High-speed machinery heats up from prolonged operation.
Pushing oneself to the limit causes fatigue and pain in living beings.
This is normal.
It’s the rule of the world’s operation.
But now, Xu Xi’s situation is worse. His body ages year by year, increasingly unable to bear the spirit of a Saint Magister.
A weak body and a strong spirit.
This forces his frail body to dilute and share the mental pressure through sleep.
This means that in the future, Xu Xi will frequently fall into slumber until his life ends.
This is irreversible.
Unchangeable.
In the study, Xu Xi looked at the results of his calculations and fell silent.
He didn’t expect his already limited lifespan to face another twist. While the lifespan limit seemed unchanged, subtracting the time spent asleep left him with almost nothing.
And—
Xu Xi sighed, “Who can guarantee that the next sleep won’t be true death?”
Looking back now.
The so-called sense of ease before was clearly a prelude to the soul’s return to the underworld.
In that hazy state between soul and body, Xu Xi could easily slip from sleep into death.
“Troublesome.”
Xu Xi picked up the calculation paper, scanned the results, and in the silence, flames emerged from his fingers, reducing the paper to ashes.
About death.
About lifespan.
Xu Xi had long been prepared to face it.
The only thing he couldn’t let go of was the Witch, who knew neither joy nor sorrow, neither emotion nor feeling.
In this magical world, Cressa could only rely on Xu Xi. If Xu Xi were to suddenly die, the consequences were unimaginable.
“This matter… can’t be hidden from her.”
“Telling Cressa in advance might be hard for her to accept, but at least there’s a buffer.”
“If I keep it from her.”
“Then, when I truly die, Cressa will only be more devastated.”
Twisting the knob, he turned off the light.
Xu Xi left the study.
…
[You told the Witch the whole truth, but to your surprise, she didn’t show any signs of difficulty accepting it. She was stronger than you imagined.]
[You were relieved. It seemed you didn’t need to worry too much about the Witch’s future. You habitually thought for her, forgetting that she had traveled the world with you, accumulating vast life experience and a mature mindset for handling affairs.]
“Mentor.”
“What is it, Cressa?”
“Please leave everything to me.”
“Everything?”
“Yes,” her calm voice devoid of any emotion, Cressa sat across from Xu Xi, hands folded. “Please allow me to take over everything in the courtyard, including caring for you during your slumber.”
In her steady, unfluctuating voice.
There was an unexpected hint of determination.
“I will take care of you, and everything about you,” the immortal Witch made this promise.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Cressa,” Xu Xi smiled, giving his trust without reservation.
…
[Simulation Year 62, you are 76, Cressa is 68]
[With your tacit approval, Cressa took over everything in the courtyard—your plants, your books, your research, your magic.]
[Even you yourself were entrusted to Cressa’s care.]
[Sometimes you wondered if this was a form of inheritance. You dismissed the thought, because you were still alive.]
[Simulation Year 63, you are 77, Cressa is 69]
[Your frequency of slumber increased, and the duration grew longer. In your latest sleep, you slept for half a month.]
[When you woke, hearing the passage of time from the Witch, you felt a strong sense of disorientation.]
[Simulation Year 67, you are 81, Cressa is 73]
[What once amazed you—sleeping for half a month—had now become your minimum. Often, you’d wake to find the seasons had changed.]
[The Witch tenderly cared for the Dragon Blood Grass.]
[Entering the courtyard, you found the grass thriving, with fresh dragon blood on its leaves.]
[You scolded the Witch, teaching her about sustainable development. She listened and decided to switch dragons for blood next time.]
[Simulation Year 71, you are 85, Cressa is 77]
[You set a new record for slumber.]
[This time, you slept for half a year. When you woke, you were greeted by the Witch’s ever-punctual welcome.]
“Welcome back, Mentor.”
In the quiet room, the lonely echo lingered.
Xu Xi’s consciousness gradually cleared. Before he fully opened his eyes, Cressa’s voice reached his ears.
“Mm, long time no see, Cressa.”
Xu Xi spoke hesitantly.
In his perception, he had only taken a simple nap, with “yesterday” still vivid in his mind. Yet, in reality, half a year had passed.
This bizarre time distortion left Xu Xi feeling suffocated.
Only after drinking a glass of ice water.
Did his body feel somewhat better.
“I’m getting weaker,” Xu Xi murmured, looking down at his hands, examining the wrinkles and the dull, yellowish skin.
Honestly.
If it weren’t for the fact that during his waking hours, he could use the Wisdom of Mortals to continue learning new things.
And the fact that he couldn’t let go of Cressa, wanting to teach her more, to see her grow strong enough.
This tormenting cycle of slumber.
Should have ended the simulation long ago.
Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts, Xu Xi turned his gaze to Cressa.
He wanted to ask about her recent life, to ensure nothing bad had happened while he was unaware.
“Cressa, what have you been doing while I was away?”
“Accompanying you.”
“I mean, uh… what have you been up to lately?”
“I’ve been accompanying you.”
The Witch’s answer left Xu Xi momentarily stunned.
Her voice remained as calm as ever, devoid of any lies, only truth: “After you fell asleep, I stayed in the room with you, only leaving when necessary to tend to the courtyard.”
“Yesterday I accompanied you, today I accompanied you, and I will continue to accompany you until you wake.”
Describing her actions in clumsy words.
Without embellishment.
Simple, yet profoundly heavy.
Through countless lonely days and nights, the immortal Witch sat silently in Xu Xi’s room, expressionless, gazing at that familiar, aging face, waiting for the long-awaited reunion, the long-awaited warmth.