Chapter 48 The Childhood Betrothal of a Miao Girl (Part 18)
"See you this weekend," Shui Mingsheng said. It was time to say goodbye again, Jiang Yi…
"See you this weekend," Shui Mingsheng said.
It was time to say goodbye again. Jiang Yiqing asked, "How are you going to get back? You're not going to use the teleportation curse again, are you?"
From a young age, Miao people are taught that Gu worms and Gu techniques can only be used within Miao territory, because only by keeping their skills hidden can Gu techniques continue to be passed down.
"Don't worry, I did it very cleverly. The teleportation Gu I used won't leave any record," Shui Mingsheng said.
The teleportation gu is a public resource that even Miao people who don't know gu techniques can use. It was originally invented to make life easier for the Miao people. However, to prevent it from circulating outside the community, it is equipped with tracking spells that can identify the user and where they went after using it.
"That's how it is." Jiang Yiqing breathed a slight sigh of relief, but she still couldn't explain how Shui Mingsheng appeared in N City without buying a ticket, and how so many people saw her.
Shui Mingsheng, who is always cautious, actually broke the rules just to see her, which made Jiang Yiqing both angry and touched.
“Yi Qing, I want to stay with you a little longer, since we’re already here,” Shui Mingsheng said.
"..." Jiang Yiqing glared at her.
Shui Mingsheng, afraid that she would be angry, changed his words and said, "Yiqing, alright, alright, I'll go back today."
Jiang Yiqing was still worried about Shui Mingsheng, so she bought a teleportation talisman from her space and handed it to Shui Mingsheng: "There are not only Gu techniques in the world, but also Taoist techniques. Take this and go. If anyone asks how you got here, just say that the teleportation talisman sent you here."
Shui Mingsheng could no longer keep up his smile and said, "Yi Qing, I can take risks, but you can't follow my example. Don't let anyone know you have a system, okay?"
Jiang Yiqing also knew that if people knew that she possessed a unique advantage that others didn't have, then the unsolvable mysteries she had left behind would be investigated again, which would be very dangerous for both her and Ming Sheng.
However, she didn't want to live in fear forever. They hadn't done anything wrong, and she wanted to face it bravely.
"Mingsheng, are you scared?" Jiang Yiqing asked bluntly.
Shui Mingsheng was stunned. She was naturally fearless, overcoming her fear to refine it into a Gu worm, but one day, she too would feel fear for the safety of her beloved. She was blinded by concern and hadn't considered Jiang Yiqing's feelings. Having a cheat ability but being unable to use it—would that be comfortable?
Shui Mingsheng shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid, but I need to become strong enough to protect Yi Qing from any harm before I can feel at ease."
“Being strong is our shared goal,” Jiang Yiqing said. “Mingsheng, don’t let me hide behind you. We should move forward hand in hand.”
Although Shui Mingsheng had always known that Jiang Yiqing was a resilient and strong girl, at this moment, she saw that her soul and inner strength were stronger than anyone she had ever met.
This was the man she had chosen; no one else in the world could catch her eye except him.
“Okay, I understand.” Shui Mingsheng said, “Yi Qing, let’s go find the location on the treasure map. I think there must be a treasure there that will make us stronger.”
This was something that was supposed to be done in October, but Shui Mingsheng suddenly felt that it was urgent.
Jiang Yiqing wondered if there was a better way to change their situation. Being separated for so long was really tough.
However, after asking the system, she learned that while there were many items that could transport her back to Miao territory, only one allowed her to be with Shui Mingsheng while attending school: the "Gate of Eternal Day." With it, she could have two days, returning to Shui Mingsheng's side every morning through the gate. It even had no side effects; those who used the Gate of Eternal Day slept normally at night, only forever having one more day compared to ordinary people.
The only problem is that the Gate of Eternal Day is worth 10,000 coins and is an extremely powerful magic item. Even after using up all my savings, I'm still short one-third of it.
As the two were talking, a figure suddenly appeared under the banyan tree.
Jiang Yiqing looked over and saw it was Teacher Xia from the library.
Upon seeing her, Xia Yi waved and said, "Jiang Tongxue."
The teacher seemed to want to talk to her, so Jiang Yiqing went over, and Shui Mingsheng followed, holding her hand.
When Xia Yi saw Shui Mingsheng, she took off her glasses, looked at him closely, blinked in confusion, and then asked, "Is that Mingsheng?"
"...Aunt Xia?" Shui Mingsheng asked uncertainly. Xia Yi was wearing glasses now and her face was thinner than before, so she really didn't recognize her at first glance.
"I didn't expect it to really be you." Xia Yi said with some surprise, "Ming Sheng, you sent me an invitation to your wedding. I'm so sorry, I had something to do and couldn't get away."
