Chapter 58

The days in the mountains were peaceful; in the blink of an eye, Aikesi had already lived in the mountain village for half a month.

This morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a thin layer of mist still shrouded the mountains. Aikesi cultivated alone before the stone house, barefoot on the grass still damp with dew, feeling the faint coolness rising from the depths of the earth. Fire Elements danced in his palm; at first, they were merely scattered sparks, but gradually they coalesced into a tiny fire dragon, coiling around his wrist. As his comprehension of the Profound Mystery of Fire Element deepened, the fire dragon grew increasingly solid, its scales distinct, and even its whiskers became clearly visible.

The temperature was extremely high, yet he controlled it perfectly within the square inch of his palm, causing not the slightest distortion in the surrounding air.

"Hoo—" Aikesi exhaled a cloud of turbid breath and slowly opened his eyes. The fire dragon in his palm dissipated accordingly, turning into scattered sparks that vanished into the air.

Just as he was about to continue attempting new variations, a long-unheard mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"Ding—

Aikesi's spirit perked up.

"Check-in function triggered. Detected that the host has resided continuously in the mountain village for fifteen days, and favorability with the key character Monika has reached the 'Heartfelt' level; triggering special scene check-in."

"Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the rare treasure from the Legend of Sword and Fairy world—Golden Silkworm Gu." This book debuts here. For chasing books, go to tian tian kan xiao shuo, ttks. tw, super convenient, providing you with error-free chapters and non-disordered chapter reading experience.

"Golden Silkworm Gu: A rare spiritual gu from the Legend of Sword and Fairy world. It can permanently increase the user's spiritual power, with the magnitude depending on the user's aptitude. No side effects whatsoever; highly effective for breaking through bottlenecks. For those below the Saint Domain, it can unconditionally raise one level."

Aikesi's heart gave a jolt.

Golden Silkworm Gu! It's Golden Silkworm Gu again!

He instinctively spread his palm, and a soft golden light emerged from the void, slowly coalescing into a golden spiritual gu the size of a thumb.

The last time he consumed the Golden Silkworm Gu, he broke through from Nine-level Peak to Saint Magus; that was a step like a fish leaping over the dragon gate.

Now he had obtained another one. Although, at his Sanctuary Peak realm, this Golden Silkworm Gu could no longer unconditionally raise him one level.

But it didn't matter.

Aikesi clenched the golden spiritual gu in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, and he already had a plan in mind.

He carefully stored the Golden Silkworm Gu into his space ring, stood up, and brushed off the grass blades clinging to his robes. Morning light spilled over from behind the eastern ridge, dyeing the entire valley a pale gold. Roosters crowed and dogs barked in the village; smoke from cooking fires had already risen from the roofs of several houses.

It was time.

Aikesi took a deep breath and walked toward Desili's courtyard. All the way, he pondered how to break the ice. Proposing marriage was something he had never done in either his past life or this one. In his past life as a programmer, he hadn't even had a girlfriend; he spent all day facing a computer writing code, and his only romantic experience was secretly crushing on the company receptionist for three months, only to discover she was already married. As for this life, in Aikesi's twenty-plus years, apart from cultivation and executing missions, he hadn't even touched a woman's hand.

So his mood at this moment was more nervous than facing a powerful enemy at the Sanctuary Peak.

His palms sweated slightly, and his heartbeat quickened a few beats compared to usual. For a moment, he even had the impulse to go back and practice two moves to calm down.

But his steps did not stop.

The courtyard soon appeared before his eyes. Morning glories climbed the fence wall, their purple flowers just blooming in the morning light. Monika was squatting in the yard drying medicinal herbs; in front of her were several bamboo-woven winnowing baskets filled with fresh herbs, including mint, honeysuckle, and several herbs Aikesi couldn't name. She wore a pale blue cloth skirt, her hair casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, a few stray strands falling by her ears, making her look gentle and soft.

