Tong Shuzheng, pacing back and forth in front of his desk, nodded and said, "It seems so. As for the specifics of the court's stance, we'll need to observe further. But with Lingxian Sect, we can definitely maintain friendly relations."
Xue Chengfeng was pleased. Thanks to their interactions with Immortal Lin, they had developed quite a fondness for Lingxian Sect, making them even more inclined to foster goodwill with the sect.
Stroking his recently grown beard, Xue Chengfeng smiled and said, "I'll prepare the New Year's gift tonight and personally deliver it to Lingxian Sect the morning after tomorrow."
Unexpectedly, Tong Shuzheng halted his pacing and said, "I'll join you. After all, it's New Year's. The more, the merrier."
——
That night, Xiushui Village was not as frugal as it usually was. Every household was brightly lit and festively decorated. The small village, which normally became pitch dark at nightfall, was illuminated brilliantly tonight. Even near the Lingxian Food Hall, someone had hung a simple lantern.
Most families had already finished their meals, but the tables remained set, allowing everyone to continue sitting together, drinking, eating, and chatting.
Occasionally, the sound of firecrackers echoed through the village, followed by the excited shrieks and laughter of children. Every door was adorned with spring couplets, symbols of good fortune for the new year. These were recently written by the children studying at Sun Yigao's private school. The villagers didn't want to bother Sun Yigao, who was difficult to approach, but they figured that having his students write the couplets was just as good.
As a result, some of Sun Yigao's students earned their first-ever silver coins. Although they were shy about accepting money, knowing that their calligraphy was still rudimentary, the villagers insisted, giving them fruits and sweets as thanks. The number of households added up, and the students were thrilled, proudly bringing their rewards home to show their families, who praised their accomplishments.
Meanwhile, up on the mountain at Lingxian Sect, everyone was finally reclining in their chairs, patting their full bellies after completely clearing the table. The snowy weather had stopped after nightfall, leaving the night sky full of stars. Under the starlight, the women gathered in one group, the men in another, each engaging in one conversation after another as if they had endless things to discuss.
The younger generation, after cleaning up the dishes, gathered their heads together, whispering excitedly about something. Mo Que, not quite fitting in with either the men or the youth, was easily pulled over to join the younger group by Mo Yuanjiao.
Seeing this, Liu Shengsheng and Lin Ying, two young girls, dragged Lin Yan, who had been quietly listening to the elders talk, over to the boys to find out what they were discussing. As the three girls approached, they overheard Lin Xiao saying, "We need to practice this spell quickly. It's simple, but we have to perfect it before midnight. Got it?"
Everyone nodded eagerly and turned to find a place to practice the new spell. But before they could leave, they noticed three pairs of bright, curious eyes watching them. Lin Ying asked, "What new spell are you learning? Is it fun?"
Liu Shengsheng looked at her brother, Liu Yunan, and asked, "Brother, can we join in?"
Only Lin Yan, feeling a bit embarrassed about being caught eavesdropping, blushed and lowered her head slightly.
Seeing the three of them, Lin Xiao smiled and said, "You came at the right time! Come along and learn this new spell with us. It'll be more fun with more people."
With that, Lin Xiao led Lin Yan and Lin Ying ahead, while Liu Yunan pulled his sister along, saying, "Come on, let's go! You arrived just in time—Xiao said there's something fun planned!"
The elders had noticed the commotion but didn't interfere. Liao Pantou, initially reluctant to join the younger crowd, decided to stay with the adults instead of heading back to his room early. However, as he listened to their conversations, he found himself drawn in and gradually became more involved.
The others were delighted when he joined in. After all, he was over five hundred years old and had a wealth of experiences to share. No matter what topic came up, he could contribute something, often starting with, "Back in the day in the cultivation world, there were plenty of stories like this. Let me tell you about one—"
Before long, Liao Pantou had taken over the conversation, becoming the focal point as he recounted tales from his early cultivation days. His stories captivated everyone around the table, from the battle-hardened General Mo to Liu Chun, who listened with rapt attention. After all, it wasn't every day that you could hear firsthand accounts of a Nascent Soul cultivator's journey.
As Liao Pantou spoke, everyone felt as if they were transported back in time, witnessing the experiences of a young boy who left home to join a sect, enduring the trials and tribulations of the cultivation world, and growing stronger with each step. The wintry night seemed to echo with a sense of nostalgia and grandeur.
Meanwhile, in the now-empty training room, a group of children ranging from just a few years old to teenagers were diligently practicing something under Lin Xiao's guidance. He occasionally paused to explain or demonstrate the spell.
Finally, with only a quarter of an hour left until midnight, everyone had mastered the spell. They excitedly extinguished the lights in the training room and rushed down the mountain.
Before heading down, Lin Xiao made a quick detour to Guoyuan Shan's residence, where he interrupted Liao Pantou's storytelling to announce to the gathered elders, "Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunts, and elders, please make sure to look towards the village at midnight!"
With that, he swiftly disappeared down the mountain, leaving the puzzled elders behind.
Soon, the young group found their designated spots in the village, eagerly awaiting the arrival of midnight.
As the clock struck midnight and the village head's large bronze gong rang out, echoing through Xiushui Village's night sky, the children sprang into action.