Chapter 39: Spirit Bird????

  On a certain morning, the sea breeze was howling, and on the entire island, there was only one house. On the bed in that house lay a person, and that person was Jiang Xue'er. In her dream, she vaguely heard Ran Lingfeng's shouting voice, "Jiang Xue'er, come out for me...come out..." Also in her vague state, Jiang Xue'er again heard Pu Zuo's shouting voice, "Xue'er, Xue'er...you all quickly go down and save Xue'er ah, Xue'er you won't have anything happen to you..." And also in her vague state, Jiang Xue'er seemed to hear Xiao Hui's calling voice.

  Jiang Xue'er couldn't swim, and in the moment she fell into the sea, Jiang Xue'er swallowed several mouthfuls of seawater. Amidst her daze, she vaguely sensed that something was protecting her, making her feel a warm energy approaching her. Her whole body suddenly felt much more comfortable. In a daze, Jiang Xue'er broke through her dream and woke up with a start. Looking around, she saw an ancient-style house, an ancient-style bed, an ancient-style table, and an ancient-style screen. On the screen hung ancient-style clothes. Jiang Xue'er thought to herself that she couldn't have traveled through time. She looked at her own clothes - they were still modern, not from ancient times. Getting out of bed, she walked over to the ancient-style mirror and took a look; her face hadn't changed either.

  Jiang Xue'er remembered that on the night of her engagement, Pu Zuo and Ruan Lingfeng had a fight on the boat for her sake. She also recalled what Ruan Lingfeng said: "Pu Zuo, I'm telling you, Xue'er is now my person, please keep your distance from her." Jiang Xue'er thought about how Pu Zuo and Ruan Lingfeng had fought each other to a pulp on the day of her engagement, and wondered what they were up to now. She also thought about how she had fallen into the sea and didn't know how long she had slept, or where she was now. And what about her parents? Were they worried sick?

  Jiang Xue'er looked around the room, which was luxurious and beautiful, with inner and outer compartments separated by a beaded curtain. The walls were adorned with landscape paintings that seemed to come alive. Jiang Xue'er's heart skipped a beat as she saw such a large house without a single person in sight. She walked out of the door and opened it, only to see an endless expanse of sea stretching before her, and heard the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Looking around, she still didn't see anyone, so she called out: "Is anyone there... is anyone there..."

  Jiang Xue'er called out a few times, but still no one responded. At this time, behind Jiang Xue'er's back, there was suddenly a sound, "Miss, you're awake." It was the sweet voice of a girl.

  Jiang Xue'er turned her head and saw a woman wearing half ancient and half modern clothes, with an ancient hairstyle. Jiang Xue'er thought the woman was exceptionally beautiful, and she felt a little bewildered. Had she really traveled through time? Why did she see someone wearing ancient clothes? Was she in a fairyland, seeing gods? Or had she arrived in heaven?

  "Who are you..." Jiang Xue'er was slightly puzzled.

  "Miss, you haven't crossed over. This isn't Heaven or Hell, and I'm no deity. So, this is still the 21st century, and you're not dead."

  Jiang Xue'er was startled by the girl's words and thought to herself, "How did she know what I was thinking? Is she a human or a ghost?"

  That girl said again: "Girl, I am neither human nor ghost, but I won't hurt you, don't be afraid. You must be very puzzled, why do I know what you think in your heart? Why did you come here?" Jiang Xue'er nodded, and that girl said again: "Because I'm not a person at all, girl, do you still remember the Dream Garden?"

  Jiang Xue'er widened her eyes, thinking that Ruan Lingfeng had told her before that no one knew about the Dream Garden except for the servants. Could she be a servant who escaped from the Dream Garden? Jiang Xue'er said: "I remember."

  The girl said: "Then do you remember saving a colorful bird in Dream Garden?"

  "Is that a bird?" Jiang Xue'er jumped up, and thought to herself: "No way, could it be... Could she be that bird? How is that possible, how can a bird turn into a human and still look so beautiful? Jiang Xue'er thought she was still dreaming, and pinched herself hard, "Ow, that hurts."

  The girl said: "Girl, you don't have to struggle anymore, I am that bird." Jiang Xue'er pointed at the girl and stuttered: "You...you...are...that...bird?"

  "Yes, I am Cai Ling. I'm not an ordinary bird, but a spiritual bird born from heaven and earth, with the ability to communicate with heaven. Even now, I know what you're thinking, Miss. Last time, you helped me heal my wounds and returned my spiritual gemstone, that's why I was able to escape unharmed."

  Jiang Xue'er smiled and said: "There, there, it was just a matter of lifting my hand. So to say, that time... did you save me?" Jiang Xue'er looked a bit puzzled.

  Cai Ling said: "Yes, that day was your big happy day, so I went to congratulate you too. Unexpectedly, in the evening, you had an accident and fell into the sea. I then rescued you and brought you here."

  Jiang Xue'er said: "Were you there that day? Why didn't I see you?"

  Cai Ling replied: "Yes, I transformed into a bird that day and hid in a secret place, so you didn't find me."

  "Where is this place? How can I get back home?" Jiang Xue'er looked out at the vast ocean and saw no boats nearby, so she asked how to return.

  Cai Ling said: "This is the Huahua Xian Island, ordinary people are not supposed to come to this place. You have been poisoned and haven't fully recovered yet, so for now, you will stay here to recuperate. Once you're better, I'll take you back."

  Jiang Xue'er heard that she had been poisoned and was a bit incredulous. How could she have been poisoned? On the day of her engagement, she hadn't eaten anything special, so how could she have been poisoned? She asked, "I've been poisoned?"

  Cai Ling said: "Yes, you've been poisoned by the toxic compounds of Aconitum, a type of chronic poison that can be fatal if ingested over a long period. Fortunately, we caught it early and there's still time for treatment."

  Jiang Xue'er didn't even know how she had been poisoned, and her mind was filled with confusion. She usually ate at home, so why would she be poisoned? What kind of poison was it, and why would someone treat her like this?

  Jiang Xue'er said: "You just said you have the ability of Tian Gong, then you must know who poisoned me, right?"

  Cai Ling said: "I do know, but the time hasn't come yet, I can't tell you. Alright, that's all I can tell you for now. Your medicine is ready, it's on the table, take one pill three times a day."

  Jiang Xue'er saw Cai Ling walking towards the sea, and in the distance, she disappeared before her eyes. Jiang Xue'er still couldn't believe what she had just heard, but she had to believe it. She returned to the room, sat on a chair, staring at the painting on the wall, motionless for a long time.