"Smack... smack..."
On the little chair beside them, the white fox was wolfing down rice mixed with braised pork knuckle sauce, practically wishing it could bury its whole face in the bowl.
Blushing, Xiuniang placed a piece of beef into Gu Zhao's bowl, then hurriedly picked up some cabbage for her grandfather. After that, she immediately lowered her head to eat, not daring to look up.
Elder He chuckled as he chewed the tender, stewed cabbage with cured meat. The flavor lingered in his mouth—why, even during the New Year, they had never eaten like this!
Gu Zhao was relaxed as well. Though they had only known each other for a little over a week, eating here was already second only to eating at home in terms of comfort. Lively and kind, Xiuniang was very endearing too.
Gu Zhao was not foolish. It was not as though he could not sense Xiuniang's feelings, but he truly had no interest in a little radish who was still underage and had yet to grow into herself. To him, Xiuniang was more like a little sister he had met through a twist of fate.
Though he somewhat enjoyed this feeling, no feast under heaven lasted forever. He could not remain in this little mountain village forever, traveling back and forth between the village and the modern world every day.
Gu Zhao had originally been considering when to leave, but a phone call from Mother today helped him make up his mind.
He would be accompanying his mother to Sichuan Province. Aside from attending the wedding and going shopping with her, he would certainly have to spend a few days with his maternal grandparents. He probably would not have time to travel here for nearly a week.
Since that was the case, he might as well say goodbye to them. A week later, he would not return here either, but head straight through Wuhe County to Changping Prefecture for a look around, formally beginning his exploration of this world. He could visit again after some time had passed.
"Are you almost out of rice and cabbage?" Gu Zhao asked.
"There's still some!" Xiuniang immediately replied. "Young Master gave us so much. After sharing some of the cabbage and radishes with the villagers, there was still plenty left. Grandfather and I pickled it all and stored it in the cellar.
"We also gave some of the sausages to the Zhang family to repay a favor. We sent some meat and rice to Widow Wang in the village and Old Madam Zhang, whose legs and feet are inconvenient too. But there's still nearly half a vat of rice left. Even if we eat it every day, it'll last more than ten days!"
"Then that isn't much either. I'll bring some more tomorrow." Gu Zhao nodded.
Elder He's expression changed when he heard that, and he stopped moving his chopsticks.
Xiuniang had yet to realize what was happening. She was troubled by a happiness too great to bear. "But there's only one big vat for storing grain at home..."
Elder He took over, cutting off Xiuniang's fantasies. "Is Young Master leaving?"
As soon as the words fell, Xiuniang's movements froze in midair.
Gu Zhao nodded. "I have something to do the day after tomor—about three days from now, so I'll be leaving. I wanted to tell you in advance."
"I've been very happy spending these days with you. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days. Xiuniang's cooking truly is excellent. Tomorrow, I'll bring you some more provisions." Gu Zhao could not help rubbing Xiuniang's head as he comforted her. "I'll come back when I have time in the future."
Gu Zhao was not merely brushing them off. Elder He and He Xiuniang were the first family he had met in this world. Xiuniang was considerate and attentive, and she thought highly of him. In his heart, Gu Zhao had accepted her as his little sister.
Once he had explored this world thoroughly, become familiar with it, and gained a foothold here, would it not be easy for him to look after Elder He's family?
The white fox stopped smacking its lips.
Xiuniang did not raise her head either.
Elder He licked his lips and gathered his courage before speaking softly. "Young Master Gu, this old man does not know where you come from, but I can tell that you are of noble birth and easygoing in your conduct. That you were willing to stay with us for a time was already our good fortune.
"If you have matters to attend to and must leave, they must surely be important matters. This old man would not dare speak out of turn. It is only that you have no one nearby whom you can trust. In your daily life, there will inevitably be things overlooked. If you had a maidservant to look after you, it would be somewhat more convenient.
"Though Xiuniang comes from the countryside, she is fairly thoughtful and knows how to care for people. If Young Master does not disdain her, take Xiuniang with you and grant her a mouthful of food. That way, after this old man passes on, she will not be left all alone."
"Grandfather!" Xiuniang abruptly raised her head.
