The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Senior brother."

Tang Xixue took the Continuation Flower and carefully held it in her palm.

The flower is light, like a cloud, a dream.

But the hopes it carries are as heavy as mountains.

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with a smile, like spring water reflecting the moon, like the morning glow reflecting snow.

"Do you think Yaoguang City really exists?"

She originally thought that the explosion of the Immortal Medicine Garden would prevent her from obtaining the Rejuvenating Herb, and that Qi Wang would have no hope of recovery.

Unexpectedly, after seemingly reaching a dead end, a new path opened up before us.

This spiritual flower, brought from Yaoguang City, is the hope that brings life out of despair.

Looking at the surprise in her eyes, Jiu Fangzhi's lips behind the silver mask curled up slightly.

"certainly."

He nodded, his tone resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"Aren't those spiritual flowers and herbs, the gifts they gave as a token of their gratitude, the best proof that Yao Guang City truly exists?"

That was not a pipe dream.

That was a pure land that the Flowing Cloud Medicine God and countless Yao Guang City survivors had protected together for thousands of years.

They prayed under the Three Lives Tree and listened to their voices.

They witnessed the existence of Yaoguang City.

"Thank you, senior brother. I'll accept this gift."

Tangxi Xue gently gathered the Continuation Flower in her palm.

The petals pressed against my skin, sending a warm, cool sensation through me, like moonlight materializing.

"Can I let someone else use it?"

"Of course."

Jiu Fangzhi nodded, his voice still cold and indifferent, yet it held a hint of tenderness, as subtle as moonlight shining through a gauze window.

"What I, your brother, give you is yours."

This flower originally belonged to her as well.

The little girl said it was a wedding gift for them.

He was too embarrassed to say it aloud.

He was her senior in school.

A senior brother should act like a senior brother and shouldn't have unrealistic fantasies.

"Senior brother is so kind."

Tang Xixue smiled gently, a smile that was light and sincere, like a ray of morning light falling on the stream, bright and warm.

Jiu Fangzhi turned her head slightly and did not reply.

The red tinge on the tip of her ear quietly spread to her neck.

Upon hearing this, the senior students next to him immediately objected.

"What? Does that mean only Junior Brother is good?"

The third senior brother clutched his chest, his face filled with anguish.

His expression was so exaggerated, it looked just like an old father who had been abandoned by his most beloved daughter.

"Aren't we good enough? Junior Sister, your favoritism is too obvious!"

"I even went out of my way to bring out my treasured snow lingzhi mushroom, which I've kept for many years, to make soup for you. It's three hundred years old; I wouldn't even drink it myself!"

The second senior brother immediately chimed in.

"My elixirs, I gave them away for nothing, didn't I?"

The fourth senior brother joined in the commotion; despite his advanced age, he looked as aggrieved as a child.

"I taught you my Golden Needle Salvation Technique for three months, and now you only remember my junior brother's kindness?"

"Junior sister, let's go to senior sister's place."

Liu Xinyi put her arm around Tang Xixue's shoulder, raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jiu Fangzhi, her tone full of meaning.

"Let me show you the care and attention from your senior sister. I guarantee it'll be better than that stubborn rock who only knows how to send flowers."

Jiu Fangzhi: "..."

He gave Liu Xinyi a cold look, and she returned his gaze with a bright smile without any fear.

"Senior Sister..."

Tang Xixue was led outside by her arm, and glanced back at Jiu Fangzhi.

Several fellow disciples of the Medicine King followed behind.

The hall was filled with laughter, as lively as during the Chinese New Year.

Jiu Fangzhi's gaze remained fixed on his junior sister's figure.

She listened attentively to her senior sister's words, nodding occasionally and chuckling softly, her eyes filled with gentleness.

Until she disappeared at the end of the corridor.

He continued to gaze at the empty corridor, as if looking at a painting that had suddenly lost its color.

The wind blew through the corridor, making the copper bells under the eaves ring.

Bingyou peeked her little head out from his sleeve.

The ice-blue scales shimmered like shattered crystals in the sunlight, and the little head rubbed against his wrist.

"Master, aren't you going with us? What a great opportunity!"

"The senior brothers and sisters are all here, why don't you go and join in the fun? You might even get to talk to Xiao Zhizhi a bit more."

"Let's go. It's time to return to Tianxuan. If we stay any longer, that traitorous disciple will come and kick us out himself."

