Jade of Another World

After discussing among themselves, the three finalized their plan. Xuan Yuanche stood up first, his expression resolute: "There's no time to lose. Lin Ning and I will set off south immediately. The land of Nanzhao is mysterious and unpredictable, and witchcraft is rampant there. We should be able to find useful clues or find someone capable of breaking this spell." He looked at Lin Ning, his eyes filled with concern and trust. The journey was long and arduous, fraught with danger, but the thought of traveling with Lin Ning made him feel at ease.

Lin Ning nodded in agreement. She understood that this matter was of great importance, not only concerning Nangong Jin's personal safety, but also involving the stability of the court and the well-being of countless people in Dayu: "Indeed, we should set off as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the more Rosa's power in the palace may expand, leading to endless troubles."

Liu Si looked worried: "The journey to Nanzhao is long and mostly through remote and desolate places. You must be very careful along the way. I will stay in the capital and keep a close eye on Rosa's movements. If there is any trouble, I will find a way to inform you. If you encounter any difficult situations, do not be reckless. You must protect yourselves first." He knew that Xuan Yuanche was highly skilled in martial arts and that Lin Ning was intelligent and quick-witted, but he still couldn't help but give them these words of advice when he thought about the two of them about to embark on a dangerous journey.

At that moment, Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning made some preparations, packing essential valuables, provisions, and suitable weapons. Liu Si helped them bring two fast horses and escorted them to the city gate. Watching their receding figures, Liu Si secretly clenched his fists, silently praying that their journey would be successful and that they would soon find a way to break the witchcraft and quell the storm that was about to sweep through the Dayu court.

Upon entering the territory of Nanzhao, Lin Ning was immediately blocked by an invisible wall—the language barrier. The local dialect was like encrypted code, with its incoherent pronunciation and complex, ever-changing grammar leaving Lin Ning completely bewildered. Filled with helplessness and anxiety, every attempt to ask questions or communicate only elicited puzzled and bewildered looks from the locals, leaving her only with lingering frustration.

Fortunately, Xuan Yuanche had traveled extensively and had previously visited the area around Nanzhao, where he had learned some basic everyday phrases from a few local friends. Seeing Lin Ning's predicament, he quickly stepped forward and, using his broken and awkward local dialect, asked a passing old woman for directions to rest. The old woman squinted at them for a moment before slowly replying. Xuan Yuanche listened carefully, barely managing to discern the direction, and quickly thanked Lin Ning, heading in the direction the old woman had indicated.

By the time the two found a small inn, it was already getting dark. Xuan Yuanche, speaking in his broken local dialect, negotiated the price of lodging with the innkeeper, and after much trouble, finally settled on a simple room. Once inside, Lin Ning plopped down on the hard bed and let out a long sigh: "Thanks to you today, otherwise we would have been stranded on the streets. But this language barrier will probably make finding clues about witchcraft much more difficult in the future."

As Xuan Yuanche put down his luggage, he comforted Lin Ning, "Don't worry, we'll make the best of it. Let's stay here for now and get to know the locals better. I'll also take this opportunity to solidify my Nanzhao language skills; I'll eventually be able to gather some useful information." Lin Ning nodded, gazing at the unfamiliar yet bustling street scene outside the window. He secretly resolved to uncover the key clues to breaking the witchcraft in this foreign land where he couldn't speak the language, and to save the Dayu court from its dire straits.

Having just settled down at the inn, the two decided to go downstairs for something to eat. No sooner had they sat down than trouble came knocking. Several burly, shirtless local bullies swaggered into the restaurant. The leader, with a string of animal teeth around his neck, radiated undisguised arrogance and greed in his eyes. He spoke in broken Nanzhao dialect; though the exact words were incomprehensible, his provocative tone was blatantly clear.

Xuan Yuanche instinctively shielded Lin Ning behind him and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." He tried to respond in the Nanzhao language he had learned, explaining that they were just passing travelers and meant no harm, but the group burst into laughter, pressing closer and closer, their shouts becoming increasingly offensive.

Lin Ning tugged at Xuan Yuanche's sleeve and whispered, "There are too many of them. Let's not fight." Xuan Yuanche gritted his teeth, knowing that a direct confrontation was not a wise move, so he pulled Lin Ning and slowly moved towards the corner of the wall, trying to create distance between himself and the group of barbarians.

However, the local bullies, thinking the two were afraid, became even more emboldened. Someone suddenly reached out to pull the hairpin from Lin Ning's hair, but Xuan Yuanche reacted quickly, slapping the man's hand away and glaring angrily. This completely enraged the gang of thugs, who swarmed around them, rubbing their fists, seemingly ready to fight.

The innkeeper, hearing the commotion, rushed over to mediate, but was shoved aside by the local thugs and fell to the ground. Lin Ning was frantic; she knew that if a fight broke out, in this unfamiliar place, facing so many locals, they would surely suffer a great loss. Just as she was worrying, a shout came from outside the door, and an old man in strange clothes with a dignified face strode in. As soon as he spoke, the arrogant local thugs instantly fell silent and obediently retreated to the side.

