Chapter 33: So This is What Family Is?

Ning Shengsheng slept soundly. The next day, she thought about how to find information about the mirror demon while eating grapes in the pavilion. She had called for the system several times, but it ignored her.

What other way was there?

!!!

That’s right, she could go and ask Nangong Jinghong!

No sooner said than done.

“Songgao, I can’t eat anymore. Do you know where Master Nangong lives?”

Zaoni came in with a bowl of green bean ice slush. “She’s in the Qinfang Garden to the west. What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing. I have something to ask Master Nangong. Zaoni, you come with me. Songgao, go back and tidy up the study.”

She then took Zaoni and rushed to Qinfang Garden. They arrived shortly after. Zaoni went forward and knocked on the door. Knowing the visitor was Princess Ning An, the courtyard gate soon opened.

She walked straight in. Nangong Jinghong was elegantly drawing sigils under a grape trellis. She glanced at her.

“Princess, how are your sigil studies coming along?”

“Ha—” After a brief moment of guilt, Ning Shengsheng’s smile was radiant. “They’re coming along quite well.”

“Oh? Then let me test you.”

She saw Nangong Jinghong put down her sigil brush and take out a blank piece of sigil paper.

“No, no, no—”

She took a half-step back in fear, then had a sudden idea and changed the subject.

“I have something to ask, that’s why I came to find you, Teacher.”

Nangong Jinghong gestured for the maid to withdraw, poured a cup of cold tea for Ning Shengsheng, and pushed it towards her. “What is it?”

“Teacher, do you know about the mirror demon?”

Nangong Jinghong’s hand, which was pouring her own tea, trembled slightly, and a few drops of tea spilled.

“Why does the princess ask about this?”

Ning Shengsheng made up a story. “I saw it in a storybook that Older Brother gave me. I was curious, and I thought that since you have traveled far and wide in your youth, Teacher, you might know about the mirror demon, so I came to ask.”

The woman before her was not wearing her usual plain gray robe, but a pure white dress that made her features look even more delicate, like the snow on the Qingling Sect, clean and cold.

After a moment of thought, Nangong Jinghong’s red lips parted, and she slowly recounted the story of the mirror demon.

“A mirror demon is a mirror spirit that has cultivated to the demon realm. In my decades of cultivation, I have only seen one that has cultivated from a mirror spirit to the demon realm. Ten years ago, the mirror demon caused trouble everywhere, and the Qingling Sect sent people to capture it and lock it in the Qingling Sect’s water prison.”

Oh, my goodness. Then how did it escape?

Ning Shengsheng suppressed her surprise and asked again, “What kind of abilities does a mirror demon have, and how powerful is it?”

“The mirror demon’s own combat ability is not very strong. As Your Highness knows, cultivators must pass two trials in their cultivation: the heavenly tribulation and the heart tribulation. Every cultivator has a heart demon that is difficult to forget, and the mirror demon can transform into the thing you fear most in your heart, even trapping you in the illusion it creates for all eternity, until you are devoured by your own fear.”

Hiss! So that’s how it’s strong?

“It’s that powerful? Then who was it that captured the mirror demon ten years ago?”

After a long time, the person opposite her did not answer. She looked over in confusion and saw a touch of sadness on Nangong Jinghong’s face.

“Teacher?”

Nangong Jinghong’s thoughts returned, and she whispered a name. “Hua Qingxue.”

Her usually cold tone was unexpectedly tinged with a hint of gentleness. That person, of course, could capture the mirror demon, because he was so heartless and emotionless that he had no heart demon at all.

There’s a story! There’s definitely a story!

Ning Shengsheng’s gossip radar was going off like crazy.

“Hua Qingxue? Older Brother mentioned him today, saying he is the most outstanding disciple of the Qingling Sect.” Her eyes rolled, and her voice was sweet as she asked, “Teacher, have you ever met Hua Qingxue?”

A flash of panic appeared in the woman’s eyes.

“No,” she said, turning her face away, her breath hitching for a moment, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Your Highness, I’m not feeling well.”

Ning Shengsheng said goodbye with a faint smile. “Then I’ll be going. Please rest well, Teacher.”

