Chapter 24: Embroidery Girl, Do You Want to Fly and Rest Together with Gu Zhao?

"Chomp... chomp..."

On a small chair nearby, the white fox was burying its head and eating hard, devouring rice mixed with braised pork knuckle, wishing it could press its entire face into the bowl.

Embroidery Girl blushed, placed a piece of beef in Gu Zhao's bowl, then hurriedly added a chopstick-full of cabbage to her grandfather's bowl, before immediately lowering her head to eat, daring not to look up.

He Laozhang chuckled, chewing on soft, stewed cured meat and cabbage, his mouth full of fragrance; days like this didn't even happen during ordinary New Year celebrations!

Gu Zhao was also very relaxed; although they had only known each other for a little over a week, the comfort of eating here was second only to eating at home, and the lively, kind Embroidery Girl was very likable.

Gu Zhao was not foolish; he could sense Embroidery Girl's feelings, but he truly had no interest in a radish-head who was still underage and not yet grown; to him, Embroidery Girl was more like a little sister he had met by chance.

Although he enjoyed this feeling somewhat, no banquet lasts forever; he could not stay in this small mountain village forever, shuttling daily between the village and the modern world.

Gu Zhao had originally been considering when to leave, but a phone call from his mother today made up his mind.

Accompanying his mother to Shu Province meant not only attending the wedding and shopping with her, but also spending a few days with his maternal grandparents; he estimated he would have no time to cross over here for nearly a week.

Since that was the case, he might as well bid them farewell, not return for a week, and go directly from Wuhe County to Changping Prefecture to look around, formally beginning his exploration of this world, returning to visit later.

"Have you eaten almost all the rice and big cabbage?" Gu Zhao asked.

"There's still plenty!" Embroidery Girl replied immediately. "Young Master gave us so much; after sharing the cabbage and radishes with the villagers, quite a bit remained. Grandfather and I have pickled it all and stored it in the cellar."

"We also gave some of those cured sausages to the Zhang family to repay a favor, and gave some meat and rice to Widow Wang and Grandma Zhang, who has trouble walking, but there is still nearly half a jar of rice left; eating it every day would last more than ten days!"

"That's not much then; I'll bring some more tomorrow." Gu Zhao nodded.

Hearing this, He Laozhang's expression changed, and he stopped his chopsticks.

Embroidery Girl hadn't reacted yet, facing a happy trouble: "But the house only has one large jar for storing grain..."

He Laozhang cut in, interrupting Embroidery Girl's fantasy: "But Young Master is leaving?"

As the words fell, Embroidery Girl's movements instantly froze in mid-air.

Gu Zhao nodded. "I have something to do the day after tomorrow... roughly in three days, so I will leave. I'm telling you in advance."

"The days spent with you have been very happy. Thank you for your care these past few days; Embroidery Girl's cooking skills are indeed excellent. Tomorrow I will add more provisions for you." Gu Zhao couldn't help but pat Embroidery Girl's head, comforting her. "I will come back when I have time in the future."

Gu Zhao's words were not empty flattery; He Laozhang and He Embroidery Girl were the first family he had met in this world. Embroidery Girl was considerate and meticulous, and she valued him greatly; Gu Zhao had inwardly accepted her as a sister.

Once he had explored and become familiar with this world, and then integrated and established himself here, caring for He Laozhang's family would be nothing more than a breeze, wouldn't it?

The white fox stopped its chomping.

Embroidery Girl did not look up either.

He Laozhang licked his lips, gathered his courage, and spoke softly: "Young Master Gu, although this old man does not know where you come from, I can see you are of noble birth and conduct yourself with approachability. Being able to stay with us for a few days is our fortune."

"You must leave for an important matter, which this old man dares not question. However, you have no trusted person nearby here; daily life and affairs may inevitably be neglected. If there were a maid to care for you, it would be somewhat more convenient."

"Although Embroidery Girl is from the mountains, her mind is quite meticulous, and she knows how to care for others. If Young Master does not disdain her, please take Embroidery Girl by your side, grant her a meal, and spare her from being alone after this old man passes away."

