Smiles Only for Xu (4K Remastered)

A plain yet heartwarming dinner.

It was their final meal together.

And also the last chapter of their story.

Xu Xi had originally intended to complete it alone, to draw a perfect conclusion, but the Witch held the same thought and stubbornly refused to leave.

In the end,

the dinner was prepared by the two of them together.

The ingredients used were specialties they had gathered from different regions over the past few months.

Such as sandstone dragon meat from the desert,

ice-scale fish from the frigid winterlands,

and volcano-roasted salt-pepper lava worms.

The dishes weren’t much to look at, but each carried the distinct flavors of their origins, offering a unique and memorable taste.

"Munch—"

"Munch—"

Krisha ate quietly, but her expressionless chewing often reminded Xu Xi of a hamster—adorably vacant.

"...Mentor?"

The Witch’s intuition remained sharp.

"It’s nothing, Krisha. Keep eating."

Xu Xi smiled, reassuring her not to worry as he too enjoyed the meal.

"You seem to be thinking something impolite."

"Is that so? Then it must be Krisha’s imagination."

Xu Xi deftly soothed Krisha, ensuring she wouldn’t dwell on it.

When dinner ended,

night had fallen, the full moon hanging high.

Xu Xi and Krisha returned to their respective rooms, preparing to leave this fantastical world once they awoke.

Yet, Xu Xi found it hard to sleep.

"Whoosh—!!"

"Whoosh—!!"

Fierce winds battered the windows.

The howling gale rattled the panes violently.

Xu Xi lay back on the bed, watching the swaying trees outside as his thoughts drifted far away.

"I feel… like I haven’t done enough."

The thought surfaced in his heart.

He thought of Krisha, of long ago, of every little moment from the second simulation.

Being robbed at knifepoint in a filthy alleyway.

Bringing the girl back to a safe courtyard.

Teaching her words, teaching her magic.

Nurturing her values, shaping her character.

Xu Xi remembered it all clearly—the Witch’s early struggles with magic, the gifts exchanged during the New Year.

And he especially remembered the moment Allenson City was destroyed, when Krisha’s eyes transformed.

That was the true turning point in the Witch’s fate.

From a lowly, flawed demonkin, she ascended into a miracle beyond even the gods.

Yet from that moment on, an immense gap in lifespan stretched between Xu Xi and Krisha.

In the dazed latter half of his life, Xu Xi often fell unconscious, relying entirely on Krisha’s care to barely survive until his natural end.

Even now,

Xu Xi still remembered.

Near the conclusion of the second simulation, the Witch had spoken the heaviest words in the calmest tone.

"The day before yesterday, I was with you. Yesterday, I was with you. Today, I am still with you—until you wake."

Because of this,

Xu Xi’s heart always carried guilt toward the Witch.

He felt it was his fault she had waited so long.

Slowly, Xu Xi closed his eyes. Drowsiness crept in, and he could no longer resist.

Yet, just before truly falling asleep, his mind still wandered, pondering how he could possibly repay the Witch’s profound devotion.

"Far from enough…"

"Six months of companionship can’t compare to the time Krisha waited for me."

Xu Xi murmured softly.

He wanted to keep making it up to her.

But Krisha refused. She had her own wishes—for Xu Xi to reach the Path of Possibility’s Sea sooner, to fulfill the dream he had always carried.

Devotion was mutual.

Feelings were reciprocal.

"Sleep first…"

Amid the quiet winds, Xu Xi’s breathing steadied as his weary eyes shut at last.

When the room finally fell silent, submerged in the night’s embrace,

a figure quietly appeared.

Sitting by the bed.

With the stillness of eternity, she gazed at that familiar sleeping face, waiting for the next day’s awakening, waiting for the next day’s reunion.

She knew Xu Xi’s body was healthy.

Yet her heart couldn’t help but grieve. Only by seeing him, only by touching him, could her anxious heart find peace.

"Mentor…"

The Witch gently held Xu Xi’s hand.

It was warm—devoid of the wrinkles of age, untouched by the fragility of death.

Pale moonlight streamed through the window, casting a glow over Xu Xi’s hand, accentuating its youthfulness.

Even so,

the Witch couldn’t ease her worry.

She sat there, by Xu Xi’s bedside, keeping silent vigil until the break of dawn.

When Xu Xi opened his eyes, waking from his dreams,

it was like time repeating itself.

The first thing he saw was Krisha’s face.

The first thing he heard was Krisha’s greeting.

