I Return to Dust, She Ascends the Immortal Path

"Tumbling through the mortal world, who says it's worse than cultivating purity on the mountain?"

"Young Master, though you are a mortal, who says you do less than us cultivators?"

Sitting in the courtyard, Xiao Mo looked at the book in his hands, but found he couldn't focus.

In Xiao Mo's mind, the words the Daoist Priest had spoken before leaving echoed from time to time.

Indeed.

Xiao Mo's original plan was that if Ruxue was unwilling to leave this time, he would slowly guide her.

He would persuade her to leave gradually, so they could part with smiles, and she could ascend the mountain with peace of mind, rather than leaving with regrets.

But after hearing the Daoist Priest's words, Xiao Mo's heart wavered.

Did he really not need to "rush" Ruxue away?

Was this really the right thing to do?

Ruxue was becoming more and more dependent on me.

And I am just a mortal, with a lifespan of only a hundred years.

After a hundred years, when Ruxue personally watches me depart, can her Dao heart truly withstand it?

"Xiao Mo."

"Xiao Mo!"

"Hey! Xiao Mo!"

As Xiao Mo was lost in thought, Bai Ruxue's small hand waved incessantly before his eyes.

"What's wrong, Ruxue?" Xiao Mo snapped back to reality.

"I told you before, I want to bring my sister down the mountain tomorrow. Is that really okay?" Bai Ruxue asked.

Xiao Mo nodded, "Of course, that's fine."

"Alright then, I'll go pick her up tomorrow," Bai Ruxue said happily. "You'll definitely like Xiao Qing."

"Mhm," Xiao Mo smiled faintly, then fell back into thought.

Seeing Xiao Mo's expression, Bai Ruxue couldn't help but pout. "Xiao Mo, what's wrong? Ever since that Daoist Priest left, you've been acting like you've lost your soul."

As she spoke, a strange glint flashed in Bai Ruxue's peach blossom eyes, startling her into taking two steps back. "You stinky Xiao Mo! Don't tell me you've fallen for him?"

Xiao Mo rolled up his book and gently tapped the girl's head. "What are you thinking? No."

"Really not?" Bai Ruxue put her hands behind her back and bent over, looking up at Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo accidentally caught a glimpse of the mountains of flesh and snow within the girl's collar and quickly averted his gaze. "Truly, no."

"That's good then," Bai Ruxue patted her high-rising neckline. "You scared this young lady to death."

"Then Xiao Mo, why do you seem so down?" Bai Ruxue continued to ask.

"It's nothing," Xiao Mo shook his head. "Don't worry about me."

"."

Bai Ruxue pouted.

How could she not worry about him looking like this?

At noon, Bai Ruxue brought the lamb stew with goji berries and radishes out from the kitchen.

Every so often, Bai Ruxue would stew lamb for Xiao Mo.

At first, Xiao Mo didn't know why, but later he learned that when Aunt Qian was chatting with Bai Ruxue, she mentioned that "lamb is good for men, it gives them more energy."

Bai Ruxue, not quite understanding, thought it meant "eating lamb makes studying more energetic."

Xiao Mo didn't bother to correct her.

After lunch, Bai Ruxue washed the dishes and walked out into the courtyard, only to see Xiao Mo sitting there, lost in thought.

Bai Ruxue washed the clothes and hung them to dry in the courtyard, while Xiao Mo was still lost in thought.

When Bai Ruxue was cleaning the courtyard, he was still lost in thought.

The woman's eyes darted, and she stepped on his foot with her embroidered shoe, but he didn't even react.

After dinner, Xiao Mo was still lost in thought.

By now, Bai Ruxue's rosy cheeks were puffed out.

She didn't like seeing Xiao Mo like this.

She only wanted to see Xiao Mo happy every day.

In the evening, as night fell, Bai Ruxue seemed to have thought of a way to lift Xiao Mo's spirits. She quickly grabbed Xiao Mo's hand. "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, come with me."

"Where are we going?" Xiao Mo asked.

"To a place, a place that will make you happy."

With that, without waiting for Xiao Mo to refuse, Bai Ruxue pulled him up and walked out of the courtyard.

Bai Ruxue led Xiao Mo up the mountain, continuing higher and higher.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Bai Ruxue brought Xiao Mo to the summit.

By this time, stars had filled the sky.

Because the mountain was so high, Xiao Mo felt as if he were surrounded by stars, immersed in the entire galaxy.

It was as if he could grasp the myriad stars in his hand with just a reach.

"How is it? Beautiful, right?" Bai Ruxue asked, hands on her hips, a hint of pride in her voice.

"It's beautiful, yes," Xiao Mo nodded. "But why did you bring me here, Ruxue?"

"Because you were in a bad mood."

Bai Ruxue pouted.

"Before I went down the mountain with you, I'd come here whenever I was unhappy. If I shouted out my troubles, I'd feel better right away. But I haven't come here much since going down the mountain with you."

"Why not?"

"Because it takes me over an hour to get from the village to the summit, and it's tiring. So, I usually just cry on that rock over there, crying and cursing you, just like last time."

Xiao Mo: "..."

"Alright, alright, hurry up and try it," Bai Ruxue pulled Xiao Mo forward. "You have to shout loudly, okay?"

"Isn't this a bit... improper?" Xiao Mo felt a little embarrassed.

"What's improper about it? No one will hear. Watch me."

Bai Ruxue walked forward, her back to Xiao Mo, facing the mountains, and shouted:

"Xiao Mo! You big smelly egg! Don't you dare say my cooking is bad!"

"..."

"Xiao Mo! Stop reading! Come play with me!"

"..."

"Xiao Mo. You're not allowed to scold me, or I won't talk to you anymore."

"Xiao Mo! You're not allowed to marry any other girls! Do you hear me?"

"Xiao Mo! You have to cheer up! Otherwise, I'll be unhappy too!"

The woman's voice echoed through the mountains, the reverberations bouncing between the peaks and valleys.

Looking at her retreating figure, listening to her voice.

Every word she spoke contained his name.

"It's pretty much like this," Bai Ruxue turned to face Xiao Mo. "It's very effective."

Xiao Mo smiled faintly. "Putting aside whether it's effective or not, why... are you always scolding me?"

Bai Ruxue shot him a look. "You big dummy, it's because you're the only one in my world."

"..."

Xiao Mo's expression froze slightly, an indescribable feeling blooming in his heart.

"Just follow your heart."

The words the whisk had spoken echoed in Xiao Mo's mind.

His eyes gradually cleared, as if he had understood something.

Yes, follow my heart.

If she doesn't want to leave, why have I always wanted her to go?

What does it matter if I pass away after a hundred years?

At least, during these hundred years, I can be by her side.

After a hundred years...

I return to dust.

She ascends the path of immortality.

"Hurry and try it, it really works," Bai Ruxue tugged at Xiao Mo's wrist.

"Do I really have to shout?"

"You really have to."

"Alright then." Xiao Mo looked at the mountains and valleys under the moonlight, overcoming his shyness, took a deep breath, and shouted, "A hundred years, it's so short!"

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue blinked, then let out a light, joyful laugh, like tinkling silver bells. "Xiao Mo, what kind of worry is that?"

She walked forward, standing beside him, facing the same direction, and shouted loudly, "A hundred years isn't short at all! A hundred years is very long!"

"Silly girl."

Xiao Mo turned his head, smiling at the woman beside him.

A hundred years is truly long for a person.

But for you...

It's truly short.