The Promise: The Divine Power Across Different Worlds

Chapter 002: The White-Haired Girl

“This is the far north of Aetheria Drakon, a forgotten and sealed-off region. It has existed since time immemorial. Back then, everyone knew that once you entered this place, there would be no way out. Fifteen years ago, I foolishly ventured in, ignorant of the consequences, and I’ve been trapped ever since. I even dragged my grandson into this with me. In the blink of an eye, fifteen years have passed.”

Seeing the look of shock on Lin Wuchen’s face, the old man continued,

“It wasn’t until I entered that I discovered the truth—this place isn’t dangerous because of natural disasters or ferocious beasts. Instead, it’s surrounded by a powerful barrier—one that allows entry but no exit. Over the years, I’ve tried countless times, but I’ve never been able to shake that barrier, not even slightly. I can only stay here and wait out the rest of my days. Everyone here is in the same situation. With no hope of leaving, they’ve had no choice but to settle down, live, and raise families here.”

Lin Wuchen’s expression froze. He stood in silence for a long time.

A sealed region… If there’s no way out, how could he ever hope to search for his past, or reclaim the path of his life?

Was he, too, doomed to live like the others—trapped here, settling down?

No!

A heavy rush of footsteps echoed in the distance, accompanied by a man’s ragged breathing. Lin Wuchen turned his head to see a tall, broad-shouldered man running toward them, sweat streaming down his face and a large bamboo basket strapped to his back. He looked young—maybe in his early twenties—with rugged features and a frame that bordered on beastly in size and strength.

The moment he saw the old man, the young man picked up his pace. He dropped the heavy basket to the ground with a huff, gasping for breath. “Grandpa! The basket’s full of fruit. I’ve already run thirty laps with it. Today’s task—”

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his eyes locking onto Lin Wuchen with a stunned expression. For a moment he just stood there, then jumped back like he’d seen a ghost. “You… You’re awake!?”

Lin Wuchen offered a calm smile. “Grandpa Hu, who is this?”

The old man chuckled. “This is my grandson. He just turned twenty. All these years while you were unconscious, he’s been the one taking care of you. So it’s only natural he’s a little shocked to see you awake after ten years of watching you sleep.”

Lin Wuchen rose to his feet and nodded politely. “My name is Lin Wuchen. Thank you for looking after me all these years.”

The young man sized him up from head to toe, still visibly shaken. Then he scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed by his earlier outburst, and smiled sheepishly. “Name’s Hu Dali… uh, you can just call me Dali like everyone else does.”

“Alright then, I’ll call you Brother Dali from now on,” Lin Wuchen said with a smile. The man’s open and straightforward nature made him instantly likable.

“Heh…” Dali laughed awkwardly, not quite sure what to say. “Well, uh… I should go distribute the fruit first, then we can talk more.”

He turned and took a deep breath before shouting, “Everyone! Your big bro Dali’s back!”

The sudden roar nearly made Lin Wuchen jump. His ears rang from the sheer volume, and he gave Dali a new look of cautious respect—this sealed-off place hid more than a few surprises.

Clearly, Dali’s voice carried far. Moments later, a clatter of footsteps approached, and a group of children came rushing over, carrying all sorts of containers—baskets, bowls, even stone pots. They lined up in front of Dali with military precision and greeted him in unison, “Hi, Brother Dali!”

Standing tall, Dali scratched his head bashfully. “Sorry I’m late, everyone. Fell into a ditch and took me a while to get out. But don’t worry—there’s enough for everyone, same as always!”

The old man watched the scene with a smile. This daily routine served not only to train Dali’s stamina but also to temper his character. The Hu family didn’t demand perfection, but they would never tolerate cruelty.

Dali handed out the fruits two by two into each basket, clearly enjoying the process. He watched the kids skip away with delight written all over his face, fulfilled by the simple act of giving. Lin Wuchen watched silently, lost in thought about his own life… until something caught his eye.

From behind a nearby tree, a pair of eyes peeked out cautiously, meeting his gaze. A flash of white, a delicate silhouette—then, startled, the figure pulled back, though she didn’t leave. She stayed there, as if waiting for something.

Finally, after the last child had cheerfully shouted “Bye, Brother Dali!” and scampered off, Dali rubbed his hands together, still brimming with energy. He had come to see this responsibility as a joy rather than a burden. Since arriving here at age five, untouched by the outside world, his heart remained unusually kind and pure.

And then, quietly, a small figure stepped from behind the tree. Head bowed, she walked up to Dali and shyly whispered, “Brother Dali.”

Lin Wuchen’s gaze followed her the entire way. She looked no older than ten, her tiny frame wrapped in a wrinkled but spotless white dress. But what truly seized his attention were her long snow-white hair… and the two deep scars crisscrossing her face.

The scars stretched diagonally from either side of her forehead down past her ears, ruining her delicate features in a way that was painful to see.

Dali quickly reached into the basket, then hesitated. He pulled out one large, apple-shaped fruit and rubbed his head apologetically. “Sorry, little white-haired sister… looks like I miscounted. This is the only one left. But hey—it’s the biggest!”

The girl accepted it carefully and smiled sweetly. “It’s okay. Thank you, Brother Dali.”

She glanced shyly at Lin Wuchen—who had been watching her intently—then turned and scampered off, vanishing into the night.

Lin Wuchen stared after her slender figure, lingering in silence long after she disappeared from view.

“Who is she?” he asked, almost in a daze.

The old man sighed. “She showed up here about a week ago. Probably stumbled in by accident, like the rest of us. But… you saw her face. And her hair—it’s the same snow-white color that once marked the most fearsome of tribes, the Snow Wolf Clan. People here are terrified of her. They think she’s cursed, so they drive her off whenever they see her.

“But I’ve sensed no malice in her. She’s just a child, too young to survive on her own. Chances are, the fruits she takes from here each night are her only food.”

Lin Wuchen said nothing. He stood and began walking toward the direction the girl had gone.

“Wuchen, where are you going?” Dali called after him, puzzled. “I still wanna hear about your past!”

But Lin Wuchen didn’t respond. He disappeared into the darkness.

Dali scratched his head. “Maybe… he just needed to pee?”

The gentle gurgle of a stream filled the night air. The white-haired girl knelt at the water’s edge, carefully washing the fruit in the cold, clear water. Her delicate figure seemed so small, so lonely under the night sky.

When she finished, she dried the fruit on her dress and turned around instinctively—only to freeze when she saw him approaching.

She recognized him instantly: the man who had been watching her.

Lin Wuchen stepped closer, quietly, until he stood right before her. He looked into her eyes—those star-like eyes that had captivated him from the very beginning.

Loneliness. Fear. Confusion. Helplessness.

A storm of emotions danced in those eyes, and Lin Wuchen felt something inside him stir.