Xie Shuci took out the bottle of ointment that Xie An had sent to the innkeeper the night before.

"Xie An, come and lend a hand," Xie Shuci called out, then gestured for the king to take the little maid aside.

Xie An frowned, looking reluctant. He paused for a moment, probably wondering whether he should have the king turn into a child to help.

Seeing his conflicted and unwilling look, Xie Shuci couldn't help but laugh. Suddenly sensing a touch of warmth from him, she teased, "Come here. He's just a little dirty and smelly, it's okay. Just help me hold him up."

Xie Shuci spoke in a teasing tone, wanting to see the little blind man's reaction.

Although unwilling and with a stern face, the latter still slowly stepped forward, put two fingers together, pushed the fool's shoulder against the wall, and refused to take another step forward. Hearing Xie Shuci's silly laughter, he couldn't help but urge, "Hurry up."

"Okay, okay, okay." Xie Shuci nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The fool didn't react to their presence at all, continuing to stroke the sachet with his eyes lowered.

He must have been punched several times in the face; it was covered in bruises.

Xie Shuci brushed aside the tangled, straw-like hair on his face, revealing his entire face.

"Tsk, this idiot isn't bad looking," Xie Shuci sighed.

Although his face was so dirty that his original appearance was obscured, his three-dimensional and deep-set features still revealed him to be a handsome man with a good build, about the same height as Xie An. It's just unclear whether he was born so foolish or if there were other reasons.

Xie Shuci opened the porcelain bottle, scooped out some ointment with a small piece of wood, and gently applied it to the broken skin on the fool's cheek.

This idiot is really stupid; he doesn't even cry out in pain. Xie Shuci, not knowing how to control his strength, was afraid of hurting the idiot, so he subconsciously blew a breath on the wound.

“He’s not in pain,” Xie An said abruptly.

Xie Shuci looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You're not him, how do you know he's not in pain?"

“He can speak,” Xie An said.

"What's there to say? He beat you up like that and you didn't utter a sound." Xie Shuci didn't pay much attention and turned her head to continue applying the medicine.

Xie An pursed his lips slightly, and suddenly tightened his grip on the fool's shoulder.

"Hmm..." The fool frowned and groaned.

Xie An replied indifferently, "He reacted."

Xie Shuci: "..."

He glanced at Xie An speechlessly.

The little girl, holding the king who had turned into an ordinary big dog, finally felt a little embarrassed and walked to the two of them, saying, "Thank you, young master."

Xie Shuci said without looking up, "It's strange to call you that. Just call me brother, Little Ci-gege."

It must be said that Xie Shuci is somewhat outgoing and friendly.

Fortunately, the little girl didn't seem to mind. She nodded shyly and said, "Yes, thank you, brother. My name is Luo Xianlan."

"Luo Xian..." Xie Shuci paused, then looked over in surprise, "You are..."

As if knowing what Xie Shuci was surprised about, Luo Xianlan smiled and said, "I am Luo Xianyu's younger sister."

"No wonder, you've grown up to be so beautiful at such a young age."

Xie Shuci was never stingy with praise, but the little girl had never heard such a straightforward compliment before. She lowered her head shyly and murmured, "I'm far inferior to my sister."

"How can you say that?" Xie Shuci said in surprise. "Little Fairy Orchid, your idea is a bit dangerous. Do you know the old saying? Confidence is the peak. Who cares about anything else? I am the most beautiful. If you don't like it, then keep it to yourself."

Luo Xianlan was amused by his humorous tone, and her almond-shaped eyes curved slightly. "My sister is the most beautiful. She is the most beautiful woman in Tianzhu City, and also the most beautiful woman in the world. I am the younger sister of the most beautiful woman in the world."

Speaking of this older sister, Luo Xianlan became visibly happy, showing that she had a very close relationship with her.

“My sister is proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, unlike me, who only knows the basics of each.”

Xie Shuci teased, "You've described her so well, I'm even more eager to meet her."

Luo Xianlan frowned in distress and said, "Brother Xiaoci, my sister is usually very busy, and most people can't see her."

Xie Shuci took out the token he had put away and asked her, "Can I see her with this?"

Luo Xianlan stared in disbelief at the three characters on the token he produced: "The...Hehuan Sect?"

"Yes, it was given to me by your previous courtesan, Sister Ye Changxuan." Xie Shuci raised her chin proudly.

"Sister Changxuan?" Luo Xianlan's eyes widened in surprise.

