Used to Like, Still Like

"Whatever, I'm easy, it's all good."

These similar, repetitive phrases.

Often make people feel troubled.

Xu Xi knew that Krisha had no ulterior motives; she was pure and simple.

No matter what gift Xu Xi gave her, she would gladly accept it, expressing her delight and thanking him.

Even if it was just a wild grass by the roadside.

The witch would treasure it.

Not for any other reason, but because it was given by Xu Xi.

It was precisely this that made Xu Xi reluctant to be perfunctory, lest his indifferent attitude trample on the witch's unconditional trust.

"Let's keep walking, Krisha."

"… Yes."

Xu Xi chose to continue forward, wanting to see if there were any worthwhile items to purchase inside the supermarket.

The witch quietly followed behind.

The overhead lights were arranged in a dispersed layout, neither as harsh as the sun nor as cold as the crescent moon, but rather, cast a silent, gentle glow.

It slanted onto Xu Xi, casting a long shadow.

Krisha followed that shadow, step by step, staying close behind Xu Xi, her hollow eyes not drawn to the myriad of goods but fixed on his back.

She followed the light.

Moved with the light.

"There’s a lot of stuff here, but I’m not particularly interested…"

As they reached a new section of goods, Xu Xi slowed his pace.

His gaze scanned the shelves on both sides, quickly passing over row after row of items.

His scrutiny was accompanied by a sigh.

Mo Li is supreme, Krisha is supreme, Ying Xue is supreme.

For beings who transcend the heavens, almost nothing in this world is difficult.

If they want something, it can be created with a thought.

If they want to do something, it can be made true with a single sentence.

So, Xu Xi felt conflicted, wondering what kind of New Year's gifts to prepare for the three girls.

In contrast, coming up with gifts for his master and Niu was easier.

Li Wanshou likes tea, so Xu Xi could procure a batch of tea trees, nourish them with dragon's blood, and cultivate unique dragon-blood spiritual tea.

Niu loves to eat—meat, vegetables, rice—so preparing ample food would suffice.

"In that case—"

"I’ll start with Niu’s portion first."

Xu Xi thought about it.

He decided to temporarily set aside the gifts for the three girls.

First, he would purchase a sufficient amount of food in the supermarket, then send it all to Niu's home as the New Year approached.

Given Niu's gluttonous nature, he would probably be very happy, right?

Imagining that scene, Xu Xi chuckled lightly, then led the witch back to the cooked food and rice/oil section.

…………

Compared to earlier.

The supermarket was now more crowded.

People packed together, squeezing the once-spacious aisles into tight corridors.

There were sweet, doting couples, happy families chatting and laughing, or close friends.

With the New Year approaching, many wanted to stock up on goods.

They jostled together in a chaotic mass.

Like an inextricable wad of cotton.

Fortunately, neither Xu Xi nor Krisha were ordinary.

As Xu Xi led the witch forward, people would unconsciously step aside, clearing a path.

Thanks to this, Xu Xi quickly bought enough food, and even prepared some extra, thinking to distribute them to the other residents of Qingniu Town.

"This quantity should be sufficient."

After completing the payment.

Xu Xi stored all the items in a new spatial ring, to be used for future gifts.

As for the other New Year's gifts.

Xu Xi felt that staying in the supermarket wouldn’t suffice.

After all, after browsing around, he hadn’t seen anything that met his expectations.

“But, it sure is lively here…” Before leaving, Xu Xi looked at the crowded, chaotic crowd, his expression filled with emotion.

Before this year, due to his crippled legs, he had always deliberately avoided such crowded places.

Calculating it, it had been a long time since he had seen such a bustling scene in the real world.

The noisy crowd, running children, the aroma of food, the atmosphere of the New Year, and—

Krisha standing by his side.

These overlapping elements brought back memories of his life in the magical world.

"Mentor. What… are you thinking about?"

Krisha's eyes looked confused.

Her intuition was really sharp.

Meeting those beautiful, hollow eyes, Xu Xi smiled. "It’s nothing, just suddenly recalling life in Allenson City."

"Krisha, you’ve changed a lot compared to before."

Looking at the witch’s delicate features.

Xu Xi’s mind flashed back to the past—the filthy, stinking alleyways, and the broken, battered body.

A girl holding a small knife, covered in scars.

Speaking in a trembling, fearful voice.

Asking Xu Xi for that tiny piece of bread.

That witch, that Krisha, truly emanated cries for help from every inch of her being.

So much so that Xu Xi couldn’t ignore her.

And now.

Xu Xi could no longer see the desperation in the witch, although her emotions were still hollow, unable to freely express joy or sorrow.

But compared to the pitiful state when they first met, the witch had improved greatly.

Xu Xi felt reassured by this.

And he sincerely hoped that the witch would move toward an even brighter future.

"You don’t like the current me?" Krisha seemed to have misunderstood something, her emotionless face flickering with confusion.

"No, I really like you."

Xu Xi paused, then continued. "I liked the past Krisha, and I still like the current Krisha."

"Because Krisha is very obedient and well-behaved, always so understanding. I think, a Krisha like that, no one would dislike."

Is… that so…

The witch's hands clasped together in front of her chest, at the location of her heart.

The place where her nervous heart resided.

Now, the heart was no longer nervous, yet the witch still maintained the same posture.

Because her heart was beating faster.

"I’m glad you like me, mentor…"

The frail and slender Krisha responded to Xu Xi in a voice devoid of self-will, hollow and soft.

Xu Xi smiled, placing his hand on Krisha’s head, gently ruffling her silver-gray hair.

Krisha was indeed very cute.

It made Xu Xi want to ruffle her hair a few more times.

"Let’s go, Krisha, it’s time to head home."

"Yes, mentor."

The shopping was completely finished, and Xu Xi led the witch out of the supermarket.

Blizzard howled, the raging snowstorm seemed to devour the entire world, making people feel the vastness of nature and the insignificance of themselves, a huge disparity that deeply impressed upon them the awe-inspiring power of nature.

Compared to when they arrived.

The intensity of the blizzard had increased by several levels.

The howling wind carried a chill, and snow danced in the air. Xu Xi had just stepped out of the supermarket when his head was touched by the falling snow.

Under the sunlight.

The black hair and snowflakes' colors grew similar.

As if, in that brief moment, he had sprouted streaks of silvery white hair.

Such a scene was something the witch absolutely could not bear to see. Her hollow eyes stirred with ripples, and in an instant, the world was reversed.

The storm dissipated.

The snow vanished.

The snow on Xu Xi's body was also cleaned away thoroughly.

"I don’t like… the white-haired mentor…"