An hour passed quickly. By the time Le Gui rushed back to Cangqiong Palace, Di Jiang had already changed into a new outfit. Still in his signature black-and-red colors, this time, his attire was more refined and formal. The usual air of nonchalance had been replaced with a reserved, almost ascetic charm.

[Oh no, he looks so good. So, so good. This outfit is begging to be taken off.]

Le Gui, feeling giddy, trotted over. “Your Lordship, let’s—Ah!”

Before she could finish, an arm wrapped around her waist. In the next instant, the world spun. Space twisted and distorted around her. Her stomach churned violently. By the time her feet touched solid ground again, she collapsed to her knees like overcooked noodles.

“Ugh…”

Di Jiang took a step back in disgust and tossed something at her.

Still dizzy, Le Gui blinked at the item in her hands. “What’s this?”

“The jade token for the tournament. Your name is already inscribed on it,” Di Jiang said, frowning at her as if she were something dirty.

[I was just dry heaving! I didn’t even throw up!]

Le Gui took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing her nausea. Only then did she realize they were now in the mortal realm.

The same sun hung in the sky, but unlike the eerie chill of the Demon Realm’s sun, this sunlight was warm and vibrant, making people feel at ease.

Judging from her surroundings, they were in the countryside. Fields stretched around them, with narrow dirt paths leading in different directions. As she got to her feet, another item landed on her dress.

This time, it was a small bronze mirror, no larger than her palm.

Le Gui picked it up and examined her face in its reflection, confused. “What is this?”

“I’m your father,” the mirror said in a deep, sinister voice. A stem of bellflower appeared in its reflection.

Le Gui immediately threw it to the ground and stomped on it.

The mirror: “…”

“You little beast from Hehuan Sect, do you believe I won’t kill your whole family?!” The Seer Mirror raged, pounding against the mirror.

Ignoring it, Le Gui dusted off her hands. “Your Lordship, shall we go?”

“I have other matters to attend to. We will go separately. You will submit your jade token,” Di Jiang glanced at her indifferently. “Find me when you are done.”

“You little beast @#￥%&—”

“What? I have to submit the token myself?” Le Gui was horrified. “Alone? Your Lordship, I’m just a mortal! Are you really leaving me by myself? Can you be at ease with that? And how am I supposed to find you? I don’t even know the registration process!”

“You little beast @#￥%&—”

Di Jiang said, “The Seer Mirror will tell you.”

“…So not only am I going to be on my own, but I also have to take this insufferable mirror with me?” Le Gui felt her world shattering. “Can it even protect me? It doesn’t even have new insults!”

“You little beast, I’ll curse your ancestors for eighteen generations @#￥%—”

“See?” Le Gui spread her hands. “It just repeats itself.”

“I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you @#￥%—”

Di Jiang stepped on the mirror. “Then you want to come with me instead?”

The mirror: “…”

Le Gui’s instincts screamed that whatever he was going to do would not be pleasant. She surrendered immediately. “Actually, I think partnering up with the Seer Mirror is a great idea. Your Lordship, safe travels!”

Di Jiang cast her a cold glance and vanished into the void.

“His Lordship is so powerful. Others fly on clouds or ride flying swords. He just opens portals at will,” Le Gui crouched down and remarked to the mirror.

The mirror sneered. “He is already gone. Flattering him now is useless.”

“Do you know the difference between an outstanding employee and an average one?” Le Gui suddenly asked.

The mirror was taken aback. “What?”

Le Gui smiled meaningfully. The mirror instinctively wanted to hurl another insult, but before it could, she picked it up, wiped it clean, and even tucked a tiny wildflower into its delicate frame.

“It’s just the two of us now. Until we reunite with His Lordship, let’s try to get along,” Le Gui said, extending an olive branch.

The Seer Mirror: “Dream on!”

Le Gui turned around and started digging a hole.

The mirror felt a bad premonition rising. “What are you doing?”

“Burying you. Let’s see if a new crop of foul-mouthed mirrors grows next year,” she replied without even looking up.

The Seer Mirror: “……”

After a long moment, as if it had resigned itself to fate, it pointed in a direction. “The trial tournament is that way.”

Le Gui was satisfied and stopped digging. She followed the direction given.

An hour later, she stood still, staring at the seemingly unchanged surroundings. After a long silence, she asked, “Why aren’t we there yet?”

The mirror also went quiet before finally asking, “Why are you walking?”

“As a mere mortal, how else am I supposed to travel? Should I fly on a magical artifact?” she retorted.

The two stared at each other, and suddenly, a grave realization dawned upon them.

Le Gui hesitated. “…How far is it to the trial tournament?”

“Not far. Just over six hundred miles,” the mirror replied.

“When do they stop accepting registrations?”

“In two days.”

[Two days… That means I need to cover six hundred miles on foot in that time.]

Le Gui licked her dry lips. “If… and I mean if… we don’t make it in time, what happens?”

The mirror sounded numb. “He will kill us.” If they couldn’t even handle such a small task, he would definitely kill them.

Le Gui looked up at the sky with deep contemplation. “We should run away.”

The mirror: “…”

Whatever the Seer Mirror was thinking, Le Gui had already stuffed it into her robes and crouched down, starting to sketch an escape plan in the dirt. She used a stick to draw paths, carefully plotting the fastest and most efficient escape route.

“What are you drawing?”

A curious voice suddenly came from above. Without looking up, Le Gui replied, “An escape plan. Have you decided yet? Want to run away with me?”

“Why would I run?”

“Because—”

Wait. This voice wasn’t the mirror’s. And the mirror was in her arms, yet the voice came from above…

Le Gui froze for a moment, then instinctively looked up. She found herself staring directly into the eyes of a young man with striking features.

“What were you saying?” The young man looked puzzled. A red mole on his brow stood out, adding to his striking appearance.

Le Gui stared at the red mole for a long time, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

The young man flushed slightly under her scrutiny. Finally realizing he had leaned in too close, he hastily stepped back and bowed. “I am Li Xingqiao, a disciple of Jingyue Sect. I saw you drawing in the dirt and muttering to yourself, so curiosity got the better of me. If I have offended you, please forgive me.”

“Li Xingqiao… Li Xingqiao…” Le Gui murmured his name twice before abruptly standing up. “You’re Li Xingqiao? That Li Xingqiao from Jingyue Sect?”

“Yes… Do you know me?” Li Xingqiao was taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm.

Le Gui’s lips slowly curled into a smile.

Know him? Of course, she knew him! He was the protagonist of Supreme! The male lead who had a cheat ability thicker than her waist! The man who personally forged the second Wuliangdu with his own hands!