The Witch's Dilemma

Xu Xi returned to Earth alone.

The princess had decided to stay in the martial world to learn some post-marriage etiquette and knowledge.

"With Ying Xue's personality, can she really calm down and learn anything?"

Dappled light, the size of a coin, filtered through the gaps in the treetops, gently brushing past Xu Xi's cheek and landing on the asphalt road.

Xu Xi turned around.

He looked towards the empty space behind him.

His thoughts gradually drifted away.

It was an ordinary summer, so ordinary that people's lives remained unchanged, and the hands of fate had not shifted their course.

The sky was clear, the sun was bright, and tranquility and harmony unfolded before Xu Xi's eyes, yet his heart was stirred by the ripples of the impending wedding.

He had prepared everything.

Yet the rustling sound of the wind passing through the leaves seemed to remind him.

Xu Xi wasn't as calm as he thought.

"Let's head back to the courtyard first. Once Servia is ready, I'll need to visit again."

He pushed open the gate.

Walked along the path.

The summer sun had baked every inch of the courtyard's land to a scorching temperature.

As Xu Xi entered the courtyard, the first thing he saw was the witch holding a magnifying glass, observing the dragon blood grass with a focused and indifferent expression, nodding occasionally.

"You're back, Mentor."

Noticing Xu Xi's approach, Krisha lifted her head from the plants.

She still held the magnifying glass in her hand.

The lens aligned with her eye.

From Xu Xi's perspective, Krisha's eyes were magnified by the lens, their clear and beautiful color blinking calmly, like the reflection of a lake in the sky.

"Yes, I'm back, Krisha."

"What are you doing with the magnifying glass?"

Xu Xi walked up to Krisha, observing the witch with a calm expression, her gray-silver hair fluttering in the wind as she held up the magnifying glass to examine the leaves of the dragon blood grass.

"I'm trying to increase the yield of the dragon blood grass."

Krisha answered truthfully.

Her gray-silver hair draped over her neck and shoulders, resembling overlapping ripples of water, covering the sea-blue necklace on her chest.

She paused slightly before continuing, "I think if we can increase the yield of the dragon blood grass, we can weave plenty of decorations for the wedding."

The witch had a particular fondness for the dragon blood grass series.

And she was passionate about cultivating it herself.

If she were to use supreme power, she could create a large quantity of dragon blood grass in an instant, but the witch was unwilling to do so.

"That method lacks soul, Mentor."

Krisha Christina said as much.

Looking at the earnest face of the girl, Xu Xi recalled the distant red dragon in the capital and decided to say a few words on its behalf.

"Krisha."

"Yes, Mentor."

"Regarding the dragon blood grass, there's no need to be too concerned. It's merely a decoration and won't affect the wedding."

"...You're right."

Krisha tilted her head, put away the magnifying glass, and quietly stood beside Xu Xi.

Walking together.

Returning to the house with Xu Xi.

"Have you met Miss Ying Xue's parents, Mentor?"

"Yes, we had a pleasant conversation."

"Is that so... that's good."

The princess's secretive "elopement" had not gone unnoticed.

In fact.

Aside from Servia, who had returned to the wizard world, the other supreme beings noticed the princess's little actions.

The reason they didn't intervene was quite legitimate.

With the wedding approaching, a son-in-law visiting his future in-laws and delivering wedding invitations is something beyond reproach.

"Mentor."

As she passed the kitchen.

Krisha paused.

Her delicate face turned slightly, her gaze fixed on the kitchen table: "Are you hungry?"

Following the witch's line of sight, Xu Xi saw several dishes prepared on the table, along with a pot of Ailei's nourishing soup.

The rich broth covered the surface of the dishes.

It emitted an enticing aroma.

Truth be told, Xu Xi wasn't hungry, having been lavishly entertained at the Wu family.

"…," however, when faced with Krisha's eyes, words of refusal wouldn't come out.

Expectation and anticipation.

Were contained within those eyes.

Silent, yet intense.

"I am a bit hungry, Krisha," Xu Xi replied.

"I'll prepare it for you right away," the witch's smile flickered, the curve at the corner of her mouth disappearing so quickly it made one doubt whether it was just an illusion.

She swiftly.

Removed the time magic from the dishes for Xu Xi.

Restoring them to their freshly cooked, optimal temperature.

"Thank you, Krisha," Xu Xi extended his palm, rubbing the top of the witch's head, a gesture that brought her the most comfort.

Seated, holding chopsticks.

Xu Xi savored the delicious meal, while Krisha sat quietly beside him, her hands folded neatly on her lap, looking calm and obedient.

From time to time.

The two discussed the details of the wedding arrangements.

Most issues had already been settled; now they were merely confirming the final details.

"Krisha."

"Your mother, aren't you planning to invite her?"

At the dining table, Xu Xi scooped up a shrimp with a spoon, offering it to the witch sitting beside him.

Ah-woo—

The witch opened her mouth expressionlessly and swallowed.

Afterwards, she politely wiped her lips with a white napkin: "Thank you for your concern, but my mother has already entered the cycle of reincarnation, and I respect her choice."

Memories flickered like a hazy light.

In Krisha's mind.

Finally, the blurred images crystallized into clear scenes. At the moment she became a supreme deity, while trying to resurrect Xu Xi, the witch also attempted to bring back her biological mother.

Naturally.

This attempt succeeded.

The succubus escaped the fate of death, appearing before Krisha once more in perfect form.

However, at that time, the succubus did not show much excitement.

Her past experiences of imprisonment and torture had led her to view life and death indifferently, wishing only to forget her memories and enter the cycle of reincarnation, to begin a new life in an unknown future.

"Krisha."

Before reincarnation, she called her daughter's name.

"You and I are different."

"Go and seize it bravely, in the way of the demon race."