Jade of Another World

Lin Ning and Yi Zhu were overjoyed, believing that obtaining the jade pendant would allow them to leave Nanzhao smoothly and return to Dayu to complete the ritual of the Time Gate. They carefully disguised themselves, trying their best to blend into the crowd of Nanzhao, and cautiously made their way towards the border.

However, fate always seems to play tricks. As they walked through the streets of Nanzhao, suddenly, a group of men in black appeared from all directions like ghosts, surrounding them completely. Lin Ning's heart tightened, and he immediately became vigilant, carefully observing these men in black.

Just then, a man in black swung his knife at Lin Ning, who dodged to the side, skillfully avoiding the attack. In that instant, she caught a glimpse of the man's face, and her heart sank. These men in black were actually Nangong Jin's personal guards! She hadn't expected Nangong Jin to be so persistent, not only tracking down Nanzhao but also dispatching his elite guards.

"Yi Zhu is one of Nangong Jin's men!" Lin Ning shouted.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhu's eyes sharpened, and he quickly drew his sword, preparing to fight. However, in that moment of distraction, a man in black attacked from behind, slashing Yi Zhu's shoulder with his blade.

"Yi Zhu!" Lin Ning exclaimed in alarm, his heart filled with anxiety. Yi Zhu winced in pain, his body trembling slightly, but he endured the pain, turned around, and swung his sword at the black-clad man who had ambushed him.

Lin Ning knew they couldn't linger in the fight; they had to escape as quickly as possible. She brandished her weapon, fending off the attacks of the men in black, as she moved closer to Yi Zhu.

"Yizhu, let's retreat first!" Lin Ning shouted.

Yi Zhu nodded, and the two of them, back to back, fought their way back. They fought their way out and, before the men in black could completely surround them, turned and ran towards the other end of the street.

Seeing this, the men in black immediately gave chase. Lin Ning and Yi Zhu dodged and weaved through the streets of Nanzhao, trying to shake off their pursuers. But Nangong Jin's guards were well-trained and held their ground tightly.

Looking at the injured Yizhu, Lin Ning felt a pang of guilt and worry. "Yizhu, hang in there. We'll definitely get rid of them," Lin Ning said.

Yi Zhu gritted his teeth, enduring the pain in his shoulder, and said, "Miss Lin, don't worry about me, take care of yourself."

The two continued running desperately, and finally, in a small alley, they found a place where they could hide temporarily. Lin Ning helped Yi Zhu inside, listening to the sounds of the men in black searching outside, her heart pounding with anxiety.

They knew this was only temporary safety; if they were captured by Nangong Jin's men, everything would be for naught...

Lin Ning and Yi Zhu huddled together, hiding in their cramped spot, barely daring to breathe. As the footsteps of the men in black drew closer, their hearts pounded in their throats, and their hands unconsciously tightened around their weapons, preparing for the impending fierce battle.

At this critical moment, when there was no way to avoid it, a fight suddenly broke out. Immediately afterwards, several masked men dressed as guards rushed over and engaged the men in black in a fierce battle. Lin Ning and Yi Zhu stared in astonishment at the scene before them. Before they could react, one of the guards urgently said, "You two, come with me quickly!"

Lin Ning and Yi Zhu exchanged a glance. Although they were full of doubts, they had no choice but to quickly flee the scene with the guards. They weaved through the alleys and, after several turns, arrived at a courtyard that looked ordinary yet exuded a mysterious aura.

The guards led them into the courtyard. Lin Ning and Yi Zhu cautiously observed their surroundings. The courtyard was quiet and serene, with lush flowers and plants. When they arrived at the pavilion in the courtyard, they saw a man dressed in magnificent clothes leisurely sitting there drinking tea.

Lin Ning looked closely and her heart skipped a beat. The man was none other than Wanyan Qiang, the second prince of Nanzhao. She hadn't expected that he would be the one to come to her rescue in such a critical moment.

