Jin Xiu quietly led Vera to his worktable.
The surface of the table gleamed like crystal, layers of flowing spiritual light weaving gently beneath it. It wasn't just a table—it looked like a pool of starlit spring water, capturing reflections of all things within.
Floating in the center was a perfectly restored Ling Prism Mirror, pulsing with subtle spiritual energy, as if it had just been born anew.
Vera froze, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in disbelief, almost crossing.
"This… how is this even possible!?" she gasped. "The Ling Prism Mirror I had was a type of artifact that, once broken, was considered beyond repair. Almost no chance of restoration whatsoever!"
Jin Xiu smiled faintly and flicked her forehead with a light snap.
"Silly Vera," he said with amused affection, "did you even look at who fixed it? When your persistent and resourceful Master takes action, there's nothing that can't be solved. When this Master makes a move—expect nothing less than extraordinary."
Then he guided her a bit closer to the mirror.
"I shattered it before," he said quietly, his voice tinged with guilt. "I acted impulsively and broke your mirror. But you once said it could help people mend what was broken, even hearts and fate. You know… your Master is the kind who's weirdly superstitious. I didn't want a broken mirror interfering with the most precious bond between us."
Vera stared at the mirror. The longer she looked, the more she felt a strange sense of comfort blooming from her heart. This wasn't just a tool restored—it was a symbol of something deeper.
Suddenly, she launched herself into Jin Xiu's arms and hugged him tightly.
"I thought I'd lost it forever! Thank you, Master! Thank you for letting me witness a miracle again!"
She looked up, smiling brightly. "So… is there anything you want as a reward?"
Jin Xiu chuckled and patted her shoulder softly, his tone shifting slightly more serious.
"You've completed this cycle of training. But just because you've come this far doesn't mean the road ahead will get easier. In fact, it may become much more difficult from now on."
"That's why, during this short reprieve, I want to craft something important with you—a mask. Not an ordinary one, but a special mask that will possess a multitude of powers."
" It will conceal your entire aura, harmonize the divine and demonic energies within your body, and help manage the emotional turbulence left from your descent."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"This mask could even save your life, should you ever find yourself in grave danger."
Vera blinked, her mind racing with curiosity. Slowly, she let go of him and nodded enthusiastically.
"Wow! Master Jin Xiu! That sounds so creative and amazing! I love the idea! So… when do we start?"
Jin Xiu's lips curved into a soft, warm smile—though his eyes still carried a faint seriousness.
"No time like the present," he replied. "Let's begin right away."
Vera slumped a little, her shoulders drooping.
"But I just got back… Master, can't I have at least a little rest first?"
Jin Xiu reached out and gently pinched her puffed-up cheeks.
"Didn't you always say that being by your Master's side was the best kind of rest?"
He straightened and added patiently,
"Besides, working on the mask will actually help you heal from the damage you suffered during the trial. "
"It will restore much of the spiritual energy and magical power you lost. And more than that… it will allow you to truly rediscover your talents—unshaped by the judgment of others."
"The benefits, as I've said, are many. You must realize that the days ahead won't be ordinary. They'll be filled with challenges and divine missions. Having a mask we craft together will strengthen your faith when you face the storm."
Vera stared at him, her exhaustion starting to show through the face in her enthusiasm. Though she was moved by his words, the toll of her recent trial was evident in her body. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to focus.
Jin Xiu caught the signs immediately. He reached out, pulled her gently down beside him, and seated her at his side.
Then, with a wave of his hand, more than twenty dragon-shaped mask molds materialized, each glowing faintly, each unique in form and design. Some bore fierce fangs, others had calm, celestial expressions, and others still looked like faces torn from dreamscapes.
Vera's sleepy eyes snapped wide open.
"Master?! I thought we were making one mask! Why are there so many?!"
Jin Xiu gave a small laugh, like a stream whispering against stones.
"Who said that crafting a perfect mask could be done in a single try? You've trained under me long enough to know—refinement and power are built through repetition and persistence. Just like cultivating a technique, you must practice again and again."
Vera gave a long groan, slumping forward.
"But I literally just got back from the lower realm… This is too much… You're being cruel…"
Jin Xiu turned to her, his gaze full of tenderness. His voice dropped a little, filled with genuine affection and concern.
"Exactly because you've just returned, you need this now more than ever. You've lost not only strength, but balance within yourself. By focusing your efforts on the mask, you'll slowly begin to restore what's been fractured."
He let his gaze linger on her for a moment longer, watching her small frame already leaning against the table, her eyelashes fluttering like tired butterfly wings as she fought off sleep. A wave of tenderness surged through him, tangled with a quiet ache in his chest. She had endured too much, far more than she let on.
But he couldn't afford to let her rest just yet.
Time was slipping through their fingers like grains of golden sand.
If she didn't reclaim her strength—her divine power, spiritual essence, and even her magic—how could she stand firm against the storm that loomed on the horizon, waiting to test everything she was meant to become?