"Aikesi!" Monika looked up, saw him, and a smile immediately spread across her face; her eyes curved into beautiful crescents. "Why did you come so early today? Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet." Aikesi stood at the courtyard gate, looking at her, and suddenly felt all his nervousness vanish into thin air.

"Then I'll make it for you in a bit." Monika patted the dirt from her hands and stood up. "I picked quite a bit of mint today; we can brew mint tea. Didn't you say you liked drinking it?"

"Mm." Aikesi walked into the courtyard and stood beside her.

Monika tilted her head to look at him, feeling that he was a bit different today. Usually when he came, he would naturally help her with chores or sit beside her chatting; today, however, he stood there, appearing as if he wanted to speak but held back.

"What's wrong?" she asked curiously. "Is something the matter?"

"To see your father." Aikesi took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calmer. "There's something."

"What is it?" Monika blinked, even more curious. She rarely saw Aikesi so serious.

Looking into her clear eyes, Aikesi suddenly felt his courage double; all hesitation and unease vanished in that instant.

"Proposing marriage," he said.

Monika froze.

The herbs in her hand slipped from her fingers, falling onto the winnowing basket with a soft sound. She stood there motionless as if cast with a paralysis spell; her expression shifted from confusion to blankness, and then from blankness to disbelief.

Moments later, her face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye. The redness started from her cheeks, quickly spreading to her earlobes, and even her neck was dyed a pale pink. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her voice seemed stuck in her throat; she couldn't utter a single word.

"You, you——" she stammered, her mind completely blank.

Seeing her like this, a warmth and tenderness surged in Aikesi's heart. He reached out, wanting to hold her hand, but Monika, as if burned, suddenly pulled back, turned around, and ran.

"Father! Aikesi is here! He said, he said he wants to——"

Her voice grew fainter, and the following words became completely inaudible. Aikesi stood in the courtyard, awkwardly touching his nose, yet the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted. This reaction was better than any possibility he had imagined.

After a short while, Desili walked out of the house. Today he wore a gray long robe, his hair neatly tied back, his expression calm, showing neither joy nor anger. Monika followed behind him; she kept her head down, her gaze fixed tightly on her own toes, daring not to look at Aikesi. But Aikesi, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the corners of her lowered mouth were slightly lifting, an arc that couldn't be hidden.

"Come in." Desili glanced at Aikesi, spoke in a flat tone, and turned to enter the house.

Aikesi followed. Passing by Monika, while Desili wasn't looking, he quickly held her hand. Monika's palm was all sweat, her fingertips slightly cool; when he held them, she trembled lightly. She raised her head, glared at him with a red face; that look contained reproach and shyness, but more of it was an indescribable joy. She didn't struggle free, letting him hold her hand for a moment before gently pulling it away.

Inside the house, Bingselin was also present.

She sat at the table, a set of green porcelain tea utensils before her, leisurely brewing tea. Boiling water was poured into the teapot; tea leaves rolled in the water, and a fragrant scent spread through the room. Seeing Aikesi enter, she smiled slightly; that smile was gentle and composed, making one unconsciously relax.

"Sit." She pointed to the chair opposite.

Aikesi sat opposite; Monika sat beside him, still daring not to raise her head, her two hands placed on her knees, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

The room was quiet for a while, with only the steam from the tea slowly rising.

"Speak." Desili spoke first, his tone unhurried. "You want to marry Monika?"

"Yes." Aikesi nodded, his gaze open and honest, meeting Desili's eyes. "I wish to take Monika as my wife; I hope Sir and Madam will grant their blessing."

Bingselin lifted her teacup, gently blew on it, took a sip, and her gaze moved back and forth between Aikesi and Monika. Although Monika kept her head down, the smile on her lips couldn't be hidden; that arc seemed carved onto her face, impossible to press down no matter how hard one tried.

"You have only known each other for half a month." Bingselin put down her teacup, her tone gentle. "Is it not too fast? Young people acting on impulse is a common occurrence."

