New Year’s Eve

“Do you really know you were wrong?”

Lu Qiancha asked.

“Mm-hm, I really know!”

If she didn’t beg for mercy, Gan Tang felt like her ears would start to grow calluses.

“To be able to correct one’s mistakes is the greatest good.”

Lu Qiancha nodded in satisfaction.
Then, the little wolf cub grabbed Gan Tang’s hand and placed it on her own little head, saying, “If you want to pet me, then hurry up.”

After being nagged for half a day, Gan Tang was no longer in the mood.
She just gave Lu Qiancha’s large tail a tug and then very restrainedly withdrew her hand.

“Finished?”

Lu Qiancha raised her little face in slight surprise, her blue eyes still holding a trace of unsettled nervousness.
She felt a sense of relief in her heart, but it also seemed to be mixed with a wisp of faint, thread-like disappointment.

“Mm-hm, finished.”

Gan Tang nodded vigorously and said.

“…Then,” Lu Qiancha hesitated for a moment, her paw releasing Gan Tang’s clothes, “…I’m going to cultivate.”

She paused, as if casually adding, “…Um, the compensation is valid for one day.
You can come find me before evening.”

“Mm-hm, I know, Senior Brother.”

Gan Tang nodded again, then strode down the mountain.
She was going to do a few Grade C sect missions today.

Otherwise, when the sect’s performance was calculated at the end of the year, her salary would be docked.

That day, until dusk fell and the new moon hung in the sky.

Gan Tang’s figure never appeared in Lu Qiancha’s room.

Lu Qiancha sat on the threshold, watching the last rays of sunset on the horizon, her suspended heart finally gently settling.

She was still a little worried that she had been too harsh in her lecture just now and that Gan Tang would retaliate.

It seemed there was no need to worry now.

In the blink of an eye.

The footsteps of the new year approached through the snow.

Lu Qiancha went down the mountain to prepare some New Year’s goods and changed back into her disguise to show her face to Xuan Ya.

In her remaining time, she also took a Grade B mission, but she was still one Grade A mission short of the year-end bonus.

But Lu Qiancha really didn’t have time to do it, so she had to give up on this top-grade spirit stone.

For the rest of the time, Lu Qiancha either sat cross-legged in her quiet room, breathing and circulating her qi.

Or she would wander alone on the snow-covered Tianquan Peak.

Occasionally, she would burrow into the snow, turning into a “wolf radish,” and then be pulled out by different people.

Sometimes it was Xuan Ya, sometimes it was Gan Tang.
As for Xun Xue… she would often stand a few zhang away with her hands behind her back.

Her eyes would be curved, a faint smile on her lips that was so indulgent it was almost doting.
She would just quietly watch her daughter play happily in the snow.

It wasn’t until Lu Qiancha was tired from playing and got stuck in the snow crying for help that Xun Xue would leisurely step forward under Lu Qiancha’s slightly embarrassed gaze.

She would extend a helping hand and dig that little blue-furred silly wolf out of the snow.

At night, due to her pride, Lu Qiancha no longer went to sleep with Xun Xue.

Unexpectedly, Xun Xue, contrary to her previous days of waiting for the hare, became exceptionally proactive.

Every day when the night grew dark, she would come with her pillow and very naturally push open the door to Lu Qiancha’s quiet room.

She would unceremoniously occupy half of Lu Qiancha’s soft couch and bedding.

At first, Lu Qiancha would grumble a few words.

But when that warm, blood-connected breath lay down next to her, and Xun Xue’s warm and soft body habitually circled her into its embrace.

Lu Qiancha’s strained composure would melt like a snowflake meeting the sun.

She would purse her lips, gently turn over, and as if in tacit agreement, bury herself deeper into that familiar, intoxicating warmth.

On New Year’s Eve, in the small courtyard at the top of Tianquan Peak, warm yellow spirit light stones illuminated a stone table, making it bright and warm.

Lu Qiancha had already arranged a table of dazzling and delicious New Year’s delicacies.

The three people on the peak—Xuan Ya sat at the head of the table, with Lu Qiancha and Gan Tang on either side.
Only Xun Xue’s seat remained empty, a silent, empty cup.

Xuan Ya’s gaze swept over the empty seat, her willow-leaf brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, her cool voice like jade beads falling on a plate: “That Fellow Daoist Xun Xue… why has she not arrived?”

“This disciple does not know.”

Lu Qiancha lowered her head, her voice as steady as usual.

Xun Xue had gone down the mountain two days before New Year’s Eve, and before she left, she had mysteriously told her, “I’ll bring you back a surprise.”

Xuan Ya did not press further.
Her fingertips picked up the warm, small celadon cup in front of her and took a light sip.

A clear, slightly sour, and then turning into a soft, mellow nectar slid down her throat.

It was not a burning liquor, but rather like the finest morning dew from flowers mixed with the subtle intoxication of ripe fruit, with a long-lasting aftertaste.

Her brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of unexpected joy flashed in her eyes: “Well-brewed.”

Then, with a slight flick of her sleeve, her jade chopsticks lightly touched the dishes: “Let’s begin.”

“Yes, Master!” Gan Tang was already eager to eat! She impatiently picked up her chopsticks—

“Thwack!”

A slender palm, as fast as lightning, pressed down on her wrist, firmly holding her outstretched chopsticks on the table.

“?”

Gan Tang turned her head in confusion, her face full of bewilderment.

“Wait for Master to start eating first.”

Lu Qiancha’s expression was blank, her eyes sweeping across the table.

“Oh.”

Gan Tang put down her chopsticks in disappointment.

Xuan Ya watched this scene, a very faint curve forming at the corners of her lips, her voice warm with indulgence: “There are only the three of us, master and disciples, here.
Qiancha, you don’t need to be so formal.”

As she spoke, she had already extended her jade chopsticks and very naturally picked up two pieces of meat, placing them steadily on the wooden plates in front of her two disciples.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Two voices sounded.
Lu Qiancha moved swiftly, using a wooden spoon to scoop up a large spoonful of rice soaked in sauce and steadily put it in her mouth.

“Hm? Qiancha, why have you switched to a wooden spoon recently? Aren’t there extra chopsticks?”

Xuan Ya asked with some surprise.

“I just wanted to change my tableware.”

Lu Qiancha’s chewing motion paused almost imperceptibly, but her eyes did not blink, and her tone was flat and emotionless.

“Good.”

Although Xuan Ya felt it was a bit strange, she didn’t pursue it too much.
She raised her cup again and slowly sipped the fine wine with its long aftertaste.

A warmth spread from her throat to her stomach, and her mind relaxed slightly.

“Master!”

Gan Tang cheerfully raised her own cup, which was also filled with clear spirit wine: “This disciple toasts you, wishing Master good health and a prosperous immortal path!”

After speaking, Gan Tang tilted her head back and drank it all in one go.

“This disciple also toasts Master.”

Lu Qiancha calmly filled the wine cup in front of her, also raised her cup, her movements crisp and clean!

“Thump!”

With a clear sound, the bottom of the cup hit the table, and not a drop of the nectar remained in the cup.

The clear, mellow wine went down her throat, like igniting a gentle, warm current.

It flowed gently down her throat and warmed her stomach.

A very unique, clear, and sweet aftertaste lingered at the root of her tongue.

Lu Qiancha’s heart moved slightly, and she subconsciously poured herself another cup.

She raised the cup, but had not yet drunk it.

“Thud!”

Lu Qiancha’s body was like a cloth doll with all its bones removed.

Her vision blurred, and she fell face down onto the stone table.