New Year

After the body refining test, the results for the morning’s Basic Cultivation exam came out.

Su Qing never worried about her academic performance, and as expected, she earned an outstanding grade. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

In this half-year assessment, she aced all three exams with outstanding marks, allowing herself a moment of pride. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

Beyond the morale boost, outstanding grades came with tangible rewards: each one could be exchanged for a bowl of the cafeteria auntie’s special sweet rice wine. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

The wine was fragrant and sweet, crystal-clear, sprinkled with dried osmanthus that filled the air with a rich, floral aroma. Infused with a touch of dreamlike golden liquor, it had a unique flavor.

On a snowy day, a warm bowl of this sweet wine felt like it healed both body and soul.

After exams, nothing beat gathering for a meal.

It was both a chance to unwind and a practical choice, as everyone’s schedules aligned post-exam.

The Sword Sect buzzed with students letting loose after tests. Restaurants were packed, but Tang Yueling had booked early, securing a spot.

Tianning, free after her exams with no tasks to take, arrived first.

Since Tang Shitao and the other two Tang family girls weren’t in the Body Sect and had their own exams, Tang Yueling could finally dine with Su Qing and Tianning without them.

Jiang Xiaocao, a plant-transformed cultivator with little grasp of social nuances, happily joined when Su Qing invited him. He saw no awkwardness in dining with strangers.

Chen Minjing came too. She hadn’t planned to, but after running into Su Qing post-exam—both from the Body Sect—Su Qing dragged her along. Initially, thinking it was just the two of them, she was fine. But at the restaurant, seeing a vibrant, spirited red-clad girl and a frosty, ice-sculpted black-clad girl, Chen Minjing regretted coming.

She recognized them: Tang Yueling of the Tang family and Qi Tianning of the Qi family, famous among freshmen and the sect.

Both were beautiful, strong, and from prominent families. Tang Yueling was flashier, always surrounded by people—Tang girls, other clan daughters—seeking her advice, the sect’s undisputed pearl.

Rumors said her noble birth made her haughty, looking down on those of common origin, even scheming against them behind their backs.

Qi Tianning was more solitary, cold to others, always alone with her sword. They said she was vengeful—one careless word once provoked her to chase someone ten miles with her sword, pinning them to a tree, nearly bleeding out if not for a passerby. When challenged, she cut down opponents like vegetables, walking away with blood still dripping from her blade, never looking back.

So beautiful, yet so ruthless—terrifying.

Gossip abounded, and though Chen Minjing wasn’t gullible, she felt uneasy. First, she lacked experience making friends. Second, she believed a friend’s friends weren’t her friends.

But she was here now—couldn’t just leave. Sit, eat, see how it goes.

The cafeteria was a lively chaos, filled with chatter. The food was ordered, but the busy kitchen hadn’t served yet, so they sat waiting.

It was a six-person table. Across from them, from left to right, sat Tianning and Tang Yueling. Su Qing sat opposite Tang Yueling, with Chen Minjing beside her, facing Tianning.

As Chen Minjing sat, she met Tianning’s icy gaze. Her striking beauty, like a stern deity, exuded silent intimidation.

Caught in those stark black-and-white eyes, Chen Minjing panicked, looking away—only to meet Tang Yueling’s gaze. Propped on her chin, brows furrowed, she looked impatient, ready to snap.

Chen Minjing felt out of place…

She decided to focus on Su Qing, who seemed friendly and normal with her two eyes and one nose. She quietly admired Su Qing’s ability to live with these lofty figures for half a year and invite them to dine. Her social skills were impressive.

Noticing Tianning’s blank stare, Su Qing knew she was spacing out again. Tianning rarely spoke, comfortable in her own world, often drifting mid-conversation.

As for Tang Yueling, the young miss was grumbling about the cafeteria’s mediocre ambiance and food, visibly irked.

Su Qing introduced Chen Minjing to Tianning and Tang Yueling. Since they were all from the Body Sect, she steered the topic to the exams—an easy icebreaker.

Su Qing said, “The body refining test was straightforward, right?”

Chen Minjing nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely. I practiced extra, but it wasn’t even needed.”

Tianning cut in bluntly, “I got three outstandings.”

Su Qing grinned. “Same. I can drink sweet wine to my heart’s content today.” @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

Chen Minjing didn’t say hers but reacted. Tang Yueling, no longer propping her chin, sat up, eyes wide, a hint of a smile forming.

Though Chen Minjing scored outstanding in Basic Cultivation and Body Refining, her strained relationship with her Red Rust Sword—she barely touched other swords—meant her swordsmanship was only excellent.

With countless artifacts at her disposal, Tang Yueling could overwhelm foes by sheer volume. In real combat, her artifacts were her strength; she just needed more qi.

With so many options, she didn’t prioritize swords, and her body refining was passable. Her focus was amassing qi for breakthroughs.

Her weaker swordsmanship had reasons. Still, with everyone boasting three outstandings while she lacked one, she felt a quiet sting despite her silence.

Just then, plain-looking Jiang Xiaocao arrived in simple clothes, three golden medals gleaming.

