Chapter 42: I Return to Dust, She Ascends the Path of Immortality

“Tumbling through the mortal world—who says it is inferior to the quiet cultivation upon the mountains?”

“Though the Young Master is a mere mortal, who says he does little compared to us cultivators?”

Sitting in the courtyard, Xiao Mo looked at the book in his hands, only to find he could no longer focus on the words.

From time to time, the words Fuchen had spoken before his departure echoed in Xiao Mo's mind.

It was true.

Originally, Xiao Mo had thought that if Ru Xue was unwilling to leave this time, he would slowly guide her.

He would gently persuade her to go, so they could part with smiles and she could ascend the mountain with a peaceful heart, rather than forcing a departure filled with regret.

But after hearing Fuchen's words, Xiao Mo's heart wavered.

Did he not need to "drive" Ru Xue away?

Was that truly for the best?

Ru Xue was becoming increasingly dependent on him.

And he was merely a mortal, with barely a hundred years to live.

A hundred years from now, when Ru Xue watches him pass away with her own eyes, could her Daoist heart truly withstand such a blow?

"Xiao Mo."

"Xiao Mo!"

"Hey! Xiao Mo!"

As Xiao Mo sat lost in thought, Bai Ru Xue's small hand waved incessantly before his eyes.

"What is it, Ru Xue?" Xiao Mo snapped back to reality.

"I told you before, I want to bring my younger sister down from the mountain tomorrow. Is it really okay?" Bai Ru Xue asked.

Xiao Mo nodded. "Of course it is."

"Good, then I'll go fetch her tomorrow," Bai Ru Xue said happily. "You will definitely like Xiao Qing."

"Mm." Xiao Mo gave a slight smile, then lapsed back into contemplation.

Seeing his expression, Bai Ru Xue couldn't help but pout. "Xiao Mo, what's wrong? Ever since you sent that Daoist away, you've been acting like a lost soul."

As she spoke, a strange look flashed through her peach-blossom eyes, and she hurriedly took two steps back in alarm. "You stinky Xiao Mo! You didn't... fall for him, did you?"

Xiao Mo rolled up his book and lightly tapped the girl's forehead. "What are you thinking? No."

"Really no?" Bai Ru Xue put her hands behind her back and leaned over, looking up at him.

Xiao Mo accidentally caught a glimpse of the snowy expanse within her collar and quickly averted his gaze. "Truly no."

"That's good then." Bai Ru Xue patted her heaving chest. "You scared the life out of me."

"Then, Xiao Mo, why do you look so depressed?" Bai Ru Xue continued.

"It's nothing." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Don't worry about me."

"..."

Bai Ru Xue pouted.

How could he not make her worry looking like that...

At noon, Bai Ru Xue brought out a pot of mutton stewed with radish and goji berries from the kitchen.

Every so often, Bai Ru Xue would stew mutton for Xiao Mo.

At first, Xiao Mo didn't know why, but he later learned that when Auntie Qian was chatting with Bai Ru Xue, she had mentioned, "Mutton is good for men; it gives them more strength after eating."

As a result, the clueless Bai Ru Xue believed that "eating mutton makes studying more energetic."

Xiao Mo found it hard to correct her.

After lunch, Bai Ru Xue finished the dishes and walked into the courtyard, seeing Xiao Mo sitting there in a daze.

Bai Ru Xue washed the clothes and hung them out to dry, but Xiao Mo remained lost in thought.

While Bai Ru Xue swept the courtyard, he was still staring blankly.

As the girl's eyes darted around, she lifted her small foot in her embroidered shoes and gave his foot a nudge, but he didn't even react.

After dinner, Xiao Mo was still dazed.

By now, Bai Ru Xue's tender cheeks were puffed out.

She didn't like Xiao Mo being like this.

She only wanted to see him happy every day...

At night, as darkness fell, Bai Ru Xue seemed to think of a way to cheer him up. She hurriedly grabbed Xiao Mo's hand. "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, come with me..."

"Where to?" Xiao Mo asked.

"To a place. A place that will make you happy."

Without waiting for Xiao Mo to refuse, Bai Ru Xue pulled him up and led him out of the courtyard.

Bai Ru Xue led Xiao Mo up the mountain, climbing steadily.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, she brought him to the summit.

At this moment, the stars had already filled the sky.

Because the mountain was so high, Xiao Mo felt as though he were surrounded by the stars, immersed in the entire Milky Way.

It felt as if one could reach out and grasp the vast expanse of stars in their hands.

"How is it? Beautiful, right?" Bai Ru Xue stood with her hands on her hips, a hint of pride in her voice.

"It is beautiful." Xiao Mo nodded. "But why did you bring me here, Ru Xue?"

"Because you're in a bad mood."

Bai Ru Xue pouted.

"Before I came down the mountain with you, whenever I encountered something unhappy, I would come here. As long as I shouted it out, my mood would instantly improve. Though, since coming down with you, I rarely come here anymore."

"Why?"

"Because it takes me over an hour to get from the village to the summit, and it's very tiring. So usually, I would just cry on that rock, crying while cursing you, just like last time."

Xiao Mo: "..."

"Alright, alright, come try it quickly." Bai Ru Xue pulled Xiao Mo forward. "You must shout it out loudly."

"Is this really a good idea..." Xiao Mo felt a bit embarrassed.

"What's wrong with it? No one will hear. Watch me."

Bai Ru Xue stepped forward, her back to Xiao Mo, facing the mountains, and shouted

"Xiao Mo! You big stinky egg! You aren't allowed to complain that my cooking is bad!"

"..."

"Xiao Mo! Stop reading! Come play with me!"

"..."

"Xiao Mo... you aren't allowed to scold me, otherwise I won't talk to you!"

"Xiao Mo! You aren't allowed to marry any other girls! Do you hear me?"

"Xiao Mo! You have to feel better, otherwise I'll be unhappy too!"

The girl's voice spread through the mountains, her echoes reverberating between the peaks and valleys.

Watching her silhouette and listening to her voice.

Every single word she spoke contained his name.

"It's roughly like that..." Bai Ru Xue turned around to look at Xiao Mo. "It's very useful."

Xiao Mo smiled faintly. "Setting aside whether it's useful, why... are you always scolding me?"

Bai Ru Xue rolled her eyes at him. "You big dummy, it's because you're the only one in my world."

"..."

Xiao Mo's expression froze slightly as an indescribable feeling broke through his heart.

"Just follow your heart."

Fuchen's words echoed in Xiao Mo's mind.

His eyes gradually cleared, as if he had realized something.

*Yes, follow one's heart.*

Since she did not want to leave, why was he always trying to make her go?

What did it matter if he passed away a hundred years from now?

At least, for these hundred years, he could stay by her side.

A hundred years later.

He would return to the dust.

She would ascend the path of immortality.

"Come on, try it, it really works!" Bai Ru Xue pulled on Xiao Mo's wrist.

"Do I really have to shout?"

"You really have to."

"Fine..." Xiao Mo looked at the mountain ranges under the moonlight, overcame his sense of shame, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly, "A hundred years... it's so short!"

"Eh?" Bai Ru Xue blinked, then let out a light, joyful laugh like the tinkling of silver bells. "Xiao Mo, what kind of trouble is that?"

She stepped forward, standing beside him, facing the same direction, and shouted loudly: "A hundred years isn't short at all! A hundred years is very long!"

"Silly girl..."

Xiao Mo turned his head and looked at the woman beside him with a smile.

A hundred years is indeed very long for a person.

But for you.

It is truly very short.