Jade of Another World

After a covert investigation throughout the city, the secret guards finally followed the subtle clues to the small courtyard where Liu Yushu was hiding. It was getting dark, and the courtyard was quiet. The guards moved like ghosts, scaling the wall and entering the courtyard, instantly subduing the two men in black guarding the gate.

Hearing the commotion outside, Liu Yushu was about to shout when the man in black beside him covered his mouth and pressed a dagger to his neck: "Don't make a sound, or I'll kill you!" Liu Yushu could only blink frantically. In this tense standoff, more guards burst through the window, and a flurry of swords erupted. Taking advantage of the man in black's distraction, Liu Yushu swiftly elbowed him in the stomach, breaking free and running towards the guards.

Outnumbered and facing dire circumstances, the men in black exchanged glances and threw several smoke bombs. Instantly, thick smoke billowed into the courtyard, filling the air with a pungent odor and obstructing everyone's vision. Although the guards were well-trained, this sudden turn of events delayed their pursuit, and they could only watch helplessly as the men in black used the smoke to scale the walls and escape, disappearing into the intricate alleyways.

"Miss, are you alright?" A guard rushed forward to support Liu Yushu, noticing her disheveled hair and the still-healing wound on her shoulder, his expression filled with worry. Liu Yushu shook her head, the lingering fear of surviving the ordeal making her legs weak, almost unable to stand: "I...I'm fine, take me back quickly." The guard dared not delay and immediately led Liu Yushu back to the palace at top speed. Along the way, Liu Yushu was filled with anxiety. She knew she had been poisoned by a Gu curse, unsure how to tell anyone, and even more worried about what to do next.

After arriving at the palace, Liu Yushu lied, claiming she couldn't remember many things. Nangong Jin didn't make things difficult for her and instead instructed Lord Liu to take her back to the manor to recuperate. She hurriedly returned to the Liu residence with her father, wanting to check immediately for signs of poisoning.

As soon as she stepped into the house, she weakly waved her hand to stop everyone's concern and inquiries: "Father, I'm in a lot of pain all over. Please have the family physician come to my room to examine me." Lord Liu didn't dare to delay and immediately sent someone to fetch him.

Before long, the gray-haired physician from the prefectural hospital rushed over. Liu Yushu dismissed everyone else, leaving only her personal maid to attend to her, before slowly extending her wrist. The physician took her pulse for a long time, sometimes frowning, sometimes shaking his head. Finally, he withdrew his hand, bowed with a puzzled expression, and said, "Miss, judging from your pulse, there is nothing abnormal. It's just that the external injury has caused insufficient qi and blood, and it's also due to being frightened and overworked. I will prescribe some medicine to nourish your body, and you will be fine after taking it for a while."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yushu's heart sank instantly. She knew the Nanzhao Gu poison was extremely mysterious, and although she had guessed the physician wouldn't be able to detect it, she still held onto a sliver of hope. Now, faced with reality, her despair intensified. Biting her lip, she said unwillingly, "Physician, please examine me carefully again. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with my body? I... I feel like something's not right, and I can't quite remember some things." The physician examined her carefully again, but still shook his head firmly, "Young lady, I've practiced medicine for decades; I would never be wrong. Don't worry too much; just take good care of yourself."

After the physician left, Liu Yushu leaned weakly against the headboard, her eyes vacant. Her personal maid quietly handed her a cup of tea: "Miss, what's wrong? Don't worry yourself sick." Liu Yushu took the teacup, but had no appetite for it. She knew she couldn't wait. The threat of the poison was like a sword hanging over her head; with each passing moment, the danger drew closer. She had to find another way to figure out the poison or find an antidote.

Liu Yushu has been extremely busy these days, lying that she is resting at home, but in reality, she is looking for someone who can cure the strange poison in her body. She seeks medical help everywhere. All sorts of doctors come and go, and she even asked the imperial physicians to come, but they all just shook their heads when they left; the quack doctors all had different opinions, but none of them could give a definite answer, crushing her hopes time and time again.

That afternoon, a wandering quack doctor dressed in tattered clothes and carrying a medicine basket was invited into the Liu residence. His hair was disheveled, and he had a shallow scar on his face; he looked quite down on his luck and was insignificant compared to the other, more aloof imperial physicians. Liu Yushu hadn't held out much hope, but still mustered his spirits and extended his wrist.

The itinerant doctor took Liu Yushu's pulse, and after a moment, suddenly released her, his gaze sharpening as he looked at her: "Young lady, this isn't an ordinary ailment; you've been poisoned by a Gu poison." Liu Yushu sat bolt upright, her eyes instantly igniting with hope: "You...you really could tell? So many doctors before, not one of them could diagnose it!" The itinerant doctor snorted, rummaging through his medicine basket for a few dried herbs, sniffing them: "Those pampered fools only know how to treat minor ailments like headaches and fevers; how could they understand these things? The poison carried by the Nanzhao Gu worms is hidden in the blood and meridians. In the early stages, the pulse shows almost no change; only by testing with specially prepared herbs and observing the complexion can it be detected."

