223 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

**Chapter 223: Xiao Mo is a Good Person; He's Not Really Bad** Looking at the woman standing before him, Xiao Mo's expression shifted faintly. "What a fool." In the end, Xiao Mo could only sigh, shaking his head as he turned and continued to walk ahead. As she watched Xiao Mo gradually move away, Wang Xin clutched her small hands tightly and quickly navigated around a fallen tree to follow him at a light jog. He walked in front. She trailed behind. The girl’s clear, bright eyes stayed fixed on Xiao Mo’s back, as if afraid of losing sight of him. In the days that followed, Xiao Mo didn’t speak to Wang Xin again, as if he had started to ignore her presence entirely. But Wang Xin didn’t mind. To her, just being by his side and not being driven away was enough. Of course, even if he tried to make her leave, she wouldn’t go. Every evening, when Xiao Mo found a cave to settle in, Wang Xin would be outside, picking up dry branches and leaves. As she collected them, she’d keep glancing back at the cave, as if afraid that Xiao Mo would slip away while she wasn’t looking. Once she gathered enough, she’d hurry back to the cave with the dry branches, sitting beside Xiao Mo and cautiously starting a fire. Occasionally, Xiao Mo purposefully captured a rabbit. Skinning and cleaning it before roasting it over the fire with Wang Xin watching. As Xiao Mo ate the poor rabbit, Wang Xin would clasp her hands together, closing her eyes to pray for the rabbit's spirit and chant Buddhist scriptures. After Xiao Mo finished eating, Wang Xin would carefully collect the rabbit's bones and give it a proper burial. While she buried the rabbit, she’d murmur, "Little rabbit, if you seek revenge in your next life, come to me. Don’t trouble Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo is a good person; he’s not really bad." Whenever Xiao Mo heard her words as he passed by, he couldn’t help but tap her on the head. But Wang Xin never got angry. She would simply hug her small, bald head with her hands, and even when the pain brought tears to her eyes, she wouldn’t get angry. She’d just gaze at Xiao Mo with a pitiful expression. When it was time to sleep in the cave, Wang Xin would gather branches and grass to make a simple bed for Xiao Mo. Every morning, she would rise earlier than Xiao Mo, afraid that he might leave while she was asleep. She didn’t know where Xiao Mo planned to go; she just followed. Wherever Xiao Mo went, she would go too. But Wang Xin had heard Xiao Mo mention that he planned to use his sword to bring order to the Western Region. She knew that the order he intended to establish would cost many lives. A few more days passed. One evening, Xiao Mo and Wang Xin arrived at a dilapidated temple. Wang Xin tugged on Xiao Mo’s sleeve, indicating she wanted to go inside to pray. Although Xiao Mo seemed impatient, he still went inside. Inside, the temple housed several Buddha statues, the central one with a kind and gentle expression, smiling slightly. The guardian deities on either side, however, looked fierce and intimidating. The statues were covered in dust and cobwebs, unattended for a long time. "Xiao Mo, may I clean these statues? It won’t take long," Wang Xin pleaded. "Fine, you stay and clean. I'm leaving," Xiao Mo said, turning to leave the temple. Startled, Wang Xin quickly followed him. "But weren’t you going to clean the statues?" Xiao Mo asked. Clutching his sleeve tightly, Wang Xin shook her head. "Xiao Mo, I… I won’t clean. Let’s keep going." Seeing her dejected expression, Xiao Mo tapped her head again and sat back down at the base of the Buddha statue. "We’re not leaving today. We’ll spend the night here." Hearing that they would stay, Wang Xin was overjoyed. She fetched a bucket of water from the temple's well and diligently cleaned the Buddha statue. Before long, a flash of lightning illuminated the temple. "Boom!" A clap of thunder reverberated through the mountains, as if shaking the entire landscape. Heavy rain began to pour. Fortunately, though the temple was old, its roof was intact, so no rain leaked inside. "Master, Madam, Miss, the rain is too heavy. Let’s go in and shelter." "Yes, let’s hurry in. Our clothes are getting wet." As Xiao Mo meditated with his eyes closed, voices were heard outside. A middle-aged man with a large belly entered, accompanied by his family and escorted by several guards. Judging by their silk attire, they were clearly wealthy. Upon seeing the man sitting beneath the Buddha statues and the monk dutifully cleaning them, everyone froze slightly. On closer inspection, the monk turned out to be a young woman. A female monk? "Greetings, both of you. We're from Jian Zhi County and came for a mountain outing but got caught in this rain. Might we take shelter here for a while?" the middle-aged man politely inquired, evidently aware of the hierarchy within the martial world. "Suit yourselves," Xiao Mo replied with indifference. "Thank you." The man gave a polite bow and led his family to settle on another side of the temple. The temple had plenty of dry wood, leftovers from previous travelers, ready for burning. They lit a bonfire and dried their clothes. Having completed her task, Wang Xin sat beside Xiao Mo. The family occasionally glanced at Xiao Mo and Wang Xin, finding the pairing of a swordsman and a monk quite unusual. Especially a female monk. And the monk was stunningly beautiful. Though she had no hair, her flawless beauty and pure aura made her seem like a celestial being fallen to earth. The middle-aged man, introducing himself as Han Zi, explained that he was a scholar from the country of Qiu Yue, heading to Liang Sha County for a new post. Xiao Mo didn’t respond at all, causing Han Zi to silently close his mouth. Han Zi’s daughter, Han Dongling, meanwhile, gazed at Xiao Mo, fascinated. She had never seen a man as handsome as him before. As darkness settled outside, and the rain showed no sign of stopping, Han Zi realized they wouldn’t be moving on for the night. "Brother, the rain is severe. Let’s head in quickly." "Damn, it took so much work to score a big haul." "Ah, forget it. We'll make it back to the mountain stronghold tomorrow morning." As everyone gathered around the fire, waiting for morning, a commotion sounded outside. It wasn’t long before several burly men kicked open the temple doors. Armed with knives and fierce appearances, they carried boxes in their arms. Han Zi’s family jumped in fright. Han Dongling quickly hid behind her father, while their guards watched the intruders warily. The scar-faced leader eyed the temple occupants, grinning. "The rain's heavy. We’re crashing here. Don’t mind us." Without waiting for a reply, the armed men sat down and stared at Xiao Mo and the others. (End of Chapter)