Chapter 78 - 69: Now, Does This Count As Us Growing White-Haired Together?

Winter was gradually setting in.

Xiao Qing also knew that her sister had decided to attempt the River Transform to Dragon to obtain Dragon Thunder Liquid for Brother Xiao.

Naturally, Xiao Qing supported her sister’s decision.

Besides, Xiao Qing couldn’t bear the thought of Brother Xiao leaving them just like that.

After all this time, Xiao Qing had long since come to see Xiao Mo as her own family.

However, the River Transform to Dragon was no simple matter.

The slightest misstep could very well result in her body being destroyed and her soul scattered.

So, during this time, Bai Ruxue focused intently on her cultivation, making all sorts of preparations for the transformation.

Xiao Mo would also hold lessons for Bai Ruxue and Xiao Qing, explaining one by one the perilous points of the journey and the various things they might encounter along the way.

This included how to deal with things like the "Dragon-slaying Sword" and the "Dragon-Binding Lock."

It wasn’t that Xiao Mo didn’t want to remove items like the "Dragon-slaying Sword."

It was that he couldn’t.

These items, the "Dragon-slaying Sword" and "Dragon-Binding Lock," were all established by the Qi Kingdom’s Observatory, and ordinary people could not remove them.

And the Observatory operated independently of the Qi Kingdom’s bureaucracy.

Although Xiao Mo was the Prime Minister, he had no way to command the Observatory.

Furthermore, one needed a reason to ask the Observatory to take down the Dragon-slaying Sword and the Dragon-Binding Lock.

But what reason could he possibly give?

He couldn’t very well say, "My fiancée is of the Snake Race, and she needs to undergo the River Transform to Dragon. Could you all please lend a hand?"

While it was true that Xiao Mo had reached the pinnacle of official power, he also had many opponents in the Imperial Court.

If he did that, Xiao Mo would likely be impeached by a hundred officials the very next day.

However, it wasn’t as if Xiao Mo had made no preparations at all.

In Xiao Mo’s eyes, the preparations he had made over the past forty-odd years should be enough.

「Day by day, time passed.」

Xiao Mo’s health grew worse and worse.

Just as winter began, Xiao Mo started to cough.

Seeing Xiao Mo’s pale face, Bai Ruxue grew ever more anxious, wishing she could undergo her Crossing the Tribulation the very next day.

But the day for Crossing the Tribulation had to be chosen carefully; it couldn’t be just any day.

The date had to be calculated based on one’s birth chart.

Fortunately, not long ago, Xiao Mo had asked Elder Fuchen to calculate an auspicious date.

For Bai Ruxue, the best day to attempt the River Transform to Dragon was the third day of the third month of the coming year.

And as it happened, on the route Xiao Mo had chosen for her, the ice and snow would begin to melt in the first part of the second month. By the beginning of the third month, spring would arrive, and all life would be reawakening.

Time passed day by day. Soon, the new year was over, and it was the end of the first month.

Xiao Qing had gone into the mountains to hibernate, but Bai Ruxue no longer needed to do so.

Only Xiao Mo and she remained in the courtyard.

There was now only one month left until Bai Ruxue’s River Transform to Dragon.

「The twenty-eighth day of the first month.」

That night, a heavy snow fell over Shiqiao Village.

This was to be the last snow of the winter.

Xiao Mo could also feel that this might be the last snow of his life.

「The next morning, Xiao Mo awoke.」

As usual, Bai Ruxue had heated water for him to wash up.

After breakfast, Bai Ruxue was about to sweep the courtyard, but Xiao Mo stopped her. "You can sweep when we get back. Let’s go for a walk outside first."

"Now?" Bai Ruxue looked at the heavy, swirling snow and said worriedly, "But Xiao Mo, it’s snowing so hard."

"It’s fine." Xiao Mo shook his head. "I’m just old, that’s all. My body is still quite sturdy."

Bai Ruxue: "..."

"I’m really fine. Besides, you wouldn’t feel at ease letting me go out alone, would you?" Xiao Mo said with a smile.

"Alright..."

Bai Ruxue reluctantly agreed.

In truth, Bai Ruxue was still very worried about Xiao Mo’s health, but seeing him so insistent on going out, she could only accompany him.

’But if I see that he looks unwell, I’ll drag him back immediately. I won’t listen to him then!’

"Let’s go, then."

"Wait, I’ll go get an umbrella."

"We don’t need an umbrella."

"Xiao Mo... the snow is too heavy..."

"It’s fine."

Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue’s hand and led her out of the courtyard.

「An incense stick’s time later, Xiao Mo brought Bai Ruxue to the shore of a lake.」

The lake was named Xueqing Lake.

Originally, the lake had no name, but on the day Xiao Mo became the Imperial Scholar, Magistrate Sun wanted to expand it to commemorate the occasion.

Magistrate Sun asked Xiao Mo what would be a good name for it.

And Xiao Mo chose this name.

Afterward, Magistrate Sun diverted several streams into Xueqing Lake, built an embankment, erected a pavilion, and planted willow trees.

Over the years, it had imperceptibly become a popular spot for the people of Qingshan City to go on outings.

The two of them walked along the shore of Xueqing Lake. White snow, like willow catkins, drifted down from the sky, landing on their shoulders.

As they walked, Bai Ruxue would occasionally brush the white snow from Xiao Mo’s shoulders, and occasionally glance at his profile.

One lap.

Two laps.

Xiao Mo led Bai Ruxue, walking lap after lap around Xueqing Lake.

They left one set of footprints after another in the snow.

With every step, the snow would make a "CRUNCH, CRUNCH" sound.

"Xiao Mo, are you cold?" Bai Ruxue asked worriedly.

Xiao Mo shook his head. "I’m not cold."

"You have to tell me if you get cold, and we’ll go back right away."

"Okay."

As they were walking their third lap, Bai Ruxue looked up again.

"Xiao Mo, are you tired?"

"I’m not tired."

They started their fourth lap. The snow was falling harder and harder, and Bai Ruxue already wanted to pull Xiao Mo back home.

"Xiao Mo, let’s go back. The snow is so heavy, you’ll catch a cold."

"It’s fine. More than twenty years ago, I saw a snow even heavier than this."

On their fifth lap, Bai Ruxue looked at Xiao Mo, her heart growing more and more anxious. "Xiao Mo, let’s go back, okay?"

Xiao Mo smiled, his expression serene. "Let’s just walk this last lap. We’ll go back after we finish."

"Alright..."

Bai Ruxue lowered her head.

’This is really the last lap. Once we finish it, even if he doesn’t want to go back, I’m dragging him away!’

Xiao Mo walked forward step by step, with Bai Ruxue following by his side.

Bai Ruxue didn’t know why Xiao Mo wanted to walk lap after lap here.

She was only worried about his health, worried about whether he was tired, worried about him catching a cold.

"Ruxue, I remembered something," Xiao Mo said.

"What is it?" Bai Ruxue blinked.

"You asked me something once." Xiao Mo said with a smile, "You asked me if the two of us could grow old and white-haired together."

Bai Ruxue lowered her head, her cheeks blushing. "I did... And you promised me..."

"Yes, I promised you."

Xiao Mo raised his head, looking at the great expanse of dancing snow.

White snow fell between the strands of their hair, dotting them, dyeing them a silvery white.

When they reached the end of their walk, Xiao Mo finally stopped.

He turned and looked into the woman’s peach-blossom eyes.

"Ruxue, tell me.

Right now, haven’t we grown white-haired together?"