Jiu Fangzhi knew very well the nature of his rebellious disciple.

After learning that he is Emperor Tianxuan, that rebellious disciple will definitely cause trouble, and may already be sharpening his knife on the way.

Nowadays, Si Xingxuan is extremely wary of his master.

"He wouldn't go that far, would he?"

Before Bingyou could finish speaking, with her head still tilted to the side, a group of black-armored guards came marching in with orderly steps.

The armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and his steps were as steady as a single person's, exuding a chilling aura.

"Master Ghost Doctor—"

The head guard clasped his hands in a salute, his voice loud and respectful, each word clear and distinct.

"His Highness Prince Xuan has ordered that he personally escort you out of Xingze Kingdom."

"His Highness repeatedly instructed that you must ensure your safe journey and that nothing should go wrong. The carriage is waiting outside; please proceed."

"Oh--"

Jiu Fangzhi laughed.

The laughter was soft and short, coming from behind the silver mask, tinged with a hint of self-mockery.

"He is truly my good student! Very good, very good."

"The old man has shown great filial piety."

Bingyou peeked halfway out from her sleeve and added a sentence while shaking her head.

"Indeed! That rebellious disciple is truly filial to the extreme."

Jiu Fangzhi was personally escorted away by the Xingyuan Guards.

On the way out of the valley, black-armored guards led the way, banners fluttering in the wind, the formation exactly the same as the army that escorted Emperor Shengchen away.

They even hung a row of gleaming golden bells on the carriage, making a jingling sound as it paraded through the city.

It's clear that Si Xingxuan is very filial to his master; he's given him the highest honors.

When it's full to the point of overflowing, one feels so ashamed that they wish they could disappear into a crack in the ground.

His brow twitched every time the bell rang.

Bingyou seemed to enjoy the music and even swayed her head to the rhythm.

Within the Valley of Divine Medicine, laughter and joy filled the air.

The nerves that had been tense for days during the Medicine God Trial finally relaxed at this moment.

The herbs in the valley stretched their leaves in the sunlight, the stream babbled, and the birds chirped; everything had returned to its former tranquility.

The senior students surrounded Tang Xixue, having endless things to say and boundless joy to express.

They praised her alchemy skills, her swordsmanship, her appearance, and her temperament, wishing they could say every good thing in the world.

The eldest brother said she surpassed his master, the second brother said she was exceptionally talented, the third brother said she was of pure character, and the fourth brother said she was humble and gentle.

She was like the warm and bright sunshine of a spring afternoon in this Valley of Divine Medicine.

"Where is my senior brother?"

Tang Xixue suddenly asked, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and across the hall.

"Aren't we all here? Look, Junior Sister, Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, and Fourth Senior Brother—not one is missing."

The third senior brother laughed as he counted on his fingers.

"No, I'm asking..."

"Forget about our junior brother, he has hands and feet, he won't get lost."

"Besides, it's better that cold-faced god is gone, so he won't be standing here scaring people."

The fourth senior brother waved his hand, looking disgusted.

"Junior sister, come and try the dishes made by senior sister—this stir-fried bamboo shoots were dug before dawn, they are very tender."

Liu Xinyi smiled and pulled her to the table, placing a steaming bowl of soup in her hands, its aroma filling the air.

"Speaking of which, Junior Sister, you're of marriageable age now. Do you have someone you like? What do you think of my grandson, Liu Fengchun? Could he be your personal servant?"

"Great-grandmother—be careful what you say!"

Liu Fengchun was in charge of serving the dishes, and when he heard his great-grandmother's words, he was terrified.

"You're hopeless! I gave you a chance, but you failed miserably."

Liu Xinyi said in an annoyed tone.

Liu Fengchun immediately shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

"Instead of trying your best, give yourself a break."

"Grandma, is it a place for me to stay by the side of my junior master?"

"Xiao Chun, the strong never complain about their environment..." Liu Xinyi earnestly advised, wanting her grandson to learn some real skills from her junior sister.

Liu Fengchun nodded immediately, put down the vegetables in his hand, and ran away so fast it was as if his soul was flying and he was being chased by a ghost.

"Yes, the strong never complain about their circumstances, but I am as frail as a willow in the wind..."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter.

Tang Xixue couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

"The eldest sister's grandson is truly devoted..."