804 Mirage

"You are prepared to stay?"

Mo Wen looked at Qin Xiaoyou. After half a month back at home, it was almost time for them to return. He still had many things left unsettled. For him, the Way of Immortals was the number one priority. It concerned the fate of everyone, so he could not possibly stay at home much longer. However, he had not expected Qin Xiaoyou to actually want to stay.

"Mother is at home all on her own. If I don't stay to keep her company, who will?" Qin Xiaoyou rolled her eyes at Mo Wen.

During their visit, Qin Xiaoyou had already started calling her Mother. Mo Wen's mother clearly had also accepted Qin Xiaoyou as her daughter-in-law.

Upon hearing this, an indescribable emotion welled up in Mo Wen. He looked deeply at Qin Xiaoyou and softly said, "Xiaoyou, you've worked hard."

These past few days, Mo Wen had seen everything that Xiaoyou had done.

"How is dealing with my own family matters hard work? Alright, if you have things to do, you can go first. I will stay behind and spend some time with Mother. I've already completed the curriculum for the university's next semester. Later, I will apply for extended leave from the university. If you have time, come home more often. I feel that if you can spend time with Mother, she will certainly be happier," Qin Xiaoyou said with a smile.

She had made up her mind to stay. It was because she realized that if they both left, Mo Wen's mother would be left alone. The huge house would be empty. Mother's character meant that she did not like to approach the neighbors. She would certainly feel very lonely being in the house alone.

"Hmm. I will come back often." Mo Wen nodded. His eyes suddenly turned teary, but he had to leave. He would not grow if he stayed in his comfort zone.

"Little Stone, are you planning to leave already?" Mo Wen's mother came out of the house. She seemed to have heard the conversation between Mo Wen and Qin Xiaoyou.

"Mom, I have to go." Mo Wen took a deep breath. He had to leave for the sake of their future.

"Okay. It is good for boys to gain experience in the outside world. You may go." Surprisingly, Mo Wen's mother did not ask him to stay. She merely nodded.

The little fox, Xiang'er, came back with a dash. She seemed to know that Mo Wen was about to leave. She wormed her way into Mo Wen's embrace, nuzzling against him. Her gaze was full of reluctance.

"Hush now, Xiang'er. I will come back to see you in a while." Mo Wen patted Xiang'er's head and set her on the stone table. Then, he turned around and walked out of the door. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose the courage to leave.

"Mother, you won't mind if I stay behind and keep you company, will you?" Qin Xiaoyou asked as she walked up to Mo Wen's mother's side and hugged her arm.

As a woman, she could sense that although Mo Wen's mother appeared indifferent on the surface, she was most likely reluctant inside.

"Why would I mind? With such a good daughter-in-law, I will love it." Mo Wen's mother looked at Qin Xiaoyou with a gaze that was exceptionally gentle. After living together for half a month, she was getting more and more satisfied with this daughter-in-law of hers.

The little fox ran out of the house and stood on top of a boulder. She looked at Mo Wen's silhouette until it completely disappeared, before silently and reluctantly returning to the house.

"Xiaoyou, you are practicing ancient martial arts, aren't you?" Mo Wen's mother asked as she led Qin Xiaoyou by the hand and sat down on one side.

"Mother, how did you know?" Qin Xiaoyou looked at Mo Wen's mother in astonishment. Before this, Mo Wen had instructed her not to let Mo Wen's mother know that they were practicing martial arts. He had asked her to be more careful so as not to scare Mother.

Mo Wen had just left, and his mother had immediately brought up the matter of ancient martial arts. Could it be that Mo Wen had told her about it?

"I know a lot more than that." Mo Wen's mother smiled. She then changed the subject and commented, "However, you are unsuitable for practicing ancient martial arts."

"Mother, I am just simply practicing it. I am certainly no match for Mo Wen." Qin Xiaoyou smiled bashfully.

"How can you simply practice with such good talent? If you practice like this, you will never catch up to Little Stone. Tell me, you really want to catch up with Little Stone and even surpass him, don't you?" Mo Wen's mother asked with a grin.

"Oh, I have dreamt about it, but I know that there is most likely no chance for this dream to ever come true." Qin Xiaoyou's face was becoming redder. She had always hidden this thought deep inside. Even Mo Wen did not know this ambition of hers. How did Mother know?

"I know that you are competitive. Who says that our Xiaoyou cannot catch up with Little Stone? As long as you find the right master, surpassing Little Stone will be an easy feat." Mo Wen's mother had the look of an approving mother.

"Hmm, I'll work hard. I'll surely not disappoint you." Qin Xiaoyou put on a smile, yet she felt helpless inside. How did Mother know about this? This was strange. Mother had even asked her to surpass Mo Wen. As Qin Xiaoyou thought, she could not come up with any other response except to giggle at the request.

"Silly girl, even after I have said so, you still don't believe me, do you? Don't learn ancient martial arts anymore. Follow me and learn to cultivate immortality. The day that you surpass Little Stone awaits."

Mo Wen's mother had finally stated her intention. For Xiaoyou, who had the Celestial Spirit Body, to not cultivate immortality was pretty much going against the will of the Heavens. Xiaoyou was born to cultivate immortality. No one in this world was more suited to cultivate immortality than her. For her to merely be practicing ancient martial arts was practically a joke.

"Ah!" Qin Xiaoyou stared at Mo Wen's mother, stunned. She had not expected that Mo Wen's mother would say such a thing.

"Why? Do you not believe me?"

Mo Wen's mother smiled and pointed her finger forward. Then, a shocking scene occurred before Xiaoyou's eyes. The flowers in the garden bloomed and withered, while the plants turned from green to brown. The four seasons shifted in the garden constantly. It was as though time had been fast-forwarded a few million times in front of Xiaoyou's eyes.

What kind of ability was this? People who practiced ancient martial arts did not have such skills.

"Girl, go out and have a look." With a smile, Mo Wen's mother waved her hand and Qin Xiaoyou disappeared from her original spot. In an instant, she appeared at the front door.

"How is this possible?" Qin Xiaoyou stood at the front entrance. Her eyes were full of disbelief. Chilly winds howled and her clothes fluttered in the wind. She could feel the cold in her bones. She realized that right now, she was standing on the peak of a mountain. She was surrounded by clouds and there were mountain peaks everywhere. However, the peak that she was on was the highest. She had no idea exactly how high up she was now.

The village, the farms, the woods, the orchards… everything that she remembered seeing had disappeared.

On top of the mountain peak, Mo Wen's house stood alone in the wind, withstanding the wind blowing fiercely.

"The houses that you saw before were all mirages. The village and the villagers were all illusions. However, mirages are no different from the real world. Everything in them operates as they should. The uncles and aunties that you know of, they can all exist or not exist."

A silhouette walked out into the courtyard. Her clothes fluttered in the wind. Her beauty was peerless. She stood in the wind like a fairy that lived in the Heaven Palace Hall. Once this woman appeared, the mountain peak was filled with a delicate fragrance. No matter how strong the cold winds were, they could not get rid of the scent.

"It's you!"

Qin Xiaoyou looked at the absolute beauty. She recognized her at a glance. She was the mysterious woman that they encountered at the lake previously.

"I am Mo Xiang'er. You can call me Sister Xiang'er." Mo Xiang'er smiled radiantly. The world fell quiet and she charmed all beings.