The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the Divine Medicine Valley, Tang Xixue was startled by the Thunder Sea outside.

She strode out, her clothes fluttering in the wind, and walked through the corridors, across the medicinal fields, until she reached the entrance of the valley.

But when she arrived, the area outside the mountain gate was empty; there was nothing there.

Only the wind still carried a hint of anxiety.

"Look at the ground, there is a broken jade pendant of reincarnation."

Senior Sister Liu Xinyi followed behind her, her gaze fixed on the ground.

The edges of the fragment were as sharp as a knife, and faint dark gold patterns remained at the break.

"It seems someone is fighting with the Heavenly Dao Apostle here. Judging by their technique... it's swift and decisive, no ordinary person."

"I wonder who it is, punishing evil and upholding justice here."

Tangxi Xue looked around; the mountain path was deserted, the forest was deep and shrouded in mist, and there was no one in sight.

"These traces of lightning... seem like divine punishment."

"Who knows? Maybe it was some kind person."

Liu Xinyi's tone carried a hint of profound meaning.

"Or perhaps it was some passerby deity who couldn't stand by and watch. In this world, there are always some people who do good deeds without leaving their names."

As Tang Xixue turned around, a gust of wind blew by.

A faint floral fragrance wafted in the wind, like the first cherry blossom in full bloom in spring.

The fragrance wafted into her nose, and she was slightly taken aback.

is her.

It's Sister Yunmian.

Tang Xixue's lips curved into a smile, a faint yet warm smile like the afternoon sun in spring.

It seems that, unbeknownst to her, Sister Yunmian is helping her again.

"Let's go."

She turned around and smiled at her senior sister.

"It's time to go back. There's still one person waiting for me to wake up."

"Is Junior Sister going to rescue someone?"

Liu Xinyi followed her steps and turned her head to ask.

"Um."

Tang Xixue bid farewell to her senior sister and several senior brothers and returned to Zhiyun Xiaozhu.

The small house remained as quiet as ever, with peach petals drifting in from the window, landing on the table, beside the cushion, and on the clothes of the sleeping person.

Ling Zixian lay quietly on the couch, her hands folded in front of her abdomen, her face serene, as if she were simply asleep.

But his overly pale lips and almost nonexistent breathing reminded others that his soul had been wandering for far too long.

Tang Xixue sat down on the edge of the couch, moving very gently.

She took out the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl from her bosom. The pearl was pure white, and its luster was as warm and smooth as moonlight.

She raised her hand and gently placed the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl in front of Ling Zixian.

"Master Ling, it's time to go home."

The bead did not fall.

It hovered in mid-air, slowly rotating.

A soft white halo emanated from the pearl, spreading out like moonlight.

The light fell on Ling Zixian's brow, giving his handsome face a soft glow.

Tang Xixue clasped her hands on her knees and waited quietly.

Time seemed to slow down at that moment.

Outside the window, there were birdsong, the sound of wind, and the soft rustling of peach petals falling.

"Senior Brother...you slept for too long this time..."

Imperial Preceptor He Lichen stood guard outside the door, preventing anyone from disturbing him.

"Who am I? Where am I?"

Ling Zixian's consciousness lingered in the darkness for an unknown period of time.

"Where is this place?"

It was a boundless void, devoid of light, sound, temperature, and everything else.

He didn't know who he was, where he came from, or where he was going. He just drifted aimlessly, like a lonely soul forgotten in the deep sea.

"That's... light—"

Until a light appeared from a very, very far place.

The light was gentle and not dazzling, like the first ray of dawn.

It pierced through the endless darkness, through layers of illusion, and shone upon him, warm and gentle, like a hand, firmly pulling him back.

"Such a warm light."

He walked toward the light, his steps initially hesitant, then quickening, until he almost ran toward it.

A path of light was laid out before him.

With each step he took, a ripple would appear beneath his feet, like the ripples spreading when a pebble is thrown into water.

The light enveloped him, carrying him high into the sky, towards an increasingly brighter direction.

