The night was as dark as ink. Moonlight spilled over Li Wei's desk from outside the window, illuminating the mysterious jade pendant. The red gemstone shimmered in the dim light, like a beating heart. Sitting at his desk, Li Wei gently caressed the edge of the jade, his heart filled with a myriad of complex emotions. Ever since he learned that Ying Yue had been sealed within the jade for over two thousand years, he had been unable to find peace. Her voice, her yearning, and even her loneliness from a millennium ago had left an indelible mark on his soul.
"Ying Yue, have you really been trapped for more than two thousand years?" Li Wei whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
The jade quivered subtly, and Ying Yue's voice resonated in his mind—clear yet mournful: "Yes, Li Wei. Since that ritual, I have been sealed within this jade pendant. Time seems to have frozen for me. I can sense the passage of the years, but I cannot touch the world that is meant to be mine. I... I want to go back. I want to be free again."
Li Wei felt a tightening in his chest. He could feel the helplessness and anticipation in Ying Yue's tone. In that moment, he resolved that no matter the cost, he would help her break the seal and return to her rightful era. Clutching the jade pendant, he murmured, "I will find a way, Ying Yue. I won't let you remain trapped here."
In the dead of night, Li Wei's room was lit by a single dim desk lamp, its weak glow casting soft shadows on his weary face. Seated at his desk, he held the "Time-Space Jade" tightly in his hand, his eyes reflecting both determination and confusion. Ever since he discovered that Ying Yue had been sealed within the jade for over two thousand years, his heart had never found calm. Her voice, her loneliness, her longing—all pricked his inner self like countless fine needles, leaving him sleepless at night.
In recent days, Li Wei's condition had steadily worsened. His eyes were red-rimmed, and the shadows beneath them grew ever darker, as if weighed down by an invisible burden that crushed his spirit. He had devoted almost all his time to studying the jade pendant—pouring over ancient texts and consulting various sources by day, and at night attempting to communicate with Ying Yue through the jade, even venturing into his dreams to seek clues. With each passing night, his sleep dwindled and his body weakened, frequently succumbing to bouts of inexplicable dizziness.
Despite this, Li Wei had no intention of stopping. He knew that Ying Yue's freedom and his own destiny were now intricately entwined. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Ying Yue standing on the palace steps would emerge in his mind—those eyes, filled with sorrow and hope, silently pleading, "Help me, Li Wei..."
That night, once again, Li Wei clutched the jade pendant and attempted to enter a dream. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and softly called out, "Ying Yue, are you there? I need to see you again. I need more clues…" His voice was low and hoarse, marked by fatigue and urgency.
The red gemstone on the jade shimmered faintly, emitting a soft glow as if in response to his call. Li Wei felt a warm surge of energy emanating from the pendant, slowly enveloping his body. His consciousness began to blur, and his body seemed to plunge into an endless darkness. Just as he thought he would fall into slumber, a sudden beam of light pierced the darkness and pulled him into an entirely new world.
A Strange Dream
That night, carrying the promise he made to Ying Yue, Li Wei drifted deeply into sleep. His fingertips still remembered the cool touch of the "Time-Space Jade"—a stone that seemed to have been hewn from an ancient glacier, its surface smooth as a mirror and chilling to the touch, like a bottomless, silent pool exuding an ineffable vitality. The cold texture seemed to seep through his fingertips, carrying a sharp chill that burrowed into his bones, yet oddly comforting, as if the pendant held a secret that transcended time, whispering to him in the palm of his hand. Perhaps it was this mysterious "Time-Space Jade" subtly drawing him in, or maybe it was the overwhelming tide of his longing for Ying Yue that crashed over him, layer upon layer, battering the shores of his heart. Gradually, Li Wei's consciousness blurred like a solitary boat caught in an endless whirlpool—struggling, spinning, and finally pulled by an invisible, powerful force into a fantastical, unfamiliar realm—a dreamscape both terrifyingly strange and faintly familiar.
