Chapter 284: You Will Always Be My Master

"Must I always be happy, Brother Xu?"

"Yes, you must always be happy."

The marriage proposal began.

A-Niu carried bags and packages of gifts.

Some were homemade pastries, others were fruits purchased from Yanshan City.

With steady arms, using his martial arts cultivation, he carried those heavy gifts toward the house on the other side of the city outskirts.

A-Niu and his elderly mother were in front, with Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue following behind.

"Master, do we count as matchmakers like this?"

While walking, the Princess asked curiously, her hands clasped behind her back, bending over and leaning forward to gaze at Xu Xi's face.

Her eyes were sparkling and bright, reflecting Xu Xi's silhouette.

"I think…"

"Both yes and no?"

"It's more like being a witness to the wedding than a matchmaker."

Xu Xi pondered for a moment before giving a vague answer.

The most important part of a marriage proposal is the matchmaking process, but now, A-Niu had already completed that himself long ago.

All that remained was the final confirmation of the marriage.

"In a way, A-Niu's efficiency is quite fast," Xu Xi said with a smile.

…

Soon, the group arrived at the bride's home.

A marriage proposal is not a formal wedding and should ideally be quiet and calm, but because the person proposing was Little Mr. A Niu, the scene was quite lively.

"A-Niu, be happy!"

Someone shouted.

"Have one hundred and eight children in the future!"

Others chimed in, teasing.

Xu Xi accompanied A-Niu, witnessed the establishment of the marriage, and amidst the girl's flattered nervousness, also gave her some Medicinal Pills.

This was a blessing from Xu Xi.

It was a blessing from Grand Master Xu.

"I hope you two can always live in harmony and reach Perfection."

Xu Xi smiled, and amidst the people's requests for him to stay, he waited until the sky grew dark before rising to take his leave.

But he did not leave immediately.

Instead, he stood on a quiet, high vantage point, overlooking the rising fireworks below and A-Niu and the others with their radiant smiles.

"Master, what are you thinking about?"

With light footsteps, someone approached and stopped beside Xu Xi.

The girl crouched down.

Sometimes she looked at the Qiuhuo Army commoners below, and sometimes at Xu Xi's familiar face.

"It's nothing," Xu Xi smiled. "I'm just happy for A-Niu."

Xu Xi also crouched down, his palm gently covering the Princess's head, pressing and rubbing it, his gentle voice feeling like a touch from the past.

"Yingxue, you should remember the previous state of the Qiuhuo Army."

"Of course I remember. Everyone couldn't even get enough to eat back then."

Wu Yingxue recounted.

The various hardships that the Qiuhuo Army had experienced in the past.

That kind of life was very difficult.

No one wanted to experience it again.

"Yes, in the past, whether it was the Daqian army or the demons of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they were all obstacles we could not overcome."

"Everyone suffered a lot, especially A-Niu…"

"But now, everyone has enough to eat, and A-Niu has started a family…"

"Without realizing it."

"They no longer need the guidance of a Master like me."

Xu Xi crouched there, his voice drifting into the light, cold air; as a gust of wind blew, his voice began to distort.

Everything experienced in the simulator was bad.

It was becoming Perfection in the real world.

Some time ago.

His Master, Li Wanshou, rebuilt the Heavenly Sword Sect in the capital and had a home once again.

And now, the people of the Qiuhuo Army, including A-Niu, had truly taken root and possessed their own brand-new lives.

In a trance.

It seemed as if a voice sounded.

Telling Xu Xi that the third simulation had officially ended.

The people of the Qiuhuo Army had successfully crossed the mountains, living in a world of light, and no longer needed Xu Xi to worry about them.

"Master…" Listening to Xu Xi's words, Wu Yingxue wanted to say something.

But looking at the happy commoners below.

Her words all dissipated on their own.

The commoners of Qingniu Town.

The commoners of the Qiuhuo Army.

Adding more light to the laughter and joy.

Tiny specks of dust ignited an inextinguishable flame, building a happy future.

Such a scene was so moving that Xu Xi smiled and decided not to dismantle a certain sacrificial simulator.

"A beautiful life should be like this."

"Let's go back, Yingxue."

Xu Xi stood up, no longer watching the people of the Qiuhuo Army.

He looked up at the night sky; the stars were twinkling and brilliant, indicating it was very late, and it was time to return to the Courtyard.

Just like when he came.

Xu Xi took out the jianmu sword-staff.

Preparing to perform spatial teleportation to instantly move to the Courtyard in the city center.

But at this moment, his sleeve was tugged by slender fingers.

"What's wrong, Yingxue?"

"Master, carry me back on your back."

The Princess stood up and suddenly suggested with a giggle: "I'm suddenly a bit tired and want to rest on your back, Master. You must walk slowly and don't leave me behind."

So, really.

Wouldn't it be better to just teleport back?

Xu Xi wanted to say something but held back, then wanted to say it again.

Meeting those blinking eyes, he finally agreed.

"Then… alright."

"Hold on tight, don't move around."

"I know~~~ Ah, no, I'm so tired~~"

Amidst Wu Yingxue's feigned weak voice, Xu Xi stooped down and carried the "extremely exhausted" girl on his back.

One step, one step.

Walking slowly on the small night path.

Crushing the silver moonlight.

Walking toward the silent city.

Perhaps because it was winter, the starry sky tonight was exceptionally clear, with bright, twinkling stars like countless tiny diamonds, adorning the night sky in a dreamlike way.

"One, two, two, three, four…"

Xu Xi walked on, and the Princess's voice came from behind.

Her arms wrapped around Xu Xi's neck, crossed and fixed, her whole body pressing directly against him.

She lifted her head, looking at the sky.

Her eyes half-closed, gazing at the calmly flowing Milky Way and those endless, tiny stars, counting like a child.

Actually.

With the girl's current strength, she could completely count them all in an instant.

But she didn't want to do that.

She only wanted to lie on Xu Xi's back, using her simple fingers and eyes, one by one, counting slowly.

And after counting to a certain point, she would just shout that it was too hard and she wanted to give up.

"So tired~~"

"Master~~"

She giggled, the starry sky shining on her, illuminating her fair skin and her restless little hands.

After wrapping around Xu Xi's neck, her palms made various shapes and gestures.

She was becoming more and more like a child.

"You, can't you be a little more well-behaved?" Xu Xi's voice was slightly helpless.

"Yes, Master~~" The Princess was very obedient and really stopped moving around, lying quietly on Xu Xi's back, feeling his footsteps taking them further and further away.

Very, very far, walking into the silence on the other side of the starry sky.

"Master."

The thick night sky.

The girl on his back suddenly spoke again.

"Even if everyone else no longer needs you, I still need your guidance."

"Always, forever, it will be so."