Chapter Twenty-Four: The Sanctuary of Enchanting Silk

Tao Ming held the two little ones tightly, feeling as though she had gotten onto a slide, enveloped by a ring of milky white light that whisked them swiftly forward. Time seemed to lose all meaning; she had no idea how long it lasted before another hexagonal opening appeared before their eyes.

Without resistance, Tao Ming hugged the little ones closer and slid into the opening. When the light faded, she found herself standing at the center of a complex pattern about five meters in diameter. Looking around, she saw that she was in a windowless room with several round objects on the ceiling emitting a faint glow. Apart from the pattern beneath her feet, the room was entirely unadorned.

Turning around, Tao Ming noticed a door before her and hesitated, debating whether or not to open it. As she pondered her next move, the door quietly creaked open by about ten centimeters, and an elderly woman with a head full of white hair peered through the gap. Tao Ming was startled, but the old woman put a finger to her lips, signaling her to be silent.

The old woman glanced around outside, making sure no one was nearby, then slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. She circled the three of them, then asked, “Are you Sisi’s daughter?”

Tao Ming nodded, carefully observing the elderly woman before her. She appeared to be in her sixties or seventies, with silvery-white hair and eyebrows, a few wrinkles on her oval face, willow-leaf brows, and bright, lively eyes. Her nose was high and her lips thin—she even bore a slight resemblance to Tao Ming herself. Could this be her maternal grandmother?

“You gave birth to twins?” the old woman asked, her eyes brimming with a gentle smile.

Tao Ming shook her head.

Nuonuo spoke up, “Chief, I am Baihu.”

The old woman was taken aback. “How did you take human form? You’re not old enough!”

Nuonuo replied with pride, “I am a divine beast!”

The old woman immediately grew serious. “You must never let anyone else know about this!”

Nuonuo nodded obediently.

Tao Ming asked, “Excuse me, but how did you know we were here?”

The old woman shot her a look of mild annoyance. “I am your grandmother, not ‘excuse me’ this or that. I come to check this place a dozen times a day, just in case you arrived and I didn’t know.”

Tao Ming opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. The old woman was still a stranger to her, and calling a stranger “grandmother” felt forced.

The elderly woman didn’t press the matter. “It’s not safe here. We can’t let anyone know you’ve returned from the Sanctuary. I’ll sneak you out shortly, and you can re-enter through the main gate openly.”

She paused, then added, “You can’t wear those clothes. I’ll find some for you.”

“Wait,” Tao Ming said, “Banxia already prepared clothes for us.” Then she hesitated. “But how will you get us out?”

The old woman gave a reassuring smile. “Just follow me, and I promise no one will discover you.”

Tao Ming slipped the Chaos Blood Silk from her wrist and handed it to the old woman. “This belonged to my mother. I’m returning it now.”

The old woman regarded the silk with a complicated expression. “It was always meant for your mother; it can’t be called theft.”

Tao Ming was moved. She pushed the silk a bit closer. “It’s safer if you use this to hide us and take us out.”

Still, the old woman refused. “You should keep it. When you go to the Imperial City one day, it’ll be an extra safeguard.”

At that moment, Tao Ming felt certain the old woman truly cared for her. “Grandmother, I have something even better. Please keep this.”

The old woman broke into a delighted grin at the word “grandmother” and reached for Ruanruan. “Is this your daughter?”

Ruanruan looked at the old woman, then turned to Tao Ming. “Mama, should I call her Grandma?”

The old woman laughed. “You should call me Great-Grandmother.”

Ruanruan frowned. “That’s such a long name, it’s hard to say.”

Tao Ming said, “Just call her Great-Granny.”

Obediently, Ruanruan called out, “Great-Granny.” The old woman beamed, producing a longevity lock from her sleeve and handing it to Ruanruan.

Ruanruan glanced at Tao Ming for approval, and upon receiving a nod, took the lock and said, “Thank you, Great-Granny.”

Tao Ming tied the Chaos Blood Silk to the old woman’s wrist. “Grandmother, it’s best if you keep this.”