As the dream unfolded, Li Wei found himself alone, standing before a grand and magnificent palace. This was no ordinary earthly structure. Its majestic and imposing presence seemed to fuse the very bones of the earth with the will of the heavens, emerging from the ancient dust and standing amid ethereal mists like a sanctuary forgotten at the edge of time. The palace's main structure was built from massive blue-gray stones, each as heavy as a thousand pounds, with rough edges that exuded a primal solemnity. The surfaces bore the marks of time—fine cracks resembling the rings of a tree, with variegated hues like weathered paintings, narrating endless tales of change and silent gravitas. Between the stones, dark red mortar was inlaid, emitting a faint, earthy scent as if it were the dried blood of an ancient battlefield, frozen in time within this grand edifice. Looking upward, the palace's roof soared high, hidden amidst a thin veil of mist, like an island suspended in the sky—so awe-inspiring that one would instinctively hold their breath, fearing to disturb its eternal silence.
Supporting the roof were stone pillars as thick as a man's embrace, each standing straight like a spear thrusting into the sky, as though ready to uphold the entire heavens. They resembled silent giants bearing the weight of history. Carved onto their surfaces were lifelike dragon motifs—dragons coiled among the mists, their scales glistening with a cold, spectral light as they exhaled ethereal vapors; others appeared to be soaring, their wings spread and claws unsheathed, as if determined to rend the sky apart, exuding a force capable of swallowing mountains and rivers. Each scale was intricately detailed, its edges as sharp as a blade, as if a mere touch could cut and draw forth fresh droplets of blood. In the courtyard, the flickering light of torches refracted off the dragon scales, creating deep, mysterious glimmers. With each leap of the flame, the dragons seemed to come alive—scales subtly shifting, their serpentine bodies twisting as though trying to break free from the stone pillars and ascend to the heavens. The deep, resonant sounds that seemed to emanate from the pillars themselves intertwined with the wind, evoking both awe and an inexplicable sense of oppression—as if these dragons were not lifeless carvings, but dormant guardians, ready at any moment to awaken and unleash earth-shattering power.
The palace eaves were profound and dignified, their upturned corners reminiscent of phoenixes about to take flight, adorned with subtle golden patterns that exuded understated luxury in the firelight. At every eave, a string of ancient bronze bells hung—each shaped like a pagoda and covered in patches of green rust, as if they had slumbered for a millennium. Beneath the rust, faint, blurred runes could be discerned, suggesting some long-forgotten incantation imbued with a mysterious, archaic aura. When a gentle breeze stirred, the bells swayed softly, emitting a clear, melodious chime—not the sharp ring of modern metal, but a deep, resonant echo like an ancient bell tolling from underground, sometimes low and heavy like a war drum beating, vibrating in one's chest, and at other times high and stirring, like the roar of a dragon shattering the silence of the night. The sound reverberated through the expansive courtyard, interweaving with the rustling wind and the crackling of torches, composing an eerie symphony that stirred Li Wei's soul, filling him with a profound reverence and an inexplicable longing—as if he were witnessing an age-old ritual, his spirit being drawn toward an unknown, distant destiny.
A subtle aroma of sandalwood pervaded the air—a scent warm and mellow, rich like aged wine, reminiscent of the rising incense in an ancient mountain temple, carrying a hint of Zen-like detachment from the mundane world. It was not overpowering but rather delicate, like silk gently entwining with one's breath, seeping into the lungs and permeating every pore. Li Wei inhaled deeply, feeling the fragrance dissolve in his throat, leaving behind a slight sweetness that seemed to wash away his inner fatigue and distractions, allowing him to be intoxicated by its presence. The source of the sandalwood appeared to emanate from deep within the palace, faintly mixed with the austere scent of pine resin and medicinal herbs, reminiscent of the remnants of an ancient sacrificial rite, evoking memories of offerings consumed by flames and the hushed whispers of long-forgotten prayers.
Surveying his surroundings, Li Wei noticed countless soldiers standing solemnly in the courtyard. They were clad in obsidian armor that absorbed the night's darkness, so deep it seemed to devour all light—only the dancing torches cast scattered points of starlight on their plates, like faint stars glimmering in an abyss, lending them an air of austere dignity. Their armor was rugged and robust, each piece fitting seamlessly, with edges that curled slightly upward, exuding a chilling, lethal aura—as if a mere brush could slice through flesh. The soldiers gripped ancient, elegantly crafted spears—shafts carved from resilient ebony with a surface smooth as jade, polished by countless touches into a deep brown gleam; the spearheads, cast in bronze, shone with a cold brilliance, so sharp they seemed capable of piercing souls, reflecting a fearsome metallic glow in the night. They stood like statues, unmoving, save for the occasional soft clink of their armor's edges swayed by the wind, sounding like the whisper of death. Their faces were hidden behind helmets, revealing only piercing eyes as sharp as eagles' talons—gazing forward like twin arrows that could penetrate any disguise or secret. They guarded the mysterious palace in silence, like unyielding mountains, exuding an immutable majesty, as if awaiting a solemn ceremony, or perhaps protecting a secret that had lain dormant for a millennium—any intruder daring enough to approach would soon be reduced to dust beneath their spears.
