The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"I made some pastries, Zhizhi, take them with you."

Xie Jinlian's voice came from behind her, neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to reach her ears.

The snow in Tangxi turns back.

I met his gaze.

His gaze was intense, like a beast staring at its prey, or like a raging fire licking dry wood.

He had clearly released her, yet she still felt like he was watching her intently—as if he would pull her back into his arms, press her onto the soft couch, and make love to her at any moment.

These two originally aloof and celibate beauties now seem to have been stimulated by something and want to devour her whole.

"Eat as you walk, so you don't end up crying from hunger. You won't even have the energy to cry."

Xie Jinlian's words successfully made her laugh out loud.

The smile spread from the corners of her lips, as radiant as wildflowers blooming across the mountains and fields.

"Brother, wait a moment, I still need to get ready."

Tang Xixue gave Xingyu a briefing.

"Um."

Inside the hall.

After Tang Xixue washed and dressed simply, Xie Jinlian personally combed her hair.

On the dressing table were brand-new sapphire hair accessories, all prepared by Xingyu for this younger sister.

Each one is exquisitely crafted, as if the most dazzling starlight from the deep sea has been gathered and placed in this dressing case.

"Zhizhi, do you like this? Is it okay for you to wear this?"

Xie Jinlian picked out the prettiest one, brushed her fingertips through her hair, and gently put it on her.

The hair ornament was carved from deep-sea jade, with petals as thin as cicada wings and a teardrop-shaped gemstone in the center, which shimmered with a faint blue hue in the morning light.

He was already secretly thinking that he would make some hair accessories for her himself in the future.

The snow jade from Kunlun Ruins, the amethyst from Tianshan, and the red coral from the East Sea should all be carved into her favorite shapes and pinned in her hair, accompanying her day and night.

"Yes, Little Lotus picked it, so it's naturally beautiful. I like it very much."

Tang Xixue nodded, gazing at his focused expression in the bronze mirror.

His movements were so light and gentle, as if he were afraid of hurting her.

She knows.

All his unhappiness and jealousy were directed only at others.

He could never bear to be cold or annoyed with her in the slightest.

"Is hair accessories all that Zhizhi likes?"

Xie Jinlian suddenly leaned down and pressed his thin lips close to her ear.

The warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe, carrying a subtle, teasing sensation, like a feather gently brushing against her heart.

Her body trembled slightly.

"Of course I prefer Master."

Her soft voice fell, carrying an open and undisguised joy.

The melancholy between Xie Jinlian's brows was instantly dispelled by the gentle breeze.

The frost and snow in my eyes melted into spring water, rippling out layers of gentle mist.

"Then Zhizhi must love her teacher for the rest of her life."

His voice was low, carrying a hint of expectation and a cautious probe.

"How can one lifetime be enough?"

She turned her head to meet his gaze in the mirror and smiled.

That smile was as bright as a crabapple blossom in spring, dazzling and radiant.

"Zhizhi will love Master for all eternity."

As soon as he finished speaking, she clearly saw something suddenly light up in his usually cold eyes.

It was as if an inextinguishable flame had suddenly ignited beneath a thousand-year-old glacier.

He didn't speak.

He just looked at her, and the corners of his lips slowly turned up.

The arc was extremely faint, yet it resembled the sunlight after a snowfall, so warm it made one's heart tremble.

"My heart is like the snow of Kunlun, cold and lonely, unaware of spring."

He spoke softly, each word striking a chord in her heart.

"A drunken stupor in the mortal world brings a thousand snowfalls, half of which are romance and half of which are calamity."

He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

The movement was extremely light and gentle, as if holding a dream that could shatter at the slightest touch.

"If Zhizhi loves me for all eternity, then I will wait for you for all eternity."

He gazed at her reflection in the mirror, his eyes filled with tender affection, like spring water.

"Through countless reincarnations, across three thousand worlds and countless stars, I only desire this one lamp of yours."

Tang Xixue looked at him, her eyes slightly warming.

He chuckled softly and leaned down to place a kiss on her hair.

The kiss was as light as a snowflake, yet as heavy as a promise made through an entire cycle of reincarnation.

My sword will only be sheathed for you.

He gently took her hand in his, placing the palm of his that had held a sword for twenty years on the back of her hand.

The palms had thin calluses, marks left from years of wielding a sword.

But the force covering the back of her hand at this moment was as light as the wind.

My heart beats only for you.

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Xie Jinlian has only ever held two things in his heart: his sword and you."

"Sword in hand, you in heart. That's enough."

