Chapter 510

Teng Qingxing took the bronze mirror from the table and placed it before him, then again produced that thumb‑sized bronze bell.

"If you wish to see, I will try the spell I used that day once more."

"If she truly has lost her fortune, this method will surely succeed."

"I need not borrow the power of the Northern Dipper Sovereign any longer."

The Masked Man nodded.

Teng Qingxing shook the bell, and the mirror's surface again rippled like water.

Xibei Daying, the sun shone brightly.

Tuan Tuan pulled Gongsun Yue and Xiao Jin, running into the training ground.

Zhang Wu'an had just finished drilling with the soldiers; a group sat on the ground, holding homemade slingshots, competing in aim at a nearby target.

Lu Qi, drenched in sweat and bare‑armed, sat with them; seeing the three little ones run over, he hastily grabbed his clothes and put them on.

"Uncle Seven! You're here!" Tuan Tuan happily ran over, seeing everyone's slingshots, "What is this?"

Lu Qi laughed: "I came with them to stretch my muscles. I haven't moved in days; my arms and legs are almost stiff."

Seeing Tuan Tuan, Zhang Wu'an smiled: "Little Princess, this is a slingshot; we used to play with it when we were young."

Tuan Tuan reached out her small hand: "I want to play too!"

"You want to play? Sure! I'll teach you." Zhang Wu'an picked up a pebble from the ground and chose the smallest slingshot among them.

He placed the pebble, stood behind Tuan Tuan, guiding her hands: "Just like this, don't move—do you see the bullseye?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "I see it! Then what?"

Zhang Wu'an's big hand gripped her small hand, pulling gently: "Pull back as far as you can, then aim and let go!"

"Pop!" the pebble shot out, hitting the bullseye.

Tuan Tuan jumped up happily: "So fun!"

Gongsun Yue and Xiao Jin stared, eyes wide: "Tuan Tuan is amazing! I want to play too!"

"You want to play too? Sure!" Zhang Wu'an picked one for each and handed them over: "Be careful, don't hurt your hands."

"Mm-hmm!" The three little ones each took a slingshot and played happily.

Gongsun Yue shouted: "I hit it!"

"Mine didn't." Xiao Jin blushed a little.

"Come, twelve, I'll teach you!" Tuan Tuan, learning on the fly, stood behind Xiao Jin, mimicking how Zhang Wu'an had taught her, and together they shot out a pebble.

"Pop!" right on the bullseye!

The two little ones happily hugged: "We hit it!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi smiled, watching silently from the side.

The young lady now has two little playmates—how nice.

As they played, Tuan Tuan's gaze fell on a tree not far away.

A red‑beaked hill crow stared fixedly at them.

Tuan Tuan frowned, ran a few steps to the side, then ran back.

All that could be seen was the crow's head tilting, its dull gaze exactly like that of the half‑sand chicken that day, continually following her.

Again spying? How annoying!

Xiao Er stepped to her side, bent down, and whispered in her ear: "What's wrong, Miss?"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck: "Uncle Two, there's a red‑beaked bird in that tree, just like that chicken, always staring at me."

Xiao Er's heart jolted; he looked up and indeed saw that dull‑eyed red‑beaked hill crow.

Hmph, here it comes again?

Xiao Er reached for his cash: "Miss, I'll shoot it down and stew it."

"No! Uncle Two," Tuan Tuan stopped him, "I'll do it myself."

She crouched, picked up a fairly large pebble from the ground, and placed it in her slingshot.

You rascal, become a one‑eyed dragon!

See how you keep staring at me from now on!

After aiming, Tuan Tuan exerted all her strength, pulled back to the fullest, then let go.

The pebble flew straight, speeding toward the red‑beaked hill crow without deviation.

"Caw——"

It struck the crow's left eye; it shrieked and fled, flapping wildly.

"Good! The Princess's aim can hit birds now!"

"No kidding! It's like she's trained for years!"

Gongsun Yue and Xiao Jin clapped: "Tuan Tuan, you're amazing!"

Tuan Tuan spread her little arms: "Uncle Two, hold me!"

Xiao Er hesitated, then bent and lifted her up.

Tuan Tuan untied the small embroidered pouch at her waist and took out the glass bead she had just used.

"You're the only one I can use—you look just like an eyeball!"

Lu Qi's gaze shifted; he stepped in front of Xiao Er, shielding Tuan Tuan more firmly.

Tuan Tuan gave him a sweet smile, nestled in Xiao Er's arms, and muttered softly:

"Let all the birds here, when they look at the camp, turn blind and see nothing!"

She thought, then added: "But not blind when looking elsewhere!"

Having spoken, she loosened her tiny hand; a faint light flashed, and the glass bead vanished.

Xiao Er heard the words and was overjoyed: "Miss, this move is really good! From now on I won't have to worry anymore."

Tuan Tuan patted her little hand, smiling satisfied: "Second Uncle, let's keep playing! This slingshot is so fun!"

"Next time I see that tasty sand half-chicken, I'll be able to hit one and give it to you to eat!"

Xiao Er grinned so wide his mouth couldn't close: "Good!"

Jingcheng.

Seated before the copper mirror, Teng Qingxing was pinching a seal with his fingertips, murmuring an incantation.

The ripples on the mirror surface suddenly violently shook; he stiffened all over and dodged backward.

"Bang!"

A mass of blood mist suddenly exploded in the center of the mirror, a brilliant red!

Teng Qingxing felt a sharp pain in his left eye.

"Ah——! My eye!"

He let out a miserable cry, clutching his left eye tightly; blood gushed out between his fingers.

The copper mirror crashed to the ground with a clang.

It shattered into countless fragments, each reflecting the red-beaked mountain crow whose eye had been struck by a pebble.

The Masked Man sprang to his feet: "Sir!"

Teng Qingxing was in so much pain he could barely stand, collapsing to the ground, trembling all over.

He kept emitting miserable howls.

"Ah——! Ah——!"

The Masked Man stepped forward and pried open his hands.

His left eye socket was a bloody mess; the eyeball was completely ruined.

The Masked Man's pupils constricted sharply; he quickly tore off his own sleeve and wrapped it around Teng Qingxing's head, barely staunching the bleeding.

He shouted toward the door: "Someone!"

"Present!"

"Go fetch the best physician in Jingcheng, quick!"

"Yes!"

Teng Qingxing was in so much pain he felt like passing out; he gritted his teeth and forced out a broken voice: "No, impossible!"

"She clearly acted on greed! Her original mind is lost, her fortune fled! Why, why can she still..."

"I have a protective spell! Even if there's a backlash, at most I'll lose some cultivation!"

"How could she possibly make me lose an eye!"

The Masked Man stared at his bloody eye socket for a long time without speaking.

Teng Qingxing was nearly insane: "She dares to hurt me! I will kill her! I must kill her!"

The Masked Man said lightly: "I think you really don't have the ability to move against her."

"'Sir, rest and heal; the physician will come to treat you later.' Having said that, he turned and left."

"When he reached the doorway, the Masked Man glanced at the servant there: 'Take away his magical implements and talisman papers, and watch him.'"

"Yes!"

"In the Xibei Daying, Xiao Ze and Xiao Ran led a few soldiers and a man, reining in their horses to a stop."

"Xiao Ran asked: 'Where is the Father Emperor? We've brought an acquaintance to see him.'"