Chapter 78: The Lovers’ Challenge: A Deep Understanding

Excellent! Let us welcome them with a round of applause!

As Yue Jue’s voice rang out, Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang stepped onto the stage, standing side-by-side amidst the roaring crowd.

They stood on either side of Yue Jue, and then the ground beneath their feet slowly rose, elevating them onto two separate high platforms.

Yue Jue raised a slender hand, announcing the rules. “The rules are simple,” she declared. “One of you will answer my questions, and the other will provide the answer.”

“One is responsible for answering, and the other for providing the answer. Correct answers will earn rewards corresponding to the number of questions.”

From her storage pouch, she produced two writing boards and ink brushes, placing them on the platforms before the two women.

“These are small magical artifacts that can be written on multiple times, with their inscriptions easily erased. You will write your answers on these boards.”

Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang nodded in understanding.

“Are you both ready?”

They nodded once more.

“Good, since you are both prepared, let us begin this—”

Yue Jue’s smile was radiant.

“Please listen to the first question! Yun Xueshang, this question is for you!”

Yun Xueshang, whose name had been called, paused for a moment. She clutched her writing board tightly, quickly regaining her composure.

“Where did you and Hua Yan’er first meet?”

‘Is it that simple? What could that possibly reveal?’

Hua Yan felt a touch of confusion.

Soon, both women simultaneously revealed their answers. The same three characters were written on their boards: Hehuan Sect.

“Oh wow, I never expected your encounter to be in a place like the Hehuan Sect~”

Yue Jue drew out her words, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, how truly interesting. I wonder if back then, in the Hehuan Sect…”

She caught sight of the growing displeasure on Hua Yan’s face and swiftly changed the subject.

“Ahem, Yun Xueshang answered correctly for the first question! Let’s not dwell on it any longer and quickly move on to the next question.”

“Please listen to the second question, Hua Yan’er, you will answer!”

“What dish is Yun Xueshang most skilled at making?”

Hua Yan found the question amusing and quickly jotted down her answer.

– Hua Yan’s board: “Dishes that don’t require seasoning.”

– Yun Xueshang’s board: “Without Yan’er, I don’t know how much seasoning to add, so I’m not skilled at any dish. With Yan’er, I’m basically skilled at everything.”

“Oh wow, it seems Little Xueshang truly cannot do without Little Yan’er~”

Yue Jue stretched the end of her words, even switching to a more familiar, affectionate tone in her address.

‘This fool… why did she write something so suggestive?’

Hua Yan glanced at Yun Xueshang’s answer, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

“Then let us continue! What is Hua Yan’er’s favorite color?”

“Red.” “Red.”

The answers were consistent.

“What is Yun Xueshang’s favorite food?”

“Candied hawthorn.” “Candied hawthorn.”

Still consistent.

“What is Hua Yan’er’s greatest hobby?”

Yan’er likes many things; reading storybooks, browsing shops, eating delicious food, going to lively places—she likes many things, she likes to play everywhere.

Hua Yan glanced at Yun Xueshang’s densely written board and nodded silently.

“What kind of books does Yun Xueshang love to read most?”

“Sword manuals.” “Sword manuals.”

“What clothes was Hua Yan’er wearing when you first met?”

This question made Hua Yan pause. Their first meeting… at the Hehuan Sect… She tried hard to recall. Perhaps it was a red-gold robe?

‘A red-gold robe.’

Unable to remember clearly, she wrote that down.

Yun Xueshang pondered for a moment, then wrote swiftly before flipping her board over.

‘That day, Yan’er wore a red brocade robe with gold-threaded edges, cinched at the waist, and adorned with a white jade hairpin.’

Hua Yan couldn’t help but look sideways.

‘Yun Xueshang… she remembered it so clearly…’

‘Naturally, it was clear.’

Yun Xueshang silently affirmed in her heart. After all, that day, when Hua Yan was defeated at the Hehuan Sect and transformed into a woman, her body was still wrapped in loose men’s robes.

It was Yun Xueshang who had embraced her, preventing an accidental exposure, only to be kissed by her unexpectedly.

As she recalled the past, a faint blush also crept onto her cool, clear cheeks.

“Excellent! Congratulations to Yun Xueshang for answering correctly once more! Now, Hua Yan’er, please listen to the question!”

“What is the other person’s favorite sleeping position?”

‘What kind of question is this?!’

Hua Yan’s face immediately flushed crimson.

‘How would I know what Xueshang’s favorite sleeping position is? I’ve never asked such an embarrassing question!’

‘There’s no choice, I can only guess…’

‘Lately, Xueshang has always slept while holding me. Perhaps…’

She steeled herself and wrote down an answer.

– Hua Yan’s board: “Sleeping while holding someone.”

– Yun Xueshang’s board: “Sleeping while holding Yan’er.”

“?!”

Hua Yan stared at the board in her hand, then at Yun Xueshang’s cool, ethereal face, the shame on her own face threatening to overflow.

‘Even if you really like sleeping while holding me, is that something you can just write down?!’

“Oh my, oh my, it seems Little Xueshang truly is very fond of Little Yan’er~”

Yue Jue couldn’t resist teasing them again.

