Chapter 133 - 118: A Thousand Mountains, a Myriad Waters, All With You

After leaving the bamboo forest, Xiao Mo spent a few days recuperating.

Attaining the Dao during that time had indeed drained a great deal of his mental energy.

Four days later, Xiao Mo went to Mr. Qi’s courtyard for an academic debate.

This debate lasted for a full seven days.

After seven days, Xiao Mo left Mr. Qi’s courtyard.

Hanging from his waist was a token that read "Academy Headmaster."

For ranks below Academic Palace Dean, an Academic Palace Sacrificial Officer could independently assess a disciple and confer the corresponding rank.

However, the Academic Palace Sacrificial Officer first had to apply to the Academy for this privilege.

And so, starting from the very day Xiao Mo went to the bamboo forest to attain the Dao, Qi Daoming had written a letter to the Academy, requesting to independently assess his own Closed-door Disciple.

The Confucian Academy had agreed and sent Qi Daoming the "Academy Headmaster" Jade Token.

When Luo Yang and Shang Jiuli saw the token hanging from Xiao Mo’s waist, they knew without a second thought that their junior brother’s scholarship had earned their teacher’s approval. He had even passed the assessment and become an Academy Headmaster.

Shang Jiuli suggested they go to a tavern in town to celebrate. Luo Yang nodded, having no objections.

"How about you, Senior Brother and Senior Sister, come to my humble home for a meal?" Xiao Mo said with a smile. "Ruxue’s cooking is excellent. In all these years, we’ve never had the chance to host you."

"That’s a good idea too," Luo Yang agreed. "Should we invite Teacher to join us?"

"Let’s not. It’d be so awkward for us young people with Teacher there. He definitely wouldn’t come anyway. Let’s go, let’s go, we’ll celebrate at our junior brother’s courtyard. I haven’t even tasted Miss Bai’s cooking yet."

As Shang Jiuli spoke, she looped her arm through Xiao Mo’s and started walking down the mountain.

Luo Yang shook his head and could only follow.

Standing on the mountaintop, Mr. Qi overheard his three disciples’ conversation and couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.

’It’s not that I’m particularly interested in their little get-together,’ he thought.

’But if I could just have one meal cooked by the Lord of the North Sea, I could brag about it for years to come.’

"Sigh... That girl is so thoughtless," Mr. Qi smacked his lips. "Oh, well. I’ll go find her grandfather for a drink."

...

Before long, Xiao Mo brought the two back to his courtyard.

When Bai Ruxue heard that Xiao Mo had passed Mr. Qi’s assessment and become an Academy Headmaster, she was overjoyed.

As for Xiao Mo’s senior brother and sister coming to their home to celebrate, she, as the lady of the house, was of course happy to welcome them and was determined to be a good host.

Bai Ruxue needed to go to the town at the foot of the mountain to buy some ingredients, and Shang Jiuli went with her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Mo and Luo Yang chatted in the courtyard.

By noon, Bai Ruxue had prepared a table full of dishes.

The moment Shang Jiuli and Luo Yang took a bite, their eyes lit up.

These were all ordinary ingredients—no Spirit Beast meat, no Spirit Plant supplements—yet the result was incredibly delicious.

It was clear that the culinary skills of this Lord of the North Sea were truly extraordinary.

Without honing her craft with dedication, or without long years of experience cooking, it would be impossible to achieve such flavor.

"It’s just a simple meal. Ruxue’s skills are average, so please, Senior Brother and Senior Sister, don’t mind," Bai Ruxue said with a smile.

"Not at all, Miss Bai. Among all the chefs I’ve ever met, your skills rank in the top five, if not the top three," Luo Yang said.

"It’s absolutely delicious!" Shang Jiuli nodded in agreement. "No wonder our junior brother is so picky when we eat out. It turns out Miss Bai has spoiled his palate!"

"You both praise me too much. If you like it, please eat more." Bai Ruxue smiled happily, then secretly lifted her small, fair chin at Xiao Mo.

Her proud expression seemed to say, ’Well? I didn’t embarrass you, did I?’

Xiao Mo understood her meaning and nodded at her with a smile.

At that, Bai Ruxue’s smile grew even brighter.

The home banquet lasted for two hours. Bai Ruxue, like a virtuous wife, refilled the tea and wine for her husband and their guests.

Although Shang Jiuli and Luo Yang had always known that Bai Ruxue had been taking care of Xiao Mo all these years...

...seeing the Lord of the North Sea so adept—presentable in public and a master in the kitchen—still left them somewhat dazed.

’Is this really the ruler of the vast North Sea?’

’She’s clearly like a doting young bride, isn’t she?’

Watching from the side as Xiao Mo exchanged toasts with his senior brother and sister, Bai Ruxue was also filled with happiness.

In her past life, Bai Ruxue had often dreamed of a scene just like this: Xiao Mo drinking and chatting with his peers while she hosted, watching her Xiao Mo speak with confidence and ease.

Although too many things had happened in her last life for that wish to come true...

...in this life, one of her small dreams had finally been realized.

And even though Bai Ruxue didn’t particularly like Shang Jiuli...

...she could feel that both Senior Brother Luo and Senior Sister Shang genuinely cared for her Xiao Mo and truly treated him like family.

After the banquet, Luo Yang and Shang Jiuli said their goodbyes to Xiao Mo and returned to their own courtyards to rest.

After the two had left, Xiao Mo helped Ruxue clear the table.

"Ruxue, we should get ready, too. It’s time to leave the mountain," Xiao Mo said to Bai Ruxue with a gentle smile.

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue blinked. "We’re leaving today? Don’t we need to say goodbye to Senior Sister Shang and Senior Brother Luo?"

"There’s no need," Xiao Mo shook his head. "We’ll all meet again eventually. Why linger and make the parting sad?"

"Alright, I’ll go pack right now."

Bai Ruxue always listened to Xiao Mo.

Whatever Xiao Mo said, she would do.

An hour later, Bai Ruxue followed Xiao Mo down the mountain.

Meanwhile, atop Yumo Peak, Shang Jiuli and Luo Yang were watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.

"You’re not going to see them off?" Luo Yang asked his junior sister beside him.

"No need." Shang Jiuli stretched lazily. "We may be parting now, but soon, our junior brother’s name will spread throughout the world. And it won’t be long before we meet again."

"That’s true." Cradling his sword, Luo Yang turned to leave. "I’m off as well."

"Where are you going, Senior Brother?"

"To the border of the Demon Race’s World. Going to take a look."

As Luo Yang’s voice faded, his figure had already vanished.

On Yumo Peak, only the young woman remained, sitting on the summit. She gently swung her legs, gazing out at the world as she watched the two figures at the foot of the mountain recede into the distance.

"By the way, Xiao Mo, where are we going?" Bai Ruxue asked, looking up at him at the foot of the mountain.

Xiao Mo shook his head. "I don’t know either. We’ll just walk and see where we end up. Whichever academy we come across, that’s the one."

"Hee hee hee..." The young woman’s eyes curved into crescents.

"What are you so happy about?" Xiao Mo asked.

Bai Ruxue kicked at a small pebble. "Because the thought of us traveling across a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers just makes me happy~"

Xiao Mo ruffled her hair. "Traveling through all those mountains and rivers will be very tiring."

"But, Xiao Mo..."

The young woman turned around with her hands behind her back, her skirt fluttering as her silver-white hair danced in the wind.

"You’ll be with me through all those thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers."