Ever since Bai Ruxue learned that Xiao Mo would not be marrying the magistrate's daughter, she had turned back into her carefree, happy-go-lucky little self.
Bai Ruxue bounced around bright and lively all day long; even while stir-frying, she hummed little tunes.
Truth be told, Xiao Mo had never intended to marry the magistrate's daughter in the first place.
At the time, he had meant to politely decline Magistrate Sun's kindness, but Magistrate Sun had cut him off, telling him not to answer in a hurry and to take his time thinking it over.
Xiao Mo could hardly say much more then; he simply planned to pay Magistrate Sun a visit in a couple of days and thank him for his generous regard.
Today, Xiao Mo had gone to Magistrate Sun's residence and declined the offer.
Although Magistrate Sun felt it was a pity, he could understand—after all, Xiao Mo had told him he already had a woman he loved.
So Magistrate Sun dropped the betrothal talk and instead discussed scholarship and a few matters of the court with Xiao Mo, deliberately passing on a little of the art of officialdom.
In Magistrate Sun's view, Xiao Mo's entry into official service was already set in stone.
He had later heard that Xiao Mo's winning the xieyuan this time was thanks to the appreciation of that Mr. Zhang.
That Mr. Zhang was a man of great virtue and prestige who had written books and founded his own doctrines. He held only a sinecure now, but his influence at court was enormous—even the current chancellor was his disciple.
"Xiao Mo, once you reach the capital, be sure to deliver your calling card to Elder Zhang's residence before anything else," Magistrate Sun advised.
"Mr. Zhang?" Xiao Mo asked, puzzled.
"Old Mr. Zhang Qianzhi himself—the present Hanlin, and a Libationer of the Confucian Academy," Magistrate Sun said, stroking his beard. "Your xieyuan this time was nominated by Mr. Zhang."
"Then I really ought to pay him a visit."
Xiao Mo nodded.
"But you needn't go currying favor too hard, or you'll only put Mr. Zhang out. Just pay a visit, drink a cup of tea, and express your thanks for his patronage," Magistrate Sun said.
"This student understands. Thank you for the advice, Magistrate," Xiao Mo said, cupping his hands in a bow.
"Hahaha, what advice is this? In the future this old man will be counting on Lord Xiao to give him a few pointers." Magistrate Sun raised his wine cup.
Xiao Mo only smiled faintly and raised his cup as well.
"Goji berries... longan... mushrooms... an old hen, cut into pieces and blanched..."
Meanwhile, back at home, Bai Ruxue was making chicken soup for Xiao Mo.
"Then simmer on low heat for one more hour—and done!"
Bai Ruxue clapped her little hands in delight and set the clay lid on the pot.
The girl tended the small flame under the stove while watching the courtyard gate, waiting for Xiao Mo to come home.
Half an hour later, Xiao Mo still had not returned—but a woman had arrived at the gate.
The woman had an otherworldly, Daoist air about her, a horsetail whisk in her hand and a Daoist robe on her back. "Miss, might this poor Daoist beg a bowl of water?"
"Of course you may."
Bai Ruxue did not refuse; she hurried off to fetch a bowl of water for the Daoist nun.
While the nun drank, Bai Ruxue studied her closely and thought her truly beautiful.
"Many thanks, miss." The Daoist nun drained the bowl in one go, handed back the earthenware bowl, and fixed her eyes on Bai Ruxue.
Bai Ruxue blinked, tilted her head, and asked, "Is something the matter, Immortal Elder?"
"Not really, no."
The Daoist nun shook her head.
"This poor Daoist is an elder of the Tianxuan Sect, by name Fuchen. I observe that you, miss, are exceptionally gifted—there is a thread of immortal destiny about you. Would you be willing to come up the mountain and cultivate with me?"
"Huh? Cultivate? I'm not going." Bai Ruxue waved her hands hastily. "I still have someone to look after. If I'm not here, there'll be no one to cook for him."
The Daoist nun smiled. "There's no hurry for an answer, miss. Think it over carefully. With a spiritual constitution like yours, it would be a great pity not to cultivate. In two days, this poor Daoist will come again."
With that, the Daoist nun made a Daoist salute, turned, and stepped into the sky; in an instant she had vanished without a trace.
Standing at the courtyard gate, Bai Ruxue's eyes sparkled.
It was the first time in her life she had ever seen someone fly.
As the sun neared setting, Xiao Mo came home.
"Xiao Mo, you're back! Come quick, I stewed chicken soup for you."
Seeing Xiao Mo return, Bai Ruxue hurriedly ladled out a bowl of chicken soup and set it in front of him.
"Mm, good timing—I'm hungry too." Xiao Mo sat down at the stone table and took a sip. The broth was rich without being greasy, and full of flavor.
He had to admit, Bai Ruxue's cooking really was getting better and better.
"Is it good?" Bai Ruxue sat facing Xiao Mo, chin propped on both hands, her charming peach-blossom eyes curving as she watched him.
"It's good." Xiao Mo nodded.
"If it's good, then drink more." Bai Ruxue picked up two more pieces of chicken and put them in his bowl. "There's only this chicken soup tonight—I didn't cook anything else, so you have to finish this whole chicken."
"Then what are you eating?" Xiao Mo asked.
"I already ate up all the leftovers from noon... it'd be a waste not to." Bai Ruxue said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Xiao Mo: ...
"Eat up, eat up—chicken soup doesn't taste good once it goes cold." Bai Ruxue ladled him another bowl.
"You eat some too. I can't finish it all by myself," Xiao Mo said.
Bai Ruxue shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
"You still have to eat a couple of bites, or it'll go to waste."
"All right, then—but you feed me. Ahh..." Bai Ruxue opened her little mouth, revealing a pink tongue.
Xiao Mo had no choice but to pick up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.
Bai Ruxue chewed happily; she thought food always tasted better when Xiao Mo fed it to her.
"Oh, right, Xiao Mo—a Daoist nun came to our courtyard just now."
"A Daoist nun?"
"Mm-hm." Bai Ruxue nodded. "She said she was from the Tianxuan Sect, an elder there. She said I had some kind of immortal destiny and wanted to take me away to cultivate."
"Hm?"
Xiao Mo was rather surprised.
He had heard the name of the Tianxuan Sect.
The Tianxuan Sect was the foremost great sect within the borders of Qi, an orthodox and reputable school with an excellent name among mortals. And it was said they took in any student without discrimination—so long as you had a heart that sought the Dao, they would teach even the demon clans.
There was even a female elder in the Tianxuan Sect whose true form was a Vermilion Bird.
Xiao Mo thought the request for water had been a pretext.
She must have been passing by, seen that Bai Ruxue, a white snake, was extraordinarily gifted, and wanted to take her as a disciple—that was the real reason.
"So did you agree?" Xiao Mo raised his head and asked.
"Not at all..." Bai Ruxue waved her hand. "If I left, who'd look after you?"
Xiao Mo lowered his head and stirred the beads of oil floating in his bowl with his spoon.
"What's wrong, Xiao Mo? Why did you stop eating? There's still most of a pot left." Bai Ruxue noticed that he had stopped eating.
"Ruxue." Xiao Mo lifted his head and looked straight into Bai Ruxue's eyes. "If you didn't need to look after me, would you go to the Tianxuan Sect?"
"Eh?" Bai Ruxue was slightly taken aback, her eyes trembling as she looked at Xiao Mo. "Xiao Mo, what... what do you mean?"
"Ruxue, an immortal destiny is hard to come by. I think... Ruxue, you... you should go."