129: New Year's Eve

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month.

New Year's Eve.

Jiang Ning called the little fox back.

As a Huaxian, no matter how important Yun Qingyao was, she wasn't more important than celebrating the New Year.

During the day, Jiang Ning took Shen Jinhuan and the little fox to the streets to buy New Year's goods.

It was two days before the Ascension Assembly began, and the streets and alleys of the Cultivation World had no New Year's atmosphere at all.

Jiang Ning went to the Yingtong Merchant Guild and bought nuts from a Spiritual Tree, as well as Spirit Pig meat, Spirit Fish meat, and Spirit Chicken meat.

It was New Year's Eve dinner, after all.

These three types of meat were naturally indispensable.

According to his menu, braised pork was a must, followed by stewed chicken drumsticks, then steamed perch, and Four Joy Meatballs.

He'd also make some cold dishes like shrimp to round out eight dishes, and then they'd be all set.

He still had a lot of Spiritual Wine that Su Rao had given him, so he mixed some fruit wine to drink tonight.

He placed the ingredients into his Storage Ring.

Jiang Ning held the little girl's hand and went to the best clothing store under the Yingtong Merchant Guild.

The little fox in Shen Jinhuan's arms asked, "Revered Master, did you get rich today? Why have you been buying so much?"

Jiang Ning chuckled.

"Today is New Year's Eve, and tomorrow is the first day of the first lunar month, which is New Year's Day."

"Oh, I see!"

The little fox said excitedly, "I've long heard that there's a tradition of celebrating the New Year among Mortals, and it's very lively. But Xuanhuang City doesn't have any New Year's atmosphere at all.

I thought it was exclusive to Mortal kingdoms."

"For Cultivators, one period of secluded cultivation can last several or even more than ten years, and combined with being alone, there's really not much to celebrate during the New Year."

Jiang Ning sighed.

The sound-transmitting jade talismans they, the two people and one fox, used were specially made, akin to a small group chat for three people, where the third person could also see the conversations of the others.

Shen Jinhuan was a little dazed.

New Year... this word felt so close to her, yet so far away.

Last New Year, she was struggling to survive.

"Huanhuan, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang Ning squeezed her palm.

"Look around and see if there are any dresses you like. Take your time and pick one."

"Mm-hmm!"

Shen Jinhuan brightened up.

The past cannot be chased; those things are over.

Now, she had the little fox and her Revered Master who doted on her.

Shen Jinhuan looked up at the hanging dresses, her gaze finally settling on a red long dress.

The dress had golden threads on the chest and collar, was form-fitting at the waist, and featured a small square neckline that revealed the collarbone.

The owner of the clothing store smiled and said, "Fairy, you have excellent taste. This dress isn't made of ordinary Spiritual Silkworm silk; it's woven from the silk of mutated Spiritual Silkworms, of which only one appears for every ten thousand Spiritual Silkworms.

Wearing this dress is like wearing a soft armor.

It can withstand attacks from a Late Stage Qi Refining Realm Cultivator!"

Jiang Ning asked, "How much is it?"

The clothing store owner gestured with a "ten."

"It only costs ten High-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Ten High-Grade Spirit Stones was a thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

It was very expensive.

Jiang Ning paid without a second thought.

This dress didn't even need to be tried on; it would change according to the person's physique, which was a characteristic of clothing in the Cultivation World.

If one didn't consider the possibility of clothes tearing during battle, it wasn't impossible for a Cultivator to wear one piece of clothing for a lifetime.

Shen Jinhuan did not object.

Recently, she had observed the lives of others and compared them to her own, truly feeling that her life had also improved.

She no longer had to live frugally.

Although ten High-Grade Spirit Stones was a lot, it was New Year's, and they could afford it.

When the shopkeeper was getting the dress.

Jiang Ning asked with a smile, "Do you want to try it on?"

"No."

Shen Jinhuan shook her head.

New clothes should wait until New Year's Day to be worn.

