Chapter 1: A Guest from Afar

June 19th, Friday, rain. Met Zhao Chiyun at home.

A guest arrived from afar, draping a gorgeous silk ribbon over her life, which had been still as dead water.

It was a black Friday. Gan Xun had bad luck from morning till night.

The rain in Mirror City started at dawn. Thick clouds rolled in with the southeast wind, howling until it finally took pity and stopped by the time she got off work.

She took off her earphones and walked out of the subway entrance surrounded by rainwater, then scanned a shared electric scooter to head home.

It was raining, so the road at the neighborhood entrance was slippery. When she parked, she fell off the scooter along with it. The fall wasn’t serious, but for some inexplicable reason, a passing old man cursed her out.

The old man spoke in a heavy dialect, his messy-bearded mouth mumbling unclearly. Gan Xun strained to figure out what had pissed him off.

It turned out she had startled him as he passed by. The old man angrily cursed that young people couldn’t do anything right, didn’t focus while riding, and couldn’t afford to take responsibility if they bumped into him.

Gan Xun wanted to curse his family but thought better of it. It wasn’t worth tangling with an old person.

Cursing him would be easy, but if he played dead and extorted her again, it would never end.

Seeing that it was about to rain again, Gan Xun headed straight home.

Garden Neighborhood was an old resettlement community from a demolition project. The location was average, full of middle-aged and elderly folks along with kids. It was unusually noisy morning and night.

The environment had only a distant relation to the word “garden.”

The upside was the low rent, so she didn’t need to share with anyone.

Gan Xun lived on the third floor in a one-bedroom, one-living-room unit. It wasn’t large.

It was her safe house in this city.

The landlord had lived there before, so the renovations were relatively new.

Just inside the door, there was a tiny kitchen on the left that could barely fit one or two people standing, a bathroom on the right, and a small balcony facing south from the living room.

She was satisfied with all of it, except that it was far from work and poorly soundproofed.

The people upstairs started practicing guitar again.

Her skirt hem was splattered with mud, and a large patch of skin on her calf was scraped, slowly oozing blood.

Gan Xun indifferently wiped the wound clean. Staring at the faint red on the wet tissue, she zoned out for a moment before walking into the bedroom.

She planned to grab a clean set of pajamas, take a shower, apply medicine, and then sleep like the dead.

She had rushed out that morning without opening the curtains, so the room was pitch black. She flicked on the light.

The bedroom was so small it was all in view at a glance: the bed against the south wall, a full-wall wardrobe on the north side, and besides that, a vanity squeezed next to the bed head.

As the light illuminated every inch of space, a silent horror crept up. Her heart went from steady beating to near-exploding.

There was a person lying on the bed.

Besides Cui Can, no one had a key to her place, and Cui Can was out of town on a business trip.

Gan Xun spat curses in shock and quickly tapped open the interface to call for help.

The blinding light and the stranger’s shout slowly roused Zhao Chiyun. The silence in her ears turned to clamor, as if she had endured ten thousand years.

Amid the questioning voice, she frowned, then suddenly widened her eyes.

A strange face stood at the foot of the bed. Zhao Chiyun was utterly terrified and about to get up when she suddenly realized her body under the covers was completely bare.

In that instant, all hope turned to despair. Tears incredulously welled in her eyes.

They dared to treat her like this.

First off, this was a woman. Secondly, she paled in a way that was stunningly beautiful, even her teary expression like a gorgeous fireworks display on the Lantern Festival.

Gan Xun’s jumped nerves eased amid the discordant guitar practice. She regained her composure as the homeowner.

Judging by looks was one of her life experiences. By basic judgment, this woman didn’t seem like a bad person—and she clearly needed to beware of bad people.

Gan Xun thought she’d seen beautiful women before, but never one this high-class.

Like a meticulously cultivated peony blooming in a golden palace hall, noble and gorgeous.

As her lashes trembled lightly, it was as if countless bells played music out of thin air for her—maybe from watching too many costume dramas lately.

The woman sat up with a cold face and pulled the blanket corner tightly to cover her shoulders and body.

Her long hair draped like silk across the pillow, accentuating her snowy skin and vermilion lips. Her brows and eyes were like the museum’s centerpiece painting.

“Shameless! Vile! Despicable wretch!”

