The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Tang Xixue fed a piece of dried meat to Yin Kong, and then took a spirit fruit and handed it to Xing Mi on her wrist.

The little white cat's bright blue eyes narrowed into two crescent moons with satisfaction. Its fluffy tail gently circled her wrist before it jumped down to lick its paws.

Xingmi held the spirit fruit in her dragon claws and nibbled on it.

After feeding the two little ones, the group continued on their way.

Bingyou transformed back into an ice-blue dragon, its scales a deep blue. Its broad back was large enough to accommodate three people. Jiu Fangzhi sat at the very front, Tang Xixue in the middle, and Si Xingxuan at the very back.

When it took flight, it brought with it a refreshing breeze, which dispersed most of the morning mist on the lake.

"This place looks like it's been through a violent storm."

Si Xingxuan looked down at the island below and spoke.

Jiu Fangzhi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

It did rain last night.

He said this in a nonchalant tone, as if it were just an ordinary rain.

Tang Xixue sat on Bingyou's back, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

She glanced back down at the shocking marks below.

Last night, her senior brother said it was just raining, but she vaguely guessed that it wasn't an ordinary rain.

Only after seeing this scene with my own eyes did I realize how terrifying that rainstorm was.

Her senior brother was always calm, always down-to-earth, and always had the ability to solve problems.

He never boasts of his achievements, never speaks much, and simply handles everything quietly.

"Zheyue, you've looked at the map, you give directions."

Jiu Fangzhi skillfully instructed his apprentice.

He couldn't bear to let his junior sister do such a troublesome and time-consuming task.

As for the apprentices...

He doesn't feel sorry for her.

Si Xingxuan didn't refuse.

The image of starlight and fireflies, etched in my memory, unfolds in my mind.

The direction of the spiritual veins, the location of the lakes—every detail was vividly clear in his mind.

"Bingyou, proceed to the next lake until you see the third lake."

He was also willing to do what he could.

He's not just a crybaby.

Upon hearing this, Bingyou raised its dragon head slightly and carried the three of them across the lake.

The lake water below was so blue it was almost transparent.

The wind at high altitudes is exceptionally biting, especially when Bingyou is flying at full speed, the wind feels like a blade scraping against her cheeks.

Jiu Fangzhi subtly turned his body slightly to the side, his upright figure acting as a barrier, blocking the oncoming wind from his path.

"It's cool outside, Junior Sister, stay behind Senior Brother."

His voice was very soft, as if he were just mentioning it casually.

But that slightly adjusted sitting posture, that perfectly positioned angle blocking Tang Xixue's view, is not something that can be done casually.

His dark robes fluttered wildly in the wind, yet he sat there like a silent mountain.

Tang Xixue stayed behind him, and no more cold wind blew over her.

Looking at her senior's tall and straight back, a warm feeling spread through her heart.

My senior brother's kindness is always subtle and gradual.

"Old Deng, I've seen your face before."

Si Xingxuan's voice came from behind, like a fox that had finally caught its prey by the tail.

"So it's the Heavenly Profound Emperor, huh? He's quite good at hiding his true intentions, even guarding against his disciples?"

He always thought that his master wore a mask because he was ugly.

But it turned out that his master wasn't an ugly monster at all; he had kept it a secret from him for so long.

"I wonder what Emperor Tianxuan intends to do in our Xingze Empire?"

"You wretched child! How dare you speak like that?"

Jiu Fangzhi was so angry that he laughed.

"So, I can't return to Divine Medicine Valley yet?"

That little rascal.

Now that he's grown up and has become independent, he's even making fun of him?

"Theoretically speaking, it's not very convenient."

Si Xingxuan remained expressionless, speaking in a serious tone.

"After all, Emperor Tianxuan should stay in the Thousand Machine Mystic Kingdom and peacefully guard your Cold Iron Throne. It is really inappropriate for him to stay in Xingze for so long, it is extremely inappropriate."

He decided to drive his master as far away as possible.

Don't try to seduce him.

She has such an attractive appearance.

He only saw that face for a fleeting moment, and it was a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Those eyes, that face—if they were shown to the public, they would surely attract countless suitors.

It would be better to just weld the mask to the face, and preferably add a lock.

"Senior brother, I'm sorry."

Tang Xixue's voice suddenly rang out, soft and gentle, tinged with apology.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembled, and her hands were neatly folded on her knees, like a child who had done something wrong.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have taken off your mask."

Her voice lowered, filled with self-reproach.

She just wanted to play a joke on him.

She already knew Jiu Fangzhi's true identity.

But my senior brother still won't admit it.

She assumed that Si Xingxuan had followed him since childhood and must have seen his true face and knew his identity.

Good heavens, he even kept it a secret from his apprentice.

Now that she has exposed it, won't it cause trouble for my senior brother?

Now she felt a little guilty.

"Junior sister, you really shouldn't have picked them..."

Jiu Fangzhi said slowly.

If someone else were to remove his mask, they would be poisoned the moment their fingers touched the edge of the mask, and he wouldn't even have the interest to glance at the corpse.

Even if he survives by sheer luck, he will make that person regret ever having been born.

But how come she's his junior sister?

This is no ordinary mask; it is a token used to select the emperor and empress.

She just picked them without saying a word.

But can he really marry his junior sister and make her his empress?

Countless people were lining up around her, begging her to even glance at them. Her scheming apprentice, in particular, wished he could have the words "I like Zhizhi" engraved on his forehead.

And what about him?

He was her senior, ten years her senior. It was only natural and right for him to protect her, help her, and guard her.

There should be no other thoughts.

"So, how does Senior Brother intend to punish me?"

Tang Xixue asked in a muffled voice, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry.

She raised her head, waiting for him to pronounce his verdict.

Upon hearing this, Jiu Fangzhi suddenly laughed.

"Then how about punishing my junior sister by making her a new mask for me?"

His voice was as calm as a lake, yet it held ripples within.

The tokens exchanged during the wedding ceremony of the Jiufang clan are masks.

On their wedding night, the groom removed the mask he had worn for many years and handed it to his wife.

His wife would also make a new mask by hand and give it to him in return, as a token of her acceptance of him.

Throughout life, generation after generation, it has never changed.

She didn't know, but he wouldn't tell her.

He planned to keep these feelings hidden in his heart forever, never revealing them.

But when she asked "how to punish," he subtly asked for a mask that she had made herself.

"OK."

Tang Xixue readily agreed, her starry eyes curving into two beautiful crescent moons.

It's just a mask. If my senior brother wants one, then I'll make one for him.

She could use the finest materials, inlaid with silver threads to resemble moonlight and jade to resemble stars, making it more exquisite, sturdier, and more beautiful than the silver dragon-patterned mask he used to wear.

Si Xingxuan squinted his eyes from behind.

He looked suspiciously at his master's motionless back, feeling that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle, as if he had missed some important information, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"Old Deng, you—"

"Shut up."

"I haven't said it yet!"

"Nothing you say will work. I don't want to hear you speak again today."

Si Xingxuan took a deep breath and told himself this in his heart.

"Practice your poison skills diligently; you must poison Old Deng."

Then shift your gaze to the distance.

The third lake is already in sight.

That is the true entrance to the Crystal Palace.