The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Kong Sangyu's eyes lit up.

"it is good."

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply took out a short flute from his sleeve.

The flute was smooth and lustrous, with fine patterns engraved on its body, resembling some kind of ancient spiritual runes.

It was his beast-taming flute.

He brought the jade flute to his lips and began to play it softly.

The flute music sounded like the whisper of the wind passing through the valley, the murmur of the stream flowing over the pebbles, and the rustling of leaves rubbing against each other on the branches.

It didn't sound like it was being played from a flute; it sounded more like the mountains and seas themselves were murmuring softly.

A moment later, there was a response in the night sky.

First, an unknown night bird landed on the wall, tilting its head and staring at Kong Sangyu with its dark, round eyes.

Then more birds landed, perched on the walls and eaves, and listened quietly to him playing the flute.

One of the smaller, dark blue sparrows was bolder; it landed directly on his shoulder, tilting its head as if waiting for his instructions.

"What amazing beast taming techniques!"

Tang Xixue watched this scene quietly.

Kong Sangyu put down the jade flute and whispered a few words to the dark blue sparrow.

Do you know where there are caves where the mountain wind blows through?

His voice was completely different from his usual speaking voice, carrying a strange sense of rhythm.

"Squeak squeak squeak".

Upon hearing this, the little blue sparrow chirped a few times, flapped its wings, flew into the air, circled once, and then landed back down.

"Hmm, did you see where those red snowflakes were drifting out? And were there glowing fireflies all around?"

Kong Sangyu listened, nodded slightly, and then turned to another gray-feathered falcon perched on a camellia branch, speaking to it in a completely different tone.

The grey falcon let out a clear cry, flapped its wings, and disappeared into the night.

"How's it going? Any leads?"

Tang Xixue asked softly.

"I have good news."

Under the moonlight, the boy was surrounded by birds, his blue hair swaying gently in the night breeze.

"They have indeed seen the cave I mentioned."

The dark blue sparrow hopped around on his shoulder, but he wasn't annoyed. He just turned his head and smiled at it.

"Besides, Sister Zhi, there's one nearby."

"You may all go back! Leave one to lead the way."

A flock of birds took flight, circled above his head once, like messengers who had completed their mission, and then dispersed into the night sky.

The dark blue sparrow nuzzled against his shoulder and then led the way.

Tang Xixue watched the flock of birds disappear into the moonlight.

This is the foundation of the Lord of Mountains and Seas.

Once the order is given, all the beasts obey.

What others would need to do—send out scouts, draw maps, and search inch by inch—was something he could simply ask the birds in the mountains for.

Those birds circled in the mountains day and night, and every crevice through which the mountain wind passed and every deep, hidden cave was in their memory.

"Mini Tangyuan (sweet rice balls)".

Tang Xixue's voice was solemn.

"Can you find the location of the Crimson Nest throughout the entire Nine Provinces?"

Kong Sangyu put away the beast-taming flute, looked up at her, and saw a pair of clear and determined blue eyes.

"Of course. If Sister Zhi needs me to find it, I can find it."

Tang Xixue recalled what Qi Si had said: the Crimson Nest was the source of the Crimson Dust Gu, and there was a Crimson Nest in every area where it broke out.

If it is not burned, the plague will never end.

The Nine Provinces are so vast, and the Crimson Nests so numerous, that relying on human effort alone would be far too slow.

It is possible to find Kongsangyu.

"I won't let you work for nothing."

Tang Xixue spoke earnestly and frankly.

"Shan Hai can sell the location of Jiang Chao. This is a great deal, and all the countries are willing to pay. After all, finding them is the most important thing now."

She remembered that Kong Sangyu also had to support Zhiyueting and his own Shan Hai organization.

There are Weaving Moon Pavilions all over the Nine Provinces, and each one costs money.

The children's food, clothing, and daily necessities; the teacher's tuition; the house repairs; charcoal for winter; and medicinal herbs for summer... all these are expenses.

He, the lord of mountains and seas, always lived in poverty, probably because of these reasons.

