Heartbeat.
An Jing sensed a heartbeat.
The heavens and earth were roaring.
As if tides were surging in the boundless sea, clouds were flowing in the vast heavenly dome, wind, thunder, rain, dew, grass, earth, new sprouts blooming amidst scorched soil, broken eggshells in bird nests, fledglings taking flight, the shining sun, the rotating stars, and above those stars, gazing upon all things in the human world, eyes watching the past and future.
And all of this, grand and subtle, audible and silent, existent and vanishing, transformed in an instant into a heartbeat.
Then returned to silence.
The great elephant is invisible, the greatest sound is silent.
In this absolute silence, An Jing slowly stood up.
In the void, a hazy Cave Heaven suddenly shone, flickering in the boundless chaos, like stars.
The stars and the coiling serpent are gazing at each other.
