Ya She

Chapter 63 Zhenlu Pavilion

【one】

The morning was as cold as the previous days.

Old Zhang and his wife get up at three in the morning to knead dough, chop vegetables, mince meat, and mix fillings… Their steamed bun shop has been open for over ten years, and Old Zhang's skills are superb. Although their work may seem tedious and tiring to outsiders, Old Zhang handles it with ease. He and his wife work in perfect harmony, each step seamlessly connecting to the next, manipulating the pots and pans with a unique rhythm, like playing a beautiful symphony together.

After placing the wrapped steamed buns on the steamer and watching the white steam rise continuously, Old Zhang straightened up, rubbed his slightly sore back, opened the tightly locked shop door, and prepared to open for business.

As soon as he opened the door a crack, Old Zhang saw a person standing outside the shop.

It was still dark outside, but the commercial street was very safe, so Old Zhang wasn't scared, just a little surprised. He looked closely by the light from inside the shop and recognized a regular customer, so he greeted him warmly, "Oh, what brings you here so early? Just finished your night shift? You're here very early today!"

The young man standing outside was in his early twenties, wearing glasses and looking rather refined. Old Zhang couldn't remember his last name, only that he was a doctor at the nearby hospital and often bought steamed buns from his shop after his night shift. However, he used to buy the buns and take them to the antique shop across the street to eat, but lately he always ate at his shop and never stepped into that other place again.

That's not surprising; it seems the owner of that antique shop has changed.

The young man outside hesitated for a moment, then nodded and went inside.

The steamed buns had just been put on the stove and wouldn't be ready for a while. Old Zhang took advantage of this time to set up folding tables and chairs at the entrance of the shop, and the young man kindly lent a hand. After they finished, Old Zhang went to the stove inside to get a bowl of hot porridge to warm the young man's stomach, and when he came out, he found the young man sitting outside.

"Come in and sit down! It's windy and cold outside," Old Zhang hurriedly invited. If his shop weren't so small, he wouldn't have set up a few extra tables outside. It was fine in the summer, but in the winter, before dawn, the cold wind was biting.

"It's alright, I'll eat here while waiting for someone. Uncle, please don't mind me sitting here for so long." The young man smiled apologetically and got up to take the porridge from Old Zhang's hand.

"Oh dear, why did you make an appointment so early?" Old Zhang sighed. He wanted to chat for a bit longer, but his wife called him inside to continue making steamed buns.

Not long after, Old Zhang's first batch of steamed buns was ready. He rushed out immediately to collect the buns for the young man. After that, early risers came in droves, and Old Zhang was as busy as ever. Occasionally, his gaze would sweep over the table outside the door, and he would see the young man still sitting there, his bowl of porridge and steamer already empty.

Because of the cold weather, there weren't many customers sitting outside the shop. Many people preferred to take their food to go rather than sit in the cold wind to eat, which made the young man sitting there stand out. Old Zhang didn't chase him away, and considerately didn't remove the tableware in front of the young man.

Who am I waiting for? This is so agonizing. Old Zhang couldn't help but mutter to himself.

【two】

The doctor, touching the black jade ball in his pocket, sat in the cold wind for a long time. Lately, he had more than once suspected that he had lost a piece of his memory.

It's normal for the human brain to have limited capacity and not remember some past events, but he can't even recall things that happened in the last few years. Putting everything else aside, surely he couldn't remember when he bought the house? Besides, where did he get the money?
Also, that stranger who suddenly appeared in my house last night... was he really a stranger?

Did the events he saw through the black jade sphere actually happen? Have paranormal events occurred in his current house? Why was one room sealed off?
Damn it, Chun Ge isn't answering the phone either, he's sleeping so soundly!
The doctor hadn't slept a wink all night, hoping to glean something more from the strange black jade sphere, but to no avail. He could only suppress his anxiety and leave a message for Chun Ge, asking him to request leave and a change of shift. His current condition was simply unsuitable for operating.

It was still very late at night, and he was already standing at the entrance of the Silent Shop.

