Chapter 590 - 481: I Won’t Agree

"From today on, you’ll be moving out."

Tushan Xinhua said to Xiao Mo.

Tushan Jing Ci and Xiao Mo had grown up together.

Although they lived in the same courtyard—albeit in different rooms—Tushan Xinhua knew that Xiao Mo was normally very mindful of propriety.

But in Tushan Xinhua’s eyes, regardless of the circumstances, they had grown up. It was high time they were mindful of the proper separation between men and women.

At their age, children in ordinary families in the Mortal World would already be married.

So, one of the reasons for Tushan Xinhua’s visit to her daughter this time was to have Xiao Mo move out.

"Xiao Mo is moving out? Where is he moving to?"

The moment Tushan Jing Ci heard that Xiao Mo had to move out, the color drained from her tender, rosy face.

"Move to the foot of the mountain," Tushan Xinhua said. "Xiao Mo, you will still accompany Jing Ci to the academy. However, it’s no longer necessary for you to take care of her; Yue Shi and the others will suffice. This will also give you more time for your own cultivation."

"Yes, Lady Tushan. I will do as you command."

Hearing Tushan Xinhua’s words, Xiao Mo bowed in acceptance and did not object.

The request was perfectly reasonable.

In fact, Xiao Mo felt he should have moved out when Tushan Jing Ci came of age.

Otherwise, it was indeed improper for him, even as a Scholar’s Attendant, to live in the same courtyard as all these young women.

He suspected Lady Tushan had noticed this long ago and was surprised she was only bringing it up now.

"Mother, I don’t think Xiao Mo needs to move out. It’s fine for him to live here,"

Tushan Jing Ci protested from the side, naturally unhappy that Xiao Mo was moving out.

’If Xiao Mo moves to the foot of the mountain, does that mean I won’t be able to see him the moment I step outside anymore?’

’Does that mean I won’t be able to sneakily draw turtles on his face while he’s asleep?’

’No way! I don’t want that!’

"This isn’t a question of what you want," Tushan Xinhua said sternly. "You’re a young lady. In the Mortal World, girls your age are already married. Aren’t you worried about your reputation? How will you find a husband in the future?"

"I..."

"Enough. The matter is settled." Tushan Xinhua waved her hand dismissively. "Xiao Mo, pack your things. Move out tomorrow evening. I have already prepared the courtyard for you."

"Yes, Lady Tushan." Xiao Mo bowed again.

"I’m never speaking to Mother again!"

Seeing that her mother’s mind was made up, tears welled in Tushan Jing Ci’s pale pink eyes. She wiped them away as she ran out.

"Jing Ci!" Tushan Xinhua called after the girl, but in the end, she could only sigh. "Ah, that girl..."

...

"You’re awful!"

"The absolute worst!"

"Dumping me at Cold Mountain Academy and never visiting is one thing, but now she won’t even let Xiao Mo stay with me."

"Sister Yue Shi is no fun to be around. Once Xiao Mo is gone, who will I have to play with?!"

"And what’s all this about ’separation between men and women’? There’s nothing going on between Xiao Mo and me! We’re perfectly innocent!"

Atop the peak of Jian Mountain.

Having run out of the courtyard, Tushan Jing Ci was picking up nearby stones and hurling them down the mountain one by one.

The girl’s rosy cheeks were puffed out like a pufferfish’s, and she looked absolutely furious.

A while later, just as her stone-throwing grew faster and her anger mounted, she suddenly froze, her fox ears twitching slightly.

"Hmph!"

The girl huffed and turned away from him.

Xiao Mo, who had just arrived at the peak, offered a small smile. He ambled forward, smoothed his azure robes, and sat down beside her.

Tushan Jing Ci, as if giving him the silent treatment, didn’t spare him a single glance.

"Lady Tushan has left."

Xiao Mo said.

"Lady Tushan asked me to tell you that the Demon Race’s World is not at peace right now, and she has many clan affairs to handle. For that reason, she might not be able to visit you for a while. She hopes you will focus on your studies, practice your cultivation diligently, and not do anything to anger your teachers."

"Hmph..." Tushan Jing Ci grumbled, plucking a blade of grass beside her. "Mother’s already gone, but she’s still trying to manage my life. Her visits have been so brief lately."

Hearing Tushan Jing Ci’s complaints, Xiao Mo smiled. "Lady Tushan may not say what she is doing, but I believe everything she does is for your sake, Miss."

"She says everything she does is for my own good, but she never asks whether I like it or not."

Tushan Jing Ci tossed a stone down the mountain, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Hey, Xiao Mo! Since Mother’s gone and won’t be back for a long time, you can just... not move out, right?"

"I can’t."

Xiao Mo shook his head with a smile.

"First of all, there’s no telling if Sister Yue Shi would inform Lady Tushan, or if Lady Tushan would find out herself. But beyond that, I really should move out. It’s not right for me to stay in the courtyard; it’s not good for your reputation, Miss."

"It’s just as Lady Tushan said. If unpleasant rumors were to spread, how would you ever get married?"

"Marriage... I’ve never even thought about anything like that."

Tushan Jing Ci hugged her knees, gazing at the star-filled sky.

"I don’t want to get married. I think things are perfectly fine just the way they are now."

"Having you, and Sister Yue Shi, and my mean mother... as long as you’re all with me, I’m happy."

"Heh..." Xiao Mo chuckled. "You only feel that way, Miss, because you haven’t met someone you like. When you do, you won’t think like this anymore."

"Someone I like..."

Tushan Jing Ci blinked thoughtfully.

"Everyone says that we of the Fox Race prove our path through emotion and are destined to meet someone we like. But what does it actually feel like to like someone?"

"Well..."

Xiao Mo thought for a moment before answering.

"Perhaps... liking someone means always thinking of her. You want to be with her all the time, and you can’t bear to be apart even for a moment. You’d do anything for her. Compared to her, nothing else in the world matters."

Hearing his answer, the girl pouted. "How do you know all that so clearly, Xiao Mo? You don’t have someone you like, do you?"

"I just read about it in a book."

Xiao Mo shook his head.

"I don’t know if I’ll have someone I like in the future. But what I do know is that I will stay by your side and protect you for my entire life, Miss."

"Really?" The girl looked at him.

"Really." Xiao Mo nodded.

"I don’t believe you!" Tushan Jing Ci turned her head away again, her pale pink fox eyes darting back and forth. "Unless... you promise me one thing. Then I’ll believe you!"

"And what’s that?" Xiao Mo asked, amused.

"In the future," Tushan Jing Ci said with a grin, "the girl you fall for has to be prettier than me! Or at least as pretty as I am!"

"As pretty as you, Miss?" Xiao Mo was taken aback.

"That’s right..."

Beneath the starry sky, the girl’s eyes curved into crescents.

"If she isn’t even as pretty as me, what right would she have to be liked by you?"

"I’d never agree to it!"