Chapter 58: A Birthday Surprise at Clearstar Cliff

Indeed, though it was called a familiar courtyard, in the time that had passed, the once simple and ordinary space had undergone a complete transformation.

Vibrant vermilion gates and high walls of green tile had replaced the former wooden fence. A pair of stone lions now stood guard majestically before the entrance, exuding an imposing aura.

Stepping into the courtyard, even the ground had been entirely relaid with costly blue-grey flagstones. Their elegant patterns subtly shimmered with a faint, spiritual glow, hinting at their power to gather essence.

The previously plain rooms, too, had been utterly transformed. Their eaves now curved upwards as if poised for flight, lending them a majestic and imposing air, further adorned with massive luminous pearls embedded in their corners.

Within the courtyard, meticulously pruned potted plants were artfully arranged.

A small pond gurgled with flowing spring water, and even the ancient locust tree, nearly bare of leaves in the late autumn, was draped with numerous red silks, fluttering gently in the breeze and looking exceptionally festive.

—Undoubtedly, all of this was Hua Yan’s doing.

“Who knows where your mother ran off to? She hasn’t been seen all day.”

Hua Yan muttered softly as she led Hua Xiangrong into the courtyard.

“Come on, let’s put your candy in the house first, then I’ll take you to do today’s lessons.”

“Mhm! Mother, after I finish my lessons, can we go to Clearstar Cliff to watch the stars together?”

The pink-haired little girl shook her hand, her voice soft with entreaty.

“We can.”

Hua Yan nodded.

Clearstar Cliff was located near the peak of Cloudslumber Peak, directly facing the vast expanse of the Carefree Sword Sect’s great marsh.

Yun Xueshang had once mentioned that when she first achieved Foundation Establishment and learned to wield her sword, her master had directly thrown her off this very cliff—fortunately, she had finally learned to soar through the air just before plummeting to the ground.

“Yay!”

Hua Xiangrong cheered, clutching her bag of candy as she dashed into the house.

***

It was already night, and the moon had risen, yet Yun Xueshang still hadn’t returned.

As the night deepened, Hua Yan followed the skipping Hua Xiangrong towards Clearstar Cliff, silently grumbling in her heart.

The two passed through a rustling forest of fallen leaves and soon arrived at the edge of Clearstar Cliff.

The view suddenly opened up before them. The night sky was densely packed with stars, the Milky Way stretching across the heavens like a silken ribbon.

The bright, clear moon hung high, its reflection shimmering on the vast lake below the cliff, where water and sky mirrored each other, bathed in flowing, pure radiance.

Occasionally, a mountain breeze swept past, carrying the crisp, cool essence of a late autumn night, mingled with the fresh dampness of the lake, invigorating the heart.

‘Indeed, this truly is a beautiful spot.’

Hua Yan stood at the cliff edge, arms crossed, gazing at the scenery before her, and nodded slightly.

Suddenly, just as she and the girl beside her looked up at the star-filled sky, brilliant flares of fire abruptly shot into the night.

They burst forth amidst the stars, transforming into a sky full of shimmering colors, even coalescing into several distinct large characters:

“Happy Birthday, Hua Yan!”

At the same time, an ethereal, clear voice rang out behind her, singing a simple, cheerful, yet unfamiliar tune:

“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~”

Hua Yan spun around.

Under the moonlight, the graceful figure with white robes and white hair had appeared behind her, holding a round, snowy-white pastry. A slender candle was stuck into it, its flame flickering, illuminating her smiling eyes.

Several mechanical birds adorned with colorful streamers fluttered up, circling in the air and scattering ribbons of red, pink, and blue, dancing in the night wind.

“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~”

Hua Xiangrong, beside her, also clapped her hands and sang along, her childish voice mingling with the maiden’s ethereal tones, echoing gently across the cliff.

“Th-this is…”

Hua Yan stared blankly at Yun Xueshang, who had been missing all day, at her smiling eyes in the moonlight, feeling a momentary daze.

“This? This is a ‘cake’.”

Yun Xueshang gently explained, holding up the round white pastry:

“Rongrong saw it in a storybook—she said there’s a mysterious secret realm where people make this kind of pastry for their loved ones on their birthdays, light candles, and let the birthday person blow them out to make a wish.