As soon as the two finished speaking, the fool who had been holding the sachet suddenly raised his head and then rushed straight at Xie Shuci, trying to snatch the token from his hand.

"Don't give it to him!" Luo Xianlan cried out, stepping in front of Xie Shuci and nearly tripping from the impact.

Xie Shuci quickly helped her back to the side, while Xie An turned around and kicked the idiot back to the ground.

"Your Majesty." Xie Shuci called out with a frown. The king understood and immediately jumped out of Luo Xianlan's arms, transformed into the appearance of a red snow wolf, walked to the idiot's side, and pressed him to the ground with a kick.

"Give, give me..." The fool looked at Xie Shuci, his eyes red, and tried to get up from the ground.

"Are you alright?" Xie Shuci asked.

The little girl was quite badly hurt by the impact; her face paled slightly, and she shook her head, saying, "I'm fine."

"Does this idiot know Ye Changxuan?" Xie Shuci asked, looking at the idiot's appearance.

Luo Xianlan took a breath and explained, "Well, my sister told me that he became like this because of Sister Changxuan. I felt sorry for him and that he was stealing everywhere, even stealing the daylily fragrance that Sister Changxuan liked the most, so I wanted to help him."

Xie Shuci exclaimed in surprise, "He did it because of Sister Ye..."

"I don't know what happened between him and Sister Changxuan. I heard from my sister that Sister Changxuan was the most beautiful courtesan in Tianzhu City at the time. Then one day she suddenly decided to join the Hehuan Sect. Not long after Sister Changxuan left, he went mad from a qi deviation."

"I never expected that he would have a story to tell."

"Brother Xiaoci, keep the token safe. If he snatches it, he'll never give it back to you, even if it kills him."

Xie Shuci put the token back, and the fool soon quieted down and continued to focus on the sachet in his hand. Xie Shuci then asked the king to release him.

Once free, the fool sat up, clutching the sachet, and without even glancing at the three men, walked off in one direction.

Luo Xianlan sighed, looking melancholy. "She's clearly gone mad. She doesn't even remember who she is, yet she remembers everything about Sister Changxuan perfectly."

Xie Shuci, who was very empathetic, also sighed, "I never thought he was such a devoted lover."

"Huh?"

The king tilted his head, indicating his confusion.

Xie Shuci snapped out of his daze and noticed the little girl's mature-looking face. He couldn't help but laugh, reached out and patted her forehead, saying, "How old are you? Why are you acting like an adult?"

Luo Xianlan covered her forehead and smiled shyly.

Xie Shuci, in high spirits, composed half a line of poetry: "What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?"

Suddenly struck by a sudden inspiration, Xie Shuci leaned close to Xie An, made a fist in the air, and placed it near Xie An's mouth, asking, "Little blind man, let me interview you. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Xie An lowered his eyes and smiled, a smile tinged with sarcasm, "To be troubled by love is truly foolish."

Those ephemeral things can vanish in an instant; isn't that just creating a prison for oneself? Utterly foolish.

Upon hearing Xie An's reply, Xie Shuci's smile froze on his lips. His heart felt as if it had been squeezed hard, and a sharp pain shot through him, causing his face to turn pale.

Xie Shuci forced a smile. "You're right, a wise person doesn't fall in love."

Xie An seemed to detect a subtle difference in Xie Shuci's voice, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Xie Shuci didn't pursue the question further and turned to pet the dog with Luo Xianlan.

"Little Fairy Orchid, how can I see your sister?" Compared to before, Xie Shuci's emotions had subtly changed, becoming somber.

Luo Xianlan said, "You can go see my sister. You are a friend of Sister Changxuan. Wanhualou will welcome you. My sister will be very happy to see you."

"Really? I want to meet your sister."

Xie Shuci stroked the king's hair and whispered.

He needs to correct his thinking sooner rather than later.

“Yes! I’m going back anyway, you can come with me,” Luo Xianlan said.

"Okay, let's go."

The three of them and their dog walked along the road. Xie Shuci was able to chat with people of all ages. Xiao Xianlan was not a lively person to begin with, but after chatting with him for a few words, she gradually started to smile more, and her words finally showed some of the liveliness and energy of a young girl.

She seemed to particularly like furry little animals, holding Da Wang the whole way without letting go and constantly stroking its fur. Da Wang rarely had anyone take care of it like this, so it slept comfortably.

