In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 16 Lifting the Ice Curse

[Ding! You have awakened the basic spell "Rune Sealing" for enchanting restrictions. You have learned to draw simple runes to eliminate demonic power and seal demons. These runes have the power to eliminate demonic power and restrict the movement of monsters. Using runes can eliminate the demonic power released by demons. Placing the drawn runes at the entrances or paths where monsters appear can temporarily restrict the movement of low-level monsters, creating conditions for further capture or expulsion. By continuously practicing the accuracy of the rune drawing and the strength of the spiritual power infused, you can improve the rune's power of elimination and enhance the effect and duration of the seal.]

A familiar warmth flowed in, and knowledge about drawing runes and using spells trickled through her like a gentle stream. Each rune and character shimmered with points of spiritual energy. Gradually, this knowledge seemed to grow in her mind, readily available to her.

Ning Xiaoxi stared blankly at the skill that had awakened before her. No, was this meant for her to remove the curse from Ding You?

"Host, host, how is it? Isn't this skill useful?" the little dumpling excitedly boasted.

Ning Xiaoxi looked left and right. Her father was on her left, her mother on her right, her brother behind her, and an unfamiliar old man in front of her. [Do you expect me to storm out the door and yell, "Watch me!"?]

Just then, the door to the room was suddenly opened, and a voice immediately asked, "Is Physician Zhao here?"

"Yes, yes, this old man is here."

The old man who had been squatting in front of Ning Xiaoxi stood up abruptly, dragging his jingling shackles as he weaved through the dense crowd, and soon reached the door.

Although the prisoners did not leave the room, they all nervously watched the movements outside.

Ning Xiaoxi's live stream view was still open when Doctor Zhao left the room.

The gazes of the postmaster and the other servants outside all turned to the imperial physician Zhao Yao, their eyes filled with expectation and helplessness.

Zhao Yao rushed over, his forehead covered in sweat despite the cold weather. He carefully examined Ding You and the constable's symptoms, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

After a long while, he shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Although I am well-versed in medical principles, I am truly powerless when it comes to matters of magic."

The expressions of the postmaster and the other constables darkened. Ding You was beginning to feel difficulty breathing; his breath had turned into white mist and was steadily decreasing. The constable gritted his teeth to keep from crying out, but the necrotic skin on his arm was slowly spreading upwards, and the icy pain was unbearable for most people.

[Host, it's your turn!] The little dumpling jumped out again. On the screen, its body was black and white and transparent, and you could clearly see Ding You and the servant's pained expressions.

In the cramped, dimly lit, and crowded inn room, Ning Xiaoxi clenched her fists, her eyes gradually revealing determination and resolve. She knew that Ding You, shrouded in the curse of ice, was on the verge of death, and the constable was also in imminent danger. She might be the only one who could save them at this moment.

Ning Xiaoxi slowly looked at her parents, took a deep breath, and said, "Dad, Mom, I have a way to save the people outside."

Ning Shi frowned, his face full of worry, and gently scolded, "Xiao Xi, we don't even know what the situation is like outside. What are you going out to save? Besides, you're still just a child. What will we do if something happens to you?"

Ning Xiaoxi looked at her father and explained eagerly, "Father, I really do have a special ability. I can sense that there are constables outside who have been cursed with ice, and I can break that ice curse. Father, do you still remember the box in the corner of your study that was full of travelogues and rare books? I once looked through and studied the books inside. There were runes and spells recorded there to counteract demonic magic. This time, the one outside is the raven ghost we encountered during our midday break. It's not powerful. The runes I learned before can counteract its demonic magic."

Ming Luoying quickly grabbed Ning Xiaoxi's hand, her face full of worry and her voice trembling with tears: "Xiaoxi, don't talk nonsense. You've always been raised in the inner chambers. Only the Taoist priests can deal with this demonic curse. Even if you've read a few books, how could you, a girl, learn this skill? We can't let you take such a risk."

Ning Xiaoxi gently grasped her mother's hand, looking at them with unwavering eyes: "Mother, I know this sounds unbelievable, but it's true. I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you would worry. But now, if I don't take action, both of those constables will die."

