As Li Wei immersed himself in this strange and unfamiliar scene, his thoughts surged like waves. Suddenly, a familiar yet longed-for figure slowly emerged from the towering steps of the palace.
It was Ying Yue—the woman who occupied all his thoughts, the one he had dreamed of day and night. She wore a magnificent and solemn black gown, its hem cascading like an unfolding night sky, layer upon layer, as if the boundless darkness had swallowed the earth. Yet, it was adorned with countless golden stars, shimmering like real starlight woven into the fabric, twinkling brilliantly under the firelight. With every step she took, the stars seemed to tremble slightly, as if a river of stars was flowing beneath her feet. As she moved, the gown's hem gently brushed against the cold stone steps, producing a faint rustling sound—like the whispers of the night wind skimming over a lake. She walked down the steps, not like a mortal traversing the human realm, but as if descending from the heavens, stepping upon starlight itself. Each movement carried an ethereal grace and majesty that made one hold their breath, unable to look away.
Upon her head rested an exquisitely crafted jade crown. The base appeared to be forged from pure gold, encrusted with glistening emerald gemstones—so green they rivaled the finest jade, as if they were tender spring leaves about to shed dewdrops, their luminous glow reflecting a ghostly radiance in the firelight. Her cascading black hair was smooth as silk, gently swaying with the wind like a flowing river of darkness, enhancing her noble and cold beauty. She stood there like a goddess from the moon palace, untouched by the mortal world, or like a queen of the night—born with an innate authority that made one both fear and admire her. Her fair skin, as pale as snow, exuded a soft glow under the dim firelight, as if sculpted from the purest moonlight. Her delicate features seemed almost otherworldly, yet in the corners of her eyes and the arch of her brows, there was a hint of sorrow—like a lone plum blossom blooming in the cold night, breathtakingly beautiful yet carrying an air of unapproachable solitude.
Ying Yue stopped at the top of the steps, overlooking the courtyard from above. Her gaze, deep and distant like the brightest star in the night sky, pierced through the still air and the motionless soldiers, landing precisely on Li Wei. That look was so complex it made his heart tremble—it was like an abyss, unfathomable, yet also like an ancient scroll, its pages carrying the weight of a thousand years of untold stories. Her face was just as he remembered—ethereal and unparalleled. Her brows arched like distant mountains, and her eyes were cold, like twin stars in the winter night. Her lips were slightly pursed, carrying an air of aloofness, as if time and fate had carved her into an unattainable existence—distant and untouchable. Yet, in the fleeting moment when their gazes met, the frost in her eyes seemed to thaw ever so slightly, as if a spring breeze had melted the ice. A faint, almost imperceptible warmth flickered in her gaze—like a dim light wavering in the vast darkness, filled with yearning and boundless sorrow, as though after an eternity of loneliness, she had finally glimpsed her only hope.
"Li Wei, you're here…"
Her voice drifted from afar, soft and ethereal, like a mountain spring trickling through stone crevices—so clear it could cleanse the soul, yet also like the night wind brushing past treetops, whispering secrets no one could hear. Her voice seemed to pierce through layers of mist, transcending time and space, striking directly into Li Wei's heart—like a thunderclap shattering the calm surface of a lake, sending ripples surging in all directions. His entire being quivered. Within her tone, there was an uncontainable joy and excitement, like a traveler in the endless night who had finally seen the first light of dawn. Though her voice was gentle, it carried a power that resonated through him, as if each word had been carved into his bones—impossible to ignore, impossible to resist. He held his breath, afraid of missing even a single syllable.
Li Wei's heart clenched tightly, as though an invisible hand had seized it. Blood pounded through his chest like a roaring river breaking free after a long drought. His senses sharpened to an extreme—his vision was filled only with Ying Yue's familiar yet distant figure, and his ears echoed solely with her gentle yet powerful call. The entire world—the palace, the soldiers, the bells—blurred into insignificance.
He wanted to respond, wanted to rush toward her without hesitation, to seize her hand and pull her away from those cold stone steps, to embrace her. He longed to ask her the truth of this dream, to understand why she was here, why there was such sorrow and expectation in her eyes. However, the moment he attempted to move, horror struck him—his body was bound by invisible chains. His legs felt as heavy as lead, as if his feet were nailed to the frozen stone ground, unable to take even the smallest step.
He struggled with all his might, his arms flailing, muscles tensed to the point of cramping. Every attempt to move felt like lifting a thousand-pound boulder. Sweat dripped down his temples as his heartbeat roared like a war drum. His throat was blocked by an unseen force, trapping his voice deep in his chest, reducing his cries to desperate, soundless screams. His silent roars echoed within him, like a caged beast in agony, unable to break through this invisible prison and reach her.
Ying Yue noticed his struggle. A faint crease appeared between her brows, like a crack shattering her cold mask. More emotions surfaced in her eyes—excitement, sorrow, and even a sliver of despair, like a bird trapped at the edge of a cliff, its gaze filled with helplessness. Slowly, she descended a few steps. Each movement was heavy, her luxurious black gown trailing behind her, brushing against the icy stone steps with a whisper-like sigh. The sound was almost inaudible, yet it weighed heavily on Li Wei's chest, making it hard to breathe. She raised a hand, her slender fingers trembling slightly, as if she wanted to touch him, to bridge the gap between them. But her fingers hesitated in midair, unable to reach him—as if some invisible barrier kept them apart.
At that moment, a warmth unlike anything Li Wei had ever felt rose from within him—like the first breeze of spring melting a frozen land, dispelling all fear and coldness. Ying Yue was his only anchor, the sole light in his dark world. That warmth connected their souls like an invisible thread, making him forget all the eerie strangeness and pressure surrounding him. But then, her figure began to blur, like ink dissolving into water, edges fading as though an unseen hand was erasing her existence.
"Li Wei… I need your help. I've been trapped here for too long…"
Her voice became distant, breaking apart like leaves carried away by the wind. Each word trembled with urgency and plea, piercing his heart. Even as her silhouette faded, her eyes never wavered from his, filled with longing and sorrow, like a drowning soul grasping for one last hope.
"Find it… uncover the truth of the ritual…"
Before her final words could fully land, she vanished completely—leaving behind only a lingering shadow, like a mirage dissipating in the desert. The once lively courtyard fell into silence. Even the wind seemed to have stilled, leaving Li Wei standing alone in the empty space, surrounded only by the lingering scent of sandalwood.
"Ying Yue!"
He screamed her name in his heart, struggling madly, trying to break free from his unseen shackles. He clawed at the air, but his fingers met nothing but the freezing void. Just then, the entire world began to collapse—columns cracked like serpents slithering through stone, the dragon carvings crumbled into dust, and the magnificent palace shattered like a sandcastle against the tide. Everything was swallowed into an abyss of darkness.
As the ground beneath him gave way, Li Wei felt himself plummeting into an endless void. The roar of the wind was deafening, like a chorus of ghosts wailing in despair. His robes billowed, and the icy cold jade at his waist pressed against him, the only thing anchoring him in the chaos. He reached out, desperate to hold onto something—anything—but the darkness consumed him.
The last echoes of Ying Yue's voice whispered around him, fading into the void. His consciousness dimmed, and as the shadows engulfed him, all that remained was silence.