Xie An didn't participate in their conversation and had little presence throughout.

As they were chatting, Xiao Xianlan suddenly tugged at his sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Brother Xie An, can't you see?"

"Um."

Xiao Xianlan lowered her head sadly, "Then he is even more upset than me. I can only not see colors, but he can't see anything at all."

Xie Shuci fell silent. Looking at the little girl's sad expression, Xie Shuci couldn't tell her that Xie An wasn't born blind.

Xiao Xianlan's eyes reddened, and she murmured, "We are all flesh and blood of Mother, but everyone can see that, so why can't we? Did we do something wrong that Mother doesn't like, so this is why? Sister is loved by many people, so she is the best woman in the world."

Hearing her words, Xie Shuci's expression was somewhat complicated.

This little girl is Luo Xianyu's younger sister. She probably grew up in her older sister's shadow. Although she and her sister are close, she is sometimes inevitably compared to her. Born in the vibrant and colorful Tianzhu City, she sees no color in the world and naturally feels out of place. Coupled with her sister's excellence, she inevitably develops feelings of inferiority.

“You did nothing wrong, and it has nothing to do with your mother. You are just sick, it’s no one’s fault. In fact, in your eyes, Sister Xianyu is the best woman in the world. But have you ever thought that in Sister Xianyu’s eyes, you are the best woman in the world?”

Xiao Xianlan chuckled and looked up. "Brother Xiao Ci, you're not suited to preaching at all. You can't convince anyone."

Thank you. He's talking nonsense. Shu Ci: "..."

"Thank you, I understand. It's just that I think about it occasionally..."

Xie Shuci realized that this was just like some people's online depression.

Before long, the three people and the dog stopped in front of an attic.

A layer of green vines coiled around the outside of the attic, covered with colorful flowers, where three or four butterflies would occasionally perch, making it look like a house that had grown out of a flower garden.

"This is the Guanhua Tower!" Xie Shuci exclaimed in amazement, looking up.

The vines form a dense net that climbs the outer wall, creating a lush green scene. The flowers blooming on the vines are full of vitality. Standing at the entrance and looking inside, it is as if you have entered a natural flower cave. At a glance, the vines cover the entire hall, where butterflies and bees of all colors flutter around, living happily in the same space as the people who are singing and dancing.

There are two stone stools in front of the gate. On one stool sits a small lion, one with golden fur, dozing off. The other is a white lion, which seems to be particularly careful about keeping clean, and is casually stroking its own fur.

"Holy crap? Is that a real lion?"

The country bumpkin Xie Shuci, with his big, round eyes, pointed at the little lion and asked incredulously.

The white lion glanced at them indifferently upon hearing the sound, then continued to gracefully groom itself.

The golden lion was sleeping like a pig; you could even hear it snoring softly when you got closer.

Luo Xianlan smiled and said, "They are lion beasts, and they are Sister Changxuan's pets."

The Great King peeked out from Luo Xianlan's arms and met the White Lion's gaze. Their eyes collided, as if sparks were flying in mid-air. The Great King jumped out of Luo Xianlan's arms, transformed into his original form, and glared fiercely at the White Lion.

"roar!"

However, at this moment, the sleeping golden lion suddenly smelled the scent of a formidable enemy and woke up abruptly. When it saw the red snow wolf that had suddenly appeared in front of it, it trembled and jumped off the stone pillar. Upon landing, it transformed into a lion as big as the king. The two beasts looked ready to fight at any moment and bared their sharp fangs at each other.

"Awoo!"

The king let out a wild roar.

"roar!"

The golden lion roared angrily.

The white lion glanced at them calmly and continued stroking its fur.

"Your Majesty, come back!" Xie Shuci called out.

“Xiao Jin, they are Sister Changxuan’s friends,” Luo Xianlan said.

Upon hearing this, the two beasts retreated to their original positions, but their eyes remained fixed on each other like wolves and tigers.

"Okay, change back."

Seeing the strange looks from passersby, Xie Shuci went up and patted its head.

"Aww!"

The king gently rubbed against Xie Shuci's palm, then transformed into a little puppy, lying down at Xie Shuci's feet and asking for a hug.

Just as Xie Shuci was about to bend down and pick him up, Xie An took the initiative, grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, lifted it into the air, dusted off its body, and then held it in his arms.

The golden lion glanced at the king with disdain, its eyes seeming to say, "You good-for-nothing who only knows how to please humans." It looked down on the king's behavior of being easily lifted up by humans after asking for a hug.

