Jade of Another World

Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning had been staying with the High Priest of Nanzhao for several days, spending their days with the High Priest reviewing ancient texts and observing herbs. However, they still had no clue about how to break the spells that bewitch people's minds. Although they were extremely anxious, they could only continue to pretend and patiently wait for an opportunity.

Early that morning, the high priest suddenly found them and said he would take them up the mountain to gather herbs. The three of them climbed along the winding mountain path, surrounded by the quiet of footsteps and birdsong. Lin Ning was full of curiosity and would occasionally ask the high priest about the uses of the herbs around them. The high priest answered patiently, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

They reached a valley where the vegetation grew increasingly dense and lush. Suddenly, a hissing sound shattered the silence, and a brightly colored venomous snake darted out of the grass, head raised, tongue flicking, poised to strike. Lin Ning cried out in alarm and instinctively hid behind Xuan Yuanche. Xuan Yuanche swiftly drew his sword, his eyes fixed warily on the snake, his entire body tense.

Just then, the high priest remained calm. He slowly drew a short knife from his waist and, without hesitation, cut his index finger. Blood gushed out, dripping onto the ground and splattering a few drops, some of which flew directly towards the venomous snake. Miraculously, the snake seemed to be under a spell; it instantly retracted its attack posture, obediently coiling itself on the ground, its eyes filled with submission.

The high priest calmly applied herbs to the wound, then turned to the two dumbfounded figures, saying lightly, "This is the wondrous use of Blood Gu. Using one's own blood as a catalyst, one controls the Gu worms, making them obey commands. However, this is only the initial stage of witchcraft; the truly powerful techniques are far more extensive." Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and excitement in each other's eyes. This unexpected encounter might be the key to unlocking the deeper mysteries of witchcraft.

Seeing that the High Priest had demonstrated this skill, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche seized the opportunity. Lin Ning hurriedly stepped forward and asked with a face full of eagerness, "High Priest, your Blood Gu technique is truly amazing. We have heard that there is also a witchcraft technique that can bewitch people's hearts. Do you know anything about it?"

Xuanyuan Che chimed in, "Yes, High Priest, we are ignorant and curious about the intricacies behind this. We hope you can explain it to us."

The high priest's face, which had been carrying a gentle smile, instantly darkened. He swept his cold gaze over the two men and said sternly, "You two outsiders, do not mention this matter again. The art of witchcraft has always been a secret of our tribe, never to be passed on to outsiders. Even if I wanted to tell you, you would not be able to learn it. These skills are mostly taught from childhood, day after day, year after year, and the hardships involved are beyond your imagination."

Lin Ning was still unwilling to give up and tried to persuade him again: "Priest, we really have a problem. A close friend of ours has been harmed by evil people using witchcraft. He is out of his mind. We only want to find a way to break the curse and save his life. We have no other intentions."

The high priest frowned even more deeply, his eyes revealing an unwavering resolve: "Dilemmas? Who in this world doesn't have their own dilemmas! When witchcraft falls into the hands of those with wicked intentions, it becomes a weapon of destruction. As the high priest, my duty is to protect this secret art; how can I trample on it so easily? And stop arguing. Don't mention today's events again, or don't blame me for showing no mercy and banishing you from this place." With that, he ignored the two and continued walking deeper into the forest, leaving Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche standing there, filled with disappointment and utterly helpless.

After the high priest's stern refusal, the atmosphere among the three became somewhat somber, but no one said anything more, and they silently continued deeper into the forest. Fortunately, the journey was not entirely in vain; the further they went into the heart of the forest, the more abundant the rare herbs became.

Lin Ning, with her sharp eyes, spotted several purple-tinged immortal herbs growing beside a cliff, their leaves still glistening with dewdrops. She quickly pulled Xuan Yuanche over. The High Priest nodded slightly and said, "This is Purple Spirit Grass, possessing miraculous healing and detoxifying effects; it is extremely rare." Xuan Yuanche carefully dug up the Purple Spirit Grass by the roots and wrapped it in a prepared cloth bag.

