After Redeeming The Beautiful and Tragic Heroine [Transmigration] - Chapter 35.2

Yu Yan sat down next to Yu Yuan, as she always did. She took a sip of wine to clear her throat, planning to talk to Yu Yuan about their month-long trip plan to the Hehuan Sect.

But an unexpected rival jumped in.

Yu Qinzhong coughed behind her. Yu Yan, along with the cushion she was on, instantly teleported, switching places with another empty cushion nearby. Settling into the empty space, Yu Qinzhong happily sat on the cushion, wedged between his two daughters.

“Father, you and Elder Yunting and Master sit together!” Yu Yan, forcibly separated from Yu Yuan, pointed to Elder Yunting who had just sat next to Xue Qingshu, feeling agitated.

But Yu Qinzhong was unmovable. He simply said, “You two have been glued together for twenty years. Your father is only separating you for two hours. What’s the rush?”

Yu Yan was displeased and wanted to argue further with Yu Qinzhong. Beside her, Qin Beilu pressed down on her restless shoulder and said, “A’Yan, calm down. The Sect Master has something to say.”

Yu Yan was forcibly silenced. She angrily grabbed the glazed cup in front of Yu Qinzhong and gulped it down. “Father, say what you have to say quickly. When you’re done, I want to switch seats with you,” she stared at Yu Qinzhong. “If you won’t switch, then I’ll switch with that Outer Sect disciple.” She referred to Qin Niang, who was sitting to Yu Yuan’s left.

“That Outer Sect disciple, did you hear me?” Yu Yan grew impatient when Qin Niang didn’t respond.

It was only then that Qin Niang realized Yu Yan was talking to her. “Y-Yes, Second Young Sect Master,” she stammered.

Yu Yan: … For some reason, she just found this nervous girl unbearable.

The atmosphere grew tense. Yu Qinzhong looked around at the group, then tried to smooth things over. “Alright, A’Yan, stop fooling around. Your father has important matters to discuss.” He gave Qin Beilu a look, indicating for her to hold Yu Yan down, and then said: “There will be a total of five disciples going to the Hehuan Sect this time. A’Yuan, you, A’Yan, Beilu, this little friend Qin Niang, and an Outer Sect disciple named Wei Haoran—the five of you will travel together.”

Yu Yuan looked thoughtful: “Five people? I remember there was another group—”

“I know!” Yu Yan broke free from Qin Beilu’s hold, pushed Yu Qinzhong aside slightly, leaned toward Yu Yuan, and eagerly answered: “I’m replacing Yun Buxi. When I went to find the old man, Luo Qiushuang was arguing with him, saying that if he dared to send Yun Buxi to the Hehuan Sect, she would burn down Xiyun Peak.”

Yu Yuan: ? “I thought you said the two of them would go together.”

Yu Yan smiled brightly: “I forgot to tell Sister that Yun Buxi has a romantic entanglement at the Hehuan Sect. Luo Qiushuang wouldn’t dare let her go. She’s afraid of having her home stolen.”

Yu Yuan was silent. The entire hall fell silent.

Yu Qinzhong looked at Yu Yan with a complicated expression. “Buxi has a romantic entanglement at the Hehuan Sect? With whom?”

Yu Yan met Yu Qinzhong’s eyes, realized she had revealed too much, and instantly felt guilty. “Nobody, I was just making it up, just making it up.” Her voice got quieter, and she obediently sat back next to Qin Beilu.

Yu Qinzhong looked at her a few more times, but ultimately didn’t pursue the matter. He continued with the main topic: “The elder leading your trip is Elder Yunting, who is sitting next to Immortal Lord Wen Ti (Xue Qingshu in disguise). I presume you have all seen her when visiting the Enforcement Hall.”

Elder Yunting gave a shallow smile and a slight nod to everyone, her gaze subtly sweeping over Yu Yuan. Yu Yuan felt a chill down her spine, inexplicably feeling that those eyes resembled someone’s, but she couldn’t place who it was.

Yu Qinzhong briefly introduced Elder Yunting, then continued: “Originally, I intended to send you to the Hehuan Sect after the sect competition.”

