Chapter 75: An Icy New Year’s Eve

“I’m afraid I have something planned for New Year’s Eve, Yan’er. My apologies.”

“What do you mean, you have something planned?!”

Hua Yan gazed at Yun Xueshang, her lips pouting in an aggrieved arch.

“As my daughter’s mother, can’t you clear your schedule for me on New Year’s Eve?!

I know I didn’t discuss it with you beforehand, but I’ve been working so hard these past few days to prepare everything…”

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Yet, a moment later, a sudden thought struck her.

‘Wait, this is Xueshang… If it were anyone else, having plans on New Year’s Eve might mean meeting someone. But she’s not anyone else; she’s Xueshang!’

‘If it’s Xueshang, she’s probably just going to practice her sword or handle sect affairs, right?’

With this realization, she softened her aggrieved expression slightly, asking tentatively, “Then… are you going to cultivate, or are you busy with sect business?”

“Neither.”

Yun Xueshang gently shook her head.

“Neither?!”

Hua Yan immediately bit her lower lip, her eyes stinging with a familiar ache.

‘Could it be… she wants to spend New Year’s Eve with someone else? We’ve been together these past few days; when did she…?’

“I’m sorry, Yan’er,” Yun Xueshang said with a serious expression. “I truly don’t plan to handle official duties on New Year’s Eve.”

She paused, then added, “Besides, the Sect Master should be returning soon, and there won’t be many official duties left to do then.”

‘Eh?’

“What… what does that mean?”

Hua Yan was utterly bewildered by her words.

“I already promised Rongrong that I would spend New Year’s Eve with her, and with you, to celebrate the New Year and ring it in together.”

Yun Xueshang’s gaze softened as she looked at Hua Yan, whose expression had shifted from aggrieved to utterly confused. She said softly, “However, I haven’t formally asked for your opinion yet.”

She looked earnestly into Hua Yan’s eyes, formally extending her invitation. “Yan’er, would you like to spend New Year’s Eve with me?”

“Cough, cough, cough… Since you’re so eager to spend New Year’s Eve with me…”

Hua Yan turned her face away, her ears flushing crimson, but the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl upwards.

“Then, then I suppose I can’t refuse your offer… I’ll reluctantly ring in the New Year with you… Hehe…”

“Thank you, Yan’er.”

Yun Xueshang’s eyes curved slightly, a faint, genuine smile gracing her lips.

“Leave the arrangements for New Year’s Eve to me. I will find a way to make sure both you and Rongrong have a wonderful time.”

“Alright, then I’ll look forward to your plans!”

Hua Yan’s eyes curved in a joyful smile. Yet, moments later, she suddenly realized something was amiss.

‘Wait… did Xueshang just say that the arrangements for New Year’s Eve… would be left to her?’

The red-haired girl, overjoyed, belatedly realized what she had agreed to.

‘Then all the travel plans I secretly spent half the day preparing these past few days… still won’t be used?!’

***

On New Year’s Eve.

The vast great lake of the Carefree Sword Sect had long since frozen into a colossal blue-grey mirror in the depths of winter. Its thick ice stretched out across the boundless snowy plains and grey-white mountains, silent as eternity.

Yet, in the center of this desolate ice lake, three vibrant figures had quietly appeared.

One wore an ice-blue cloak with silver patterns, trimmed with pure white fur. Beneath it was a short cross-collared jacket of the same color, adorned with silkworm branch patterns.

Silver-blue tassels were pinned in their white hair, and a long sword hung from their back. They stood amidst the snowy world, as ethereal and aloof as an exiled immortal.

Another was wrapped in a grand crimson feather-satin cloak, similarly trimmed with soft fox fur. Beneath, she wore a red brocade robe woven with gold embroidery.

Her red hair was tied high, and pearl tassels dangled from her ears. In this stark white world, she blazed like a flame, dazzling and bright.

Between the two, a tiny figure, adorned in a peach blossom-sprinkled vest, nestled.

Its thick fur trim and inner lining of moon-white embroidered peach blossom undergarments, paired with a lotus-pink peach blossom horse-face skirt, completed the ensemble.

A small white jade hairpin and a peach-pink velvet flower adorned its hair. Standing in the falling snow, the child was like a finely carved jade figurine, brimming with spiritual energy.

It was Yun Xueshang, Hua Yan, and Hua Xiangrong—the family of three.

“So… your arrangement was to bring us to this ice lake for New Year’s Eve fishing?”

Hua Yan turned her head to Yun Xueshang, her mouth twitching slightly.

‘I knew I shouldn’t have trusted this blockhead to have any good ideas! What decent person goes fishing on New Year’s Eve?!