"Good morning, Mentor."

"Good morning, Krisha."

Xu Xi hesitated before asking, "Krisha… why are you in my room?"

"Because I was worried for your safety."

"Worried?"

"Yes. Very worried."

Krisha’s reply was utterly calm, devoid of inflection, yet it stirred something deep in the listener—aching, even heartbreaking.

The clumsy Witch knew no sweet words.

She only knew how to express the emotions surging in her heart through action.

Holding Xu Xi’s hand.

Keeping vigil all night.

This was the Witch’s unique brand of clumsiness.

"I’m sorry, Krisha. For making you worry about me for so long."

Xu Xi sat up, softening his expression as he gently soothed the anxious Witch.

After a pause, he explained the reason for his exhaustion—staying up too late the night before, lost in thought.

"Actually, I’ve been thinking…"

"What could I possibly give you, to make up for all the time you waited for me?"

Make up for it?

Krisha shook her head blankly. "Mentor, I don’t need compensation."

The Witch never believed Xu Xi owed her anything. Nor did she believe her devotion outweighed his.

What he had given her was a salvation spanning a lifetime.

A light that had burned to the very end, striving to illuminate her path.

In Krisha’s heart, no one mattered more than Xu Xi.

Waiting to reunite with him was the sole purpose of her existence.

Thus,

compensation was unnecessary.

"Are you sure you don’t need anything, Krisha?"

"Yes. Just meeting you was enough for me."

Krisha nodded slightly, her mesmerizing divine eyes still reflecting only Xu Xi.

If anything,

Krisha believed she was the one who should be making amends.

She had intruded into Xu Xi’s room without permission, acting on her own—already a grave mistake.

"Mentor…"

"Do you think… this apology is acceptable…?"

In the morning sunlight,

Krisha sat quietly by the bed, her gray hair cascading like a waterfall, her expression serene.

She raised both hands, curling all fingers except her index fingers.

Then, she pulled at the corners of her lips,

stretching them into a smile.

"Krisha, you—"

Xu Xi froze.

Before him was a flawless smile—gentle, beautiful, with a hint of vacant charm.

"Mentor… how is it…?"

Krisha tilted her head, maintaining the pose as she asked.

"It’s lovely."

"Uniquely, unmistakably Krisha’s kind of lovely."

"Ha… hahaha!"

Xu Xi laughed.

Laughed louder than he had in a long time.

It was a laugh layered with emotions—relief, release, joy—something Krisha couldn’t quite grasp.

All she knew was that Xu Xi loved her smile.

And so,

the Witch’s smile grew even more natural.

Even without her fingers propping it up,

it remained on her face—soft, radiant.

This was a smile reserved solely for Xu Xi.

...

"Mentor, it's time for us to return."

After breakfast.

Just as Xu Moli had done.

Krisha held her magic wand and lightly tapped the barrier of space-time, using the authority of a Supreme Deity to carve open a passage leading to the chaotic myriad realms.

"Mm, let's go."

Xu Xi stepped forward.

Standing beside Krisha.

The two traversed the chaos, brushing past endless flickering reflections of time and space, arriving at the turbulent and intricate Sea of Possibilities.

That mysterious path still existed here.

This time.

Xu Xi merely glanced at it before ignoring it, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to tread upon it.

"Mentor, please hold my hand," Krisha waved her wand, summoning even more turbulent spatial energies to ripple across the Sea of Possibilities, pulling Xu Xi out of the simulated world.

Simultaneously, at the distant horizon, four supreme forces assisted in anchoring their position.

[Ding—]

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

An overwhelming sense of detachment surged through Xu Xi’s entire being.

Infinite reflections of time and space unfolded beneath his feet.

Each reflection represented a new possibility, a realm he had yet to explore.

But soon, all these temporal reflections shattered, vanishing like fragile bubbles.

[Ding—]

[You have exited the simulated spacetime. This simulation has been forcibly concluded. Calculating simulation evaluation... Generating rewards...]

[Achievement unlocked: None]

[Simulation summary: None]

[Simulation evaluation: E]

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

[1. Platinum Dragonblood Grass]

[2. Blueprint for a Cathedral]

[3. Winter Scarf]

...

"Mentor, we’re back."

A calm voice whispered by his ear, like a breeze rustling through leaves or a babbling brook—a sound unique to Krisha, a melody only she could produce.

When Xu Xi opened his eyes.

The sorceress had already changed into a maid outfit and brought him a cup of steaming tea.