Two lamps were lit inside the Silent Shop, and the flickering light could be seen through the frosted glass of the window. But when he tried to push the door, it wouldn't budge; it must have been locked from the inside.

He couldn't very well break in like a robber, so he patiently stood in the cold wind, gritting his teeth and waiting. Things were a little better once the steamed bun shop opened; at least there was a place to sit. However, he refused to sit inside, afraid of missing something.

He wanted to know why he had lost his memory. Was it an accident, some kind of curse, or... was it done on purpose?
This antique shop is right on his daily commute, so why does he ignore it? It's completely unfamiliar, but why does it feel strangely familiar upon closer inspection?
The young man in the Tang suit clearly knew him, judging from his expression and eyes. But when he bumped into him at home last night, he pretended it was their first meeting.

Perhaps he stumbled upon some surreal scene, and his memories of it were erased...

The doctor's mind flashed through various science fiction and fantasy films and television shows, but he dismissed them one by one. He had a feeling that his relationship with the man in the Tang suit was more than just a casual acquaintance.

……

The doctor was filled with questions and was almost going crazy trying to keep them to himself.

After an unknown amount of time, the doctor saw a shadowy figure moving on the frosted window reflected by the light. He quickly settled the bill with the steamed bun shop owner and strode forward to knock on the door.

Perhaps he knocked a little too hard, because the carved door was pushed open a little by him.

Through the crack in the door, he immediately saw a young man in a dark green Tang suit standing in front of the counter. His breath caught in his throat, and the doctor hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to push open the door and go inside.

When he finally made out the person's face in the dim light of the shop, he realized that this wasn't the person he was looking for. A strange emptiness filled his heart; before the doctor could even ponder the source of this feeling, he saw the young man in the Tang suit...

The man's expression changed drastically the moment he looked up and saw him.

"Welcome...to your establishment." The man's voice trembled at first, but it seemed he found his footing after a few words.

With a forced smile, he explained, "It's rare to see guests arriving so early in the morning; it gave me quite a fright."

Although the other man perfectly explained his lapse in composure, the doctor still sensed something was amiss. He stared intently at the young man until the man's eyes flickered, then said calmly, "Where's the boss?"

The young man's expression changed drastically, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

The doctor interrupted him, coldly scoffing, "No need for excuses, I remember everything." These words were more effective than anything else; the young man seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumping into the chair.
Zi Shang, his face full of guilt, apologized, "I'm so... so sorry..."

The doctor wasn't there to hear an apology, nor did he have time to think about why the other party wanted to apologize. He simply asked the same question again: "Where's the boss?"

"The boss left yesterday and hasn't come back yet," the young man replied sincerely.

The doctor felt there was no need for the other person to lie to him, but seeing that the other person didn't take out their phone to contact the boss for him, he felt somewhat dissatisfied. He wanted to ask the other person for the boss's contact information, but hesitated for a long time before saying it—he had just pretended to have fully recovered his memory, and saying too much would easily give him away. Besides, he had gone through all the contacts in his phone's address book and WeChat friends last night, and none of them seemed like the boss.

"I... I'll wait here." After hesitating for a long time, the doctor finally chose the most cumbersome method and found a chair in the shop to sit down.

Looking around at the shop's furnishings, the doctor tried to search his muddled mind for anything that seemed familiar, but all he could see were antique items he couldn't name, each exuding a rustic yet luxurious charm.

After regaining his composure, the doctor carefully examined each item: the celadon porcelain plate, the golden ghost mask, the lacquer box with gold-painted decorations depicting a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, the Huzhou wolf-hair brush... all were placed in their original positions as usual...

Huh? How did he know they were already here? And he even knows their names...?

The gilded dragon-shaped incense burner wasn't "blowing incense" on the counter; instead, it was wiped clean and placed on the display shelf. It looked like it hadn't been used for incense for quite some time. Brother Boshan must be very angry...

He must have been here, and something must have happened.

Afraid of picking up some antique, the doctor instinctively put his hand in his pocket. His left hand touched a cold jade ball, and his mind went blank for a moment...

Here it comes! This is the feeling! What will we see this time?
The peeling paint on the desk, the broken laptop that kept beeping after only ten minutes of use, and the medical books piled up on the floor.