She ignored Hua Yan’s shy, glaring eyes and cleared her throat.

“Next is the final question. Hua Yan’er, please listen!”

“What is the other person’s most desired but unfulfilled dream?”

Hua Yan paused for a moment, then quickly wrote down her answer.

– Hua Yan’s board: “To eliminate all evil cultivators in the world, so that no more tragedies are caused by them.”

– Yun Xueshang’s board: “To eliminate all evil cultivators in the world, so that no more tragedies are caused by them.”

Identical.

Yue Jue was somewhat surprised.

‘I never expected Little Yan’er to know even this, and so clearly… It seems their relationship is deeper than I imagined?’

“Congratulations to Hua Yan’er for answering correctly, once again proving your understanding of your dao companion!”

She paused, her tone becoming a rare bit more serious.

“Next is the final question. This question does not require a comparative answer; Yun Xueshang only needs to provide your own answer—please provide your impression of the other person, with no fewer than three points.”

Hua Yan was slightly startled.

She immediately looked up at Yun Xueshang, seeing her holding the board, eyes downcast in thought, not answering immediately. A strange heaviness settled in Hua Yan’s heart.

‘Me? What good impression could I possibly leave?’

Hua Yan, who had spent her youth teasing cats and dogs, being unlearned and undisciplined, lowered her eyes.

‘Someone with Xueshang’s good nature is probably thinking of how to praise me…’

‘It’s no wonder she only likes this outward appearance of mine—what else about Hua Yan is worthy of her affection?’

‘It truly must be difficult for her.’

Yet, not long after, Yun Xueshang began writing furiously.

She wrote quickly, her brush flowing like water. After writing for a long time, she finally flipped the board—the small writing board was now completely filled.

“When I first met Yan’er, I only thought she was very powerful, skilled in many techniques, and a worthy opponent.”

She smiled softly, holding the board and looking at Hua Yan.

“At that time, Yan’er was very beautiful and very dashing. That was my first impression.”

“A few months ago, when I first saw Yan’er and Rongrong, I thought she was a good person. Later, after experiencing the events in Great Chu together, I discovered that she punishes evil and promotes good, handling problems much more intelligently than I do—she is a formidable good person.”

“Later still, in the days spent with Yan’er, I saw her become even gentler. Though she doesn’t show it verbally, she cares deeply for Rongrong and is patient with her—she is a very good mother.”

“She pays attention to my moods, makes candied hawthorn for me, and stays with me when I’m down—Yan’er is very considerate.”

“She invites me to do many things I’ve never experienced before, which is very interesting.”

She dresses herself beautifully every day, adorns Cloud Slumber Peak gorgeously, and even chooses beautiful jewelry and clothes for Rongrong and me. She loves beauty, and she is beautiful.

When I make mistakes, Yan’er forgives me quickly. She never holds grudges.

Every day I cook, I don’t know how much seasoning to add, but Yan’er accompanies me to try again and again—she is very patient.

Sometimes I’m not very clever; I’m not good at dealing with people or making jokes. Yan’er tolerates my awkwardness, helps me bargain for cheaper prices, and helps me handle the acting sect master duties that I’m not good at…

Yan’er has always been tolerant of me.

Hua Yan read every single word on Yun Xueshang’s board.

She gazed at the white-haired immortal on the opposite high platform, who held the writing board and looked at her with a warm, gentle expression. She felt a bittersweet warmth surge in her chest.

‘So… there truly is someone who sees me so thoroughly.’

‘So, she has always cared about my good qualities.’

‘So, she never only liked this outward appearance…’

“Actually, Yan’er has many more good qualities.”

Through Hua Yan’s slightly blurred vision, Yun Xueshang tilted her head and continued.

“It’s just that this board is too small; I can’t write everything.”

She paused, then turned to Yue Jue, who was also somewhat dazed.

“However, this should be more than three points, right, Martial Aunt Yue?”

‘Yan’er and I have both answered your questions—can we get the grand prize now?’

“Ah? Oh, oh…”

Yue Jue finally snapped back to attention, quickly announcing in a loud voice.

“Congratulations to tonight’s first pair of lovers for successfully completing the challenge! All questions answered correctly! Please claim our event’s prize!”

Amidst the ribbons and glitter falling across the stage, and the rising cheers from the audience, Hua Yan wiped away her tears, watching Yun Xueshang approach her with a worried expression.

“I’m fine…”

She shook her head stubbornly, but couldn’t stop her tears.

“You answered very well. I’m just happy—happy that we won the grand prize.”

Yun Xueshang’s expression finally relaxed.

Together, they accepted the enormous plush salted fish handed to them by Yue Jue. Hua Yan, for now, couldn’t care less about the prize’s taste.

She simply kept stealing glances at Yun Xueshang’s cool, ethereal profile as she smiled and acknowledged the audience.

‘I suppose… I’ve decided on this fool for life.’

She thought silently to herself.

‘Since you also value me as a person, and not just my appearance…’

‘I…’

‘Since you’ve entangled yourself with me…’

‘Then you’ll never escape in this lifetime, Yun Xueshang.’

‘I, Hua Yan, have claimed you.’