After buying the clothes, Jiang Ning looked at the clothes displayed and directly asked the shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, do you have clothes for my Spiritual Pet?"

The little white fox in Shen Jinhuan's arms heard this.

She immediately choked up.

"Revered Master, I get one too! I'm so touched. From now on, I'll listen to whatever Revered Master says."

Jiang Ning transmitted his voice with a smile, "You're also a member of our family, so how can you not have new clothes?"

The shopkeeper looked troubled upon hearing this.

He glanced at the little white fox.

He said, "Fellow Daoist, you pick the color first. I'll have someone draw the design right away. Once the material is decided, you can go wander around the street.

You can come back in two quarters of an hour to pick up the clothes."

"Alright."

It was truly efficient for Cultivators to make clothes.

Jiang Ning asked for the little white fox's opinion.

In the end, she also chose a red material.

The little white fox just wanted to wear red. Sister Silver Moon said that wearing red for the New Year was auspicious.

The shopkeeper then brought the designs.

To prevent the color from being monotonous, the design on the blueprint had a circle of white fur around the four legs and the collar.

The shopkeeper said, "Fellow Daoist, the main material will still be mutated Spiritual Silkworm silk. In addition, blue auspicious cloud patterns will be added, and around here, we'll also add..."

He originally wanted to say, "add a circle of fox fur."

But he felt that saying it in front of the little fox was a bit too presumptuous.

So he found an alternative.

"Adding a circle of white mink fur around here will make it even more beautiful."

Jiang Ning held the blueprint and asked the little white fox.

The little white fox nodded her head like a "dot matrix printer."

"Revered Master, Revered Master, I want this, I want this!"

Jiang Ning paid without hesitation.

Considering that the little white fox could also grow larger, the Spiritual Silkworm silk consumed for this outfit was even more than the little girl's.

The cost was also half again as much.

It cost a total of fifteen High-Grade Spirit Stones.

After leaving the clothing store.

The little white fox was still giggling foolishly.

When she left, her sister had said not to fully trust humans, and if necessary, even if it meant forcefully breaking the contract, she should leave first.

But Revered Master and Huanhuan were so good to her.

Which fox could withstand such a test?

Jiang Ning walked with Shen Jinhuan along the street.

He had originally wanted to buy some firecrackers, but unfortunately, there were no firecrackers sold here.

There weren't even fireworks.

Fortunately, there were lighting Spiritual Artifacts in the shape of red lanterns for sale. By injecting Spirit Stones into them, they could stay lit indefinitely, and many people chose such lighting tools.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Jiang Ning had bought everything he needed.

They returned to the clothing store.

As soon as they entered, the shopkeeper delivered the clothes.

Jiang Ning asked the little white fox if she wanted to wear them now.

The little fox resisted the urge to try them on and shook her head.

"I don't want to wear them now either. I'll wait until tomorrow; Huanhuan and I will wear our new clothes together."

As they were about to leave.

Jiang Ning noticed that Shen Jinhuan hadn't moved.

"Huanhuan?"

"Revered Master."

Shen Jinhuan smiled and said, "You bought us clothes, but what about yours? You should also buy a new outfit for the New Year, right?"

"I don't need to."

Jiang Ning said gently.

The little fox transmitted her voice, saying, "Revered Master, if we're celebrating the New Year, we should celebrate it together. At home, my sister always gives me the good things and doesn't want them for herself.

Every time, I feel so sad.

I think that something can be shared. It's not that the older one must always give way to the younger one.

If we're going to be happy, let's be happy together!"

Jiang Ning was stunned.

He hadn't expected a fox like the little white fox to say such words.

He remembered that his parents always took him to buy clothes before the New Year, but their own clothes were worn year after year.

When he was little, he always felt a pang in his heart, and as he grew up, he always wanted to buy clothes for his parents.

Indeed, the little white fox was right.

He looked at Shen Jinhuan, and the little girl's eyes also held a determined look.

At this moment, the person and the fox reached a consensus.

Jiang Ning smiled.

"Alright, I'll listen to you two."