The Witch's Turn

How to leave this simulated world?

Xu Xi's first thought was to end his own life.

But his younger sister disagreed.

She claimed there was a better way.

"Sword, come!" With a light grasp of her delicate hand, a bloodstained wooden sword materialized, bringing with it the return of supreme authority.

Xu Moli cleaved through infinite space-time, carving a path beyond the boundaries for Xu Xi.

At the same time,

Four other supreme forces

Struck from the outside world in tandem.

The resonance from within and without tore through the chaos, converging into the vast ocean of temporal possibilities, which once again unfolded before Xu Xi.

The path still existed, shimmering with a faint white glow.

Yet, just as before,

Xu Xi remained unable to approach it.

"Brother, let's go," Xu Moli pressed onward, slicing through the white thread that anchored the simulated world, forcibly leaping out of this sea of space-time.

Along the way,

The echoes of four supreme fluctuations reverberated ceaselessly,

Guiding and pinpointing their location.

Their origin? None other than Earth in the real world.

[Ding—]

[Simulation will be forcibly terminated. Host is advised to return to the simulated world to ensure proper progression.]

Soon,

Xu Moli's rapid succession of actions provoked a response from the Life Simulator.

It warned Xu Xi—

Continued deviation from the simulated world would result in forced termination, drastically lowering his evaluation and rewards.

Xu Xi ignored it outright.

This simulation wasn't for the rewards anyway.

"Who knew there was another way to end the simulation?" Watching the fleeting shadows of space-time rush past, Xu Xi couldn't help but marvel.

Indeed.

Ending the simulation through death?

That was the wrong approach all along.

[Ding—]

[You have exited the simulated space-time. This simulation has been forcibly terminated. Evaluation in progress. Rewards being generated.]

[Achievement unlocked: None]

[Simulation summary: None]

[Evaluation: E]

[Host may select one of the following three rewards. Choice will be granted immediately.]

[1. A flower hairpin from the night market]

[2. Half-eaten malt candy]

[3. Crisp, sweet watermelon]

……

"Back already?"

A blink of the eyes, and the infinite play of light and shadow condensed into a single moment, resolving into the familiar courtyard.

Xu Xi lowered his gaze,

Examining his hands—opening, then clenching them.

The surge of transcendent power, the immortal authority that even gods and immortals bowed to, served as undeniable proof.

He had truly returned from the simulated world.

"To think it actually worked…"

After murmuring to himself,

Xu Xi summoned the simulator interface.

Perhaps because there was little to evaluate this time, the simulator processed the results with unprecedented speed—the fastest yet.

"An E-rank evaluation… expected."

"As for the rewards…"

Xu Xi felt the flower hairpin was the best choice, but he hesitated, unwilling to decide just yet.

Instead, he turned to Xu Moli beside him.

After the forced termination, she had returned as well.

Now, she was deep in conversation with Krisha and the others, her expression shifting between frowns and ease.

"Moli, come here."

"Of course, brother."

Xu Moli hurried to his side.

"Moli, about this… cycle, I can retrieve one item. What would you like?"

"Is that so? Then I…"

The girl pondered briefly,

Arriving at the same conclusion as Xu Xi.

She wanted the flower hairpin—and for Xu Xi to place it in her hair once more, this time in the real world.

"Very well."

Xu Xi agreed without hesitation, selecting the first option.

The text on the simulator's interface vanished, replaced by the sudden weight of a hairpin in his palm.

The hairpin was wooden,

Simple in design, adorned with delicate tassels.

Nothing extraordinary.

But because she cherished the one who gave it, she cherished the hairpin just as much.

A precious memory. A precious sentiment.

"There. Perfect."

Gathering her long hair, he secured the hairpin in place.

Just as Xu Xi admired his handiwork, he sensed a gaze boring into his back. Turning, he found Krisha staring at him, her expression unreadable.

"Mentor…"

"I also… want… you."

The witch's flat tone belied the scandalous implication of her words.

Xu Xi understood her true meaning.

She wanted the same private moment.

The same treasured gift.

Krisha struggled with words, but her emotions spilled forth in the restless sway of her silver-gray hair, shimmering alongside those mesmerizing eyes.

This rare initiative from Krisha was not something Xu Xi could refuse.

"Alright."

He agreed.

……

……

Unlike Xu Moli, Krisha had no particular world in mind.

She stood frozen in thought for a long while,

Finally settling on a world that resembled the arcane, yet stood apart—a realm of magic, steam, and dragons.

No gods.

When Xu Xi asked why, Krisha answered thus:

"Magic and steam engines. Familiar."

"Dragons. Good for bloodletting."

"Gods. Obnoxious trash."

Logical. Persuasive.

After resting on Earth for a time, Xu Xi activated the Life Simulator once more, entering the chosen fantasy world with Krisha.

Colossal steam beasts roared across the land.

Mighty knights channeled martial prowess through the wilderness.

Enigmatic mages commanded the elements.

Beastmasters, armies unto themselves, summoned hordes of creatures.

Here, mystical beings thrived, and endless battles and adventures awaited—a paradise for dreamers.

But none of that concerned Xu Xi.

Nor Krisha.

The witch had chosen this place solely for the familiarity of steam and magic—and the dragons, ripe for harvesting.

"Mentor, please wait a moment."

On their first day in this new world,

No sooner had they settled in than Krisha took off, riding the winds. By the time she returned, she was dragging a massive dragon by the tail, its mountainous form scraping the ground behind her.

Yes.

The witch, alone,

Had captured a hundred-meter-long adult dragon.

"Mentor, we can plant dragonblood grass now," she said, her face as impassive as ever—yet somehow expectant.

"Well done, Krisha."

As Xu Xi rested his hand atop her head, stroking her silver-gray hair,

The witch finally seemed satisfied.

"NO!!!"

"I AM THE GREAT HOLY DRAGON, SINLEI ABUBUTAILUN!"

"YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO ME!"

The platinum-scaled beast thrashed in terror. It had mistaken the witch for prey, only to be subdued in an instant.

A light tap.

A super-weak version.

"Ding~~~" The youthful dragon collapsed into slumber.

At last, Krisha was content.

Magic. Steam. A courtyard. Fresh dragonblood grass.

Everything was just like Allenson City.

The time alone with her mentor could finally begin.

Ripples of light shimmered, the dreamlike blue radiance from Krisha's pendant refracting softly.

A mirror of her heart.