She didn't want him to work for nothing.

She gave him a legitimate reason to make money.

Kong Sangyu paused for a moment, then smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Sister Zhi."

He did not refuse.

"I will first give the order for the people of Shanhai to use their beasts to search for it."

He took out a communication talisman from his sleeve, and spiritual patterns flowed as he transmitted the commands one by one.

"Since it's a paid business, they'll definitely be very motivated. I can't possibly do everything on my own."

As soon as he finished speaking, the communication talisman lit up one after another.

Those were replies from the Beast Tamers of the Mountains and Seas all over the Nine Provinces.

"Received! Understood, I'll go right away."

The spirit patterns flickered in the night, like lamps that had been lit up one by one.

Shan Hai received a big deal.

But it was a deal that could help save the world.

Shan Hai makes a living by selling intelligence, and this time, he's going to pull off a big heist.

The moon illuminated the entire valley, making it even brighter.

Kong Sangyu put away the communication talisman.

"Sister Zhi—would you like to come with me to see the Crimson Nest nearby?"

He asked.

"it is good."

Tang Xixue's gaze met his in the moonlight, carrying a rare tenderness.

"Let's go take a look."

The snow dragon on Tang Xixue's wrist moved slightly, its silver scales shimmering with a cold light under the moonlight, as if it were quite looking forward to the journey that was about to begin.

Kong Sangyu looked down at the little dragon coiled on her wrist.

"Sister Zhi, please ask the Snow Dragon to restrain its dragon might in a moment."

He raised his hand, brought the beast-taming flute to his lips, and blew out a long, melodious note.

A clear, high-pitched cry pierced the sky like the cry of an eagle.

Before long, a response came from the night sky.

"My partner has arrived."

A huge black shadow swooped down from the moonlight, its wingspan reaching several meters. The tips of its wings swept across the ground, creating a gust of wind that sent the camellias falling from the trees.

It was a blue-scaled eagle, its entire body covered in blue-green feathers that gleamed with a metallic sheen under the moonlight.

With its head held high, the eagle's sharp golden eyes looked down at the people in the courtyard.

"Is this your Shan Hai's trained eagle? It's exceptionally large; is it the king eagle?"

Tang Xixue looked at the blue-scaled eagle.

It's too big.

When it lands on the courtyard wall, the entire wall is covered by its shadow.

The claws dug into the bricks and stones of the wall, making a slight scraping sound.

"Yes, it's the Eagle King."

Kong Sangyu replied.

When the Azure Scaled Eagle's gaze fell upon the small silver dragon on Tang Xixue's wrist, its golden eagle eyes suddenly contracted.

Its feathers puffed up, its wings spread slightly, and it made an instinctive gesture as if it wanted to retreat.

That was a fear that came from the depths of one's blood.

The snow-covered silver dragon lazily coiled on Tangxi Xue's wrist, its vertical pupils slightly narrowed.

A mere hint of dragon might caused the majestic giant eagle to shrink its neck and let out a low, aggrieved cry.

"Okay, be good, stop making a fuss."

Tang Xixue stretched out a finger and gently tapped the silver dragon's head.

When his fingertips touched that cool, silvery scale, the little dragon obediently withdrew all his aura.

"The Snow and Silver Dragon is too conspicuous. I'm worried that there might be people from the Guixu Palace nearby."

Kong Sangyu spoke.

"Yes, Little Tangyuan's concerns are valid."

Tang Xixue nodded.

"Then so be it."

Only after the dragon's might dissipated did the Azure Scaled Eagle dare to approach.

It leaped down from the wall and landed on the open ground in the courtyard, folding its wings and lowering its proud head.

"We need to go into the mountains, and we need you to take us there. Is that alright?"

Kong Sangyu stepped forward, reached out and stroked the feathers on its neck, and whispered a few words to it.

The Azure-Scaled Eagle let out a low cry, as if in agreement.

"Sister Zhi, please."

Kong Sangyu turned around and reached out her hand to Tang Xixue.