You Big Liar! I'm Never Talking to You Again!

"Stupid Xiao Mo, I don't know you."

Bai Ruxue turned her head away and snorted.

"."

Xiao Mo could tell at a glance that Bai Ruxue was angry.

But that was only natural. He had said he would come see her in early spring, but had forgotten to tell her the examination would take a whole month.

On top of that, the county magistrate had kept him for a few extra days.

Ruxue had probably been waiting for him ever since she woke from her winter sleep.

"So that's how it is. Looks like I mistook you for someone else."

Xiao Mo took a wooden Deer God Hairpin from his sleeve.

When Bai Ruxue saw the wooden hairpin, she blinked curiously.

Xiao Mo sighed and said in a dejected tone, "I promised a friend I'd come see her in early spring, but taking the Imperial Examination for Children really did take quite a while. And that county magistrate kept me to have a meal with him, which delayed me by a few more days.

I knew she'd be angry when I got back.

So I carved this hairpin in my spare time, hoping to give it to her as an apology.

But now it seems she's stopped waiting for me.

I don't need this hairpin anymore, either."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Mo raised his hand and pretended he was about to toss the hairpin away.

"Who says I don't need it? I want it!"

Bai Ruxue rose onto her tiptoes and hurriedly snatched the hairpin from Xiao Mo's hand, then happily turned it over in her own.

"Miss, this hairpin is for Miss Bai Ruxue," Xiao Mo said, pretending to be troubled as he reached to take it back.

Bai Ruxue turned aside and hugged the hairpin to her chest protectively. "I am Bai Ruxue!"

"But you just said you weren't."

Bai Ruxue blinked. Her peach-blossom eyes were as clear and pure as a snowy spring. "Did I ever say I wasn't Bai Ruxue?"

Xiao Mo froze for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "You certainly didn't."

"See? Exactly." Bai Ruxue held out the hairpin in both hands and looked at Xiao Mo with eager eyes. "Xiao Mo, help me put it on."

"Sure."

Xiao Mo took the hairpin and slipped it into Bai Ruxue's smooth hair.

The young woman's eyes curved into crescents. "Well? Does it look good?"

"Mm. You look good, but this hairpin of mine doesn't seem quite up to par. How about I practice some more and carve you a better one?" Xiao Mo examined the hairpin he had carved and reached out to pull it free.

"No! I want this one!" Bai Ruxue hurriedly backed away, shielding her hair.

"All right." Since Ruxue liked it, Xiao Mo couldn't very well take it back. "But, Ruxue, you're not angry with me anymore?"

Bai Ruxue turned her little head with a huff. "I'll forgive you, since you gave me something."

Bai Ruxue really had been quite angry.

But for some reason, when she saw Xiao Mo, much of her anger faded all at once.

"This humble scholar thanks you for your magnanimity, Miss." Xiao Mo bowed with cupped hands.

"You're welcome~"

The young woman stood before Xiao Mo without a hint of shyness, her smile blooming like a flower.

But before long, she seemed to remember something and walked up to him.

She rose onto her tiptoes and held her hand beside Xiao Mo's head to measure his height.

Then she measured herself.

"How can this be?" A flicker of disappointment crossed Bai Ruxue's eyes. "Why am I still not as tall as you? I've clearly grown so much!"

"Miss Bai, could it be that I've grown taller too?"

Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up as if she had suddenly realized something. "Oh! So that's what happened!"

"." Xiao Mo was briefly at a loss for words.

Though Bai Ruxue had grown into a young woman, she still didn't seem all that bright.

"By the way, Xiao Mo, how did you do on the examination?"

Bai Ruxue stopped worrying about their heights. Last time, she had been a head shorter than him; now she was only half a head shorter.

After her next molt, she'd surely catch up with him.

"I passed the Talented Scholar examination."

"Does that mean you can become an official now?"

"At the very least, I'd have to pass the Juren examination. Passing the Gongshi examination would be more certain."

"Are you taking another examination, then?" Bai Ruxue lowered her head, thinking that she wouldn't see him for a long time again.

"The next one is the Provincial Examination, three years from now. There's plenty of time."

"Oh, I see. That really is a long way off~" Bai Ruxue's spirits immediately lifted. She grabbed Xiao Mo by the sleeve and led him up the mountain. "Xiao Mo, come on! I'll take you somewhere. You're sure to like it."

"Then let's go have a look."

The two went up the mountain side by side.

Before long, Bai Ruxue led Xiao Mo to an open clearing.

The clearing was covered in Purple Sun Grass and Green Waterfall Flowers.

Xiao Mo exclaimed in surprise, "Why are there so many?"

"A lot, right~?" Bai Ruxue said proudly. "I planted all of them! Once I plant some more and cover the whole mountain, you can have as much as you want. Then you won't have to work so hard gathering herbs~"

Listening to the young woman, Xiao Mo lowered his head, his expression growing somewhat heavy.

"Xiao Mo, what's wrong?" Seeing his expression, Bai Ruxue couldn't help feeling nervous.

"Ruxue, I have something to tell you." Xiao Mo raised his head and looked straight into Bai Ruxue's eyes. "I might not be able to come up the mountain as often from now on."

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. Her little face paled. "W-why?"

"The new county magistrate in Qingshan City seems like a decent man. He said the Yamen would give us money every month until we take the next Provincial Examination," Xiao Mo explained.

"Besides, the Village Chief says he has nothing more to teach me, so I'll need to travel often to seek out other teachers. I probably won't be coming up the mountain as often."

Truth be told, Xiao Mo didn't want to leave Bai Ruxue either. After all, he still had to help her achieve Dragon Transformation.

But the problem was that he was just an ordinary person. He didn't even know how to help her achieve Dragon Transformation.

The only thing he could do now was pass the examinations and earn an official title as quickly as possible.

Passing the examinations and entering government service wasn't just about completing a task.

This was a world of cultivation, and the Qi Kingdom was the largest human kingdom in the world.

The Qi Kingdom had many ties to the great sects at the very top.

Once he held enough power and influence, perhaps he'd be able to help her.

As Bai Ruxue listened to Xiao Mo, she lowered her head even further.

Xiao Mo didn't rush her. He simply waited for her to sort through her feelings.

Aside from her younger sister, he might be the only friend she had.

It was only natural that she'd have a hard time accepting this.

But soon, tears began to fall from the corners of the young woman's eyes, one after another.

Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, and her body trembled faintly.

"Ruxue, don't worry. As soon as I have some free time—"

Just as Xiao Mo tried to comfort her, Bai Ruxue suddenly raised her head. Her peach-blossom eyes brimmed with tears, like peach blossoms draped in dew.

"Stupid Xiao Mo! You said you'd spend lots of time playing with me once you came back!"

Bai Ruxue turned and ran off, wiping her tears as she went. The young woman's choked voice echoed through the mountain forest.

"You big liar! I'm never talking to you again!"