All eyes turned to the uninvited guest. The old man was dressed in a black robe embroidered with mysterious runes, and wore a tall feathered crown. Every step he took was steady and determined, and he exuded an aura that commanded respect. The local bullies who had been so aggressive immediately suppressed their arrogance upon seeing him, lowering their heads and not daring to utter a sound.

Xuan Yuanche thought to himself that this old man must be someone of great importance, so he quickly pulled Lin Ning forward and bowed respectfully. The old man nodded slightly, looked them over, and then asked slowly in fluent Nanzhao language, "Why are you two outsiders causing trouble here?" Xuan Yuanche hurriedly responded with thanks in his still somewhat broken Nanzhao language, explaining that he and his wife had come because a family member had been poisoned and they were looking for medicine for him, his words full of sincerity.

Upon hearing this, the high priest raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise and curiosity flashing in his eyes: "Looking for medicine?" Seeing that the old man seemed to want to communicate, Lin Ning quickly gestured for Xuan Yuanche to continue. Xuan Yuanche then said, "We know it's difficult, but if we don't try, our family's lives will be in danger. We hope you can give us some guidance."

The high priest remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. The surroundings were so quiet that only the soft breathing of the crowd could be heard. Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche, filled with trepidation, stared intently at the old man, hoping to glean a glimmer of hope from him. Finally, the high priest sighed softly and said, "I am the high priest here. Follow me, and let's see if you have the fortune to succeed." With that, he turned and walked away. Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed, their hearts filled with both tension and anticipation, as if they had finally seen a glimmer of light after groping in the darkness for so long.

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche followed the old man through a maze of streets and quiet alleys before finally arriving at his residence. The sight before them took them by surprise. They had expected the high priest's residence to be a gloomy, dark place filled with strange artifacts, but instead it turned out to be a courtyard surrounded by lush greenery.

Stepping through the gate, the first thing that catches the eye is an exquisite bamboo house. The house is covered with strange yet regular patterns, which shimmer softly in the sunlight. The courtyard is filled with exotic flowers and plants whose names they don't know, their fragrant aromas easing the tension in their hearts. Climbing the steps of the bamboo house, each level displays antique-style pottery and woodenware, adorned with mysterious patterns.

The top floor of the bamboo building offered a superb view, with rolling mountains in the distance and a sea of ​​clouds stretching like a misty veil; closer by, the scattered villages stretched out before them. The high priest walked to the center of the room, where a huge animal hide was laid out, covered with intricate array diagrams, surrounded by piles of yellowed ancient scrolls. He slowly squatted down, gently brushing away the thin layer of dust from the ancient books, and looked up at the two: "This is my residence, rarely visited. Since we are destined to meet, I will arrange lodging for you first. Tomorrow I will take you to the medicine hut to see if we can find what you need." Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche quickly expressed their gratitude.

When the page led the two to their lodgings, Lin Ning asked Xuan Yuanche what he and the old man had discussed. Xuan Yuanche whispered, "I said we came to find medicine for our family." Upon hearing this, Lin Ning frowned slightly and whispered back, "Why do you say that? We clearly came to... ...telling this lie, what if it gets exposed later?" She looked at Xuan Yuanche with concern, her eyes full of doubt.

Xuan Yuanche gently pulled Lin Ning a few steps to the corner and explained in a low voice, "This witchcraft is extremely secretive in Nanzhao and is mostly taboo. If we rashly reveal our true purpose, the high priest might become suspicious and drive us away. Saying we're looking for medicine won't easily expose our true intentions. If we can keep him calm for now, we can slowly find opportunities to extract useful information."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning suddenly understood and nodded slightly: "You've thought of everything. You'd better be quick-witted and find an opportunity to inquire with the High Priest." Just then, the pageboy led them to their lodgings.

The two entered the house, and seeing the only bed inside, Lin Ning couldn't help but laugh and cry. She turned to look at Xuan Yuanche, her expression helpless, and said, "The people of Nanzhao are really strange. Every time we stay out of the house along the way, they always arrange a room for us. Didn't I specifically tell you before we set off to tell them we're siblings?"

Xuan Yuanche smiled, his eyes full of mischief: "I did say what you said, but the way we acted together probably didn't seem like siblings to them, but more like a loving couple."

Lin Ning's face instantly turned bright red. She raised her hand and gently patted Xuan Yuanche's arm: "You're just talking nonsense! What time is it? You still have the mind to joke around." Although she said this, her heart was inexplicably beating faster. She turned her face away and pretended to look around the room, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Lin Ning was still fretting over the accommodation arrangements, completely unaware of the "truth" behind it. Along the way, whenever Xuan Yuanche encountered innkeepers or passersby who cast curious glances at their relationship, he would openly declare in the Nanzhao language that they were husband and wife. In his heart, this wasn't just a convenient lie; it also harbored a hidden, unspeakable motive. He enjoyed seeing others look at them as a couple, as if this would give his quietly growing feelings a legitimate place to reside.

