Reaching the next inn, it was already dark. Yan Jiaojiao and the others were also exhausted. They ate a simple meal and retired to their respective rooms, leaving only two guards on rotation.
Upon entering her room, Yan Jiaojiao's first action was to try and place the little black dog into her Jade Space. As expected, living beings could not enter. After several failed attempts, Yan Jiaojiao gave up under the little black dog's scornful gaze.
The little black dog turned and slunk away, ignoring Yan Jiaojiao. She had no choice but to lie on the bed and send her consciousness into the Jade Space to check on Shui Ling.
The Jade Space was vast and boundless. Due to the unique properties of time within the jade, Shui Ling had found a clean water缸 and fallen asleep within it.
When Yan Jiaojiao entered, Shui Ling groggily awoke, her large, watery eyes looking at Yan Jiaojiao with delight.
"I'm sorry you had to stay in a water缸," Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but pat Shui Ling's head. Shui Ling closed her eyes in enjoyment and shook her head.
All items stored in the Jade Space were of the highest quality, even the water in this缸 was century-old mountain spring water. Though scarce, the water was excellent, and Shui Ling seemed to like it.
Yan Jiaojiao added, "We will pass by many mountains and lakes along the way. I will let you choose wherever we go."
Shui Ling nodded again, a cute smile appearing on her face: "I like you."
Were all nature spirits this direct?
Yan Jiaojiao was momentarily stunned by the unexpected confession. Looking into Shui Ling's innocent eyes, she smiled back and said patiently and gently, as if educating a child, "Yes, I like you too. You need to be good and not provoke humans anymore. Only by staying quiet can you live well."
Shui Ling seemed to understand, blinking her large eyes. She felt Yan Jiaojiao was also human, and she liked her very much.
Yan Jiaojiao chuckled and shook her head, realizing she couldn't expect too much from nature spirits. She simply said, "Alright, you mustn't move around randomly in here. I will summon you when I find a suitable lake."
Shui Ling suddenly looked as if she remembered something. She floated out of the large water缸 and tugged on Yan Jiaojiao's hand, pulling her deeper into the Jade Space.
"What are we doing?"
Yan Jiaojiao was confused, but Shui Ling flew faster and faster. They sped for a long time without stopping. The Jade Space was truly immense.
Yan Jiaojiao grew tired from flying and stopped, asking, "Shui Ling, where are you taking me?"
Seeing Yan Jiaojiao wouldn't go any further, Shui Ling anxiously pointed ahead: "The very back, the very back."
She was determined to go, it seemed Shui Ling had explored quite a bit of the Jade Space. She had already been to the very back, no wonder Yan Jiaojiao saw her sleeping soundly upon arrival. She had thought it was the time restriction in the Jade Space that made her sleep.
Shui Ling was still dragging Yan Jiaojiao along. Helpless, Yan Jiaojiao pulled Shui Ling back, and with a thought, transported them both to the very top of the Jade Space.
The Jade had recognized Yan Jiaojiao as its master, so within the Jade Space, she could control it at will. Reaching the top was as simple as thinking about it.
Shui Ling was astonished by the speed. She looked around and then gazed at Yan Jiaojiao with admiration.
However, Yan Jiaojiao was no longer in the mood to deal with Shui Ling. Before her stood a bronze pagoda, about a person's height, covered in sealing talismans. It was even bound layer by layer with immortal-binding ropes.
As they approached, a slight breeze stirred, causing the small bells on the pagoda's corners to chime, a clear "ding-ding" that sounded particularly jarring in the Jade Space.
"Here, here is more," Shui Ling, seeing Yan Jiaojiao notice the pagoda, happily pointed her translucent finger towards it. "It's not just one person."
So, this was what Shui Ling wanted to show Yan Jiaojiao.
There was indeed more than just Shui Ling here!
Anything sealed this thoroughly must be no ordinary being. What powerful spirit could it be?
Yan Jiaojiao looked at the pagoda in disbelief. She had no idea such a thing existed within her Jade Space.
"Release it, release it," Shui Ling circled Yan Jiaojiao, looking at her expectantly, likely wanting a companion.
The seal looked difficult to break. Dark red light flickered on the immortal-binding ropes, clearly indicating that a unique forbidden curse had also been placed upon it.
Yan Jiaojiao cautiously approached, but Shui Ling cried out nervously from the side, "It hurts, it hurts."
However, Shui Ling's warning was too late. The moment Yan Jiaojiao stepped within a meter of the pagoda, she felt a sharp pain, like needle pricks, forcing her to retreat immediately. The pain vanished as soon as she stepped back.
It seemed even approaching was forbidden. Shui Ling must have tried it herself to know she would be harmed.
Yan Jiaojiao then tried to attack with her spiritual power. It was repelled within a meter, nearly hitting herself.
Seeing that Yan Jiaojiao also couldn't release the spirit, Shui Ling looked disappointed.
Yan Jiaojiao refused to believe it. She conjured a sharp spear from the Jade Space with a grab. Concentrating her energy, she hurled the spear into the pagoda's one-meter radius. This time, the spear penetrated half a foot deeper. However, the immortal-binding ropes on the pagoda flashed with dark light, and the spear suddenly stopped as if hitting an invisible steel wall. It began to shatter from the tip, turning into powder!
Yan Jiaojiao gasped. Such powerful defensive force. If she had tried to force her way in with her physical body, wouldn't she have been pulverized?
Shui Ling was also terrified by this spectacle. No longer pestering Yan Jiaojiao to break the seal, she retreated far away, afraid of being shattered into water droplets herself.
Yan Jiaojiao was speechless and also gave up on touching the pagoda.
Given the overbearing nature of the seal, the being sealed within was likely even more ferocious. With Yan Jiaojiao's current strength, it was best not to act rashly.
Yan Jiaojiao walked over, took Shui Ling's hand, and in a blink of an eye, they were back beside the large water缸. After instructing Shui Ling a few times and seeing her sleep soundly in the water缸, Yan Jiaojiao returned her consciousness.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the little black dog squatting by her pillow, his large round eyes fixed on her.
"Why so nervous?" Yan Jiaojiao asked with a smile, stroking the little dog's head.
Seeing her awake, the little black dog visibly relaxed. He shook his fluffy head, flicked away Yan Jiaojiao's hand, and with a hop of his short legs, jumped back onto the recliner.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but chuckle. She sat up from the bed and deliberately teased him, "Did you feel that I was in danger just now? That's why you were so nervous and came to guard me."
The little black dog snorted through his wet nose, turned over, and continued to sleep with his tail facing Yan Jiaojiao.
He would never admit it!