There were countless governnt affairs to handle.
The tasks themselves weren’t complex, but their sheer volu created an overwhelming workload. Xu Xi worked late into the night, with Wu Yingxue by his side. By the ti his body grew stiff and his eyes began to ache, they were still deep in their work.
Fortunately, both of them were innate warriors. A simple circulation of Qi and blood was enough to dispel their physical fatigue.
“Tsk~~”
“Tsk~~”
In the dimly lit room, flickering candles cast a soft glow.
The gentle light created a small, bright world within the dark night, illuminating Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue’s faces as well as the rough walls around them.
“When spring arrives, we’ll use Pingshui County as our base and gradually expand into the surrounding areas,” Xu Xi muttered, his eyes fixed on the docunts before him.”As for Daqian… let’s not worry about them for now. This is the perfect ti to act. With other rebel forces drawing their attention, we have a window of opportunity. Sishui County, Heishui County, Qingshui County—these are our next targets.”
He studied, analyzed, and planned, carefully piecing together next year’s strategy based on the information at hand.
Xu Xi wasn’t naturally gifted in managing governnt affairs. He wasn’t a genius strategist or a wise ruler by nature. At his core, he was a warrior.
His current competence in handling governance ca from sheer persistence and constant improvent. Over ti, his repeated efforts had yielded consistent progress.
But Xu Xi had no intention of delving deeply into governnt affairs forever.
In this world, true power lay in strength. His role as a leader required him to maintain internal stability, but soday, trusted individuals could take over such tasks. Strength, however, was irreplaceable.
“The first stage of innate cultivation is to observe the principles of heaven and earth,” Xu Xi mused.
“The second stage incorporates the soul of martial arts.”
“The Observation Realm allows innate warriors to perceive and imitate the natural world, enabling their Qi and blood to flow in harmony with it.”
“The Yunpo Realm transcends this. Here, martial arts infuse the Qi and blood with their essence, allowing one to replace the natural order with their own will.”
“Only by achieving this can one truly perfect their inner world of Qi and blood, reaching a state of divine invulnerability.”
“To beco a martial arts immortal is to embody heaven and earth itself.”
Inside the dark room, Xu Xi finished reviewing the final set of docunts and let out a deep breath.
His mind raced with plans for the Qihuo Army’s future and his martial arts progression. These were not matters to be rushed; they would take ti to achieve, step by step. For now, though, it was ti to rest.
“Thank you for your hard work, Yingxue,” Xu Xi said, glancing at the girl beside him.
Wu Yingxue yawned, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Despite her obvious fatigue, she replied cheerfully,”It’s no problem, sir.”
Xu Xi shook his head, about to suggest she head back to rest, when a crackling noise outside the house caught his attention.
“What’s that sound?” he wondered aloud.
“It almost sounds like firewood crackling,” Wu Yingxue added, her curiosity piqued.
The distant roar of voices soon followed. Though faint, the unmistakable joy in the sounds was clear.
“Are they celebrating New Year’s Eve?” Xu Xi asked, intrigued.
He made his way to the top floor of the official residence, with Wu Yingxue following closely behind, equally curious.
From their elevated vantage point, they could see fires lighting up across Pingshui County.
These weren’t accidental house fires or dazzling fireworks. Instead, tall stone towers stood in various locations, built from rough stones stacked ticulously.
People had thrown dry firewood into the towers, setting them ablaze. The flas roared to life, casting a brilliant glow that illuminated the excited faces of the townsfolk gathered around them.
The people cheered and danced in circles around the fires. Their skinny, weathered faces seed to regain a hint of vitality as the firelight flickered against the backdrop of the night.
In this desolate county, where hunger and despair weighed heavily, even the poorest found a way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
“Sir, it’s so lively,” Wu Yingxue said, leaning forward on the wooden railing as the wind tugged at her clothes.
“Yes,” Xu Xi replied, his gaze fixed on the scene below.”It’s been a long ti since I’ve seen sothing like this.”
The fires burned brightly, their orange-yellow flas licking the cold night air. Sparks flew, and the dry firewood crackled, filling the silence of the night with warmth and light.
As ti passed, the cold wind grew stronger, whipping the flas into wild dances that spread like”fire dragons” through Pingshui County.
“Sir! Look at that one!” Wu Yingxue exclaid, clutching the corner of Xu Xi’s clothes as she pointed out another fire.
Her excitent was infectious. Though she could easily create sothing far more impressive with her own power, this mont was different.
She enjoyed the simplicity of the scene—the laughter, the warmth, and sharing it all with Xu Xi under the starlit sky.
As the flas burned brighter, the lively cheers suddenly quieted.
For a mont, the county fell into silence. Then, as the clock struck midnight, jubilant voices erupted again. Ti had officially passed from New Year’s Eve to the first day of the new year.
Neighbors and friends exchanged heartfelt greetings, wishing one another a happy new year.
“Sir,” Wu Yingxue began, her eyes reflecting the glow of the fires as she turned to face him.
A sudden gust of wind drowned out her words, but Xu Xi could tell what she said from the movent of her lips.
“Happy New Year, sir.”
Though the wind had erased her voice, her intent was clear.
Xu Xi smiled, reaching out to gently fix the hairpin that had been dislodged by the breeze.
“Happy New Year, Yingxue,” he said warmly.
Under the vast night sky, amidst the twinkling stars and the dancing flas, the girl’s radiant beauty seed to shine even brighter.
…
[You experienced a lively New Year’s Eve.]
[Since arriving in the world of martial arts, this is the first ti you’ve felt the warmth and joy of a festive celebration amidst the ever-present threat of demons and the chill of winter.]
[The girl expressed her wishes for you.]
[You returned her blessings.]
[Under the starlit sky, she once again asked you to count the stars with her. The brilliance in her eyes was no less dazzling than the stars themselves. You agreed and even reminded her of the last number she counted.]
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