So quickly.

It hardly seemed like they had just returned from a simulated world.

"Thank you, Krisha," Xu Xi murmured softly.

A sip of the hot tea cleared his mind, helping him readjust to the reality of the real world.

"Krisha, is there anything you'd like?"

Xu Xi called the girl over.

He explained the three reward options available to her.

"Mentor, I..."

Krisha pondered seriously. "Could I trouble you to bring back that scarf?"

Dragonblood Grass wasn’t rare.

In the courtyard of the real world, plenty of it grew.

The cathedral blueprint might have intrigued Krisha slightly, but it paled in comparison to the scarf gifted by Xu Xi.

"Of course."

Xu Xi smiled in agreement.

He summoned the simulation panel, confirmed the third option, and soon, a familiar scarf materialized in his hands.

It was then promptly treasured away by the sorceress.

Earth in the real world wasn’t in the midst of autumn or winter—there was no need for a scarf to ward off the cold.

Besides.

Rather than using it daily.

Krisha preferred to preserve it, reserving it only for special occasions.

"Sir! Sir!"

"My turn! My turn!"

Once Krisha’s matters were settled, Xu Xi leisurely sipped his tea, savoring the peaceful aftermath of the simulation.

But then Wu Yingxue came rushing over.

Her face alight with excitement.

"This..."

"Alright, but I’ll need some rest first."

Xu Xi chuckled helplessly, agreeing to Wu Yingxue’s request all the same.

He was beginning to understand.

What the five girls had been discussing among themselves—no doubt, the mechanical maid and the warrior were already waiting in line.

Thinking about it, the road ahead seemed long indeed.

...

...

A month later in the real world.

Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue’s simulation began.

After much deliberation, the noblewoman chose a world reminiscent of martial arts—but without the scourge of demons.

No demons, because she detested them.

A martial world, because of a childhood dream.

Young Wu Yingxue.

Had grown up on tales of chivalry, dreaming of becoming a great hero. But life had taken too many twists, and she never lived the life she once imagined.

Now, she wanted to try.

"Sir, is this alright?"

"Of course."

Hearing Xu Xi’s answer, Wu Yingxue beamed. "I knew you’d agree."

The simulation began.

A journey through time and space.

As Xu Xi activated the Life Simulator, he and Wu Yingxue arrived in a low-martial world of rivers and lakes.

Here, there were no man-eating demons, no wars waged by countless races.

All that existed.

Was an empire ruling over mortals.

And the martial world, naturally formed by warriors gathering together.

"Sir, just wait—I’ll become the world’s greatest and show you!"

On the first day of the simulation.

Wu Yingxue was brimming with confidence.

She declared that even if she suppressed her supreme cultivation and fought with one hand tied behind her back, she could still dominate the martial world and become its undisputed leader.

"Alright, I’ll be waiting."

Xu Xi smiled in response.

He believed in the noblewoman’s strength.

Supreme mastery wasn’t earned through empty boasts.

Through her journey, Wu Yingxue’s skill and experience had long surpassed warriors across myriad realms. Becoming the world’s best was merely a matter of time.

And as expected.

In just half a month.

Wu Yingxue stood unrivaled, crushing every renowned sect and master with a single strike.

The martial world was stunned.

The imperial court was stunned.

Wu Yingxue’s title of "Spear Immortal" spread across the land.

Even Xu Xi gained fame by association.

"What? He’s the man behind the Spear Immortal?!"

"Hiss—"

"A role model for us all."

People seemed to have misunderstood something, their gazes toward Xu Xi often filled with envy and jealousy.

But soon, all such discussions vanished without a trace.

"Sir, being a hero isn’t as fun as I thought..."

"It’s much more boring than I imagined..."

After becoming the world’s greatest, Wu Yingxue was deeply disappointed. She poured out her grievances to Xu Xi, lamenting the hypocrisy of noble sects and the uselessness of outdated traditions.

"Then don’t be a hero."

Xu Xi listened gently to her frustrations and offered his advice.

Not long after.

A shocking rumor spread through the martial world.

The newly appointed leader of the martial alliance had run away with her kept lover, vanishing without a trace.

"Investigate!"

"Leave no stone unturned!"

Every notable faction in the martial world turned its attention to the matter.

Yet no matter how hard they searched, Wu Yingxue, the famed "Spear Immortal," and Xu Xi beside her, left not a single clue behind.

As if they had evaporated from the world itself.