"Matters of the heart have nothing to do with the length of time." Aikesi said seriously, his voice not loud but very firm. "Some people know each other for a lifetime and remain strangers. Some people know the right person with just one glance."

"

These words were neither heavy nor light, yet they made Bingselin slightly stunned. She hadn't expected this young man to speak so reasonably; he didn't seem like someone acting on a sudden heat of the moment. She glanced at Desili; Desili nodded slightly, signaling her to continue asking.

"You are a Saint Magus and at the Sanctuary Peak; your future is limitless." Desili spoke, his voice steady. "Monika is merely a Level 7 Mage; the gap between you is too great. In the future, when you go to a higher plane, what will become of her?"

This was the problem Desili worried about most.

It wasn't that he couldn't see Aikesi's potential; on the contrary, precisely because he saw it, he was even more worried. Sanctuary Peak was merely the starting point; given Aikesi's age and talent, becoming a god was only a matter of time. When he went to the Zhi Gao Weimian then, what would become of Monika?

This wasn't Desili being overly anxious; as a father, he had to consider his daughter's future. He had seen too many such examples: a talented youth, full of spirit, married the girl he loved, but later, because the gap in realms was too great, one ascended while the other remained behind, ultimately leading to eternal separation and nothing but regret.

"I will not leave her behind." Aikesi said solemnly, his gaze burning like a torch. "No matter where we go, I will take her with me. If she is unwilling to go, I will stay and keep her company."

Desili and Bingselin exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

"Can you bear to?" Bingselin asked. "With your talent, there is a wider world outside. Do you not wish to see it?"

"No matter how wide the world is, without her, it holds no meaning." Aikesi spoke very calmly, yet very firmly. "The path of cultivation is endless, but the person who can stay by one's side might be only this one in a lifetime. I do not want to throw away something truly worth cherishing for a vague, higher realm."

Monika finally raised her head, her eyes filled with emotion, her eyes slightly reddening, with tears swirling within them. She looked at Aikesi's profile—at his determined jawline and serious gaze—and a warmth unlike any she had ever felt before surged in her heart. This man truly had her in his heart.

Desili fell silent for a moment, lifted his teacup for a sip, then set it down again.

"Good. With those words of yours, I am reassured." He said slowly, his tense face finally relaxing. "However—" his tone shifted, his gaze becoming sharp, "marriage is not something settled by mere words. If you wish to marry my daughter, you must show some sincerity."

Aikesi had been prepared for this.

He extended his hand, palm up, and a soft golden light emerged from his palm. The golden light gradually condensed, forming a golden spirit gu the size of a thumb. It was crystal clear throughout, with faint threads of golden light patterns slowly swirling inside, emitting a faint radiance.

"Golden Silkworm Gu." Aikesi introduced, his voice calm. "It can permanently enhance the user's spiritual power. If someone below the Saint Domain level takes it, their level will be raised by one unconditionally. Monika is currently Level 7; when she cultivates to the Nine-level Peak and takes this gu, she can break through directly to the Saint Domain."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent for a moment.

Bingselin's teacup hovered in mid-air, forgotten. Desili's gaze fell upon that golden spirit gu, his pupils contracting slightly. They were both cultivators and naturally knew the value of this thing. How many people were stuck at the Nine-level Peak their entire lives, unable to break through? How many poured out everything, exhausting their whole lives, yet could not even touch the threshold of the Saint Domain? Yet this tiny spirit gu could make someone step directly into that realm which countless people dreamed of.

Outside, this thing was enough to make countless Level 9 experts fight until their heads bled, enough to trigger a bloody storm sweeping across several empires.

"This is too precious." Bingselin was the first to come to her senses, her voice carrying an undeniable shock. "Do you know what this thing means? It can make an ordinary person become a Saint Domain expert directly. This is an opportunity that countless people beg for but cannot obtain."

