If not for Grandpa Jin’s help, Anji would have woken up with an aching headache from the alcohol she drank last night. Unfortunately, the girl could not recall much that happened after she drank half the cup of alcohol. Her mories remained fuzzy no matter how hard she tried to think.
"What happened after I fell asleep at the dinner table last night?" Anji quickly asked Gu Ying, who entered with breakfast. Mingshen was still soundly asleep in the other room.
Truthfully, even Gu Ying had no idea. Mingshen’s discussion did not last very long, contrary to her expectations. However, she felt a disturbance in the air that was unmistakably Sect Leader Bai’s. Whatever they were discussing had taken a bad turn. When Mingshen returned to the room, his legs gave out as soon as he closed the door behind him. Gu Ying had just tucked Anji into the bed after helping her to shower when she saw the young master in a pale state, full of cold sweat.
"I don’t know," she replied truthfully. "The young master briefly conversed with Sect Leader Bai before he returned. I bathed and tucked you into bed. Nothing else happened at night. The security at Golden Halo Hotel is great."
Again, with the secretive adult matters. Anji sighed. However, if they did not want to tell her what they were planning, it was not Anji’s place to ask. After all, she was the weakest princess known to everyone. Even non-cultivators were stronger than her.
"What are we going to do today?" she asked. It was still dark outside even though it was morning. Even after waking up, Anji was still feeling sleepy when she realised the sun would not rise.
Smiling slightly, Gu Ying told Anji to freshen up and eat breakfast first. They would explore the rest of the Eternal Night Valley later with Sect Leader Bai, who was not known to be an early riser. Afraid her young mistress would be bored, Gu Ying retrieved the dical journals Anji brought along. It was the last volu of unorthodox dical skills that Doctor He gifted Anji before she left. Detailed writings about Doctor He’s personal attempt at surgery were included. Anji swore never to reveal its contents because cutting open a living person was still considered witchcraft to many, even if it could save lives.
Two hours passed as Anji read and practised her daily cultivation breathing in the room. Mingshen eventually woke up an hour before and joined her in ditating. Gu Ying watched over the children and looked at the dreary town outside the window. Despite the bright lanterns, it felt off-putting not to see the sun all day. If not for the large hourglass in the room and the tikeeper’s bell tolling, she would not know it was ten in the morning.
Knock! Knock!
The guest at the door instantly alerted all three cultivators. Gu Ying got up and answered the door, preparing to draw her sword if needed. Mingfeng did not move from his spot, but Anji saw him prepare sothing from beneath his sleeve.
"The guest from last night is requesting to know when you would be ready to depart for a town tour. Is there anything you’d like for to prepare?"
Hearing that only the hotel manager was present, Mingshen rose from the bed and replied that he wanted to deliver a few letters. Anji let them talk while Gu Ying helped her tidy the books. Bai Dajin was an impatient man. He would have co down personally to inform them if he wanted to leave imdiately. Sending the manager must an he must have other errands to run.
After Mingshen closed the door, he smiled at Anji. Truthfully, he was afraid of the White Tiger’s Sect Leader. He must have spent all his life’s remaining bravery insulting him last night with the help of liquid courage. However, he could not let his sister know that. Seeing her gave him an idea. Even a tiger would not attack the bear when its cub was in danger, right?
"Anji, when the manager finishes his errands, shall we find Sect Leader Bai in his room together before leaving? I heard that you can see the true Golden Halo on the roof of this hotel in about twenty minutes. We should see that before we leave and check out the rest of this town."
Nodding excitedly, Anji checked outside the window. The sa people who were lying on the pavent were back again. Hopefully, there will be a few rays of sunlight today. Anji had seen a lot of sun in her six years of life. Sotis, she loved it. Other tis, she thought it was too relentless. Now, she missed it.
"I hope we can see the sun today," Anji prayed earnestly. "What else can we do in this town?"
Prepared to answer her, Gu Ying listed the activities the town had to offer. The markets were well-lit, with many candles and lanterns. It was a popular tourist spot, not to ntion many rchants passed by this town and set up pop-up stores to peddle their unique wares from different regions.
"If you want to see where the mushrooms grow in this town and the river where many people pan for gold, we can do it after eating lunch. It is a little further from the main town, and it would be best to hire a guide to lead the way," Mingshen advised. "The path is rocky, slippery and dark. Only the locals would know the way. Many tourists beco lost because it can beco very dark in those places. Although nobody has been robbed in the darkness, many have been injured. The town has sent rescue parties to search for those people, and they spend more ti recovering than enjoying the extended night market."
Deciding to leave the gold panning for another day, Anji raced to the rooftop deck and gasped at the sparkling mirrors. It could only be described as an architectural marvel. All it needed was a single ray of sun to turn this place into a brightly lit sumr day.
For fifteen nerve-wracking minutes, all Anji could see were mist and fog. The sky remained dark as ever, and she thought there would be no sun again. About to leave, Anji turned around. However, in that split mont, the world burned brightly.
"The sun!" cheered the people suntanning on the roof. Everyone on the mats spread their limbs as widely as possible to soak up the amplified sun rays. It was an odd sight, but more than the glaring light caused by the sun traversing the sky for a while, the heat was worse than any sumr Anji had ever experienced.
"Why is it so hot?" she asked, wiping sweat from her brow. Gu Ying bundled her with extra clothes before they left, claiming it would be cold.
Now that his sister had understood why the Golden Halo Hotel had its na, Mingshen suggested that they find Bai Dajin instead. On the way down, he explained how glass and mirrors or tals could store heat temporarily.
"The rooftop is crafted with similar materials to store heat from the sun. It doesn’t just reflect the light; the people lying on the mat are actually doing so because the floor heats up. We were wearing shoes, so we could not fully appreciate the effects of the solar-powered sauna. However, it is said to improve blood circulation and pale complexion."
Arriving at Bai Dajin’s door, Anji knocked lightly, and Gu Ying quickly pulled her to the side in case the violent sect leader intended to open it again with a blast of wind. Mingshen was not as lucky as the door swung open forcefully, ssing up his carefully styled hair.
"You’re finally ready to leave? Did you already see the sunbathing deck?"
Nodding with a wide grin, Anji parroted what her older brother explained about the sauna effect and special heat trapping material. Together, they went downstairs and Anji gaped at how many people were crowding outside the hotel. It was difficult to move past them that the manager apologised and found more staff to open a path for the guests leaving.
When everyone was finally free from the crowd, Mingshen tidied his appearance and took the lead.
"First stop, the street markets."
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