This must have been when he first moved into the rented apartment...

Is this a scene from after the "revolving lantern" incident? Was the event the black jade ball showed him part of a TV series?

【Three】

After the terrifying ordeal in the rented room that night, the doctor was busy for a long time.

He stayed at Chun Ge's house for a while, and on his days off, he mixed cement and sand himself to reseal the compartment where the deceased's belongings were stored, and bought wallpaper to cover the wall.

If it were anyone else, they would have already asked the landlord to terminate the lease, but doctors deal with death in their work and have long since become indifferent to it. They just left some of his belongings there!

After everything was finished and they moved back, the doctor discovered that a new antique shop called "Ya She" had indeed opened on the commercial street.

Such a unique shop name must belong to that man in the Tang suit.

After finishing his night shift that day, the doctor, carrying a box of cake in his left hand and a gift box in his right, pushed open the door of the antique shop with a smile.

"Welcome... Is that you?" The young man who had been reading behind the counter looked up and smiled faintly. He was very young, probably only in his early twenties. He was still wearing that eye-catching black Tang suit, with a dark red dragon embroidered on the right sleeve that snaked upwards along the sleeve, its ferocious mouth pointing directly at the collar, looking as if it were alive and about to bite off his neck at any moment.

The doctor couldn't help but glance at the red dragon a few more times, inwardly wondering if the owner never changed his clothes, or if the red dragon Tang suit was his work uniform. The doctor placed the cake and gift box on the counter, smiling and exchanging pleasantries: "Congratulations, boss, on your grand opening! I'm incredibly grateful for your help the other day!"

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, put down the book he was holding, and glanced at the two boxes on the counter: "Are they both for me?" "Oh dear, this cake is to celebrate the shop's opening. Let's cut it and eat it together in a bit!" the doctor said, scratching his head.

He scratched his head, smiled sheepishly, and carefully swallowed back the saliva that had spilled out.

Heaven knows how much he wanted to find an excuse to eat this new, trendy cake, but Chun Ge doesn't like sweets, and it would be too pathetic to eat such a big cake all by himself. Cake, such a blissful dessert, should be shared with friends to make it truly enjoyable!

"And this one? Is it for me too?" The shopkeeper turned his gaze to the gift box beside him, reached out and opened the lid...
You were taken aback, "This is..."

An antique bronze lantern with six sides lay quietly in its box. "Uh, I've been thinking about it, and this thing is definitely a bit scary to have in the house. Boss, isn't this an antique shop?"
"Not only do you sell things, but you also collect them, right? Could you help me get rid of this revolving lantern?" The doctor rubbed his hands together, forcing an awkward smile. He knew this request was a bit unreasonable, but he feared nothing but these unknown things. After the revolving lantern completed its cycle, it never lit up again. However, even when it was placed in a cabinet at home, he couldn't help but glance at it every time he opened the cabinet door. Then, it seemed as if the lantern would light up with a dim yellow light and continue its eerie spinning.

The shopkeeper closed the lid and sighed softly, "This fortune-telling lantern won't spin twice in the same person's hands. I thought you wouldn't mind leaving it with you, so I only took the White Tiger Suppression Town. Are you sure you don't want this lantern anymore?"

"Yes, yes... But boss, if you accept this, won't you get into trouble?" The doctor wanted to get rid of this hot potato, but he had to make sure it wouldn't harm anyone else. "If it really doesn't work out, I'll just take it home."

"I'll be fine." The boss's lips curved into a perfect smile, with an inexplicable confidence. "If I leave it at your home, it might get touched by an innocent person someday. Don't worry, I'll put it in a safe place."

"Thank you so much, boss!" The doctor clapped his hands happily.

"However, this revolving lantern is yours anyway, so I can't just take it for free. According to the store's rules, would you like to exchange it for cash or trade it for something else in my store?" The owner said in a businesslike tone as he put the gift box back on the counter.

