Chapter 87: Reunited with the Witch

“Perhaps, as more Boundary Ruins merge with Earth, I can see Mo Li and Cressa again.”

Xu Xi slowly stood up.

The empty room was only filled with sunlight pouring in, falling on Xu Xi’s blinking eyelids, slightly highlighting the depth of the past and his scattered hair.

He turned his head slightly.

Looking out the window at the rustling leaves.

In Xu Xi’s eyes, the changes of time in reality were reflected.

When he obtained the Simulation World Simulator and started his first simulation, it was the height of summer.

After starting the second simulation, summer was already coming to an end.

Now, more than a month had passed, and the once sweltering summer had been blown away by a cool breeze, leaving behind the incomplete and withering autumn.

“Time is truly奇妙.”

“It makes one grow, yet also makes one stagnate.”

Outside the window, petals fell with the wind. Xu Xi watched this scene and suddenly chuckled.

Speaking of the cold autumn, besides loneliness and solitude, it also brings to mind warm, comforting food. Xu Xi decided to have some beef and lamb hotpot today.

He stepped out of the bedroom.

Passed through the courtyard filled with Dragon Blood Grass.

Pushed open the gate and left.

On the street, fiery red maple leaves danced on both sides, scattered leaves covering the ground, and many ordinary pedestrians could be seen chatting and moving forward.

There were couples cuddling and laughing, showing off their sweetness.

A family of three holding hands, creating a warm atmosphere.

Friends chasing and playing with each other, full of joy and happiness.

The sounds from the pedestrians added much color to the lonely and desolate autumn, making the cold wind less noticeable.

Such a scene.

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

Unfortunately, they could no longer be seen in the real world.

“Better think about what ingredients to buy,” Xu Xi walked into the supermarket, quickly selected the items he needed, paid, and went straight home.

He had no desire for entertainment.

Nor any extravagant hobbies.

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

The former provided a good culinary experience, while the latter genuinely improved his strength, which in Xu Xi’s eyes far surpassed anything else.

“Crack—”

“Crack—”

Every step of his shoes would land on the dry leaves, producing a crisp echo, a sound unique to the end of autumn.

Xu Xi carried a shopping bag full of ingredients, walking slowly and unhurriedly.

But suddenly.

His footsteps stopped.

Stopped abruptly, stopped in surprise.

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

“I’m back, Mentor.”

The Witch’s voice was still so calm.

Without fluctuation, without ripples, like a quiet stream flowing by the ear, silently taking everything away.

Very hollow, yet very pleasant.

The Witch’s return was so sudden, yet so harmonious, as if it were a matter of course, something that didn’t need to be surprised about.

So, what attitude, what words should be used to welcome the returning Witch?

“Welcome home, Cressa.”

Xu Xi showed a gentle smile, extended his hand, palm up, making a simple inviting gesture.

Once, he met the Witch in the autumn of the Simulation World.

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

Everything seemed like an echo of fate.

“Mentor…”

The Witch, as quiet as a doll, trembled slightly, took one step, then another, actively walking towards Xu Xi.

Her black, gold, and red mixed eyes.

Colorful and beautiful, bursting with an impulse Xu Xi had never seen before.

“Cressa?” Xu Xi thought the Witch would take his hand, but the direction of events far exceeded his expectations.

The Witch’s pace gradually quickened, almost to the point of running, her footsteps echoing, and finally, without a word, she crashed into Xu Xi’s arms.

Their heartbeats seemed to merge at this moment, time frozen into infinite eternity.

Cressa tightly hugged Xu Xi.

Hugged him so hard.

“Mentor, I finally… see you again.”

“I have been, always always… waiting for you…”

Autumn is a season of sadness, a time of heartache recalling the past, but at this moment, the parting was reversed, and the Witch welcomed the reunion she had been waiting for all her life.

The chill soaked through Xu Xi’s shirt.

It was the Witch’s tears.

She hugged Xu Xi so tightly, as if she wanted to merge into his body, never to be separated again.

Xu Xi lowered his head, he could clearly see Cressa’s delicate face, now filled with tears, not of sadness, but of joyful tears.

Buried in his chest, expressing her hardships in an alternative way.

“Sorry, Cressa, I kept you waiting.”

Xu Xi comforted softly.

His hand reached out, as he had done countless times before, gently covering the Witch’s silver-gray hair, stroking to give her a sense of security.

Suddenly.

The sound of clapping surrounded them.

Louder and louder, more and more intense.

It was then that Xu Xi realized that many onlookers had gathered around.

They seemed to have misunderstood something, some with tears in their eyes, some clapping loudly, offering various blessings.

“This…”

Xu Xi was speechless, he could only quickly take the Witch back to the courtyard.

By the time they returned to the courtyard, Cressa’s emotions had stabilized, and she apologized to Xu Xi, feeling that she had caused unnecessary trouble.

“It’s okay, Cressa.”

“That’s not important.”

Xu Xi shook his head with a smile, his hand covered with water flow, gently wiping away the tear stains on the Witch’s face.

Cressa remained motionless.

Quiet, obedient, sitting still watching Xu Xi’s actions.

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

The Witch herself didn’t really understand why, upon seeing Xu Xi, her body would involuntarily shed tears, even though she had decided not to cause Xu Xi any trouble before meeting him.

Why was this…

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

Was it because the useless shadow had found light again?

Or was it because she had found her beloved again?

The Witch didn’t know, she felt she didn’t need to think about it, the time of drifting alone was over, from now on, she only needed to follow Xu Xi’s commands.

“Mentor…”

The Witch suddenly spoke.

“What is it, Cressa, is there something?”

Xu Xi asked.

“Could you, once again…” Cressa opened her palm, taking out the Sapphire Necklace she had removed years ago, “put the necklace on me…”