Chapter 283:

Ah Niu was getting married.

When Xu Xi finished his cultivation and heard the news from the county princess, he was stunned for a long time.

In his mind, Ah Niu was still the same simple and honest man—someone who loved eating heartily, grinned foolishly, and radiated a pure and kind-hearted nature.

“Brother Xu, from now on, I’ll be Mr. Ah Niu!”

That familiar, carefree laughter still echoed in his memory.

Such an innocent and childlike Ah Niu…

Hearing that he was now proposing marriage was truly surprising.

But upon thinking deeper, Xu Xi realized that Ah Niu was no longer young. The once naive “Mr. Ah Niu” had indeed reached the age where he should settle down and start a family.

“So that’s how it is…”

The winter sun cast a soft white glow, slanting across Xu Xi’s face, illuminating the subtle smile that had begun to form.

With heartfelt sincerity, he turned to the county princess and said, “Who would’ve thought? That thick-browed, honest guy actually made such a big decision without a word.”

“Since he invited me, of course, I have to go.”

There was no hesitation, nor was there any possibility of refusal.

The esteemed Mr. Xu decided to accompany the young lady Wu to witness Mr. Ah Niu’s proposal and give him his blessings.

“I never paid much attention to the passage of time,” Xu Xi mused, “but now that I know Ah Niu is getting married, I suddenly feel much older.”

Time was the cruelest reference point.

With a sigh, he summoned his Jianmu staff, gently waved it, and tore open a spatial rift, enveloping both himself and the county princess in a teleportation field bound for the outskirts of Yan Mountain City.

“Let’s go, Yingxue.”

“Yes, sir!”

—

The cold wind howled through the outskirts, but it couldn’t dampen the lively atmosphere.

Villagers from Green Ox Town and civilians from the Survival Army had all gathered to witness the proposal.

A proposal wasn’t a wedding, merely a formal declaration of intent to marry. But since the groom-to-be was Ah Niu, everyone wanted to join in the excitement.

“Who would’ve thought I’d live to see Niu Boy proposing?”

“Right? If it weren’t for Young Lady Wu, none of us would even be here today!”

“And we can’t forget Mr. Xu!”

“I wonder when Mr. Xu will…”

Flames symbolizing good fortune flickered into the air.

The brilliant red and warm orange intertwined, forming dancing flames that lit up every beaming face in the crowd.

Among them, Ah Niu’s dark-skinned face was bathed in firelight, turning a deep shade of red.

“Heh…”

He scratched his head, grinning awkwardly, unsure how to respond to everyone’s enthusiasm.

His elderly mother, however, was busy handling all the arrangements.

Aunt Zhang, now advanced in age, moved slower, but the light in her eyes shone with unparalleled brightness.

The deep wrinkles on her forehead, carved by time and hardship, were now smoothed out by joy. Her face radiated pure happiness.

She spoke to everyone about how wonderful Mr. Xu and Young Lady Wu were, her words overflowing with gratitude.

She had never expected to live to see the day when Ah Niu would start a family.

In the third simulation, she had passed away early, her life extinguished before the Survival Army could break through the Great Ten Thousand Mountains. It was Wu Yingxue who had traveled back to rescue the elderly, healing their hidden injuries and granting them a second chance at life.

“Yes, yes, we owe our lives to Mr. Xu and the young lady.”

“If not for them, none of us would be here today!”

By the time Xu Xi arrived at the city’s outskirts, this was the scene that greeted him.

The entire crowd was gathered, chattering excitedly. Ah Niu and his mother were busy preparing the proposal gifts, while every guest showered endless praise on Xu Xi and the county princess.

Somehow, Ah Niu’s marriage proposal had turned into a grand appreciation event for Xu Xi.

“…Huh?”

Xu Xi stood there, watching the cheerful faces illuminated by firelight, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

At that moment, someone noticed him and Wu Yingxue.

The lively chatter suddenly quieted.

“Mr. Xu and Young Lady Wu are here!”

Someone shouted, and the atmosphere instantly reignited.

Everyone wanted to talk to Xu Xi, to exchange words with their revered Mr. Xu. But in the end, they all held back.

This was Ah Niu’s moment.

They would not steal his time or space.

“Brother Xu!!”

Urged on by his mother, Ah Niu ran over, grinning foolishly.

He fumbled through some poorly rehearsed formalities, expressing his deep gratitude for Xu Xi’s presence and apologizing for taking up his time.

It didn’t sound like Ah Niu at all.

More like words he had been taught specifically for this occasion.

“No need for all that, Ah Niu. There’s no need for formality between us,” Xu Xi said with a chuckle, patting the sturdy man’s shoulder to ease his nerves.

“Alright, Brother Xu!” Ah Niu grinned widely.

“My mother told me to say all that—it felt weird and complicated.”

He muttered under his breath, making sure his mother didn’t overhear.

It was amusing to watch.

“By the way, Ah Niu, who is the girl you’re proposing to?” Xu Xi asked.

“Brother Xu, you actually know her…”

The flames flickered higher, making Ah Niu’s face turn an even deeper red.

Scratching his head, he explained, finally revealing the name of his fiancée.

Xu Xi did, indeed, know her.

She was a humble farm girl from the Survival Army—not particularly stunning in appearance, but gentle and meticulous. Later, she had studied medicine and had even treated Ah Niu’s injuries on occasion.

Now it all made sense.

“So that’s when it started…”

Xu Xi laughed heartily. “I never would’ve guessed, Ah Niu! You figured things out earlier than I thought.”

“Brother Xu, I never expected it either.”

Ah Niu scratched the back of his head, his smile bright and foolish as he let out a hearty laugh.

“Brother Xu, I’m so happy right now! I mean it—I’m really, really happy!”

His eyes were wide, filled with an unmistakable joy.

The winter wind carried specks of snow, blurring vision, but it couldn’t dull the brilliance in Ah Niu’s gaze.

Excited and nervous, he explained that he wanted Xu Xi to witness this moment—the confirmation of his proposal, the transformation of his life.

Why Xu Xi, in particular?

Ah Niu, in his simple way, answered, “Because Brother Xu is my best, best big brother!”

He spoke with pride.

He spoke with sincerity.

Ah Niu, who had always thought of himself as slow-witted, was deeply grateful to have a brother like Xu Xi—someone who had led them all to survive.

That was why he wanted to share his happiness with him.

“Thank you, Ah Niu.”

For a moment, Xu Xi was stunned as he looked at the pure and joyful smile before him.

Then, a warm smile spread across his own face.

He promised Ah Niu that he would witness this proposal from start to finish.

Beyond that, he also had a gift prepared.

A soft hum resonated as Xu Xi brushed his fingers across his spatial ring, retrieving several bottles of elixirs—some for longevity, others to aid in cultivation breakthroughs.

“Brother Xu, I-I can’t accept this.”

“Take it, Ah Niu,” Xu Xi said, pressing the bottles into his hand. “This is my blessing to you.”

“From now on, live a happy life.”