Chapter 77: Intertwined Fates and a Provocative Quiz

“Let’s go, Xueshang. Shall we wander around a bit too?”

Hua Yan, noticing Yun Xueshang watching her, turned her face away and extended a hand.

“Th-that… there are so many people here. We shouldn’t get separated. I think… um… it’s better if we hold hands.”

Her words stumbled out, but her face had already flushed crimson.

Yun Xueshang did not reply, simply taking the extended hand gently into her own.

Hua Yan’s hand was soft and smooth, warm with her body heat.

Yet, Hua Yan subtly shifted her grip, intertwining her fingers one by one with Yun Xueshang’s. Their hands became tightly clasped, fingers interlocked.

Yun Xueshang paused, raising her gaze to the red-haired girl who had turned her face away.

“Th-that… holding hands like this, tighter, makes it even harder to get lost.”

The red-haired girl, head tilted, mumbled softly. Yun Xueshang could only see her small, bright red ear.

‘Yan’er and I are both Nascent Soul cultivators. Would we really get lost so easily?’

Yun Xueshang felt a slight tremor in her heart.

This tightly clasped hand, however, made her heart skip a beat.

This way of holding hands felt different from usual.

Ordinarily, whether it was holding Hua Yan’s hand or occasionally shaking hands with her, their palms would press together, intimate yet still with a subtle space between them.

Now, with fingers interlocked, knuckle fitting into knuckle, they were seamlessly joined, as if no distance remained between them.

She vaguely felt that this was better.

Just like when she slept beside Hua Yan at night, when Hua Yan held her, she would always feel exceptionally at ease, a secret joy blossoming in her heart, making it gently flutter.

“Mm, alright.”

The white-haired girl’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“I also think holding Yan’er like this is better. Let’s keep holding hands this way.”

“Mm… mm…”

‘She… she also thinks holding hands like this is better?!’

Hua Yan walked alongside Yun Xueshang, yet her mind was still replaying Yun Xueshang’s understated words.

‘No, no, with Xueshang’s dull personality, I can’t be the first to take her words seriously—what if she just purely likes the feeling of holding hands this way?’

‘Wouldn’t I just be played by this blockhead?’

She secretly glanced at the white-haired immortal beside her, who was holding a candied hawthorn skewer.

‘Oh dear, with so many people in the world, why did I have to fall for such a blockhead?’

‘Who knows when she’ll finally wise up…’

Hua Yan walked on, a small hint of melancholy welling in her heart.

‘But, judging from our interactions these past few days, Xueshang truly enjoys intimate contact with me. That means Fellow Daoist Lin was right—she’s just infatuated with my beauty, captivated by this body of mine!’

‘With this first step, how can I fail to win over Yun Xueshang? Isn’t it just about figuring out a way to make this wooden block open up and fall for me? What’s so difficult about that!’

Thinking this, Hua Yan secretly gave herself a boost of encouragement, then smiled, pointing to a bustling spot in the distance.

“Xueshang, it looks quite lively over there. Shall we go explore that area?”

“Mm, alright.”

Yun Xueshang naturally had no objections.

***

“Come one, come all! The annual Carefree Sword Sect Lovers’ Quiz has begun! Don’t miss it!”

A charming woman, clad in a dark brocade cheongsam with a black fox fur cloak, stood energetically calling out from a raised platform. Below, a throng of people buzzed with chatter, creating a lively scene.

“Are you still agonizing late at night, wondering if she truly loves you? Are you still troubled by a lack of unspoken understanding between you two? The Carefree Sword Sect Lovers’ Quiz has the answers! Participate now and a surprise grand prize awaits you! What are you waiting for? Come join us!”

Yue Jue smiled, waving to the crowd, her gaze suddenly locking onto two figures, pointing directly at the pair with interlocked fingers.

“You two lovers over there, yes, you!”

‘Lovers? Where?’