After she left, the woman under the grape trellis had a dazed look in her eyes. She seemed to be reminiscing about something, and her usual stern and cold demeanor had completely vanished.

“Senior Brother Hua…”

Nangong Jinghong stood there for a long time before turning and going back into her room, leaving only three soft and gentle words lingering in the mottled sunlight of the summer day.

***

“Zaoni, what did Master Nangong do before she started teaching?”

Ning Shengsheng slowly strolled back to the Moon-Embracing Pavilion.

“I don’t know…”

“But I heard Chunxu mention that Master Nangong is not from our Great Ning. It was His Majesty who, seeing her abilities, made an exception and allowed her to teach at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.”

Not from Great Ning. And she had that expression when Hua Qingxue was mentioned. Could it be related to the Qingling Sect?

She walked all the way back to the Moon-Embracing Pavilion. Songgao was just about to go out. Seeing Ning Shengsheng return, she curtsied and said in a gentle voice, “Princess, His Majesty wants you to go to his place for roasted lamb tonight.”

“I know.”

“Have Xue Chen come with you.”

“Hostage Prince Xue is not here. The princess had just gone out when Hostage Prince Xue also went out, and he has not returned yet,” Songgao said in a gentle voice.

Xue Chen isn’t here? Could he have already sensed the mirror demon in Qionglin Garden? That wasn’t right either. Ning Xuan was at the Profound Aperture realm and didn’t know. How could he, a mere Earth Aperture realm cultivator, have known?

“Alright, then we’ll go to the Cold Jade Hall now. We can bring some back for him when we return.”

The group hurried to the Cold Jade Hall. Seeing the palace before her, Ning Shengsheng, who had been in the book for so long, couldn’t help but be shocked. The entire grand hall was exquisitely carved from cold jade. The moment she entered, a wave of cool air hit her face. It was much more comfortable than an air-conditioned room.

Ning Xuan was leaning against the steps, sitting casually, his posture unrestrained.

“An’an is here! Quick, this lamb is delicious.”

The lamb on the grill, sprinkled with seasonings, was sizzling and emitting a fragrant aroma. This was as enjoyable as eating hot pot in an air-conditioned room.

“Coming~”

The brother and sister finished their meal. Ning Shengsheng asked, “Brother, isn’t the Qingling Sect not far from Qionglin Garden?”

“Mm, why?” Ning Xuan sat with no proper posture, leaning back lazily and drinking.

“When we’re about to leave, can you take me to the Qingling Sect for a few days?”

She blinked, her clear eyes full of pleading. Seeing Ning Xuan hesitate, she pressed her advantage. “I’ve never been out of Great Ning in my life. You know how boring the palace is. I’m so bored I could die. Brother, please, please take me to the Qingling Sect for a few days~”

“Alright, alright!”

Ning Xuan’s only weakness now was his little sister. If she wanted the moon in the sky, he would order the Imperial Astronomer to pluck it for her.

“Yay!”

Ning Shengsheng cheered happily.

From behind, Ning Xuan’s voice came, tinged with suspicion. “An’an, you’re not really curious about Hua Qingxue and Ling Hegui, are you?”

“You want them to be your prince consorts?”

“No, no! Brother, don’t talk nonsense! I’m just purely curious.”

Ning Xuan took a sip of wine and raised his eyebrows teasingly. “I can’t help it. The impression of you being a girl who is infatuated with beauty is…” he pointed to his head, “…deeply rooted…”

Ning Xuan was clearly drunk.

“You should drink less.”

She went forward and snatched the wine jug from him, handing it to Shuangxi. “Shuangxi, have the small kitchen brew a bowl of sobering soup.”

“Yes, this servant will go at once.”

When the sobering soup was brought, she settled the drunk Ning Xuan.

Shuangxi saw Ning An out and said with a smile, “It’s a good thing the princess is here. Whenever His Majesty drinks, this servant doesn’t dare to stop him.”

“Our Majesty only listens to the princess.”

“It’s fine. If this happens again, just call me.”

Ning Shengsheng glanced back at the hall. This older brother of hers was really good to his little sister. It was the first time she had felt the feeling of being unconditionally doted on.

So this is what family is?