The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Yes, I'm here."

Tang Xixue responded softly, her voice gentle.

She turned her head slightly and looked at the young holy monk who was leaning heavily against her shoulder.

Saint-Femme's breathing was so light it was almost like a breeze; his eyelashes drooped, casting a delicate shadow on his pale cheeks.

Those eyes, once as clear as the sky after rain, were now closed. The cinnabar between their brows was still bright red, like a lamp that was about to go out, still warm but its light was so faint as to be almost invisible.

He was too weak.

She was as weak as a leaf blown to its end by the autumn wind, finally finding a place to land. The moment she landed on her shoulder, it seemed as if she had used up all her last bit of strength.

"Holy Monk!"

The monk Liaofan's voice suddenly rose, filled with undisguised panic.

He stumbled forward, but Tang Xixue raised her hand to stop him.

She lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently touching Sheng Feiming's wrist. She examined it intently for a moment before the seriousness between her brows slowly eased.

"The backlash from Heaven has stopped."

She spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of relief and gentleness.

"But his body... had endured it for too long."

Yunmian had already approached without anyone noticing.

She leaned down to look at Sheng Feiming's face, then raised her hand and hovered it above his brow for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in her pink crystal-like eyes.

"He needs to go to the Nirvana Pool of Lotus Song."

Her voice lacked its usual playful tone and became more serious.

"That pool was originally intended for cultivators to wash away their karmic obstacles and rebuild their physical constitution. Although it was originally prepared for A-Lian, it seems that the kid doesn't plan to come back with me for the time being, so it's not a waste."

"Then I will thank Sister Yunmian on behalf of Feiming."

Tang Xixue raised her eyes, a faint smile appearing in them.

Yunmian waved her hand, but suddenly stopped and turned around.

Those eyes shone like a galaxy bathed in moonlight, and a smile gradually spread across his lips, revealing an undisguised mischievousness.

"Zhizhi, are you really not going to reconsider?"

Tang Xixue was bending down to straighten Sheng Feiming's clothes when she heard this, and her fingertips paused slightly.

"What are you considering?"

"Let's accept this holy monk as a disciple."

Yunmian blinked.

"It's not like he can't leave the monastic life. Look how handsome he is! Pure and innocent, like a figure sculpted from snow. Doesn't Zhizhi... feel even a little bit tempted?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue shook her head, both amused and exasperated.

"Fei Ming is still young. I have no interest in romance."

Upon hearing this, Yunmian not only did not restrain himself, but instead smiled even more meaningfully.

She tilted her head slightly, and her silvery-white hair slid down her shoulders like silk ribbons cut from moonlight.

"Oh……"

She drew out the last syllable, a sly glint in her eyes.

"I get it. You mean, it's okay once you grow up, right?"

She took a step closer, her clothes fluttering in the wind like butterflies.

"Zhizhi is so considerate, knowing to wait until the little holy monk grows up before making a move. You're such a shrewd old fox, with such a long-term vision."

She added another sentence, her voice tinged with laughter.

"Isn't it the most moving sight to see a holy monk in meditation stepping into this mundane world?"

"Doesn't Zhizhi want to see what kind of dazzling splendor that spotless mandala flower before the Buddha would display if it truly fell into the mundane world?"

Tang Xixue paused, about to speak, when a sound, almost drowned out by the sound of falling leaves, suddenly came from under the tree outside the courtyard wall.

The sound of the wheelchair rolling over the fallen leaves was exceptionally clear.

silence.

A very quiet silence.

Xie Jinlian's fingers gripped the armrests of the wheelchair.

His long, silvery-white hair fell to his shoulders, and his face was expressionless, but his silvery-gray eyes were clearly looking in the direction of the courtyard wall.

My gaze pierced through the stone wall, landing somewhere I couldn't tell, but the chilling aura emanating from him was clearly a few degrees heavier than before.

That was his older sister.

He took a deep breath and endured it.

I really endured it.

After enduring it for a moment, I finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"If Zhizhi really likes the Zen-inspired style,..."

He spoke, his voice calm and clear, like snow falling into a deep pool, without causing a ripple.

"Then, is it not possible for Ayan to become the Holy Son of Brahma this month?"

He added this as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Since he doesn't understand the emptiness of the four elements, let him focus on practicing Buddhism."

"Ayan...he is very good at meditation."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Boyan, who was carrying a soup bowl out from under the eaves, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The soup in the celadon soup bowl sloshed and nearly spilled over the edge.

He froze on the spot, his long, slender fingers gripping the tray until they turned white.

Her ethereal face flushed red from the tips of her ears down to her neck, as if someone had splashed a cup of peach blossoms onto cold jade, the crimson spreading silently.

