This is So Chrissa

"Krisha, the shovel."

Sunlight bathed the earth, making all things shimmer with brilliance.

In the garden of their newly purchased estate,

Xu Xi took the shovel and dug small, shallow pits in the flowerbed. Clumps of soil tumbled loose, and the wind carried the faint scent of earth through the air.

"Krisha, the seeds."

The witch moved swiftly,

handing over the carefully prepared premium grass seeds.

Xu Xi evenly distributed them, scattering them into each shallow pit before covering them with soil and gently patting the surface—firm, but not overly compacted.

"Krisha, the dragon's blood."

"Yes, Mentor."

Finally, the witch brought forth a large flask of fresh dragon’s blood.

Xu Xi gripped the handle and poured it over the flowerbed, letting it seep deep into the soil and seeds.

There. All done.

Satisfied, Xu Xi nodded in approval.

Brushing the dirt from his hands, he admired the newly planted Bloodgrass with pride.

"I hope that dragon learns its lesson and stops hunting humans for blood."

Xu Xi gazed upward.

Sunlight streamed through the blue sky and drifting clouds.

The mountain ridges stood bright and clear, every leaf on the trees distinct. In the distance, the panicked silhouette of a fleeing dragon could still be seen.

None other than

the Platinum Holy Dragon, Sinlei Abubutailun—

the very same dragon that had once tried to hunt Krisha,

only to be slaughtered by the witch instead.

Before leaving, the dragon had sworn solemnly that it would never repeat such actions, vowing to behave itself henceforth.

And so, Xu Xi had given it a chance.

"Dragons are notoriously prideful. Let’s hope it doesn’t do anything foolish," Xu Xi mused. The current supply of dragon’s blood was more than enough, but he wouldn’t mind a few extra barrels.

"Let’s head inside, Krisha. We still have much to do today."

"Yes, Mentor."

Xu Xi took Krisha’s slender, pale hand and led her into the estate.

Their new home

was a slightly secluded noble manor—

spacious, tranquil, and elegantly understated.

Purchased outright by the witch. No further explanation needed.

The interior was fully furnished, but personal habits varied. To truly settle in, a thorough reorganization was still required.

"Mentor, please let me handle this."

The fountain’s water shot high into the air,

arching gracefully before cascading down onto the flowers on either side.

Krisha wore an outfit of black and white, her skirt adorned with lace trim, her silver-gray hair resting softly on her shoulders—exuding an air of quiet grace.

She believed

that tidying the house

was not a task for Xu Xi.

But Xu Xi only smiled. "It’s fine, Krisha. I don’t have anything else to do right now."

In this world, though supernatural forces existed,

Xu Xi had no intention of cultivating them.

It was pointless—a distraction from his true purpose.

He had entered this simulation to accompany Krisha, nothing more.

"Come, Krisha. Tonight, I’ll cook."

"Eh…?"

The witch blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting this.

But she quickly recovered, hurrying after Xu Xi, stepping on his elongated shadow as they walked beneath the warm sunlight.

This wasn’t Allenson City.

Nor was it the world of magic.

Yet the "sun" still shone brightly, guiding the witch forward.

......

Tidying the manor didn’t take long.

Neither Xu Xi nor Krisha was particularly particular about their living space.

After rearranging a few pieces of furniture

and dusting the surfaces,

the task was complete.

Then, Xu Xi prepared a lavish meal.

The sky outside was thick with darkness, the remnants of sunset casting an orange-red glow like a brush lightly sweeping over the earth.

With the help of that fading light and the assistance of the witch,

Xu Xi managed to complete the first dinner in the simulated world before nightfall. The aroma wafted through the air, the steam rising, dispelling the cold emptiness of the overly spacious house.

"What's wrong, Krisha?"

"..."

The witch paused mid-bite, her unusual stillness catching Xu Xi's attention.

"It's wonderful, Mentor..."

"Being able to be with you like this... it's truly wonderful..."

A few strands of silvery-gray hair fell across Krisha's forehead,

delicate and wispy,

drifting before her mesmerizing eyes—black, gold, and red.

Those eyes had once been bright yet fragile, filled with a lifeless gloom.

But now, Xu Xi could see his own reflection in them, along with a faint flicker of joy.

The witch was happy.

Happy to be alone with Xu Xi.

Though it was fleeting, Xu Xi clearly saw the ripples of emotion in her heart.

"There's plenty of time, Krisha."

Xu Xi's expression softened as he placed a thick slice of meat into Krisha's bowl.

This action

seemed to trigger something.

Krisha tilted her head slightly, first looking at her own bowl, then at Xu Xi's, before making a decision.

"Mentor, you should have this."

"And this."

"And this too."

In an instant, Krisha piled a small mountain of food into Xu Xi's bowl.

Then,

with her hollow gaze fixed on him,

she waited until Xu Xi, both amused and touched, thanked her—"Thank you, Krisha"—before she resumed eating her own meal like a triumphant general.

That was just like Krisha.

...

Late at night,

Xu Xi prepared to sleep.

The mansion stood solemnly in the hazy darkness, the constellations outside the window shimmering brightly, accompanied by the occasional swift passage of wind-attributed magical beasts.

Xu Xi only glanced at them before drawing the curtains.

After a full day of work,

it was only natural for his mortal body in the simulation to feel exhausted.

But—

"Krisha, aren't you leaving yet?" In the dim candlelit room, Xu Xi turned to the witch sitting quietly in the corner, her indifferent expression tinged with seriousness.

"Mentor, I must ensure your safety."

The witch spoke firmly.

"Your current body is very fragile. Only by staying by your side can I guarantee absolute security."

Krisha was resolute.

She knew that death in the simulated world wouldn’t truly kill Xu Xi.

But she refused to witness such a scene.

The witch rejected anything that might cause Xu Xi pain.

Xu Xi chuckled. "That won’t be necessary, Krisha."

"Didn’t you already set up a protective barrier in my room? It can withstand any attack."

Krisha shook her head. "It’s not enough... far from enough..."

She wanted to stay in Xu Xi’s room until he awoke.

"But what about your own rest, Krisha?" Xu Xi gently persuaded her.

Finally,

they reached a delicate compromise.

Krisha would stay in the adjacent room, ensuring she could react immediately if any danger arose.

"Time to sleep."

Having eased the girl’s worries,

Xu Xi returned to his bedroom and, succumbing to exhaustion, quickly fell asleep upon the bed.

The crescent moon glided beyond the veil of mist.

His thoughts drifted past clusters of stars.

Accompanying those weary musings into dreams.