The Illusory Moon Turns Real

The galaxy stretches vast and boundless.

Starlight paves the path.

Countless shimmering stars form a dreamlike celestial road spanning the heavens, reserved solely for Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue to tread upon.

This is a miracle made real.

A dazzling mystery illuminating the night.

Hand in hand, Xu Xi leads Wu Yingxue toward the end of the starry path. Yet, when only one-tenth of the distance remains—just as they are about to reach the summit of Jun Mountain—Wu Yingxue halts.

"I'm so tired, Sir~~"

"I suddenly don't..."

The girl's voice trails off. She had intended to use her usual excuse, claiming exhaustion, a lack of strength, and a desire to rest on Xu Xi's back.

But before she could finish—

Xu Xi crouches down first, bending slightly.

"Hop on."

His voice carries a hint of resignation, laced with indulgence.

"Hehe, Sir always understands me best!"

The princess giggles, her cheeks flushed in the darkness, though the rosy hue remains unseen.

With practiced ease, she leaps onto Xu Xi's back, letting him carry her—now "utterly exhausted"—step by step along the final stretch of the starry road, onward toward the glittering constellations.

And this—

This is precisely the "atmosphere" Wu Yingxue desired.

Here, far from the earth yet not quite touching the sky, the starry path is enveloped in profound silence.

Only the sound of footsteps beneath them, the presence of the one she holds dear before her, and the faint whisper of wind against her ears weave together into an intimate, blissful space meant solely for the two of them.

"Sir."

The girl's arms encircle Xu Xi's neck, pressing close, clinging tightly.

"Does it ever bother you... when I act like this?"

"Not at all."

Though Wu Yingxue cannot see Xu Xi's face, his gentle tone remains unchanged—the same Xu Xi she has always known.

"You’re already being considerate of me, aren’t you?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have waited until now to ask me to carry you."

Xu Xi sees through the princess’s little scheme.

She didn’t make this request at the start.

Nor did she ask midway.

Instead, she waited until the very end, when only a short distance remained, to playfully demand his attention.

Why?

The answer is simple: the girl worried that a longer distance might strain Xu Xi’s body.

After all, in this simulated world, Xu Xi is merely an ordinary man.

"So you noticed all along, Sir..."

Wu Yingxue blinks.

Above them, the stars blaze brilliantly, the Milky Way cascading in endless radiance. The deep night is illuminated solely by the celestial path guiding them forward—delicate yet shimmering.

The galaxy flows like liquid through the girl’s fingertips.

She tightens her embrace, ensuring she won’t slip from Xu Xi’s back.

"Sir, walk slower."

Is it fear of being jostled off?

Or a longing to prolong this fleeting moment?

Wu Yingxue doesn’t say.

Instead, she rests her head against Xu Xi’s shoulder, gazing at the pristine night sky, watching the stars flicker like fragments of a dream.

"Sir."

The girl speaks suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Will we... always be like this in the future?"

"Of course."

"You won’t fall asleep again, will you?"

"Never again."

"Is that so...?"

Seemingly reassured, a faint smile graces Wu Yingxue’s lips.

"Then I’ll trust your words, Sir."

"The stars are so beautiful tonight. Don’t you think, Sir?"

The boundless cosmos reflects in Wu Yingxue’s eyes—vivid, dazzling.

Once, she would have naively tried counting every star.

But now, she no longer cares to.

Rather than tallying the heavens, she’d rather embrace her own moon.

The gentle moon cradles her fragile heart, lifting her into the resplendent sea of stars, transforming that illusory reflection into something real.

With every step forward,

With every blink of her eyes,

Fragments of memory resurface—vivid, overwhelming.

From the day she fell wounded into his home,

To the fear and confusion that followed,

And finally, her resolve to survive.

Each recollection sharpens as the starry path shortens, stirring emotions so intense they threaten tears.

The one she longed for day and night now carries her on his back, completing the final stretch of their journey, stepping toward tomorrow’s future.

Silently, Wu Yingxue holds Xu Xi even tighter.

......

Time passes.

At last, the starry road ends.

As Xu Xi steps off its shimmering edge, his feet meet the solid rock of Jun Mountain’s peak—the highest point in this world.

Clouds swirl below, mountain ridges stretch endlessly, and the vast sky feels close enough to touch.

"Sir, you can put me down now."

Wu Yingxue slides off, then swiftly casts a protective charm over Xu Xi, shielding his mortal body from the harsh altitude.

Then, with a playful grin, she tugs at his sleeve.

"Sir, let’s lie down and watch the stars together!"

"Can we? Please?"

"Of course."

Xu Xi agrees. His nature has always been thus—rarely refusing, especially such small requests.

Side by side, they recline on the cold mountain stone, gazing upward at the infinite expanse.

Stars dot the heavens like brushstrokes on a grand canvas.

Though in the real world, Xu Xi has long since traversed the cosmos as a peerless force, he still cherishes this perspective—the awe of beholding the universe in its entirety.

"Sir."

Amid the quiet night, Wu Yingxue suddenly speaks.

"Do you remember... I still owe you rent?"

"I do. Why bring it up now?"

Back in Qingniu Town, Wu Yingxue had stayed at Xu Xi’s home twice.

The first time, she paid with cultivation elixirs.

The second time, penniless, she left the debt unsettled.

Xu Xi never pressed her.

Nor did he ever intend to collect.

Yet now, the girl insists.

She rolls onto her side, her eyes gleaming in the dark as she inches closer to Xu Xi.

"Sir, debts must be repaid. That’s only right."

"There’s no need. That was so long ago."

Xu Xi hesitates.

But Wu Yingxue refuses his kindness.

She insists—she must repay him.

And she’ll do so with something special.

"I..."

Her cheeks flush. Her usually bold voice softens into something sweet, almost shy.

"Love... you... most... Sir~~"

Then, with a teasing puff, she blows gently against his ear.

In that instant—

The world stills.

The starry sky seems to shatter, fracturing into chaotic hues. Thunder rumbles; lightning writhes through the clouds.

No—

Not seems.

With a deafening crack, the heavens truly split apart.

Space and time unravel, forcibly ejected into a sea of possibilities. Four supreme forces seize Xu Xi, dragging him back to Earth.

[Ding—]

[Simulation forcibly terminated. Host must return to maintain continuity.]

[Ding—]

[You have exited the simulated timeline. Session concluded. Evaluating performance... Generating rewards...]

[Achievements unlocked: None]

[Simulation summary: None]

[Final rating: E]

[Select one of the following rewards:]

[1. The Supreme Token of the Martial Alliance Leader]

[2. A Calligraphy Scroll (Error-Corrected Edition)]

[3. A Trinket from the Market]

With a blink of an eye, Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue found themselves back on Earth.

Gazing at his sister, the enchantress, the mechanical servant, and the valiant warrior standing right before him,

Xu Xi desperately wanted to offer some excuse—

No, wait—an explanation.