"No, no, I can't accept this!" The doctor waved his hands repeatedly, feeling that he was taking advantage of the other party. How could someone ask for a favor and then turn around and ask for money or gifts? He only spent a hundred yuan on this revolving lantern, which was not even worth as much as the trendy cake he brought! Besides, the things in this shop all looked antique and of high quality. Even if he didn't know anything about the shop, he could tell from the shop's decor that these were not cheap goods.

Seeing the owner open his lips as if to say something, the doctor quickly opened the cake box and said, "Come on! Have a piece of cake to celebrate the grand opening! Wishing the owner a prosperous business and abundant wealth!"

The boss was about to say something when he was stopped by a slice of cake being handed to him. "Try it! It'll be absolutely delicious!" The doctor deftly cut the cake and began to devour it.

The owner smiled helplessly, placed the cast iron kettle on the red clay stove, boiled water, and then took out a pair of pale green gaiwans to brew tea—the cake was a bit too sweet on its own, but paired with a sip of Longjing tea, it was extremely refreshing.

The doctor sighed with satisfaction, praising the boss for his discerning palate and for being a true friend.

The two chatted casually while eating. The owner was a great listener; when he did speak, he was full of insightful remarks. The doctor couldn't help but pour out all the fatigue and frustration of his internship.

After the entire cake was finished and tea had been refilled several times, the doctor finally realized how much he had rambled on. Embarrassed, he scratched his head, "Oh dear, you've been talking all by yourself! You've kept the boss from doing business..."

He should have kept quiet, because once he did, he realized something: for so long, the antique shop hadn't had a single customer.

"Ahem, it's alright, it's just opened! I'll promote it to my classmates for the owner later!" the doctor promised, patting his chest. But that was all in the future; he was in the shop now and should support the business. Thinking this, the doctor immediately stood up and started wandering around the shop, earnestly saying, "Boss, do you have any antiques suitable for me? You know the situation with my rented apartment, something to ward off evil spirits will do. But no, the white tiger that Chun Ge gave me didn't work at all… Haha, is there anything that can help improve my career luck… Oh, no, I'm just an intern. Even if my career luck is strong, I won't get to do difficult surgeries, that would be harmful… As for love luck, I don't need it right now. I can barely support myself, how can I have the mind to make my girlfriend happy…"

The doctor muttered to himself as he walked to the display case and examined it closely. However, the more carefully he looked, the less confident he became. The cups, bowls, plates, writing brushes, inkstones, paper, inkstones, swords, spears, and halberds… every item was a treasure. He wandered around for a while, then abandoned the idea of ​​buying anything. This owner was so extravagant; he probably didn't care whether business was good or bad.

The doctor had an excellent attitude and, adhering to the good habit of asking questions whenever he didn't understand something, he would directly ask for help with any unfamiliar objects he saw, and he learned quite a bit. Until he walked around and found a model of a pavilion sitting alone in a corner of the curio cabinet.

The pavilion model was only about the size of an egg, and it looked like it was made of resin. It seemed a bit out of place on the display shelf full of gold, silver, and jade artifacts. The doctor couldn't resist reaching out and picking up the pavilion model, only to find that it was much heavier than he had expected.

This pavilion is quite different from ordinary octagonal pavilions. Instead of having uniform sides, it has two particularly long sides, making it a narrow and slender pavilion, resembling a short, long corridor. However, it is small, cute, and exquisitely crafted. The roof is as white as snow, the pillars are slender and black, and the base is inlaid with finely woven blue bricks. One can not only see each brick and tile clearly, but even the patterns carved on the blue bricks at the base—long-legged birds in various poses. Strangely enough, this pavilion model is only the size of an egg, and the bricks are as small as sesame seeds, yet the carved birds are still clearly visible. This craftsmanship cannot be achieved by human hands; it must have been carved by machine. The plaque in the center of the pavilion bears three seal script characters, which the doctor could not decipher even after examining them for a long time.

“Those are the three characters ‘Zhenlu Pavilion’,” the shopkeeper replied before he could ask. “The name ‘Zhenlu’ comes from the poem ‘Zhenlu’ in the Book of Songs. ‘The egrets fly, soaring over to the western palace. My guest has arrived, and there is also this magnificent sight. There is no evil there, nor is there any distress here. May we strive day and night to forever preserve our reputation.’”