Liu Yushu hurriedly pressed, "Then, in your opinion, how can this Gu poison be cured?" The traveling doctor frowned and paced around the room. "It's very troublesome. To cure it, we need to find the mother Gu that cast the poison, or find a sacred object that can restrain the Gu worm's habits, but both of these are incredibly difficult to obtain. I've only heard of the cure, but I've never actually tried it. Miss, how did you get involved with this deadly thing?" Liu Yushu's eyes dimmed. She concealed the fact that she had been kidnapped by spies from Nanzhao and forced to cooperate. How could she talk about these shameful things? She only said that she had been framed by someone else. After listening, the traveling doctor scratched his head. "It seems that your future situation will be difficult, Miss. Finding an antidote will be very difficult."

Liu Yushu was extremely anxious, but she knew that trying anything in desperation would be useless. She quickly took out a heavy silver ingot from her dressing case, stuffed it into the old itinerant doctor's hand, and earnestly said, "Please trouble you, sir. Please take this silver for now. If you need any more expenses, just come to the Liu residence and ask me. I will not have a moment's peace until this poison is cured. I hope you can find a way to cure it as soon as possible."

The old itinerant doctor didn't refuse. He stuffed the silver into his pocket, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Liu Yushu, and said, "Don't worry, young lady. Now that I've taken this job, I will do my best. However, the Nanzhao Gu worms are elusive, and finding the mother Gu will be no easy task. You should also have a long-term plan." After saying this, he picked up his medicine basket and hurriedly left.

Watching the old itinerant doctor's departing figure, Liu Yushu was filled with worry. In truth, this itinerant doctor was arranged by the Nanzhao people; having taken the money, he would never return.

Time was running out, and the day she was supposed to meet the man in black for the antidote was fast approaching, but she had no clue how to cure the curse. If she missed this chance to get the medicine, she couldn't imagine the pain she would have to endure. Just thinking about her body festering and dying in agony made her shudder.

These past few days, she had remained secluded at home, and rumors had already spread throughout the mansion. Although her father hadn't asked much, the worried look in his eyes filled Liu Yushu with guilt. But this matter concerned life and death; how could she speak of it lightly? Liu Yushu paced back and forth in her room, trying to sort out her thoughts on how to get through this ordeal, obtain the antidote from the man in black to stabilize her condition, and find a real way to break the curse of the poison as soon as possible.

The appointed day arrived, and Liu Yushu had no choice but to nervously go to the man in black to retrieve the antidote. She had felt as if worms were crawling inside her bones all morning, and her entire body was unbearably itchy. She was terrified that she would fall ill. Therefore, she had to rush to the agreed location before dawn.

Before dawn, while the entire capital was still shrouded in thick darkness, Liu Yushu quietly left the Liu residence. Dressed in dark clothes, her face completely concealed by a hood, she moved with hurried yet extremely cautious steps, each one as if treading on the taut strings of her own heart.

Along the way, the strange sensations in her body became increasingly apparent. It felt as if countless tiny insects were gnawing and crawling between her bones, a tingling and stinging sensation spreading through her marrow. Her skin was also unbearably itchy, and several times she couldn't help but scratch through her clothes, but she was afraid of breaking her skin, so she could only endure it. Every gust of wind felt like sandpaper rubbing against her body, causing her to shiver.

When Liu Yushu arrived at the agreed-upon location—an abandoned, dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city—her back was already soaked with cold sweat. The temple door was ajar, and a sinister atmosphere emanated from it. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. In the dim light, a dark figure stood silently in the corner; it was the man in black. Seeing her arrive, the man in black sneered, "I thought you wouldn't dare come."

Liu Yushu rushed forward, her voice pleading, "How could I not come? The poison has already begun to take effect. Please give me the antidote quickly!" She stretched out her trembling hand. The man in black, however, remained unhurried, pulling a small porcelain bottle from his robes and twirling it between his fingers. "Miss Liu, this antidote isn't free. How's the search for the Gu worm going?" Liu Yushu looked troubled. "Time is too short. I really have no clue. Please give me the antidote first, and give me some more time. I will do my best." The man in black scrutinized her, noticing her pale face and swaying body—clearly symptoms of poisoning—before tossing the bottle over. "Don't let this happen again. Next time, if there's still no progress, it won't be so easy."

Liu Yushu caught the porcelain bottle and eagerly poured out a pill, swallowing it. Before long, the excruciating pain and itching gradually subsided. She let out a long sigh, slumped to the ground, enveloped in a weakness reminiscent of someone who had survived a catastrophe. But she knew in her heart that this difficult battle against the Gu poison and the spies from Nanzhao had only just begun.

Liu Yushu gripped the empty porcelain bottle in her hand, slowly stood up, her eyes revealing a calm understanding of everything. She looked up at the man in black and said softly, "Is what you're looking for the mother Gu worm that Noble Lady Rosa lost before her death?" The man in black shuddered upon hearing this, instantly becoming alert. He stepped forward and grabbed Liu Yushu's collar menacingly: "How did you know?"

