The city was bustling, adorned with festive lights and decorations everywhere. Despite the cold, many people had come out to celebrate the New Year's Eve. Renmin Square, right next to Longxing Lake, was lined with many tables along the lakeside, each topped with a small orange night light.
The cozy atmosphere was instantly complete. Lin Xi and her three companions found a spot to sit, placed their order. Lin Xi turned over the wine cups on the table and poured each person a cup of "Pear Blossom White."
People in Yunnan Province love to drink, from the elderly down to young adults who have just come of age, they always fancy a couple of sips when they have a chance.
As soon as the wine was poured, the faint, elusive scent of pear blossoms mixed with the aroma of the liquor wafted out.
"Wow, Xiao Xi, where did you get this wine? The smell alone tells me it's the real deal," said Wang Peng, picking up his cup and taking a sip. "Smooth and mellow on the palate, doesn't burn the throat going down. It's truly good wine."
"A friend brewed it and sent it to me." Xu Huanhuan, now divorced, aside from tinkering with various cosmetics, spent her time concocting these kinds of wines. This was brewed using distillation and purification techniques from her region.
There were only five jars in total, and Lin Xi got one.
The stir-failed snails and smashed cucumbers arrived, along with some snacks sent over from the barbecue stall. Everyone chatted while sipping their wine. Longxing Lake was also strung with many festive lanterns, and not far away, the fountain in the pool was turned on.
Someone brought over a speaker and started singing. Da Mingbao called them over and requested a song. Eating barbecue, feeling the slightly cool breeze, listening to the singer's gentle crooning—it was so pleasant one didn't feel like moving a muscle.
The spicy lobster tails arrived. Da Mingbao grabbed a tail, bit the front end, and the entire meat from the tail section came off in one piece.
"Xiao Xi, I heard you went to see your mom this morning?" On New Year's Eve, everyone was busy, but the idle Da Mingbao had been minding the family shop. It was she who helped Chi Xiangping carry the New Year gifts when she went shopping.
Da Mingbao was still quite curious about Lin Xi's mother.
"Yeah, I went to see her. Didn't say much. No feelings there, didn't really know what to say." Lin Xi didn't plan to mention Xue Min asking for her father's old pager.
After asking that one question, Da Mingbao didn't inquire further.
The two then started chatting about other things; there was plenty for them to talk about.
Time flew by, and it seemed like no time at all before it was midnight. The colored lights around Longxing Lake changed to a countdown.
As the seconds dwindled, signifying the end of the final day of the year, the customers at the barbecue stalls began chanting the countdown along with the display. Da Mingbao leaned on Lin Xi's shoulder and said, "Our city's New Year countdown, it hasn't changed for so many years. Works for New Year's Day, works for Chinese New Year. Besides the welcome message, they don't change a thing."
In previous years, when Lin Xi returned from Beijing, she felt utterly exhausted. Once home, she just wanted to spend good time with her grandma, so she rarely came into the city for New Year's celebrations.
Da Mingbao, with no real life pressures, always went wherever she felt like playing.
Da Mingbao thought these colored lights were terribly old-fashioned, but that didn't stop her from jumping up excitedly with everyone else, shouting the countdown when the time came.
Infected by their energy, Lin Xi didn't join in but recorded many videos.
As the final second of the old year fell with the countdown, countless fireworks lit up the sky.
A riot of brilliant colors, stunningly beautiful.
Lin Xi sent the videos to the chat group. Seeing such a scene, everyone was moved.
Especially those from the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland world and the two interstellar worlds. In their places, the concept of New Year no longer existed.
[Immortal Heroes World Bai Qingting: New Year. Haven't seen it in many years.]
The newcomer's first words appeared at this moment.
[Primitive World Ahuahua: Welcome, newcomer. I really want to ask, what's the difference between your Immortal Heroes World and a Cultivation World?]
In the Immortal Heroes World, Bai Qingting, dressed in white robes, sat under endless magnolia trees. In one hand she held a wine pot, in the other she toyed with a jade pendant.
Seeing Primitive World Ahuahua's question, the slightly intoxicated Bai Qingting replied: [Immortal Heroes World Bai Qingting: The biggest difference between an Immortal Heroes World and a Cultivation World is that the Immortal Heroes World cares about lineage, cultivates for divine status, and competes in age, I guess.]
[Take me, for example. I'm already a hundred million years old, but I have no idea how I accumulated this hundred million years. I drink a pot of wine, get drunk once, wake up from a sleep, and it seems like thousands of years have passed. People say 'cultivation knows no time,' but I think they definitely haven't been to an Immortal Heroes World.]
Bai Qingting's words seemed to open a door to a new world for Lin Xi and the others. As someone from a Cultivation World, Chu Qianmo was immediately intrigued.
[[Dog Brother] Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo: So, fellow Daoist, how is your magical power?]
