Chapter 41: Young Master is her fortune, and also her destiny.
Two days later.
Just as Bai Ruxue had said, that Daoist priest came knocking on the door again.
Xiao Mo looked at the Daoist priest; she merely stood there, yet she exuded an aura of transcendence.
Even though she was incredibly beautiful, one could not harbor any ill intentions towards her.
It was as if you would subconsciously feel an insurmountable chasm between yourself and her.
Upon seeing the Daoist priest, Bai Ruxue quickly hid behind Xiao Mo.
It was as if she was worried the Daoist priest would abduct her.
"This humble Fuchen greets Young Master," Fuchenbowed.
"This humble Xiao Mo greets Fairy," Xiao Mo returned the bow.
"May I ask who Young Master is to this young lady?" Fuchen asked.
"A friend," Xiao Mo replied.
Fuchen nodded and looked at Bai Ruxue, who was hiding behind Xiao Mo: "How have you considered it, young lady?"
Bai Ruxue timidly poked her head out from behind Xiao Mo, her small hand clutching Xiao Mo's sleeve tightly: "I... I don't Cultivate! I don't want to go with you!"
Fuchen looked at Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo was also a bit helpless: "Yesterday, I also tried to persuade Ru Xue, but Ru Xue simply refused to leave."
Fuchen calmly looked at Bai Ruxue and nodded: "This humble one understands. It seems the fated time has not yet arrived."
Fuchen took out a jade pendant from her Pregnant(huái): "If Miss Ru Xue changes her mind, she can take this jade pendant and come to Tianxuan Sect to find this humble one at any time."
Bai Ruxue looked at Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo nodded.
Only then did Bai Ruxue cautiously reach out and accept the jade pendant.
"Then this humble one shall take her leave. I apologize for the disturbance."
"I will see Fairy out of the village."
Just as Fuchen was about to leave, Xiao Mo said.
Fuchen turned around, met Xiao Mo's gaze directly, and then nodded: "Then I shall trouble Young Master."
"Please."
After telling Bai Ruxue to watch the house, Xiao Moled Fuchen out of the village.
"Does Young Master wish to ask this humble one something?"
When the two had walked some distance, Fuchenasked the man beside her.
When Xiao Mo offered to see her off, Fuchen had already guessed that he had something he wanted to ask her, and that it was inconvenient for Bai Ruxue to know.
"Indeed, nothing escapes Fairy's notice. I do have some questions, and I wonder if Fairy could enlighten me."
"Young Master, please speak directly."
"I wish to inquire about the matter of a snake transforming into a Dragon."
Fuchen's eyes showed a hint of surprise: "So Young Master already knows."
"How could I not know?"
Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head.
"When I was young, I saved a White Snake. Three years later, a little girl in a white dress found me.
She had no fixed abode, disappeared every winter, and at first, her transformation was not so skilled; she even revealed her snake tail a few times.
Perhaps the only one kept in the dark was herself.
However, since she didn't say anything, I didn't ask either."
"Young Master is not afraid?"
"She has never harmed anyone, what is there for me to fear?"
"Good," Fuchen looked at Xiao Mo with approval, "Young Master has a Dao Heart, but unfortunately, no spiritual root, so he cannot Cultivate the Dao."
"Everyone has their own way of living. If one cannot Cultivate the Dao, then one can be an ordinary Mortal," Xiao Mo smiled, "I presume Fairy has also come for Ru Xue, right?"
"Precisely."
Fuchen did not conceal it either.
"At that time, this humble one passed by this village and saw a courtyard with a hint of Demonic Qi, yet that Demonic Qi was as clear as the sun and moon's brilliance.
This indicated that she had not harmed anyone, but was merely Cultivating by drawing on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
This humble one, curious, came to investigate and saw that Miss Bai in Young Master's courtyard had excellent spiritual roots and extraordinary talent, which sparked the desire to take her as a disciple.