Shui Mingsheng said he didn't mind, saying, "Aunt Xia, this is my wife Yiqing. Yiqing is my mother's good friend. She is very interested in Miao culture and has been studying folk customs in our Qingfeng Village for several years."
The two shook hands and hugged.
Shui Mingsheng looked at Xia Yi and said, "Aunt Xia, you said you were a folklore researcher, so how come you're teaching at N University now?"
Xia Yi looked somewhat downcast. She seemed unwilling to talk much about herself. Looking at the banyan tree, she said, "Yi Qing, Ming Sheng, my eyesight isn't very good. Can you help me see if there's a hole in that banyan tree?"
Looking in the direction Xia Yi pointed, the banyan tree had a large canopy and lush foliage, but no holes were visible. On the contrary, there was a tree hole that was clearly visible at the bottom where the roots were well-developed.
"Teacher Xia, do you mean the bottom part?"
"Did I see wrong?" Xia Yi murmured, then said, "It's okay, just pretend I didn't say anything."
After saying that, she turned and left.
Jiang Yiqing kept staring at the banyan tree. The system said, "This is a thousand-year-old banyan tree. It originally had some collection value, but because it has many insect holes, it doesn't have much value anymore."
Jiang Yiqing wondered, if Xia Yi was referring to insects that are invisible on the surface, how did she know that?
Jiang Yiqing told Shui Mingsheng her guess that Xia Yi might be able to see things that ordinary people cannot. Shui Mingsheng said, "If that's the case, Aunt Xia should be infected with some kind of plant-based Gu worm."
“It is very dangerous for someone who has not learned Gu techniques to become a parasite on Gu worms. If they are not careful, they will be devoured by the Gu worms.”
"What should we do then?" Jiang Yiqing felt that they couldn't just let Teacher Xia go unchecked.
“Let’s go find her and ask her clearly,” Shui Mingsheng said, happy to have an excuse to stay.
When they pushed open the heavy doors of the library, they were surprised to find it empty. The two had no choice but to sit on the chairs and wait.
After waiting and waiting without seeing anyone, Jiang Yiqing went to the desk, intending to leave a message to tell Xia Yi and the others that they had come. However, on the desk, she found a letter with the ink still wet.
Mingsheng, Yiqing:
I hope you will see this letter. I have been researching fragments of the ancient Miao language and historical records in Miao areas, and I discovered an ancient Miao treasure map from a thousand years ago. Since that day, my life has been anything but peaceful. The map holds a power untapped by ordinary people, and I thought I could become a revealer, but I seem to have overestimated myself. For so many years, I have ventured deep into Miao villages, and upon returning, I have studied the records day after day, but not only have I gained nothing, I have also ruined my eyesight. I have decided to entrust my dream to you. Please come to my house to find me.”
Jiang Yiqing handed the letter to Shui Mingsheng. Both of them found it strange, but Xia Yi seemed to have no reason to lie to them.
“I sent the wedding invitation to her address. She told me her home address when she left Miao territory, so… are we going to her house?” Shui Mingsheng asked.
"Go ahead," Jiang Yiqing said, putting the letter away.
If Xia Yi is telling the truth, there should be some connection between that map and the map fragments they obtained.
Jiang Yiqing still remembered that name: the inheritance of ten thousand Gu poisons. This was something everyone in Miao territory coveted. Although no one had yet discovered that she and Shui Mingsheng possessed fragments, if it were ever discovered, it would lead to a bloody battle. They had to prepare early.
The two found Xia Yi's home in a deep alley. She lived on the second floor of an old residential area. The surrounding eaves were narrow and the lighting was poor. A group of cats were lying at the entrance of the building, and another group was wandering around the two of them.
Jiang Yiqing waved to the kittens, and although they didn't go over, they made way for them to go up the stairs.
"Teacher Xia, are you there?" Jiang Yiqing knocked on the door and asked.
There was no response from inside.
The two exchanged a glance and together pushed open the creaking wooden door. In the dim sunlight, they saw a thin figure lying on the bed, surrounded by withered branches and trunks that were intertwined like the roots of a banyan tree.
Upon seeing them, the tree trunks seemed to retract as if they possessed a spirit. The two ran to the bedside, and Shui Mingsheng asked, "Aunt Xia, are you alright?"
At her call, Xia Yi's eyelids slowly opened like wrinkled tree bark, and she looked at the two of them. Upon closer inspection, one would find that her skin was also as dry and thin as tree bark, as if she had not yet recovered from the strange situation just now.
"It's you all..." Xia Yi's voice was slow and aged: "Good children, I have something to say to you."
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