Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 75: Chapter 66: This Is the Last Thing This Old Man Can Do for Ruxue

Xiao Qing was supposed to deliver a letter to Brother Xiao.

But halfway there, Xiao Qing learned that Brother Xiao had already resigned from his post and returned home.

Xiao Qing hurried back to Shiqiao Village to tell her sister the news.

But when she got home, she found she was once again a step too late.

In the courtyard, a white-haired old man was reading a book, while a woman in a white dress was hanging clothes to dry.

Standing outside the courtyard gate, Xiao Qing felt a sense of disorientation.

It was as if she had returned to forty-eight years ago.

Her sister was taking care of Brother Xiao, who studied every day to earn a position through the imperial examinations.

The only difference was that the Brother Xiao in the courtyard had not only earned his position but had even risen to the highest ranks of the court. Yet now, his hair was completely white.

Xiao Qing could feel that although Brother Xiao looked healthy and strong, his Life Fire was actually very faint, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

“Xiao Qing, you’re back. I’m sorry to have made you run a useless errand.” Xiao Mo looked up and saw Xiao Qing outside the courtyard. “It’s my fault. I should have written to you beforehand to let you know I had returned.”

“It’s alright, Brother Xiao…” Xiao Qing shook her head. “It’s good enough that you’ve returned safely.”

Hearing Xiao Mo and Xiao Qing’s voices, Bai Ruxue turned to her younger sister and smiled. “Xiao Qing, why are you just standing outside? Come help me hang the laundry.”

“I’m… coming…”

Xiao Qing walked into the courtyard and went to her sister’s side to help.

At noon, Xiao Qing and her sister went to the kitchen to cook together.

After asking, Xiao Qing finally understood that Brother Xiao had returned on the third day after she left, meaning he had been back for four days now.

In the afternoon, Xiao Qing and her sister cleaned the courtyard together.

Xiao Qing felt as if time had truly rewound to the past.

But over the next few days, Xiao Qing gradually came to understand.

Some things had changed, after all.

Many things could never go back to the way they were.

The meals her sister cooked for Brother Xiao were all easy to chew, stewed until they were exceptionally soft.

When her sister massaged Brother Xiao’s shoulders, she would restrain her strength a great deal.

Every evening, her sister would help Brother Xiao back to his room, afraid he might fall.

Only after Brother Xiao was asleep would her sister return to her own room.

Her sister would sit by the bed, staying awake for a long time, as if lost in thought.

In fact, Xiao Qing knew what her sister was thinking about.

Brother Xiao also knew what she was thinking about.

’After all, if I can see that Brother Xiao’s Life Fire is weakening, how could my sister not see it?’

’And as a mortal Saint blessed with the Mountain and River Fortune, how could Brother Xiao not know his own fate?’

But no one ever spoke of it, as if they were all deliberately avoiding the subject.

Brother Xiao was back, but her sister never once mentioned marriage.

Wasn’t it because there was something more important that her sister wanted to do?

「A few more days passed.」

When Xiao Mo had been back in the village for half a month, even the slowest to react knew that Prime Minister Xiao, Saint Xiao, had returned.

The neighbors in Shiqiao Village were eager to visit this world-renowned Great Saint.

But they were also afraid of disturbing Saint Xiao, so most people just watched from a distance outside the courtyard.

Xiao Mo, however, would often leave his courtyard to chat with some of the villagers.

Whenever he went out, he was always supported by a Fairy who looked as if she had descended from the heavens.

News of Xiao Mo’s return to the village gradually spread, and both the Prefect and even the Governor took the time to come and visit.

Regardless of their status, Xiao Mo received them all in the same manner.

Of course, there were also many who were merely fishing for fame, hoping to show off in front of Xiao Mo.

After all, even though Xiao Mo had retired and returned home, a word or two of praise from him would grant them considerable prestige in the Imperial Court. Some even wanted to become his student.

But Magistrate Qin drove all these people away.

A month later, Xiao Mo announced that he would no longer be receiving visitors.

During this time, an old rumor about Xiao Mo began to circulate again in Shiqiao Village.

Many people realized that the beautiful woman in the white dress accompanying Prime Minister Xiao was none other than the “childhood sweetheart who went up the mountain to cultivate” from the rumors back then.

Forty-eight years had passed. Mr. Xiao was nearly seventy, and only now had he been reunited with his childhood sweetheart.

Mr. Xiao was gray-haired and ancient, yet the woman remained as young as ever.

It was a sight that couldn’t help but make people sigh with regret.

However, not a single person blamed the young woman.

After all, immortals and mortals were worlds apart.

For that Fairy to remember Mr. Xiao and come to see him off on his final journey was already a remarkable thing.

「Another half a month passed.」

From a certain day onward, Bai Ruxue would disappear for a period of time every night after Xiao Mo fell asleep.

She would only return early the next morning. This went on for several months straight.

Every so often, Bai Ruxue would find some strange Spirit Flowers and Herbs for Xiao Mo to eat.

Or she would use the flesh and blood of Fierce Beasts, which contained Spiritual Power, to make him a stew.

Whatever Bai Ruxue made, Xiao Mo ate.

He pretended not to know anything.

One evening, Bai Ruxue helped Xiao Mo back to his room to sleep.

After Xiao Mo had “fallen asleep,” Bai Ruxue left the courtyard.

Xiao Mo opened his eyes and sat up in bed, looking out the window.

Bai Ruxue’s figure gradually disappeared into the night.

“Did she go to the Tianxuan Sect again?”

Only after her figure had completely vanished did Xiao Mo withdraw his gaze from the night sky and speak slowly.

In Xiao Mo’s room, a woman in Daoist robes was standing, having appeared at some unknown time.

“Yes.” Duster said, looking at the old man on the bed. “She goes to the Tianxuan Sect’s Library Pavilion every night, searching for a way to extend your life.”

“Heheh…” Xiao Mo chuckled. “Extend my life? Items that can extend one’s life all defy the natural order of the world. How could they be easy to find? Besides, I am already like a candle in the wind. Even if she found something, what good would it do me?”

Duster shook her head. “This is the last thing she’s holding on to.”

“That silly girl…”

Xiao Mo sighed.

“If she didn’t know that by marrying me, my decrepit body might not be able to withstand the karma of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, causing my time to come even sooner, why would she keep avoiding the topic of marriage?”

Duster: “…”

“In any case, thank you, Fairy, for making things convenient for Ruxue and allowing her to enter your esteemed sect’s Library Pavilion.” Xiao Mo stood up and bowed to Duster.

“Mr. Xiao, you’re too kind. It was a small matter,” Duster said, looking at the old man who did not have long to live. “However, Mr. Xiao, are you really planning to do that?”

Duster had come tonight because, the day before yesterday, she had received a package that Xiao Mo had entrusted to the Governor of Jiangnan State to deliver.

“COUGH, COUGH, COUGH… Yes.” Xiao Mo coughed a few times. “Fairy, would you be willing to do me this favor?”

Duster’s brow furrowed. “Mr. Xiao, have you really thought this through?”

“I have.”

Xiao Mo smiled.

“This is the last thing this old man can do for Ruxue…”