A hint of hesitation flashed in Ning Shi's eyes. He was no longer an official, and all he wanted now was to protect his family. So he stubbornly said, "No, it's too dangerous. We can't place our hopes on your uncertain abilities. If you fail, you won't only fail to save them, but you'll also get yourself killed."

Ning Xiaoxi's eyes reddened. She knew her parents were worried about her, and she didn't want to either, but what could she do in this situation? "Father, if something really happens to them, we prisoners don't know what we'll face. We're already exiled; if we get involved with demons, will we still have the luck we had yesterday?"

Ming Luoying and Ning Shi exchanged a glance, seeing an unprecedented determination in their daughter's eyes. As far as humans were concerned, matters of demons and monsters had never been reasonable.

Ming Luoying softened first, gently stroking Ning Xiaoxi's hair: "Xiaoxi, is your ability really reliable? Mother is really scared."

Ning Xiaoxi nodded solemnly: "Mother, I know your worries, but I am really confident. I have just secretly tested it. I can feel the fluctuations and route of the curse. I can use a talisman to dispel it."

Ning Shi was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Xiao Xi, you have to understand, once you go out, there's no turning back. What if something unexpected happens..."

Ning Xiaoxi interrupted her father, "Father, I'm not afraid. We've already left the comfortable environment of the royal city. In your memory, have we encountered demons this frequently? Or have you ever actually encountered demons?"

Ning Shi was stunned. Yes, what had happened in just two short days had completely overturned his previous experience. Looking at his daughter's determined face, he finally nodded slowly: "Xiao Xi, since you are so determined, then go. But be careful, we will wait for you to come back here."

Ning Xiaoxi smiled and said, "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom. I will definitely come back safely."

Ning Ziqing pressed his hand firmly on Ning Xiaoxi's shoulder, and Ning Xiaoxi turned around and gave him a smile. Then, she took a deep breath and walked out of the room, carrying her shackles, amidst the puzzled gazes of the other prisoners.

She gently pushed open the door. At this moment, all the constables and people in the post station were guarding Ding You and the constable. Ning Xiaoxi stepped forward and said to everyone, "Perhaps I can give it a try."

Everyone looked at her with suspicion. The guard who had been in charge of their families stepped forward with a frown, shoved her with the blade of his sword, and sneered, "You're just a prisoner. Who gave you permission to wander around like this? Besides, what skills could a young lady like you possibly have? Don't cause trouble here."

Ning Xiaoxi ignored the constable's questioning and looked firmly at Ding You and the constable. "If their curse is not broken soon, it will be too late. Give me a piece of yellow paper and a brush, and I can draw a talisman to break the curse."

The guard was about to say something more when the postmaster stopped him. "Young lady, are you sure you know what you're doing?" The postmaster looked at her still-childish face and felt a special affinity that made him willing to believe her.

Ning Xiaoxi looked directly into the postmaster's eyes and nodded.

"Okay, wait a moment." After saying that, the postmaster turned around and went into the main room to take out paper and pen, and also brought over a stool and placed it in front of Ning Xiaoxi.

Ning Xiaoxi carefully took the yellow paper, placed it flat on the stool, and slowly began to write. The lines on the talisman were crooked and looked messy.

The postmaster couldn't help but shake his head. The people around him also felt that the crooked lines were unreliable, but Ning Xiaoxi ignored them completely. She focused on drawing according to her memory. At this time, there was no special talisman paper or spirit ink. She could only rely on the spiritual power she had when learning the basic rune sealing technique to draw the pattern. As the last pattern was completed in one stroke, all the spiritual power she had accumulated was used up. The few simple swirling runes even faintly flickered with a weak light.

Ning Xiaoxi had the constable with the injured arm place his hand on Ding You's body again. The spiritual power she had accumulated was only enough to draw this one rune. According to the system, it could be used within three zhang after activation, but she still didn't want to take the risk. She then affixed the rune to Ding You's body and activated it.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the rune. The light on the rune gradually intensified, slowly spreading to Ding You's entire body and the constable's arm, while the solidified ice began to melt and dissipate little by little.

"It's working!" a constable exclaimed in delight.

Ning Xiaoxi was overjoyed; it seemed the system's products were reliable after all. Under the effect of the runes, the chill emanating from the curse gradually faded, and the two of them slowly returned to normal.