Chapter 25: She Doesn't Say, He Doesn't Ask
Winter passed and summer came.
Xiao Mo spent another three years in his second "life experience" within the Book of Hundred Lifetimes.
During these three years, Xiao Mo herded cattle, gathered medicinal herbs, and listened to the old village chief lecture at the village's thatched hall every day.
However, Xiao Mo could only listen to the lessons from outside the private school.
This was actually quite good, as he could also attend to the cattle.
Although Xiao Mo was a child, the Soul within him was indeed that of an adult.
Coupled with the fact that Chinese characters were universally used in this world, Xiao Mo saved a lot of time learning to read and progressed very quickly.
The village chief was startled, pleasantly surprised to have discovered a promising scholar.
In the village chief's opinion, if Xiao Mo studied diligently, he might truly be able to pass the imperial examination.
By then, his Shiqiao Village would truly be glorious.
However, the village chief did not praise Xiao Modirectly, lest he become arrogant.
But the village chief would occasionally lend Xiao Moa few of his own treasured books privately and told him that if he had any questions, he could come to his courtyard at any time.
Xiao Mo was not ignorant; he would always save a portion of the medicinal herbs and wild fruits he gathered each day for the village chief.
Thus, when Xiao Mo rested while gathering herbs in the mountains, he would open a book to read, and while herding cattle, he would sit on the cow's back and read.
In the evenings, when there was nothing to do and the weather was good, Xiao Mo would read under the moonlight.
As for that White Snake.
Over the past three years, Xiao Mo had not seen her again, and he did not know where that White Snakehad gone.
In the coming spring, all things revived.
One morning, Xiao Mo woke up early and led Old Man Liu's cow from the village up the mountain.
As usual, Xiao Mo herded the cow while reading.
"Hey! You, the one riding the cow!"
Just as Xiao Mo was riding the cow and reading, a clear and pleasant female voice came from not far away.
Xiao Mo looked up and saw a young girl, about the age of sixteen, standing gracefully not far away, with her hands on her hips.
The girl wore a white dress that covered her feet, and her long black hair reached just past her slender waist.
The girl's skin was very fair, even glowing faintly under the spring sun. Beneath her long eyelashes, her peach blossom eyes curved slightly at the corners, like a cat's tail, seemingly outlining the entire spring scenery.
Below her upturned nose, her pale pink cherry lips held a pure and gentle smile.
For such a beautiful girl to suddenly appear on the mountain, and with an immaculate white dress, anyone would find it strange, and Xiao Mo was no exception.
However, Xiao Mo roughly guessed who she was.
Because from beneath her skirt, a white tail emerged.
He hadn't expected it.
In just three short years, she had managed to transform.
According to what Xiao Mo knew, it typically took a Yao Race at least twenty years to transform.
No wonder the Book of Hundred Lifetimes said she was exceptionally talented.
Perhaps that drop of True Dragon essence blood she accidentally obtained also contributed significantly.
Xiao Mo dismounted the cow, walked forward, and bowed, pretending he knew nothing: "May I ask who the young lady is?"
"I... I am..."
The girl thought, 'Oh no,' and her bright, round eyes darted around.
She had just transformed today and happened to see him riding a cow, so she came over without thinking, forgetting to prepare an excuse.
"I came up the mountain for a spring outing. Who are you?" the girl retorted.
"I am a villager from Shiqiao Village, named Xiao Mo. May I ask the young lady's name?"
"Me, you ask?" The girl pointed to herself with a fair index finger, her eyes curving into crescents, "My name is Bai Ruxue."
"Bai Ruxue." Xiao Mo murmured the name.
"What's wrong?" The girl, with her hands behind her back, bent down and looked up at Xiao Mo, "Is my name not pleasant to hear?"
"It's pleasant." Xiao Mo nodded, "It just reminded me of a White Snake I saved before. I gave her a name, the same as yours."
"That... that's just a coincidence. I... I'm not a snake at all, I'm a person! That's right! A person!" Bai Ruxue's eyes darted left and right, then she firmed her gaze.
Xiao Mo smiled: "I didn't say you were a snake."
Bai Ruxue: "..."
"Young lady, spring has arrived, and there are many wild beasts on the mountain, as well as more snakes and insects. It would be best for you to descend the mountain soon." Xiao Mo proactively changed the subject, helping her out of her awkwardness.
Three years had passed, and this White Snake still seemed a bit naive.
"No hurry, I'm very familiar with this mountain," Bai Ruxue waved her hand proudly, "Speaking of which, your cow looks very interesting. Can you let me ride it? As a reward, I can give you this."
Bai Ruxue took out a piece of Small change .
She had picked it up on the mountain.
Xiao Mo shook his head: "There's no need for that. If the young lady wants to ride the cow, just get on."
"Thank you, you're quite nice."
Bai Ruxue walked with a wiggle to the side of the cow.
Xiao Mo patted the big black cow's head, and the big black cow grunted, squatting down.
Just as Bai Ruxue lifted her skirt, intending to get on the cow, a fair snake tail was revealed.
Bai Ruxue's cheeks flushed, and she quickly lowered her skirt: "You saw wrong just now, I'm not a snake! I'm a person, look, these are human feet."
Bai Ruxue once again slightly lifted her skirt, revealing a pair of small feet wearing white cloud-patterned embroidered shoes, with faint veins visible on her snow-white ankles.
"It seems I've been reading too much lately and my eyes are a bit blurry." Xiao Mo played along with the girl, "Young lady, please get on quickly."
"Oh, oh, oh..." Bai Ruxue climbed onto the big black cow, sitting sideways on its back.
Xiao Mo also got on the cow, straddling it in front of Bai Ruxue.
The big black cow stood up, startling Bai Ruxue, who quickly clutched Xiao Mo's sleeve.
Under the spring sun, the big black cow walked casually up the mountain, nibbling here and nibbling there.
Xiao Mo rode on the cow's back, flipping through the ancient texts in his hand.
"Are you reading?" The girl behind him, after secretly slipping some silver into Xiao Mo's pocket, asked curiously.
"Yes." Xiao Mo nodded.
"Is reading fun?"
"Not really fun..."
"Then why do you read?"
"Well, because I want to pass the imperial examinations."
"Why do you want to pass the imperial examinations?"
"Only by passing the imperial examinations can one become an official in the court."
"What does it mean to be an official in the court?"
On the cow's back, the girl was like a walking encyclopedia of 'why'.
Xiao Mo could no longer read, so he simply closed his book and answered the girl's "ten thousand whys".
It wasn't until evening that Xiao Mo said: "Young lady, I need to go down the mountain."
"Oh, alright then." A hint of disappointment flashed in the girl's eyes, and she jumped off the cow's back, "Then I'll go home too."
"Where do you live, young lady? I can see you off."
"No need to see me off, no need, I can go back by myself, goodbye." The girl quickly waved her hand and scurried towards the forest.
As the girl ran, from beneath her skirt, those small feet wearing embroidered shoes changed back into a White Snake tail.
Xiao Mo smiled.
She didn't say.
So he wouldn't ask.