The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the vast snow-covered plain.

When Qizhu carried the potted withered tree in spring out of the Seven Generations Pavilion, her fingertips were trembling slightly.

The potted plant is only a little over a foot square, and the ebony basin is engraved with ancient geometric patterns.

In the pot, a section of withered brown gnarled branch twists and turns like a hibernating dragon, but at the tip of the branch, seven or eight bright green leaves are sprouting.

Three more pink and jade-like spirit flowers quietly bloomed, their golden stamens peeking out from their centers, swaying gently in the chill.

A vibrant energy, like mist and haze, lingers in the air, and with each breath, one can feel a warm, pulsating sensation emanating from the depths of one's meridians.

He stepped onto the bicycle frame with almost the mindset of a pilgrim.

Just as the carriage reached the bend halfway up the mountain, twelve silver lights fell to the ground like shooting stars, silently landing on the snow and forming an impenetrable circle.

The twelve Silver Winged Mist Feathers, the most mysterious guards under Yun Jue, have all appeared at this moment.

White robes reflected in the snow, silver feathers adorning the shoulders.

It was Yun Jue's sharpest and most secretive weapon: the Twelve Silver Winged Mist Feathers.

They stood in the snow, their presence blending into the pristine white expanse, only their eyes gleaming with a cold light like unsheathed swords.

"A withered tree comes back to life." The leader, Wuya, spoke, his voice cold and flat. "Will you offer it up yourself, or will we—take it on your behalf?"

"this--"

Qi Zhu's pupils contracted slightly, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the reins became visible.

His throat tightened, and his palms were sweaty.

If it were a one-on-one fight, he could still hold his own; but when twelve people arrived together, their breaths were connected like an iron wall, and even the wind and snow seemed to freeze here.

He watched as Wuya reached out, and her hand, covered in a silver-threaded glove, lightly took the potted plant from his arms.

The movement was as gentle as brushing a snowflake off a garment, yet it carried an irresistible, absolute power.

"Yun Jue..." Qi Zhu looked at her empty palm, shook her head with a wry smile, "Truly... he doesn't follow any rules at all."

Before Qi Zhu could even react, the silver figure vanished like smoke, and the other eleven people retreated at the same time, disappearing into the snow and mist of the mountains and forests in the blink of an eye, as if they had never appeared.

"I only hope they... will truly keep their word and release His Majesty," Qi Zhu murmured. "Never mind, let's report back to the Emperor first."

The Star Abyss Guards who were originally with them were all transferred to hunt down the Cloud River War God, Qi Wang.

As a result, Qizhu's defense was left vulnerable.

They never expected that Yun Jue's promise to redeem people with the "withered tree blossoms in spring" would not be a simple exchange of goods for people, but rather a direct robbery on the way!

This was a complex and interconnected scheme from the very beginning.

From the very beginning, what Tang Xixue and Yun Boyan wanted was not a direct deal with Si Xingxuan.

Using Si Xingzhou as bait, what they wanted was for this withered tree to emerge from the Seven Generations Pavilion's many traps and be exposed to the light of day.

Once the fish bites the hook, the net is pulled in halfway through the journey.

"Click, click-click—"

Deep within the mountain, the sound of machinery turning was as muffled as thunder.

The heavy, dark stone door of the Xuan Tie Han Chang prison, weighing over a thousand pounds, slowly rose amidst a grating grinding sound.

Sunlight poured in from outside, cleaving a blinding white line through the dimly lit passageway, and dust danced wildly in the beam of light.

Si Xingzhou stood on the stone steps, squinting slightly, letting the light burn through his pupils.

If he hadn't been so arrogant and resolute in rejecting Yun Boyan, thus extinguishing the latter's last hope of saving his brother, his treatment today might have been somewhat milder.

At this moment, the bone-chilling cold is mixed with some personal emotions that are difficult to express.

He calmly and slowly raised his hand to brush away the dust from his star-patterned robe.

The cuffs are embroidered with silver star trail patterns, the hem is adorned with tassels, and the waist is adorned with a jade pendant with star patterns.

He arranged everything meticulously, as if he were not leaving a cage, but preparing to attend a grand feast.

Finally, he raised his hand to straighten the silver crown with stars in his hair, the sapphire on the top of the crown shimmering like a galaxy in the light.

"Playing hard to get?"

He stepped out of the cell with a light laugh, his tone languid and composed, carrying a hint of playful anticipation.

"My little imp, you really know how to play tricks—"

The words abruptly stopped.

The beautiful figure I had imagined, leaning against the door with a smile and captivating eyes, was nowhere to be seen.

There was only a vast, silent expanse of white.

The snow-covered plains stretched as far as the eye could see, the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, and the only sound in the world was the rustling of the wind and snow.

"...?"

The vast wilderness was deserted.

It was so desolate it was chilling.

"Where is my little fairy?"

Si Xingzhou stood in the snow, the hem of his star-patterned robe billowing in the wind, revealing cloud patterns embroidered with silver thread.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that a thin layer of snow settled on his hair.

"What trick is she playing?"

He muttered to himself, the nonchalant smile in his eyes gradually fading into a deep, dark pool.

"???"

Meanwhile, dozens of miles away.

Deep within the plum grove, the aura of swords startled the snow.

