Jade of Another World

Given Nangong Jin's truly dangerous condition and the urgent need for medical treatment, after discussion, the group decided to split into two teams. Xuan Yuanche would impersonate the emperor to guard the palace for Nangong Jin and investigate Rosa's whereabouts. Nangong Jin, on the other hand, would impersonate Xuan Yuanche and, accompanied by Lin Ning and the strongest secret guard, travel to Nanzhao to find the high priest to cure the poison.

Xuanyuan Che donned his dragon robe and crown, sitting upright on the dragon throne in the imperial study. His posture was tall and straight, and from a distance, he looked exactly like Nangong Jin. His expression was cold and stern. He waved away the assembled attendants, leaving only a few trusted confidants. Once everyone was alone, Xuanyuan Che whispered his instructions: "Keep a close watch on the movements of each palace, especially those places that have dealings with Rosa. Don't let a single detail slip by. We must uncover the mastermind behind this." His confidants obeyed, silently disappearing into the shadows of the palace.

Meanwhile, Nangong Jin and Lin Ning, disguised, mingled with a merchant caravan and sped towards Nanzhao. Their elite guards, disguised as ordinary soldiers, secretly protected them. Nangong Jin's complexion remained poor; the poison flared up intermittently, causing him to furrow his brow. Lin Ning glanced at him worriedly from time to time, whispering, "Your Majesty, if you're feeling unwell, lean on me and rest." Nangong Jin shook his head slightly, his gaze resolute: "It's alright. The sooner we see the High Priest, the sooner the poison can be cured. I can still hold on."

Upon reaching a secluded mountain forest, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The captain of the secret guards, keenly sensing something amiss, leaned close to Nangong Jin and whispered, "Your Majesty, something seems amiss. I'll clear the way first." With that, he gestured, and the guards quickly dispersed, forming a protective formation. Sure enough, moments later, a group of fierce-looking bandits emerged from all sides, brandishing long knives and shouting for tolls. Lin Ning's heart pounded, and she instinctively stepped in front of Nangong Jin, but he gently pulled her behind him, whispering, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

The guards and bandits were instantly locked in combat, swords flashing, screams and roars mingling. But these bandits seemed well-trained, and for a time, they were difficult to repel. Seeing the stalemate, a bandit leader seized an opening and lunged at Nangong Jin. Lin Ning cried out in alarm, grabbing a wooden stick and smashing it down on the bandit. The bandit leader dodged, then slapped Lin Ning across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground, blood trickling from her mouth. Nangong Jin's eyes blazed with fury. She snatched a sword from a nearby guard and, with all her might, thrust it at the bandit leader, roaring, "Dare to hurt her? I'll kill you!"

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a melodious flute tune suddenly drifted from afar. Strangely, upon hearing the flute, the fierce bandits showed expressions of terror, exchanged glances, and then fled in a panic. Nangong Jin and Lin Ning, filled with suspicion, hadn't even recovered when an elderly man dressed in strange attire slowly approached. The guards immediately drew their swords, but the old man remained calm and said, "Don't panic, I was sent by the High Priest to meet you." Nangong Jin sized up the old man, noticing his clear eyes and extraordinary bearing, and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your help, senior." The old man smiled slightly, "The High Priest is an old friend of mine; I'll take you to him." With the old man leading the way, the journey became much smoother.

Led by the old man, Nangong Jin and Lin Ning traveled a long and winding road before finally entering the mysterious valley where the high priest resided. The surroundings were quiet and serene, filled with a strange medicinal fragrance, and a few bamboo houses were scattered in the distance, hidden behind lush greenery.

As soon as they entered the house, an elderly man with white hair but vigorous spirit slowly walked out. He was the High Priest. Upon seeing this, Nangong Jin, disregarding his weak condition, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and earnestly said, "High Priest, I am Nangong Jin. I am currently suffering from a Gu poison that is difficult to cure. I hope you can help me."

The high priest, his gaze calm, helped Nangong Jin up, examined her closely, and then frowned slightly: "This Gu poison is insidious and has been raging in your body for a long time. Ordinary methods will probably be difficult to cure it. Moreover, I have heard from my disciple that we cannot find the person who cast the Gu." After saying this, he turned and walked into the house, signaling everyone to follow.