Gan Xun hadn’t finished admiring her when she opened her mouth and started cursing, her face full of world-shattering shame and fury.

Her voice was like copper bells on a temple eave, dignified and ethereal.

The words were just hard to hear.

“Who?” Gan Xun had been thrown off.

Gan Xun’s wronged expression revealed a flaw to Zhao Chiyun. The tears in her eyes receded. She lowered her gaze, then lifted it again, now filled with resolute endurance.

She said sternly, “No matter who your master is, this County Princess advises you: kill or cut quickly. Delay, and watch your dog life.”

“If my Father King tracks you down here, he won’t let you off!”

What was she babbling? Gan Xun looked around. There were study materials for exams brewing sleepiness on the table. She confirmed this was her bedroom, not some weird place she’d stumbled into.

“No, sister, you’re naked sleeping in my bed, I haven’t even called the cops yet, and you’re calling me a dog?”

Was this right?

She sounded like that old man at the neighborhood entrance.

Zhao Chiyun narrowed her phoenix eyes, not understanding her barking. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

The County Princess raised her head, exposing a slender jade neck, and sneered disdainfully, “Calling this County Princess ‘sister’? What status do you have?”

Just like those dreams where things came true as spoken.

Her leg scrape started hurting. Gan Xun lost patience and pointed at the door. “Fine, I’m not worthy. Please put on clothes and leave my home.”

“Putting on airs! You think I don’t want to!”

“This County Princess wants to ask you: where are my clothes and skirt? How dare you strip me, you…”

She wanted to ask what the other had done to her but thought better. No need.

Whether asked or not, what happened had happened. What hadn’t, she wouldn’t show weakness by mentioning first.

She didn’t know how long she’d been unconscious. Since this group left her alive, they had plans. Her Father King must be sending people to find her.

Once rescued, no one here would live, and Zhao Chiyun would never have suffered any disgrace to her reputation. Why ask unnecessarily?

She reined in her icy gaze, hiding the murderous intent, and sized up the person before her.

Tall and long-legged, but slim in a way unlike a martial artist—from her stance, it showed.

Strange clothes and hair: high ponytail, white top and skirt of unknown material.

Much of her body exposed, very improper.

“How would I know where you took your clothes off? You think I’m a pervert who stripped you and tossed you on the bed?”

“I’m not some gigolo scum.”

Gan Xun was blunt. “If I’d stripped you, I wouldn’t pretend. I’d have gotten on the bed long ago. Doing something beats just talking.”

Zhao Chiyun was of such noble status; she’d never heard such brazen words. Her face instantly flushed crimson, her beauty even more radiant, but her eyes viciously glared at Gan Xun.

“You’re shameless!”

Gan Xun: ?

Zhao Chiyun asked, “Lothario, are you male or female?”

Her voice sounded feminine, but how could a woman say such things? She’d seen plenty of androgynous men.

“You’re blind? I’m wearing a skirt.”

“Men wear them too.”

Gan Xun pointed at the door again. “You’re the man. I can’t take it anymore. Get out.”

Seeing her about to act, Zhao Chiyun panicked. “Dare touch this County Princess, and I’ll wipe out your whole family!”

The other didn’t budge, smirked, and kept tugging the blanket. She seemed to have backing and wasn’t afraid at all.

As the blanket was about to be pulled away in their tussle, Zhao Chiyun held back a scream. “Wait!”

Gan Xun paused.

Zhao Chiyun tried to soothe. “No need to get angry. I just saw you, this female assassin, are quite handsome. I was momentarily dazed.”

The pleasure of being called pretty by a great beauty wasn’t for everyone. Gan Xun, ever the commoner, felt great and thus stopped scaring her.

“Thanks for the compliment. I’ve never even killed a chicken. No idea who you think I could assassinate.”

“You look college age. Read more classical literature, less online palace intrigue. Don’t bring up county princess or Father King. I could say I’m Qin Shihuang too.”

Gan Xun spoke earnestly.

Not an assassin.

Zhao Chiyun didn’t blindly believe her. From their tussle over the blanket, she could tell: decent strength, but no martial arts.

Just didn’t know if she and her accomplices had other tricks.

“You really don’t know who this County Princess is?”

“Crazy, right?”

“Insolent!”

Zhao Chiyun glared, overbearing. “You’re courting death.”

