Chapter 43 Qinghe solves the puzzle
A few days later, Wei Wuxian, carrying the jade pendant fragment, traveled with Lan Wangji and Sizhui to the Nie Clan in Qinghe. Nie Huaisang, having received the summons, was already waiting at the entrance to the Unclean World, waving his signature folding fan. Upon seeing them, he beamed, "Brother Wei, Second Young Master Lan, what a rare guest!"
Entering the main hall, Wei WuXian didn't beat around the bush and directly took out the jade pendant fragment and placed it on the table: "Huaisang, you are knowledgeable and experienced, please help me take a look at this thing."
Nie Huaisang paused, his playful expression dropping as he picked up the fragment and examined it carefully. He twisted the edge of the jade pendant with his fingertips, then held it up to the light for a long moment, his brow furrowing. "This jade is indeed fine, warm jade, but the spiritual energy in the broken part..." He leaned in and sniffed it. "It's a bit strange. It doesn't seem like the spiritual energy of our immortal sect cultivators. Instead, it carries a certain... indescribable aura of murderous aura and spiritual energy."
"Do you know the origin of the character 'Jun'?" Wei Wuxian pressed. "For example, the Jun family, or any place related to the character 'Jun'?"
Nie Huaisang shook his head and placed the fragments back on the table. "I've read quite a few ancient books from the various immortal sects, but I really don't have much impression of the Jun family." He suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead. "Oh, right, a while ago, when I was sorting through the old files left by my eldest brother, I seemed to have come across the place name 'Junwu Mountain'. It was said to be a country in the past, but later on, for some reason, it was listed as a forbidden area, and even immortal sect cultivators rarely went there."
“Jun Wushan?” Wei Wuxian’s heart skipped a beat. “?”
"That's unclear," Nie Huaisang spread his hands. "The file is badly damaged. It only mentions 'Junwu Mountain hides jade; if the jade shatters, the mountain will collapse,' and nothing else." He observed Wei Wuxian's lost expression and added, "But don't worry, Brother Wei. I'll have someone search the warehouse for relevant records and send them back to you, even if it's just a fragment."
Wei Wuxian nodded, his fingertips rubbing against the jade pendant fragments. Nie Huaisang couldn't even explain the origins of the jade pendant. It seemed that the Jun family's past was indeed deeply hidden.
As he was speaking, Nie Huaisang's attendant hurried in, holding an old wooden box in his hand: "Master, we have found the fragments of the scroll about the Heavenly Palace that you requested."
"Go to Heaven?" Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the legendary residence of the priests? What does it have to do with this jade pendant?"
Nie Huaisang opened the wooden box, revealing several rolls of yellowed silk cloth with illegible writing. He pointed to one of them and said, "Look here! It mentions the 'Remnant Jade Summoning Priest,' and claims that certain fragments of ancient jade pendants can sense the aura of the Celestial Court." He picked up Wei Wuxian's fragment and placed it next to the silk cloth for comparison. "The spiritual energy fluctuations of your jade pendant are quite similar to what's described there."
But when he examined it more carefully, he still shook his head: "I can't say for sure. The matter of going to heaven is inherently vague, and the fragments don't go into detail. But since Junwu Mountain is mentioned, perhaps you can go there and take a look? You may find other fragments."
Lan Wangji, who had been listening in silence, now spoke up, "Since Junwu Mountain is a forbidden area, it must be dangerous."
"Indeed," Nie Huaisang agreed. "I heard that there are not only powerful evil spirits in that mountain, but also people who go in get lost and never come out. Brother Wei, why don't you just forget about it? It's not worth taking such a risk for an old jade pendant."
Wei Wuxian clenched the jade pendant tightly and looked up at Lan Wangji with determination in his eyes. "I want to go and take a look. Even if I don't find anything, at least I can put my mind at ease."
Lan Wangji met his gaze and nodded, "I'll accompany you."
Si Zhui listened from the side and whispered, "Daddy, Father, I want to go too."
Wei Wuxian patted his head and said, "Sizhui, it's too dangerous out there. You better stay in the Cloud Recesses and wait for us to come back. Be good."
Before leaving the Impure World, Nie Huaisang handed Wei Wuxian a hand-drawn map. "This is the most detailed map of Junwu Mountain I've found. Be careful. If you can't make it, retreat. Don't try to be so stubborn."
On the way back, Wei Wuxian looked at the map, then at the fragment of the jade pendant in his arms, and suddenly smiled: "No matter what is in Junwu Mountain, it is worth it to be able to get closer to my mother's past."
Lan Wangji held his hand, and a steady strength came from his fingertips: "Yes."
Sizhui followed them, watching the renewed light on his father's face. He felt that the small fragment of the jade pendant seemed to hold not only a secret but also a heavy weight of longing. Perhaps going to Junwu Mountain wasn't just about finding answers, but also about saying goodbye to the unspoken past.
As the carriage left Qinghe, Wei Wuxian drew aside the curtains and gazed at the mountains in the distance. Junwu Mountain… He silently chanted the name, the jade pendant on his fingertips seeming to warm slightly, as if responding to his anticipation.
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