Lin Ning, unable to communicate due to the language barrier, was completely unaware of Xuan Yuanche's announcement. Her mind was preoccupied with how to handle her upcoming encounter with the High Priest, and how to cleverly extract the key clues from the ancient and obscure knowledge of witchcraft to break Rosa's sorcery. If she had known of Xuan Yuanche's actions at this moment, she wouldn't know whether to be surprised or delighted, or perhaps her face would flush even more deeply, overflowing with a mixture of shyness and sweetness.

Seeing her shyness, Xuan Yuanche stopped teasing her and said seriously, "Never mind that for now. It's a rare opportunity to stay at the High Priest's place. We need to find out the truth about his witchcraft as soon as possible. I'll sleep on the floor, don't worry about it." Lin Ning then came to her senses, nodded, and huddled with Xuan Yuanche to discuss in hushed tones how to deal with the High Priest and extract key information from this mysterious residence to unravel the mystery of witchcraft as soon as possible.

As night deepened, a chill seeped into the room through the cracks in the door and the window frames. Lin Ning, huddled under the thin blanket, still felt the cold. She turned to look at Xuan Yuanche, who was curled up on the floor, and felt a pang of pity. After hesitating for a moment, she said softly, "Xuan Yuanche, it's so cold at night. You should sleep on the bed. The floor will get cold."

Xuan Yuanche wrapped the blanket tighter around himself and replied in a muffled voice, "I'm fine, you should go to sleep." He felt warm inside, even though the chill was slowly seeping into his body. He didn't want to put Lin Ning in a difficult position and just wanted to maintain this just-right distance and respect.

Lin Ning, however, refused to listen. She sat up and lifted a corner of the blanket, saying, "When we were traveling before, we slept together in the woods and caves without any fuss. Why are you suddenly being so coy now? We're both innocent, so let's not worry about these little things. If you catch a cold, how will we find a solution?"

Hearing her say that, Xuan Yuanche couldn't refuse any longer. In the dim moonlight, seeing Lin Ning's sincere and concerned expression, he slowly got up and lay down beside her on the bed. The two lay side by side, neither speaking for a moment, the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Lin Ning could hear her own heartbeat, exceptionally clear in the quiet night. She quietly shifted to the side, trying to calm her racing heart, but the lingering tension and shyness wouldn't dissipate.

In fact, in the cave by the hot spring, when Xuan Yuanche first revealed his true identity, Lin Ning felt that the man in front of her was upright and honest, like a pearl that had been covered in dust for a long time finally seeing the light of day.

Recalling every life-or-death situation she faced, Xuan Yuanche always appeared like a divine intervention, swiftly and decisively pulling her out of danger. His repeated help and unwavering protection made Lin Ning realize deeply that she had fallen in love with Xuan Yuanche.

When Nangong Jin hurts herself, Lin Ning turns around and sees Xuan Yuanche's warm yet resolute face. He steadily catches her vulnerability, giving her an endless sense of security.

Lin Ning lay on the edge of the bed, her thoughts racing. The even breathing of Xuan Yuanche beside her was like gentle drumbeats, each one striking the door of her heart. She turned her head, gazing at Xuan Yuanche's profile in the dim moonlight. His features were strong yet gentle, and the affection she felt for him grew stronger, no longer able to be suppressed. She secretly thought that once this witchcraft scandal subsided, she would definitely find an opportunity to confess her love to him.

Back in the capital, Nangong Jin and Rosa had recently grown increasingly close. To outsiders, it appeared to be a picture of mutual affection, but Nangong Jin knew his health was deteriorating. At first, he only experienced occasional sharp pains in his chest, like tiny needles gently pricking him, fleeting and easily forgotten. But as he spent more time with Rosa, the pain intensified, as if an invisible hand were gripping his heart, kneading it wantonly.

Each time his heartache flared up, Nangong Jin's emotions would spiral out of control. In the imperial court, the ministers were merely reporting on routine affairs. In the past, he could patiently listen and offer fair judgments, but now, if anything displeased him, he would erupt in fury. He would sweep the memorials off his desk, scattering them all over the floor, terrifying the ministers who would kneel down to beg for forgiveness, not daring to utter a sound.

The inner palace was in complete chaos. Even the slightest mistake by the maids and eunuchs would incur his punishment. Once, a junior eunuch accidentally knocked over a teacup, splashing scalding tea onto the floor. Nangong Jin instantly flew into a rage, ordering the junior eunuch to be dragged away and given twenty strokes of the cane. Rosa watched from the side, somewhat worried. Although she didn't know the cause of his outburst, she had a vague feeling that she was involved, but dared not speak out. She could only be extra gentle and obedient, trying to appease Nangong Jin.

However, this attempt to appease him had little effect. Nangong Jin's rage was like a raging fire, growing ever stronger. The entire palace was shrouded in an atmosphere of oppression and fear, and everyone was trembling with anxiety, wondering when this storm would finally subside.