Chapter 665: It's Time for Me to Go...

Chapter 665: Chapter 535: It’s Time for Me to Go…

Xiao Mo gently folded Tushan Jing Ci’s personal letter, shook his head, and muttered to himself.

“Go back… If only it were that easy.”

Indeed, the crisis on the front lines had been resolved, and the Ten Thousand Demon Alliance no longer needed to station a large force in Quicksand City.

And Xiao Mo was, after all, one of Tushan Jing Ci’s trusted confidants. It was only right and proper that he should return.

But how could the Grand Elder possibly let Xiao Mo return to Tushan alive?

Right now, the Grand Elder was paying lip service to Jing Ci, promising to let him return to Tushan after the Yuzhu Secret Realm closed.

And Tushan Hongxia also said that Xiao Mo should earn merits in the Secret Realm and then return in a blaze of glory.

The two of them were just putting on a show, having planned it all out long ago.

‘The Yuzhu Secret Realm is a death trap set for me.’

Putting the envelope away, Xiao Mo picked up a brush and paper and began to write a reply to Tushan Jing Ci.

If things went as expected, this might be the last letter he would ever write to Jing Ci in his life.

Two incense sticks’ worth of time later, Xiao Mo finally set down his brush. He gently blew on the ink, waiting until the characters were completely dry before carefully folding the letter and placing it in the envelope.

He stood up and began to tidy his room.

After all, he probably wouldn’t be coming back after he left this time. It was better to pack everything up properly in advance to avoid troubling others later.

“Xiao Mo… The great philanthropist, Young Master Xiao… My dear Xiao…”

Just as Xiao Mo was halfway through tidying his room, Xiang Niang’s sickly-sweet voice called out from the courtyard.

Immediately after, Xiang Niang nonchalantly pushed open the door to Xiao Mo’s room.

“Xiang Niang, how many times have I told you? You’re supposed to knock before entering someone’s room.” Xiao Mo straightened up and looked at her helplessly, his tone tinged with a familiar sigh.

“Are Young Master Xiao and I really ‘someone else’ to each other? Isn’t our relationship just one step away?” Xiang Niang blinked, her expression one of almost deliberate innocence.

“One step away from what?” Xiao Mo asked casually.

“I’ve already put my foot forward. The only step missing is yours, Young Master Xiao,” Xiang Niang replied as if it were obvious, the corners of her lips curling up slightly.

“…” Xiao Mo was momentarily speechless. He just shook his head and continued packing his belongings.

“Xiao Mo, where are you going? What, are you moving out?” Xiang Niang moved closer to Xiao Mo’s side. Seeing him clearing out almost everything in the room, she couldn’t help but ask curiously.

“Elder Hongxia came to see me just now. She told me to go to the Yuzhu Secret Realm the day after tomorrow.”

Xiao Mo explained casually as he continued to pack.

“And Jing Ci sent a letter. The Grand Elder said that since there’s nothing major happening in Quicksand City anymore, I should return directly to Tushan after I get back from the Yuzhu Secret Realm. So I thought I’d just pack everything up in advance to avoid a last-minute rush.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

A joyous light immediately sparkled in Xiang Niang’s eyes, and her whole being seemed to brighten.

“I’ve been sick of this godforsaken place for ages! That Xin Xiao’er struts around every day like she’s hot stuff, and the sight of her drives me crazy! I’d love to find a few men to have their way with her!”

“That’s enough. She’s a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator, after all. You should show a little respect,” Xiao Mo sighed, a note of helplessness in his voice.

Aside from being clingy and annoying, Xiang Niang’s mouth was just too vicious.

Every time she cursed someone, she’d spout off about how their entire family line should be defiled by Dog Demons and Pig Demons. It was truly unbearable to listen to.

“Her? A Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator? *Her*?” Xiang Niang blinked, her face a mask of disbelief. Her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

“Mhm,” Xiao Mo affirmed, his tone flat. “She’s already on her way to the Yuzhu Secret Realm. I’ll be meeting up with her and several other Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators outside the Secret Realm, and we’ll proceed together.”

“Hmph, so what if she’s in the Nascent Soul Realm?” Xiang Niang pouted, her eyes full of defiance. “I’m still going to take a cucumber and ruthlessly…”

“AHEM! AHEM! AHEM!” Xiao Mo coughed loudly, quickly cutting her off.

“Fine, I won’t talk about it then.”

Xiang Niang sulkily fell silent. But then she turned and plopped herself down nonchalantly on Xiao Mo’s bed.