He closed his eyes and surrendered himself completely to the light.

Then, he slowly opened his eyes.

What came into view was a soft halo of light, like fireflies dispersing before dawn.

There was also a faint medicinal fragrance inside the small building.

The medicinal fragrance was refreshing, mixed with the calming herbs and the sweet scent of peach blossoms, giving people a sense of peace.

Then, he saw Tang Xixue sitting by the tatami mat.

She wore an alchemist's robe, the plain white fabric embroidered with delicate herbal patterns, and the sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing her fair wrist adorned with a pearl bracelet.

Her long hair was casually tied back, loosely secured with a white hairband.

The hair ribbon fluttered gently in the wind, like a butterfly perched on her hair.

The sun had long since set, and in its place was a bright moon.

Moonlight streamed in through the window behind her, gilding her silhouette with a silvery edge, making even the tiny specks of light on her eyelashes clearly visible.

She leaned slightly forward, a faint smile and a touch of concern in her eyes.

That gaze was gentle and soft, like a warm medicine, soothing every inch of his tired body.

He stared at her blankly, his mind a complete blank, yet a voice echoed in his heart.

He knew this person.

"Master Ling, you've finally woken up."

Her voice was as gentle as a stream, carrying a hint of relief as she finally calmed down.

She put away the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl that was floating in mid-air, and finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him wake up.

"Now, Brother Huaixian, you don't need to worry anymore."

The worry in her eyes turned into a faint joy at that moment.

It seems the Soul-Stabilizing Bead really does have a miraculous effect.

"Who are you?"

Ling Zixian looked at her, her eyes crystal clear.

He wore a black and white yin-yang Taoist robe, with exquisite Tai Chi Bagua patterns embroidered on the lapel, and his long hair was draped over his shoulders.

She still looks ethereal, like a banished immortal who stepped out of a painting.

But now, his gaze was no longer the same as before.

The weariness of having seen through all the ways of the world is gone, as is the clarity of having seen through everything.

There is only one kind of cleanliness, like that of autumn water.

"Um?"

Tang Xixue was slightly taken aback, then reached out and placed her hand on his pulse. Her fingertips lingered on his wrist for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly before relaxing.

"Has the memory not yet returned after the soul left the body?"

She murmured.

When the soul has been separated from the body for too long, it is inevitable that there will be a brief period of memory confusion when it returns to its place, which is to be expected.

"I am Tangxi Xue."

She spoke softly, her voice gentle and reassuring.

She sat there quietly, letting him adjust on his own.

"Then...who...who am I?"

Ling Zixian looked at her, her voice carrying a hint of confusion and helplessness.

His fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes as he looked at her timidly.

Those eyes held the dependence of a fledgling bird recognizing a human as its master at first sight.

He didn't know who she was, or what the name of the person in front of him was.

But he just felt that this person was very warm, and he wanted to get closer to him.

"You are a free spirit."

Tang Xixue answered patiently, her voice even softer, as if afraid of startling a newly hatched chick.

"It's the Lord of the Palace of Fate. You've been asleep for a long time and just woken up, so it's normal that you don't remember. You'll remember eventually."

"Then...then are you my wife?"

Ling Zixian blinked her crystal-clear eyes and said shyly.

As he spoke, a faint blush rose on his pale face, and his fingers twisted the hem of his clothes even tighter.

He looked like a young boy experiencing his first love, who mustered the courage to ask the question that mattered most to him.

All he could see was the person in front of him, the one who lit the first ray of light for him in the darkness.

Tang Xixue was stunned.

This question stumped her.

"Senior Brother, she is your cousin."

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Hearing the commotion inside, the Imperial Preceptor He Lichen pushed open the door and entered.

The moon-white robe gleamed faintly with silver light under the moonlight.

His voice remained calm.

But the possessiveness in those eyes burst forth silently the moment the door was opened.

It was like a volcano that had been dormant for a long time, suddenly having its gates split open by a bolt of lightning.

"She is your junior brother—my wife."

"Senior Brother, don't be mistaken."