Rules of the Strange: I Became a God in a Bizarre World Through Taoist Arts

In the sky.

Pei Jinxiu's expression froze for a moment.

The red dot between her brows turned into a wisp of smoke, slowly spreading into the air.

The image shattered like a mirror, with cracks resembling a spiderweb, cutting the complete picture into different fragments.

"Ah—ah—"

The sound of a baby crying rang out, and a beautiful little girl was tightly wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The adults around the cradle watched her, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Among the group of women, there was a little girl with her lips tightly pressed together, staring intently at the baby.

She stretched out a finger, wanting to poke the baby's soft cheek.

Unexpectedly, the little person in the cradle seemed to sense something, opened his round eyes, and grasped the little girl's outstretched finger with his little hand.

"Oh, look at that, Jinxiu definitely likes her older sister."

"Of course, sisters are of one mind..."

The adults watched this scene with smiles on their faces.

Xiao Pei Jinyu's cheeks were flushed, and a look of joy appeared on her face.

The images flow.

Pei Jinyu had grown a bit older, and her figure was slender; she already had the bearing of a lady.

She walked into Pei Jinxiu's courtyard, carrying a bundle of books in her arms.

Pei Jinxiu was swinging on the swing in the courtyard. When she saw her older sister arrive, her little face immediately scrunched up, and she pretended to be aggrieved.

Pei Jinyu smiled and flicked her forehead, but there was no blame in her tone.

"You, if you don't study hard in school, how can I entrust the shop to you later?"

Pei Jinxiu shook Pei Jinyu's sleeve and said coquettishly:

"I'm perfectly content with having a sister~"

"My dear sister, I get a headache just looking at the words in books~"

Pei Jinyu bent her finger and gently scraped the tip of her nose.

"That won't do either. If you don't finish your homework, be careful your mother will have your teacher's wife punish you!"

Pei Jinxiu had a bitter face.

"But isn't it enough for our family to have one all-around talent like you?"

As she spoke, she laughed again.

"I'm just here to make up the numbers, little sister."

"Life is only a hundred years long, why should I worry about my studies every day?"

Pei Jinxiu tilted her head.

"I'm really not cut out for studying~~~~"

She drew out her words several times, her eyes secretly sizing up Pei Jinyu.

"I really can't help you."

Pei Jinyu smiled, her eyes seeming to be making a decision.

Dewdrops fell from the nearby grass and trees, creating ripples.

Pei Jinxiu, with her hair styled in double buns, was chasing butterflies in the courtyard.

The butterfly happened to land on Pei Jinyu's embroidery hoop, which was embroidered with peonies, and Pei Jinxiu also rushed over.

At that time, Pei Jinxiu's eyes were very bright, and her sister's face was reflected in her black pupils.

"Sister~ why don't you rest for a while~"

Pei Jinyu slowly shook her head, rubbing her sore wrists, and gently placed a handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers on Pei Jinxiu's face.

"Here you go, the handkerchief you wanted."

She gave Pei Jinxiu a reproachful look, her tone full of doting affection.

"Now can I embroider properly?"

"This piece of fabric is to be presented as an offering to Her Majesty the Empress; it cannot be delayed."

Pei Jinxiu smiled and took off the handkerchief from her face, examining it from all angles.

The silk threads shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Pei Jinxiu smiled as she carefully tucked the handkerchief into her body, nodded, and nestled close to Pei Jinyu.

Spring goes and winter comes.

On the bed, Pei Jinxiu's cheeks were burning red, and she kept calling out "sister" in her dazed state.

Pei Jinyu rushed back from outside, covered in snow, and reached out to feel the temperature on her forehead.

"How did she get such a high fever? Where is the royal physician? Has he been making sure she takes her medicine?"

"Reporting to the eldest young lady, the second young lady dislikes the bitter taste of the medicine... so..."

"Nonsense!"

Pei Jinyu, unusually composed, took the medicine bowl and helped Pei Jinxiu feed it to him.

After a long while, seeing her younger sister sleeping peacefully, Pei Jinyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She took a calming sachet from her bosom and placed it under Pei Jinxiu's pillow.

"What is this?" Pei Jinxiu asked, her eyes half-open.

"Phoenix Breath Incense, to help calm your mind."

He tidied Pei Jinxiu's stray hairs and watched her fall into a deep sleep.

"My departure... my return date is uncertain. You all must take good care of the Second Miss and make sure she takes her medicine on time and recovers her health."

She gave her detailed instructions.

A tear falls onto the shattered image.

The scene seemed to have healed somewhat.

But deep within the scene, Pei Jinxiu, who has already come of age, is handing a dark-colored sachet to someone.

……