The Vigilant Witch

Xu Xi opened the cabinet door.

He locked the fourth compartment.

A jet-black identification plate was placed inside by Xu Xi.

In the real world, it was the height of summer. The scorching sunlight, dazzling and radiant, streamed through the window, causing the edges of the identification plate to gleam.

The rust-covered exterior seemed to shine with a silvery luster.

"Without realizing it, I've already collected four items, haven't I?"

Xu Xi took a few slow steps back.

He allowed the four items in the cabinet to come into full view, clear and complete, all at once.

In order, they were: his younger sister's candy jar, the paper flower from the princess, the witch's wand, and the identification plate of the mechanical servant.

The order of display didn't match the order in which he had encountered them.

Xu Xi didn't care about that.

He was merely reflecting on the changes brought by the simulator, the bonds he had formed with others, and the transformation of his own life.

"This simulation lasted..."

"An unprecedented seven hundred years."

"That's several times longer than the combined duration of the previous three simulations."

"Although the simulator's assistance and the influence of the machine spirit's erosion made it feel less tangible, the exhaustion was undeniably real."

"For now, I'll rest in the real world."

The sunlight was serene.

It illuminated the cabinet and also shone on Xu Xi's face.

The scorching summer, with its waves of heat and the chirping of cicadas, always had a way of clearing one's mind.

Xu Xi decided to temporarily stop using the "Beautiful Life Simulator." His strength was already sufficient, and there was no need to rush through simulations like completing tasks one after another.

Compared to simulations,

The real world was the true foundation that mattered.

"I hope that in the days to come, Mo Li and the others can get along well."

Xu Xi reached out, gently closing the glass door of the cabinet and securing the latch, ensuring both doors were perfectly shut.

Thus,

The fourth simulation came to a complete end.

Although the outcome of the simulation didn't align much with his original intentions—failing to uncover the true nature of the Beautiful Life Simulator—Xu Xi was generally satisfied.

"If there had been no spiritual awakening..."

"If there had been no life simulation..."

"What kind of life would I have lived?"

The empty room was bathed in silent sunlight, with faint specks of dust illuminated and floating in the air.

Xu Xi thought.

It would have been a normal, peaceful life.

A life of routine work, earning a modest wage, experiencing the repetitive days, and going through the natural cycle of life, aging, and death.

Whether such a life would have been good or bad,

Xu Xi couldn't judge, but he would choose his current life. Not because the world of spiritual awakening was particularly wonderful, but because there were important people by his side.

"Let's see what Krisha and the others are up to."

Xu Xi smiled.

No longer dwelling on the past,

He stepped out of the bedroom, walked through the quiet corridor, and arrived at the courtyard filled with dragon's blood grass.

The time spent reviewing the simulation's gains wasn't long.

When he stepped outside, the sunlight filtered through the brick lattice, casting dappled shadows through the gaps in the leaves, creating a tranquil and serene scene.

But unexpectedly,

Xu Xi didn't see the witch or the princess.

Instead, he saw another familiar figure.

"Mo Li?"

In the golden sunlight, the girl stood with her back to Xu Xi, bent over as she carefully trimmed the dragon's blood grass and other plants.

It was a posture Xu Xi had seen many times before.

In the Heavenly Sword Sect during the first simulation,

A young Xu Moli had been just as focused and meticulous, filling the cold, empty cave dwelling with pots of vibrant flowers.

"Brother~~"

Hearing Xu Xi's voice, the girl put down her scissors.

With a playful smile,

She turned to face Xu Xi.

The two walked side by side and sat down in a corner of the courtyard, shaded by the greenery above and sheltered by the walls on the side, keeping the heat at bay.

"Mo Li, when did you get back?"

"Just now."

"I see. Have you seen Krisha and Yingxue?"

"Perhaps... they went to clean your room."

From Xu Moli's words, Xu Xi learned of the whereabouts of the witch and the princess. He hesitated, unsure of what to say.

He had just left the room.

And they happened to go in right after?

Besides, it was in Krisha's nature to clean the room—that made sense.

But why was Wu Yingxue getting involved?

"Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this..." A faint chill crept into the summer air.

Xu Xi looked up slightly, his eyes reflecting the green hues of the intertwined leaves above, deciding not to dwell on it.

The children had grown up.

Their wings had hardened.

He couldn't control them, nor did he want to.

After all, nothing major would happen—it was probably just a dispute over the order of the items in the cabinet.

Thinking this, Xu Xi felt reassured and instead began discussing the matter of Earth's ascension with Xu Moli.

"Everything is going smoothly, brother."

"Don't worry, I'm not tired."

"Whenever you need me, Mo Li will be there for you."

As she spoke,

The girl's gaze occasionally drifted toward Xu Xi's bedroom.

She knew, of course she knew, that a fourth item had appeared in the cabinet.

But that didn't matter.

Xu Moli had enough experience to understand that some things couldn't be stopped. Rather than worrying or being on guard, it was better to seize the real opportunities.

And besides—

That aura.

The one who should be concerned was someone else.

"Brother."

"What is it, Mo Li?"

"I suddenly feel a little tired. Can I rest my head on your shoulder?"

...

Meanwhile,

In Xu Xi's bedroom.

Two figures stood in front of the cabinet, gazing at the fourth compartment—one looked serious, while the other was expressionless.

The atmosphere was particularly tense.

The one who looked serious seemed the most focused.

But upon closer observation, it was clear that the expressionless witch was the one most affected.

Formless and shapeless elements swirled around her,

Collapsing into their primal states.

"Sir's reincarnations... they weren't just three times... This is troublesome."

Staring at the black identification plate in the fourth compartment,

"This is difficult," Wu Yingxue furrowed her brows, her fingers curling as she rested her chin on them, showing a troubled expression.

A low hum—

The swirling elements caught her attention.

"What? Do you recognize it?" Wu Yingxue noticed that the witch, upon seeing the identification plate, had entered a state of alertness.

She was on the verge of pulling out her wand to annihilate it physically.

"I don't recognize it..."

The witch replied, her tone cold yet serious. "But it is the same as me..."

The same?

What did that mean?

The princess was puzzled. She glanced at Krisha, then at the metallic object, and gradually, a look of realization dawned on her face.

Ah, so that's what she meant by "the same."