Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
Capital City.
The festival season had arrived.
Despite the heavy snow sealing off the city, the festive atmosphere remained undiminished.
"Sword Enthusiast, Fairy Master, I wish you both a happy new year."
Inside the Li Residence, during the reunion dinner, Li Ziye led the younger members in paying their respects to the two most senior figures in the house, bowing earnestly.
Upon seeing this, Slovenly Zhang and Qin E'nuo's faces lit up with satisfaction.
"Today's a good day, let's drink a few more."
On this rare occasion of gathering, Slovenly Zhang was in high spirits, lifting his own jug to drink.
The lively reunion dinner lasted nearly an hour, and even the ladies who usually abstained from alcohol indulged a little, their cheeks flushed with a rosy glow.
"Sword Enthusiast, Fairy Master, Sister Youwei, please continue to eat, I'll accompany Little Red Riding Hood to pay respects to the teachers at the Imperial Academy."
As the reunion dinner was drawing to a close, Li Ziye, noticing Little Red Riding Hood's growing distraction, took her hand and said.
"Of course, go ahead," Qin E'nuo nodded.
"Husband, wait for me, I'll go too."
Zhu Zhu hurriedly stood up, wanting to join them.
"Zhu Zhu."
Qin E'nuo spoke up calmly, "Stay, I have something to discuss with you."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhu reluctantly nodded and sat back down.
"Miss Qing Xuan, are you getting used to it?"
Li Youwei, noticing the quiet courtesan at the table, spoke gently, "Don't be shy, treat this place like your own home."
"Mhm."
Yu Qingxuan nodded lightly, a smile gracing her elegant features, "I'm used to it."
On the streets of the Capital City, it was already getting dark, but the sound of firecrackers was relentless, creating a festive buzz.
In front of a spacious residence, a carriage stopped, and Li Ziye, along with Bai Wangyu, alighted and knocked on the mansion's door.
"Old Sir, Young Master Wangyu has arrived."
Inside the residence, an elderly butler hurried over and announced.
"Wangyu?"
Upon hearing this, Fa Ru showed a delighted expression, "Quick, let him in."
"Old Ancestor Fa!"
Before the butler could finish, Li Ziye's irritating voice rang out from outside, "Little Red Riding Hood and I have come to wish you a happy new year."
"Is that Li Family's brat here too?"
Hearing the voice from outside, Fa Ru was startled and asked.
"There is a young man about the same age as Young Master Wangyu," the butler said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Fa Ru's face soured, wondering why that brat had also come.
"Old Ancestor Fa."
Before long, Li Ziye entered with Little Red Riding Hood, smiling at the middle-aged man inside, "Happy New Year, I've come to pay my respects."
"Wangyu also pays respects to the Old Ancestor."
After speaking, Li Ziye and Bai Wangyu both bowed respectfully to the Old Ancestor Fa Ru before them.
"Joy to you too."
As the saying goes, one does not strike the smiling face. Seeing the Li Family's young man paying respects, Fa Ru couldn't keep a stern face and forced a smile, saying.
"Old Ancestor, where's the red envelope?"
Li Ziye stretched out his hand, as if it were expected.
"Red envelope?"
Fa Ru was taken aback, what red envelope.
"Old Ancestor, you should give a New Year's red envelope."
Li Ziye insisted righteously, "It doesn't have to be much, just a thousand or eight hundred taels."
"Scram!"
Finally losing his patience, Fa Ru cursed, "Get lost, not even one tael for you."
"Stingy! Let's go, we still have to pay respects to a few other teachers."
Li Ziye muttered, pulling Little Red Riding Hood and heading outside.
As they were about to leave the mansion, Li Ziye paused, turned to Fa Ru behind him, and said, "Old Ancestor, we'd like to also pay a New Year's visit to the Confucian Scholar, please allow it."
Fa Ru nodded, not refusing, "Go ahead."
"Thank you, Old Ancestor."
Li Ziye grinned and promptly left with Little Red Riding Hood.
"This kid."
Fa Ru shook his head helplessly, almost convinced that Li Ziye was leading his Wangyu astray.
A quarter of an hour later, at the Li Qing Shan Residence.
"Scram, not even one tael!"
"Old man, we're all scholars, be civilized!"
"Civilize your uncle, get lost!"
Li Ziye and Bai Wangyu were kicked out of Li Qing Shan's residence without even a sip of water and hurriedly made their way to Instructor Yao Guihai's residence.
Of course, the outcome was the same; Li Ziye and Bai Wangyu were directly thrown out.
"Sister Qiao'er."
"Boom!"
In Chen Qiao'er's residence, Li Ziye was sent flying with a slap, the power of the Hao Ran Chapter fully unleashed.
In front of the enraged Instructor Chen, Bai Wangyu bowed respectfully and quickly left the residence.
"What kind of people are these, each more stingy than the last."
Outside the residence, Li Ziye dusted the snowflakes off his buttocks, grumbling discontentedly.
"Let's go, Brother Li, we also need to visit the other three Old Ancestors and the instructors from the west and south courtyards," Bai Wangyu reminded.
"Damn it, all of them?"
Li Ziye was startled, realizing that visiting them all would be exhausting.
"It's always been like this," Bai Wangyu nodded.
"Let's do those tomorrow."
Li Ziye hurriedly said, "First, let's visit the old Confucian Scholar, then head home. There's nothing urgent tonight anyway."
Bai Wangyu thought for a moment and agreed, "Alright."
