I stormed out of the room, my mind still spinning with confusion. This has to be some kind of prank, I told myself. There's no way my friends rented a whole city just to mess with me.
I walked through the strange place, but all I could think about was how to make sense of it all. Maybe if I could climb the roof, I'd get a better view of where I was and how far this place stretched. But then I stopped. How the hell am I supposed to climb that?
I wasn't Spider-Man, after all. I sighed, shaking my head. Fine, the roof idea was out.
As I walked, something caught my eye—a tall Chinese Scholar Tree planted in the courtyard, its branches reaching high into the sky, its leaves bright and lush. Without thinking too much, I decided to give that a shot. It wasn't a rowalked over to the Chinese Scholar Tree, its tall branches swaying gently in the breeze. Alright, here goes nothing, I thought to myself.
I reached up and grabbed a low-hanging branch, testing its strength. It seemed sturdy enough. But as I tried to pull myself up, my foot slipped on the smooth bark, and I almost faceplanted into the ground.
I gritted my teeth, determined not to give up. This is just like climbing trees right?
I tried again, this time pushing with all my strength, but the tree had other plans. My foot caught on a branch halfway up, and I ended up hanging by one arm, my legs flailing beneath me.
I looked like some kind of flailing mess. The branches were swaying under my weight, and I was pretty sure I was about to be launched into the air. I let out a desperate grunt. "I knew I shouldn't have tried this!"
Finally, with a last, clumsy push, I scrambled up to a more stable branch, panting and half-laughing at myself. I looked down, feeling a bit dizzy. Great. Now I'm stuck up here,ofcorse, but it would have to do.
With one final push, I managed to haul myself up onto a sturdy branch, and as I sat there, I looked out—and wow.
Before me stretched a massive city, a sprawling labyrinth of buildings, walls, and rooftops that seemed to go on forever in all directions. The size of it all left me breathless. This is real. There's no way this is a lie. I really entered this godforsaken novel.
My heart pounded as memories of the first time they met —the crown prince, Xiao Yixuan—flooded my mind. The way he had looked at me, the confusion, the betrayal... I almost lost my balance just thinking about it. The world around me swirled, and I felt dizzy, like I might faint from the weight of it all.
Focus, I told myself, gripping the tree with both hands and trying to stabilize myself. But just as I thought I might regain my composure, a voice called out.
"Wei wei is that you or is it xiao baidu"
I froze. That was too familiar. I turned, heart racing, to see none other than—Su Lian?as the step sister of Li zhen
Wait, she's here too?
I couldn't believe it. My best friend. She'd transmigrated too. My heart swelled with relief and excitement. I was about to call out to her, but in my happiness, I forgot I was perched a few meters high in a tree.
Before I could process it, I felt myself tipping forward.
Oh no—
And then, with a loud thud, I fell straight out of the tree, crashing to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Li Zhen lay unconscious on the ground, the world spinning around him as the memories came rushing back.
He and his mother, Li Yunlan, had lived in a peaceful, quiet corner of the world, nestled at the center of the three realms. The land was small, but it hummed with an abundance of spiritual energy, making it the perfect place to live in harmony with nature. They helped the nearby villages, providing medical services, and for the most part, lived a humble, tranquil life.
Li Yunlan had taught him everything he knew—how to heal, how to listen, and how to live with compassion. She'd played with him, sang him lullabies, and cooked him the most delicious meals. He loved helping out with whatever he could. Their life had been simple, yet filled with warmth and love.
But all of that changed when he turned 14.
One day, Li Yunlan went out to collect herbs in the mountains. She returned a day later , carrying a severely injured man who appeared to be around 19 or 20 years old.
Li Zhen, ever the curious boy, thought the man was handsome—strikingly so, in fact. He couldn't help but admire the way the man's features were so sharp, so commanding. Despite the bloodied state of the stranger, something about him stood out.
For the next week, Li Zhen tended to the man day and night, making sure he had everything he needed. As the days passed, he grew fonder of this stranger, who never spoke much but seemed to appreciate Li Zhen's care.
And then, one morning, after nearly a week of nursing him, the man woke up. Li Zhen couldn't contain his excitement. He shouted to his mother
"Mom! Handsome bro is awake!"
But before he could finish his sentence, the man's body tensed. In an instant, Li Zhen found himself on the floor, a sharp pain shooting through his head as the stranger attacked him, sending him into unconsciousness.
When Li Yunlan returned, she found her precious son lying motionless on the floor, like a lifeless corpse. She froze, horrified, before dropping the medical soup she had been carrying.
"Li Zhen!" she cried out, rushing to his side. The shock in her voice made the air feel suffocating.
As she desperately tried to wake him, the stranger—Xiao Yixuan—watched, wide-eyed, seemingly realizing the gravity of what had just occurred.
He took a step toward Li Yunlan, concern on his face. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice low but filled with disbelief. "Why did you help me?"
Li Yunlan didn't hesitate. She stood tall, her face set with resolve, and explained everything: who she was, who Li Zhen was, and the strange twist of fate that had brought them together.
Xiao Yixuan stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend it. His mind reeled as the truth began to settle in. Before he could offer any help, Li Yunlan, with fierce protectiveness, scooped up her unconscious son and walked away, leaving the prince standing alone in the quiet room.