“But three days ago, the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect sent a message, requesting that the disciples sent by our sect spend half a month or a month enjoying themselves there. Therefore, to save the Hehuan Sect face, the elders and I decided to have you set off tomorrow morning to hurry to the Hehuan Sect.”

Yu Yuan: … She decided she had the right to remain silent.

After saying this, Yu Qinzhong had nothing further to add. He looked at Yu Yan, planning to thoroughly question her about Luo Qiushuang and Yun Buxi.

However, Yu Yan seemed to have anticipated this. She quickly retrieved a large jar of Nightglow Wine from under the table. “Father, it’s time for the farewell drink,” she said.

Yu Qinzhong: “…Where did you get that wine?”

Yu Yan glanced nervously at Xue Qingshu: “I got it from M-Master.”

Xue Qingshu calmly said: “It’s fine. Drink as much as you like.”

Elder Yunting was shocked: “Drink as much as you like?!”

Xue Qingshu: “What? Do you have an objection?”

Elder Yunting gave an awkward smile: “No objection, but I just remembered: when I drank half a jar of your Nightglow Wine, you hung me from the rafters for an entire day. Do you recall that?”

Xue Qingshu admitted: “I don’t.”

Elder Yunting: “Truly?”

Xue Qingshu: “Truly. So, you can drink freely now.” Elder Yunting had nothing more to say.

As the two of them settled down, Yu Qinzhong began to dissuade Yu Yan from drinking again. “A’Yan, drinking is bad for your health. Do you know that?”

Yu Yan knocked back a cup of wine decisively. “I don’t.”

Yu Qinzhong tried a different approach. “Drinking leads to mistakes, do you know that? Think about it: in the Miaoyin Sect, no one would dare do anything to you even if you were drunk. But what about outside the sect? Take the Hehuan Sect, for instance. That entire sect is full of scoundrels. If anything were to happen to you, what would your mother, your sister, and I do?”

Yu Yan: … She ignored him.

Yu Qinzhong: . He remembered a story he had read, about an old man who challenged his daughter to a drinking contest to determine her capacity.

So, he picked up a cup of wine in front of him and said to Yu Yan: “A’Yan, how about we have a drinking contest? If your father wins, you are not allowed to touch wine while at the Hehuan Sect.”

“Challenge me to a drinking contest?” Yu Yan looked at Yu Qinzhong as if he were an idiot, a slight smile curving her lips. “And if I win?”

Yu Qinzhong said plainly: “I’ll call you ‘Master’!”

Qin Beilu: ! She instantly moved to stop Yu Qinzhong, but her hand was pushed down by Yu Yan.

Immediately, they heard Yu Yan shout to Yu Qinzhong: “Fine!”

The two of them began their contest. Qin Beilu: … She was speechless.

At the same time, Yu Yuan, sitting on the side, glanced at Yu Qinzhong’s mostly red ears and quietly shook her head. My old man is just waiting to gain a new junior.

Yu Yuan muttered to herself and focused on eating the food in front of her.

But before she could take a few bites, Qin Niang, sitting beside her, suddenly spoke. “Young Sect Master, did my sudden arrival at Hot Spring Valley make you angry?”

Yu Yuan, with food still caught in her throat: ? Angry about what? The Hot Spring Valley isn’t her territory. Yu Yuan mused, then put down her chopsticks and looked at Qin Niang.

“Don’t overthink it. Why would I be unhappy that you came to the Hot Spring Valley?” Yu Yuan smiled faintly, picked up the glazed cup, and drank a few sips of the Nightglow Wine.

Qin Niang heard her and shook her head. “If the Young Sect Master wasn’t unhappy, you wouldn’t have ignored Qin Niang.”

Yu Yuan: ??? So many negations.

She put down the glazed cup, went over Qin Niang’s words, and then reflected on her own behavior of burying her head in her food. She suddenly realized: She probably did overlook Qin Niang.

So, she hastily put down the Nightglow Wine she was about to pick up again and said to Qin Niang: “I was very happy you came, truly.” Yu Yuan’s smile was a bit unnatural.

