Prologue (1/2)

When the man opens his eyes and takes in his surroundings, he is dumbstruck, briefly becoming still.

Rather than a warm bed and cozy room, he was before a set of cold, dark ruins..

What happened?

The man looks around with a mixture of curiosity and unease. He remembers very clearly that he was supposed to be sleeping at home, so how come he’d found himself in this mysterious, G.o.dforsaken place when he opened his eyes? Where was this, anyway? How did he manage to arrive here? With these questions on his mind, the man walks forward slowly, cautiously leaning on the walls in order to find an exit. But, regardless of whither he walked, he saw only a chilling darkness and a stifled world.

Is this some kind of nightmare?

He forcefully slaps his cheek; the resulting acute pain clears the man’s remaining doubts and transforms it into fear and anxiety. This isn’t a dream, nor a hallucination, so what is it really? What sequence of events placed him here? Even though his heart is filled with uncertainties, the man chooses to continue on. He reaches out, pressing his hands against the cold surface of the wall, and walks onwards by following the corridor.

The man doesn’t notice that only a short distance behind him, an impenetrably pitch-black darkness roils and undulates, gathering like snakes hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

A glacial, light-blue flame s.h.i.+nes forth.

“Uwah!”

Faced with an inexplicable spectacle, the man couldn’t help but jump. He flattens himself against the wall, his eyes darting in every direction. Simultaneously, a voice filled with charm and warmth can be heard by his ear.

“Welcome to my domain, o esteemed guest.”

“Eh?”

Upon hearing this, the man pauses, reflexively turning his head. To his surprise, he sees a person standing only a short distance away from him, dressed in an outfit both outlandish and magnificent. The person watches him with a soft smile, his dark, voluminous hair and eyes granted an air of mystique under the firelight. Even though he didn’t know how the person had appeared, he sighs internally in relief at the sight of another human being.

“Who are you? What is this …”

“I am You Lian; feel free to call me by that name.” [1]

You Lian slightly inclines his body in a small bow, then raises his head to look at the man before him.

“Then, can you tell me your name? Dear guest?”

“My name is Lin Feng …”

Plied by You Lian’s inquiry, the man gradually calms down. However, as he moves his gaze onto You Lian’s body, his expression nevertheless reveals a hint of confusion and puzzlement. “Please, what is this place exactly, and who are you? Why did I appear here?” He spits out a string of questions almost immediately as he relaxes. Though he realizes quickly that doing so is rather rude, You Lian doesn’t seem to mind, offering a shrug and an inviting gesture in response.

“Isn’t holding a conversation while standing rather tiring? How about we continue our conversation with a repast? As the first guest in fifty years to grace my demesne, you are deserving of a warm welcome.”

“… Thank you.”

The man nods, after a moment of hesitation, and follows You Lian into the room behind him.

The sound of music fills the air, exquisite in its magnificence. The sight of pure-white napkins and piping hot food enter the man’s view, releasing the dregs of tension remaining in his heart.

“Please, take a seat.”

You Lian extends the invitation with a smile, raising the gla.s.s in his hand and shrugging only after seeing the man nervously seat himself.

“I understand you have many questions, all of which I would be happy to answer … then, to start off with, would you like to know about?”

“What is this place, exactly?”

The man asks, almost immediately.

“I was sleeping at home before; how did I get here?”

“This is my personal s.p.a.ce.”

You Lian sips from the wine in his gla.s.s agreeably, before directing his gaze at the man once again.

“As for why you got here, that … I wouldn’t know. Perhaps it is because the dimensional walls are comparatively thinner? Making it easier for otherworldly travelers to be attracted here.”

“Other … world?”

Upon hearing that word, the man opens his eyes in shock.

“Are you saying that this place isn’t Earth? Heavens, how unlucky, how did I …”

Watching the man place his head in his hands and sigh in distress, You Lian makes no sign of a response, maintaining only a warm smile until the man raises his head towards him again, having accepted that fact.

“Then, what kind of person are you? You said you created a s.p.a.ce yourself … are you a wizard, by chance?”

“My apologies, I am not a wizard.”

You Lian raises the gla.s.s in his hand again; the man pauses in comprehension, then hastily raises the gla.s.s by his hand to return the toast.

“Actually, I think I can understand how you feel, Mr. Lin Feng.”

You Lian leans on the back of his chair a little, his expression softening.

“I haven’t seen a compatriot from Earth for a long time. Truthfully, I’m very glad at your arrival.”

“Eh?”

The man gives a blank stare as he hears those words, and examines You Lian more carefully. To his great surprise, the latter has the same dark hair and eyes, the same yellow skin. Moreover, he finally notices that the other man has been speaking in his mother tongue all this time.