"Who says a life in the mortal world is any worse than cultivating in seclusion on a mountain?"
"Though the young master is mortal, who says he does less than we cultivators?"
Sitting in the courtyard, Xiao Mo looked at the book in his hands, but found he could barely read.
From time to time, the words Fuchen had spoken before leaving came back to him.
That was true.
Xiao Mo had originally thought that if Ruxue was unwilling to leave this time, he would gently guide her, little by little.
He would slowly persuade her to go, so they could part with smiles, and she could head up the mountain with peace of mind instead of being forced to leave with regrets.
But after hearing Fuchen's words, Xiao Mo's resolve had begun to waver.
Did I really not need to "hurry" Ruxue along?
Was that really for the best?
Ruxue was becoming more and more dependent on me.
But I was only mortal, with a lifespan of a hundred years at most.
A century from now, when Ruxue watched me pass away with her own eyes, could her Dao Heart really bear it?
"Xiao Mo."
"Xiao Mo!"
"Hey! Xiao Mo!"
While Xiao Mo sat lost in thought, Bai Ruxue waved her little hand in front of his eyes.
"What is it, Ruxue?" Xiao Mo came back to himself.
"I told you before that I wanted to bring my younger sister down the mountain tomorrow. Is that really all right?" Bai Ruxue asked.
Xiao Mo nodded. "Of course."
"Good. I'll go get her tomorrow," Bai Ruxue said happily. "You're sure to like Xiao Qing."
"Mm." Xiao Mo smiled faintly, then fell into thought again.
Seeing his expression, Bai Ruxue couldn't help pouting. "Xiao Mo, what's wrong? Ever since you saw that Daoist Priest off, you've been acting like you've lost your soul."
As she spoke, a strange glint flashed through her peach-blossom eyes. She hurriedly took two steps back. "You stinky Xiao Mo! Don't tell me you've fallen for him?"
Xiao Mo rolled up the book and gently tapped the girl on the head. "What are you thinking? I haven't."
"Really?" With her hands clasped behind her back, Bai Ruxue bent at the waist and looked up at Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo accidentally caught sight of the snow-capped mountains within her collar and quickly turned his gaze away. "Really."
"Good." Bai Ruxue patted her high, heaving collar. "You nearly scared me to death."
"Then why do you look so down, Xiao Mo?" Bai Ruxue continued.
"It's nothing." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Don't worry about me."
"..."
Bai Ruxue pouted.
How could she not worry about him when he was acting like this?
At noon, Bai Ruxue carried a pot of lamb stew with radishes and goji berries out of the kitchen.
Every so often, Bai Ruxue would stew lamb for Xiao Mo.
At first, Xiao Mo hadn't known why. Later, he learned that while chatting with Bai Ruxue, Auntie Qian had once said, "Lamb is good for men. It gives you more vigor."
Bai Ruxue hadn't understood what she meant, and had decided that eating lamb gave you more energy for reading.
Xiao Mo hadn't had the heart to correct her.
After lunch, Bai Ruxue finished washing the dishes and walked out into the courtyard, where she saw Xiao Mo sitting there, lost in thought.
Bai Ruxue washed the clothes and hung them up in the courtyard to dry. Xiao Mo was still lost in thought.
When Bai Ruxue swept the courtyard, he was still lost in thought.
The girl's eyes shifted. She raised a little foot in an embroidered shoe and stepped on his foot, but he didn't even react.
After dinner, Xiao Mo was still lost in thought.
By then, Bai Ruxue's soft cheeks were puffed up.
She didn't like seeing Xiao Mo like this.
She only wanted to see him happy every day.
When night fell, Bai Ruxue seemed to think of a way to cheer Xiao Mo up. She hurriedly grabbed his hand. "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, come with me."
"Where?" Xiao Mo asked.
"To a place—a place that'll make you happy."
Without waiting for Xiao Mo to refuse, Bai Ruxue pulled him to his feet and led him out of the courtyard.
Bai Ruxue took Xiao Mo up the mountain, climbing higher and higher.
After an unknown length of time, she brought him to the summit.
By then, the stars had filled the sky.
The mountain was so tall that Xiao Mo felt as if he were surrounded by stars, standing in the midst of the entire galaxy.
It seemed that if he reached out and grabbed, he could hold all the stars in the sky in his hands.
"Pretty, right?" Bai Ruxue said, hands on her hips, looking a little pleased with herself.
"Pretty, yes." Xiao Mo nodded. "But why did you bring me here, Ruxue?"
"Because you're in a bad mood."
Bai Ruxue pouted.
"Before I came down the mountain with you, whenever something upset me, I'd come here. I'd shout it all out, and I'd feel better right away. But after coming down the mountain with you, I hardly ever come anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because it takes me more than an hour to get from the village to the summit, and it's exhausting. So usually I cry on that rock and curse you while I'm at it, just like last time."
Xiao Mo: "..."
"All right, all right, come on and give it a try." Bai Ruxue pulled Xiao Mo forward. "You have to shout as loud as you can!"
"That doesn't seem right..." Xiao Mo said, feeling a little embarrassed.
"What's wrong with it? Nobody can hear us. Watch me."
Bai Ruxue stepped forward, turned her back to Xiao Mo, faced the mountains, and shouted:
"Xiao Mo! You big stinker! Don't you dare complain that my cooking tastes bad!"
"..."
"Xiao Mo! Stop reading! Come play with me!"
"..."
"Xiao Mo... Don't you dare scold me, or I won't talk to you anymore."
"Xiao Mo! You're not allowed to marry another girl! Do you hear me?"
"Xiao Mo! You have to cheer up, or I'll be sad too!"
The girl's voice rang out across the mountains, her echoes resounding among the peaks and ridges.
He watched her back and listened to her voice.
Every word she said had his name in it.
"That's about it." Bai Ruxue turned around to look at Xiao Mo. "It really helps."
Xiao Mo smiled faintly. "Whether it helps or not, why... were you cursing me every time?"
Bai Ruxue rolled her eyes at him. "You big dummy. Because you're my whole world."
"..."
Xiao Mo's expression stilled 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 finally understood something.
That's right. Follow my heart.
If she doesn't want to leave, why do I keep trying to make her go?
So what if I pass away a hundred years from now?
At least, for those hundred years, I can stay by her side.
A hundred years from now.
I will return to dust.
She will ascend to immortality.
"Come on, give it a try. It really helps." Bai Ruxue tugged at Xiao Mo's wrist.
"Do I really have to shout?"
"You really do."
"All right." Looking at the mountain ranges beneath the moonlight, Xiao Mo overcame his embarrassment, took a deep breath, and shouted, "A hundred years is so short!"
"Huh?" Bai Ruxue blinked, then let out a light, tinkling laugh like silver bells. "Xiao Mo, what kind of worry is that?"
She stepped forward to stand beside him. Facing the same direction, she shouted, "How is a hundred years short? A hundred years is a long time!"
"Silly."
Xiao Mo turned his head and smiled at the girl beside him.
A hundred years was truly a long time for a human.
But for you...
It was truly so short.
Before you continue