Imperial Academy's East Courtyard.
Kong Qiu stood under the eaves, gazing northward, his aged eyes flickering with light.
A thousand years, Li Taibai, you were right, living long isn't necessarily a blessing.
Yet, with the calamity of all beings approaching, he had to persevere a little longer.
"Confucian Scholar."
At that moment, from outside the courtyard, Li Ziye's voice rang out, "Little Red Riding Hood and I have come to wish you a happy new year!"
Inside the courtyard, Kong Qiu returned from his reverie, his face breaking into a smile, "Come in."
Outside, Li Ziye, dragging a somewhat reserved Little Red Riding Hood, entered the courtyard and saw the old man in front, grinning, "Happy New Year, Confucian Scholar, how old are you this year?"
"Heh."
Kong Qiu, detecting the teasing tone in the young man's words, didn't take offense and chuckled, "I've lost count."
After speaking, Kong Qiu looked towards the young man beside Li Ziye and asked, "Wangyu, is this your first time entering this courtyard?"
"Mhm."
Bai Wangyu nodded, bowing respectfully, "I pay my respects to the Confucian Scholar."
Kong Qiu nodded, raising his right hand, and immediately, a boundless surge of righteous energy flowed out, continuously entering the young man before him.
After a few breaths, Kong Qiu lowered his hand and smiled, "This is my gift to you, reflect on it well."
Feeling the change in his body, Bai Wangyu bowed again, "Thank you, Confucian Scholar."
"What about mine?"
Beside them, Li Ziye, seeing this, asked anxiously, "I've come to pay respects too, you can't be biased!"
"Nothing for you!"
Kong Qiu laughed, "You have the gift of the Heavenly Book, no need for me to do anything extra."
"Biased!"
Li Ziye grumbled dissatisfiedly.
"Go back."
Kong Qiu waved his hand, "It's reunion night, spend more time with your family."
"Got it, Confucian Scholar, we're leaving. When you have time, come visit Li Garden. I've never seen you leave this courtyard; you're even more of a homebody than I am."
Li Ziye chattered away, then promptly left with Little Red Riding Hood.
"Old Bai."
Soon after, outside the courtyard, Li Ziye's voice asked, "What did the Confucian Scholar give you?"
"Some insights into martial arts," Bai Wangyu replied.
"Can it help you reach the Fifth Realm in one step?" Li Ziye asked curiously.
"No," Bai Wangyu answered.
"Can it increase your cultivation by a whole realm?" Li Ziye asked again.
"No," Bai Wangyu shook his head.
"Oh, then it's not much use."
Li Ziye immediately felt more balanced mentally, thinking it didn't matter if he didn't receive anything.
Bai Wangyu smiled without further explanation.
Li Garden, by the time the two returned, it was nearly midnight.
"Husband!"
In the inner courtyard, Zhu Zhu, who had been waiting, immediately ran up to greet them.
"Where are Sister Youwei and the others?" Li Ziye asked.
"They're inside," Zhu Zhu replied with a smile.
"Let's go, it's so cold outside, don't catch a chill."
Li Ziye showed rare concern and then headed towards the house ahead.
Inside the house, the charcoal fire crackled, warming the room considerably.
"Go this way, no, no, no, here."
On the warm kang bed, Slovenly Zhang and Hong Zhu were engrossed in a game of chess, surrounded by an eager audience, indicating a fierce battle.
"Little girl, how many times are you going to take back your moves!"
Slovenly Zhang, annoyed by the young girl's cheating, complained.
"You're a senior, how can you quibble with a young girl like me?"
Hong Zhu argued with righteous indignation.
"…"
Slovenly Zhang was speechless; this girl's thick-skinned behavior was exactly like someone else's.
The beam is not straight, and the rafters are crooked.
"Younger Brother."
Inside, Li Youwei, seeing the three who had just entered, smiled, "Come here, I've made you new clothes, try them on to see if they fit."
"Okay."
Li Ziye immediately scampered over.
On the kang bed, several new garments were laid out, all tailored to Li Ziye's size.
Li Ziye tried them on one by one, beaming with joy.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Li Ziye noticed a few hats beside the clothes and, with a mischievous grin, picked up a red one and placed it on Little Red Riding Hood's head.
Instantly, Little Red Riding Hood wore a little red hat.
In the room, everyone laughed at the sight of Bai Wangyu's silly appearance with the little red hat.
"So ugly."
Li Youwei commented without mercy.
"Indeed, it's a bit ugly."
Hong Zhu looked up, adding her jab in time.
Bai Wangyu, a bit embarrassed, tried to take off the hat.
"Don't, don't take it off, it looks so good!"
Li Ziye quickly intervened, admiring his handiwork, grinning, "Not bad, I should suggest to the Confucian Scholar that we get one of these hats for each disciple of the Imperial Academy."
"Their relationship is really good."
Zhu Zhu said enviously, as Li Ziye's fiancée, she felt a bit jealous.
"Mhm."
Next to her, Qin E'nuo nodded, "Li Ziye has been in danger several times, and it was the Confucian School's top disciple who saved him, so Bai Wangyu holds a very important place in this kid's heart."
"But, Master said that the Confucian School's top disciple would die during the calamity."
Worry crossed Zhu Zhu's face.
Hearing this, Qin E'nuo's expression hardened, "Did the Old Ancestor say it himself?"
"Yes, Master said it himself," Zhu Zhu replied softly.