Luo Xianlan stepped forward and rubbed the golden lion's head, "Don't frighten the king."

The golden lion immediately lowered its head obsequiously, roaring!

"Aww!"

See? If you don't work hard, you'll become a woman's plaything!

"roar!"

"Aww!"

"Roar!"

"Awooo!"

The wolf and the lion started arguing in a language that the other could not understand at all.

Seeing this, Luo Xianlan said helplessly, "Brother Xiaoci, let's go inside."

"Let's go, let's go."

As Xie An carried the king past the golden lion, the two beasts were still barking at each other.

On a whim, Xie Shuci also let out a cry: "Awooo!"

When the king saw that Diedie had someone to back him up, he shouted even louder: "Awooooo!"

Xie An angrily pressed its head back down.

When the golden lion saw that it had been humiliated by humans, it arrogantly wagged its tail and grinned slyly.

It had barely chuckled a couple of times when the human holding down the wolf demon suddenly glared at it. In that instant, the golden lion felt as if a sword was hanging over its neck, and a chilling killing intent enveloped it.

The golden lion shivered, and suddenly his eyes welled up with tears.

"Waaah..."

Three of them are bullying me; that's too much.

Xie An: "..."

He pursed his lips and turned his head back.

The king cautiously glanced back from within his arms, and the golden lion was also looking in their direction. In the instant their eyes met, a sudden inspiration struck him:

"You've had a tough time, brother. This human is terrifying."

"Waaah... Brother, you understand me."

"I feel so sorry for you."

"Waaah..."

For some reason, the two beasts suddenly developed a mutual respect and affection for each other.

The white lion calmly glanced at the two beasts. Okay, another idiot.

Upon entering the Guanhua Building, looking up, one sees a huge flower ball connected in mid-air by several vines, with wisps of light gauze of various colors hanging on the ground, swaying gently in the breeze like the flowing sleeves of a dancer, outlining a hazy and lingering ambiguity.

Behind the sheer veil was a grandstand where groups of wealthy young men were eating, drinking, and having fun. On the stage, three women wearing fox masks danced gracefully, their long legs partially visible beneath the thin veil, their shoulders half-exposed, their movements both alluring and evasive.

"Xianlan, you're back." A woman in pink sat by the corridor, slowly waving a round fan. Her posture was languid, and she propped her head up with her hand. Her eyes were hazy, like the surface of a lake at midnight, with a little mist rising up, giving people a feeling of being suspended in mid-air, both real and unreal.

"Sister Xiaolian." Luo Xianlan bowed to the woman.

The woman in pink leaned against the railing, her figure slender, with a red flower decoration between her eyebrows, her gaze lingering on Xie Shuci.

Although her gaze remained unchanged, Xie Shuci felt immense pressure. He involuntarily took a half step back, hiding half of his body behind Xie An, and then waved to the woman, "Hello, sister."

The woman smiled lazily. "Hello."

Luo Xianlan said, "These are friends of Sister Changxuan. They want to see you. Are you in your room?"

Hearing this, the woman's smile deepened. "A friend of Ye Changxuan, that's rare. I thought people related to her wouldn't appear in Tianzhu City."

Xie Shuci frowned in confusion, feeling that the older sister's tone was very subtle when she mentioned Ye Changxuan. Could it be that the two of them had a falling out before?

The woman propped herself up, her figure light and graceful, her steps slow and deliberate, and walked up to Xie An, her gaze scrutinizing him with a hint of amusement.

Xie An stood quietly with his eyes lowered, his expression indifferent.

She examined it for a long time, then nodded to herself.

"Young master, would you be interested in staying at our Wanhua Pavilion?"

The woman raised her slender hand and placed it on Xie An's shoulder.

However, before he could get close, Xie An dodged to the side, his expression indifferent, "No need."

The woman withdrew her hand regretfully and sighed, "What a pity. Recently, we've had some difficult guests who don't want any beauties but prefer a handsome man like you."

"Oh my god, is that so? That's outrageous! How could anyone not like Fairy Sister?" Xie Shuci subtly stepped forward and blocked Xie An behind her.

The woman chuckled, "You have such a sweet tongue, Xianlan. Take them there."

"Yes," Luo Xianlan nodded.

"Goodbye, fairy sister." Xie Shuci waved and then pulled Xie An forward quickly.

