The weather gradually entered winter.

Little Green also learned that her sister had decided to journey through rivers to secure Dragon Thunder Liquid for Big Brother Xiao.

Little Green naturally supported her sister's decision.

Moreover, Little Green certainly couldn't bear to see Big Brother Xiao leave like this either.

After such a long time, Little Green had long considered Xiao Mo as her own family but journeying through rivers was not a simple matter.

With the slightest carelessness, what awaited would very likely be the dissolution of body and dao, with soul and spirit scattered.

So during this time, Bai Ruxue had been intensively cultivating, making various preparations for the river journey.

Xiao Mo would also give lessons to Bai Ruxue and Little Green, explaining the dangerous parts of this route one by one, as well as various situations they might encounter along the way.

This also included how to deal with things like "Dragon-Slaying Swords" and "Dragon-Binding Locks."

It wasn't that Xiao Mo didn't want to remove things like "Dragon-Slaying Swords."

Rather, Xiao Mo couldn't do it.

Things like "Dragon-Slaying Swords" and "Dragon-Binding Locks" were all established by Qi Kingdom's Heavenly Surveillance Bureau, and ordinary people couldn't remove them.

The Heavenly Surveillance Bureau was independent of Qi Kingdom's bureaucratic structure.

Although Xiao Mo was Prime Minister, he had no way to command the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau.

Furthermore, asking the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau to remove dragon-slaying swords and dragon-binding locks would require reasons but what reason could he find?

He could hardly say, "My fiancée is from the snake clan, she needs to journey through rivers to transform into a dragon, please help out."

Although Xiao Mo had indeed reached the highest ministerial position, he also had many adversaries at court.

If he did this, Xiao Mo would probably be impeached by all officials the next day.

However, Xiao Mo hadn't made no preparations at all.

In Xiao Mo's view, the preparations he had made over these forty-plus years should be sufficient.

As days passed one by one.

Xiao Mo's health grew worse and worse.

Just as winter began, Xiao Mo started coughing.

Seeing Xiao Mo's pale complexion, Bai Ruxue became increasingly anxious, wishing she could face tribulation the very next day but the day for crossing tribulation needed to be chosen carefully, not just any day would do.

This required calculations based on birth dates and times.

Fortunately, not long ago, Xiao Mo had asked Elder Fuchen to calculate the auspicious days.

For Bai Ruxue, the best day for the river journey was the third day of the third month next year.

And coincidentally, along the route Xiao Mo had chosen, ice and snow would begin melting in early February, and by early March, it would be spring when all things revived.

As time passed day by day, soon after the New Year, it reached the end of January.

Little Green went to the mountains to hibernate, but Bai Ruxue no longer needed hibernation.

Only Xiao Mo and she remained in the courtyard.

At this time, only one month remained until Bai Ruxue's river journey.

The twenty-eighth day of the first month.

That night, Stone Bridge Village experienced heavy snowfall.

This should be winter's last snow.

Xiao Mo could also feel that this might be the last snow of his own life.

Early the next morning, Xiao Mo woke up.

As usual, Bai Ruxue had heated water ready for Xiao Mo to wash up.

After breakfast, Bai Ruxue was about to clean the courtyard, but Xiao Mo stopped her, "Clean it when we come back. Let's go outside for a walk first."

"Right now?" Bai Ruxue looked at the heavy snow filling the sky and worried, "But Xiao Mo, the snow is very heavy."

"It's fine," Xiao Mo shook his head. "I'm just old, but my body is still quite healthy."

Bai Ruxue remained silent.

"I'm really fine, and you wouldn't feel at ease letting me go out alone, would you?" Xiao Mo smiled.

"Alright..." Bai Ruxue reluctantly agreed.

Actually, Bai Ruxue was still very worried about Xiao Mo's health, but seeing that he insisted on going out, she could only accompany him.

However, if she noticed anything wrong with his complexion, she would immediately drag him back, no matter what he said!

"Let's go then."

"Wait, I'll get an umbrella."

"No need for an umbrella."

"Xiao Mo... the snow is too heavy..."

"It's fine."

Xiao Mo pulled Bai Ruxue toward the outside of the courtyard.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Xiao Mo brought Bai Ruxue to the edge of a lake.

This lake was called Xueqing Lake.

Originally, this lake had no name, but on the day Xiao Mo achieved the top scholar position, County Magistrate Sun wanted to expand this lake as a memorial.

County Magistrate Sun asked Xiao Mo what name would be good.

Xiao Mo gave it this name.

Afterward, County Magistrate Sun brought several streams of living water to Xueqing Lake, built embankments, erected a pavilion, and planted willow trees.

Before they knew it, over the years, when the people of Qingshan City went out for excursions, they would all choose this place.

The two walked along the edge of Xueqing Lake, white snow like catkins floating down from the sky, landing on their shoulders.

As they walked, Bai Ruxue would occasionally brush the white snow from Xiao Mo's shoulders and occasionally glance at his profile.

One circle.

Two circles.

Xiao Mo led Bai Ruxue around Xueqing Lake, circle after circle.

The two left footprint after footprint in the snow.

With each step, the snow would make "crunch, crunch" sounds.

"Xiao Mo, are you cold?" Bai Ruxue worried.

Xiao Mo shook his head, "Not cold."

"If you get cold, tell me and we'll go back immediately."

"Alright."

When they reached the third circle, Bai Ruxue looked up again.

"Xiao Mo, are you tired?"

"I'm not tired."

When the two reached the fourth circle, the snow was falling heavier and heavier, and Bai Ruxue already wanted to pull Xiao Mo back.

"Xiao Mo, let's go back. The snow is so heavy, you'll catch cold."

"It's fine. Twenty-some years ago, I encountered snow even heavier than this."

On the fifth circle, Bai Ruxue looked at Xiao Mo, growing more anxious, "Xiao Mo, let's go back, please."

Xiao Mo smiled, his expression calm, "One last circle. After we finish this one, we'll go back."

"Alright..."

Bai Ruxue lowered her head.

Really just this last circle.

After finishing this circle, even if he didn't want to go back, she would drag him away!

Xiao Mo walked forward step by step, with Bai Ruxue following at his side.

Bai Ruxue didn't know why Xiao Mo wanted to walk in circles here.

She only worried about Xiao Mo's health, worried whether he was tired, worried whether he would catch cold.

"Ruxue, I remembered something," Xiao Mo spoke.

"What is it?" Bai Ruxue blinked her eyes.

"You once asked me a question," Xiao Mo smiled. "You asked me whether we two could have white hair together in old age."

Bai Ruxue lowered her head, her cheeks blushing, "I did ask, and you promised me..."

"Yes, I promised you."

Xiao Mo raised his head, looking at the heavy snow dancing across the sky.

White snow fell on their hair, dotting and staining their strands, dyeing them silver-white.

When they reached the end point, Xiao Mo finally stopped walking.

He turned around, looking at the woman's peach blossom-like eyes, "Ruxue, tell me, do the two of us now count as having white hair together?"