I apologize for the previous concealment, and hope Young Master will forgive me."
"Fairy overstates it," Xiao Mo's expression carried a hint of melancholy, "Actually, she shouldn't be here; I am the one who has held her back."
Fuchen smiled: "Whether human or demon, everyone has their own karmic destiny. Since she wishes to stay by Young Master's side, it means that for her, Young Master is her 'Dao.' How can one speak of confinement?"
Xiao Mo was pensive.
Fuchen continued: "To answer Young Master's previous question, a snake transforming into a Dragon is indeed not easy.
A snake first transforms into a python; this is the most basic stage, requiring it to avoid natural predators, including human hunting, find suitable spiritual lands, resist diseases and disasters, and most importantly—overcome the instincts and inertia of a lower creature and persist in Cultivation.
She originally had a tribulation, but was saved by Young Master. Now she has transformed into a white python.
This difficulty, she has already passed.
"After that, it's from python to boa, besides avoiding hunting by Mortals, it also needs to deal with hunting by Cultivators.
This humble one observes that Miss Ru Xue has signs of atavism and the potential to transform into a Dragon, making her more likely to be targeted by Cultivators. Young Master, remember to tell Miss Bai to be careful."
Xiao Mo nodded: "This humble one will remember."
Fuchen continued: "After transforming into a boa, it then transforms into a Flood Dragon; this is the most crucial stage for the snake clan.
Transforming into a Flood Dragon means 'walking the Flood Dragon'.
This usually occurs during periods of torrential rain, flash floods, and surging rivers.
The snake clan will use the immense power of the floodwaters to flow downstream and rush towards the sea. This process is extremely dangerous, as they must break through or bypass natural obstacles in the riverbed, such as massive rocks and mountains.
There are also man-made obstacles, such as the "Dragon Slaying Sword" hanging under bridge arches, or bridge piers, dams, and Dragon-locking chains inscribed with Talismanic Incantations.
During the 'walking the Flood Dragon' period, there will inevitably be strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
Lightning will fiercely strike the snake clan advancing in the flood channel, and many of them will be shattered to pieces during the Lightning Tribulation."
"Finally, it is the transformation into a Dragon.
After the snake clan enters the sea, they are called Submerged Dragon (qián jiāo) or 'latent Flood Dragons.' At this point, they can Cultivate diligently.
After Cultivating to a certain extent, nine bolts of supreme Yang golden lightning will descend.
Failure means the body perishes, the Dao is destroyed, and the Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.
Success means transforming into a True Dragon."
"..." Listening to Fuchen's words, Xiao Mo's brows furrowed.
"This humble one knows what Young Master is worried about."
Stepping out of the village entrance, Fuchen stopped and turned to look at Xiao Mo.
"Young Master is worried that transforming into a Dragon is so dangerous, and fears that her being by his side would delay her, thinking it better for her to ascend the mountain with me, where she would have protection.
Young Master even thought, back in the courtyard, that although Miss Ru Xue wasn't going up the mountain with me this time, he could slowly persuade her later to change her mind."
"..." Xiao Mo remained silent.
Silence meant agreement.
Fuchen shook her head:
"Young Master, in this world, everyone has their own karmic destiny.
Young Master believes that if she ascends the mountain with me, her future transformation into a Dragon will be more assured.
Young Master believes he will only hinder her great Dao.
But in reality, is that truly the case?"
Fuchen looked up. Though it was daytime, her eyes seemed to sparkle with stars and the cosmos, as if she were divining heavenly secrets.
"Who says struggling in the Mortal world is worse than cultivating in seclusion on a mountain?
Although Young Master is a Mortal, who says he will do less than us Cultivators?"
Xiao Mo looked up: "Fairy means?"
Fuchen withdrew her gaze, and her star-filled eyes gradually returned to normal black pupils.
The woman smiled as she looked at the man before her:
"Just follow your heart."
"Young Master is her fortune."
"And also her destiny."