Qin Niang looked at her several times, lowered her head, and looked on the verge of tears.

Yu Yuan: … This was the expression she feared most.

After a brief internal scramble, Yu Yuan chose to change the subject. “Didn’t you ask me about the Hehuan Sect earlier? I have a little booklet here; if you read it, you should understand.” With that, she conjured a booklet with a flip of her hand and placed it in Qin Niang’s grip.

Qin Niang looked down at the cover, instantly turning from sad to delighted, and said excitedly: “Young Sect Master’s great kindness, how should Qin Niang repay you?”

Yu Yuan: ? What great kindness? Doesn’t everyone in the Miaoyin Sect have one of these booklets? Is sharing gossip about the Hehuan Sect considered great kindness now?

She frowned, wanting to tell Qin Niang not to be so dramatic, but remembering the girl’s stubborn desire to repay kindness from the original novel. Yu Yuan settled on a compromise: “If you truly want to thank me, then drink one cup of wine.”

Qin Niang asked hesitantly: “Just one cup of wine?”

Yu Yuan nodded decisively.

Qin Niang became a little hesitant. A kindness that could be repaid with just one cup of wine was too cheap. But after some thought, she did as requested.

She picked up the glazed cup beside her and drank it in one go.

Then, three seconds later, with a “thud,” she collapsed.

Yu Yuan: .

Yu Yuan: ??

Yu Yuan: !!!

She instantly sobered up. “Qin Niang, are you okay?” Yu Yuan gently pushed Qin Niang’s arm.

Qin Niang slid against the table and onto the floor, where her breathing became steady.

Yu Yuan: … So she’s a one-cup wonder.

She sighed, picked up the glazed cup beside her, and finished the remaining half-cup of Nightglow Wine. Nightglow Wine, Immortal Wen Ti’s precious celestial brew, really is delicious.

She was thinking this when she heard another “thud” by her ear. This time it was in stereo.

Yu Yuan looked both ways and realized that on her right, Yu Yan had drunk Yu Qinzhong under the table, and on her left, Xue Qingshu had drunk Immortal Yunting under the table.

Xue Qingshu’s face wasn’t flushed at all, but from her neck down to her shoulder blades, she was subtly flushed pink. “Why are you looking at me?” Her voice was still calm.

Yu Yuan: “You’re drinking?”

Xue Qingshu lowered her head, her eyes half-closed: “Wen Ti likes to drink.”

Yu Yuan remembered now: Elder Yunting was indeed her villainous Master’s drinking buddy. She wanted to ask Xue Qingshu if she needed an antidote, but Yu Yan grabbed her hand from the side.

“Sister, let’s drink!” Yu Yan was clearly a little drunk too. But she had the reputation of being a ‘thousand-cup champion,’ so even though her face was flushed, her body wasn’t swaying or unstable.

Behind her, Qin Beilu was supporting Yu Qinzhong. Yu Yuan exchanged a look with her, understanding the signal, and took the glazed cup from Yu Yan’s hand, placing it on the table.

“Be good, A’Yan, go back to Qinglan Peak with Senior Sister to rest. We have to wake up early tomorrow,” Yu Yuan coaxed.

Yu Yan rested her hands on her legs, tilting her head up. “Wake up early? Why wake up early?”

Yu Yuan reminded her: “We’re going to the Hehuan Sect.”

Yu Yan remembered the trip. She suddenly stood up and shouted: “Right, we’re going to the Hehuan Sect! To find a partner for Sister, and to find a partner for me, not just one, but lots of—” Yu Yan was forcibly silenced by Qin Beilu covering her mouth.

“Young Sect Master, I’ll take the Sect Master and A’Yan back to rest first,” Qin Beilu said.

Yu Yuan was concerned: “Senior Sister, taking two people is too much trouble. Why don’t I take A’Yan back?”

Qin Beilu: “It’s fine. I’ll take A’Yan to Xiyun Peak with me.”

Yu Yuan pressed her lips together: “To stay with you?”

Qin Beilu nodded.

Yu Yuan: “She drank quite a bit tonight.”

Qin Beilu: “Don’t worry, Young Sect Master, I have everything under control.”