Even Jiang Xiaocao had three outstandings.

Tang Yueling took a deep breath.

Chen Minjing glanced at him, knowing him as the infamous “big sucker” among freshmen—not exactly obscure, but oddly regarded.

Jiang Xiaocao sat beside Su Qing, apologizing. “Sorry, our exams ran late. I’m a bit tardy.”

“No worries, food’s not here yet,” Su Qing said.

“Good.” He sat quietly, then looked at Tang Yueling, curious. “Why do you keep staring? Is there something on my face?”

“No,” Tang Yueling turned away, holding back, then gave in. “Why do you have three outstandings?”

“The cultivation basics, mineral knowledge, and refining rules were easy,” Jiang Xiaocao explained, then paused, realizing something. “You said ‘why’—do you think my refining skills are bad?”

“No,” Su Qing stifled a laugh. “She thinks you’re great, refining too, just… a bit dim.”

Tianning, snapping out of her daze, caught a topic she knew. “And talks a lot.”

Jiang Xiaocao puffed his cheeks, glaring at Tang Yueling. “How could you?”

Tang Yueling shot a look at her roommates for not backing her up. Strictly speaking, they weren’t wrong—Jiang Xiaocao, a plant spirit, was emotionally stunted, socially clueless, and came off as… a bit foolish.

His freshman reputation wasn’t exactly “bright.”

He didn’t stay mad, cheering himself up with a grin. “It’s fine—you’re treating me to dinner.”

“Sorry, I won’t say it again,” Tang Yueling said, feeling a bit guilty. With a grand wave, she declared, “Eat your fill. Think you can bankrupt me?”

Su Qing thought, That’s not impossible.

Chen Minjing, observing, was surprised.

Tang Yueling was straightforward, not scheming as rumored. Tianning was polite, not the vicious figure of gossip. Jiang Xiaocao was a bit silly but pure-hearted and easy to get along with.

Everyone defied the rumors.

The Sword Sect was remarkable, embracing such diverse personalities, even giving someone as ordinary as her a place. Su Qing’s ability to gather them so naturally was a gift.

Chen Minjing smiled softly, her earlier tension gone.

The food arrived, sweet wine included. Su Qing raised her cup, grinning. “It’s wine—shall we toast?”

Tang Yueling teased, “With your tiny tolerance, don’t pass out.”

She remembered Su Qing fainting from a single spirit fruit.

Everyone raised their cups, downed them, and dug in.

At another table, Chen Xinghao raised his cup. “Fresh from confinement and straight to exams, but it’s over, tests done—pass or fail, let’s toast!”

Lin Jin shouted, “Exams are done, stop talking about them. Bad luck! Toast already!”

Li Qingyan laughed, “To us, to the Beast Sect’s peace—cheers!”

…

Outside, the north wind howled, snow swirled, but inside was warm as spring, filled with laughter.

In the post-exam joy, the New Year arrived.

It felt like any other day, except the cafeteria served tangyuan, adorned with plum blossom patterns—a Sword Sect specialty.

Su Qing bit into one; the sesame filling oozed out. She loved it.

By day, she trained as usual—sword practice, body refining. After the snow, the Body Sect collected qi-infused snow for students to cleanse their bodies, an ancient refining method.

At night, Su Qing wrote to Xiu Fu by lamplight. Tang Yueling burst in, shouting, “They’re lighting sky lanterns downstairs—grab paper and a pen!”

Downstairs, Tianning had claimed their lanterns.

Sky lanterns were thin paper cylinders with an oil tray at the base, a string below to tie wishes.

Tianning wrote her wish, hands clasped, eyes closed in earnest prayer.

The orange glow lit her face, casting faint shadows under her lashes, revealing a breathtaking beauty.

She was serious, perhaps seeking heaven’s aid for her lacking strength or affirming her resolve.

Her intensity inspired Su Qing and Tang Yueling to ponder their own wishes.

Unseen, Tang Yueling wrote honestly, a touch forlorn: May the Red Rust Sword return to me.

Su Qing, without hesitation, scrawled: Become stronger.

Someone released their lantern first, its orange glow rising into the night. Soon, countless lanterns floated up, their warm light illuminating the snowy hills, joining the starry sky.

Su Qing’s dark eyes reflected the stars and orange flickers. Her heart felt light, as if soaring with the lanterns.

She tied her wish, lit her lantern, and watched it rise, its glow merging with the radiant cluster.

The crowd gazed at the lantern-filled sky for ages until someone muttered, “I’ve wished for wealth sixty times and still haven’t gotten rich.”

Another teased, “It won’t work if you say it out loud, but you always do.”

Perhaps because speaking wishes jinxed them, Su Qing, Tang Yueling, and Tianning kept theirs silent.

But Tang Yueling quipped, “If it’s wealth you want, asking me might work better than praying.”

A subtle gesture of care.

Tianning, catching it, said earnestly, “You’re right.”

Tang Yueling scoffed, “Shut up, it’s better for us all.”

Su Qing laughed.

Looking at the soaring lanterns, she brimmed with confidence for the new year.