But the most important thing was that this was where she first met that fool.
As the Yaoxi Empress watched the small, battered figure on the screen, her trembling hand clutched tightly at her chest, trying to suppress the pain in her heart.
If only she had met him earlier, much earlier… Then maybe he wouldn't have had to endure so much suffering.
Seeing the sorrowful expression on the Yaoxi Empress's face, Xuanwei lowered her gaze, sighing softly. This was only the beginning; the greater pain was yet to come.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Everyone watching was both amused and bewildered by the stark contrast in the white-robed woman's behavior.
The young master of the Lin family, seeing this seemingly naive woman, who appeared to be venturing out without her family's knowledge, felt a surge of desire. To him, this woman must be easy to deceive.
With a smile, he said, "Miss, this little red horse is dear to my heart. But if you truly want it, why not come to my estate, and we can discuss it further? Perhaps I could be persuaded to part with it."
The surrounding crowd immediately recognized the young master's intentions. If this white-robed woman went to the Lin estate, she would be like a lamb to the slaughter, at the mercy of this predatory young master.
Some people wanted to warn her, but seeing the fierce look in the young master's eyes, they all hesitated. They were just ordinary townsfolk, unable to withstand the wrath of such a powerful family.
The white-robed woman, her expression strange, replied, "You say this little red horse is dear to your heart, but I haven't seen you show any love for it."
The young master's face froze at her words. Quickly, he tried to shift the blame, glaring at the ugly freak curled up on the ground. "It's all this freak's fault! He's the reason my beloved little red horse has grown distant from me! This ugly freak isn't just hideous on the outside—he's rotten to the core!"
As he spoke, the young master strode forward and, before the weak little red horse could react, ripped away the cloth covering the ugly freak's face.
In an instant, the boy's horribly disfigured face was exposed to everyone.
"Ugh!" The crowd recoiled in shock. No wonder he had kept his face covered—such a sight would scare anyone half to death if they saw it at night.
However, those with keen eyes could tell that this eleven- or twelve-year-old boy hadn't been born this way; he must have been burned, leaving his face grotesquely scarred.
Panicked by suddenly being exposed, the ugly freak's eyes filled with fear as he frantically covered his face with his hands. But even so, he could still feel the eyes of the crowd on him. He immediately threw himself to the ground, burying his face deep in the dirt.
Seeing this, many in the crowd felt a pang of guilt. Their reactions must have deeply hurt this young boy. It was hard to imagine how much suffering he had endured from a young age because of his disfigured appearance.
Meanwhile, the young master of the Lin family, the cause of all this, was still talking to the white-robed woman. "You see, Miss, this ugly freak is so ashamed that he wishes the earth would swallow him up! Hahaha…"
The white-robed woman, with a faint smile, said, "I can tell the difference between good people and bad. You don't seem like a bad person."
"Oh?" The young master's eyes lit up with excitement, thinking that perhaps this woman had fallen for his charm.
But the woman's next words made his face flush with anger.
"Because you're not even a person—you're worse than an animal, you piece of trash!" she said coldly.
With that, the white-robed woman leaped gracefully from the second floor of the tavern, landing lightly on the ground, still holding the roast chicken in her hand.
The onlookers gasped in awe, shocked to discover that this stunningly beautiful woman was also a martial arts expert!
The young master, who had been seething with rage and considering taking her by force, suddenly realized that his weak body was no match for her. He quickly suppressed his anger and, with a forced smile, said, "Miss, you've misunderstood me. I'm known throughout this city as a gentleman!"
At this, the crowd erupted in laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" the young master barked, glaring at the people around him.
When the laughter stopped, the young master turned back to the white-robed woman, trying to put on a gentlemanly facade.
But…
"Get lost!" The white-robed woman snapped coldly, then kicked the stone post that had been tethering the little red horse, shattering it into pieces.
The young master froze in terror. If that kick had landed on him…
*Thud, thud, thud…*
The young master took off running faster than a rabbit.
"Ugh!" The white-robed woman spat disdainfully. Even touching scum like him felt beneath her.
"Hey! Are you alright?" The white-robed woman slowly approached the ugly boy.
But the boy only curled up tighter, burying his face even deeper in the dirt, terrified of anyone seeing him.
The white-robed woman pursed her lips, then said nothing more. She turned and led the little red horse away.
At that moment, some of the more compassionate onlookers began to disperse the crowd, encouraging people to leave and stop gawking.
As the white-robed woman was about to leave the city, she noticed a small, frail figure secretly following her from a distance. A smile played on her lips, and she beckoned toward the figure.
Sure enough, the ugly boy slowly emerged from the shadows, his face once again covered by the cloth. However, his body was so badly beaten that he could barely take two steps before collapsing on the road.
When he awoke, it was already dark.
"You're awake!"
The white-robed woman was sitting on the grass beside him, leaning slightly, her hands propping her up as she gazed at him. Her posture was simple, yet it exuded a warmth and sense of safety.
Her beautiful eyes, crescent-shaped with a smile, were as gentle as the moon in the sky.
The evening breeze softly tousled her hair, carrying a delicate fragrance that was soothing to the heart. It seemed to possess a special magic, calming his troubled soul.
The moonlight bathed her in a serene, pure glow, making her appear almost otherworldly.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the boy found himself unable to look away from her.
He stared at her blankly, his mind a complete blank.
Until the white-robed woman lightly flicked his forehead.
"What are you thinking about? You're so lost in thought."
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8