Chapter 41: The Young Master is Her Fortune, and Her Fate

Two days later.

Just as Bai Ruxue had said, that Taoist priest returned once more.

As Xiao Mo looked at the priest, her mere presence gave off an air of transcendence, as if she were detached from the mortal world.

Even though she was incomparably beautiful, one still could not harbor any impure thoughts toward her.

It was as if, subconsciously, one felt an unbridgeable chasm between themselves and her.

Upon seeing the priest, Bai Ruxue hurriedly hid behind Xiao Mo, looking as though she feared the priest might kidnap her away.

"This humble Taoist, Fuchen, greets the gentleman," Fuchen said, performing a formal salute.

"This scholar, Xiao Mo, greets the Immortal," Xiao Mo replied with a bow.

"May I ask if the gentleman is this young lady's..." Fuchen inquired.

"A friend," Xiao Mo answered.

Fuchen nodded and looked toward Bai Ruxue, who was hiding behind Xiao Mo. "May I ask if the lady has reached a decision?"

Bai Ruxue peeked timidly from behind Xiao Mo, her small hands clutching the corner of his robe tightly. "I—I won't practice cultivation! I don't want to go with you!"

Fuchen turned her gaze toward Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo felt somewhat helpless. "I tried to persuade Ruxue yesterday as well, but she simply refuses to leave."

Fuchen looked at Bai Ruxue calmly and nodded. "I understand. It seems her destiny has not yet arrived."

Fuchen took a jade pendant from her robes. "If Miss Ruxue changes her mind, she may bring this jade pendant to the Heavenly Profound Sect to find me at any time."

Bai Ruxue looked at Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo nodded.

Only then did Bai Ruxue cautiously reach out her hand and accept the jade pendant.

"Then this humble Taoist shall take my leave. I apologize for the intrusion."

"Let me escort the Immortal out of the village," Xiao Mo said just as Fuchen was about to depart.

Fuchen turned around, looking directly into Xiao Mo's eyes, and then nodded. "Then I shall trouble the gentleman."

"Please."

After instructing Bai Ruxue to watch the house, Xiao Mo led Fuchen toward the outskirts of the village.

"Does the gentleman wish to ask me something?"

Once they were far from the others, Fuchen asked the man beside her.

When Xiao Mo had offered to escort her, Fuchen had already guessed that he had questions he wanted to ask—questions that were not suitable for Bai Ruxue to hear.

"As expected, I cannot hide it from the Immortal. I do indeed have some doubts; I wonder if the Immortal might enlighten me."

"Please, speak freely."

"I wish to ask about the matter of a snake transforming into a dragon."

Fuchen's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. "So, the gentleman is already aware."

"How could I not be?" Xiao Mo shook his head with a smile.

"When I was young, I saved a small white snake. Three years later, a little girl in white arrived looking for me. She had no fixed home and would disappear every winter. In the beginning, her transformation was not yet proficient; she would even reveal her snake tail a few times. Perhaps she was the only one kept in the dark. But since she did not speak of it, I did not ask."

"The gentleman does not fear her?"

"She has never harmed anyone. What is there to fear?"

"Virtuous," Fuchen said, looking at Xiao Mo with approval. "The gentleman possesses a Daoist heart, but unfortunately, you lack the spiritual bones required to cultivate the Way."

"Everyone has their own way of living. If I cannot cultivate, then I shall simply be an ordinary person," Xiao Mo said with a smile. "I presume the Immortal came here specifically for Ruxue?"

"Precisely." Fuchen did not hide it. "While passing through this village, I noticed a courtyard carrying a trace of demonic aura, yet that aura was as clear and pure as the light of the sun and moon. This indicated she had never harmed anyone and was merely using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate. Out of curiosity, I came to look and saw that the Miss Bai in your courtyard possesses excellent spiritual bones and extraordinary talent, so I felt the urge to take her as a disciple. I apologize for my previous concealment."

"The Immortal overstates it." Xiao Mo's expression carried a hint of melancholy. "In truth, she shouldn't be here. It is I who has locked her away."

Fuchen smiled. "Whether human or demon, everyone has their own destiny. Since she wishes to stay by your side, it means that for her, you are her 'Dao.' How can this be called a confinement?"

Xiao Mo fell into thought.

Fuchen continued, "To answer your earlier question: the transformation from snake to dragon is indeed not easy. First, a snake transforms into a python. This is the most fundamental stage, requiring one to evade natural predators—including human hunters—find suitable spiritual lands, resist disease and disaster, and most importantly, overcome the instincts and laziness of a lower creature to persist in cultivation. She originally faced a tribulation, but was saved by you, and has now transformed into a white python. She has passed that difficulty."

"Next is the transformation from python to boa. Aside from evading mortal hunters, one must also deal with the pursuit of cultivators. I observe that Miss Ruxue possesses the traits of an ancestral regression and the potential to become a dragon; she is more likely to be targeted by cultivators. The gentleman must remind Miss Bai to be cautious."

Xiao Mo nodded. "I shall remember."

Fuchen continued, "After becoming a boa comes the transformation into a flood dragon (*jiao*). This is the most critical juncture for the snake race. To become a flood dragon is to undergo the 'Flood Trek' (*zou jiao*). Usually, during periods of torrential rain, mountain floods, or rising rivers, the snake race will harness the immense power of the flood to ride the current toward the sea. This process is extremely perilous, requiring one to crash through or bypass natural obstacles in the riverbed, such as massive rocks or mountains. There are also man-made obstacles, such as 'Dragon-Slaying Swords' hanging under bridges, bridge piers carved with talismans, dams, or dragon-locking chains. During a 'Flood Trek,' there will inevitably be violent storms and thunder. Lightning will strike fiercely at the snakes advancing through the flood path; many members of the snake race are shattered to pieces during these lightning tribulations."

"Finally, there is the transformation into a true dragon. Once the snake race enters the sea, they are called 'Submerged Dragons.' At this stage, they must focus entirely on cultivation. Once they reach a certain level, nine bolts of Supreme Yang Golden Lightning will descend. Failure means the destruction of the body and the soul, with the spirit being scattered. Success means transforming into a True Dragon."

"..." Listening to Fuchen's words, Xiao Mo's brow furrowed.

"I know what the gentleman is worried about."

As they reached the village entrance, Fuchen stopped and turned to face Xiao Mo.

"The gentleman is worried that because the transformation into a dragon is so perilous, her staying by your side will only delay her. You think it would be better if she came up the mountain with me to be protected. You may even have thought while in your courtyard that although Miss Ruxue refuses to come now, you could slowly persuade her to change her mind in the future."

"..." Xiao Mo remained silent. Silence was an admission.

Fuchen shook her head. "Gentleman, in this world, everyone has their own destiny. You believe that if she follows me up the mountain, her future transformation into a dragon will be more certain. You believe you will only hinder her Great Dao. But in reality, is that truly the case?"

Fuchen looked up. Though it was daytime, her eyes seemed to shimmer with the stars and the cosmos, as if she were calculating the secrets of heaven.

"Tossing and turning in the mortal world—who says it is inferior to quiet cultivation on a mountain? Though you are a mortal, gentleman, who says you will do less than we cultivators?"

Xiao Mo looked up. "What does the Immortal mean?"

Fuchen withdrew her gaze, and her star-filled eyes gradually returned to normal black pupils. The woman looked at the man before her with a smile.

"Follow your heart."

"You are her blessing."

"And you are her fate."