Further on, they discovered a fungus resembling lingzhi in a secluded mountain hollow. The high priest explained that it was a blood fungus, over a hundred years old, a highly prized tonic. The three of them worked together to harvest it, their faces beaming with joy. Besides herbs, they also encountered small wild animals along the way. Xuan Yuanche, with his agile movements, hunted down several rabbits and pheasants, collecting their entrails. These organs, which might seem bloody to ordinary people, were rare and valuable materials in secret arts and medicine.

As the sun set and they began their return journey, everyone's baskets were bulging. Although they hadn't managed to extract crucial information about witchcraft from the high priest, the many precious herbs and rare items they'd acquired made the trip worthwhile. Lin Ning looked at her heavy basket and softly said to Xuan Yuanche, "You've really reaped quite a harvest." Xuan Yuanche nodded in response, his face beaming with smiles. The old priest noticed their cheerful conversation.

On their way down the mountain, they came across a hillside covered in precious medicinal herbs. The three climbed over to pick some, when suddenly the mountainside began to slide. Lin Ning shouted, "Something's wrong! It looks like there's going to be a landslide! We have to get out of here immediately!" Hearing Lin Ning's cry, Xuan Yuanche and the High Priest instantly tensed up. Looking up, they saw that the soil and rocks on the hillside had loosened, and small stones were tumbling down with a chilling sound. The High Priest's expression changed drastically, and he quickly chanted an obscure incantation, seemingly praying to the mountain god for protection.

Xuan Yuanche reacted swiftly, grabbing Lin Ning's arm and urgently shouting, "Forget about the immortal herb, let's go!" With that, he pulled her down the mountain. Lin Ning stumbled, but dared not delay, following closely behind Xuan Yuanche. However, the landslide was accelerating rapidly, large chunks of rock carrying mud and soil cascading down, instantly blocking their path.

The high priest followed closely behind, directing, "Over there!" He pointed to a relatively densely wooded hillside, hoping to use the trees as cover to gain a sliver of hope. The three of them ran towards that spot with all their might, the ground beneath their feet soft and slippery, each step feeling like walking on cotton, offering no support. Lin Ning was frantic, her heart pounding in her ears. She was terrified, yet she gritted her teeth and forced herself to persevere.

Suddenly, a huge boulder hurtled straight towards Lin Ning. Xuan Yuanche caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and shoved Lin Ning aside with all his might. However, he couldn't dodge in time, and the boulder grazed his calf. A sharp pain shot through him, and he groaned, falling to his knees. Seeing this, Lin Ning cried out, "Xuan Yuanche!" Ignoring her own danger, she turned to help him. At that moment, the landslide grew increasingly powerful, and the shadow of death slowly enveloped them.

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche scrambled for cover, finally reaching behind a boulder. They caught their breath and watched as the High Priest was swept away by a tidal wave of earth and rocks. His clothes were torn in several places, and he was in a sorry state. Lin Ning cried out in alarm, and without hesitation, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche reached out and grabbed the High Priest's arm, pulling him back with all their might. Earth and rocks continued to tumble down beside them, crashing to the ground with resounding thuds; every second was terrifying.

The three of them managed to huddle under the boulder, listening to the deafening roar of the landslide outside, barely daring to breathe. Lin Ning tightly closed her eyes, her hands unconsciously covering her ears, her body trembling slightly with fear. Xuan Yuanche, enduring the sharp pain in his calves, put one arm around Lin Ning to comfort her, and used the other to support the high priest, preventing him from slipping again.

She didn't know how much time had passed before the chilling sounds gradually subsided. Lin Ning slowly opened her eyes. The outside world was a scene of utter devastation. The once lush green hillside was covered in mud and rocks, and the road was nowhere to be seen. When she came to her senses, she noticed that Xuan Yuanche's calves were soaked in blood, and the High Priest was unconscious, his face ashen, with several wounds on his body still gushing blood.

"Xuanyuan Che, how are you? The High Priest...?" Lin Ning's voice trembled with tears, her heart filled with anxiety. Xuanyuan Che gritted his teeth and forced a smile to comfort her, "I'm fine, just a scrape. Let's check on the High Priest first." He leaned closer to the High Priest with difficulty, reaching out to check his breath. Thankfully, although the breath was weak, he was still alive. However, they couldn't stay here long; they had to find a way down the mountain as soon as possible to find someone to treat him. But looking at the chaotic mountain path before them, a new problem loomed.

