Round One (04)

Thinking along these lines, Si Jiu once again tried to contact the system. Whether she wanted to figure out what exactly had gone wrong or determine how Yin Bai should correct the plot, the first thing she needed was a body. At the very least… she had to get out of this mirror first. After all, what future could a prisoner speak of if they remained locked up?

But the system remained silent, and every attempt she made to reach it was like a stone sinking into the sea. As her anxiety grew, Shen Huai returned. This time, however, he was not alone—someone had come with him. Yet, Shen Huai did not permit this person to enter the room and simply told them to wait outside.

Perhaps it was a result of the cold, gloomy air in this room that Si Jiu found so strangely comforting. She felt herself becoming a little more solid than before, no longer at risk of dispersing at the slightest breeze. But having now experienced Shen Huai’s capability firsthand, she dared not make any noise or commotion.

The wheelchair rolled forward at an unhurried pace and stopped right in front of her. In front of her? The next moment, a pair of slender, pale hands reached out.

“Those hands are still so beautiful,” the hopelessly superficial Si Jiu couldn’t help but marvel.

Suddenly, her perspective spun. Si Jiu started in alarm, and only then realized—“she” had been taken down from the wall by Shen Huai and was now placed on his lap.

This…

Though she lived within the mirror and had never touched Shen Huai directly, for some reason, she was suddenly reminded of her past life as Tang You. Back then, she would often fall asleep at random places, only to be carried back to her bedroom on his lap. That was real, tangible contact. Yet it never felt as…strange as this.

The wheelchair moved again, and soon reached the outdoors. Si Jiu could feel Shen Huai carrying the mirror.

She was a little excited.

After staring at that stifling, oppressive little dark room for a whole day and night, she could finally see the sky outside—wait, what?

A flash of green covered her vision, and then everything went black.

Si Jiu: What the hell!!!

“When the weather’s overcast, take this to the Treasure Pavilion and hand it to Elder Ge. I’ve already given him notice,” Shen Huai instructed.

Shen Yu held the jade box in his arms, his expression respectful. “Understood.”

Shen Huai nodded. “Don’t open the box without permission. There used to be a spirit in this mirror—I don’t know if it was a mirror spirit or a yin spirit. Though I’ve dispersed it, the yin energy is still very strong. Your cultivation isn’t enough to handle it.”

Shen Yu was a little curious. “Uncle, you’re not sure what kind of spirit it was?”

Shen Huai nodded again, but offered no explanation. Last night, his time with Tangtang had been disturbed, so he’d acted hastily and hadn’t examined things closely.

“A mirror spirit wouldn’t be much of a problem, but she made quite a ruckus last night—seemed rather fierce. Most likely a yin spirit. This bronze mirror is a thousand years old; if there’s a yin spirit, the baleful energy would be heavy, so don’t take it lightly.”

Even if it’s been scattered, that doesn’t mean it’s been completely obliterated.

If Tangtang didn’t truly need the yin energy from this bronze mirror, and if he hadn’t found a suitable replacement yet, he wouldn’t even consider having it repaired.

Shen Yu’s expression grew solemn, and he replied with gravity, “I understand.”

Only then did Shen Huai wave him off.

Before turning to reenter the house, a flicker of vulnerability and fatigue crossed Shen Huai’s face; but in the next moment, his expression was calm and unreadable as he went back inside without a word.

Meanwhile, Shen Yu carried the jade box back to the side building where he lived. After placing the box on the table, he turned and left the room again.

This entire mountain belonged to Shen Huai. The only villa on the mountain was this one. And in the whole villa, there were only two people—himself and Shen Huai.

Well, and the one Shen Huai kept hidden in his room… though whether that counted as a person was questionable.

Shen Yu and Shen Huai were not related by blood. Not even distant kin. He had been an abandoned infant taken in by Shen Huai.

He didn’t know Shen Huai’s origins, his past, or even…his age. From the time he was a baby until now—eighteen years—Shen Huai’s appearance in his memory had not changed in the slightest.

Such a large villa was tended by puppets for daily chores, but the three daily meals still fell to Shen Yu.

Hurriedly, he set off to prepare dinner for both Shen Huai and himself.