Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 379 City of Star Whales - Dunhuang

“Every city has its own starry sky and secrets. Under the night sky of Dunhuang, there are many more unknown stories lurking.”

—Excerpt from "Mysterious Stars: The Mystery of Whale Fall"

Night slowly enveloped Angel's Tears City like a curtain, and the fine rain, illuminated by the streetlights, resembled golden embroidery threads.

It weaves a thin veil that seems both real and illusory, enveloping the entire city in a strange and hazy dream.

Si Ming and Selian walked through the damp and long stone-paved alley, their steps steady yet carrying a hint of unease.

At the end of the alley, an old wooden door is hidden behind a moss-covered brick wall, and a copper bell on the lintel rings softly, as if whispering a long-awaited welcome to returning travelers.

Si Ming looked up and stared at the faintly discernible words on the lintel: "Homecoming of the Returnee."

In a daze, the scene of when I first entered the world of the Mystic Master came back to me like a dream, familiar yet with a touch of indescribable strangeness and melancholy.

Gently push open the wooden door, soft light and the warm aroma of wine slowly waft out from inside, and you can hear faint, distant whispers and laughter.
It was as if the other side of the door was the warmest yet most mysterious haven in the world.

Behind the bar, a woman wearing a sommelier's vest wiped wine glasses with a languid and elegant gesture.

She raised an eyebrow, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, and a half-smile playing on her lips: "Look who's here. My most prized disciple has returned?"

Siming raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint, helpless smile appearing at the corner of her mouth:

"When did I become your disciple? If I hadn't had something valuable on me back then, you probably would have preferred to see me thrown into the Star Chart Rift by the Card Hunter to fend for myself."

Leng Ji's eyes shimmered like autumn water, and he smiled slyly and calmly: "That's a really harsh thing to say. Memories don't lie. When you were being chased by the Card Hunters, who was it that threw you into the Hometown of Returnees?"

Si Ming sighed softly, feigning melancholy: "The favors you speak of are not given away for free. Every time, they cost me half my life and a pile of mysterious gold coins."

“There is no such thing as free kindness in this world, and I will never cheat anyone, young or old.” Leng Ji smiled calmly and gently pushed two cups of warm black tea towards him. “Here, have a sip of tea to soothe your throat, so you won’t accuse me of bullying you again.”

Selene covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze shifting between the two of them with a mocking look.

Si Ming took a sip of tea, then his expression turned serious: "Put the jokes aside for now. I've come here to ask you about the way to Dunhuang City."

"Dunhuang City?" The amusement in Leng Ji's eyes faded slightly, and his brows furrowed. "What new tricks have you come up with in the theater of fate this time?"

Si Ming shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It wasn't my wish. This time, trouble came to me on its own initiative, and I had no choice."

A hint of mockery flashed in Leng Ji's eyes, but his tone held an unspoken seriousness:

"Trouble has come looking for you; that's quite the style of a fortune teller. Do you know that since you stepped through this door, my income has more than doubled?"

Si Ming was both amused and exasperated: "In that case, should I split the profits with you?"

Leng Ji smiled faintly, twirling the wine glass between his fingers: "Splitting the profits? Forget it, you can earn your own money in the Mysterious World."

Si Ming sighed, then asked earnestly, "Then, can the Thousand Gates of the Shining Star Secret Realm lead directly to Dunhuang?"

Leng Ji nodded, his expression slightly grave: "It is indeed possible to go between the Thousand Gates, but the opening fee for the Shining Star Secret Realm is not cheap."

"How expensive?" Siming raised an eyebrow, a vague sense of foreboding creeping in.

Leng Ji tapped her slender index finger lightly on the bar, her voice gentle yet deadly: "Not much, just one Mysterious Gold Coin."

Si Ming nearly dropped the teacup in his hand, his face full of astonishment: "They really dare to ask for it; this is practically robbery."

Leng Ji elegantly put away the gold coins, her smile as captivating as a poppy: "The price is fair, no bargaining."

Si Ming smiled bitterly, touching his few remaining secret gold coins with a pained expression, as if he were letting go of not just a single coin, but also an unbreakable bond of affection:

"I hope this money will protect me from a terrible death in Dunhuang."

Leng Ji's smile faded, his gaze turning serious and earnest. He whispered a reminder: "Dunhuang is no ordinary place. The mysterious aura that permeates it is different from other places... You must be extremely careful."

Si Ming nodded solemnly, the ease in his eyes gradually replaced by a composure woven from fate: "Thank you for the reminder."

