Chapter 2: A Scoundrel’s Daughter Appears

“What do you mean Hua Yan’s daughter showed up? And a great-granddaughter at that?”

Hua Yuheng stared blankly at Protector Liu, unable to process the words for a long moment.

That rascal Hua Yan didn’t even have a Dao companion, so where would a daughter come from?

Could it be…

“Valley Master, please don’t be angry yet. Allow me to explain slowly. It happened like this…”

Seeing the old Valley Master’s expression grow increasingly grim, Protector Liu quickly bowed deeply and began her explanation.

***

Half an hour earlier.

Protector Liu, returning to the valley after purchasing supplies, was humming a cheerful tune as she rode a magnified green jade flute.

The moment she landed at the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Valley, her gaze fell upon a tiny, pink figure standing there.

It was a pink-haired girl. Her palm-sized face was as fair and translucent as jade, with a faint rosy blush.

Her apricot-shaped eyes sparkled with life, their corners slightly upturned, brimming with spirit as they flitted about. Her small nose was delicately upturned, and her lips were a vibrant cherry red.

She wore a pink and white cross-collared ruqun, its collar embroidered with elegant entwined floral patterns.

On her feet were white satin embroidered shoes, and her long pink hair was styled into twin buns, with two locks falling gracefully in front.

Pearl-white hairpins adorned her buns, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight, making the girl appear even more charming and adorable.

‘Oh, whose child is this? She’s truly stunning.’

Protector Liu’s gaze settled on the pink-haired girl, who was currently hanging her head and unconsciously dragging one foot across the ground.

With a wave of her hand, the green jade flute transformed into a streak of green light and swiftly vanished into her sleeve.

She straightened her robes and began to walk slowly towards the girl.

“Little sister, have you perhaps gotten separated from your family? Does older sister need to help you find your way home?”

The little girl looked at the gentle, smiling woman in green who had bent down to speak to her. She shook her head and replied in a clear, crisp voice:

“No need, older sister. I haven’t gotten separated from my family. Mommy told me to wait for someone here!”

‘Hmm? Waiting for someone? Could it be that some mortals nearby want to send their child into the valley for cultivation, and deliberately left her here?’

Protector Liu paused slightly, then swept her divine sense across the surroundings. There was no trace of any mortal.

‘How strange…’

She re-examined the pink-haired girl before her. There were no spiritual energy fluctuations; she was merely mortal flesh and blood.

Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be in her early childhood, yet she was lively and adorable, showing no signs of impatience from waiting for a long time.

‘Then, who is the child’s mommy…?’

“Little sister, could you tell older sister what your mommy looks like and what her name is? And who are you waiting for here?”

Protector Liu gently pressed for answers, looking at the somewhat mysterious little girl.

“My mommy is super pretty!”

As soon as she heard this, the little girl immediately began to gesticulate excitedly, her voice full of childish, undisguised pride.

“She has white clothes and white hair, and she always carries a long sword! She’s so beautiful, it’s like she’s glowing with immortal aura!”

“My mommy’s name is Yun Xueshang! She told me to come here to find a scoundrel!”

‘Yun Xueshang?! Isn’t that the Chief Sword Immortal of the younger generation from the Carefree Sword Sect?! And a scoundrel?!’

‘Could it be…?’

Protector Liu stared at the beautiful girl before her, her heart giving a violent lurch as she paled in shock.

‘Could it be that a disciple in the valley took liberties with Immortal Yun, and she secretly had a child, entrusting them to our Hundred Flowers Valley?!’

‘Among those in the valley with the strength to trifle with Immortal Yun, and who would be capable of such an act of abandoning a wife and child, looking around, there’s only… Hua Yan!’

The more Protector Liu looked at the girl’s eyes and brows, the more unsettlingly familiar they seemed. She couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

“Um, little sister, may I ask your name? And does that scoundrel have another name?”

Protector Liu’s voice trembled as she asked cautiously.

“Mm! Yes!”

The girl nodded her small head, answering clearly.

