Chapter 46: The First Day of School and Lingering Questions

The next morning.

“Little one, today is your first day of school. You must be well-behaved and avoid causing trouble. Lunch is provided at the academy, so eat well. Yun Xueshang and I will pick you up when classes dismiss at Shenshi.”

Standing with her arms crossed by the road in front of the academy, Hua Yan watched as Yun Xueshang bent down to meticulously tidy Hua Xiangrong’s double topknot, offering her advice in an unhurried voice.

After discussing it with Yun Xueshang, Hua Yan had ultimately decided to send Hua Xiangrong to the Carefree Sword Sect’s academy.

After all, she could at most teach some magical techniques; as for literary subjects like the Four Books, Five Classics, astronomy, and geography, she was utterly clueless.

This was likely the first time Hua Yan had willingly admitted her own inadequacy.

As for Yun Xueshang, in Hua Yan’s opinion, she didn’t seem cut out for teaching either.

“Mm, I know. I’ll be good and study hard!”

Hua Xiangrong dutifully agreed, while simultaneously calling out to 099 in her mind:

‘099, later during class, help me find a movie to watch. A yuri one.’

“…Host, can’t we just seriously learn something?”

The small system sounded rather helpless.

‘Oh, how many years did I spend in school in my last life? And now I have to sit in a classroom again. If it were cultivation classes, I might listen, but who wants to listen to cultural lessons?

Am I really supposed to listen to that old master drone on with archaic phrases?’

“This is all because you chose it, Host.”

099 grumbled, even as it pulled up a movie list from its database:

“Want to watch an animated film? *Trans-Dimensional Kaguya-hime*—this came out after your previous life, so you definitely haven’t seen it.”

‘That’s the one!’

Unaware of the girl’s little schemes, Hua Yan nodded with satisfaction at her obedient demeanor.

‘Indeed, so eager to learn. Truly my daughter, Hua Yan’s daughter.’

And so, Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang stood side by side, waving as the pink-haired girl skipped joyfully into the academy.

***

“Oh, Junior Sister Yun, you’re also here to drop off your child for school? And this… this must be your Dao Companion, yes? May I ask for their name?”

No sooner had Hua Xiangrong departed than a female cultivator, who had also just dropped off her child, approached them. She appeared slightly older than the two of them, her face filled with curiosity.

Yesterday, the news of Yun Xueshang, Hua Xiangrong, and Hua Yan had spread like wildfire throughout the Carefree Sword Sect.

Now, everyone knew that the sect’s Sword Head had a dazzling red-haired Dao Companion, whose marriage had been hidden for years before being revealed, and an adorable pink-haired daughter already in her early youth.

Seeing the two of them arrive together to drop off their child, the female cultivator couldn’t resist striking up a conversation.

“Yes, Senior Sister Li, I’m here to drop off Rongrong for school.”

Yun Xueshang nodded politely, then looked to her side.

“As for Yan’er—”

“Hello, I’m Hua Yan’er, Rongrong’s mother.”

Hua Yan extended her hand to the female cultivator named Li, speaking frankly. She did not acknowledge the term ‘Dao Companion,’ only stating her relationship with Hua Xiangrong.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Hua. A pleasure to meet you. My name is Li Mei.”

Senior Sister Li shook her hand back, then began to chatter familiarly:

“Rongrong is your daughter, isn’t she? She truly resembles both of you! Oh, I wish I had such a cute daughter. Unfortunately, my Zihan is a boy. When he was little, I could dress him in girl’s clothes, but now that he’s older, he absolutely refuses.”

As she spoke, she shook her head to herself.

“By the way, is this Rongrong’s first time at school? She’s so well-behaved. When my Zihan went to school for the first time, he cried and refused to go in. I had to pull out my sword sheath and threaten to spank him before he reluctantly shuffled inside.”

“How do the two of you usually teach Rongrong? Please, let me learn from you!”

Senior Sister Li looked at them expectantly. No sooner had her voice fallen than several other parent cultivators gathered around, echoing her sentiments:

“That’s right, Junior Sister Yun, please share your parenting tips! Let us bask in your wisdom!”