Yu Yuan: … She couldn’t say anything more and walked them to the main hall exit.

Outside the hall, moonlight scattered on the ground, shimmering with the evening breeze like rippling water. Qin Beilu, with one person on each side, said to Yu Yuan: “Young Sect Master, no need to see us off further. This is fine.”

Yu Yuan stopped. “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

Qin Beilu shook her head, about to say, “No.”

Unexpectedly, Yu Qinzhong suddenly straightened his back, breaking free from Qin Beilu’s grasp. “A’Yan! Where’s A’Yan! Hic—I can drink more!” he yelled, stumbling.

Yu Yan raised her hand, shouting back: “Old man, I’m here! Let’s keep drinking!”

Qin Beilu quickly secured Yu Yan.

Yu Yuan also rushed to steady Yu Qinzhong. “Senior Sister, perhaps I should see you off after all.”

Qin Beilu looked conflicted. Yu Qinzhong cut in before she could speak. “See you off, yes, see you off! Your father has something to give both of you sisters!”

Yu Qinzhong pushed Yu Yuan away, stood up straight, and vaguely retrieved two knives the size of index fingers from his storage pouch. He put one into Yu Yuan’s hand and fastened the other to Yu Yan’s belt.

“Father, what is this?” Yu Yuan asked, steadying the once-again-collapsing Yu Qinzhong.

Yu Qinzhong’s full weight leaned on Yu Yuan, and he slurred: “The Cutter of Red Dust! One cut slices through the mortal ties, leaving no leaf to stick to you! A’Yuan, if the Hehuan Sect tries to randomly tie a red thread for you, hic—or for your sister, you take this little knife and cut that red thread!”

With that, he straightened up again, brought four fingers together, and began demonstrating, making swoosh-swoosh-swoosh motions in the air in front of him. “Just like this! A cut with the left hand, a cut with the right hand! We’ll sever all their Hehuan Sect’s red threads!”

Yu Yuan tried to hold Yu Qinzhong down, but he dodged her hand with the precision of a runaway wild horse every time.

Yu Yuan: … The little bit of Nightglow Wine she had drunk had completely worn off now.

After finishing his knife demonstration, Yu Qinzhong looked at Qin Beilu. “Beilu, your Master won’t give you this little knife, because—” He let out a hiccup. “Your Master is going to give you a bigger one!”

Saying this, Yu Qinzhong pulled out a large, half-human-sized sword from his storage pouch and raised it high toward the moon. Moonlight scattered on the blade, making it gleam.

Yu Qinzhong said: “Your Master tells you, romance and love are the greatest burdens. If anyone in the Hehuan Sect dares to tie a red thread for you, you chop them down! Hic—”

Qin Beilu: “…Young Sect Master, I had better take the Sect Master and A’Yan away quickly.”

Qin Beilu put the large sword away, formed a hand seal, and the three of them vanished into the dark night as three streaks of light.

Yu Yuan stood where she was, watching the spot where they disappeared, feeling lost.

“A’Yuan.” A clear female voice sounded behind her.

Yu Yuan turned around and looked at Xue Qingshu: “Why did you come out too?”

Xue Qingshu answered simply: “It was too stuffy inside. I came out for air.”

Yu Yuan: “I see.”

Xue Qingshu nodded, walking closer to Yu Yuan. “I want to go to the Hehuan Sect with you.”

“No,” Yu Yuan flatly refused. “Your injuries aren’t fully healed yet. You need to stay at the Miaoyin Sect and rest well.”

Xue Qingshu fell silent. Yu Yuan looked up, meeting her silver eyes, and her mind wavered slightly. “Your—” Eyes.

Before Yu Yuan could finish, Xue Qingshu suddenly cupped her face and gently kissed her.

The taste of the Nightglow Wine spread on her lips. A petal from a pear blossom, appearing from nowhere, landed on her nose. Yu Yuan’s eyes widened. She stared at the deeply flushed Xue Qingshu under the moonlight and suddenly remembered: Phantom Demons cannot drink alcohol. Because once they drink, they easily lose their rationality and revert to their true nature.

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