Jade of Another World

Chapter 179 Traveling Back and Forth

Lin Ning huddled at the boundary of the space-time rift, where modern hospital gowns and ancient palace attire flashed alternately in the void. Her fingertips pierced through the numbers of the electronic clock, then sank into the rosewood desk in the imperial study, the excruciating pain of the two timelines tugs at her very core.

Lin Ning suddenly grabbed a jade pendant fragment floating in the void. The fragment reflected two versions of herself from different time periods—in reality, she had a feeding tube inserted into her nose, while in ancient times, she wore a phoenix crown.

"Let me go..." The shards sliced ​​through her palm, and beads of blood bloomed into mandalas in the space-time continuum.

Nangong Jin's illusory figure emerged from the turbulent currents, his modern white coat and ancient dragon-patterned court robes alternating and melting on his body. He reached out and touched Lin Ning's cheek, his fingertips carrying a mixture of hospital disinfectant and ambergris.

Nangong Jin's fingertips traced the star trails below her collarbone, and the heartbeats of two different time periods resonated in his palm.

"Ning'er, do you know what star trails are?"

Suddenly, he tore open his shirt, and the star trail on his chest perfectly aligned with hers. It was the destiny chart of our intertwined lives for twenty-one lifetimes.

Lin Ning was suddenly thrown into a realistic MRI room. Amidst the hum of the machines, she saw her ancient self etching the coordinates of a modern hospital into the core of a jade pendant. The moment the machine doors closed, she was back in the ancient torture chamber, Xuan Yuanche's sword slicing through her throat. Nangong Jin was holding her, weeping. "That wicked Daji, why do you protect her so much? Even if I die, I will rid the country of this demon..."

Lin Ning screamed simultaneously in two different timelines, as blood and cerebrospinal fluid mingled in the void.

"Why is this happening to me... Why me?" She discovers that her modern body is beginning to decay, while her ancient self remains eternally young.

Nangong Jin: "Because I want you to remember forever" — "In every life we ​​meet, it is you begging me not to forget you."

Lin Ning was suddenly jolted back to the reality of the hospital room. The green line on the electrocardiogram monitor abruptly changed to the orbit of the Great Yu Star. She saw her father standing in front of the hospital bed, his suit revealing blood-stained dragon-patterned soft armor, holding ancient silver needles and a modern syringe in his hands.

The spatial tremor suddenly subsided, and Lin Ning found herself lying on an ancient dragon bed, while Nangong Jin scanned her body with a modern CT scanner. When he looked up, his eyes reflected her modern diagnosis of brain death.

Lin Ning's tears fell simultaneously in both timelines. In reality, she was declared dead, while in ancient times, she became an eternal prisoner of time. In the instant her consciousness faded, she heard Nangong Jin whisper in the rift between time and space: "This is the freedom you desired, and this is the eternal life I bestow upon you."

Upon waking, Lin Ning lay quietly on the bed in the Jade Pavilion, her eyes blankly staring at the canopy above her. The brocade quilt, though soft, offered no solace to her weary body and soul. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows that gently swayed across her face, yet she felt no warmth.

In her mind, the cold equipment of a modern hospital and the power struggles of the Dayu Dynasty flashed alternately, like an endless nightmare that made her head ache more and more. Each time she traveled between the two timelines, it felt like being mercilessly torn apart by fate, her body and soul suffering unspeakable torment.

Recalling Nangong Jin's unfathomable gaze and the numerous schemes he had laid out, Lin Ning felt a surge of hatred. But now, she was powerless to resist. And the seemingly unsolvable mystery of the jade pendant, like a tangled mess, entangled her heart.

She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the table beside the bed. On it lay some delicate pastries and a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, but she had no appetite. Once, she had held onto a sliver of hope of returning to the modern world, but now, that hope had shattered like a bubble.

"Enough, enough..." Lin Ning murmured softly, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible. She no longer thought about those complex conspiracies and unpredictable human hearts, nor did she yearn to return to her own world. Perhaps, lying here quietly, letting time flow by, was the best choice for her at this moment.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts, but the images of the past continued to swirl in her mind. In a state between sleep and wakefulness, she seemed to see her modern life again: the familiar streets, the warm home, and the smiles of her loved ones. But when she reached out to grasp them, everything vanished without a trace.

Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the pillow and leaving a damp patch. Lin Ning didn't know how much longer she could lie there, nor what the future held. But at this moment, she only wanted to immerse herself in this tranquility and escape the cruel reality.

Nangong Jin arrived at Cuiyu Pavilion, where he held Lin Ning tightly in his arms, her body stiff as a puppet. His warm breath brushed against her neck, but her heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar. Hearing his seemingly affectionate words, she felt only utter irony.

“Your Majesty, why do you have to do this?” Lin Ning suppressed the urge to push him away, her tone indifferent. “Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. It is already an honor for me to take the time to visit you.”

Nangong Jin released his embrace, placed his hands on Lin Ning's shoulders, frowned slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. But soon, he put on a gentle smile and said softly, "Ning'er, what are you saying? In my heart, you are the most important."

Lin Ning raised her eyes, looking directly into Nangong Jin's eyes, trying to find even a trace of sincerity. But she could see nothing in those deep eyes.

Nangong Jin's expression changed slightly. He looked at Lin Ning and seemed to feel a surge of irritation, but he tried hard to suppress it.

"Ning'er, don't overthink things. My feelings for you are as clear as day and night. As long as you behave, I will never let you suffer the slightest grievance." Nangong Jin's voice was still gentle, but Lin Ning felt that there was an endless threat hidden behind that gentleness.

"Be obedient?" A resolute glint flashed in Lin Ning's eyes. "Does Your Majesty intend for me to be a puppet, manipulated at your mercy?"

Nangong Jin's face instantly darkened. He grabbed Lin Ning's chin and forced her to look him in the eye.

"Lin Ning, don't push your luck. This world belongs to me. Where do you think you can escape to? You are mine in life and in death. Don't even think about leaving me!" A ruthless glint flashed in Nangong Jin's eyes. In that instant, Lin Ning seemed to see that ruthless and merciless emperor.

A wave of fear washed over Lin Ning, but she forced herself to stand firm, staring back at Nangong Jin without flinching. She knew that if she retreated now, she would truly have no chance to fight back.

“Your Majesty is so domineering, why keep me by your side? All Your Majesty wants is an obedient plaything. But I am not like that. I have my own thoughts and my own soul, and I will not allow Your Majesty to trample on me at will.” Lin Ning said, word by word, her eyes full of stubbornness.

Nangong Jin stared at Lin Ning, and the two locked eyes, the atmosphere so tense it seemed sparks could fly. After a long while, Nangong Jin finally released his grip, leaving a red mark on Lin Ning's chin.

"Very well, very well. Lin Ning, you have successfully piqued my interest. I'd like to see how long you can remain so stubborn." Nangong Jin's lips curled into a meaningful smile, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. After speaking, he turned and strode out of the Jade Pavilion, leaving Lin Ning alone in the empty room, her heart filled with desolation and despair.