I Have Always Been With You

High-speed machinery will overheat if it runs for too long.

Pushing oneself to the limit in physical exertion will cause fatigue and pain.

This is normal.

It is the rule of how the world operates.

But now, Xu Xi's situation is even worse. His body grows weaker with each passing year, increasingly unable to bear the immense spiritual pressure of a Sanctuary Magus.

This imbalance between his frail body and powerful spirit forces him to rely on prolonged periods of sleep to alleviate the mental strain.

This means that, from now on, Xu Xi will frequently fall into deep slumbers, until his eventual death.

This is irreversible.

Unchangeable.

In his study, Xu Xi stared silently at the results of his calculations.

He hadn’t expected his already limited lifespan to be further shortened by this. While his maximum lifespan hadn’t technically changed, subtracting the time spent in slumber left him with precious little.

And—

Xu Xi sighed, “Who can guarantee that the next time I fall asleep, it won’t be the true end?”

Looking back now, the so-called sense of peace he had felt before was clearly a prelude to the soul’s journey to the underworld.

In that hazy state between soul and body, the slightest misstep could turn his slumber into eternal death.

“Troublesome.”

Xu Xi picked up the sheet of calculations, his eyes scanning the results. In the silence of the room, flames flickered at his fingertips, reducing the paper to ash.

Regarding death.

Regarding lifespan.

Xu Xi had long prepared himself to face these truths.

The only thing he couldn’t let go of was the emotionless, unfeeling sorceress.

In this world of magic, Krisha had no one else to rely on but Xu Xi. If he were to die suddenly, the consequences were unimaginable.

“This matter… I can’t keep it from her.”

“Telling Krisha in advance might be hard for her to accept, but at least it gives her time to adjust.”

“If I keep it hidden from her until the end…”

“Then, when I truly die, Krisha will only be plunged into deeper despair.”

Turning the knob, he turned off the lights.

Xu Xi left the study.

...

[You revealed the truth to the sorceress, but to your surprise, she didn’t show any signs of distress. She was far stronger than you had imagined.]

[You felt relieved. It seemed you didn’t need to worry too much about Krisha’s future. You were so used to thinking for her that you forgot she had once traveled the world with you, accumulating vast life experience and a mature mindset for handling affairs.]

“Mentor.”

“What is it, Krisha?”

“Please entrust everything to me.”

“Everything?”

“Yes,” her voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. Krisha sat across from Xu Xi, her hands folded neatly.

“Please allow me to take over all matters of the estate, including caring for you during your slumbers.”

Her voice, steady and unwavering, carried an unexpected resolve.

“I will take care of you, and everything that belongs to you,” the immortal sorceress made this promise.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Krisha,” Xu Xi smiled, placing his complete trust in her.

...

[Simulation Year 62: You are 76 years old, Krisha is 68.]

[With your tacit approval, Krisha took over all matters of the estate—your flowers, your books, your research, your magic.]

[Even your own care was entrusted to Krisha.]

[Sometimes you wondered if this was a form of inheritance, but you dismissed the thought, for you were still alive.]

[Simulation Year 63: You are 77 years old, Krisha is 69.]

[The frequency of your slumbers increased, and the duration grew longer. In your most recent slumber, you slept for half a month.]

[When you awoke, hearing the passage of time from Krisha’s lips, you felt a profound sense of disorientation.]

[Simulation Year 67: You are 81 years old, Krisha is 73.]

[The once-shocking half-month slumber had now become your minimum. Often, you would wake to find that the seasons had changed.]

[Krisha tended to the dragonblood grass with meticulous care.]

[You entered the garden to inspect it and found the dragonblood grass thriving. You noticed traces of fresh dragon blood on the leaves.]

[You reprimanded Krisha, teaching her the importance of sustainable practices. She listened and decided to switch to a different dragon for blood collection next time.]

[Simulation Year 71: You are 85 years old, Krisha is 77.]

[You set a new record for your slumber.]

[This time, you slept for a full six months. When you awoke, you were greeted by Krisha’s ever-punctual welcome.]

“Welcome back, Mentor.”

The quiet room echoed with the lingering sound of her voice.

Xu Xi’s consciousness gradually cleared. Before he could fully open his eyes, Krisha’s greeting reached his ears.

“Yes, it’s been a while, Krisha.”

Xu Xi spoke hesitantly.

In his perception, he had simply taken a short nap, with “yesterday” still vivid in his mind. Yet, in reality, half a year had passed.

This bizarre distortion of time left Xu Xi feeling uneasy.

Only after drinking a glass of ice water did his body feel somewhat better.

“I’m growing weaker by the day,” Xu Xi murmured, his gaze falling to his hands. He studied the wrinkles and the dull, yellowish skin.

To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that, during his waking hours, he could still use his mortal wisdom to learn new things, and if it weren’t for his lingering concern for Krisha, wanting to guide her further and see her grow strong enough—

This cycle of tormenting slumbers would have ended the simulation long ago.

Shaking his head to dispel the chaotic thoughts, Xu Xi turned his gaze to Krisha.

He wanted to ask about her recent activities, to ensure nothing troubling had happened in his absence.

“Krisha, what have you been doing while I was away?”

“Accompanying you.”

“I mean, well… what have you been up to lately?”

“I’ve been accompanying you.”

Krisha’s reply left Xu Xi momentarily stunned.

Her voice remained as calm as ever, devoid of any deceit, only truth: “Since you fell asleep, I’ve been staying in your room, only leaving when necessary to tend to the garden.”

“The day before, I was with you. Yesterday, I was with you. Today, I am still with you, waiting for you to wake.”

Her words were simple, unadorned.

Yet they carried an immense weight.

Through countless lonely days and nights, the immortal sorceress sat quietly in Xu Xi’s room, her expression unchanging, gazing at the familiar, aging face, awaiting the long-anticipated reunion, the long-awaited warmth.