Zhou Hao noticed Murong's change at once. Though it was subtle, he still noticed it.
But he did not show it. Instead, he smiled and said, "It dropped again. At this rate, even the jewels will soon surpass you."
Murong did not answer. She raised a hand to touch the corner of her eye and smiled. "You don't need to hold back. I anticipated this long ago."
"Uh..." Zhou Hao paused, then sighed. "Was this what you had been worried about all along?"
Murong looked at him and nodded gently. "Yes. I don't know when it began, but I became afraid of growing old."
With that, she sighed and said in distress, "Sigh... this is nothing like me."
She had long sensed that she would grow old. After all, the decline of one's cultivation was tied to one's lifespan. It was just that her lifespan had been extended before, making things somewhat abnormal.
She would not die, but gradual aging was inevitable.
"It's normal to fear aging. I'm afraid of getting old too. Everyone is." Zhou Hao stroked her back and comforted her.
Murong smiled and spread her hands. "I can say for certain that I wasn't afraid before. Perhaps it's because I have you now that I became afraid.
I'm afraid you'll see me in my aged state."
Zhou Hao paused slightly, then smiled. "Everyone grows old eventually. So what if I see it?
Besides, cultivators don't place much importance on appearances and fleshly shells. Are you afraid I'll dislike you?"
"Not really." Murong shook her head. Raising her gaze to the glittering stars filling the sky, she slowly said, "I simply want to remain in my perfect state before you."
"In my eyes, you are perfect no matter when." Zhou Hao looked at her with deep affection and