Xianxia: The Sect Master Is My Girlfriend

The Frostfall Festival was approaching.

It was the grandest festival of the year in the mortal realm.

From royal family members to commoners, everyone would honor their ancestors, pray to the gods for blessings, and hold ceremonies to ward off evil and sickness, as well as celebrate a good harvest.

Every household would hang lanterns and decorations, and all kinds of festivities would unfold. It was one of the few times people could take a break, enjoy themselves, and gather with their families.

For cultivators, this festival was just as significant.

Cultivation made one lose track of time, blending day and night.

Cultivators would often meditate for years or even decades. This festival was one of the few times they were reminded of the passage of time.

Every Frostfall Festival marked the end of a year.

It was a time to reflect on the year’s achievements and plan for the next one’s cultivation. This was a necessary task for every disciple.

…

With the festival still half a month away, the disciples of the Hidden Gauze Sect were already getting excited.

In the vast, empty square, a few adorable little snowmen had been built. The blue tiles of the Ascension Platform were painted red, and red tassels were hung from the eaves of the buildings…

The festive atmosphere was growing stronger by the day.

At that moment, Li Ran was in his study, holding a brush and staring pensively at a red sheet of paper.

Ah Qin, curious, asked, “Holy Son, what are you doing?”

Li Ran replied, “Since the festival is coming, I’m preparing to write a couplet and hang it up.”

To him, the Frostfall Festival bore an uncanny resemblance to the Lunar New Year from his previous life, giving him a nostalgic sense of celebration.

So, he decided to write a spring couplet for fun.

“New Year? Couplets?”

Ah Qin didn’t quite understand.

But she was sure of one thing—her Holy Son was going to write something.

“I’ll help you grind the ink,” she offered, stepping beside him and gently grinding the inkstone.

Li Ran glanced at her, his gaze falling on her slightly open collar, and his vision momentarily blurred.

“I’ve been feeling dizzy lately…”

Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and with a few bold strokes, he wrote the couplet.

“Perfect!”

Li Ran admired his work and tossed the brush aside, satisfied.

Curious, Ah Qin leaned over to read, reciting aloud, “A good man holds his spear tight… a fierce heroine attacks from both sides?”

“This is amazing! It looks so powerful. I didn’t know you were a poet!”

She gave him a thumbs-up, full of admiration.

Li Ran stroked an imaginary beard, looking pleased with himself. “Of course, I’m known as the Vast Land’s Greatest Damp Poet. This was just something I casually scribbled.”

He picked up the couplet and stepped out of the room, carefully hanging it on both sides of the door.

Taking a few steps back, he crossed his arms and admired his work.

“Perfect! Doesn’t this just scream holiday spirit?” Li Ran marveled at his own talent.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“Holy Son, I’m here!”

“….”

Li Ran’s forehead twitched in annoyance.

Like a whirlwind, Lu Xinran appeared before him, dressed in a bright red dress, adorned with red hair ornaments, even her shoes were red—she looked incredibly festive.

“Holy Son, long time no see,” she greeted him with a smile.

Li Ran rubbed his temples. “Can’t you change your opening line?”

Lu Xinran chuckled, then pulled out a delicate little box from behind her.

“Happy Frostfall Festival, Holy Son! This is a gift I prepared for you!”

Li Ran was a bit surprised. “Isn’t it a little early? The festival is still a few days away…”

He reached out, opened the box, and dozens of tiny pink paper cranes flew out, fluttering around as if they had their own spirits, filling the air with a light fragrance.

At the bottom of the box was a portrait of Li Ran. Though it wasn’t a great likeness, the effort she put into it was clear.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Lu Xinran explained, “I originally wanted the cranes to form a pattern in the sky, but my cultivation isn’t high enough yet, so the talisman I drew couldn’t achieve that…”

She quickly added, “But don’t worry, Holy Son! By next year’s Frostfall Festival, I’ll definitely make them form a pattern!”

Li Ran was silent.

There were hundreds of paper cranes, each requiring a talisman. The amount of work that must have gone into this gift was unimaginable.

Given Lu Xinran’s current cultivation level, her spiritual energy would be depleted after drawing only a few.

She must have started preparing this gift months ago.

Although she was usually quite bothersome, Li Ran had to admit that her feelings for him were sincere.

He sighed and patted her on the head. “Thank you for the gift. I really like it.”

Lu Xinran froze, stunned.

This was the first time the Holy Son had shown her such affection!

Her face turned bright red, her breathing quickened, and her eyes sparkled.

“The Holy Son touched me?” she murmured in disbelief.

Li Ran corrected her, “I patted your head.”

“He touched me and said he liked me?”

“I said I liked your gift… Could you please finish your sentences properly?”

Li Ran was exasperated.

This situation was far too easy to misinterpret.

Ignoring him, Lu Xinran blushed and ran off, shouting as she went, “The Holy Son said he likes me!”

Li Ran: 凸

…

Just as he was considering whether to silence her, a breeze swept past him.

Li Ran turned around to see Leng Wuyan gracefully landing nearby.

He respectfully greeted her, “Disciple greets Master.”

Leng Wuyan nodded. “No need for formalities.”

Within the sect, they still had to maintain the appearance of a master-disciple relationship.

When she noticed the couplet on the door, she asked curiously, “Ran’er, why did you put these characters on the door? This couplet… why does it feel a bit strange?”

“Ahem.”

Li Ran cleared his throat. “This is called a spring couplet. It’s a tradition from my hometown, meant to ward off evil, bring blessings, and welcome good fortune. Since the Frostfall Festival is approaching, I thought it would be fitting to hang one.”

Leng Wuyan chuckled. “You’re a dignified cultivator, yet you believe in these things?”

Li Ran scratched his head. “It’s just for good luck. Besides, the red adds to the festive atmosphere.”

“Hmm, that makes sense.”

Leng Wuyan nodded. “Then hang a pair at my palace door as well.”

“No problem,” Li Ran agreed readily.

“By the way,” Leng Wuyan asked casually, “Do you have any plans for the Frostfall Festival?”

Li Ran shook his head. “Not at the moment.”

“I’ve heard there will be performances in Cold Wind City on that day. Of course, I’m not particularly interested, but…”

“I’m interested,” Li Ran said with a smile.

He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then leaned in close to Leng Wuyan’s ear. “I’d like to go on a date with Master in the city. Would Master be willing to join me?”

The warm breath on her ear made her heart race, and her face flushed.

“If you insist, then… I suppose I’ll go,” she replied, turning her head shyly.

Li Ran gently squeezed her hand. “Master is the best.”

Leng Wuyan nervously glanced around, giving him a glare. “You rebellious disciple…”

Then, in a fluster, she flew off.