The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Tang Xixue followed his gaze.

Lights lit up one after another in the houses on both sides of the street, as if someone was chasing the darkness at the speed of light.

The flames inside those glass lanterns were not ordinary fires, but rather faint, ethereal blue flames that shone with a spiritual light, reflecting off the pearly light of the sky and enveloping the entire Yaoguang City in a dreamlike blue hue.

However, darkness was also descending at a terrifying speed.

It wasn't that the sky was getting darker, but rather that a thick, almost tangible blackness surged in from the horizon.

Where the darkness passed, even the eternal luster of the pearls on the city's building walls was dimmed, as if a silent behemoth was devouring the entire city.

"These houses are all owned, so we'll probably have to stay somewhere else."

Tang Xixue looked at the tightly closed doors on both sides and quickly made a judgment.

The two had no choice.

Darkness was closing in from all sides, so they could only try their luck at finding the nearest house.

Tang Xixue turned around, stopped in front of the door behind her, and gently knocked on the door knocker.

"Who is it? It's getting dark, what's the matter?"

The door creaked open from the inside, leaving a crack.

A wrinkled but neatly groomed face appeared behind the door.

An elderly woman opened the door, her hair neatly combed and held back with a simple wooden hairpin.

He was wearing plain-colored coarse cloth clothes, old but clean without a single wrinkle.

Beside the stone steps in front of her house, there were several clumps of unknown herbs with thick leaves and a faint greenish sheen, showing that they had been carefully cared for year after year.

"Oh dear, why are there two little babies?"

When the old woman saw the two people standing at the door, she was stunned for a moment, then looked anxiously at the sky, her voice full of genuine worry.

"It's already dark, why are you still wandering around outside? Don't you know how dangerous it is at night?"

"Hello, Grandma."

Tang Xixue reached out and removed her veil, revealing her delicate and pretty face.

Her features were delicate and gentle, and her peach blossom eyes were especially endearing when they curved slightly. She didn't look like a bad person at all.

She bowed slightly, her voice soft and polite.

"We're just passing through; we were wondering if we could stay the night?"

Behind her, Jiu Fangzhi also raised his hand and took off the silver dragon-patterned mask that he always wore, revealing his handsome and refined face.

His features were deep and distinct, with thick, dark eyebrows and eyes like cold stars.

Unlike his cold and stern demeanor when his face was covered by a mask, he was now devoid of any hostility, appearing handsome and composed.

The old woman's gaze swept back and forth across the two faces, smoothing out the wrinkles on her face.

Perhaps because these two faces were so beautiful, she lowered her guard and hurriedly opened the door wider.

"Come in quickly, it'll be dark soon. Hurry, hurry!"

She stepped aside to make way and urged him on repeatedly.

Tang Xixue and Jiu Fangzhi stepped over the threshold one after the other. The old woman immediately closed the door tightly and carefully pulled the bolt before letting out a long sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Tang Xixue sincerely thanked her.

At that moment, they were being secretly observed by eyes outside.

Those gazes came from the cracks in the windows of the second floor across the street, from the gaps in the doors next door, and from the wooden door behind the ancient tree on the street corner that wasn't completely closed.

The city's residents had all retreated to their homes at some point, silently and warily observing the two unfamiliar outsiders.

Only after the old woman closed the door completely did those gazes withdraw.

Then came a series of sounds as doors and windows slammed shut, one after another, as if a final reinforcement was being made before darkness fell.

"You two are a young couple, right?"

As the old woman spoke, she led the two through the narrow passageway and into the house.

Her steps were a little unsteady, but her movements were nimble and agile.

"The most famous thing in our Yaoguang City is the Three Lives Tree."

"Many young couples come from afar, drawn by its reputation, just to pray under the Three Lives Tree, hoping for eternal love and a lifelong commitment."

The Three-Life Tree.

Tang Xixue silently recited the place name and memorized it.

She turned her head and exchanged a very brief glance with Jiu Fangzhi.

Then she smiled and continued speaking, following the old woman's lead.

"Yes, we are a couple who came here specifically because of its reputation."

She spoke with such grace and naturalness that it seemed genuine.

Upon hearing her words, Jiu Fangzhi's eyes flickered slightly.

In those deep, cold eyes, there was a very faint smile.

Like a pebble thrown into water, the ripples were only momentarily suppressed by him.

His lips, however, didn't obey, curving upwards slightly, revealing his current mood.

He knew what his junior sister was thinking.

You need a reason to stay overnight, and "couples who came to pray" is the least likely reason to be questioned.

He was not mistaken for her husband; rather, she actively chose this identity, even if it was only temporary and expedient.

This initiative made him unconsciously clench his fingers, which were hidden in his sleeve.

He didn't say anything, but simply stood beside her, composed, silent, and tacit.

"Then you'll have to wait until dawn to go."

The old woman led them to a door, pushed it open, and stepped aside to let them in.

"In our Yaoguang City, it is forbidden to go out at night. This rule must not be broken."

"You two can stay in this room tonight. The bedding is clean, so please get some rest."

As she spoke, she turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she turned back and earnestly gave her some instructions.

"I'm going to light the lanterns. You all rest now, and don't wander around at night. Don't open the door if you hear anything."

The old woman's footsteps faded into the distance, eventually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

The room fell silent.

It was a small room, simply and cleanly furnished.

Against the wall was a wooden bed, with the bedding neatly folded.

A glass lamp, yet to be lit, sat on the bedside table, its shade shimmering with a faint, ethereal light.

A wooden cabinet stood in the corner, with a rough ceramic vase on its surface. Inside the vase were several unknown medicinal herbs, their leaves shimmering faintly in the dim, pearly light.

Then it was just the two of them left.

Tang Xixue stood by the bed, while Jiu Fangzhi stood at the door, a few steps apart.

The composed and tacit understanding the young couple had displayed in front of the old woman had suddenly turned into a subtle silence in the quiet room.

"cough."

Jiu Fangzhi was the first to look away, glancing down at the floor by the door, his voice a few decibels lower than usual.

"Junior Sister, go to bed. I'll keep watch in the outer room."

"My mother-in-law just said that we shouldn't wander around at night."

Tang Xixue sat down by the bed, turned her head to look at him, and a faint smile appeared in her peach blossom eyes.

"Where are you planning to run off to, senior brother?"

Jiu Fangzhi paused in his steps.

"...I'll stay at the door. That doesn't count as wandering around."

"Standing outside all night?"

Tang Xixue patted the bed board next to her, her tone casual.

"Come here, senior brother, it's not safe outside."

Jiu Fangzhi froze on the spot.

A lone man and a lone woman late at night!

It's hard for him not to be nervous.