New Year's Eve.

Great Li places great importance on New Year's Eve and the New Year, so aside from necessary on-duty jobs, most have taken the day off.

At this time, it's just when people are having supper. Most people have returned home, and the streets and alleys of Buxu City are rarely quiet.

The bustle remains in the households, in the fires, on the dining tables, among the dishes.

Gen District, Green Screen Workshop, a certain courtyard.

The hearth warms the entire room. The little snow outside adds another layer to this warmth.

"Go see if Young Master Lv is next door, let him spend New Year's Eve with us. He's all alone; it must be quite lonely," Fu Manman said to Fan Wubing.

Fan Wubing replied, "He wasn't around during the day."

"Maybe he'll be back at night."

"Alright, I'll go check again."

Fan Wubing left the room.

A few steps later, he reached Lv Liang's doorstep. He knocked and called out, "Young Master Lv, Young Master Lv?"

With no response, he thought about using the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill to sense if he was really not there.

Just as this thought arose, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps crunching on snow from inside.

The gate opened a crack, and Lv Liang revealed only one eye. This eye looked weary, bloodshot, appearing quite eerie in the night.

"It's Brother Fan, what's the matter?" However, Lv Liang's voice was still as gentle and pleasant as ever.

Fan Wubing said, "It's New Year's Eve today. Come spend it with us."

Lv Liang's eye, peering through the crack, fluttered. His voice also trembled a bit, "This... you all are gathered as a family... wouldn't it be inappropriate for an outsider like me to join?"

Fan Wubing laughed, "What family gathering? There's no talk of outsiders. I'm not family with the two of them, yet we're spending New Year's Eve together. Young Master Lv, don't be so formal."

"This... alright, let me... let me tidy up a bit." Lv Liang's voice was very soft.

"Come quickly!" Fan Wubing called out and then returned.

Inside the courtyard,

Lv Liang sat leaning against the door's threshold, touching the second head on his shoulder, his gaze bewildered, his voice murmuring in pain, "Ah… such good people, such good people… Should I go or not? Ah... it hurts."

He looked at his second head.

A... snake head with dragon horns, but not quite a dragon. For the dragon horns were truly dragon horns, and the snake head a genuine snake head, the two not matching at all, seemingly forcibly pieced together.

He touched the dragon horn near his human head, muttering, "It keeps growing longer, might accidentally pierce into my head any day now. Tonight... tonight, I wish to celebrate New Year's Eve, you'd better hide."

The cold green vertical pupil of the dragon-snake head revealed a fierce gleam.

Annoyed, Lv Liang said, "I told you, I want to celebrate New Year's Eve tonight! Don't be so ungrateful. I won't forget the important thing, how could I? I won't forget." His expression was pained, "I won't forget..."

He forcefully repressed the dragon-snake head back into his body, twisted his neck to ensure nothing unusual, took a deep breath, squeezed out a smile, making himself appear at ease.

"I'm heading out."

...

Celestial Balance Upper City.

Deep within the Li Palace, on a massive open-air platform.

The entire Celestial Balance Upper City was snowing, except here where the sky was clear, the bright moon overhead, stars twinkling. The suspended Milky Way adorned the deep sky, reflecting the vast universe.

The supremely sovereign King Saint Ye Chuxuan of Great Li stood at the forefront of the high platform, looking up at the Milky Way.

The Vermilion and Purple Robe with Gold Embroidery fluttered in the wind, making a robust sound.

He was young, at least, appeared very young.

"Tonight is New Year's Eve," he said softly.

An elder with hair and beard all white emerged from the shadows. Moonlight and starlight cascaded over him, giving an immortal aura.

"Holy Emperor, tonight's fate is unstable, especially in the dragon's tail, in Buxu City."

The Great Li King nodded and said, "I know."

"Then, how should we proceed?"

The Great Li King smiled faintly, "Doesn't Yixian want to make some changes? Let him handle it. Over the years, he's been quite diligent, even taking control of the Fuxian Bureau."

"Should it be reported to the Crown Prince?"

The Great Li King shook his head, "No need to inform. Just keep an eye on it yourself. If he truly has the ability, he'll know. If he lacks the ability, take care of it for him." He squinted his eyes, "Last time, a wisp of dragon qi was lost in Little South Continent, this time he must make up for it. If he can't make up for it… then let him continue learning outside."

"Understood,"

The elder's figure dissipated back into the night.

Ye Chuxuan gazed at the Milky Way, thinking, "Yixian, you shouldn't have listened to He Youyi. He's a scholar, a benevolent scholar, how could he understand what it takes to enhance a nation's qi?"

...

Warmth abounds, aroma of delicious dishes fills the air.

Hot dishes, cold dishes, large dishes, small dishes, soups, and chilled items—everything was there.

Lv Liang stared dazedly at the table full of exquisite food.

Fu Manman smiled and said, "Young Master Lv, please don't be polite. My culinary skills are certainly not as good as Wubing's, but hopefully, it's still acceptable, and won't disappoint you."

Lv Liang snapped back to reality, glanced at the three of them, seemed a bit frozen, sniffed, and with a smile asked, "Do you usually do this?"

Fan Wubing shook his head and said, "Who has the time to cook daily, after all, we are cultivators. Only for New Year's Eve, as the day is special. If it remains as cold and cheerless as usual, that would be a bit dull and lack hope."

Fu Manman's tone was light and cheerful, "Yeah. Sometimes while cultivating, you often wonder, what exactly are we cultivating for? Longevity, the Great Path, power, status, fame... Yet they seem so distant, not as immediately rewarding as the joy right here at this table of dishes."

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