It’s freezing cold! What kind of fish are we even going to catch?’

She hugged her arms and surveyed the vast, white ice field around them, a pang of regret swelling in her heart.

‘If I had known this, I shouldn’t have agreed to her plans that day… I should have found a way to renege and made her follow my plan instead.

Running off to this icy wilderness, were all the festivities I prepared at the sect for naught?’

“Wow! Mommy, the ice is so thick, can we really catch fish?”

Hua Xiangrong, seemingly oblivious to her mother’s slight irritation, looked up, excitedly asking Yun Xueshang.

“Yes, of course. In fact, once you master the method, ice fishing actually yields many more fish than regular fishing.”

Yun Xueshang nodded, then drew the Autumn Water Sword from her back. With a swift swing, a cold flash cut through the air, creating a hole two palms wide in the ice.

She then retrieved a fishing rod, a scoop net, a bucket, and a small stool from her storage bag, handing them one by one to Hua Xiangrong.

“Rongrong, you can fish from this hole.”

“Mhm!”

The pink-haired girl excitedly baited her hook and cast her line. Her movements were remarkably skilled, as she often fished by the lake with Ning Sixteen in the autumn.

However, fishing on the heart of this frozen lake was a first for her, in both this life and her previous one.

Seeing her daughter engrossed in fishing, Yun Xueshang finally turned to Hua Yan, answering her earlier question. “Yes, Yan’er. When I was young, Master often brought me to this ice lake to fish. It was very interesting. So… I wanted you and Rongrong to try it too.”

She looked at Hua Yan with a serious gaze.

“Sigh, fine, fine, let’s fish then… I never said I wasn’t willing.”

Hua Yan, though still somewhat skeptical, ultimately nodded in resignation and held out her hand. “Give me a fishing rod too. Later, you can teach me what’s so interesting about ice fishing.”

“Alright.”

Seeing her willingness to accept the arrangement, Yun Xueshang’s eyes curved slightly, revealing a faint yet genuine smile.

***

Half an hour later.

“Hahaha! I caught another fish!”

On the ice, the red-haired girl sharply pulled up her rod, swiftly scooping the fish with a net.

“Rongrong! Xueshang! Look how big this fish is!”

Hua Yan lifted the grass carp, which was nearly as long as her forearm, and proudly swung it, basking in the gazes of the two beside her. Yun Xueshang gently patted her, a flicker of surprise crossing her usually serene face, while Hua Xiangrong looked on with envy.

“Oh, wow! Fishing on the ice without spiritual power is actually quite interesting! Why have I never tried this before?”

Hua Yan tossed the fish into her seemingly ordinary bucket, which secretly contained a vast space within.

It was no wonder her spirits were high. A grill had already been set up between the three of them, with several palm-sized fish roasting over a fire steadily controlled by Xueshang’s spiritual power.

A small table beside it was laden with fruits, tea, and snacks, all within easy reach. As for the swirling snow, it had long been gently blocked by their combined spiritual energy.

The three of them were like guests in a warm chamber, enjoying the scenery, chatting, sipping tea, and eating amidst the vast expanse of ice, feeling utterly content.

As for the ice fishing itself, for some reason, fish in winter always seemed much clumsier than usual. Even without spiritual power, a novice like Hua Yan could repeatedly pull up fish.

‘Hehe, if fish were this easy to catch normally, it would be much more fun,’ Hua Yan thought happily as she re-baited her hook and cast her line.

For someone who loved to play but lacked patience, fishing wasn’t typically a good pastime. But this ice fishing, this feeling of “frequently succeeding without using cultivation,” truly brought her a fresh sense of enjoyment.

‘I never thought Xueshang would be so good at having fun… She’s not as dull as usual.’

She stole a glance at the white-haired girl sitting upright beside her, intently watching her fishing float, a smile unconsciously rising to her lips.

‘But… Xueshang just said that her Master often brought her here to play when she was little?’

Hua Yan’s heart stirred slightly.

‘That Master of hers must have been quite a charming person. If they were still alive, I’m sure I’d have a lot to talk about with them.’

‘But then again, raised by such an interesting Master, how did Xueshang still end up with such a dull and wooden personality…?’

She secretly glanced at Xueshang again. Her profile was as serene as ever, yet beneath it lay a quiet, gentle strength.

Detecting her gaze, the other girl also turned her head, tilting it slightly.

Two gazes met gently in the icy world—one soft, one lively.

Hua Yan was the first to look away, turning her head.

‘Only…’

‘Someone as playful as me, actually falling for this dull, wooden Yun Xueshang…’

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

‘It truly is… fate playing tricks.’