Distorted World

Meet

　　In his dream, the voice of an elderly man in white echoed gently: "The enlightenment that people seek is often born from suffering. When the pain exceeds their threshold, they choose to sever their thoughts and give up rather than let go. Thus, they oscillate between holding on and letting go, boasting of great wisdom and virtue. But they never ask themselves what their heart truly desires."

Water cascaded over rocks, creating a tumultuous roar.

As Mingxuan drifted between sleep and wakefulness, he dreamed of the elder's words and saw himself lying on a large stone. When his consciousness fully returned, he found himself inside a wooden cabin.

The bubbling sound of cooking reached his ears, mingled with the continuous rush of water. For a moment, he felt as if he had left the mundane world behind.

Trying to sit up, he noticed his wounds were mostly healed; he estimated he was no longer in grave danger. Rising, he surveyed the simple yet cozy cabin, which smelled faintly of fresh wood shavings. Newly split firewood and neatly stacked bowls exuded a homely warmth. Yet... the subtle scent of freshly turned earth in the air puzzled him. Following the guidance of the water sounds, he stepped outside.

Indeed, before him lay a waterfall, not too high but vigorous, its waters rushing down. The wooden cabin stood on a clearing opposite the waterfall, and in front of the clearing, a pot boiled with turnip soup.

The smell of tomb soil grew stronger, and then came a voice from behind, “You're awake.”

The scent of freshly turned earth grew stronger, and then came a voice from behind, “You're awake.”

Mingxuan turned around to see a woman. Her hair was as black as ink, her skin as white as snow, with lips like vermilion and a face as fair as jade. Her eyes were compassionate yet profound. She wore a white top as frosty as snow and a red skirt vibrant like maple leaves. Lightly stepping in wooden sandals, she exuded a gentle demeanor, approaching him in an instant.

The woman did not seem like someone from the mundane world; every move she made carried the grace of a deity descended from heaven. Yet Mingxuan sensed a profound sadness about her, as if her life were as ephemeral as duckweed, her heart empty and without support. She appeared as the shadow of a departed deity on earth, bearing a mission and nobility, but alas, this woman had been stripped of her destiny and was bound by forces beyond her control. Divine yet fragile, compassionate yet lonely.

Mingxuan's emotions stirred intensely; just one glance felt like looking through the cycles of fate. He had a premonition that he and this woman would be entangled in a deep and fateful connection.

For now, she existed as his savior.

Introducing herself, she said her name was Luo Shui Chan. A traveler who had built this cabin for a temporary stay, she had returned from an outing two days ago and found Mingxuan barely alive not far from her home, so she brought him back and saved him.

After speaking, she ladled out two bowls of turnip soup, handing one to Mingxuan.

"When I found you, your injuries were severe. I used some blood-stopping and bruise-healing herbs on you. Are you feeling better now?"

Mingxuan felt an inexplicable trust in her, compounded by his exhaustion. He finished the soup in a few swallows, set down the bowl, and stood to thank Luo Shui Chan.

She waved a hand with a smile, saying nothing. After a moment’s silence, she looked straight into his eyes and said, “You’re not an ordinary person, are you?”

With a flick of her wrist, a longbow and arrow flew into her hand the next second. She pointed the bow toward Mingxuan, its surface glowing with a white light.

Clearly, it was a magical artifact with the ability to recognize his kind. Before Mingxuan could respond, Luo Shui Chan snapped her fingers and stood up. As she completed the motion, Mingxuan’s black hair turned completely silver.

“I was transported here by someone. I’ve only just arrived in this world. You saved me, and I have no way to repay you. I am indeed a demon, and you are no ordinary person. But I don’t believe you would eliminate me at this moment.” He met Luo Shui Chan’s gaze directly, finishing the tea in his cup in one gulp. His eyes were cold and sharp like the edge of a sword.

Luo Shui Chan tossed the bow aside and took a step closer. “I wouldn’t do that. Tell me, little demon, who are you really?”

After hearing Mingxuan recount everything, Luo Shui Chan walked to the edge of the waterfall, turning her back as she waited for him to change clothes. For a long time, she gazed at the rushing water, where droplets splashed like shattered pearls, endless and eternal.

Mingxuan stood beside her, the water wetting Luo Shui Chan’s outstretched arm and the white sleeves of her robe. Time stood still, and a sense of understanding and warmth rose between them.

Finally, Luo Shui Chan spoke, her voice like a stream in a mountain valley, softly telling her own story.