"I know." Aikesi nodded. "No matter how precious it is, it is not as precious as Monika."

He gently pushed the Golden Silkworm Gu in front of Desili, his action solemn and reverent: "This is my betrothal gift. Please accept it, sir."

Desili looked at that golden spirit gu, silent for a long time.

His thoughts suddenly drifted far away. He remembered Monika as a child, with two small braids, running around behind him, calling "Dad" in a milky voice; he remembered the first time she successfully cast Light Magic, dancing with excitement, jumping and leaping into his arms; he remembered her growing up day by day, changing from an ignorant little girl into a graceful young maiden.

Now, someone wanted to marry her.

"Are you sure?" Desili looked at Aikesi, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Once accepted, there is no room for regret."

"I never regret." Aikesi said, his tone certain.

Desili nodded, reaching out to take the Golden Silkworm Gu. His fingers trembled slightly, but when he grasped that spirit gu, his hand steadied. He carefully put the Golden Silkworm Gu away, raised his head, and looked into Aikesi's eyes.

"Good. I agree."

Monika's tears suddenly burst forth.

She covered her mouth to stop herself from crying out, but the tears still fell uncontrollably. She did not know why she was crying; it was clearly a happy thing, clearly the result she had always expected, yet the tears just could not be controlled.

"What are you crying for?" Bingselin smiled as she stood up, walked over to Monika, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and said, "This is good news; you should be happy."

"I'm not crying." Monika wiped her tears, crying and laughing at the same time, teardrops hanging on her eyelashes, sparkling in the candlelight. "I'm just—just too happy."

Aikesi looked at her, and a warmth surged in his heart. From now on, she was the one he would spend his life with.

"Has the wedding date been set?" Bingselin asked, having fully entered the role of a mother-in-law, already calculating various details.

"Not yet." Aikesi said. "I want to wait until everything is settled before holding the wedding. The situation outside is still unstable; I do not want Monika to take risks with me. After I have handled all matters and given her a stable home, we will formally marry."

Desili nodded in agreement: "That is good. When a man does things, he must first attend to his main duties; romantic feelings are not urgent. Monika, you go with Aikesi first, get to know each other better, and marry when the time is ripe."

"Mm." Monika nodded obediently, using the handkerchief to wipe the tear stains from her face clean.

Bingselin held Monika's hand, whispering something. The woman's voice was very soft; Aikesi only vaguely heard words like "get along well," "don't be willful," and "take care of yourself." Monika's face was red, and she occasionally stole a glance at Aikesi, her eyes full of joy and shyness.

Desili stood up, walked to the window, and with his back to everyone, looked out at the mountain scenery. In the distance, the green mountains were like dark eyebrows, shrouded in swirling clouds and mist. Several flying birds swept through the forest, disappearing into the distant horizon.

"Aikesi." He suddenly spoke, his voice very calm.

"Sir, please speak."

"Monika is my daughter, and she is my only concern." Desili's voice carried a depth unique to a father. "I am entrusting her to you; you must treat her well."

"Certainly." Aikesi said solemnly, stood up, and bowed deeply to Desili's back. "I guarantee it with my life."

Desili turned around, looked at him, and suddenly smiled.

"Keep your life for your own use." He patted Aikesi's shoulder. "What I want is for you to live well and accompany her for a lifetime."

Aikesi felt a warmth in his heart and nodded heavily.

Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect, golden light pouring into the courtyard, dyeing everything in a warm tone. The morning glories on the fence were blooming brilliantly, and several bees buzzed among the flowers. In the distance came the sounds of children playing, and the sound of someone chopping wood in a courtyard.

Monika ran out of the house, grabbed Aikesi's hand in one go: "Come, I'll take you somewhere."

"Where?" Aikesi asked, being dragged out by her, finding it somewhat amusing.

"You'll know when we get there." Monika said mysteriously, a cunning light flickering in her eyes. "I guarantee you've never been there."

