On a winter night in Yanshan City, an extraordinary sight unfolded.
Neon lights and the bright moon complented each other, creating a city where the supernatural coexisted with technology. In this modern tropolis, figures of extraordinary beings frequently moved through the shadows of towering skyscrapers.
So soared through the skies on swords.
So rode magical beasts.
Others dashed effortlessly across rooftops with incredible agility.
The dazzling neon lights reflected off the snowy streets, outlining the city’s vibrant contours. The hurried pedestrians and flowing traffic ford a srizing river of colors against the winter night.
In that faint chill of silence, Xu Xi could still hear the soft breathing of the witch behind him.
The quiet night carried the rhythmic sound of her breaths, steady and gentle, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
It was peaceful.
And… oddly endearing.
At that mont, Xu Xi suddenly realized—ever since the second simulation ended, he hadn’t spent much ti alone with Krisha like this.
One reason was that Krisha had grown more independent.
She no longer needed his constant guidance.
The other reason was that, in reality, Xu Xi no longer had a lifespan restriction. Unlike in the simulations, Krisha no longer needed to watch over him at all tis.
“Master, have so hot tea to warm up.”
As Xu Xi reminisced about the past, the thoughtful witch silently appeared beside him.
He wasn’t sure where she got the tea, but she carefully balanced the cup on a tray and steadily presented it to him.
The tea’s surface rippled slightly, shimring with a deep crimson hue.
It was Dragon Blood Spirit Tea—a brew rich in both aroma and taste.
“Thanks, Krisha.”
Xu Xi accepted the cup, instinctively thanking the girl as he took a sip. The flavor was familiar—rich yet refreshing.
Top-quality tea.
“Great tea,” he muttered, smacking his lips lightly. He couldn’t help but think that the Dragon Blood Spirit Tea he cultivated himself tasted far better than the overpriced Chakha tea from the magical world.
He still rembered the outrageous price of a single gold coin per cup.
Outside, the wind howled even more fiercely.
The pitch-black sky churned, rattling the old windows. Occasionally, sharp gusts slipped through the cracks, swirling through the empty room.
But Krisha, ever the loyal witch, would not allow anything to disturb Xu Xi.
With a simple raise of her fingers, the lifeless cold wind dissolved into nothingness, vanishing into the falling snow without a sound.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and the faint light reflecting off her eyes accentuated her calm and indifferent expression.
Anything that could affect Xu Xi—nothing escaped her watchful gaze.
“Krisha, you don’t have to take this so seriously. Just sit down.”
Xu Xi chuckled.
But Krisha refused.
Expressionless, she remained standing beside him, holding the tray in one hand and the teapot in the other.
There was an unusual seriousness about her.
What was she doing?
Her answer was simple—she was waiting for him to finish his tea so she could pour him another cup.
Steady, thodical.
Just like in the magical world, the witch served him in the way she believed was best—without hesitation, without distraction, completely focused on her role.
This was the devotion of the “Dim Shadow.”
The quiet resolve of the “Caged Bird.”
It wasn’t restraint.
It was the freedom unique to her.
“…Well, I’ll trouble you then, Krisha.”
Xu Xi handed her the empty cup, his gaze unconsciously eting hers.
Golden, black, and crimson.
Three colors swirled within her irises.
A symbol of her three transformations.
“Now that I think about it, the experiences I had in the magical world simulations were really sothing…”
Just as he sighed in reflection, sothing unexpected happened.
Krisha, who had just taken the cup and was about to pour more tea, lost her grip for a brief mont.
The teapot slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground.
The liquid inside splashed everywhere.
With a dull thud, the teapot hit the floor.
So of the spilled tea soaked into Krisha’s dress, while droplets clung to the strands of her silver-gray hair.
“…I’m sorry, Master.”
Krisha stood frozen, stunned.
A bead of tea slid down her bangs, rolling smoothly down her cheek before dripping onto the floor.
She apologized, her voice soft and lost.
She looked bewildered, her clothes wet.
At her feet, the teapot spun in small circles before finally coming to a stop.
“It’s alright, Krisha.”
Xu Xi’s initial surprise quickly softened into a gentle expression.
His voice was calm as he reassured her, “There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s just a small accident.”
There was no bla. No reprimand.
After all, scolding her would serve no purpose.
With a touch of magic, the ss was cleaned up in an instant.
As for Krisha’s damp clothes, Xu Xi finally put his wind-fire hybrid magic to use—his self-invented spell, sothing akin to a magical hairdryer.
Krisha remained perfectly still.
Her long hair fluttered under the warm breeze, revealing her delicate face.
Expressionless, emotionless.
Yet sohow filled with a silent depth.
As he dried her hair, Xu Xi felt a strange illusion—Krisha, now grown, seed to overlap with the frail, fragile girl he had once t.
“Is sothing wrong, Master?”
Krisha asked.
She had noticed the slight hesitation in his actions.
“…No, nothing.”
Xu Xi smiled and shook his head.
He continued channeling his magic, ensuring her hair was completely dry, leaving no trace of dampness.
“I just suddenly rembered when I first t you.”
“Ti really flies.”
His voice carried a hint of nostalgia.
He could still recall it clearly—the Krisha from back then, thin and weak, a ghost of a girl who seed on the verge of fading away at any mont.
That pitiful image was still deeply imprinted in his mory.
But now…
She had grown up.
Grown strong enough to surprise even him.
Was he happy? Yes, very much so.
Was he emotional? Without a doubt.
But more than anything, he felt relieved.
Watching the girl he had once protected grow into soone independent—it was a joy even greater than his own strength.
From learning magic to awakening her powers, to taking on the responsibilities of managing the courtyard…
Xu Xi had witnessed every step of Krisha’s transformation.
The once frail, starving child had beco a capable adult, powerful enough that he no longer needed to worry about her.
“All done, Krisha. You can stand now.”
With her hair dry, Xu Xi let go of her.
Krisha straightened herself.
Her silver-gray hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the moonlight weaving through the strands like stardust.
“Thank you, Master.”
She spoke politely, bowing her head slightly in gratitude.
But her expression… was unnatural.
At her chest, the deep blue glow of the ocean sapphire necklace flickered.
The reflection of the stone was turbulent, restless—waves rising and falling as if she had done sothing wrong.
But that was impossible.
Krisha was always obedient.
Always careful.
How could she possibly do anything wrong?
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