The owner's voice was clear and pleasant, and when he recited the poems, his voice rose and fell with rhythm, echoing faintly in the empty shop, creating a captivating sense of solemnity.

The doctor couldn't understand a word and was filled with awe.

"Zhenlu Pavilion, what a beautiful name!" Upon hearing the name, the doctor was even more captivated by the pavilion model. "Does such a pavilion truly exist in this world?"

"Indeed, it is true." The shopkeeper smiled slightly. "There used to be a Huxin Temple in the center of West Lake, which collapsed later. Then Zhenlu Pavilion was built on the original site, which also collapsed soon after. This Zhenlu Pavilion is the predecessor of the current Huxin Pavilion in West Lake."

"Wow!" Although he often passed by West Lake, the doctor had never been to the small island in the middle of the lake, and suddenly he liked the model even more. Since it looked like a common tourist souvenir, he figured it probably wouldn't cost much, so he couldn't help but ask, "Sir, how much is this model? Can you give me a discount since we're friends?" "This…" The shopkeeper hesitated, wanting to dissuade him, but seeing the doctor's affectionate expression, he couldn't refuse. "Well, I probably don't have enough cash on me today, but I can pay in installments. You can pay me back when you get your salary!"

The doctor touched his thin wallet with a troubled expression.

The shopkeeper sighed and said, "It's not about installment payments, and this isn't...it's not anything valuable..." The doctor wasn't stupid; he could tell that the shopkeeper's last sentence sounded very reluctant. He reluctantly stroked the pillars of the pavilion, intending to put the pavilion back.

"Since you really like it, take it back. Consider it my exchange for your revolving lantern with this Zhenlu Pavilion." The shopkeeper smiled and spoke sincerely. "Don't underestimate the revolving lantern you brought. Although it's an evil object, many people still flock to it, convinced that they are the lucky ones and want to try their best."

The doctor, holding Zhen Luting's hand, paused, unsure whether to put it down or take it away, and immediately regretted his impulsive action. "It's alright. It's rare for Zhen Luting to find someone who truly loves it; they'll surely be very happy. Please cherish it."

"If you don't like it anymore, just send it back to our store." The owner's words were so comforting that it was hard to refuse.

The doctor relaxed upon hearing this. Since things had come to this point, it would be disrespectful to his boss if he didn't take it home. He'd take it home today, and then find an excuse to return it to his boss in a couple of days, bringing him extra treats as compensation! Plan worked!
As for the owner's anthropomorphic description of Zhenlu Pavilion, he just listened casually. Most pet shop owners say the same thing, as if they could truly understand the thoughts of their cats and dogs. It's just a model of a pavilion, after all!
"Also, please use dry paper towels when wiping the dust off Zhenlu Pavilion, do not use water."

As the doctor intently examined the Zhenluting inkstone in his palm, he heard the shop owner's instructions and nodded repeatedly. "Don't get it wet? That's normal; I guess it's to prevent the dye from fading."

"Remember, absolutely do not get it wet." "Okay!"

【Four】

Ah...where is he now...my head hurts so much...

Oh, right, he seems to have gone to that newly opened antique shop. On his way back, he passed by West Lake and saw someone drowning. He only had time to take off his shoes before jumping in...

Ah... that naughty kid who fell into the lake while fishing, he wouldn't let go of the fishing net and struggled so fiercely... when he was finally lifted ashore, he was kicked in the forehead...

Cough cough... Is he saved? Is this in a hospital?

But why is he lying face down? It looks like he was just thrown on the ground... Is this how the parents of that brat treat their savior?

The doctor mustered a little strength, propped himself up, and coughed violently. After coughing up a little water from his stomach, he opened his eyes, still dazed.

Look at this blurry world... I must get laser eye surgery for nearsightedness someday when I have time.

Where are his glasses? Oh, he remembered to take them off and put them in his pocket when he jumped into the lake. The doctor, without much hope, reached into his pocket, only to be secretly delighted—his glasses were still there!
As soon as the doctor put on his glasses, he noticed that the floor he was sitting on was paved with blue bricks, each carved with a white egret in a different pose: some were pecking at food with their heads down, some were singing with their heads up, and some were spreading their wings as if about to take flight...