[Switched-at-Birth Real Heiress Qin Suyuan: Qingting sister, is your Immortal Heroes World really like in the novels, where immortals have to descend to the mortal world to undergo trials of love? Like those stories spanning three lives and three worlds?]
A gentle breeze blew, scattering pink, white, and purple magnolia petals from the trees, landing on Bai Qingting's white robes, adding a touch of vivid color.
She finished the last sip from her wine pot: [Immortal Heroes World Bai Qingting: Novels draw from reality. The immortals in this world do indeed need to descend to experience love tribulations. Heart-wrenching, body-tormenting trials are all too common here. After tormenting for one lifetime, they often go for two or three more.]
Bai Qingting had a lot to say on this topic: [I remember when I first crossed over, all the deities performed their duties diligently, each doing their own job exceptionally well. But then one day, the Weiyu Divine Lord from the Ninth Heaven fell in love with a Lianyou Grass in his courtyard. The Lianyou Grass felt its humble origin was unworthy of the noble Divine Lord.]
[Weiyu Divine Lord was initially just toying with the Lianyou Grass, but when the grass ran away, the Divine Lord, displeased and spurred on, chased it down to the mortal world. There, the two of them engaged in a heart-wrenching love story spanning three lives and three worlds. Finally, they achieved a happy ending and returned to the immortal realm.]
[Their love story was passionate and grand, widely circulated across the Three Realms, stirring the hearts of many formerly detached and desireless immortals. Now, the Heavenly Court is almost empty, with nearly everyone off experiencing love tribulations.]
Bai Qingting felt she truly couldn't understand this world. But with everyone neglecting their duties like this, she found little meaning in cultivating alone day after day.
Every time she saw her age increase again, Bai Qingting had only one thought: why wasn't she dead yet! If she died, she wouldn't have to stay in this godforsaken Immortal Heroes World anymore.
The ways these immortals underwent their love tribulations were getting more and more outrageous. Every time Bai Qingting heard a new story, her expression was one of utter bewilderment.
"Auntie, Auntie, the Ancestor is calling for you." Just as Bai Qingting was about to launch into another rant, a little girl in green clothes, delicate as jade and carved from powder, came running in.
Judging by her appearance, she was only about five or six years old. But when asked her age, oh, she was already two thousand years old.
Thinking of this, Bai Qingting felt utterly world-weary.
"Let's go." Bai Qingting stood up and walked. While putting away the jade pendant, she accidentally pressed a button.
Thus, a grove of magnolia trees appeared in the chat group medium shared by Lin Xi and the others.
A stunningly beautiful woman in a white dress, holding the hand of a child in green clothes, moved swiftly through the magnolia grove. They walked very fast and soon arrived before a cave. Entering the cave, it wasn't dark inside but rather very bright.
A beam of light fell from the cave entrance, illuminating the lotus pond at the center of the cave. The lotuses were in full, vibrant bloom, and the flowing water was fresh, gurgling as it streamed outward.
Bai Qingting and the child bypassed the lotus pond and walked towards the innermost part. A woman in black clothes was reclining on a lounge chair. Seeing the two arrive, she beckoned them over.
"Qingting, the Heavenly Court just sent over a betrothal letter, offering you the position of Crown Princess. What are your thoughts?"
Bai Qingting rolled her eyes so hard they nearly reached the heavens: "Isn't the Heavenly Crown Prince currently all lovey-dovey with that koi spirit from the Water Tribe? News of their romance has even reached my ears. And with that going on, they still want me to be his Crown Princess?"
"Alright, since you're unwilling, I'll decline them."
Bai Qingting nodded in satisfaction and returned directly to her own cave abode. The green-clad little girl stayed by the elder's side.
She took out the jade pendant and only then realized she had accidentally started a live stream earlier.
She cut off the stream, and the group chat was instantly flooded with messages.
[Earth Girl Lin Xi: I have to say, the scenery in the fantasy world is truly amazing.]
[Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: Indeed, those magnolias are so beautiful. I wonder if magnolia flowers make good wine.]
The success of "Pear Blossom White" wine had made Xu Huanhuan think of brewing wine first whenever she saw beautiful flowers.
[Fantasy World Bai Qingting: When I transmigrated here, that TV drama was just airing. And I ended up transmigrating into the same race as the female lead. I thought, shouldn't I properly decorate the place I live? So, I had people plant a grove of my favorite magnolias. I chose varieties that bloom all year round.]
[@Ancient World Xu Huanhuan, if you need some, I'll have someone pick flowers for you later, but I don't know if magnolias can be used for brewing wine.]
Meanwhile, Lin Xi, having celebrated the New Year, had returned to Da Mingbao's family's house in the city.
It was a three-bedroom apartment, already renovated. According to Da Mingbao, this was the dowry her parents had prepared for her. It was registered under her name when they bought it.
After a shower, Lin Xi lay in bed reading their chat. Seeing what Bai Qingting said in the group, her eyes instantly lit up.
[Earth Girl Lin Xi: @Fantasy World Bai Qingting, sister, can I trade with you for a few flowering trees? I want to plant them in front of my guesthouse.]