The group entered the bamboo hut, which was filled with all sorts of strange and unusual containers for Gu worms and herbs. The high priest rummaged through an old box, took out a jade Gu worm that emitted a faint glow, and placed it in his palm. The jade Gu worm seemed to possess sentience, trembling slightly. "To cure this Gu worm, you must use a spirit Gu worm to draw out the poison from the Gu worms within your body. The process is extremely dangerous; the slightest mistake could cost you your life. Are you willing to try?"

Nangong Jin nodded without hesitation: "I am willing to try. Please, High Priest, perform the spell." Lin Ning, however, looked worried and couldn't help but tug at Nangong Jin's sleeve: "Your Majesty, it's too dangerous. Let's reconsider." Nangong Jin grasped her hand in return and gently comforted her: "There's no other way now. I trust the High Priest."

The spell began. The high priest chanted incantations, guiding the spirit worms closer to Nangong Jin. In an instant, Nangong Jin's face turned deathly pale. The worms within him seemed to be provoked, launching a frenzied backlash. He groaned in pain, cold sweat pouring down his face. Lin Ning was frantic with worry, tears welling in her eyes, but dared not utter a sound to disturb him. Fortunately, the high priest's technique was skillful; he quickly regained control of the situation, guiding the spirit worms to gradually devour and neutralize the toxic worms.

After an unknown amount of time, Nangong Jin's body went limp and he collapsed to the ground. The High Priest also breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission. The Gu poison has been neutralized. Now, the key is to recover your strength. Remember, if you find the person who cast the Gu, you must retrieve the mother Gu and kill her to completely eradicate it." Lin Ning quickly stepped forward to help Nangong Jin up, and seeing his face gradually regaining its color, she wept with joy. Nangong Jin smiled weakly, looking at the High Priest with gratitude: "Thank you for saving my life, High Priest. I will not hesitate to help you if needed in the future." The High Priest waved his hand: "As an emperor, you should care for the people and not let treacherous officials have another opportunity."

Nangong Jin replied sincerely, "I will do my best."

Rosa had been trapped in the dark room for days and had long since lost the strength to resist. She leaned weakly against the corner of the wall, her eyes beginning to glaze over. Just when she thought she was about to starve to death, a soft footstep approached, and then the door creaked open, letting in a blinding beam of light that stung her eyes.

A figure completely shrouded in black approached first, his movements ghostly, his face obscured, exuding a ruthless aura. Then, an old man in a black robe slowly appeared, radiating a sinister aura that chilled all who beheld him. His withered fingers rubbed a delicate little jar, producing a soft sound.

Seeing this, Rosa's will to survive was instantly ignited. She crawled towards the door with all her might, her chapped lips barely opening and closing: "Please... let me go, I'll do anything..." Her voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

The newcomer seemed oblivious. The old man in black robes approached coldly, step by step, looking down at the disheveled Rosa. Before Rosa could plead again, the man in black suddenly grabbed her chin, forcefully prying it open, forcing Rosa to open her mouth wide. The old man in black robes pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and poured the thick, pungent liquid inside into Rosa's mouth. Rosa choked and coughed violently, the liquid dripping down her neck, but she was powerless to struggle.

Before long, Rosa felt as if her abdomen was burning, and her internal organs were being torn apart by excruciating pain. The old man in black robes had already knelt down, gently touching her forehead with his finger while chanting incantations. In an instant, Rosa clearly felt something slowly wriggling inside her body, then crawling up her throat. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched a brightly colored Gu worm emerge from her mouth, being carefully placed into a small jar by the old man in black robes, who then closed the lid.

Throughout the ordeal, Rosa remained conscious, yet her body was paralyzed, fear, despair, and bewilderment swirling within her. After the black-robed elder finished the process of collecting the Gu with a blank expression, he slightly raised his hand and made a gesture. The black-clad man who had been silently standing by acted like a triggered killing machine, moving without hesitation, his long sword flashing coldly as it instantly drew from its sheath.