Qi Wang's Tan Hua sword drew a sharp arc of light, and where the sword passed, red plum blossoms and white snow flew together, fluttering like shattered jade.

Facing him were twelve Star Abyss Guards, their black armor gleaming coldly, their formation like a net, the sharp whistling of their halberds piercing the air incessant.

He doesn't understand.

When did I become enemies with Xingze?

Why did you start by attacking him?

"Praying for falsehood—"

A voice as cold as an ice blade came from outside the battle circle.

A magnificent sedan chair had stopped at the edge of the plum grove at some point. The curtains were not lifted, and only the suppressed anger of the person inside could be heard.

"Anyone who dares to harm my brother deserves to die."

Qi Wang deflected the weapons around him with a single sword stroke, gracefully retreating several steps to stand beneath a red plum tree, his brows furrowed.

"Are you mistaken? I have no connection with Xingze whatsoever."

The Star Abyss Guards' offensive became increasingly fierce and dense.

"Stop making excuses! Do you think I wouldn't know whether it's related to you or not?"

Si Xingzhou said coldly.

"..."

A hint of speechlessness flashed across Qi Wang's eyes; this was simply an undeserved disaster for him!

The sedan chair had already left.

Snow-covered bamboo forest, ten thousand bamboo stalks leaning like jade.

The mountains soften here, the sharp peaks transform into undulating hills and valleys, covered by a vast sea of ​​bamboo.

Si Xingxuan's sedan chair came to a silent stop at the edge of this sea of ​​snow.

As he lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage, he had already secretly concealed three silver needles coated with the deadly poison of the Jade Silkworm in his sleeve.

The needle tip is a deep blue, and it can kill instantly upon contact with blood.

She wore a sky-blue silk robe that blended almost seamlessly with the snow-white color, except for the tassel of the Life and Death Token at her waist, which swayed gently with her movements.

That haggard yet refined face was now shrouded in an unyielding gloom.

The light that flickered in his eyes was cold and sticky, like a venomous snake ready to devour its prey.

"Yun Boyan...you've gone too far."

As you step into the depths of the bamboo forest, the snow crunches softly under your feet.

As agreed, he arrived at the exchange location first.

Nestled within a sea of ​​bamboo, a corner of a bamboo fence quietly peeks out.

Seven-String Bamboo Garden.

A quiet herbal medicine hut hidden in the mountains outside the city.

The fence, woven from old bamboo, encloses several houses also built of bamboo.

He pushed open the door.

The bamboo fence was lightly covered, and with a creak, a string of icicles fell from the eaves.

The snow in the yard hadn't been swept away; it was a thick layer that felt soft and silent underfoot.

Several bamboo winnowing baskets of different sizes were placed haphazardly, with various medicinal herbs spread out on them to dry, quietly absorbing the sunlight and snow vapor.

The dark brown, almost black tuber of Polygonum multiflorum resembles a reclining beast and is heavy with medicinal properties.

The licorice, sliced ​​into even, thin pieces, gleams with a warm, soft, pale golden hue.

Clumps of dried bellflowers still stubbornly retain their last touch of pale purple elegance;

And then there are the bright red goji berries, like countless tiny coral beads, scattered against the pure white snow, a breathtakingly vibrant red.

However, all of Si Xingxuan's sinister thoughts vanished the moment he looked up and saw that figure in the courtyard.

It collapsed with a crash.

Amidst the gently ajar bamboo door, a graceful figure dressed in the pristine white robes of a physician from the Divine Medicine Valley stood silently in the snow.

With wide robes and sleeves, her garments fluttered lightly in the wind, making her look even more beautiful than snow.

She wore a snow-white veiled hat with tassels that reached her waist, and her face was indistinct and unclear.

But at her waist—there hung a token tassel, its intricate and delicate vine-like patterns entwined, with two small characters clearly engraved in relief at the center:

Weaving fate.

Si Xingxuan's breathing suddenly stopped.

This was exactly the same as the token with the inscription "Folding Moon" on his waist, except for the two characters in the center.

This is the supreme token of identity and medical skills passed down by the core disciples of Divine Medicine Valley when they travel in the world; it is the token of life and death.

"Weaving, weaving life..."

Si Xingxuan opened his mouth, but his voice was so dry that he could barely utter a sound.

An unbelievable, burning light flashed in his eyes, and he almost fainted on the spot.

"Junior...Junior Martial Uncle?!"

The chilling, malevolent aura that had enveloped him vanished without a trace, like spring snow meeting the sun.

He even softened his breathing, as if afraid of disturbing a fragile dream.

Her ear tips turned uncontrollably red, and her fingertips trembled slightly inside her sleeve.

He had already hurriedly put the three poisoned silver needles back into his pouch.

His extraordinary talent, yet elusive whereabouts, inspired boundless admiration and worship...

Weaving Fate, Heavenly Physician!

His junior uncle!

They actually appeared here!

His demeanor suddenly changed, taking on a kind of awkwardness and brightness, like the first melting of ice and snow and the first bloom of spring flowers, instantly becoming incredibly well-behaved.

He took two quick steps forward, almost at a loss, then stopped abruptly a few feet away, as if afraid of disturbing the snowy phantom before him.

"Oh."

Behind the veil, a very soft laugh seemed to drift out, blending into the rustling sound of snow falling through the bamboo forest.