These blue bricks... seem familiar...

The doctor suppressed a sudden chill running down his spine and looked around, his eyes widening in surprise—this was a pavilion unlike any other octagonal pavilion, with two exceptionally long, narrow sides. The roof was as white as snow, and the pillars were slender and black.

The doctor used the blue bricks on the ground to get up, stumbled and ran out of the pavilion, and looked up at the front of the pavilion.

Above, a plaque bore three crooked seal script characters. "Those are the three characters 'Zhenlu Pavilion'..."

The boss's voice still seemed to echo in his ears. The doctor rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but Zhenluting still stood in front of him.

What I was playing with in my hands just a few tens of minutes ago is now magnified hundreds of times and appears in front of me...

The doctor instinctively reached into his pocket. He remembered putting the gazebo model in his pocket, but all he found were his wet phone and wallet; nothing else.

Could it be that he fell into the lake while rescuing someone? But how does that explain the fact that the Zhenlu Pavilion in front of him looks exactly like that pavilion model?
"When wiping the dust off Zhenlu Pavilion, please use dry paper towels, do not get them wet." "Remember, absolutely do not get them wet."

The boss's repeated instructions echoed in the doctor's mind, and a chill ran down his spine. What do you mean, "dampened"? He practically submerged the pavilion model in water! Is this some kind of urban legend?

The doctor steadied himself and realized that it wasn't just Zhenlu Pavilion that was strange; the sky above also looked gloomy, a deep, oppressive blue. Zhenlu Pavilion was surrounded by overgrown weeds and deserted, with only a few faint lights in the distance, making it seem as if he had suddenly arrived in the middle of nowhere.

  Where exactly is he? If it's some kind of urban fantasy that a pavilion model has been enlarged into a pavilion, then he should be by West Lake, not in this godforsaken place.

The doctor slumped down on the steps of Zhenlu Pavilion, shaking the water off his phone.

The phone can still be turned on, but I don't know if it got wet, but it has no signal and keeps showing "No Service".

The doctor fiddled with the phone for a while before giving up. He should be thankful that the phone only lost signal after being submerged in water, rather than becoming larger.

His clothes were sticking to his body, damp and uncomfortable. Luckily, there was no wind, so he wouldn't catch a cold, but the air was stuffy and had an indescribable fishy smell. The doctor simply took off his coat, wrung it out forcefully, and shook it vigorously.

Just as he was getting into the swing of things, he seemed to hear a rustling sound coming from the bushes beside him. The doctor instinctively turned around and met a pair of clear, black and white eyes.

The doctor wasn't startled, because a closer look revealed it was a child of about seven or eight years old. His first reaction was...
The child he had saved was also here. He had only taken two steps forward when he saw the child jump out of the bushes like a startled rabbit and hop away.

The doctor then realized he had mistaken the child for someone else. Although he couldn't see the child's face clearly and couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, the child had long hair and was wearing an ancient robe. The child ran very fast and disappeared in no time. If it weren't for the dents trampled into the grass, the doctor would have almost thought it was a hallucination.

Although this place is a bit strange, as long as there are people here, nothing serious will happen. Since we're already here, we might as well make the best of it.

The doctor hung his wrung-out coat on the railing of Zhenlu Pavilion, then sat comfortably on the steps of the pavilion, wearing only a vest, playing video games. But before he could finish his game of Snake, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from afar.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in his forties, thin and with a sallow complexion. He was also dressed in ancient attire, with his long hair tied up in a crown, but his ochre robe had many patches, making him look very destitute.

The doctor wanted to ask where this was, but the middle-aged man didn't look at him. Instead, he looked up at Zhen Luting with a complicated expression.

"Uh...excuse me..." the doctor asked, forcing himself to speak.

The middle-aged man interrupted the doctor, bowing politely and asking, "Excuse me, sir, have you seen a child?"

