IMMFBCG Chapter 54

Chapter 54: New Year’s Eve

Before the two left, Master Fang Xuelin suddenly chased after them, calling, “Ye Xue, please wait a moment!”

Ye Xue and Yu Qi stopped and turned to look at him together.

Fang Xuelin smiled warmly, his gaze towards Ye Xue kind and friendly. Even aside from Yu Qi’s influence, he genuinely liked Ye Xue for her talents. It had been a long time since someone so gifted had appeared in the sect.

Ye Xue wasn’t unfamiliar with Taoists who were enthusiastic toward her. Even before she officially joined, many masters had shown interest in taking her as their disciple. Though Fang Xuelin hadn’t explicitly suggested it, he’d once hinted that she should consider Yu Qi as her mentor.

Fang Xuelin believed they had a good connection, and he hoped to help find a successor for Yu Qi’s teacher. When Yu Qi declined, Ye Xue hadn’t felt offended; instead, she’d felt a sense of relief, though she wasn’t sure why she instinctively resisted the idea of becoming Yu Qi’s disciple. It just felt strange to consider their relationship as one of master and student.

Seeing Fang Xuelin come over now, Ye Xue thought he might be bringing it up again and politely said, “Master Fang, I already have a teacher.”

Noticing Yu Qi’s gaze shift to him, Fang Xuelin quickly clarified, “Oh no, that’s not it at all! I just came over to ask…”

Ye Xue followed his lead, asking, “To ask…?”

Fang Xuelin continued, “To ask if you need any help with anything.”

Seeing he wasn’t here to talk about taking a master, Ye Xue felt a sudden relief and joked, “Anything at all?”

Braving Yu Qi’s stare, Fang Xuelin nodded decisively. “As long as it’s something I can do.”

Ye Xue teased, “Well then, could you help me get a Celestial Master’s certificate?”

Fang Xuelin looked surprised. “You don’t have one yet?”

Considering how talented Ye Xue was, he had assumed she was already a certified Celestial Master. Given how much Ye Yangyun valued his apprentice, it was surprising she hadn’t received her certification by now.

Ye Xue replied matter-of-factly, “No, not yet.”

Both the Taoist and Celestial Master certifications require a certain amount of teaching experience, though notable contributions to the Taoist community could allow for an exception.

Fang Xuelin thought over Ye Xue’s contributions to the sect recently. Even without considering the recovery of some valuable swords, her success in capturing malevolent spirits alone could likely qualify her for early certification.

Fang Xuelin replied enthusiastically, “Alright, I’ll arrange it. After the new year, just come here for a formal ceremony and registration.”

“Oh, right…” Fang Xuelin casually asked, “How long have you been practicing Taoism, Ye Xue? I’d guess it’s been at least five or six years, right?”

Ye Xue smiled slightly.

Yu Qi also glanced at Fang Xuelin, as though he’d just said something strange.

Fang Xuelin was puzzled. “What?”

He had only asked how long she’d been studying Taoism; was there something odd about that?

“Not that long.” Ye Xue thought for a moment, then replied, “Um… half a year.”

“…?” Fang Xuelin’s face was filled with shock as he asked uncertainly, “How long?”

Ye Xue answered, “Half a year.”

Yu Qi looked at her with a smile.

Fang Xuelin seemed dazed.

Only half a year had passed.

If he counted back, when Ye Xue took care of the vengeful spirit haunting Haicheng University, she must have only been in school for a couple of months. Two months, and she could deal with a dangerous spirit that easily…

Is she even human, or is she a deity?

Feeling as if he’d questioned reality itself, Fang Xuelin slowly nodded. “Got it…”

Half a year…

Watching them walk off, Fang Xuelin couldn’t help but murmur, “Only half a year…”

“Master,” Fang Xuelin’s disciple approached with a compass, curious. “Half a year for what?”

Fang Xuelin, now back to his senses, looked at his disciple, suddenly irritated. “Look at her, and then look at yourself!”

Disciple: “…???”

He had no idea what had just happened.

On New Year’s Eve, Fengyang Village was fully prepared for the holiday, decorated with red lanterns everywhere and looking especially festive.

At dusk, lanterns on the roads were lit, their soft candlelight mixing with the streetlights.

Ye Yangyun was in the kitchen preparing the New Year’s Eve feast, while Ye Xue and Yu Qi were outside putting up door deities and couplets.

Yu Qi balanced on a chair, placing the couplets high and aligning them symmetrically. Then, he looked back at Ye Xue.

Standing a few steps away, Ye Xue examined his work and then pointed up. “A little higher.”

Yu Qi adjusted the couplets as directed.

Ye Xue took a closer look and said, “It’s crooked on the right side.”

Yu Qi smiled, not saying much, and continued adjusting the couplet according to Ye Xue’s suggestions.

After a few rounds of adjustments, they finally got the couplets perfectly aligned.

Ye Xue nodded in satisfaction. “Now it’s symmetrical.”

Yu Qi climbed down from the chair and wiped the seat with a tissue.