“My name is Hua Xiangrong! As for that scoundrel… let me think…”

The pink-haired girl named Hua Xiangrong poked a small, rosy finger against her chin, deep in thought.

“Ah, I got it!”

Her eyes suddenly lit up. She clapped her tiny hands, and her small face instantly puffed up into an indignant little bun.

“I remember now! Sometimes, Mommy would hide in her room alone and cry secretly at a painting. When she did that, she would call the scoundrel by another name!”

“The scoundrel’s other name is—Hua Yan!”

***

“…”

“I’m furious! Hua Yan, that unfilial descendant! How dare he abandon his wife and child like this! To bully a young lady, get her pregnant before marriage, and then refuse to take responsibility! That damned wretch!”

After hearing Protector Liu’s account, Hua Yuheng trembled with rage. She turned to pull the disciplinary ruler from the table, not a trace of her previous benevolent demeanor remaining.

“Um, Valley Master, please calm your anger first…”

“Calm my anger?! There are no such beasts in my Hua family! It’s bad enough he usually stirs up trouble and causes mischief, but now he’s done something so shameless!

I raised him all this time, and he’s thrown even the most basic principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame to the winds! He’s completely disgraced our Hundred Flowers Valley!”

“Um, Valley Master…”

“You needn’t try to persuade me either! If I don’t smash that wretch’s dog head today, I won’t believe I’m a Hua!”

The old Valley Master gripped the ruler, angrily flicked her sleeves, and stormed off to confront Hua Yan.

But as soon as she turned, she saw an exquisitely lovely pink-haired girl, crying hysterically and buried in Protector Liu’s arms, sobbing with a sniffle:

“Waaah, Older Sister Liu, you brought me to find Great-Grandma, but Great-Grandma is so scary… Does she not like me?”

“Be good, Rongrong. Our Rongrong is so adorable; Great-Grandma couldn’t possibly not like you.”

Protector Liu gently patted the little loli’s back to comfort her, while simultaneously giving Hua Yuheng a helpless look and secretly transmitting a message:

“Valley Master, I wanted to say earlier. The child just came in. If you speak so loudly, you’ll scare her…”

“…Then why didn’t you interrupt me sooner?!”

Hua Yuheng first retorted with a secret message, then tossed the disciplinary ruler onto the table. She quickly took three steps in two, rushing forward, her wrinkled old face instantly blossoming into a chrysanthemum-like smile:

“Aiyaya, Rongrong, don’t cry. Great-Grandma dotes on you too much; how could I not like you? I was just scolding that scoundrel Hua Yan on behalf of your mommy!”

“Great-Grandma has sweet pastries here, and fun toys too. Does little Rongrong want some?”

As her words fell, several exquisite pastries and small, charming toys appeared out of thin air in her hand.

Hua Xiangrong looked up at the old woman’s smiling face, then at the floating items in her hand. She sniffled her little red nose and, with teary eyes, softly asked:

“…Then, are there candied hawthorns?”

“Aiy—yes!”

A bright red, sugar-coated candied hawthorn skewer immediately floated onto Hua Xiangrong’s open palm.

“Mm, thank you, Great-Grandma!”

The little loli took a big bite of the sweet candied hawthorn, instantly breaking into a smile. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but her lips were already curving upwards.

Seeing this, Hua Yuheng couldn’t stop smiling either.

“Little Rongrong, do you like candied hawthorns?”

“Mm! I do!”

The girl nodded vigorously as she munched on the candied hawthorn in her hand, bits of sugar coating already clinging to the corners of her mouth.

“Good! Then later, when that scoundrel Hua Yan returns, Great-Grandma will take all the spirit stones from his pocket and buy candied hawthorns for Rongrong, alright?”

Hua Yuheng gazed at the delicate and adorable girl before her, finding her utterly delightful.

“Mm, alright!”

The little loli quickly lifted her head, a big, innocent, and radiant smile blooming on her face:

“Thank you, Great-Grandma! Great-Grandma, you’re the best!”