[Fantasy World Bai Qingting: Sure. I'll dig some up for you in a bit. However, planting these flowers requires regular watering with spirit spring water. If watered with ordinary water, they'll slowly revert to common varieties.]
If Bai Qingting hadn't mentioned this spirit spring, it would have been fine. But once she did, Chu Qianmo was triggered all over again. He thought of that fingertip spirit spring that had been swapped away by the group chat system.
The cultivation world was different from the fantasy world. Resources in the cultivation world were finite. Even that spirit spring was something none of the current major sects possessed.
Chu Qianmo's restaurant was opening in the cultivation world today. He couldn't afford to mouth off and provoke the group chat system. He had some pride!
The chat in the group continued, with everyone very interested in Bai Qingting's marriage arrangement with the Heavenly Crown Prince. As an active member of the group, A Hua Hua, while stroking the cat Lin Xi had delivered to her early that morning, asked directly.
Mentioning the Heavenly Crown Prince instantly dissipated Bai Qingting's previously somewhat cheerful mood from joining the group chat.
[Fantasy World Bai Qingting: I'm the same age as that Heavenly Crown Prince. The last time we met was about twenty or thirty thousand years ago, when he had just been appointed Crown Prince. The Heavenly Emperor and Empress held a grand coronation ceremony for him. Our Qing Fox Tribe went to observe the ceremony.]
[Emmm... After the ceremony, people from the Heavenly Court took us on a tour of various sights around the court. I went out midway and saw that Heavenly Crown Prince, being all lovey-dovey and clingy with a koi spirit.]
In her previous life, Bai Qingting's family conditions were good. She started dating in college and mostly dated men with no romantic history. To put it bluntly, she had a cleanliness obsession when it came to men.
Besides, in the timeless fantasy world, two thousand years had passed. The love story between that Heavenly Crown Prince and the koi spirit was known throughout the three realms. Even though her Qing Fox Tribe kept to themselves, they had still heard plenty about their romantic tales.
And with all this, they still wanted to betroth her as the Heavenly Crown Princess? One had to admit, their calculations were quite shrewd. She, as Crown Princess, would add political weight to the Heavenly Emperor's family and firmly tie the Qing Fox Tribe to the Heavenly Clan's side.
After all, currently, the immortals of the Heavenly Clan were all undergoing love tribulations, and their magical powers had long been neglected.
But nowadays, besides the Heavenly Clan and the Demon Tribe, there was also the Demon Clan. The Demon Clan had a life-and-death feud with the Heavenly Clan. In recent years, with the Heavenly Clan having one love tribulation after another spreading news, the Demon Clan had been stealthily developing.
The immortals currently remaining in the Heavenly Court were either those of great age nearing their end or those with little combat ability who became immortals solely due to their background. If the Demon Clan attacked, there would be virtually no resistance.
Given the current situation, anyone who wasn't a fool wouldn't side with the Heavenly Court.
A bunch of immortals who only know how to fall in love, indiscriminate about the race or even the nature (literal translation: not avoiding meat or vegetables, meaning not picky at all) of their objects of affection—what great things could they possibly achieve?
"Auntie, Auntie, it's terrible! Someone named Tang Jin has come looking for you!"
As soon as the words fell, a woman wearing a red dress that bared her midriff barged in.
Before Bai Qingting could speak, the girl blinked, and tears instantly streamed down her face. Then, with a thud, she knelt at Bai Qingting's feet: "Third Princess, I am Tang Jin. Her Majesty the Heavenly Empress said you refused the marriage proposal with Yu Xiao. Her Majesty ordered me to come explain to you."
"I have no relationship whatsoever with Yu Xiao. You also don't need to worry about me. From today onward, I will leave Yu Xiao's presence for all my lives and generations, going to a place he cannot find me. I will not be an obstacle between you and Yu Xiao. Third Princess, the Heavenly Clan desperately needs your help now. For the sake of your childhood friendship with Yu Xiao, please agree to marry him!"
Within a few sentences, the koi spirit named Tang Jin was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
When she spoke of never seeing Yu Xiao again for all lives and generations, a mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips.
Before Bai Qingting could even figure out when she and the Heavenly Crown Prince Yu Xiao had ever been childhood friends, or what the Heavenly Clan's needs had to do with her, a black figure rushed in: "Tang Jin!!"
After a heart-wrenching roar, Tang Jin was pulled into the arms of the newcomer: "You venomous, jealous woman! Let me tell you, don't think for a second that my Yu Xiao will ever yield to you people! Give up that dream of marrying into the Celestial Clan as the Crown Princess right now! My Crown Princess can only be Tang Jin!"
"Even if you shamelessly force your way into that marriage, I won't so much as glance at you!"
Bai Qingting stared, dumbfounded, as the two arrived and departed just as abruptly.
"For heaven's sake, I didn't get a single word in, and I still ended up as part of your little drama?"
