Li Man’er saw that the atmosphere had been sufficiently built up and said softly, "Little Uncle, this matter is of great importance. You must keep it a secret for me."
"Speak," Ning Daocheng said. He had a vague suspicion, but he thought his idea was too preposterous.
"We, at this very moment, are inside that stone."
"What?" Although Ning Daocheng was blind, his eyes seemed to widen with shock at this moment. Perhaps it was due to his physical weakness, and he had some difficulty processing this information, so his whole body trembled slightly, as if greatly shaken.
"That mad monk from back then didn't lie. The stone appears ordinary, but it is indeed a Buddhist treasure, a mustard seed universe."
Ning Daocheng's lips trembled slightly, wanting to say something but not uttering it.
Li Man’er continued, "Little Uncle, this stone was actually pressed under my mother's jewelry box. She never discovered its secret until before she passed away. I found this stone by chance and discovered its mystery."
After a long while, Ning Daocheng slowly said, "Tell me in detail, what exactly is going on?"
Li Man’er cleared her throat twice and said, "After I returned from Jiangnan, my days were very unhappy. That Madam Guo was outwardly obedient but inwardly disobedient. She doted on me in front of others, but in reality, she was trying to destroy me. I was young then and didn't understand at all. I only thought she treated me well. Gradually, my temper worsened, and my disposition became more irritable. I would lose my temper at the slightest provocation, and my bad reputation spread."
She sighed as she spoke, as if regretting the mistakes she had made in her childhood.
Ning Daocheng said, "It's not your fault. You were alone, and the entire household was against you. How could you possibly resist?"
The Ning family had no intention of letting Li Man’er return initially. However, Li Man’er was a member of the Li family by name, not the Ning family. Furthermore, she was betrothed to the Duke Rong's mansion. Thus, they had no choice but to send her back in the end.
"Once, when I lost my temper, I accidentally knocked over the jewelry box my mother left behind. The stone fell out. I didn't pay much attention to it at first and casually tossed it into my jewelry case. Later, when I went to get a hairpin from the case, I accidentally pricked my finger. Blood dripped onto the stone, dyeing it red."
Li Man’er observed Ning Daocheng's expression as she spoke, unsure if he believed her.
Ning Daocheng frowned slightly. "And then?"
"I didn't pay attention at first, but the stone became scalding hot, as if it were about to catch fire. When I reached for it, I got burned. The stone seemed to have a mind of its own, and it suddenly shone with a golden light, drilling into my finger through the wound. I was terrified."
Ning Daocheng's mouth hung slightly open, looking dumbfounded. His eyes were devoid of any sparkle, making him appear even more vacant.
He was clearly startled by this 'story,' unsure whether to believe it or react in some other way.
Seeing him like this, Li Man’er wondered if her story was a bit too much. She thought for a moment and then softly called out, "Little Uncle?"
"Cough, um," Ning Daocheng regained his usual composure. "Man'er, this matter is too astonishing."
"I know. Little Uncle, you don't know, but after the stone entered my wound, my entire arm felt as hot as a red-hot iron." Li Man’er also felt she was exaggerating a bit, but such things needed to be fantastical. Blending truth and falsehood was more convincing.
"What happened later?"
"I was terrified and didn't know what to do. Fortunately, no one else was in the room. I lay in bed, not daring to sleep, just enduring it."
Ning Daocheng felt a pang of sympathy. A young girl, usually so delicate, encountering such an unbelievable event would certainly be frightened.
"Later, my arm returned to normal, and I felt nothing else. I assumed it was over. Perhaps I had imagined it, or perhaps nothing had happened."
The girl's voice was remarkably calm, with some similarities to her voice a few years ago, but more differences. Her voice conveyed a sense of determination and bravery, no longer the soft-spoken young girl whose laughter tinkled like silver bells.
"But one time, I woke up and found myself in an unfamiliar place. There were houses, gardens, and a small spring. I was terrified, thinking I had been kidnapped by villains, but after looking everywhere, I found no one else."
Li Man’er paused and then said, "My courage grew, and I looked around. I found no trace of anyone else. However, I couldn't find a way out. In my anxiety, I shouted, 'Let me out!'"
Ning Daocheng's heart pounded. By the time Li Man’er reached this point, he had guessed what happened next.
"In fact, I had entered the Mustard Seed Universe space. After I shouted 'Let me out,' I suddenly returned to my own boudoir." Li Man’er said, "That night, I stayed awake until dawn, unable to sleep."
Ning Daocheng thought that if this had happened to him, he would likely have been sleepless for a night as well.
It was like a beggar suddenly receiving a large sum of money. The complex emotions were indescribable. There was a little surprise, but more so, there was apprehension and unease.
"But later, I gradually accepted it. The stone had vanished. It seemed to have merged with my flesh and blood, and my spirit. What else could I do but accept it? I couldn't just stop living because of this," Li Man’er said. "Moreover, this stone was left to me by my mother. Perhaps everything was destined, and it was my mother's magical artifact for my protection."
Ning Daocheng's eyes also became moist. Every time Ning Shi was mentioned, his heart ached uncontrollably. Such a good woman as his sister, who had passed away so early, how could one not feel regretful?
"Through some exploration, I gradually understood some of the rules of this Mustard Seed Universe. For example, it can store items, hold many things, and also bring people inside." Li Man’er did not say too much. Although she trusted Ning Daocheng, caution towards human nature was her instinct.
"So, after I saved you, I immediately brought you into this Mustard Seed Universe space, where no one could find you."
Ning Daocheng said, "Man'er, Little Uncle has something to tell you."
"Please do."
"This matter is too significant. You must not tell anyone. Not even your closest relatives. Do not speak of it." Ning Daocheng sighed. "Fortunately, your Uncle is now a cripple. Otherwise, if I knew of such a heaven-defying thing, it would be hard to guarantee I wouldn't have other thoughts."