Chapter 25: If She Doesn't Speak, He Won't Ask

Seasons come and go.

In Xiao Mo's second "experience of life" within the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, another three years had passed.

During these three years, Xiao Mo spent his days herding cattle, gathering medicinal herbs, and listening to the old village chief's lectures at the village's herbal clinic.

However, Xiao Mo could only listen to the lectures from outside the private school.

This was actually quite good, as it allowed him to balance his studies with herding the cattle.

Although Xiao Mo was a young child, the soul within him was truly that of an adult.

Furthermore, since the world used standard Chinese characters, Xiao Mo saved a great deal of time on literacy and learned very quickly.

The village chief was startled, pleasantly surprised to have discovered a budding scholar.

In the chief's eyes, if Xiao Mo studied hard and mastered his reading, he might truly be able to pass the imperial examinations.

If that day ever came, his Shiqiao Village would truly bring honor to itself.

However, the chief did not praise Xiao Mo to his face, lest he become arrogant and complacent.

Instead, the chief would occasionally lend Xiao Mo a few books from his private collection in secret, expressing that if Xiao Mo encountered anything he did not understand, he could come to the courtyard to ask him at any time.

Xiao Mo was not an ungrateful child; every day, he would set aside a portion of the medicinal herbs and wild fruits he gathered for the village chief.

Consequently, when Xiao Mo rested while gathering herbs on the mountain, he would flip through a book; while herding cattle, he would sit on the ox's back and flip through a book.

On quiet evenings, if the weather was fine, Xiao Mo would read under the moonlight.

As for that little white snake.

In these three years, Xiao Mo had not seen it again, and he did not know where it had gone.

In the coming spring, all things began to revive.

One early morning, Xiao Mo rose early and led Old Man Liu's ox up the mountain.

As usual, Xiao Mo read his books while herding the ox.

"Hey! You fellow riding the ox!"

Just as Xiao Mo was sitting on the ox reading, a crisp and pleasant female voice drifted from not far away.

Xiao Mo looked up to see a young girl, roughly of adolescence, standing nearby with her hands on her hips.

The girl wore a white dress that covered her feet, and her long black hair reached just to her waist.

Her skin was very fair, even glowing faintly under the spring sun. Beneath long eyelashes, her peach-blossom eyes curved slightly at the corners like a cat's tail, as if they outlined the very essence of spring.

Beneath her well-defined nose, her pale pink lips carried a pure and gentle smile.

For such a beautiful girl to suddenly appear on the mountain, wearing a white dress that was completely spotless—anyone would find it strange, and Xiao Mo was no exception.

However, Xiao Mo had a rough guess as to who she was.

Because from beneath the hem of her skirt, a white tail poked out.

Who would have thought?

In just three short years, she had already taken human form.

According to Xiao Mo's knowledge, it took a demon at least twenty years to transform.

No wonder the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes said she was exceptionally gifted.

Perhaps that drop of True Dragon essence blood she had accidentally obtained played a significant role as well.

Xiao Mo dismounted the ox, stepped forward, and bowed in greeting, acting as if he knew nothing: "May I ask who you are, young lady?"

"I... I am..."

The girl thought to herself, *Oh no,* as her large, watery eyes rolled around.

She had only just learned to take human form today, and since she happened to see him riding the ox, she had come over without thinking, forgetting to prepare a story.

"I came up the mountain to enjoy the spring. Who are you?" the girl asked back.

"I am a villager from Shiqiao Village, named Xiao Mo. May I know your name, lady?"

"Me~" The girl pointed to herself with a fair index finger, her eyes curving into crescents. "My name is Bai Ruxue."

"Bai Ruxue," Xiao Mo repeated the name.

"What is it?" The girl leaned down with her hands behind her back, looking up at Xiao Mo. "Is my name not pleasant?"

"It is pleasant," Xiao Mo nodded. "It just reminded me of a little white snake I once saved. I gave her a name, and it is the same as yours."

"That... that is just a coincidence! I... I am not a snake! I am a human! That's right! A human!" Bai Ruxue's eyes darted left and right before she fixed her gaze with determination.

Xiao Mo smiled. "I never said you were a snake."

Bai Ruxue: "..."

"Lady, spring has arrived. There are many wild beasts on the mountain, and snakes and insects are increasing. It would be best if you descended the mountain soon." Xiao Mo proactively changed the subject to ease her embarrassment.

After three years, this little white snake still seemed a bit dim-witted.

"No rush, I am very familiar with this mountain," Bai Ruxue said, waving her hand proudly. "By the way, this ox of yours looks quite interesting. Can you let me ride it? As payment, I can give you this."

Bai Ruxue produced a piece of broken silver.

She had picked it up on the mountain.

Xiao Mo shook his head. "There is no need for that. If you wish to ride the ox, just come up."

"Thank you! You are quite a nice person."

Bai Ruxue walked toward the ox with a swaying gait.

Xiao Mo patted the head of the big black ox, which let out a snort and crouched down.

Just as Bai Ruxue lifted her skirt to climb onto the ox, a fair white snake tail revealed itself.

Bai Ruxue's cheeks flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her skirt. "You saw wrong just now! I am not a snake! I am a human. Look, these are human feet."

Bai Ruxue once again slightly lifted her skirt, revealing a pair of small feet clad in white cloud-patterned embroidered shoes; her snow-white ankles showed faint veins.

"It seems I have been reading too much lately and my eyes are playing tricks on me," Xiao Mo cooperated with the girl. "Please, climb up, lady."

"Oh, oh, oh..." Bai Ruxue climbed onto the big black ox, sitting sideways on its back.

Xiao Mo also mounted the ox, sitting in front of Bai Ruxue.

As the big black ox stood up, Bai Ruxue was startled and hurriedly grabbed the corner of Xiao Mo's clothes.

Under the spring sun, the big black ox wandered aimlessly up the mountain, grazing here and there.

Xiao Mo sat on the ox's back, flipping through the classics in his hands.

"Are you reading?" the girl behind him asked curiously after she had secretly slipped the silver into Xiao Mo's pocket.

"Mhm," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Is reading fun?"

"Not really..."

"Then why do you read?"

"Well, because I need to earn official rank."

"Why do you need to earn official rank?"

"Only by earning official rank can one enter the imperial court as an official."

"What is entering the imperial court as an official?"

On the back of the ox, the girl was like a walking encyclopedia of "Why?"

Xiao Mo could no longer focus on his reading, so he simply closed the book and answered the girl's endless questions.

It wasn't until evening that Xiao Mo finally said, "Lady, I must head down the mountain."

"Oh, alright then." A flash of disappointment crossed the girl's eyes as her small feet jumped off the ox's back. "Then I will go home too."

"Where do you live? I can escort you."

"No need, no need! I can get back by myself. Goodbye!" The girl waved hurriedly and jogged toward the woods.

However, as the girl ran, the small feet in embroidered shoes beneath her skirt turned back into a white snake tail.

Xiao Mo smiled.

If she wouldn't say it, he wouldn't ask.