Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Xiao Mo looked at the woman before him, his expression holding a trace of unconcealed surprise.

This woman was a near-perfect double of Tushan Jing Ci. Her features, her demeanor, her figure—they were identical in every way.

It’s said that no two leaves in the world are ever completely identical. Even twins never look exactly alike.

Yet this woman, apart from the color of her hair, was utterly indistinguishable from Jing Ci.

Jing Ci, by contrast, possessed a girlish liveliness and charm.

This woman, however, seemed to have transcended worldly concerns. She was as serene as still water, her entire being suffused with a cool, ethereal aura.

Moreover, the look in her eyes as she gazed at him held an indecipherable quality.

It was as if she had long heard of him—for a very, very long time—and was now finally meeting him in the flesh.

”You’re Xiao Mo?”

The young woman gazed calmly at Xiao Mo. The duster in her right hand rested lightly in the crook of her left arm, her posture dignified and graceful.

”Yes, that’s me.” Xiao Mo gave the woman a slight bow, his gaze inquisitive. ”Do we know each other?”

”You could say... we’re acquainted, and yet we’re not.”

Gui Junmeng blinked slowly, her words laced with an enigmatic tone.

”Then why have you come looking for me?”

Xiao Mo’s curiosity about the woman before him was genuinely piqued.

”To marry you,” Gui Junmeng said slowly, her tone so nonchalant she could have been discussing something utterly mundane.

”...” Hearing this, Xiao Mo froze, wondering if he had heard her correctly.

The young woman seemed to realize her words might have been misleading. She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked up again and added with a serious expression:

”Perhaps I phrased that poorly—to be precise, I am here to seek dual cultivation with you.”

”...”

Xiao Mo was even more confused.

’What does she mean, she’s here for dual cultivation with me?’

’Do I even know her?’

’And why, out of the blue, would she want to practice dual cultivation with me?’

A thousand questions flooded Xiao Mo’s mind. For a moment, he didn’t know which one to ask first.

Just then...

A gust of the Confucian School’s Book Flipping Wind rustled through the woods, carrying a few bamboo leaves with it as they fluttered down.

When Xiao Mo and the young woman came to their senses, an old man was already standing between them.

Upon seeing the elder, both Xiao Mo and the young woman bowed respectfully. ”Greetings, Academy Director.”

”Mm.” Cun Caiguang, the Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy, nodded with a faint smile. ”There’s no need for such formalities.”

With that, his gaze fell upon Xiao Mo. He looked him up and down before reaching out to pat him on the shoulder, his voice tinged with emotion.

”Not bad, not bad. The last time I saw you was seven years ago.”

”Back then, you and that young lady, Jing Ci, came up the mountain to study. I caught a glimpse of you from afar.”

”I never expected that seven years would pass in the blink of an eye. Xiao Mo, you’ve grown so tall, and your Realm has even reached the Golden Core Realm. A Golden Core Realm cultivator as young as you... across the entire Demon Race’s World and the World of Ten Thousand Laws, I doubt one could find more than a handful.”

”Thank you for the praise, Academy Director. I was merely fortunate,” Xiao Mo replied humbly.

”Hehehe... You’re a good lad in every way, except you’re a bit too staid for your age.” Cun Caiguang shook his head. ”You don’t seem like a young man with a sharp, aggressive edge. Instead, you’re like an adult who has weathered countless storms and learned to sheathe his blade.”

”Ah, well. It’s fine this way. At the very least, you’ll probably live longer...”

As he spoke, Cun Caiguang glanced over his shoulder. His eyes rested on Gui Junmeng for a moment before returning to Xiao Mo.

”As for this young lady, I know you have many questions about her.”

”But that’s alright. Her master is waiting for you in your bamboo courtyard as we speak. You two should head over now. Her master will explain everything, from beginning to end.”

He paused, his tone gentle yet certain.

”Don’t worry, they won’t harm you. And everything they’re about to tell you is true; you can trust their words completely.”

”As for what choice you ultimately make, that is a matter for you alone, Xiao Mo.” Cun Caiguang’s voice was gentle, his eyes encouraging. ”Just remember this: follow your heart, and you will have a clear conscience.”

”Yes, Academy Director.” Xiao Mo gave another solemn bow.

By the time Xiao Mo looked up, Cun Caiguang had vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all. Only the evening breeze whispering through the woods remained, rustling the bamboo leaves.

Beneath the moonlight, the young woman before him continued to gaze at him silently, her eyes as clear as tranquil water.

”Miss Gui, after you.” Xiao Mo stepped aside, gesturing for her to proceed.

”Mm.” Gui Junmeng replied softly, her voice so faint it almost blended into the night wind.

The two of them walked down the mountain side-by-side, neither speaking a word the entire way.

But strangely, Xiao Mo didn’t find it awkward.

It was as if it was the most normal thing in the world for this young woman to be silent.

...

About half an hour later, the two arrived outside the bamboo courtyard.

At the courtyard gate, a beautiful, mature woman who looked to be around thirty years old was already standing there with a smile, clearly waiting for Xiao Mo’s return.

Her gaze fell gently on Xiao Mo, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her aura was as serene as water, yet unfathomably deep.

”This humble Daoist is named Yun Xi.” She gave Xiao Mo a bow, her tone amiable and completely devoid of arrogance. ”I’ve come uninvited and have taken the liberty of having a cup or two of tea in your courtyard, Young Master. Please forgive the intrusion.”

”You’re too kind, Daoist Yun Xi. Please, come in.”

Xiao Mo stepped aside. As the host, he led the master and disciple into the courtyard, then personally brewed tea and poured it for them.

Xiao Mo waited until the fragrant steam from the tea was rising gently in the moonlight before he sat down. His gaze flickered between Daoist Yun Xi and Gui Junmeng, and he finally asked:

”So, what is it that the two of you have come to see me about?”

”It’s a long story.”

Daoist Yun Xi fell silent for a moment, her gaze resting on the teacup in her hand as if she were considering how to begin.

”We come from the Seeking Immortal Temple.”

”The temple is not particularly well-known, so I presume fellow Daoist Xiao Mo has not heard of it.”

”And Jun Meng is my closed-door disciple, and also Senior Gui’s granddaughter.”

At the words ”Senior Gui,” the image of an elderly man surfaced in Xiao Mo’s mind, and his heart skipped a beat. ”This Senior Gui... could he be...?”

”Yes.”

Daoist Yun Xi nodded lightly, her tone calm but certain.

”He is Tushan Jing Ci’s—that is, your young miss’s—grandfather.”