Happy New Year, Reflecting Snow

The workload was immense.

Though the specifics weren’t overly complicated, the sheer volume of tasks piled up into a daunting mountain of duties.

Xu Xi worked late into the night, with Wu Yingxue keeping him company. She sat by his side until her body stiffened and her eyes grew sore.

Fortunately, both of them were innate martial artists.

A single circulation of their vital energy dispelled all physical discomfort.

“Ssshh~~”

“Ssshh~~”

In the dimly lit room, the candle flame flickered and danced.

It carved out a small, bright space.

Dispelling the darkness of the night, it illuminated the faces of Xu Xi and the young girl, while also casting light on the rough walls of the room.

“Once spring returns and the weather warms, we’ll focus on taking control of the areas surrounding Pingshui County.”

“As for the Great Qian Dynasty…”

“We’ll ignore them for now.”

“This is the best opportunity. Other rebel forces are drawing their attention. If we miss this window, it’ll be hard to find another chance for growth.”

“Sishui County, Heishui County, and Qingshui County—these will be our targets.”

Flipping through documents, reviewing, and annotating.

Xu Xi’s eyes scanned rapidly, integrating available information to plan next year’s military routes.

He wasn’t a natural at handling administrative affairs.

Nor was he a prodigiously wise strategist.

From the beginning, Xu Xi had been a straightforward martial artist. His ability to manage governance now was solely due to the infinite improvement granted by his persistent system.

Every so often, his administrative skills would receive a boost as a reward for his perseverance.

However.

Xu Xi had no intention of delving deeply into governance.

In this world, survival depended on strength. Handling administrative tasks was merely to prevent internal chaos, something he could delegate to trusted individuals later.

Only strength was irreplaceable.

As the leader of the Survival Army, Xu Xi’s current strength was far from sufficient.

“The first realm of the innate stage: Observing the Principles of Heaven and Earth.”

“The second realm of the innate stage: Nurturing the Martial Soul.”

“The essence of the Observing Principles Realm is to use the innate martial artist’s perception to observe and imitate the world, allowing vital energy to flow in harmony with the natural order.”

“As for the Nurturing Soul Realm, after vital energy has mimicked the workings of the world, the true intent of martial arts enters the realm of vital energy, replacing the heavenly way with the martial way.”

“Only then can one achieve the state of ‘seeing the divine without decay,’ fully perfecting the internal world of vital energy.”

“Becoming a Martial Dao Human Immortal, where one becomes the world itself.”

In the dimly lit room.

Xu Xi finished the last of his administrative tasks.

He exhaled deeply, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

In his mind, thoughts about the future development of the Survival Army and his next steps in martial arts rapidly intertwined.

These were things that couldn’t be rushed; they required time and patience to yield results.

As for today, it was time to rest.

“Thank you for your hard work, Yingxue.”

Xu Xi turned to the girl beside him. She was yawning, her eyes heavy with sleep, clearly exhausted.

“It’s nothing, sir.”

Wu Yingxue forced herself to stay alert.

Xu Xi shook his head, about to tell her to go to bed, when the crackling sounds from outside interrupted him.

“That noise…”

“It sounds like something burning and popping.”

Not just that.

A cacophony of voices also rose from the distance.

Though the distance made it unclear, the joy in the voices was palpable.

“Are they celebrating New Year’s Eve and the New Year?”

Xu Xi’s curiosity was piqued.

He walked to the top floor of the government office, with Wu Yingxue following closely, equally curious about the commotion outside.

Soon.

As Xu Xi reached the top floor, the height allowed him to easily see the flickering lights across Pingshui County.

It wasn’t a fire or fireworks.

But towering stone structures.

Rough stones, stacked in a specific arrangement, rose high into the air, forming strange and magnificent towers.

People threw dry firewood into the stone towers.

They lit them, and flames erupted, rising high.

They cheered and danced around the towers.

Watching the blazing flames engulf the stone structures, illuminating their thin, excited faces under the dark night sky.

In Pingshui County today, there wasn’t much to do or enjoy. Hunger weighed heavily on everyone’s minds, leaving them numb.

But on New Year’s Eve.

Even the poor found their own way to celebrate.

“Sir, it’s so lively.”

On the top floor of the government office, the wind was strong.

It howled, whipping through their clothes.

Wu Yingxue stood beside Xu Xi, her hands resting on the wooden railing, leaning slightly forward, marveling at the scene in the distance.

“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a lively sight.”

Xu Xi replied.

His eyes reflected the flickering flames.

Sparks flew, firewood cracked, and the orange-yellow flames danced in the night, lighting up the quiet sea of stars, turning it into a magnificent tapestry of red and orange.

Leaping, blooming, erupting.

As time passed, the night wind grew fiercer.

The wind entwined with the fire, and the fire burned with the wind, creating twisting, dancing “fire dragons” across Pingshui County.

“Sir!”

“Sir!”

Wu Yingxue grew even more excited.

Her eyes were fixed on the dazzling flames in the city, but her hand tugged at Xu Xi’s sleeve, eagerly sharing the wonders of the fire with him.

Though she could easily create more spectacular displays herself.

This was different.

The girl loved the scene before her, loved the lively atmosphere, loved watching it with Xu Xi, sharing her feelings under the night sky.

Gradually.

The flames burned even fiercer.

But the voices in Pingshui County suddenly paused.

After the pause came even more exuberant cheers, for at that very moment, time had officially crossed over from New Year’s Eve to the first day of the New Year.

The impoverished people greeted each other.

Wishing one another happiness in the coming year.

“Sir,” Wu Yingxue gazed at the lively scene for a long time before suddenly turning to Xu Xi, wanting to say something.

Just then, a gust of wind swept through.

The wind was so loud it drowned out her voice.

But from her expression and the movement of her lips, Xu Xi could tell what she had said.

“Sir, Happy New Year.”

What the roaring wind had erased.

Was the girl’s blessing to Xu Xi.

Xu Xi responded.

Under the vast, starry sky, under the watchful gaze of countless stars, amidst the howling wind.

He reached out.

And adjusted the hairpin that had been blown askew by the wind.

Then he spoke: “Happy New Year, Yingxue.”

The girl looked beautiful today, and he believed she would grow even more beautiful in the coming year.

…

[You experienced a lively New Year’s Eve.]

[Since arriving in the martial world, this was the first time you had experienced a New Year’s Eve filled with warmth and festivity, rather than just the threats of demons and the harshness of winter.]

[The girl expressed her blessings to you.]

[You, in turn, blessed her.]

[Under the night sky, she once again pestered you to count the stars with her. But the sparkle in her eyes rivaled the stars themselves. You agreed once more and reminded her of the number from last time.]