Rosa had barely recovered from the extreme terror and exhaustion, and before she could even utter a cry, the cold blade, accompanied by a whistling sound, came crashing down. The blade tore through her body without resistance, and blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering onto the walls and floor of the dark room with a chilling sizzling sound. Rosa's eyes widened, the life in them quickly extinguished, and her body collapsed limply, the stench of blood instantly filling the small space.

The old man in black robes ignored him, calmly putting the small jar containing the Gu worms into his robes before turning and walking away. The man in black sheathed his sword and silently followed, letting the mangled corpse behind him grow cold, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter. Once the two figures had completely disappeared, the dark room returned to deathly silence, leaving only Rosa's unseeingly dead body, silently recounting this cruel end.

Rosa's life ended abruptly in that bloody moment. She closed her eyes forever, filled with confusion and bewilderment. From the moment she stepped into this treacherous and unpredictable maze, she was no longer in control of her own destiny, becoming a pawn manipulated in secret.

Countless times she speculated about the identity of her master, trying to piece together the truth from snippets of conversation and hidden instructions, but until the very end, it remained a mystery. Love was a luxury for her; her affection and obedience to her master, his care and protection; the years she spent with Nangong Jin, every tender moment he showed her; her secret speculations about their anxieties—all of this ultimately failed to unravel the feelings in her heart. Even she herself didn't know her own feelings, let alone them. Perhaps they never even cared.

In Nangong Jin's eyes, she was perhaps just one of the many concubines who was slightly different, but this difference was not enough to bear the weight of his deep love. Rosa was like a willow catkin drifting in the wind, devoid of any sense of self. She seemed light and free, but in reality, she was tossed about by the raging winds of fate. She had no self, no home, and her entire destiny was in the hands of men. For their likes and dislikes, she squandered her youth, passion, and even her life, and quietly faded away in this dark corner, leaving behind only a poignant and tragic silhouette.

Here, Nangong Jin's Gu poison had been cured, as if he had been reborn. The persistent, lingering pain in his heart had vanished without a trace. As his body grew stronger day by day, the memories of the past, distorted and blurred by the Gu poison, slowly returned like a tide. The fragments of memories about Lin Ning—the smiles and laughter hidden in their daily interactions, the unwavering support during times of hardship—emerged more and more clearly in his mind. He recalled the days when he went to war on the border; the bloodshed and carnage on the battlefield could not diminish his longing for Lin Ning. Even amidst his busy military duties, he would still write her letters by lamplight. The letters spoke of the cold moon over the border, the heroic spirit of his soldiers, and, most importantly, the quiet concern hidden between the lines, hoping she was well in the capital and not troubled by missing him. The affection he felt then surged forth like an unstoppable tide at this moment.

When Nangong Jin found Lin Ning, she was standing by the lake in the Imperial Garden feeding the fish. He stepped forward, gently took Lin Ning's hand, and his eyes were full of guilt and affection: "Ning'er, I was confused in the past. I was bewitched by the Gu poison and wronged you many times. I almost lost our friendship."

Lin Ning raised her eyes, a hint of relief in them: "Your Majesty, those misunderstandings are over, so let's not bring them up again. Seeing Your Majesty healthy and regaining your memories is already the best outcome."

Nangong Jin gently shook his head, gripping her hand even tighter: "No, I must make things clear. Those letters from when I went to war were full of my longing for you. How could I forget? It was this poison that made me delirious and hurt your heart. From now on, I will treat you with all my heart and make up for all the past wrongs."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning understood the meaning behind Nangong Jin's words, but she didn't know how to respond. In her time with Xuan Yuanche, her heart had already tipped towards him. Lin Ning could only address the less important matters, saying, "Your Majesty is kind. However, I haven't received Your Majesty's letter." Nangong Jin looked at Lin Ning with a puzzled expression. Lin Ning gave him an affirmative look. The two remained silent. Perhaps this was fate, always creating unintentional obstacles that caused two people who could have been together to lose contact and let their feelings fade. Nangong Jin thought he must thoroughly investigate this matter upon returning. However, at this moment, he needed to investigate Rosa first, because Rosa was brought back from Nanzhao by him, and Nanzhao must have a reason why Rosa had harmed him.