Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 74: Chapter 65: Husband, You’re Back…

Bai Ruxue slowly turned around.

Not far from the woman stood a white-haired, wizened old man.

Seeing the man before her, Bai Ruxue’s red lips parted slightly, trembling.

Her long legs moved beneath her skirt as Bai Ruxue walked toward him, one step at a time.

Bai Ruxue didn’t dare to walk too fast.

She was afraid that when she got closer, she would find he was just an illusion.

She was afraid that if she reached his side, he would vanish.

Finally, when she stopped and stood before him, Bai Ruxue wondered if she was dreaming, if any of this was real.

She reached out, wanting to touch him, but every time her hand drew near, Bai Ruxue would fearfully pull it back. She did this several times.

At last, when Bai Ruxue mustered her courage and her soft palm touched his weathered cheek…

The solid, real sensation against her palm told the woman…

This was not a dream.

He was truly standing before her, truly and tangibly there.

Bai Ruxue gently caressed his rough face.

Looking at the wrinkles on his face.

Looking at the age spots at the corners of his eyes.

Looking at his full head of white hair.

Tears blurred the woman’s eyes, tracing silent paths down her cheeks and shattering on the green leaves at her feet.

Every time she swallowed, wanting to speak, the thousand words she wanted to say caught in her throat.

Seeing Bai Ruxue’s dazed, tear-streaked face, the old man reached out, gently caressing her cheek and wiping away the tears from the corner of her eye.

He spoke slowly, his voice aged by the years. “Silly girl, I’m back, aren’t I? What are you crying for?”

Bai Ruxue gazed at him, entranced, as if she couldn’t bear to look away.

She was terrified that if she moved her eyes for even a second, he would disappear.

“Did you… did you see Lord Old Zhang?” the woman asked, gazing into his eyes.

The white-haired old man nodded. “I did.”

“What is Mr. Old Zhang like? Is he a good person?” Bai Ruxue asked, like a wife concerned for her husband.

“Mr. Old Zhang doesn’t get caught up in formalities. He’s refined and scholarly, but decisive and efficient in his work. He’s a good man,” the old man replied with a nod.

“And the honey? Did you give it to him? Lord Zhang wasn’t displeased, was he?” the woman asked again.

The old man smiled. “Not at all. Lord Zhang loved the two jars of honey. He even said if I have any extra in the future, I should bring him two more jars. He’ll trade me good wine for them.”

Bai Ruxue nodded silently. “Then how did you do on your exam this time? Was it okay? Were the questions difficult?”

“It was alright. I took first place as the Imperial Scholar,” the old man said, his tone carrying a hint of youthful pride. “Became the Imperial Scholar. Pretty impressive, huh…?”

“Yes, but I heard that when the results are announced, men are often seized by families seeking sons-in-law. You weren’t captured, were you?”

“No, I’m a fast runner. By the time they noticed me, I was gone in a puff of smoke,” the old man said with a laugh. “Besides, Mr. Old Zhang had Miss Zhang and her people guard my inn. They couldn’t have taken me.”

“You should have let them take you…”

Bai Ruxue couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed the old man’s collar tightly, pressing her forehead against his chest.

Tears streamed down the woman’s face. “Forty-eight years. It’s been forty-eight years! Why haven’t you married…? All these days I’ve been gone, who’s been taking care of you…? You always call me silly, but why are you so silly, too…?”

Watching the woman before him sob uncontrollably, seeing her shoulders tremble without pause, the old man reached out and gently patted her back. “Silly girl, it’s because I had to wait for you… And look, my waiting paid off, didn’t it?”

The old man’s words were like a sharp sword, piercing the softest part of the woman’s heart.

The woman’s sobs grew louder, her tears soaking his collar and seeping through to his inner shirt.

The old man just continued to pat her back gently, quietly staying with her.

“Alright, don’t cry anymore. I’m back. Shouldn’t you be happy?” After a long while, the old man spoke slowly. “Besides, I’ve returned, and you haven’t even given me a proper welcome yet.”

Hearing the old man’s words, Bai Ruxue gradually stopped crying, though her eyes were still rimmed with red.

The woman dabbed the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, took two steps back, and drew a deep breath.

Her slender, fair hand emerged slowly from her sleeve. The fingers of her right hand, like an unopened orchid bud, gently folded over her left. With palms curved slightly inward, she formed a subtle, graceful arc, resting her hands at her waist as she dipped down. Her knees bent not in a rush, but with measured grace.

The young woman performed a curtsy and smiled radiantly. “Husband, you’ve come back…”

A gentle breeze rustled the old man’s worn blue robes, which clung to his frame, as straight and tall as an old pine tree.

The old man, named Xiao Mo, was momentarily taken aback, then a smile like that of a wanderer returning home spread across his face.

“Yes, I’m home.”

…

「Tianxuan Sect, Wanli Lake.」

A woman in Daoist robes stood in a lakeside pavilion, watching the koi of all sizes in the water.

From time to time, Duster would toss a handful of fish food from her hand, and the koi would crowd together, fighting over it.

Red, white, and green—more and more koi swam toward Duster.

“Master…”

A young woman, who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen but whose bone age was over sixty, walked to Duster’s side and performed a Daoist salute.

“Mm,” Duster nodded. “What is it?”

“Xiao Mo, the Prime Minister of the Qi Kingdom, has retired and returned to his home village. He and Bai Ruxue have met,” said the woman named Li Sisi.

Duster’s slender hand, which was about to scatter more fish food, froze in mid-air.

After a long silence, Duster sighed softly, sprinkled the food in her hand, and replied, “This master understands.”

“Master, your disciple does not understand. Why do you believe it would have been better for Xiao Mo not to meet Bai Ruxue?” Li Sisi asked, confused.

As far back as forty years ago, Li Sisi knew that her master was somewhat concerned about the White Snake of the Qi Kingdom, and would occasionally perform a divination for her.

And Li Sisi also knew the story of that White Snake and the scholar.

In Li Sisi’s view, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue’s meeting was clearly a good thing. Even if Xiao Mo only had a few years left to live, at least Bai Ruxue could accompany him on the final stretch of his journey.

Once Xiao Mo returned to dust, Bai Ruxue would likely detach from the mortal world and focus on her cultivation, no longer having any attachments to the human realm.

Yet her master had always felt it would be better if the two never met again.

Li Sisi couldn’t make sense of it.

“Sisi, have you ever loved someone?” Duster asked her disciple.

Li Sisi thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No, Master. I spend all my days cultivating on the mountain. I’ve met so few people, how could I have anyone I love?”

Duster turned, looked at her disciple, and said with a smile, “Since you have never loved another, how could you possibly understand the weight of the word ’love’?”

“Some love… is impossible to let go of.”

Duster raised her head, looking at the ethereal, cloud-filled sky, yet her eyes reflected the sun, moon, and stars.

’Perhaps… this is their fate…’