Eventually, everything stopped whizzing around and came to a total standstill. Xiyu’s intuition told her that the teleportation had succeeded, and they were all now in a different room. In comparison to the darker room earlier, this room was brighter and had lighter tones to its walls and floors, giving rise to hope. She marvelled at the magic of the platform, having never come across such a contraption.
She gasped and found her breath, murmuring “It worked”. Dongyue gazed at her and took her hand, pressing on it gently to halt the bleeding, while softly reciting some verses to cure her injuries magically. Hoko surveyed the place, paying attention to little details. He circled the tables in the room, glancing at the books on the tables and the paintings on the walls. At the same time, Dongyue scanned the vicinity in a mental five-metre circle around them, meticulously searching for the presence of magical traps and snares.
To his relief, there was none. He indicated to Xiyu that it was safe to approach.
The trio came to the centre of the room, where a glass casket topped with fragrant blossoms of different colours caught their attention. If going by the colours present, each colour represented a different property. Dongyue recalled Xiyu mentioning the meaning behind each colour in Muxue. The top of the casket shimmered glamorously, seemingly layered with gold. As if in a trance, Xiyu was unexplainably drawn to the coffin.
Dongyue swallowed hard, watching Xiyu warily. Ever since setting foot on the Xuancang Mountains, so much had happened that was beyond his comprehension. Firstly, the Ice Temple had only appeared when Muxue Yan disappeared. It dawned upon him that it was implausible how this Hoko was imprisoned in the temple for a month when it was only present to them for a number of days. Was the Ice Temple more than a mere illusion? He questioned.
He had long read tales of ‘dreamscapes’ that trapped people and without ample power to escape, their lives were threatened. Though such occurrences were sporadic, anything could be possible in Muxue. Dongyue feared that he and Xiyu had landed in such a dreamscape, and this exact dreamscape had trapped Hoko a month ago. If that was true, they might not necessarily be physically in the Xuancang Mountains!
Hoko had been magically transported by an artefact, so where was this artefact? Would it take them back to Muxue, or send them to another world?
There were so many questions he needed answers to. But above all, could this Hoko person even be trusted? Even if Hoko was possibly the only person who could help them, it was questionable if they could trust him, given his origin and how he had claimed his crew, who had been transported with him to the temple, had perished. So far, he had not done anything to warrant their suspicion; but what if he was awaiting the right moment to attack? This man could prove an imminent threat.
…………………………….
Xiyu’s POV
Music was playing, followed by a melodious voice. Yun’er. Yun’er. Along with the voice, a familiar feeling lingered in my mind. It was like I had known someone for a very long time, but I didn’t know who it was.
Why had the voice called me Yun’er? Did that name mean something to me? But what?
Who is Yun’er?
I was confused. Though everything seemed so familiar to me, my mind was a blank. I didn’t know what was happening. Who was the voice calling to me?
Not only did the voice call to me, but I also felt weakness overcome me. A force seemed to be sapping out my energy and directing me to the casket. I was clueless. I only stepped forward and moved closer to the coffin.
Who was inside, and what connection did the person have with me? I need to know.
I heard Zhan Dongyue call out to me, but I could not answer. It was as if someone was controlling my mind, and I felt a force compel me to move my hand to touch the casket. I see Dongyue panic, rushing towards me, but everything is too late. I touch the lid of the coffin.
Again, I hear the name call me, beckoning me as an electrical jolt like thousands of her lightning spells zapping right through me. Now, I see images. At the same time, I realise a sharp pain in my chest.
A man and a baby. And a female voice.
Is the baby me? If I am not her, why does my chest hurt so much?
Then, more of the images fill my mind, and I feel confused. Who is this baby, and is she me?
…………………………….
The memory dispersed, leaving Xiyu in a disoriented state. Had she been dreaming? Why was it so real?
A loud whirlwind stirred up the items in the room, sending a chill that appeared to bear right through them and hit them in their bones. Xiyu glanced at the casket. The lid was tilted slightly, at an angle that she could witness the looks of the person within.
A young woman lay within the casket. She had long wavy hair that ended in curls just below her bust. Her beauty was so profound that she found herself stunned for a very long time. Though the beauty was asleep, she seemed to be able to hear her voice again, calling out to Xiyu. Yun’er, Yun’er.
A second later, a shrill sound blasted as the lid of the casket closed from the force of the wind. The beauty was no longer visible.
She shivered from the cold of the wind, slumping down on the floor confusedly. Dongyue hasted towards her, sheltering her with his cloak.
“Xiyu, are you alright?” he asked in a concerned tone, and she nodded. Given her situation now, Dongyue was her only solace. He was her refuge and made her feel protected. She could not think of anything other than that. She was a bit shaken after all the images she had seen earlier. The wind blew more strongly, tossing Hoko with its might, and rendered him unconscious. Dongyue braved the wind, keeping her close to him. Gradually, the wind died down, and everything fell silent. Just as she thought everything was over, a dark figure appeared and slowly made its way towards them. Xiyu held onto Dongyue for support, fearing there was more to come.
The long hair, smooth skin and devious grin were unmistakable. It was Muxue Yan, the ancestor she had been looking for. She had been dismayed by his sudden departure, but now that he was back and in front of them, she didn’t know what to expect, either.
“Ancestor Yan, what are you doing here?” she exclaimed in surprise. “I thought that you had gone.”
Instead of answering her question, Muxue Yan blindly commented, “You look better now compared to before.” He meant her when she was pale and fainting. And he had just left her when she was like that after she had freed him from his bonds! How irresponsible could he be?
“Are you trying to say I was ugly before?” Xiyu retorted. She maintained her calmness, while her cold stares bore into anyone she spoke to. Yet, Xiyu could feel a special connection with this ancestor she had just met not long ago. Recalling the images she had seen briefly, her doubts bothered her, and she contemplated if he had been a part of her life; that life she had not known of.
There was also the concern if he was evil or insane, and hence his descendants had him chained. She needed an explanation as to why he was imprisoned and treated in this manner. If Muxue Yan could not answer her today, she would not allow him out of her sight ever.
“Muxue Xiyu, I want to leave this place,” Muxue Yan uttered solemnly after a few silent minutes had passed. “I do not care how you do it; I want to leave.”
“Very well,” Xiyu said. “I will trust you just this once, as you are my ancestor. But this time, you cannot leave without my consent.”
“You have my word,” Muxue Yan said. Xiyu smiled confidently and asked her first question.
“Do you know who I am, Ancestor Yan? Am I truly your descendant?”
Muxue Yan appeared unsettled for a few seconds, before answering, “No, you are not.”
He then added, “But what difference does it make, Muxue Xiyu? In the end, the island belongs to you, Xiyu. It’s the birthright you were looking for in that chest. You, Muxue Xiyu, are the rightful owner of this island.”
Rightful owner? What did he mean? She appeared baffled as Yan made his statement clearly to her. She was a mere junior, and if her granduncle returned, he would have power as the owner of the island. How could it be her, a juvenile who had yet to have her powers awakened?
“Xiyu, you’re more worthy than you think,” Yan said warmly, extending his hand to her. “From now on, you are the owner of Muxue. Nobody can say otherwise.”
Sparks of lightning glistened in the sky above as if responding to what he had just stated.