Leng Ji gazed into Si Ming's deep eyes and sighed softly, "You were born with troublesome fate markings. Remember, don't throw your life away easily. If I, the God of Wealth, am gone, no one will be willing to compensate me."

Si Ming looked up and smiled gently: "Don't worry, I wouldn't dare to die easily after owing you so much money."

Their eyes met, and a silent understanding appeared between them.

Selene quietly sipped her tea, a faint smile playing on her lips.

No matter how heated their words were, the deep trust and care between them were like a kite string, firmly connecting them.

After bidding farewell to Leng Ji, Si Ming led Selian to the back gate of the old garden.

The mysterious emblem of the Shining Star Secret Realm is engraved on the door, with soft blue starlight flowing around it, as if whispering ancient and mysterious incantations.

As Si Ming pushed open the door, a dense aura of starlight rushed towards him.

What comes into view is a vast ocean of stars, with countless doors floating in the void, each seemingly hiding an unknown point of destiny.

Rainbow-like passageways crisscross between doors, and the mysterious masters who shuttle back and forth are like dancers of fate, weaving their own lives within the star map.

Celian blinked her bright eyes and looked around curiously: "It's so much more lively here than in my hometown."

Si Ming nodded slightly, but a hint of solemnity appeared in his eyes.

The prosperity and mystery here far exceed the limits of human comprehension. Every step is a gamble with fate, and he has long been accustomed to confronting the unknown in such a game.

After crossing a series of rainbow bridges suspended in the starry void, Siming and Selian finally entered the circular hall at the deepest part of the Thousand Gates.

In the center of the hall, an ancient yet intricately decorated counter stands silently, with floating lamps casting a soft starlight that permeates the entire space with a solemn and mysterious atmosphere.

Behind the counter, a girl dressed in a black shrine maiden robe sat quietly, her expression aloof and profound.

Her slender fingers gently traced patterns on a shimmering star chart, her gaze lowered as if whispering to the invisible threads of fate.

Sensing Si Ming's approach, she slowly raised her head, her dark and deep pupils piercing Si Ming's soul like the eyes of a whisperer.

"From my hometown, to Dunhuang, a mysterious gold coin has already been deposited into my account." A faint smile appeared on the girl's lips, as if she had already seen through everything.

Si Ming raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes: "How did you know?"

The girl's face was calm as a mirror, but her voice seemed to carry a kind of ancient authority and sarcasm:
"Among a thousand gates, there is no gate in the world I do not know. Master of Destiny, your trip to Dunhuang University in Xukun City this time, I suppose, is to stir up the vortex of fate once again?"

Si Ming sighed softly upon hearing this, rubbing his temples helplessly: "Why do you all agree with Leng Ji that I was born to cause trouble?"

The girl gave a cold laugh, her gaze as clear and cold as the moon: "Because that's the truth."

Hearing this, Celian couldn't help but chuckle, secretly covering her mouth as she laughed. Siming gave her a helpless glare.
He then turned to the girl and said, "I'm used to whether it's troublesome or not. Now, could you tell me the gateway language to Dunhuang?"

With a gentle flick of her finger, the stars on the star chart began to swirl and dance like a dream.

Her lips parted slightly, her voice eerie and deep, as if chanting an ancient incantation from the abyss: "The Gate of the Void Kun, the Star Whale Soars Through the Sky; the Sky is Like a Dream, the Morning Star Has Vanished..."

Si Ming frowned slightly upon hearing this, his tone laced with a mixture of mockery and helplessness: "Can't you spell some more ordinary incantations? Every time it sounds like you're summoning an evil god."

The girl raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as ice: "Master of Destiny and Mystery, watch your words. If you continue to be disrespectful, the gate may really send you to the 'Evil God' next time."

Si Ming chuckled and could only nod apologetically, "Alright, I misspoke."

The girl ignored her and lowered her head again to recite the strange and obscure incantation.

As her chanting grew faster and faster, the astrolabe spun at an accelerated pace, and the entire hall seemed to be twisted and stretched by some invisible force, displaying dazzling spiral ripples.

The girl's voice suddenly rose, like a blood moon suddenly illuminating the night sky, cold and sharp: "Gate of the Void Kun, open!"

In an instant, the space trembled violently. Siming and Selian felt the world before them twist and tear apart. Then, a giant door, its entire body shrouded in starlight, suddenly appeared in the center of the hall.

The girl put away the star chart and said calmly, "The gates of Dunhuang City have been opened, but remember, Siming, the troubles you will face may far exceed your imagination."

Si Ming walked to the door, turned back and looked at the girl solemnly: "Thank you for the reminder, I will keep it in mind."