“Your mother left in such haste back then; she never learned to use the Chaos Blood Silk. I’ll look after it for now,” the old woman said. With a flick of her wrist, the silk vanished.

Tao Ming tried to sense the silk in her mind but found no connection.

“Change into your new clothes now. This isn’t the place to talk,” the old woman instructed.

“Grandmother, what season is it outside? What should we wear?” Tao Ming was still in short sleeves and jeans.

“It’s late spring, almost summer, and it’s hot this afternoon. Summer clothes will do.”

Thankfully, Banxia had prepared several sets of clothing for all seasons and taught her how to dress and do her hair. Otherwise, she’d be completely lost now.

She changed the two children into ice silkworm dresses. As she finished braiding two small pigtails into Nuonuo’s hair, the old woman observed, “That hairstyle is out of fashion. Let me do it.”

Tao Ming handed her the plastic comb and began changing into the layers of summer attire.

As the old woman worked, she commented, “This is a good comb.”

Of course it was, Tao Ming thought. It was the exclusive tool of Master Tony at the hair salon!

Seeing the old woman gather a lock of hair, clearly about to tie it, Tao Ming handed her a pack of disposable colored hairbands and demonstrated their use.

“What are these? So convenient for tying hair!” the old woman exclaimed, stretching a hairband between her fingers.

“Hairbands—everyone in the other world uses them,” Tao Ming replied, confident there would be a market for them here.

After a few tries, the old woman managed to tie up the hair. “If you ever have time, you must take me to visit your world. Being cooped up here all day is dreadfully dull. If I weren’t the clan chief, I’d have gone off adventuring long ago.”

No wonder her mother had dared to run away from home—her grandmother was quite a character herself.

Though the ice silkworm silk was light and cool, Tao Ming still felt uncomfortable in so many layers. “Grandmother, isn’t it too much clothing for such hot weather? Aren’t you afraid of heatstroke?”

The old woman didn’t pause. “Isn’t that the truth? People fuss too much over appearances.”

Tao Ming lifted her skirt. “Grandmother, is it all right if I don’t wear underpants?”

The old woman shook her head. “When you enter through the main gate, you’ll have to kneel and bow. It wouldn’t do for others to see your bare legs.”

With a sigh, Tao Ming produced three pairs of white footed leggings, one large and two small. As she dressed, she grumbled, “Isn’t this even hotter?”

The old woman was styling Ruanruan’s hair. “I hear there’s a new fashion in the Imperial City—some young ladies don’t wear underpants anymore. But Qiluo Town is a remote place; it’ll take time for trends to reach here.”

When Tao Ming finished, she saw that both Ruanruan and Nuonuo now sported two bun hairstyles each, resembling cartoon mice. “Grandmother, is this really the fashionable style?”

The old woman looked at the two children. “Not bad at all. This is the latest trend from the Imperial City—everyone’s doing it!”

Tao Ming slapped her forehead. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have bothered learning from Banxia.

She asked, “Grandmother, wasn’t it the rule that only married women could tie up all their hair?”

“That was the tradition, but things have changed over the years. What’s popular in the Imperial City gets copied everywhere,” the old woman replied, studying Tao Ming.

Tao Ming looked at herself. “Is something wrong?”

“Your hair is too short—hard to style, and there’s no hairpin for decoration. If I’d known, I would’ve brought some, but I have nothing suitable now.”

She motioned for Tao Ming to kneel and began combing her hair.

Tao Ming smiled sheepishly and produced a set of cold-gold jewelry, handing it over.

“This must be what your father left you?” The old woman took a hairpin and quickly arranged Tao Ming’s hair.

“Have you met my parents?” Tao Ming tried to turn, but the old woman tugged her back.

“No, I haven’t. Your mother sent word that she left with the young master of the Qin family,” the old woman replied, her tone unreadable.

She finished adorning Tao Ming and turned to the children. “It’s best to give them some ornaments too, so others won’t look down on them.”

Tao Ming thought for a moment and produced two pairs of plastic faux-pearl hairbands, placing one on each bun.

At last, they were properly dressed. The old woman stored the trio inside the Chaos Blood Silk, evaded everyone in the residence, and quietly led them out.