Elder He's hands trembled slightly, but he still tried his best to wave Xiuniang down, looking at Gu Zhao expectantly.
Gu Zhao could not help scratching his head. What a joke—he would be accompanying his mother to Sichuan Province for the next week. Was he supposed to take Xiuniang through the crossing with him?
Never mind whether Xiuniang would lose her mind by then—his mother would probably lose hers first.
So Gu Zhao could only refuse. "This is rather troublesome. It isn't suitable to bring anyone along, and it would be inconvenient for Xiuniang to follow me."
"Besides, I'm not saying I won't come back. It won't be after your hundred years." Gu Zhao comforted him.
"You'll still come back?" Elder He smacked his lips, looking somewhat disappointed yet also relieved.
Xiuniang lowered her head. Her shoulders seemed to hitch slightly before she raised her head again. Though her eyes were faintly red, she still said earnestly, "Then I'll wait for Young Master Gu to return. I'll make some little dishes for Young Master again."
"Alright!" Gu Zhao nodded and rubbed Xiuniang's soft hair again.
That night, Gu Zhao stayed in the mountain village and cultivated through breathing exercises under cover of darkness.
Xiuniang lay at the foot of the bed, curled beneath her blanket. Her body trembled softly from time to time, yet she did not make a single sound.
Elder He leaned against the head of the bed, looking at the moonlight as he sighed. "Girl, stop dwelling on him. Young Master Gu is an important man. That he spent a few days with us and saved you twice was already our good fortune. We cannot ask for too much. Just treat these past few days as a dream."
Xiuniang's voice came muffled from beneath the blanket. "Xiuniang knows. And Xiuniang doesn't want to leave either. Xiuniang wants to stay with Grandfather."
Elder He was amused. "Grandfather is a sack of old bones, here today and gone tomorrow. Why would you need to stay with me? Only when I marry you off early can Grandfather rest easy!"
Xiuniang curled up even tighter and said nothing.
Elder He licked his dry lips and said nothing either.
As the night deepened, Elder He and He Xiuniang gradually fell asleep. Only the white fox, which had been lying beside Xiuniang all this time, suddenly gave a shiver. It cast Xiuniang a complicated look, then pressed its head against Xiuniang's ear and closed its eyes.
"Xiuniang! Xiuniang!"
In her daze, Xiuniang seemed to hear someone calling her. "Who? Who's calling me?"
"It's me!" The voice gradually became clearer, crisp and pleasant to the ear.
"Who are you?" Xiuniang asked.
"I've been with you these past few days." The voice giggled. "Who do you think I am?"
"Little White?"
"Ahem! I gave myself a name these past few days. It's Bai Ke."
"Bai Ke, what a lovely name. Hey, you can speak?"
"Silly, I'm talking to you in a dream right now."
"Then why didn't you talk to me the past few days?"
"Um... because I hadn't made up my mind yet."
"Made up your mind to do what?"
"Made up my mind to form a pact with you."
"Form a pact? What's that?"
"It means we become one in body and heart, cultivating together." Bai Ke explained. "Only humans and demons whose souls are especially compatible can form a pact. Demons borrow human souls' insights, while humans cultivate by borrowing demons' power."
"Huh? I can become a mage too?" Xiuniang was stunned.
"Our souls are especially compatible. If we cultivate together, we'll progress very quickly. Maybe we can even surpass Gu Zhao!" Bai Ke tempted her.
"That's impossible!" Xiuniang shook her head repeatedly. "And I don't want to surpass Young Master either."
Bai Ke curled its lips and continued tempting her. "But then you can be with him, and you can even eat... ahem, you can travel the martial world together, loving and fulfilled, sharing a nest and flying wing to wing."
Xiuniang froze instantly and stammered, "Actually, I... I'd already be satisfied just being his little maidservant..."
Bai Ke said faintly, "A bed-warming maidservant, right?"
The sleeping Xiuniang could not help blushing crimson across both cheeks, then moved her whole body a little closer to the white fox.
"Do you want to?"
"...I do."
The conversation in the dream ended, and a wave of demonic aura rose from the white fox, enveloping Xiuniang.
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