The girl nodded slightly, slowly closed her eyes, and once again sank into the endless whispers of the star chart. The instant Si Ming and Selian stepped into the Void Kun Gate, a strange sense of weightlessness gripped their bodies.
The surrounding scenery rapidly distorted and changed, becoming hazy and chaotic like a broken star map, as if one had instantly traversed the abyss of the universe.

As I steadied myself again, a gentle breeze carrying fresh, slightly cool air swept over me, taking away the dizziness and discomfort I had felt moments before.

Before me lay the vast and silent night of the grassland, while in the distance, the brightly lit city of Dunhuang resembled a string of glittering stars scattered across the dark earth, mysterious and dreamlike.

"Welcome to Dunhuang, the city where Xukun University is located." A familiar and clear voice came from not far away.

Upon hearing the sound, Si Ming looked over and saw a girl with long blue hair cascading down like a waterfall, leaning against a car parked by the roadside, smiling and waving at them.

The girl's smile was as gentle as moonlight; it was none other than Lynn, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Lynn, it's been so long!" Celian exclaimed with delight, running towards Lynn.

He affectionately took her arm, his face beaming with childlike joy, "This place is so beautiful, it's like a place that only exists in dreams."

Lynn chuckled softly, gently stroking Celian's hair: "I'm glad you like it. This city is indeed different from other places."

Siming slowly stepped forward, but her gaze was unintentionally drawn to the night sky.

Immediately, his pupils contracted slightly—a colossal star whale was slowly swimming in the void above the sky, its enormous body appearing dreamlike and ethereal.

It is woven from countless stars and mysterious light, gracefully and sacredly overlooking the entire city.

“That whale…” Si Ming murmured softly, his gaze unfocused.

"The Sky Whale, the guardian of Xukun City," Lynn followed Siming's gaze to the sky.
His tone was gentle yet solemn: “People believe that it devours calamities and darkness, protecting the peace and tranquility of the city.”

Si Ming's eyes gleamed with a strange light, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion: "No matter how many times I experience it, I can never fully understand how much more beyond imagination there is in the fate and mystery of this world."

Celian looked at Siming expectantly: "Can we stay a little longer this time? I really love it here!"

Si Ming gave a faint, bitter smile, his tone filled with deep helplessness: "I'm afraid this time, the things we're facing won't give us much of a chance to breathe."

Lynn smiled and patted Siming on the shoulder: "But at least tonight, you can relax a little. Alright, get in the car first, I've prepared accommodations for you."

The three got into the car, Lynn started the engine, and slowly drove towards the brightly lit city of Dunhuang.

Along the way, Celian kept asking questions excitedly, and Lynn answered them patiently, gradually making the atmosphere relaxed and warm.

Si Ming gazed at the distant city lights and the vast star whale above, his eyes deep and unfathomable, like the eyes of a whisperer.
I already had a premonition that this brief tranquility was nothing more than a gentle illusion before the storm.

Selene's laughter was as light and cheerful as a clear spring, but Si Ming only silently looked at Lynn.

His gaze was like a fine, sharp kite string as he tentatively asked, "Lin En, how is Lin Wanqing doing lately?"

Upon hearing this, Lynn tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt and wariness appearing in his eyes:
"Wanqing? She seems to be engrossed in some mysterious experiment lately and hasn't stepped out of the lab in a long time."

Siming frowned slightly, a nameless unease rising quietly from the bottom of his heart.

The letter from his memory appeared before him like a reflection in a mirror, and his voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels: "But I clearly received her letter."

Lynn's surprise grew more pronounced, and her tone became serious: "Impossible. I spoke to her on the phone this morning. She hasn't even left the lab. How could she possibly send you a letter?"

Si Ming remained silent for a moment, a slight chill creeping down his spine, as if the gaze of a whisperer's eye was silently and coldly sweeping across his soul.

If the letter wasn't sent by Lin Wanqing, then who is behind it all?
Lynn keenly noticed the fleeting shadow of gloom on Si Ming's face and gently comforted him:
"Perhaps she was just too busy to tell me. You don't need to worry too much; everything will be clear tomorrow."

Si Ming nodded reluctantly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his lips: "I hope I'm overthinking it."

Lynn smiled calmly, but there was a hint of a sigh in his eyes: "You are always entangled by invisible threads of fate, as if you were born to be entangled with trouble."

Si Ming shrugged helplessly and sighed, "Even you think so, I really have no way to defend myself."

A few more soft laughs rang out inside the car, but this time, the laughter was tinged with an indescribable heaviness and unease.

