Reunion with the Witch

"Perhaps, as more Boundary Ruins merge with Earth, I will once again see Mo Li and Krisha."

Xu Xi slowly rose to his feet.

The empty room was bathed in sunlight, which fell on his eyelids as they fluttered open and closed, highlighting the depth of his past and the scattered strands of his hair.

He turned his head slightly.

Gazing out the window at the rustling leaves.

In Xu Xi's eyes, the passage of time was reflected.

When he first activated the Life Simulator, it was during the scorching heat of summer.

By the time he started the second simulation, summer was already drawing to a close.

Now, more than a month had passed, and the sweltering heat of summer had been swept away by a cool breeze, leaving behind the fragmented and withering signs of autumn.

"Time is truly wondrous."

"It makes one grow, yet also makes one stand still."

Outside, petals drifted in the wind. Xu Xi watched this scene and suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

When thinking of the cold autumn, aside from loneliness and desolation, it also brings to mind warm, comforting food. Xu Xi decided to prepare a hot pot with beef and lamb today.

He stepped out of his bedroom.

Passed through the courtyard filled with Dragon's Blood Grass.

Pushed open the gate and left.

On the street, fiery red maple leaves danced on either side, their fallen counterparts blanketing the ground. Many ordinary pedestrians walked and chatted along the way.

There were couples cuddling and laughing, exuding sweetness.

A family of three held hands, their atmosphere warm and tender.

Friends chased and played with each other, full of joy and delight.

The sounds of the passersby added color to the lonely and desolate autumn, making the cold wind seem less biting.

This scene.

Made Xu Xi recall the two small figures who used to wait for him at the door during the cold winter days.

But alas, they were no longer visible in the real world.

"Better think about what ingredients to buy. I can get a lot today and eat to my heart's content," Xu Xi thought as he entered the supermarket, quickly selecting the items he needed, paying, and heading straight home.

He had no desire for entertainment.

No extravagant hobbies.

For Xu Xi, wasting time on such things was far less appealing than enjoying a good meal or continuing his secluded cultivation.

The former offered a delightful culinary experience, while the latter genuinely enhanced his strength—both far surpassing anything else in his eyes.

"Crunch—"

"Crunch—"

Each step of his shoes landed on the dry leaves, producing crisp echoes, a unique farewell to autumn.

Xu Xi carried a shopping bag filled with ingredients, walking at a leisurely pace.

But the next moment.

His steps came to a halt.

It was abrupt, it was unexpected.

After a long time, as Xu Xi walked the path home, he once again saw the figure standing quietly at the courtyard gate, obediently waiting for his return.

"I'm back, Mentor."

The voice of the witch was as calm as ever.

Flat, devoid of fluctuation, like a quiet stream flowing past the ears, silently carrying everything away.

It was hollow, yet pleasant to hear.

This reunion was so sudden, without warning or signs, yet when it happened, it felt as though it was destined, not something to be surprised about.

What attitude, what words should he use to welcome the returned witch?

"Welcome home, Krisha."

After a moment of stunned silence, Xu Xi's eyes softened. He extended his hand toward the witch, palm facing up, offering a simple gesture of invitation.

Once, he had met the witch in the autumn of a simulated world.

Now, he reunited with her in the autumn of the real world.

It all seemed like an echo of fate.

"Mentor…"

The witch, as still as a doll, trembled slightly. One step, two steps, she moved toward Xu Xi.

Her eyes—black, gold, and red—were a mesmerizing mix of colors, radiating an impulse Xu Xi had never seen before.

"Krisha?" Xu Xi expected the witch to take his hand, but what happened next was far beyond his expectations.

The witch's pace quickened, almost to the point of running, her footsteps echoing like the pounding of a heart, until she wordlessly crashed into Xu Xi's embrace.

Their heartbeats seemed to merge in that moment, time freezing into an eternal infinity.

Krisha held Xu Xi tightly.

So tightly.

"Mentor, I’ve finally… seen you again."

"I’ve been waiting, waiting all this time… You didn’t lie to me… We really met…"

Autumn is a season of sorrow, a time to reminisce with a heavy heart. But at this moment, separation gave way to reunion, and the witch experienced the reunion she had waited a lifetime for.

Dampness seeped through Xu Xi's shirt.

It was the witch's tears.

She hugged him so tightly, as if trying to merge herself into his body, never to part again.

Xu Xi only needed to glance down to see Krisha's delicate face, now brimming with tears. They were not tears of sadness, but of joy.

Warm and bitter, they flowed freely, expressing the emotions in the witch's heart in their own unique way.

"I’m sorry, Krisha, for making you wait so long."

The weight of it all was deeply moving. Xu Xi spoke softly, comforting her.

His hand reached out, as it had countless times before, gently resting on the witch's silver-gray hair, stroking it to give her a sense of security.

Suddenly.

The sound of scattered applause rose around them.

Growing louder, more fervent.

It was only then that Xu Xi noticed a crowd of onlookers had gathered.

They seemed to have misunderstood the situation. Some were moved to tears, others clapped loudly, offering all kinds of blessings.

"This…"

Xu Xi was at a loss for words and could only quickly lead Krisha back into the courtyard.

By the time they returned, Krisha had calmed down. She apologized to Xu Xi, feeling that she had caused unnecessary trouble.

"It’s fine, Krisha."

"That doesn’t matter."

Xu Xi’s voice was soft. With a wave of his hand, water flowed gently, wiping away the tear stains on the witch’s face.

Krisha remained motionless.

Quiet, obedient, sitting still as she watched Xu Xi’s movements.

Her vacant eyes could only see Xu Xi’s face.

The witch herself didn’t quite understand why her body had instinctively shed tears upon seeing Xu Xi, even though she had resolved not to trouble him before their reunion.

Why was that…

Was it because a lost item had returned to its owner’s hand?

Was it because a shadow had found light again?

Or was it because she had found the one she loved?

Krisha didn’t know, and she felt no need to ponder it. Her time of drifting alone had ended, the cold and lonely days were gone. From now on, she only needed to follow Xu Xi’s commands.

"Mentor…"

The silver-haired witch suddenly spoke.

"What is it, Krisha? Is something wrong?"

Xu Xi asked.

"Could you…" Krisha opened her palm, revealing a sapphire necklace she had removed years ago. Its bright blue light sparkled in her hand. "Put this necklace on me again…?"