I thought the custom was beautiful, so I tried making it according to Rongrong’s description.”

Fearing that Hua Yan might worry about the taste, she added:

“When I made it, I even asked a pastry chef from the town below the mountain to help me with the ingredient ratios. This should… not taste bad.”

“N-no, I wasn’t asking about that…” Hua Yan shook her head, her voice still somewhat fragmented.

“Is Mother asking about the song we sang?”

Hua Xiangrong lifted her small face, chiming in:

“Little Pomegranate taught me! She said it’s the song their rabbit demon tribe sings on birthdays.”

She then pointed to the lake:

“The fireworks on the lake, I bought them from Master! My entire stock is used up, Mother, will you buy me some more later?”

“N-no…”

Hua Yan looked down at her chattering daughter, then up at Yun Xueshang, who held the cake, her eyes filled with a smile. Her heart inexplicably quickened.

“So you were gone all day… to prepare all this?”

“Mhm.” Yun Xueshang nodded, the candlelight flickering softly in her eyes. “Actually, it was Rongrong’s idea; she wanted to give you a surprise.”

“I’ve never made this pastry before, and although I’ve learned a bit recently, it still took me an entire afternoon to test recipes and choose the best-looking one.

After that, I went to the lake to set up Rongrong’s fireworks and arranged the mechanical birds on the cliff. That’s why I was busy all day and didn’t have time to return to the peak.”

She gently extended the cake in her hands, her voice soft:

“Yan’er, do you like the surprise Rongrong and I prepared for you?”

“I…”

Hua Yan was speechless for a moment.

From childhood, on every birthday, her grandmother would always cook her a bowl of longevity noodles and present her with several valuable gifts.

On milestone birthdays, grand banquets would be held throughout the valley, filled with lively festivities.

Yet, for some reason, at this moment, she felt that all the previous celebrations perhaps couldn’t compare to this simple yet heartfelt surprise before her.

Her heart pounded, as if something soft was welling up within her.

“I, I… I’m quite satisfied, actually… You, you all did… quite well…”

Hua Yan turned her head, speaking stubbornly, but the subtle blush creeping onto her cheeks and the uncontrollable smile at the corners of her lips had already completely betrayed the joy in her heart.

“Mother, it’s time to blow out the candles and make a wish!”

Hua Xiangrong reminded her crisply from the side.

‘Oh, right. Snow裳 said that before eating this cake, one must make a wish. This is rather like praying to deities for blessings. Could this pastry, named “cake,” be a traditional offering for some rare faith?’

Thinking this, Hua Yan closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and earnestly made a wish to the ‘Cake Immortal’.

‘I hope…’

She secretly peeked through a tiny crack in her eyelids, gazing at the white-haired fairy smiling faintly in the candlelight, then at the small, pink-haired figure beside her.

‘I hope we can always… continue to be this happy.’

***

“Your cake tasted pretty good. But can it be made and eaten on days other than birthdays?”

In the bedroom, Hua Yan leaned against the headboard, smiling as she asked Yun Xueshang beside her.

“Naturally, it can. Just like glutinous rice balls; they aren’t only eaten on the Lantern Festival. You can make them whenever you wish.”

Yun Xueshang nodded, then turned and climbed onto the bed as well, saying softly:

“If Yan’er likes it, I can make it for you often in the future. Next time, I can even add some sliced fruit; the taste should be even more unique.”

“Alright, then next time, let me watch you make it. There’ll be no need to go down the mountain to find a pastry chef; I can learn from you.”

Hua Yan agreed, then waved to Hua Xiangrong, who was still standing by the bed, clutching an embroidered pillow.

“Girl, why are you standing there foolishly? Come to bed quickly and sleep.”

“No need, Mother.”

Hua Xiangrong shook her small head, her face serious as she declared:

“Today, you’ve grown another year older; you’re an adult now! Rongrong thinks you and Mother don’t need me to sleep with you anymore.”

She puffed out her chest, solemnly announcing:

“From today on, I’m going to sleep by myself!”

Hua Yan: ?

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