Lin Ning looked anxiously at the injured and unconscious High Priest and the pale-faced Xuan Yuanche, knowing she couldn't wait any longer. She forced herself to calm down and quickly searched her mind for any possible solutions. Her knowledge as a female PhD in science and engineering came in handy at this critical moment.

She first searched the surrounding area and luckily found several thick and sturdy vines, which she twisted into a makeshift rope. Then, her gaze fell upon a large, well-positioned rock nearby. Using leverage, Lin Ning pried the rock at an angle, using it as a temporary pulley. She tied one end of the rope around the high priest's waist, looped the other end around the pulley, and then gripped the rope and pulled hard. At first, progress was quite difficult; Lin Ning was panting heavily, sweat soaking her forehead, but she gritted her teeth and didn't stop for a moment, finally getting the high priest to slowly slide down the hillside.

Having learned from the first experience, transporting Xuan Yuanche went much more smoothly. Although Xuan Yuanche was conscious, he was weak and powerless, only able to cooperate with Lin Ning's movements. Seeing Lin Ning working so hard, he was deeply moved but also felt a pang of heartache: "Ning'er, be careful, don't hurt yourself again. If it really comes to it, we'll think of another way." Lin Ning stubbornly shook her head: "Stop talking nonsense, hold on, we'll be down the mountain soon."

With tremendous effort, Lin Ning finally managed to safely transport both of them to the foot of the mountain. She collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, not daring to waste a moment. She forced herself to get up and searched for a place with people, her mind focused on finding a doctor to treat the two injured people as soon as possible. Her eyes showed an unprecedented determination.

Lin Ning jogged all the way and finally spotted a farmhouse with smoke rising from its chimney. Ignoring her appearance, she hurriedly knocked on the door and explained her purpose. Seeing her disheveled appearance but earnest words, the homeowner kindly lent her a cart. Lin Ning thanked him profusely and quickly returned, carefully carrying Xuan Yuanche and the High Priest onto the cart, then hurried back home with difficulty and speed.

Just as they reached the door, the pageboy was sweeping. He looked up and saw the scene, and was so startled he dropped the broom. He rushed over and helped Lin Ning carry the person inside. Lin Ning, without even catching her breath, immediately rummaged through her medicine kit, which she had specially prepared before coming to Nanzhao, and which now proved invaluable.

She first gently wiped the high priest's wounds with a clean, damp cloth, sprinkled anti-inflammatory and hemostatic powder on them, and then carefully bandaged them. When treating Xuan Yuanche's leg injury, her movements were even more skillful and efficient. She cleaned up the blood clots and reset the bones, doing each step meticulously, while occasionally whispering to them to bear the pain.

Under Lin Ning's tireless and meticulous care, Xuan Yuanche and the High Priest's injuries improved day by day. Xuan Yuanche, being naturally robust, recovered even faster, and within a few days was able to walk around. He even helped Lin Ning take care of the High Priest. The High Priest, being older, healed more slowly, but with Lin Ning's attentive care, after a few more days, his spirits gradually returned, and he was able to sit in the courtyard basking in the sun and chat with the two of them. This unexpected ordeal made the High Priest admire their character even more.

The high priest sat on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, sunlight streaming down his face, revealing his weakness after recovering from a serious illness. Lin Ning brought over some brewed herbal medicine and was about to hand it to him when the high priest gently raised his hand to stop him, looking at the two of them with a warm and sincere gaze: "I know in my heart that you've come all the way to Nanzhao because of witchcraft. After spending time together, I also know that you are good children with pure hearts."

He paused slightly, his expression turning serious: "But this witchcraft is not a righteous path. Once you get involved, the consequences will be endless. It never just harms people; the caster will also suffer a backlash, often hurting the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred of their own. I really don't want to see you go down this path."

Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning exchanged a glance, both seeing disappointment in each other's eyes, but they also understood that the High Priest meant well for them. Just as Lin Ning was about to plead for them, the High Priest continued, "I know you're doing this to save your friend. Don't worry, while I can't let you study witchcraft, I won't stand idly by. I have a clever and quick-witted apprentice who is quite proficient in various methods of removing curses. I'm sending him back with you to help you remove the curse from your friend."

Hearing this, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche's eyes lit up with gratitude. Xuan Yuanche clasped his hands and said, "High Priest, we are truly grateful for your generous help. If we can save our friend, we will remember your kindness for the rest of our lives." The High Priest smiled and waved his hand, "No need for thanks. I only hope your journey is smooth and that you do not become too involved with witchcraft." He then sent someone to summon his young apprentice to arrange their return journey.

Lin Ning, Xuan Yuanche, and the High Priest's apprentice, Ege, rushed towards the capital without stopping, filled with anxiety as they hoped to return as soon as possible to remove the Gu from Nangong Jin's body. Little did they know that the capital had already fallen into chaos.

Lin Jun, the son of Prime Minister Lin, was usually a lazy bum. A few days ago, he went to a gambling table with Hua Manlou from the Left Sima family. Provoked by Hua Manlou's few words, he got carried away and started betting higher and higher. After several rounds, he lost everything, including many valuable land deeds and antiques from the Prime Minister's residence. Only when Lin Jun was completely disoriented by the losses did he realize the gravity of the situation, but he refused to admit defeat and immediately resorted to shameless behavior.

Hua Manlou was no pushover either. He had always looked down on Lin Jun's纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled, dissolute young man) behavior. He immediately ordered a group of servants to tie Lin Jun up and take him back to his own residence. When the news reached the Prime Minister's residence, Old Madam Lin and Concubine Liu were heartbroken. Old Madam Lin, leaning on her cane, paced back and forth in the hall, berating Lin Jun for being useless; Concubine Liu slumped in her chair, tears streaming down her face, filled with worry for her son's safety.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lin was extremely anxious. He hurriedly prepared lavish gifts and went to the Grand Marshal's family to plead for mercy. He was filled with trepidation on the way, hoping that his long-standing relationship with the Grand Marshal would persuade him to do something. However, when he arrived at the Grand Marshal's residence, the gatekeepers stopped him at the gate, their words chillingly cold: "What kind of status do you have to come here to plead for mercy? It's like throwing an egg against a rock." Prime Minister Lin stood outside, staring at the tightly closed vermilion gate, both angry and anxious, unsure of what to do. The situation in the capital grew increasingly tense and oppressive.

Liu Si paced back and forth in his study, his brows furrowed deeply. He knew that Lin Ning was always loyal and righteous, and if she knew something was wrong at home, she would never stand idly by. But now she was far away in Nanzhao, unable to help. As for the Liu family, they were already in a precarious position in the court, and a hasty intervention might only bring more trouble. He needed to think of a clever solution.

After much thought, Liu Si had a sudden inspiration. He quickly went to his desk, spread out some Xuan paper, and began to write a letter. The letter was extremely earnest, first pointing out the current predicament of the Lin family, and then subtly mentioning the friendship between the princess and Lin Ning, implying that if the princess could intervene, Lin Ning would be eternally grateful. After finishing, he carefully sealed the letter and sent a clever confidant to secretly deliver it to the princess's residence. After receiving the letter, the princess considered it carefully and felt that the matter made sense. Firstly, Lin Ning and she had a good personal relationship, so it was only right for her to help; secondly, as a princess, occasionally intervening in disputes between officials could also show her power and win people's hearts. So the next day, the princess dressed up in her finest attire and led a grand procession to the Grand Marshal's residence.

Upon hearing of the princess's arrival, the Grand Marshal hurried out to greet her. The princess entered the hall and, without beating around the bush, stated her purpose directly, implying that the Grand Marshal should give her some face and not push things too far. The Grand Marshal dared not refuse the princess and immediately agreed. Soon after, Lin Jun was released. As for the enormous gambling debt, only a symbolic portion was collected, leaving a way out for all parties. Prime Minister Lin, upon hearing the news, breathed a sigh of relief; the turmoil in the Lin family had finally subsided somewhat.