Liu Yushu did not struggle, but calmly looked directly into his eyes: "I have lived in the capital for a long time, and naturally I have heard some secrets. When Rosa disappeared in the capital, it was said that she had cultivated an extremely powerful Gu worm. Her Gu worm was a very special mother Gu. It is said that once the mother Gu worm is found, it can control all the Gu species of that mother Gu worm and can dominate all those who are affected by it, right? You have gone to great lengths to capture me and poison me. What you want must be to control that most crucial mother Gu worm. Am I right?"

The man in black released his grip and sneered, "So what if you know? That mother worm is of paramount importance. Rosa is from Nanzhao, and the Gu poison also belongs to Nanzhao. The King of Nanzhao has ordered its retrieval. You'd better cooperate obediently and not try anything funny, otherwise, no one will save you next time the poison takes hold." Liu Yushu straightened his clothes and continued, "I understand the importance of this mother worm, but you also know that this matter happened a long time ago, and the clues have long since been broken. It's incredibly difficult for me to find it in a short time on my own. If you truly want to find the mother worm, you might as well give me more help—information about Rosa from back then, or similar clues about the Gu poison." The man in black hesitated, then after a moment's thought, said, "Giving you clues isn't out of the question, but you must promise to immediately and truthfully inform us of every piece of information you receive. If you dare to betray us, the entire Liu family will suffer the consequences." Liu Yushu nodded in agreement, "I naturally understand the stakes. As long as you keep your promise and give me useful clues, I will do my utmost." The man in black secretly sized her up, as if judging the truthfulness of her words, and finally took out a crumpled piece of parchment from his sleeve and handed it over: "This records some things from back then. Take a good look at it."

The man in black tossed the parchment to Liu Yushu and said coldly, "This topographical map depicts a mysterious cave where Rosa died. The mother Gu may have been lost there. Rosa died suddenly and mysteriously. After her death, no one knew the details of how she planted and controlled the Gu. Nanzhao tried every method but failed to recall the mother Gu."

Liu Yushu carefully unfolded the parchment. The lines on it were crooked and crooked, marked with some obscure symbols, and the edges were worn. She listened intently to the man in black's story, her heart growing heavier.

The man in black continued, "Don't be complacent. Although the mother Gu hasn't been unsealed by the curse, and the person currently afflicted with it doesn't show any abnormalities, it lies dormant in the body and can be awakened at any time. Once it takes effect, it will be a hundred times worse than the suffering you're experiencing now. So, it's better to find it sooner rather than later."

Liu Yushu nodded slightly: "I understand, but the text on this topographical map is so obscure and difficult to understand. Finding the exact location will probably take some effort. I wonder if Rosa had any close friends or followers in her life? Perhaps we can dig out more clues from them." The man in black frowned, his eyes revealing a hint of impatience: "Rosa was a loner and rarely got close to anyone. This topographical map is the best we can do for you. The rest is up to you to figure out. Don't forget, before you get the antidote next time, you have to report your progress, or you'll die a horrible death."

Liu Yushu carefully put away the parchment and said, "I will begin investigating as soon as possible. However, my frequent comings and goings will inevitably arouse suspicion. I hope you can help me cover for myself and prevent me from being targeted by others while I am on my way to find the Gu worms." The man in black snorted, "You don't need to worry about that. Our people will cooperate with you. You just need to get on with your work." After saying that, he vanished into the dilapidated temple in a flash. Liu Yushu stared at the empty temple gate, took a deep breath, and knew that he would have a very difficult time surviving in this difficult and dangerous situation.

She clutched the parchment map in her hand, her heart filled with worry. Her worry stemmed from the fact that she knew the poison had been administered to Nangong Jin. Previously, her spies, whom she had secretly planted, had heard that Nangong Jin and Lin Ning were going on a diplomatic mission to Nanzhao, so they had taken precautions and sent clever and discreet servants to follow them in secret.

During her time in Nanzhao, her informants sent back numerous scattered reports, including one mentioning that Nangong Jin was poisoned by a Gu poison. She suspected that Rosa had administered the poison, and sent people to monitor Rosa day and night, even tracking her kidnapping and subsequent murder in the cave. The cave was a scene of utter chaos, with only an old man in black robes seen hastily departing with his guards. Her informants tried their best to track him, but the man was meticulous and possessed exceptional agility, ultimately losing track of him, and the trail went cold.

Liu Yushu knew that Nangong Jin was of noble status, and if he were to tell her about this matter rashly, many things would go wrong; moreover, it involved such a secret and mysterious matter as Gu worms, which might even provoke Nangong Jin's resentment. But now, as the Gu poison was silently spreading in Nangong Jin's body, it would inevitably cause a great disaster sooner or later. He himself was being coerced by the Nanzhao spies, struggling on the edge of life and death every time the poison flared up, relying entirely on the unpredictable antidote to prolong his life.

She paced back and forth in the room, pondering how to maximize her own interests. After much thought, she decided to start with the map and try to explore the secrets of the cave. If she could find the mother Gu, she could not only resolve her own crisis but also perhaps save Nangong Jin, thus gaining his favor—why not? Having made up her mind, Liu Yushu summoned her personal maid and secretly instructed her to prepare the necessary items for exploring the cave, while she herself carefully studied the map and the route.