Time flows really fast.
A blink.
A moment of distraction.
And the New Year quietly approaches.
Life remains calm, unchanged from before.
Xu Moli is still in the process of cutting through the realms, while Krisha takes care of the courtyard. The quiet blaze of the bonfire lights up the silence of daily life.
Overall, everything is going smoothly.
Occasionally.
Xu Xi feels an ominous premonition, sudden and inexplicable, with no clear origin.
"Maybe it's because I've been training too hard, causing my mind to be unsettled?"
Xu Xi speculates.
He continues to prepare New Year's gifts.
With Red Dragon's selfless dedication, the Dragon Blood Tea Tree is successfully cultivated. At the same time, Xu Xi asks Krisha to perform a small time acceleration.
This makes the tea tree, which originally needed a long time to grow, bloom densely in a flash with pale red leaves.
Thus, the New Year's gift for teacher Li Wanshou is completely prepared.
The only thing Xu Xi lacks is gifts for his sister and Princess Wu Yingxue. While he is stuck in indecision, his sister offers an unexpected response.
"Gift? Elder Brother, I already have that."
Xu Moli says this.
She clasps her hands together, exhales between them, gently rubs and massages, then places her warm hands on Xu Xi's face.
Laughing, she expresses that being able to reunite with Xu Xi is the best New Year's gift for her.
Feeling comforted, Xu Xi gently flicks his sister's forehead.
"Moli, where did you learn that?"
Xu Moli rubs her forehead and gives a surprising answer that amazes Xu Xi.
That was a long time ago.
During the first simulation.
A female disciple from the Pill Hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect once lent the young sister a book called "108 Ways to Capture a Man's Heart".
Years have passed, but Xu Moli still remembers the contents.
"This..."
Xu Xi is a bit speechless. If he could travel back in time, he would definitely return to the first simulation period and make that female disciple from the Pill Hall work as a fire tender for life.
What a terrible influence on his sister!
Moving on, Xu Xi prepares a New Year's gift for Moli.
Although the girl repeatedly insists that she really doesn't need any gift, Xu Xi feels that New Year's Eve should have a festive atmosphere.
Moli can refuse.
He cannot not give.
Xu Xi doesn't lack money for preparing gifts, nor does he lack time.
In the end, Xu Xi prepares a candy gift bag for his sister, filled with various kinds of candy to replenish the sugar jar.
The sugar jar was brought out from the first simulation.
The candies inside all come from the mortal market in the cultivation world.
Compared to Earth in the real world, the varieties are too limited. Now, Xu Xi has added more and sweeter candies to it.
Finally.
It’s the gift for Wu Yingxue.
Since Xu Xi doesn’t know when she will come to Earth, he prepares multiple plans.
Unfortunately, until the day before New Year's, namely the Chinese New Year's Eve.
Xu Xi still hasn’t waited for Wu Yingxue’s arrival.
"It seems today won’t work to meet Yingxue."
...
In Yanshan City, the courtyard.
Xu Xi sits by the window in a warm and comfortable bedroom, listening to the howling wind outside and the faint human voices.
The arrival of the New Year always brings many changes.
Not only the seasons and weather,
But also the intangible sentiments of people.
During the transitional period of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, people who have worked hard for a year will receive a short break on this day, talking and drinking with family and friends.
Such noisy and bustling atmosphere is not unpleasant.
More accurately speaking, that is exactly what makes the New Year attractive. The warm and gentle scent of smoke can always cleanse the tired hearts.
"Teacher, your tea."
A calm voice sounds beside him.
It interrupts Xu Xi’s thoughts.
"Thank you, Krisha," the silver-haired witch enters the room, her movements steady, bringing Xu Xi a cup of light brown hot tea, firmly supported by a saucer.
Steam rises, with a light fragrance (or delicate aroma) wafting out.
It's the scent of Dragon Blood Ling Tea.
Slightly intoxicating.
Xu Xi takes a light sip and feels quite good. The only downside is that the process of making it is a bit torturous for the dragon.
"Hopefully teacher will like it."
After finishing the cup of ling tea, Xu Xi places the tea cup back on the saucer and stands up.
The New Year has arrived.
It's time to deliver New Year's gifts to Niu and Li Wanshou.
"Krisha, take care of the house, I'll be back later."
"Yes, please rest assured."
Xu Xi extends his hand towards the void.
After curling his fingers and grasping, the Jianmu staff magically appears in his palm.
A faint ripple of space envelops his whole body, transporting him to the outskirts of Yanshan City, where the common folk of the Qiuhuo Army live.
After Xu Xi leaves.
Krisha still stands in the room.
Her eyes are calm, like a mirror empty of anything, or perhaps reflecting the myriad phenomena of the world, silently staring at the third compartment in the display cabinet.
Not sure how long she gazes.
Krisha suddenly speaks:"He's here."
A voice continues from the witch:"With the same scent as that flower."
Xu Moli steps out from the void of time and space.
She first glances at the paper flower, then turns her gaze toward Krisha. The imminent arrival of the supreme martial artist makes the female immortal recall some unpleasant memories.
Like the kind soul.
Or the pitiful one.
But now is not the time to dwell on the past.
Both the female immortal and the witch want to determine what kind of attitude the one about to arrive is holding, and whether they will harm Xu Xi.
The way to confirm is simple.
Just meet them.
...
"Brother Xi, happy New Year!"
"Oh, it's the Great Master, Hu Wa, quickly wish the Great Master a happy New Year!"
"Brother Xu, I'm here, I'm here!"
When Xu Xi arrives at the outskirts of Yanshan City.
The scene is slightly chaotic.
The common folk of the Qiuhuo Army are still as pure as remembered by Xu Xi. Some even want Xu Xi to name their children.
Smiling, Xu Xi agrees one by one.
"Uncle Tie, happy New Year."
"Gou Dan, happy New Year."
"Niu, happy New Year. How is Aunt Zhang's health recently?"
Xu Xi greets familiar faces and exchanges greetings, while taking out the prepared space rings to distribute New Year's gifts to everyone.
Most of the gifts are prepared for Niu.
But Xu Xi also prepares many for the others in the Qiuhuo Army.
After receiving the gifts, everyone has a radiant smile, their faces flushed with excitement. They are not happy because of the gifts, but because they feel that Xu Xi remembers and values them, so they are delighted beyond words.
Chatting.
Exchanging.
After understanding the recent situation of the Qiuhuo Army and knowing that everyone is doing well, Xu Xi politely declines the invitations to stay and continues to perform space magic, teleporting toward the direction of the Imperial City.
The distance between Yanshan City and the Imperial City is extremely far.
Ordinary people can't cross it.
They can only rely on newly developed flight vehicles.
But Xu Xi is different. With the spatial teleportation ability and the temporal perception brought by the supreme crown, he easily crosses the vast distance and arrives at the Supernatural United Bureau in the Imperial City after a long time.
Before Xu Xi can do anything, invisible immortal power envelops him, transmitting him into the folded space deep within the bureau.