Si Ming unconsciously looked up at the window. The enormous star whale was still slowly swimming among the stars, but behind the dazzling starlight, there seemed to be a deeper and more mysterious undercurrent.

After a brief silence, Lynn suddenly broke the oppressive atmosphere.
His voice was lower and more serious than before: "Siming, you may not know this, but six more college students mysteriously disappeared yesterday. The only clue the police found was a lost cell phone."

A deep ripple appeared in Si Ming's eyes, and his tone became serious: "Did you make any special discoveries?"

Lynn stared at the dark road ahead and sighed softly:

"A text message that failed to send was displayed on the phone screen. The message contained only two simple and cold words: 'Help me.'"

Siming's heart sank suddenly, and a sense of oppression surged forth, like an invisible constraint from a lifeline.

He turned to look at the endless night outside the window, his expression gradually turning cold and solemn: "It seems that the rumors of 'other dimensions' are not unfounded."

Lynn's voice was slightly hesitant, but she said firmly, "Among the missing students, several were under Lin Wanqing's supervision. I happen to be meeting with her tomorrow, so this matter can no longer be kept secret."

Si Ming nodded slowly, but a vague anxiety crept into his heart. Lin Wanqing was now at the center of the storm.

This series of disappearances will undoubtedly push the situation in an even more dangerous direction.

He gave a bitter smile and said in a low voice, "It seems that the timing of our arrival in Dunhuang could not have been worse."

“Or perhaps, wherever you go, calamity follows,” Lynn replied with a light laugh, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere with a joke. “Siming, your fate may have been inextricably intertwined with the unpredictable from the very beginning.”

After hearing this, Selene pouted and complained:
"Lynn, please don't mention it again. Every time I go to a new place with Si Ming, these inexplicable events always happen, leaving me no time to have fun."

Si Ming helplessly spread his hands, pretending to be relaxed: "If it really is a problem with my constitution, then I'm afraid there's no hope."

Although laughter rang out again inside the car, everyone knew clearly that the shadow behind the laughter had not dissipated, but was only temporarily hidden in the night, waiting for its chance to strike.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Si Ming stood quietly on the balcony, gazing at Lynn's receding figure. The heaviness in her heart did not lessen with the separation.

He looked up at the dazzling Milky Way, where the enormous whale-shaped star swam slowly, seemingly silently telling all the secrets hidden in Dunhuang City.

“Every new place I visit is accompanied by something eerie,” Si Ming murmured to himself, a hint of mockery in his voice. “Am I truly a gambler cursed by fate?”

Selene leaned against the railing, looked at Siming, and chuckled softly, "Perhaps you were chosen by the unknown. Otherwise, why would the strange always find you so accurately?"

Si Ming shook his head with a wry smile upon hearing this: "What you're saying really makes me feel a little guilty."

Selene turned her head, her gaze suddenly becoming serious, and asked with a half-smile, "Siming, are you afraid?"

Si Ming smiled faintly: "I'm not afraid, it's just... sometimes I crave a moment of peace."

“You know it in your heart,” Celian winked slyly, “a peaceful life is simply not for you.”

Si Ming paused for a moment, then laughed self-deprecatingly: "Perhaps so. Fate has already been decided, and I can never stop moving forward."

As night deepened, Si Ming returned to his room, intending to sort out his chaotic thoughts, when he suddenly heard a soft yet eerie knocking sound at the door.

He opened the door, but there was no one there. Si Ming looked down at the ground in front of the door, where a letter lay quietly, bearing only a simple yet precise signature—"Si Ming".

He took a deep breath, picked up the letter, and closed the door. Opening the envelope, the words on the letter instantly came into view; the elegant handwriting, like a whisper under a blood-red moon, sent chills down his spine:

"Welcome to Dunhuang City, the Dream Weaver of Destiny."

Siming's heart pounded wildly, and an indescribable sense of oppression quickly overwhelmed him.

This title was like an invisible blade, touching the most sensitive place deep in his memory—the Dream Weaver of Fate, a sequence above a celestial calamity that Tang Kejian had once told him about, but how did the sender know about it?
Si Ming gazed at the star whale outside the window for a long time, his eyes gradually hardening.

He knew all too well that this trip to Dunhuang would be far from the simple and peaceful journey it appeared to be. An unknown force behind the scenes had already begun to manipulate the threads of fate.

He was destined to be unable to sleep on this long night.

"Deep within the city, secrets are always hidden. All who step into them will face the judgment and choices of fate."

—Excerpt from "Dunhuang Secret Records: The Dream of the Whale Fall"

(End of this chapter)