‘Uh…’

Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang exchanged a glance, looking at each other in dismay.

[What should we do, Yan’er? What should we say?]

Yun Xueshang’s voice transmission came through, a hint of helplessness in her usually cool tone.

After all, both she and Hua Yan were brand-new mothers with absolutely no ‘parenting experience’ to speak of.

[I, I have no idea! How long have I even been a mother?! Just… make something up?]

Hua Yan quickly transmitted back, then cleared her throat and stepped forward, speaking aloud:

“Ahem, actually, teaching children isn’t that difficult.”

“Mm-hm.” The parents all nodded in unison.

“Ultimately, it’s about teaching according to individual aptitude, adapting flexibly to specific situations. One shouldn’t be too rigid, nor too lenient.”

“Mm-hm.” The parent cultivators found this reasonable.

“Furthermore… one must communicate more with their child! Every child is different, so one must be attentive to teach them well.”

“Mm-hm.” Everyone looked thoughtful.

“In the end, parenting methods shouldn’t always focus on others’ families. What works for others may not suit your own. As long as your original intention is for the child’s well-being, no matter how the methods change, the core will always be a loving heart for your child!”

“Mm-hm!” The parents nodded repeatedly.

…

‘But why do I feel like Yan’er said so much, yet conveyed nothing at all?’

Yun Xueshang watched Hua Yan eloquently holding forth in the middle of the crowd, tilting her head.

‘She seems… to just be repeating similar, vague statements over and over?’

Watching the red-haired maiden become increasingly animated in the crowd, even beginning to gesticulate wildly, Yun Xueshang blinked, a faint smile quietly gracing her lips.

***

“Phew, I finally bluffed my way through that. Really, I’ve only been a mother for two months, and it hasn’t been long since I became this daughter’s body. How would I know anything about parenting?”

After seeing off Yun Xueshang’s senior sisters and leaving the academy, Hua Yan pursed her lips and turned to Yun Xueshang beside her.

“Mm, you worked hard, Yan’er.”

Yun Xueshang nodded, then softly asked,

“I plan to return to Mianyun Peak to cultivate now. Do you have any plans, Yan’er?”

“Me? I’m going to browse your Carefree Sword Sect’s scripture library and find some storybooks to read.”

Hua Yan waved her hand. Before her words even faded, she had already flown off on her sword, leaving only her voice drifting back:

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll return on my own later.”

“Mm.”

Watching her receding figure, Yun Xueshang quietly nodded.

‘Speaking of which… does our Carefree Sword Sect’s scripture library really have storybooks?’

The white-haired immortal tilted her head, finding it a bit perplexing. She usually only read sword manuals and never paid attention to other miscellaneous books.

After pondering for a long while without any recollection, Yun Xueshang simply stopped thinking about it. She quietly stepped onto her Autumn Water Sword and flew towards Mianyun Peak.

……

In the past, she always cultivated and practiced her sword on the peak alone.

As she rode her sword through the air, the familiar peaks and the small courtyard at the summit gradually came into view.

Now… though she was still alone at this moment.

The morning light poured down, and the white-robed, white-haired immortal began her sword practice in the courtyard. Each move and stance carried the fierce power of wind and thunder.

But someone would return, someone would accompany her.

Having completed a set of sword moves, she ended her stance and sheathed her sword. She poured herself a cup of clear water and drank it in one gulp.

Now, she was no longer alone.

The slightly sweet, cool water slid down her throat. Yun Xueshang’s eyelashes lowered gently, a faint smile rippling in her eyes.

****

Meanwhile, on Wan Jian Peak.

“So, Fellow Daoist Hua, you’ve come to ask me about matters concerning Mianyun Peak?”

Lin Qianqian looked at the person before her, a surprised expression on her face.

Standing in front of her was none other than the dazzling red-haired Hua Yan, who had just told Yun Xueshang she was going to the scripture library to find storybooks.

At this moment, she frowned slightly, her tone serious:

“Yes, I want to know exactly how Yun Xueshang’s master, and her senior and junior disciples, perished.”