Her long, slender legs crossed beneath her skirt, and she began to gently kick Xiao Mo’s calf with her upturned foot.

“I actually came looking for you today, Young Master, to ask if you wanted to go to the Yuzhu Secret Realm to look for opportunities.” Xiang Niang tilted her head, her eyes glimmering. “Since you’ve been sent, I don’t need to ask. I’ll just go with you!”

“I can go, but you can’t.” Xiao Mo reached out and tapped Xiang Niang’s knee, moving her leg aside. His tone grew a little more serious. “This Yuzhu Secret Realm trip isn’t going to be that simple.”

“Not that simple? Young Master, you mean…” His warning sparked a faint suspicion in Xiang Niang’s mind.

“In short, nothing in this world is that good.” Xiao Mo explained simply, “With an ancient Secret Realm like this, how can you know if it’s a land of fortune or a place of peril? If it were truly such a massive opportunity, why on earth would ‘they’ announce it to the world and let everyone come for a piece of the pie?”

He paused, his gaze fixed on Xiang Niang’s face, and his tone became solemn. “You should stay here in Quicksand City. Don’t throw your life away for some illusory opportunity.”

“Then why are you still going, Young Master? Why don’t… why don’t you skip it too?” At Xiao Mo’s words, Xiang Niang immediately stood up, a flicker of worry rising in her heart. Her voice was filled with unease.

“It’s fine. When have I not narrowly escaped death? Besides, there will be other Nascent Soul Cultivators with me this time. We can look out for each other,” Xiao Mo said with a faint, composed smile.

As he finished speaking, Xiao Mo extended a hand toward Xiang Niang.

Xiang Niang looked at the large hand Xiao Mo held out to her. She tilted her head slightly, a glint in her eyes, and placed her own small hand into his palm.

Xiao Mo shook her hand off. “I was asking you to give me your Battle Merit Jade Token.”

“Ah? Oh… here.” Xiang Niang froze for a moment before realizing what he meant. She quickly untied the Jade Token from her waist and handed it to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo swiped a finger across his own Jade Token, transferring fifty percent of his battle merits to Xiang Niang’s.

“Young Master, what are you doing…?” Xiang Niang blinked in confusion.

“They’re for you.”

Xiao Mo placed the Jade Token back in Xiang Niang’s hand and instructed her in a solemn tone.

“Xiang Niang, you’re at the Early-stage Golden Core Realm now. Take all these battle merits and exchange them for Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. It should be enough for you to cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm. Once you return to Tushan, focus on closed-door cultivation and don’t get involved in the chaotic affairs of the world anymore.”

“Xiang Niang, your innate talent isn’t low. It’s just that your heart has never been able to find peace.”

“I have a general idea why.”

“Most of your Fox Race believes in the Dual Cultivation Technique. But with your personality, you wouldn’t easily entrust yourself to another, much less do something like sleep with one man today and run off to another man’s courtyard tomorrow.”

“But when you see others of the Fox Race, with less talent than you, reach a level of Cultivation equal to yours by relying on the Dual Cultivation Technique, it’s natural for you to feel a little unsettled.”

“I don’t dare to deny the path of dual cultivation, because even the Daoist Sect practices it. It is, in itself, a perfectly legitimate Great Dao. But I also believe that you, by your own power, can go even further and stand even higher.”

“I just hope that from now on, you won’t worry about others. Just see the path beneath your own feet and walk it, one step at a time.”

“Young Master…” Xiang Niang’s lips trembled, and her eyes reddened slightly. Her heart grew even more anxious. “Why do I feel… like you’re arranging your last affairs?”

She raised her head, her fox-like eyes staring intently at Xiao Mo, glimmering with unshed tears. “Just tell me straight! This trip to the Yuzhu Secret Realm… it’s incredibly dangerous, isn’t it? Or maybe… Young Master, let’s really not go. No opportunity is bigger than our lives…”

“Some things, I must do. Some places, I must go.” Xiao Mo gave a gentle smile, placed the Jade Token softly into Xiang Niang’s palm, and closed her fingers around it.

“Alright, I still have some things to take care of, so I’ll be heading out. I… won’t be coming back.” Xiao Mo placed his bags into his Storage Ring and turned to walk out the door.

“Young Master!”

Xiang Niang watched Xiao Mo’s retreating back, her eyes trembling as her voice quivered.

“You’re leaving today?”

“Leaving?”

Xiao Mo stopped in his tracks. He looked up at the vast, clear blue sky, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile.

“It is time.”

“I really… should be on my way…”