The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the Crystal Palace, Tang Xixue was heading towards the exit.

She suddenly stopped walking.

A man's voice came from behind, carrying the slight panting of someone who had been running all the way, as well as a hint of barely suppressed joy and urgency.

"Weave it!"

She turned around abruptly.

Si Xingxuan stood at the other entrance of the Celestial Palace, his blue robe fluttering and his hair somewhat disheveled.

A few strands fell onto his forehead, but he didn't brush them away.

But those eyes, as bright as if the sky had cleared after the rain, were staring at her intently.

It was wet, like a snow fox that had trekked too long through the snow and wind and finally found its way home.

"Zheyue."

Tang Xixue paused for a moment, then blurted out, "How did you get here? Weren't you in the lake—"

She suddenly stopped talking.

Because she saw the door behind him, and the steps that stretched all the way from the depths of the underground palace.

A thought flashed through her mind, as fast as lightning.

Then she understood everything.

"You fell into the underground palace?"

Her voice carried a hint of disbelief, and a lingering fear that she couldn't quite explain.

"Yes."

Si Xingxuan nodded.

Then he lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes covering his face, revealing a pitiful expression, as if he had been greatly frightened.

"That underground palace is so dark and scary, Zhizhi."

His voice trembled slightly, the last syllable as soft as a flower petal that had been gently crushed.

"When I fell from there, I couldn't see anything at all, it was pitch black, and no one answered when I called your name."

He looked up, his wet eyes gazing at her pitifully.

"I've been thinking down here, I wonder if you'll be able to find me..."

He didn't finish his sentence, swallowing the rest, and just stared at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to coax him.

"It's really dangerous here, I can't leave you for even a second."

Tang Xixue stared at him blankly.

She didn't call out his obviously exaggerated pitiful act.

Because she knew that falling was real, the darkness was real, and that he was answering questions one by one below, paving the way for her, was also real.

Were you injured when you fell?

She suddenly asked.

Si Xingxuan paused for a moment, then smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"Zhizhi, are you worried about me?"

"I'm asking you something serious."

Tang Xixue's tone hardened, but her gaze had already involuntarily swept over his entire body.

He immediately checked his shoulders and arms, and from his arms to his fingertips.

Si Xingxuan saw through her thoughts, her eyes curved slightly, and her heart felt as if something had gently bumped into her.

"It's alright. It's just that it's too dark down there, I can't see anything, and it's a bit cold."

As he spoke, he suddenly changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of grievance, as if he were pleading and earnestly asking for a promise.

"Zhizhi, you have to hold my hand tightly next time, don't lose me."

He carefully raised his hand, his fingertips slightly cool, and gently placed it in her palm.

The hand had distinct knuckles, and the fingertips still carried the lingering chill from the depths of the underground palace, yet it trembled slightly the moment it touched her palm.

Then he felt her grip tighten.

It wasn't a perfunctory touch; it was a firm, real grip. My palm was warm, and though the pressure wasn't great, it was steady and resonant.

His inner elation was almost overflowing, and he could barely suppress the joy from his lips.

Tang Xixue took his hand, looked down at their clasped fingers, then looked up and said seriously, "Half of the hundred steps I climbed were paved by you."

"Then half of the questions I answered were because you pointed me in the right direction."

Si Xingxuan looked at her.

"Zhizhi, this is a hurdle that no one can overcome alone. It's about you and me, though we're in different places, yet we're on the same path."

Tang Xixue nodded, her tone carrying a rare hint of admiration.

"you're right."

She paused, seemingly lost in thought.

"Heaven did not expect that two people would come here."

Si Xingxuan curved the corners of her lips into a smile, her eyes carrying a hint of arrogance.

"What I didn't expect was that these two would cooperate so well."

Tangxi Xue did not deny it.

"At the time, I was thinking, who is answering the questions with me? They're answering so fast, could this person be some kind of prodigy?"

Upon hearing this, Si Xingxuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of undisguised joy flashing in his eyes.

"A demon? Zhizhi, are you praising me?"

He stepped forward, lowered his head slightly, his gaze level with hers, his breath so close he could almost brush the stray hairs from her forehead.

"It is my honor to be called a prodigy by you."

Tang Xixue raised her hand and gently pushed his face to the side, her tone serious and earnest.

"Be serious."

"I'm very serious."

Si Xingxuan dropped his joking expression and took a half step back.

"Zhizhi. I'm so glad I can pave the way for you. I'm also willing to be your stepping stone. I'm just afraid that I'm not high enough or stable enough, and that even if you step on my shoulders, you still won't be able to reach what you want."

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

"You know, I'm sickly and don't know how much longer I have to live. But I want to be a useful stone while I'm still alive. It doesn't have to be big or tall, just big enough for you to step on."

He hid his deepest sincerity in the simplest of sentences.

"Therefore, there has never been any debt of gratitude between us. There is only... my willingness."

"Thank you, Zheyue."

After Tang Xixue finished speaking, she added another sentence.

"It's not that I'm thanking you for paving the way for me. It's that I'm thanking you... for your sincere heart."

Si Xingxuan was stunned.

His eyes widened slightly.

Then he smiled, the smile spreading from the corners of his lips to the depths of his eyes.

It was a pure joy that came from having your heart touched in the softest part.

"Weaving."

He called her name, his voice sounding like he was pleading, as if trying to confirm something.

"Could I remember what you just said, and remember it for the rest of my life?"

Tang Xixue turned around and walked towards the exit of the fairy palace.

"what ever."

She uttered two words in a flat tone, as if the previous sentence had been just a casual remark.

"I'll remember that."

Si Xingxuan smiled and followed.

Just as she was about to step out of the celestial palace gates, Si Xingxuan suddenly called out to her softly.

"Zhizhi. Wait for me."

Tang Xixue stopped and turned to look at him.

He adopted a pitiful expression, his eyes drooping slightly, his lips pursed down, and his voice was so soft it seemed to drip water.

Those wet eyes stared at her intently, their eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Zhizhi, my legs are weak and I can't walk anymore. Could you help me?"

Tang Xixue looked at his sickly beauty and remained silent for a moment before uttering two words expressionlessly.

"Stop fooling around."

Si Xingxuan's lips twitched, and his pitiful expression instantly crumbled.

"Zhizhi, you've changed. Don't you care about me anymore?"

"I have important business to attend to, Zheyue, be a good girl."

Tang Xixue continued walking forward without looking back.

Si Xingxuan stood there, watching her back, and chuckled softly.

Even though Zhizhi is cold and ruthless, she is still so charming!

He loved it even more!

"Fine, you can go now. I'll take my time."

As he spoke, he took long strides and followed at a leisurely pace.

His steps were very steady; there was no sign of his legs going weak.

The two walked out of the Glazed Immortal Palace, one after the other.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

Si Xingxuan's gaze passed over Tang Xixue and landed on the radiant garden outside the fairy palace.

His pupils dilated slightly, and even his breathing slowed down a beat.