"Miss Lin, how have you been?" Wanyan Qiang put down his teacup, smiled, stood up, and came to greet them.

Lin Ning gave a slight curtsy, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes, and said, "Thank you for saving my life, Second Prince. But I wonder why you would help me..."

Wanyan Qiang waved his hand, interrupting her, and said, "Miss Lin, there's no need to ask any more questions. Nangong Jin and I have always been at odds. Whatever he wants, I will not let him have it. I have been keeping an eye on this matter ever since I heard that you made the eldest prince suffer. Today, when I learned that you were in trouble, I stepped in to help you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning suddenly understood. It turned out that the internal strife within the Nanzhao royal family had given them the opportunity to be rescued. Although she still had some doubts about Wanyan Qiang's motives, she could only thank him for saving her life.

"In any case, thank you very much, Second Prince." Lin Ning said, "However, we are currently being hunted by Nangong Jin's men and are in a dangerous situation. We hope that the Second Prince can lend us a hand so that we can leave Nanzhao safely."

Wanyan Qiang smiled slightly and said, "Miss Lin, rest assured, now that I have taken action, I will naturally ensure your safety. However, I also have one condition."

Lin Ning's heart tightened, and she asked, "What are the Second Prince's conditions? Please speak freely."

Wanyan Qiang looked intently at Lin Ning and said, "I've heard that you possess a jade pendant, and I'm quite interested in it myself. If you agree to lend me the pendant for a few days, I will help you leave Nanzhao. What do you say?"

Lin Ning and Yi Zhu exchanged a glance, hesitating. This jade pendant was crucial to her; it was the key to her return home. But right now, they truly needed Wanyan Qiang's help…

Lin Ning quickly weighed the pros and cons in her mind. The jade pendant was her hope for returning home, and it concerned whether she could return to her own world. Lending it to Wanyan Qiang now was too risky, and she absolutely could not agree to it easily. However, given the current situation, if she refused directly, she was very likely to fall out with Wanyan Qiang. At that time, with Nangong Jin's pursuers still outside, she would be in a desperate situation of being attacked from both sides.

After a brief silence, Lin Ning raised her head, a gentle smile on her face, and said respectfully, "Second Prince, we will always remember your kindness. However, this jade pendant is of extraordinary significance to us, involving many secret matters. It's not that I'm unwilling to lend it, but lending it out easily might bring disaster." She paused slightly, then continued, "But if you truly wish to see it, after I've dealt with my current troubles in a few days, I will certainly present it to you with both hands, allowing you to feast your eyes. I hope you will allow us some time."

Wanyan Qiang frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. However, Lin Ning's words were polite and tactful, cleverly concealing her refusal behind her earnestness, so he couldn't react immediately. "Miss Lin, you should think carefully. Your safety now rests entirely in my hands," he said, his tone slightly threatening.

Lin Ning's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and composed. She curtsied again and said, "Second Prince, how could we not know that your kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai? We will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation for this jade pendant. At this moment, we hope that you can help us escape Nangong Jin's pursuit. Everything else can be discussed later."

Yi Zhu stood silently to the side, but secretly gripped his sword tightly, just in case. Though he didn't speak, his eyes were firm, and he was of one mind with Lin Ning, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Wanyan Qiang stared at Lin Ning for a moment, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of her words. Finally, he sighed slightly and said, "Fine, fine, I will trust you one more time. You can stay here in this courtyard and I will send people to keep an eye on Nangong Jin and his men to ensure your safety for the time being."

Lin Ning breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him, "Thank you very much, Second Prince. I will never forget your great kindness."

Subsequently, under Wanyan Qiang's arrangement, Lin Ning and Yizhu were led to a side room deep within the courtyard. After being settled, Lin Ning sat on the edge of the bed, her brow furrowed, lost in thought. She knew this was only a temporary respite; she had to find a way to escape their current predicament as soon as possible and leave Nanzhao with Yu Jue…