Chapter 471: Coexisting Crises

Chapter 471: Chapter 471: Coexisting Crises

Shen Ningning abruptly threw on her clothes and sat up. Jiang Zhi carried a lantern to light the way for her.

A slanting rain fell amid the mountain wind, carrying a chill through the air.

When Shen Ningning rushed to Mo Lingwei’s meditation chamber, the room was brightly lit. The Emperor and several ministers were keeping watch inside.

The Emperor had just had the two accompanying Imperial Physicians examine him, but Mo Lingwei’s cold affliction was an old malady, and they were at a loss.

As soon as Shen Ningning arrived, the crowd quickly parted to either side.

The Emperor said anxiously, "Ningning, quickly, come see what’s wrong with Ling Wei! It hasn’t relapsed in so long. Why has this illness struck again!"

Shen Ningning stepped forward for a look. Frost clung to Mo Lingwei’s eyebrows and lashes, his face was deathly pale, and his entire body was ice-cold.

She immediately handed the Spirit Grass she had brought to an Imperial Physician and told him to brew it into a decoction.

Just before leaving her room, she had grabbed a handful of Spirit Grass from the Immortal Realm, about a hundred or so stalks, which should be enough to alleviate Mo Lingwei’s condition.

However, the more frequently his cold affliction flared up, the greater the amount of Spirit Grass required.

As the Imperial Physician went to brew the medicine, the Emperor sat by the bed, sick with worry.

Shen Ningning’s clear voice was reassuring. "Uncle Emperor, don’t worry. Big Brother will be fine."

As she finished speaking, the King of Shu, who had been silent off to the side, let out a somber sigh.

"Alas, Ling Wei has suffered from this illness for years. I recall that the State Preceptor seemed to have found a solution back then. Your Majesty, did you not consider the State Preceptor’s suggestion?"

The Emperor’s expression faltered. The State Preceptor had suggested sacrificing Shen Ningning to the heavens. ’But how could I possibly agree to that!’

By now, the Emperor had grown too fond of the child to sacrifice her.

The Emperor, assuming the King of Shu was unaware of the details, shook his head with a bitter sigh. "The method the State Preceptor spoke of is no good. It won’t work."

But the King of Shu continued, "How can we know it won’t work without trying? For Ling Wei’s sake, we should try any method, no matter how difficult."

The Emperor was growing irritated. "Enough! Say no more. We’ll discuss everything after Ling Wei wakes up."

The King of Shu pursed his lips, cupped his hands, and said he would also go help find a solution, then took his leave. ℯℯ𝘭.

Shen Ningning looked at Mo Lingwei on the bed. She thought for a moment, then suddenly recalled a sophisticated instrument in her Immortal Realm.

When she had passed by it before, a quick scan would display her body’s health level.

’I wonder if this instrument can help find the cause of Mo Lingwei’s illness?’

The little girl decided to give it a try.

"Uncle Emperor, I want to treat Big Brother alone. If you trust me, please wait outside for a moment and let me give it a proper try."

Mo Lingwei was in such a state, and who knew how long he would be unconscious. The Emperor was already burning with anxiety, so how could he possibly disagree?

He quickly nodded. "Of course I trust you, Ningning. Do you need an Imperial Physician to come in and assist you?"

Shen Ningning decisively waved her hand. "No, that’s okay. I can do it myself. But please, Uncle Emperor, don’t let anyone disturb me without my permission."

The Emperor agreed at once, led his men to the doorway, and ordered the imperial guard to secure the door.

Once they were all gone, Shen Ningning strained with her small hands and managed to drag the wheeled instrument out of the Immortal Realm.

"Whew, I really can bring things out of the Immortal Realm!" Her eyes sparkled as she caught her breath.

She had been wondering earlier—since she could bring out food, supplies, and even Spiritual Spring Water from the Immortal Realm, could she bring out these cold blocks of iron too?

And Shen Ningning had guessed right.

After dragging the instrument out, the little girl took a probe from it and scanned Mo Lingwei from head to toe.

After that, it was a matter of patiently waiting for the results to be processed.

Just then, outside, the head of the Imperial Guards, Commander Lu, came to report to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, this is bad! The mountain to the southwest of the National Temple has collapsed, blocking the road down. I just led some men to inspect the mountainside to the southeast, and it is also in danger of imminent collapse. In my opinion, Your Majesty should depart immediately and move to a safe location."