“Or what?”

“You’re really a county princess? Then I’m a princess.”

“No, I’m the empress, the Jade Emperor! Little county princess, kneel!”

Gan Xun made a finger gun and aimed at her temple, trying to fight magic with magic.

Zhao Chiyun: “…”

This better not be a place holding lunatics.

Gan Xun seized the chance to ask, “Tell me for real: how did you get into my home?”

“You don’t know, so ask me?”

“Get it straight: I just got off work. Look, my leg’s still bleeding from the scooter fall. I haven’t even treated it, scared by you.”

“Rule of law society. What’s in it for me to kidnap you?”

After much laborious communication, the two half-believed half-doubted the situation.

Zhao Chiyun claimed to be the Qinghe County Princess, Prince Qi’s youngest daughter. On the way to a temple visit, she encountered masked assassins, fell into a lake by accident, and woke up here.

The story was absurd. Scams were everywhere nowadays—even Qin Shihuang might text for help. Gan Xun didn’t believe it and threatened to check the entrance surveillance.

The old neighborhood had limited cameras and mediocre security, but calling the cops wouldn’t yield nothing.

“What is surveillance?”

“Something that records when and how you entered my home.”

“If there’s such a treasure, use it. I want to know too.”

“What’s your emperor’s name?”

“How dare you mention the Son of Heaven’s name lightly? I’m a person of Great Mirror. Do you know?”

“Mirror City went independent in your head?”

“What do you mean?”

Gan Xun sat on a chair nearby. Up close, she marveled at the creator’s unfairness.

Same nose and eyes, but hers were sculpted to the highest aesthetics.

“No such country or dynasty.”

“Bold! You think our people are too many?”

“Enough with the act. Where’s your accomplice hiding?”

Gan Xun circled the bed and bent down to check. “There’s nowhere to hide in my place, so don’t try anything. You’ve seen it—old neighborhood, tiny unit, bare walls. What is this, some kind of setup or just a straight-up robbery? Let’s be clear: I got scammed last year and I’m broke as hell. What little money I’ve got is just enough to eat, and I’m waiting on my paycheck to make rent. You lying here is like drawing water with a bamboo basket—pointless. If anything, I’m the one getting a free show.”

“This County Princess told the truth. Why do you spout nonsense?”

“You call me a liar? Someone like you looks more the liar.”

“Such a cramped, crude place—if not for my dragon trapped in shallow waters, you think this County Princess would set foot here?”

Zhao Chiyun fumed, disdainfully eyeing the plain, patternless bedsheets “Dog” had gritted teeth to buy.

Coarse cotton quality.

Comfortable, sure, but clearly poor folk stuff. And she dared interrogate her.

Gan Xun fell silent, then nodded. “Alright, great minds. Simple: no send-off. Get your paranoia treated elsewhere. My shallow waters won’t keep you.”

Finally angry.

Zhao Chiyun calmly analyzed: anger was good. It suggested she might be innocent.

She despised most those who took insults with a smile and flattery.

“But I have no clothes and am hungry and thirsty.”

Gan Xun, offended, said nothing and stood by the bed scrutinizing her guest.

Zhao Chiyun met her gaze with innate arrogance, negotiating in a condescending tone. “Prepare me clothes and food. If you need silver, once back at the Prince’s Mansion, I’ll send someone with it.”

Gan Xun ignored her and tapped a glowing crystal stone. Clear voices of others came from it, startling Zhao Chiyun.

The voice on the other end was also female. The two chatted back and forth.

On the odd stone, beams of colored light appeared, forming words.

Some Zhao Chiyun recognized, some not.

There were pictures too, changing instantly.

Immortal arts? Illusion? Zhao Chiyun looked around again. What was this place?

Gan Xun deliberately showed her the phone, laying it out upfront. “I just told my friend. If something happens to me, she’ll call the cops right away.”

Zhao Chiyun didn’t know what “call the cops” meant but got the threat.

After a moment’s thought, her pale hand pressed the blanket to her chest. She beckoned Gan Xun slightly with the other.

Smiling past grievances. “Come closer to my ear.”

Her smile was radiantly beautiful, stunning Gan Xun into approaching unguarded.

“Don’t be afraid.”

She mixed grace and threat. “I don’t eat people.”