"Grandfather!" Embroidery Girl suddenly looked up.

He Laozhang's hands trembled slightly, but he still waved at Embroidery Girl with effort, looking expectantly at Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao couldn't help but scratch his head; jokingly, he was going to accompany his mother to Shu Province for the next week; how could he possibly take Embroidery Girl along to cross over?

Let alone whether Embroidery Girl would go mad, his own mother would probably go mad first.

So Gu Zhao could only refuse: "This matter is quite troublesome and not suitable for bringing people along; it would be inconvenient for Embroidery Girl to follow me."

"Moreover, I am not never coming back; it's not a matter of waiting until you pass away." Gu Zhao comforted him.

"You will come back?" He Laozhang clicked his tongue, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief.

Embroidery Girl lowered her head; her shoulders seemed to shrug slightly, then she looked up. Although her eyes were slightly red, she said seriously, "Then I will wait for Young Master Gu to return, and I will make some side dishes for Young Master again."

"Good!" Gu Zhao nodded, and rubbed Embroidery Girl's beautiful hair again.

That night, Gu Zhao stayed in the mountain village, and taking advantage of the darkness, he breathed in and out to cultivate.

Embroidery Girl lay at the foot of the bed, curled up in the quilt, her body occasionally trembling slightly, yet making not a single sound.

He Laozhang leaned against the headboard, gazing at the moonlight, and sighed: "Girl, stop longing for it. Young Master Gu is a great person; being able to gather with us for a few days and saving you twice is already our luck. Do not expect too much; just treat these few days as a dream."

The voice coming from under the quilt was muffled: "Embroidery Girl knows, and Embroidery Girl does not want to leave; Embroidery Girl wants to accompany Grandfather."

He Laozhang was amused: "Grandfather is an old skeleton; I might not see tomorrow. Why do you need to accompany me? Getting you married off soon is the only way for Grandfather to feel at ease!"

Embroidery Girl's body shrank again, and she said nothing.

He Laozhang licked his dry lips and said nothing either.

As the night grew deeper, He Laozhang and He Embroidery Girl gradually fell asleep. Only the white fox, which had been lying beside Embroidery Girl, suddenly shivered, looked at Embroidery Girl with complex eyes, then rested its head by Embroidery Girl's ear and closed its eyes.

"Embroidery Girl! Embroidery Girl!"

Embroidery Girl vaguely seemed to hear someone calling her: "Who? Who is calling me?"

"It's me!" The voice gradually became clear, sounding crisp and pleasant.

"Who are you?" Embroidery Girl asked.

"I have been with you these past few days." That voice said with a giggle, "Tell me, who am I?"

"Xiao Bai?"

"Ahem! I gave myself a name these past few days; it is Bai Ke."

"Bai Ke, truly a good name. Hey, you can speak now?"

"Fool, I am speaking to you in a dream right now."

"Then why didn't you speak to me the past few days?"

"Hmm... because I hadn't made up my mind the past few days."

"Made up your mind to do what?"

"Made up my mind to form a contract with you."

"Contract? What is that?"

"It means we become one body and one heart, cultivating together." Bai Ke introduced. "Only humans and demons whose spiritual souls are especially compatible can form a contract; the demon uses the human's spiritual soul to perceive, and the human uses the demon's power to cultivate."

"Ah? Can I become a mage too?" the embroiderer was stunned.

"Our souls are especially compatible; cultivating together will be incredibly fast. We might even surpass Gu Zhao!" Bai Ke tempted.

"Impossible!" the embroiderer shook her head repeatedly. "Besides, I don't want to surpass Young Master."

Bai Ke pouted and continued tempting, "But then you can be with him. You can even eat... ahem, you can wander the Jianghu together, loving and happy, flying side by side."

The embroiderer instantly froze, stammering, "Actually, I... being his little maid is already enough for me..."

Bai Ke said softly, "A warming-bed maid, right?"

The sleeping embroiderer's cheeks flushed red, and she leaned even closer to the white fox.

"Will you or won't you?"

"... I will."

When the dream dialogue ended, a surge of demonic energy rose from the white fox, enveloping the embroiderer.