Once they were far enough away, Xie Shuci breathed a sigh of relief and released Xie An.

Xie An replied with a hint of sarcasm, "I won't stay here."

"I know." Xie Shuci glanced back worriedly. "You don't understand. Coming here is like a lamb entering a tiger's den. What if you get eaten by them?"

Xie An: "..."

"Huh?" the king exclaimed in confusion.

What are you babbling about? It looks like he ate someone else's food, doesn't it?

Following Luo Xianlan up to the attic, Xie Shuci looked around curiously. The attic was full of rooms, and the sounds of laughter could be faintly heard from inside.

Luo Xianlan led the two people and the dog around a corridor and stopped in front of a room. She knocked lightly twice.

Who is it?

A woman's cool voice came from inside the door.

The woman's voice was like the tinkling of a spring, pleasant to the ear but with a hint of distance.

“It’s me, Xianlan,” Luo Xianlan said.

"Come in." The woman's voice was devoid of emotion, sounding almost like a carbon copy of Xie An.

Thinking of this, Xie Shuci couldn't help but glance at Xie An, who had no interest in the woman inside. He lowered his head and casually stroked the king's dog hair.

Perhaps sensing Xie Shuci's gaze, Xie An turned his head and looked at Xie Shuci.

Knowing that the other person couldn't see him, Xie Shuci still lowered his head guiltily and touched the tip of his nose.

Xie An paused for a moment, then lowered his head again.

Luo Xianlan didn't rush to open the door, but continued, "Sister, there are some of Sister Changxuan's friends outside who want to see you."

There was a moment of silence inside the door. "Since you're Changxuan's friend, please come in."

"yes."

Luo Xianlan pushed open the door, and the scene inside gradually came into view.

A spiritual pearl sits in the center of the room, radiating a warm yellow light that reflects off the elegant furnishings.

A faint fragrance wafted through the air as Xie Shuci followed Luo Xianlan inside.

To the right is a table woven from vines, with a burner of incense burning on it. Several blue and white porcelain vases are placed in the corners around the table, and a row of bookshelves on the wall is filled with books arranged neatly and orderly.

A beaded curtain blocked my view to the left, through which I could vaguely see a figure sitting at a desk, slowly combing his hair.

"Please have a seat for a moment," came a woman's calm voice from behind the beaded curtain.

Xie Shuci pulled Xie An down to sit, his eyes curiously scanning the room. Was this the room of the legendary most beautiful woman in the world? It didn't seem particularly special, except that it smelled a little sweet.

A moment later, the figure in front of the desk stood up. She took two steps slowly, and with a soft hand holding a white handkerchief, she lifted the beaded curtain. She first peeked out half of her body. Her slender figure was dressed in a long purple dress with a white belt around her waist. Long tassels hung down from the hem of her dress, swaying in the wind.

The woman's skin was as white as snow, and her purple dress accentuated her noble air. She took a graceful step forward and stepped out from behind the beaded curtain with her eyes lowered.

The woman wore her hair in a simple bun, just like Xiao Xianlan's. Her face was unadorned, her lips naturally red, and her almond-shaped eyes were shallow. She met Xie Shuci's gaze with composure and grace, then nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Her noble air and serene expression blended together to create an inviolable sense of sanctity. Compared to Xie An's undisguised indifference, her slender figure made it easier to evoke feelings of pity.

Compared to Ye Changxuan, they are indeed two different kinds of beauties.

Ye Changxuan was beautiful and self-aware, radiant and dazzling. The woman in front of her was calm and reserved, like the moon with its dim, diffused light at midnight.

If Ye Changxuan was breathtakingly beautiful, then she was like the moonlight hanging in the night sky, refusing to set. She wasn't as beautiful as Ye Changxuan, but she possessed a unique charm. Indeed, as Chu Guiyi said, the two were each beautiful in their own way, neither superior to the other.

But Xie Shuci looked at the woman in front of him and felt no flutter in his heart.

Wow, it really is beautiful.

Upon seeing the woman, this was Xie Shuci's true thought.

But what does her beauty have to do with the little blind man?

No.

Xie Shuci was utterly heartbroken.

Is the most beautiful woman in the world beautiful?

nice.

Is she prettier than the little blind man?

...

How can you compare these? I'm just asking, how can you compare these?

Xie Shuci felt it was all over.

This time it's really over.

It is foolish to be troubled by love!

Amitabha Buddha, Xie Xiaoci, become a nun!