Prologue :
An Jian at age 18 years of age, was quite fair and should have been courting one of her many suitors or making wedding plans, but instead she was in full armor hurrying her horse speeding to the front of her troops who could barely keep up.
She had received a tip about the whereabouts of the man who killed her sister and was at full charge leading her troops to a mansion where Li Zhao, a leader of an evil cult delving into black magic rituals was trying to cast his last spells.
Four women laid dead on the floor, their faces dried like husks, Li Zhao stood in the middle chanting an incantation conjuring up a portal, just as he could see An Jian and her troops arriving, he stepped into the portal.
An Jian couldn't quite understand what happened but it seemed this strangely fluctuating space in front of her was some kind of door Li Zhao disappeared into. She motioned for her troops to stay back. They pleaded with her not to go in as they realized what she was about to do, but they couldn't stop her as she jumped into the portal with unrelenting vengeance in her mind.
Chapter 1 : Who's This Cosplayer
Out of the portal An Jian fell onto solid ground, everything was different from what she was used to. Square towers so high they disappeared into the clouds. Metal chariots without horses drove by in a frenzy. People dressed strangely, seeming plain but tidy looking, all seeming to carry small rectangular boxes held to their faces. They looked at her but also tried to avoid her until a group of girls yelled out "What show is that from? Can we take a picture?" Before An Jian could react the girls were already snaking around her pointing at their rectangular box with excitement. One of the girls said to another, "She is so pretty in that cosplay, I don't think she is even wearing makeup!". After seeing the girls take a picture, it seemed to give courage to others around who were thinking the same thing, and An Jian was suddenly crowded by people pointing their rectangular boxes at her. A store owner glanced out to see what all the commotion was about. Standing there was a beautiful girl dressed in black intricate ancient Chinese amour, slightly commanding in presence and aura more like a man juxtaposed by her feminine beauty, it was hard not to be attracted to the sight, the store owners attention was suddenly brought back to reality when stragglers from the commotion had come into her store to buy snacks and drinks. "This is good for business" the thought suddenly sprang into mind.
An Jian looked back and forth for traces of Li Zhao but was finding the commotion around her detrimental to her search. She used her lightness kung fu and kicked off the wall then jumped half way past the crowd before her second step lightly tapped someone on the shoulder, propelling her past the crowd completely, running into an alley.
The crowd in awe of the demonstration, talked among themselves wondering if there was a promotion for a circus in town. Some even yelled "I caught it on Video"," I don't see ropes, how did she do that?"
An Jian breaking away from the crowd placed her fingers together and looked to the ground as if meditating trying to scan for strong internal energy, to her surprise there was none, back where she was from, there would always be small pockets of internal energy here and there, but in this new world, she couldn't feel any at all.
An Jian didn't know how the portal worked, and wasn't sure if Li Zhao even came through the portal in the same area, same world as she was. She had no choice but to try and communicate with these strange people from this unfamiliar world. She headed back to where she had originally been mobbed as maybe this was also where Li Zhao landed.
The store owner, seeing that the crowd had dispersed and her business slowing down to its usual pace, stepped out of the quiet store to see where the girl disappeared to and looked around. To her surprise, the cosplay girl was standing across the street and walking in her direction, almost staring at her intensely.
An Jian recognizing the store clerk from earlier when she had peaked behind into the store while being mobbed.
She crossed the street and stood in front of the starry-eyed store owner, "Madam, have you seen a man in a purple and black robe with long grey hair, pass through here?" The store owner startled "Is there some kind of cosplay convention going on?" thinking that if there was a convention nearby it would be good for her business.
An Jian looked confused but continued "I do not know what a cosplay convention is but have you seen the man of that description" The store owner thought for a bit. At first she wondered maybe the cosplay girl was part of some big event with such a great commanding aura to her, but her mind then drifted to, "is she maybe an escaped mental patient"? Whatever the case, her attractive presence seemed to attract people to her store. Looking around she could already see a small crowd had gathered around them. She then delicately held the cosplay girl by her shoulders and positioned them both closer to the entrance of her store.
The store owner finally said she didn't recall seeing anyone like that.
An Jian, slightly disappointed she couldn't find a lead, said "Thank you madam for your time, then I must get going". The store owner seeing the cosplay girl was about to leave yelled "Wait! Maybe I can check my security footage for the man you are looking for, please come into my store and have some tea"
An Jian, didn't quite understand the words Security Footage but did sense the lady was referring to some kind of lead and agreed, walking into the store. Looking around she saw that it seemed the store sold paintings of food dishes. She saw what looked like a bowl of noodles painted very life-like on wrinkly shiny paper. It was a little confusing why people in this world would paint such life-like detailed paintings only to not use a proper flat surface.
The store owner went to the back to make some tea while staring at the cosplay girl sitting with her legs spread wide but her body straight like a man. Again the crowd from outside started coming into the store, seeing the attractive figure sitting on the chair through the window like a painting of a noble from a wuxia romance novel.
An Jian noticed that again people started to crowd around her doing weird finger poses, while others walked into the store and pretended not to see her but would sneak glances. She then noticed that the rectangular boxes seem to have mirrors on them, but as the people did finger poses, the mirrors would freeze in place almost like if capturing their soul. However she chose to ignore them as they seemed cheerful and harmless. An Jian also couldn't judge how strong these people were as she couldn't feel their internal energy, they seemed to have the power to push iron chariots with only their chi, this was way beyond even the strongest martial artist in her world.
The owner squeeze through the small crowd and brought tea.
An Jian looked at the owner and slightly impatiently asked "You said something called Security Footage could provide a lead, may you show me this" The owner laughed hesitantly hoping An Jian would just stay at the front of the store attracting customers. "Sure one second", the store owner got up and made an announcement to the crowd that soda drinks and chips were on sale. An Jian took a sip of the tea, it wasn't bad but kind of flavorless. She got up and thought it seemed the store owner wasn't taking her seriously and she was wasting her time here, about to leave. The store owner ran back to stop An Jian, "The security footage, please go into the back room there, I will be with you shortly" before returning to take care of customers at the counter.
An Jian walked to the back and saw a blurry window that looked over the store and a little bit of the outside window. She didn't quite understand how the window being where she was was able to overlook the store. Quite incredible portal magic? But as she watched she could see the people leaving the store in the blurry window were the same as the people who walked out the store entrance to her left.
The store owner returned with a smile, seeming full of energy after making more sales. "Did you check out the security footage?" An Jian shook her head slightly confused. The store owner quickly sat down in front of the computer and started manipulating the camera software to when An Jian first appeared. An Jian stood by watching in amazement that this window seem to be able to transcend time at will. An Jian, then said "He came before me so can you go back to just before I arrived". The store owner manipulated the mouse some more and then she saw it, a strangely dressed figure ran across the window, fitting An Jian's description.
An Jian, thinking to herself ok at least I can confirm we have traveled together into the same world and time. I will definitely find him no matter the cost.
The store owner looked at the cosplay girl who displayed such an aura of determination, and if she didn't think she had come from some mental hospital, she would have thought she was some beautiful lead in some costume drama.