Yun Xueshang looked left and right in confusion, only to realize that the surrounding crowd was whispering, pointing at *those two*, their eyes filled with envy and blessings.

She then saw a fist being clenched, and a beam of white light fell squarely on herself… and on Hua Yan, whose hand she was holding.

‘Is Senior Aunt Yue referring to… Yan’er and me?’

She blinked, her expression bewildered.

Hua Yan, beside her, was even more riddled with questions.

‘What? Where did this woman, Yue Jue, even come from?! I clearly arranged for Fellow Daoist Lin to host the stall for painting porcelain vases here. What in the world is this Lovers’ Quiz?!’

‘Also, the Carefree Sword Sect’s New Year’s Eve arrangements were entirely handled by me! If not for me, there wouldn’t even be this celebration! What kind of “annual” event is this?!’

“Yes, yes! It’s you two!”

Yue Jue on the stage paid no mind to these thoughts. She continued with a beaming smile, “Elder Yun and Hua Yan’er are who I’m talking about!”

She then turned to the onlookers below.

“Everyone, the stories of Elder Yun and her lover have been widely known lately. I’m sure you’re all curious about this lover who suddenly appeared with a child—so, just how good is the relationship between Elder Yun and her beloved?”

“Let’s invite them to be the first participants in this quiz. What do you all think? Good or not?”

“Good!”

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

[Little Yan’er, Little Yu’er told me everything—you’re trying to find a way to pursue Little Xueshang, aren’t you?]

A sound transmission drifted into Hua Yan’s ear.

[…What if I am?]

Hua Yan, her face slightly flushed, transmitted back.

‘How could Fellow Daoist Lin be so unreliable, spilling all my secrets!’

[Oh dear, if you use those childish methods of painting vases together and slowly getting closer, who knows when you’ll manage to pursue Little Xueshang, that single-minded girl? Why not trust me this once and let me help you? How about it?]

Yue Jue coaxed her patiently.

[Why would you help me? How do I know you’re not up to something nefarious?]

Hua Yan glanced sideways. It wasn’t for any other reason—this woman had lunged at Xueshang the first time they met, leaving her with a rather poor impression.

[Wuwuwu… Little Yan’er, how can you not trust me like this…]

[I was clearly trying to kindly help you and Little Xueshang tie the red thread of fate, yet you’re not even grateful. It truly makes me so sad…]

Yue Jue’s sound transmission instantly became saccharine and tearful.

[Just trust me this one time! Don’t you want to know how Little Xueshang truly feels about you? Don’t you want to know if this seemingly dull and clumsy Little Xueshang likes you even a little bit?]

Yue Jue’s eyes gleamed with cunning.

[Just bring Little Xueshang here to try it—trying it won’t cost you anything. I can guarantee that after this quiz, you’ll know Little Xueshang’s true feelings for you.]

[Then, it will be much easier to make a move on my seemingly dull junior grand-niece, won’t it? What do you say?]

‘This…’

Hua Yan was somewhat swayed.

Yue Jue’s words had indeed struck a chord with her—she truly wanted to know Yun Xueshang’s feelings for her now.

For her, Hua Yan, not just for this female body.

[Alright, I agree then. But don’t you dare bring up any messy questions.]

[Oh dear, Little Yan’er, just put your heart at ease! If I cause any adverse effects, I’ll punish Little Grandfather to have his chance of blowing up his alchemy furnace next year directly doubled!]

[…I thank you on behalf of Elder Ji.]

After much consideration, Hua Yan finally nodded.

She turned to Yun Xueshang beside her, tentatively asking, “Xueshang, this… this ‘Grand Quiz’ sounds quite interesting. Shall we go up and try to win a prize?”

“Alright.”

Yun Xueshang nodded gently.

“If Yan’er wants to participate, I’ll accompany you.”

She had initially thought Hua Yan wouldn’t be interested in this seemingly inexplicable quiz competition.

But since Hua Yan wanted to participate, she would naturally—

Follow her wishes.

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