Hearing his words, Tang Xixue knew that he was never one to speak recklessly.

A single word, a single promise.

His heartfelt words were more moving than any love poem.

"Then it's a deal."

"Okay. It's a deal."

"Life after life."

"My heart remains steadfast."

Xie Jinlian's voice was gentle as his gaze returned to her face.

She was going to see her mother, so naturally she wanted to dress up nicely.

His gaze fell on the rouge on the dressing table, then looked at her rosy lips, and then cast a long, wistful glance at the snow-white figure behind the gauze curtain.

Come on.

There's no need to apply rouge.

It was an extremely vibrant red.

He Lichen's intimacy with her, while gentle, also revealed a controlling desire characteristic of an older man.

Even when he was out of control, he never hurt her, not even once biting her.

The redness and swelling on her lips were merely the marks of a long kiss, the imprint of satisfaction, and the tenderest trace he left for her.

Xie Jinlian lowered her eyes and remained silent.

But the hand holding the comb tightened slightly.

He Lichen listened to their promise of three lifetimes in the tent, and his resolve to do whatever it took to win Zhizhi's heart grew stronger.

"Little sister, are you done?"

Xingyu's voice came from outside the hall.

He stood patiently in the morning light, wearing a long silk robe that shimmered with light.

The sea breeze ruffled his clothes, making him appear even more ethereal, like a sea god descending to earth, exuding a dangerous beauty.

"Okay, brother, I'm here."

Tang Xixue turned around and looked into the hall.

"Little Lotus, Brother Huaixian, I'm going to see Mother first."

Her gaze swept across their faces, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile.

"You two should get along well and not fight."

"Okay. We'll definitely get along well."

"Don't worry, Zhizhi."

The two spoke in unison.

The voices, one deep and mellow like a spring, the other clear and cool like jade, blended perfectly in the ears.

Tang Xixue nodded in satisfaction, picked up the food box, and ran towards Xingyu.

"elder brother--"

"I'm here."

Xingyu followed the sound and looked in that direction.

A sea breeze caressed her face, carrying a cool, damp feeling, and ruffled her long, flowing hair.

Her hair flew in the wind, like flowing clouds, a few strands of ink brushing past her curved eyebrows and eyes, then quickly being carried away by the wind, like the most mischievous hand of spring, gently brushing against her cheek.

When she ran, her steps were light and graceful, her skirt fluttering, as if she were being carried by the spring breeze, ready to take flight at any moment.

With her hair flying and her skirt billowing, she was like a walking flower, blooming between the sea and the sky.

Xingyu stood still, watching the figure getting closer and closer.

The sunlight bathed her in a soft golden glow. She came towards us with the fragrance of flowers and the sea breeze, her smile radiant, her eyes shining as if filled with the light of spring.

He instinctively reached out his hand.

I want to seize this moment.

The moment she rushed in, spring was in full bloom.

So cute!

Tangxi Xue did not turn back.

She naturally didn't see that the two figures in the hall exchanged a glance the moment she turned around.

In that single glance, there was spark, sharpness, and fighting spirit.

"Go outside and fight."

"Don't ruin Zhizhi's things."

"Walk."

Two figures flew out like clouds of smoke.

The Moon Guards only had time to catch a glimpse of two afterimages, one white and one silver, streaking across the sky. Before they could get closer to take a closer look, layers of air waves exploded on the sea surface.

The sword light was as cold as frost, cleaving through the sky.

The starlight, like a ribbon, stirs up the winds and clouds.

The moment the sword's edge clashed with the palm strike, the sea was cleaved in two. Waves shot skyward, only to be shattered into fine mist by the aftershocks in mid-air.

The entire sea was stirred up by them, with tides rising and falling, and waves surging and rushing.

An alliance?

Screw his alliance.

In less than a day, the Peach Blossom Slayer Alliance was declared broken.

"Aaaaah! Why are they fighting?"

Songjun stood aside, pacing anxiously.

He looked at the two figures locked in a fierce battle and felt completely distraught.

"Oh—it's nothing."

Wen Song stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the weeping cherry tree, extremely calm.

"Where there are many men, there is also much gossip."

He spoke slowly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

You'll get used to it.

Anyway, his lord is invincible when it comes to fighting.

"The sea is almost overturned."

Song Jun clenched his fists, gazing worriedly into the distance.

But the two figures were too fast, and he couldn't see anything clearly. All he could see were bursts of air, each one higher and more intense than the last.

"They didn't just overturn the sea."

Wen Song spoke slowly.

"It's a vinegar jar."