The Emperor’s expression froze; he sensed that something was terribly wrong.

"No, we can’t leave. Ningning is treating Ling Wei."

He paced back and forth, thinking of a solution. "Lu Fu, take the imperial guard now and try to prevent further collapses. Have the monks help you. Leave some men here on guard. I will go with you to find the abbot."

Shen Ningning didn’t know that chaos had erupted outside. The impending flash flood howled as it surged through the wilderness.

The little girl focused on waiting for Mo Lingwei’s condition to appear on the screen.

After a short while, the blue screen lit up, displaying Mo Lingwei’s skeletal structure. His health level was glowing red; the outlook seemed grim.

The diagnosis appeared beside it.

Shen Ningning frowned, trying her best to make out the words.

"Patient is suspected of harboring an Ice Gu. Deep scan required."

Shen Ningning noticed that on the blue screen, there was a red circle around the depiction of Mo Lingwei’s wrist, with a small note next to it—

"Suspected radioactive item. Must be destroyed."

Shen Ningning didn’t understand what "radioactive" meant, but she knew that this instrument her mother had left behind was extremely precise.

’If it says something is bad, it’s definitely bad!’

The little girl quickly went to check what exactly on his wrist was affecting his health.

However, when Shen Ningning looked down, she saw the Buddha Beads that were always on Mo Lingwei’s wrist.

Her round eyes widened in shock.

She remembered Mo Lingwei telling her that these Buddha Beads were the High Monk’s Relics that his father, the Emperor, had sought out. The State Preceptor had said he was born with a curse, so he had to wear the Buddha Beads to reduce his malevolent energy, lest he be taken away by evil spirits.

So, this string of relics had also been found with the State Preceptor’s help and had even been blessed by the incense of the National Temple.

The Emperor was a firm believer in this and always reminded Mo Lingwei to wear them. But, even though he wore them obediently, the relapses of his old malady had actually become more and more frequent.

"Something’s not right..." Shen Ningning murmured.

’What if these Buddha Beads were the problem all along!’

After a moment’s hesitation, the little girl directly removed the Buddha Beads from Mo Lingwei’s wrist.

She placed the Buddha Beads into the blue box in the middle of the instrument, closed the transparent lid, and then pressed the start button.

The screen automatically displayed—

[Radioactive material detected. Contamination level: 70%. Destruction in progress.]

Suddenly, with a few CRACKLING sounds, sparks flew inside the transparent blue box.

Shen Ningning flinched in fear. Having never seen such a commotion, she quickly hid beside Mo Lingwei.

But the little girl saw that as the white smoke in the blue box gradually dissipated, the so-called High Monk’s Relics had melted into pools of a thick, black substance!

She moved closer to observe. There seemed to be a lot of silvery residue inside; she didn’t know what it was.

The machine quickly displayed another message—

[Threat eliminated.]

A moment later, water automatically sprayed inside, washing away the thick, black substance bit by bit until it was completely clean.

Shen Ningning used the instrument to check Mo Lingwei’s body one more time.

Finally, this time the instrument told her: [Body status: Healthy.]

The little girl quickly took the spirit grass decoction the Imperial Physician had prepared and carefully poured it into Mo Lingwei’s mouth, bit by bit.

When she finally saw the frost on his face gradually recede, a look of joy spread across Shen Ningning’s face.

Before she could happily share the news with the Emperor, a ROARING sound came from outside, like a stampede of mountain beasts.

The sounds outside grew tumultuous, and Shen Ningning could faintly hear Commander Lu giving urgent orders.

The little girl quickly pushed open the door and found a torrential rain pouring down in the dead of night.

Jiang Zhi came running through the downpour.

"Ningning, let’s go, quickly! The mountain behind us has collapsed, and a flash flood could come at any moment!"

Shen Ningning looked back and saw that amidst the rolling mountains, the ROARING sound was indeed thundering violently.

Chen Shaobei also arrived. "The Emperor ordered me to carry the Crown Prince. Miss Shen, we have to leave right now!"

Fearing Shen Ningning might get hurt, Jiang Zhi also carried her on her back.

However, just as their group, escorted by guards, reached the temple gate to rendezvous with the Emperor, Commander Lu came running up from the hillside, completely drenched.

"Your Majesty, someone has blocked the road down the mountain."