Suddenly, a timid voice called from behind them, “Master…”

Ye Xue turned around to see the ghost they’d encountered before, looking ashamed as he bowed deeply. “I’m so sorry, Master. I was just so scared that day, I ran off without warning you.”

He’d wanted to apologize for a while, but Ye Xue and Yu Qi were often away. When he tried asking Bao Wenxuan for their whereabouts, Bao got so scared that he ran off too, leaving the ghost with no answers. Today, being New Year’s Eve, he finally found an opportunity to approach them.

Ye Xue wasn’t upset with him—fear is natural, even for ghosts. She said, “It’s alright. You couldn’t have taken them on anyway. As long as you’re unharmed, there’s no need to worry.”

But the ghost felt even guiltier at her response and cried, “Oh, I’m so useless! I ran away without helping!”

Ye Xue interrupted, “Uh… you’re technically not alive anymore, right?”

Hadn’t he been dead for years?

The ghost stopped crying mid-sob, looking at her in a daze.

Ye Xue comforted him, “Alright, alright. It’s New Year’s. No more crying. Happy New Year!”

The ghost wiped his tears and sniffled away. “H-Happy New Year! I’ve collected a few things. Would you like some?”

Ye Xue, smiling, shook her head. “No need. Keep them for yourself.”

The ghost nodded, “Oh… alright.”

Feeling he’d done what he came for, the ghost turned to leave, but Ye Xue called after him, “Hey, I’ll put some food out by the door tonight. Come by and help yourself.”

The ghost’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Master!”

Once he left, Ye Xue turned to head back with Yu Qi to get more couplets, only to find Yu Qi standing there, looking at her with eyes as warm as the morning sun.

She walked over and naturally took his hand, leading him back inside. “There are just a few more couplets left. Once we put those up, we’ll be all done.”

Yu Qi didn’t say anything, just quietly looked at her hand holding his, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

…

Ye Xue placed some food in a bowl and set it by the roadside, waving over to the ghost who’d arrived. Once she saw him eating, she returned inside.

Ye Yangyun had made a full table of dishes, most of them Ye Xue’s favorites.

Ye Xue took out a bottle of her teacher’s well-preserved wine, poured drinks for everyone, and was about to pour herself a cup as well.

Ye Yangyun stopped her. “Ah, Xue, you can’t drink yet.”

Ye Xue held the bottle up high. “Why not? I’ll be nineteen after the New Year!”

Ye Yangyun replied calmly, “Counting traditional age.”

Ye Xue protested, “Just half a glass.”

Ye Yangyun handed her a different glass, swapping the bottle out of her reach. “Here, half a glass.”

Ye Xue looked down—it was half a glass of pineapple beer. “….”

She felt a bit exasperated.

Looking at the quiet Yu Qi beside her, she said, “Yu Qi.”

Remembering how tipsy Ye Xue had gotten after half a glass of fruit wine at the hotpot place, Yu Qi subtly moved the glass aside.

Ye Xue was left speechless.

Ye Yangyun smiled at Yu Qi. “Yu Qi, then it’ll be you joining me for a few drinks this year.”

Yu Qi agreed, “Alright.”

So while the two of them drank, Ye Xue could only focus on eating.

After a while, she noticed some commotion outside and saw a few other ghosts trying to take the food. She casually tossed a few talismans out, scaring away the extra spirits.

Outside quickly grew quiet.

Fengyang Village had a tradition of staying up late on New Year’s Eve. Right at midnight, firecrackers started going off with loud “pop-pops,” filling the air with thick smoke and completely drowning out the New Year’s Eve countdown on TV.

Ye Xue started coughing from the smoke. After Ye Yangyun returned from setting off his firecrackers, he went to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Seeing that no one was outside, Ye Xue quickly ran to shut the door.

The firecracker noise grew even louder, making her ears ring, but then a pair of hands gently covered her ears.

Ye Xue looked up to find Yu Qi’s bright eyes, almost shimmering, as he gently soothed, “Don’t be afraid.”

She called softly, “Yu Qi?”

He gazed at her quietly and answered with a soft “Mm…”

It seemed he had drunk quite a bit, as his face looked a bit flushed under the light. His gaze held a warm, almost intoxicated focus, his eyes reflecting only her.

Ye Xue asked, “Are you drunk?”

Yu Qi pursed his lips and shook his head seriously. “No, I’m not.”

But his hands remained firmly over her ears, shielding her from most of the loud noise.

As another round of firecrackers burst, Yu Qi’s brow furrowed slightly.

On impulse, Ye Xue reached out and gently covered his ears in return, using the same comforting tone he’d used, “Don’t be afraid.”

Her cold fingertips rested on his earlobes, gradually warming, each point of contact feeling as though it held a gentle heat.

Yu Qi’s breath caught for a moment as he gazed down at her.

Without realizing it, they’d grown closer and closer.

Then, a light, delicate touch brushed against Ye Xue’s hair, careful and tender.

Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and she froze.

The firecrackers outside gradually subsided, and a hush settled over the surroundings.

A warm hand softly caressed her cheek.

Looking up again, she saw Yu Qi smiling gently at her, his voice soft. “Happy New Year, Ah Xue.”