"Stinky Xiao Mo, I don't even know you."
Bai Ruxue turned her head away and gave a huff.
One look and Xiao Mo knew Bai Ruxue was angry.
Not that it was strange. He'd told her he would come see her as soon as spring arrived, but he'd forgotten to mention that the examinations would run a whole month.
And then the county magistrate had dragged things out a few more days.
She had probably been waiting for him ever since she woke from her winter hibernation.
"So that's how it is. Seems I've got the wrong person."
Xiao Mo drew a wooden hairpin carved in the shape of a deer god from his sleeve.
The moment she saw the wooden hairpin, Bai Ruxue blinked with curiosity.
Xiao Mo sighed and said in a dejected voice, "I promised a friend I'd come see her when spring came, but this trip to the preliminary exams really did take a lot of time, and then the county magistrate kept me for a meal, which delayed me a few more days.
I knew that once I got back, she'd be angry for certain.
So when I had a little spare time, I carved this hairpin, meaning to apologize to her with it.
But from the looks of it now, she's stopped waiting for me.
So this hairpin isn't needed anymore."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiao Mo raised his hand and made as if to toss the hairpin away.
"Who says it isn't needed? I want it!"
Bai Ruxue rose on tiptoe and hastily snatched the hairpin out of his hand, then held it in her palm, turning it over with delight.
"Miss, this hairpin was meant for Miss Bai Ruxue," Xiao Mo said, feigning reluctance as he reached to take it back.
Bai Ruxue spun away and shielded it against her chest. "I am Bai Ruxue..."
"But Miss just said she wasn't..."
Bai Ruxue blinked, her peach-blossom eyes as clean and clear as a snow-fed spring. "Did I ever say I wasn't Bai Ruxue?"
Xiao Mo was taken aback, then nodded with a smile. "Miss certainly never said that."
"That's right." Bai Ruxue held the hairpin out in both hands and looked at Xiao Mo with expectant eyes. "Xiao Mo, put it on for me."
"All right."
Xiao Mo took the hairpin and slid it among Bai Ruxue's soft strands.
The girl's eyes curved into crescents. "Well? Does it look good?"
"Mm. The person looks good, but this hairpin of mine doesn't quite measure up. How about I practice some more and carve you a better one?" Xiao Mo studied the hairpin he had carved and reached out to pull it back out.
"Don't! I want this one!" Bai Ruxue hurriedly backed away, guarding her hair.
"Fine." Since Ruxue liked it, he couldn't well take it back. "But Ruxue, you're not angry at me anymore?"
Bai Ruxue gave a humph and turned her little head away. "Seeing as you gave me a present, I'll forgive you."
The truth was, Bai Ruxue had been genuinely furious.
But for some reason, the moment she laid eyes on Xiao Mo, the anger in her heart had drained away.
"This humble scholar thanks Miss for her generosity." Xiao Mo bowed with his hands clasped.
"You're welcome~"
The girl stood before Xiao Mo, open and unguarded, her smile like blossoms.
But after a moment, as if something had occurred to her, she walked up close to Xiao Mo.
Rising on tiptoe, she reached out and measured against Xiao Mo's head.
Then she measured against her own head.
"How can this be..." A flicker of disappointment crossed Bai Ruxue's eyes. "Why am I still not as tall as you... I've clearly grown so much taller..."
Xiao Mo said, "Miss Bai, is there any chance that I grew taller too?"
Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up, as if she had just seen the light. "Oh! So that's it!"
"..." Xiao Mo was speechless for a moment.
Bai Ruxue had grown into a big girl, true enough, but somehow he still felt she didn't seem very bright.
"By the way, Xiao Mo, how did you do on the examination?"
Bai Ruxue stopped fretting over height. Last time she had been a whole head shorter than him; now she was half a head shorter.
Next time she shed her skin, she would definitely catch up to him.
"I passed. I'm a xiucai now."
"Then can you become an official now?"
"I'd at least have to pass the juren examination. A gongshi would be the safest."
"So you still have examinations to take?" Bai Ruxue lowered her head, thinking that she wouldn't see him for a long time again.
"The next one is the provincial examination, three years from now. That's a long way off."
"Is that so? Then it really is far off~" Bai Ruxue's mood improved at once; she caught hold of Xiao Mo's sleeve and started up the mountain. "Xiao Mo, let's hurry, I'll take you somewhere, you're sure to love it."
"Then let's go take a look."
The two of them went up the mountain side by side.
Before long, Bai Ruxue brought Xiao Mo to a clearing.
The clearing was overgrown with Ziyang Grass and Qinglong Flowers.
Xiao Mo said in surprise, "How is there so much of this here?"
"Lots, right~" Bai Ruxue said smugly. "I planted all of these, you know. Once I plant even more and cover the whole mountain, you'll have as much as you want, and you won't have to work so hard gathering herbs~"
Listening to the girl, Xiao Mo lowered his head, his expression somewhat grave.
"Xiao Mo, what's wrong?" Seeing the look on his face, Bai Ruxue couldn't help growing nervous.
"Ruxue, there's something I need to tell you." Xiao Mo raised his head and looked straight into Bai Ruxue's eyes. "From now on, I probably won't come up the mountain as often."
"Eh?" Bai Ruxue looked as though she had been struck by lightning, her little face paling. "Wh-why..."
"The new county magistrate in our Qingshan is a decent man. He says the yamen will support us with money every month, until we sit the next provincial examination."
Xiao Mo explained to Bai Ruxue.
"And the village chief says there's nothing left he can teach me, so I'll need to go out often to study. From now on, the number of times I come up the mountain will probably be fewer."
Truth be told, Xiao Mo didn't want to leave Bai Ruxue either. After all, he still had to help her become a dragon.
But the problem was, he was an ordinary man, and he had no idea how to help her become a dragon.
All he could do right now was pass the examinations and win a degree as quickly as possible.
Passing the examinations and gaining a degree, then entering court as an official, wasn't merely about completing a task.
This was a world of cultivation, and Qi was the greatest human nation in it.
Qi had no small number of ties to the top-ranking sects.
Once he held high office and great power, perhaps then he would have the means to help her.
Hearing his words, Bai Ruxue lowered her head even further.
Xiao Mo wasn't in a hurry. He simply waited for her to sort out her feelings.
To her, apart from her little sister, he was probably her only friend.
It was only natural that she couldn't accept it all at once.
But soon, tears began to fall, drop by drop, from the corners of the girl's eyes.
The girl's fists were clenched tight at her sides, her body trembling faintly.
"Ruxue... don't worry. Whenever I have free time..."
Just as Xiao Mo was trying to comfort her, Bai Ruxue jerked her head up, her peach-blossom eyes swimming with tears, like peach petals beaded with dew.
"Stinky Xiao Mo! You said that once you came back, you'd spend good time playing with me!"
Bai Ruxue turned and ran forward, wiping her tears as she went, and the girl's choked sobs echoed through the mountain woods.
"You big liar! I'm never speaking to you again!"