Chapter Fifty-Five: The Fated One (Part Two)

When I saw the slip of paper, I stood frozen for a long time.

My vision blurred, and these scenes felt so real. Though I knew it was a test, I couldn’t suppress the surge of emotion within me. If this was a dream, I wished it could last forever; if it was a trial, let me be immersed in it.

Carefully putting away the note, I took out that familiar book. In truth, I loved reading during high school; back then, I was insecure, and only by studying tirelessly could I push myself to improve.

I gazed at Su Ying, right before my eyes. When high school began, she sat ahead of me, near the back rows by the window, almost invisible to others. Every time I looked up, I saw her long, flowing hair, smelled that scent reminiscent of osmanthus from my hometown. That was the greatest happiness of my high school years.

Never did I imagine Su Ying would become my girlfriend. Every day, she found new ways to make me laugh, dragged me to movies, wandered the streets until late, and ate the cheapest food by the roadside.

I knew Su Ying’s family struggled. Her mother was blind and spent her days muttering to herself. Many in the village said her mother was mentally ill. I remember once, during high school, Su Ying’s mother came to visit her at school. I only glanced from afar, thinking how beautiful she was—just as beautiful as Su Ying—though her clothes were tattered.

Lost in memories as I stared at her hair, dark as a waterfall, the bell rang suddenly, signaling the end of class.

Unnoticed, night had fallen outside, the campus ablaze with lights. I could still recall my solitary walks at night through the school grounds.

Back then, I wore what I wear now: the school-issued uniform, neat and proper. Perhaps due to the frustrations of study and life, every evening I would walk a lap around the track, watching the crowds around me.

Exhaling deeply, I packed up my things and walked downstairs. Everything felt so familiar, so effortless. I went to the little grove.

This place was the school's lovers’ sanctuary, especially in summer.

As I wondered how to meet Su Ying, a familiar scent drifted towards me—it was her.

Just as in the classroom, she wore her ponytail and sportswear. In the moonlight, her charming, wine-red cheeks looked even more alluring.

“Xiao Dong…”

“That… That…”

I remembered this scene vividly; that night, too, was in the little grove, under the moon rising above the willow branches. Su Ying stood before me, bashfully breaking the barrier between us. From then on, we met in the grove every day, holding hands, and it wasn’t until senior year that we kissed—never daring to go further.

“Su Ying, will you be my girlfriend? I’ll treat you well for a lifetime!”

Su Ying said nothing, only lowered her head. Her well-developed chest, even in high school, rose and fell like waves before me. Now, I was no longer the insecure fool I once was. I pulled Su Ying into my arms and whispered, “May I call you Ying’er from now on?”

Su Ying still said nothing, only nodded. We held each other for a long time before she gently lifted her head. In her clear eyes, I saw the cold, gentle silver moonlight shining and rolling down from her gaze.

Her hands gripped my waist tightly. For some reason, I felt no warmth from her arms; even the heat from her body seemed to fade away.

I recalled months ago, in this same grove, Su Ying—

The one who hugged me from behind, asking if I would attend her wedding. Her hands were icy then, too. That night, I didn’t see her face clearly. Today, I wanted to.

After years apart, beneath this familiar moon, I longed to see the face that had grown blurry in my mind.

“Master, don’t move. If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move!”

Just as I tried to see Su Ying, Tu’s spiritual voice echoed in my mind. My heart trembled; was the person before me not Su Ying, but the ghost who brought me that invitation months ago and drew me into this mysterious world?

“I know I’m not worthy of you. You’re destined for greatness; you were never meant for a life like this. From the moment I first saw you, I knew my life belonged to you, Yang Dong. But there are things I cannot say, people I cannot meet.”

“Ying’er!”

Su Ying’s words made my heart tremble; I wanted to push her away and see clearly. Yet she only held me tighter.

“Xiao Dong, don’t push me away. Everything you see is an illusion, including me. But believe what I say: soon, you must go to my mother, who’s waiting for me at the school gate. No matter what you see, don’t turn back. Once you see my mother, you can safely leave this illusion.”

“Ying’er…”

I wanted to speak but couldn’t.

“Xiao Dong, hold me. I just want you to hold me for a while.”

Her words made my heart ache. I gently embraced Su Ying, feeling the chill from her body seep into mine. I knew she was no longer Su Ying, but I felt no fear. This was the embrace Su Ying wanted.

Gradually, the moonlight grew brighter and purer.

Su Ying, in my arms, transformed into countless points of light. In that instant, the space around me changed—the grove turned into a cemetery glowing green, the distant school buildings began to collapse…

“Xiao Dong, hurry to my mother. She’s waiting at the school gate!”

The flickering lights made the space twist and shift. I turned and ran toward the gate. Behind me, I felt the swirling chill devouring the grove and the school.

“Xiao Dong, over here…”

I saw Xiyue ahead, waving at me.

“Xiao Dong, don’t run. There’s no path ahead!” Zhao Fifteen’s voice rang out.

“Xiao Dong, don’t run. There’s no path ahead!” Chen First’s voice echoed.

I forced myself onward. This was the moment I could not look back, just as on the road to the Ghost City—turning back would let the spirits snatch your soul and trap you in endless cycles.

True enough, as I ran madly toward the gate, I saw a woman with long hair standing there. She looked exactly like Su Ying, but more mature—no longer dressed in tattered clothes, but clad in an ancient robe embroidered with a blood-red python, vivid as if alive. If not for the robe, I’d have thought a real blood python lay across her shoulders.

“Madam…”

I called out, and the long-haired woman opened her eyes. As she did, the whole space shuddered. She stepped forward, and the gate instantly faded into nothingness.

She formed a mystic sign with her fingers and spoke a single word.

It was ancient and melodious, like the music of the heavens or a Buddhist chant from a distant path.

Roaring!

As she spoke, the space trembled violently. From her robe, a blood python tens of meters long burst forth. Its snarling face was terrifying. Emerging from what seemed to be embroidery, it let out a cry and flew to my side. Its tail wrapped around me, lifting me onto its back. The python roared and soared skyward.

Su Ying’s mother—the woman who looked almost identical to her—stood atop the python’s head. Her long hair flowed down, nearly as tall as she was. I was filled with awe.

With the python’s roar, I saw the collapsing temple below, countless rays of Buddhist light shooting out.

The python carried us higher and higher, almost to the cold moon before my eyes.

It wheeled around, lunging madly toward the moon.

Under the brilliant white light, I saw the woman before me—her hair, dark as a waterfall, spread out, dazzling in the moonlight, making it impossible to look away.

Roaring!

The python twisted violently beneath me, then plunged straight into the moon.

A rush of exhilaration at breaking through the barrier flooded me. Standing atop the python, I felt the air thick with spiritual energy. As I inhaled, my body felt transformed, unable to resist the sensation.

Tu, who had been hiding within me, now absorbed the spiritual energy without restraint, swirling vortices spinning around me.

Roaring…

Below lay endless mist, just as when I entered this illusion. The python roared again, and we descended onto the fog.

Ahead appeared an ancient stone bridge, at its end a row of stone steps.

Su Ying’s mother finally spoke, raising her hand to point at the bridge before us: “This bridge is called the Bridge of Forgetting. Step onto it, and you’ll glimpse fragments of your past and present lives. Cross the Bridge, ascend the Ladder of Illusion, and at the end, you’ll emerge from this dream…”