, her cheeks burning red, muttering softly.

“Good. Then, may I continue to call you Yan’er?”

Seeing her reaction, a faint smile bloomed in Yun Xueshang’s cool eyes as she asked softly.

“You, you can call me whatever you want… It’s not like you haven’t called me that before.”

Hua Yan turned away, her voice growing softer and softer.

‘Cough, cough, cough. I didn’t expect Yun Xueshang to be quite thoughtful after all…’

‘When she returns to the valley with me, she’ll probably keep me happy like this all the time…’

The red-haired girl’s lips subtly curved into an irrepressible, triumphant smile.

“Mother! Mother! Great-Grandmother is looking for you!”

Just then, a small pink figure rushed into the room, pouncing into Hua Yan’s arms like a little bird, holding up a fabric amulet high in her small hands.

“???”

Hua Yan caught her suddenly pouncing daughter off guard, her face a blank stare.

“Mother! Great-Grandmother said she has something very important to tell you!”

Hua Xiangrong excitedly held the amulet up to her mother’s eyes. No sooner had she spoken than Hua Yuheng’s voice emanated from within the talisman:

–Hello? Hua Yan! You little brat! You didn’t even use a sound transmission talisman to report your safety to this old woman during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Rongrong is truly thoughtful, remembering my old bones!

Hua Yan was stunned. Last night, she and Yun Xueshang had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and later, a series of events, including Rongrong’s true identity, had thrown her mind into disarray. She had actually forgotten to report her safety to her grandmother.

“Grandmother, I…”

Before she could explain, Hua Yuheng continued on her own accord:

–Forget it, I never expected anything from you anyway. Let me ask you, have you found Rongrong’s mother?

“Uh, yes…”

Hua Yan replied, simultaneously transmitting a message to Yun Xueshang beside her:

[Don’t say anything yet! I haven’t figured out how to explain our situation to Grandmother, and Rongrong is still here!]

Yun Xueshang silently nodded.

But to her surprise, what Hua Yuheng wanted to ask was not that at all:

–That’s perfect, I have something to tell you, an announcement—you don’t need to return to Hundred Flowers Valley!

“Why?!”

Hua Yan immediately exclaimed.

‘No? She had just prepared herself mentally to bring Yun Xueshang back, and now she can’t even go home?’

–You take that girl Xueshang and go to the Carefree Sword Sect first! She’s been raising a child there alone for nearly ten years; she must have endured a lot of gossip. You go help her clear her name, make a proper appearance! And while you’re at it, let your daughter play around there more!

–As for your identity, you don’t need to worry, I’ll take care of it for you. It’s settled!

“Wait! Grandmother, I—”

Before Hua Yan could protest, the sound from the communication talisman ceased. She could only stare blankly at the fabric talisman held high in her daughter’s small hand.

‘No? Why am I suddenly going to the Carefree Sword Sect? What about returning to the valley as planned?’

‘Wait, did Grandmother just say… she wants her to let her daughter play around?’

“Hua, Xiang, Rong…”

She lowered her head, looking at the pink-haired little girl in her arms with a forced smile, her tone carrying a hint of danger:

“Can you explain to Mother why Great-Grandmother suddenly wants me to go to this ‘Carefree Sword Sect’ today?”

“Rongrong doesn’t know! Perhaps Great-Grandmother thinks the Sword Sect is fun and wants Mother to go play too!”

The little girl in her arms ‘whooshed’ down and darted towards Yun Xueshang.

“You stop right there!”

“Mother, save me!”

Hua Xiangrong hid behind Yun Xueshang’s legs, peeking out her small head. She watched Yun Xueshang gently soothe the exasperated Hua Yan, all while muttering in her heart:

‘Oh, Mother, it’s not that Rongrong wants to trick you. But we have to follow the script to save the world, you know.’

‘According to the original plot, Mother will be seriously injured and then return to the sect to recover. Of course, we can’t deviate from the main storyline.’

She looked up at Hua Yan, who stood with hands on her hips and furrowed brows, a mischievous smile spreading across her small face:

‘So, of course, we can’t go back to Hundred Flowers Valley. Our next stop can only be—’

“—The Carefree Sword Sect!”