Almost subconsciously, Li Wei glanced at himself and was astonished to discover that he had shed his modern attire for ancient, dignified clothing. Draped over his shoulders was a broad, traditional Qin Dynasty robe. Its deep color was as profound as the night sky—a blue so dark it nearly appeared black, as if it absorbed the mysteries of the cosmos. The fabric was heavy and luxurious, with a smooth, watery texture yet a chill that seeped into the bones; as if woven from the finest silk interlaced with threads of frozen silkworm cocoons. A simple touch revealed delicate, cold currents flowing over his skin, reminiscent of caressing a fragment of solidified moonlight. Intricate cloud patterns embroidered in golden thread adorned the robe. These were not static designs; when stirred by a gentle breeze, they seemed to quiver softly, like living clouds drifting across the fabric, imbuing the garment with an otherworldly grace. On closer inspection, each curve of the cloud motifs flowed as gracefully as water, the golden threads flickering subtly in the firelight like stardust descending from the heavens, creating an exquisite spectacle on the robe. Li Wei reached out, letting his fingertips glide over the fabric—the soft, icy touch was akin to an ancient piece of jade, or like the breath of a distant era, gently tapping at his heart. It was as though this robe were no ordinary garment, but rather a relic traversing a tear in time from the Qin Dynasty, carrying with it the marks of that epoch's hardships, honor, and untold stories.
As he moved, the hem of his robe rustled softly, producing a faint sound like autumn leaves brushing against bamboo, or like a lover's whispered secrets—gentle and lingering. This delicate rustle blended with the melodious chime of the distant bronze bells, forming a strange yet captivating symphony. The sound reverberated through the vast courtyard, as if an invisible thread connected his soul with this dreamlike realm, causing him to lose all sense of where he was. The robe's lower edge brushed the ground subtly, rising and falling in rhythm with his breath, echoing the cadence of his heartbeat, and hinting at a mysterious, inherent vitality.
Even more astonishing, tied around his waist was a familiar jade pendant—exactly the "Time-Space Jade" he had cherished all along. In the real world, this jade was his most treasured possession, imbued with his emotions and memories. Now, it hung quietly from a deep blue silk belt that perfectly complemented the hue of his robe, reminiscent of the darkest, most profound star in the night sky, emitting a soft, restrained glow. The light was not harsh; rather, it resembled the reflection of moonlight on water—hazy and mysterious, as though it were softly whispering about its extraordinary origins. Li Wei instinctively covered the pendant with his hand. His fingertips met its cold, smooth surface, heavier and colder than in reality—as if this jade in the dream had been infused with an even deeper energy, born of ancient glaciers, chilling yet mesmerizing. Closing his eyes, he silently absorbed the pendant's temperature—the cold seeping in from his fingertips to his very core, yet strangely bestowing a sense of calm, as if it were speaking to him, recounting secrets that transcended time and space.
Suddenly, he sensed a faint pulsation deep within the core of the jade, resembling the beat of a heart or the breath of some dormant life. The pulse was subtle yet unmistakable, echoing his own heartbeat, suggesting that this jade was no mere inanimate object but a living entity—a soul that resonated mysteriously with this dream world. Li Wei pressed his fingers a little harder, trying to locate the source of the pulse, only to feel an invisible force surge from the jade along his fingertips and throughout his body—like a cold stream flowing over a parched riverbed, sending shivers through his entire being and stirring his heart. He gradually realized that this "Time-Space Jade" was not only his token but also the bridge connecting him to this dream realm—perhaps even the key to his arrival here, carrying a secret mission and destiny beyond words.
"End of this chapter… To be continued."