Her hand rested on the coffin, then shattered it with force.
"CRASH!" The crystal coffin broke into pieces, the fragments scattering in the air like snow crystals after an avalanche, then falling to the ground.
Standing on the ground covered in shards, Nan Shiying turned around.
The crystal coffin, shattered into thousands of pieces, reflected thousands of Nan Shiying figures, dense and numerous, like dark shadows formed by countless spots.
"Let's go!"
She said to Old Du.
Old Du nodded.
There was no body in the crystal coffin, which wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, to extract Nirvana, one could only refine her remains. What she cared about wasn't just this matter, but more so her own loss of control just now.
That shouldn't have happened.
"It's alright, without the Empress's body, we can find another way."
Old Du looked at Nan Shiying, who was enveloped in an oppressive aura, and comforted her softly. He knew she wanted to obtain the Nirvana within the Empress's body to heal Ji Jinmo's蛊 poison. However, with her intelligence, she should have considered this possibility before. It was simply that her concern made her act rashly.
Nan Shiying heard Old Du's comfort and slowly withdrew her thoughts. She offered no explanation, merely nodding gently.
...
Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan received news from the foot of the mountain and were waiting on the mountainside.
"Senior Brother, why haven't Martial Granduncle and Junior Martial Uncle arrived yet? Did they get lost?" Qing Yuan tilted her head back. It was already past the辰时 (Chen Shi - roughly 7-9 AM). When Qing Yi Bai sent the message, it was just dawn. If they hadn't taken a wrong turn, Martial Granduncle and Junior Martial Uncle should have been on the mountain by now.
"That shouldn't be the case!"
Although Martial Granduncle hadn't returned for a long time, he wouldn't have forgotten the way, right? After traveling by water, there was only one path to Medicine King Valley.
Could it be that Martial Granduncle chose the wrong waterway?
"Why did you insist on seeing that Mist Lotus, boy? What's so special about that thing!"
As Qing Zhu was thinking, he suddenly heard Old Du's voice, laced with a hint of disdainful complaint, from the bottom of the stairs. The next moment, two figures, one old and one young, appeared before Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan.
"Junior Martial Aunt, Martial Granduncle!"
Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan quickly stood up and went to meet them.
The people of Medicine King Valley were not allowed to linger at the foot of the mountain for extended periods outside specific times, so Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan only stayed for a day before hurrying back up.
With less than half a month before Medicine King Valley opened, more and more people were coming to seek medical treatment. The inn was already packed to the brim. While they could also practice medicine with Old Du present, it was against the rules. To avoid being punished by their Martial Uncles and Uncles from the Benevolent Discipline Hall, Qing Yuan and Qing Zhu had no choice but to return.
Who would have thought that this wait would last for several days.
Nan Shiying couldn't help but reach out and pat Qing Yuan's little head, then took out some sugar cakes from her懷中 and stuffed them into her hand. Old Du paused slightly, when did she pack the pastries?
Seeing Qing Yuan's delighted smile as she took the cakes, Old Du swallowed the words he was about to say.
It was no wonder she was liked by young girls.
Qing Yuan opened the parchment wrapped around the sugar cakes, picked up a piece, and put it into her mouth. Her cheeks immediately puffed up. The sweet taste melted in her mouth, and she closed her eyes contentedly, "Thank you, Junior Martial Aunt."
Her voice was muffled as she spoke her thanks while chewing.
Qing Zhu reprimanded, "Speak after you finish eating."
Qing Yuan pouted, wrinkled her nose, and snorted at Qing Zhu.
Qing Zhu glared at her but didn't scold her further. Instead, he turned to Nan Shiying and Old Du and said, "Martial Granduncle, Junior Martial Uncle, the Valley Master and all the Martial Granduncles and Martial Uncles are waiting in the main hall. Let's hurry up the mountain!"