Holding hands, the two crossed the village, walked past the stream, and climbed a small hill. The mountain path was difficult to walk, but Monika was familiar with it, stepping steadily with every step. Aikesi followed behind her, watching her light figure, and a nameless peace surged in his heart.

At the summit was a flat large stone, like a naturally formed stone platform, just right for sitting. From here, one could overlook the entire valley, the view so open it made one's heart and mind feel refreshed.

"This is the place I loved to come to most when I was a child." Monika sat on the large stone and patted the spot beside her. "Whenever I was unhappy, I would come here alone to sit. Looking at the mountains, looking at the clouds, and my mood would improve."

Aikesi sat down beside her, following her gaze. In the valley, the village's cooking smoke rose in wisps, white smoke rising from the chimneys of every household, swaying gently in the wind. The stream flowed murmuring, a silver-white water line winding through the valley, like a crack on the earth. The distant mountains were layered, from near to far, their colors shifting from deep green to light blue, and the furthest ones almost merged with the sky, like a splash-ink landscape painting.

"In the future, when you are unhappy, I will come with you." He said softly, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder.

Monika leaned on his shoulder, the corners of her mouth rising slightly, and sighed contentedly: "You said it; you are not allowed to regret it."

"No regret."

The two sat like that, neither speaking, quietly watching the sun sink slowly in the west. The golden afterglow fell upon them, stretching their shadows very long, very long, from the large stone all the way to the cliff edge, like two merging rivers.

"Aikesi." Monika suddenly called him, her voice very soft.

"Mm?"

"Will you really love me forever?" When she asked this question, her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, like a child afraid of being rejected.

"Really." Aikesi held her hand, interlacing their fingers. "I will always be by your side. Not for a day, not for a year, but for a lifetime."

Monika looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness. She suddenly leaned over, kissed his cheek quickly, then quickly pulled back, burying her head low, her ears burning red.

Aikesi was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

He reached out, gently cradling her face and lifting it so she could look at him. In Monika's eyes there was shyness, panic, and anticipation. He said nothing, only lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Monika closed her eyes, her lashes trembling faintly.

The setting sun sank, the moon rose. The sky full of stars was like scattered diamonds on black velvet, glittering with a cool, clear light.

The two sat just like that, watching the river of stars overhead, neither speaking. Now and then a meteor streaked across the horizon, leaving behind a fleeting trail of light in the night sky.

From the village in the distance came a few barks of dogs, and the sound of someone calling a child home to bed.

Time to head back.

Aikesi stood up, gave Monika a hand, and helped her brush the grass clippings from her skirt: "Let's go. We'll come again tomorrow."

"Come!" Monika laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, her smile brighter than the stars above.

The two walked hand in hand down the mountain path back home. Moonlight spilled over them, stretching their shadows long and longer. The night breeze blew up from the valley, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees and the breath of the stream.

At the village entrance, Desili stood there. He watched the two walk over, gave a slight nod, his face wearing an expression peculiar to fathers—relief tinged with a trace of reluctance, joy hiding a touch of melancholy.

"Back?"

"Mm." Monika let go of Aikesi's hand, ran over and hooked her arm through her father's, just like when she was small. "Father, thank you."

Desili patted her head, his gaze passing over Monika to look at Aikesi standing beneath the moonlight.

"Go on, live your life well," he said softly.

Monika nodded, then ran back to Aikesi's side and naturally took his hand.

The two walked into the village, moonlight spilling a carpet of silver behind them. The night wind blew past, tree shadows swaying, as if someone were gently shaking the leaves on a full bough.

Monika suddenly stopped, rose on her tiptoes, and leaned close to Aikesi's ear.

"Aikesi," her voice was light as a feather, "have I ever told you that meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life?"

Aikesi turned his head, looked at her face illuminated by the moonlight, and said earnestly, "It's not too late to say it now."

Monika smiled and leaned against his shoulder.

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