SWNOVELXO Chapter 87:
Chapter 87: Reunion with the Witch:
“Perhaps, as more worlds merge with the earth, I’ll be able to see Mo Li and Krisha again,” Xu Xi murmured as he slowly stood up.
The empty room basked in the gentle sunlight streaming through the windows, casting soft highlights on Xu Xi’s face and hair. He turned his head slightly, gazing at the rustling leaves outside the window.
Xu Xi’s eyes reflected the flow of time, the inevitable changes in reality. When he had first activated the Beautiful Life Simulator and started the initial simulation, it was the height of summer. By the time the second simulation had begun, summer was fading, giving way to autumn.
Now, over a month had passed, and the vibrant days of summer had been replaced by the cool, melancholic tones of autumn.
“Time is truly remarkable,” Xu Xi said softly. “It pushes us to grow, yet it makes us linger in stillness.”
Outside the window, the wind carried fallen petals. Xu Xi watched with a faint smile.
Autumn’s chill brought with it the craving for warmth. The thought of preparing a hearty meal of beef and lamb crossed Xu Xi’s mind, and he decided to head out.
He left the bedroom, passed through the courtyard where dragon’s blood grass was quietly growing, and stepped outside.
On the streets, fiery red maple leaves fluttered on either side. Fallen leaves blanketed the ground, and the streets bustled with life.
Couples strolled arm in arm, laughter ringing out as they shared moments of joy. Families walked hand in hand, their warmth adding vibrancy to the day. Friends chased one another, their playful shouts filling the crisp air.
The scene painted autumn with hues of connection, softening its lonely edges.
This warmth reminded Xu Xi of two small figures standing in the cold of winter, waiting patiently for his return.
But such moments were confined to the simulated world, not reality.
Xu Xi brushed the thought aside and turned his focus to his errands. “What ingredients should I get? Might as well stock up for a few meals,” he mused as he entered the supermarket.
He quickly gathered everything he needed and headed home, disinterested in lingering for entertainment or distractions. To him, such pursuits were far less fulfilling than savoring a good meal or advancing his cultivation.
Each step home crunched against dry autumn leaves, creating a symphony of crisp echoes.
Suddenly, Xu Xi froze mid-step.
It was so unexpected that it felt surreal. Standing at the gate of his courtyard, a familiar figure waited quietly.
“I’m back, Master.”
The witch’s calm voice broke the silence.
It was the same voice Xu Xi remembered—steady, serene, and devoid of fluctuations, like a tranquil stream flowing through his heart.
This reunion came without warning, yet it felt so natural, as if it were destined.
For a brief moment, Xu Xi was unsure of what to say.
Then his expression softened. “Welcome home, Krisha,” he said warmly, extending his hand toward her in a gesture of invitation.
Once, in the simulated world, he had met the witch in the autumn. Now, in the real world, autumn had brought them together again.
It felt like a poetic echo of fate.
“Master…”
The witch’s voice trembled as she took hesitant steps toward him. Her multicolored eyes—black, gold, and red—gleamed with emotions she rarely displayed.
Xu Xi expected her to take his hand, but instead, she began to run. Her footsteps quickened, and before he could react, she threw herself into his arms.
Their heartbeats seemed to sync, and time stood still.
Krisha clung to Xu Xi tightly, as if afraid he might vanish. Her voice quivered with emotion, “Master… I’ve finally found you. I’ve waited so long… You didn’t lie to me… We’ve truly reunited…”
The season of autumn, so often associated with endings, now symbolized a reunion long overdue.
Xu Xi felt his clothes dampen.
They were tears—Krisha’s tears.
The witch, usually composed and cold, wept freely. Her face buried in Xu Xi’s chest, her delicate features were streaked with tears, but they weren’t tears of sadness. They were tears of pure, unfiltered joy.
“Sorry for making you wait, Krisha,” Xu Xi said softly, his voice heavy with guilt and tenderness.
He placed a hand gently on her silver-gray hair, stroking it as he had done countless times in the past.
Then, a sound pulled him from the moment—a round of applause.
Turning, Xu Xi noticed a crowd of passersby who had stopped to witness the scene. Some were clapping, others wiping their eyes, clearly misunderstanding the reunion as a touching love story.
Xu Xi sighed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and helplessness. He quickly led Krisha into the privacy of the courtyard.
Once inside, Krisha had regained her composure. She apologized softly, believing she had caused unnecessary trouble.
“It’s nothing to worry about, Krisha,” Xu Xi assured her gently. He wiped away her tears with his hand, his voice calm and soothing.
Krisha sat quietly, her gaze fixed on Xu Xi’s face, her usual aloofness replaced with quiet vulnerability.
She didn’t know why her tears had come so easily or why her emotions had overwhelmed her. She had resolved to not trouble Xu Xi upon their reunion, but everything had spilled over.
Was it the feeling of returning to where she belonged? The joy of finding light in the darkness? Or something deeper, more indescribable?
The witch didn’t dwell on the questions. What mattered was that the loneliness was gone, replaced by the warmth of being by Xu Xi’s side once more.
“Master…”
“Yes, Krisha? What is it?”
Krisha hesitated for a moment, then opened her palm to reveal an ocean-blue necklace. Its glow was serene, carrying a deep and familiar light.
“Can you… put this necklace on me again?” She whispered, her voice almost shy.