"Brother..."

His voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of embarrassed pleading and a touch of panic that was about to break down.

"Don't talk nonsense. When have I ever practiced any kind of 'joyful meditation'?"

"That copy of 'The Cold-Hearted Saint' that you kept on your desk and read at night..."

Before Xie Jinlian could finish speaking, a figure flashed before her eyes.

Yun Boyan arrived at his side almost instantly, covering his brother's mouth with one hand. His movements were quick and precise, revealing an instinctive panic.

"Brother, please stop talking."

His voice was so low that only the two of them could hear it, but the tips of his ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

The moment Tang Xixue heard the phrase "cold and aloof holy son," she froze.

She suddenly wanted to look up at the clouds in the sky, to see if the moon was full tonight, and to see how many bamboo stalks were in the distant bamboo grove.

Anything is fine, as long as I don't have to meet Master's probing gaze at this moment.

That book.

She still remembers that book, "The Cold and Aloof Saint, Seeking Pleasure Every Night," very clearly.

That was the most absurd chapter in her long and dark history.

Xie Jinlian's mouth was covered by her younger brother, and a hint of doubt flashed in her silver-gray eyes.

He could clearly feel his brother's heart pounding like a drum, his ears burning hot.

That wasn't just ordinary shyness; it was more like the panic of having something secret exposed in public.

But he couldn't understand it. It was just a book, why was it such a big deal?

He dares to look, so why wouldn't he dare let people talk about it?

"Ayan, what are you panicking about?"

His voice came through his brother's fingers, somewhat muffled.

Yun Boyan's breathing became erratic for a moment.

"I...I'm not panicking."

He blurted it out almost without thinking.

"Brother, I'm just... having a heart attack."

Xie Jinlian raised an eyebrow slightly.

Yun Boyan cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness, and from childhood his heart has been as still as water, even his sword intent is cold.

When did he develop a heart condition?

"When did Ayan develop a heart condition?"

Yunmian's voice rang out at just the right moment, carrying a leisurely air of someone who loves watching a good show.

"Since Zhizhi is here, why don't we ask her to take a look?"

"No need to trouble you, sister-in-law."

Yun Boyan responded almost immediately, so quickly that it seemed as if he was afraid someone would actually agree.

"It's nothing, brother and sister-in-law, please have your meal first, don't let your sister-in-law go hungry."

He quickly placed the soup bowl in his brother's hand, then turned and left.

The figure moved as fast as a silver gust of wind, disappearing into the shadows under the corridor in an instant, leaving only a faint wisp of sandalwood incense and the lingering echoes of chaos.

Tang Xixue stood there, watching the figure that was almost fleeing in panic, and sighed silently.

"Cough... I... I am indeed a little hungry."

She looked away, her voice carrying a hint of guilty lightness, as if she wanted to use those words to gloss over everything that had just happened.

"Let's have our meal first."

When Xie Jinlian heard that she was hungry, she didn't press the matter further.

He nodded slightly, his gaze returning to her. The chill that had arisen from their earlier conversation melted away silently, like spring snow meeting the warm sun.

"Then Zhizhi, please have your meal first."

His voice softened, carrying a gentleness that was reserved only for her.

Yunmian chimed in hushed tones, "What, is my elder sister not worthy of eating?"

She crossed her arms, her silver hair gleaming warmly in the twilight, and her smile carried a hint of deliberate grievance.

Xie Jinlian remained silent for a moment.

He had indeed forgotten that his elder sister was still there.

"Sister Yunmian, come over here quickly."

Tang Xixue smiled and stepped forward, naturally taking Yunmian's arm, her tone light and cheerful.

"Tell me about the ancient kingdom of Lian Ge; I've never been there. I've heard that an entire ancient city lies hidden beneath the sea of ​​sand, and at night you can hear ancient songs carried on the wind. Is that true?"

When Yunmian was pulled by her, the feigned grievances disappeared and were replaced by a genuine smile.

"Our Zhizhi is the most considerate. Unlike some brats, who only have eyes for one person and ignore everyone else."

She glanced at Xie Jinlian, her gaze both teasing and gentle.

Wen Song had already thoughtfully arranged the soup bowls and several side dishes. The bowls and plates gleamed with a warm glaze in the twilight, and wisps of steam rose up, blending with the faint fragrance of flowers in the courtyard.

Yunmian pulled Tang Xixue to sit down at the table.

"Then let me tell you the story in detail..."

Her voice carried a hint of laughter, yet every word she uttered held a unique mystery and enigma.

It was an old dream retrieved from the depths of the sandstorm; before it could be finished, the night had already deepened.

"Our ancient kingdom of Lian Ge is not actually within this realm, but rather a special territory bordering the upper realm..."