"Stinky Xiao Mo, I don't recognize you."

Bai Ruxue turned her head away and snorted.

"..."

Xiao Mo could tell at a glance that Bai Ruxue was angry but this was also normal. He had said he would come see her when spring arrived, forgetting to tell her that the examination would last a month.

Plus that county magistrate had delayed things for several more days.

Most likely, Ruxue had been waiting for him ever since she woke up from hibernation.

"I see, it seems I've mistaken you for someone else."

Xiao Mo took out a wooden deer-spirit hairpin from his sleeve.

When she saw this wooden hairpin, Bai Ruxue blinked her eyes curiously.

Xiao Mo sighed and said in a disappointed tone, "I originally promised a friend that I would come see her when spring arrived, but this time when I went to take the children's examination, it really took quite a lot of time. Moreover, I was kept by that county magistrate for dinner, which delayed things for several more days.

I know that when I return, she will definitely be angry.

So during my leisure time, I carved this hairpin, wanting to apologize to her but now it seems she didn't wait for me.

This hairpin is no longer needed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Mo raised his hand, pretending to throw the hairpin away.

"Who says it's not needed? I want it!"

Bai Ruxue stood on her tiptoes and quickly took the hairpin from Xiao Mo's hand, happily playing with it in her palm.

"Miss, this hairpin is for Miss Bai Ruxue," Xiao Mo pretended to be in a difficult position, reaching to take back the hairpin.

Bai Ruxue turned and dodged, protecting the hairpin in her arms, "I am Bai Ruxue!"

"But miss, you just said you weren't..."

Bai Ruxue blinked her eyes, her peach blossom pupils clean and clear like snow springs, "Did I say I wasn't Bai Ruxue?"

Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Miss indeed never said that."

"That's right." Bai Ruxue held out the hairpin with both hands, looking at Xiao Mo with expectant eyes, "Xiao Mo, help me put it on."

"Alright."

Xiao Mo took the hairpin and inserted it between Bai Ruxue's smooth hair.

The young woman's eyes curved into crescents, "How is it? Does it look good?"

"Mm, you look beautiful, but my hairpin doesn't seem quite right. How about I practice more and carve a better one for you?" Xiao Mo examined the hairpin he had carved and reached out to pull it out.

"No! I want this one!" Bai Ruxue protected her hair and quickly stepped back.

"Alright." Since Ruxue liked it, Xiao Mo couldn't very well take it back, "But Ruxue, you're not angry with me anymore?"

Bai Ruxue snorted and turned her little head away, "For the sake of you giving me something, I'll forgive you."

Originally, Bai Ruxue had indeed been very angry in her heart but for some reason, when she saw Xiao Mo, the anger in her heart immediately dissipated quite a bit.

"This humble student thanks the young lady for her magnanimity," Xiao Mo bowed respectfully.

"No need to thank me~"

The young woman stood graciously in front of Xiao Mo, her smile radiant as a flower but after a while, the young woman seemed to think of something and walked in front of Xiao Mo.

She stood on her tiptoes, stretched out her hand to gesture at Xiao Mo's head.

Then gestured at her own head.

"How can this be?" Bai Ruxue's eyes flashed with disappointment, "How am I still not as tall as you? I've clearly grown so much taller."

Xiao Mo said, "Miss Bai, is there a possibility that I've also grown taller?"

Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up, as if suddenly enlightened, "Oh! So that's it!"

"..."

Xiao Mo was momentarily speechless.

Although Bai Ruxue had grown into a young woman, she still didn't seem very bright.

"By the way, Xiao Mo, how did you do on your exam this time?"

Bai Ruxue stopped worrying about height. Last time she was a head shorter than him, now she was half a head shorter.

Next time she shed her skin, she would definitely catch up to him.

"I passed and became a scholar."

"Does that mean you can become an official now?"

"I need to at least pass the provincial examination, becoming a tribute scholar would be most secure."

"So you still need to take more exams?" Bai Ruxue lowered her head, thinking that she wouldn't be able to see him for a long time again.

"The next exam is the provincial examination, which is in three years. It's still very early."

"I see, then it really is still early~" Bai Ruxue's mood immediately improved. She grabbed Xiao Mo's sleeve and walked up the mountain, "Xiao Mo, let's go quickly. I'll take you to a place you'll definitely love."

"Let's go have a look."

The two walked up the mountain side by side.

Before long, Bai Ruxue brought Xiao Mo to a clearing.

The clearing was full of purple sun grass and blue waterfall flowers.

Xiao Mo exclaimed in surprise, "How are there so many here?"

"Quite a lot, right" Bai Ruxue said proudly, "I planted all of these. When I plant more and fill the entire mountain, you can have as many as you want and won't have to work so hard collecting herbs"

Hearing the young woman's words, Xiao Mo lowered his head, his expression somewhat heavy.

"Xiao Mo, what's wrong?" Seeing Xiao Mo's appearance, Bai Ruxue couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Ruxue, there's something I need to tell you." Xiao Mo raised his head and looked directly into Bai Ruxue's eyes, "I might come up the mountain much less frequently in the future."

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue was struck like lightning, her small face turning pale, "Wh-why..."

"The new county magistrate in our Qingshan City is quite decent. He said the government office will subsidize us with money each month until we take the next provincial examination."

Xiao Mo explained to Bai Ruxue.

"Moreover, the village chief said he has nothing more to teach me, so I still need to frequently go out to study. In the future, the number of times I come up the mountain will probably be quite few."

To be honest, Xiao Mo actually didn't want to leave Bai Ruxue either, after all, he still needed to help her transform into a dragon but the problem was, as an ordinary person, he had no idea how to help her transform into a dragon.

What he could do now was to quickly obtain academic honors.

Obtaining academic honors and entering court to become an official wasn't just about completing a task.

This was a world of immortal cultivation, and the Qi Kingdom was the greatest human nation in this world.

The Qi Kingdom had many connections with various top-tier sects.

Once he had high position and great power, perhaps he would have the ability to help her.

Bai Ruxue listened to Xiao Mo's words and lowered her head even further.

Xiao Mo wasn't in a hurry, just waiting for her to sort through her emotions.

For her, besides her younger sister, he was perhaps her only friend.

It was normal for her to have difficulty accepting this for a moment but soon, tears began falling drop by drop from the corners of the young woman's eyes.

The young woman's fists were tightly clenched at her sides, her body trembling slightly.

"Ruxue... don't worry, whenever I have free time..."

Just as Xiao Mo was trying to comfort her, Bai Ruxue suddenly raised her head, her peach blossom eyes brimming with tears like peach blossoms covered with dewdrops.

"Stinky Xiao Mo! You said that after you came back, you would properly play with me!"

Bai Ruxue turned around, wiping her tears while running forward. The young woman's sobbing voice echoed through the mountain forest.

"You big liar! I'll never pay attention to you again!"