The doctor, observing the child's expression and sensing the strong sense of resistance emanating from him, deduced that he didn't want to communicate with anyone. So, he sighed silently and pointed in the direction the child had run off to.

"Thank you." The middle-aged man bowed politely and hurriedly chased after him.

The doctor watched the middle-aged man's departing figure, hesitating. Was it really a good idea for him to stay here and wait? Should he take the initiative to walk towards the lights in the distance? But he was also afraid that if he left Zhenlu Pavilion, he would be more likely to get lost.

"Huh? Zhenlu Pavilion has reappeared? That's quite an achievement." A voice suddenly rang out, filled with surprise.

Overjoyed, the doctor looked in the direction of the sound and discovered a young man who had somehow appeared in Zhenlu Pavilion. The man was squatting on the ground with a nostalgic expression, stroking the blue bricks carved with egrets.

This young man was also dressed in ancient attire, but completely different from the middle-aged man before him. His hair was completely tied up in a bun on top of his head, making him look energetic and neat. He wasn't wearing a long robe, but a dark red leather armor covered with patterns, indicating that he was no ordinary soldier, but at least a lieutenant general. This young general carried an iron sword and wore combat boots, and it was unclear how he had entered Zhenlu Pavilion so silently.

"Uh, hello, may I ask where this place is?" The doctor asked eagerly, not having time to ponder the deeper meaning of the other person's words.

"Oh, it's been a while since we've had a newcomer." The young general stood up, dusted off his hands, and looked at him indifferently.

"A newcomer?" The doctor chuckled upon hearing this term, a subtle sense of overlap in his expression, as he was currently an intern at the hospital and this was the term he was most often addressed as. This description slightly improved his mood. He noticed that the young general's skin was tanned a wheatish color by the sun, his features were handsome and rugged, with a short stubble on his chin, and his lips were tightly pressed together, exuding an aloofness that kept strangers at bay. This was similar to the attitude of the middle-aged man from before. Where did this place come from? Why was there such a rejection of newcomers?

The doctor had barely finished thinking this when he saw the young general's expression suddenly change, and he strode towards him. The young general reached out and grabbed the longevity lock around the doctor's neck, demanding sharply, "Where did you get this?"

The doctor, startled by the overwhelming murderous aura, took a step back, but was pulled back by the longevity lock. As he drew closer, he noticed an unhealed knife wound above the left corner of the young general's left eye, beneath his bangs. Upon closer inspection, he realized the patterns on the general's leather armor weren't painted designs, but rather uneven, dark red knife marks.

The doctor, who frequently handled blood, smelled a familiar, strong odor of blood and realized that these were all traces of blood. Had the general just been in battle? Where exactly is this place?
A force that nearly suffocated him was applied to his neck. The doctor quickly raised his hands to show that he was harmless and replied aggrievedly, "I've worn this since I was a child. It was left to me by my mother."

The young general stared at the longevity lock for a long time, then shifted his gaze to the doctor's face, staring at him intently for a while. The doctor, while forcing a smile, pinched his thigh. Ouch, that really hurts. Looks like this isn't a dream... This jinx is going to...

Should he give the longevity lock to the person who asked for it, or not?
Fortunately, the young general didn't forcefully take it; he soon released his grip and said calmly, "Newcomer, this is Xiyong." The doctor rubbed his neck, wondering if it was just his imagination, but after the young general touched his longevity lock, his demeanor...

His tone softened considerably. He then followed up, "Xi Yong? That sounds familiar. Do you know how to get to West Lake, brother?"

“The egrets soar in flight, over there in the Western Palace,” the young general said, enunciating each word clearly.

The doctor's smile froze on his lips. The boss had recited this poem before; wasn't it just a simple literal meaning? "Yong, meaning 'blocked,' refers to a pool or marsh formed by water being blocked. Look up and observe it." The young general raised his chin.

The doctor immediately looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. What he had perceived as a deep blue sky was not filled with flocks of birds, but with fish.

here it is……

“That’s right, this is underwater.” The young general probably rarely introduced this place to others, and after a moment of silence, he continued, “All those who come to Xiyong Village have drowned. If they are destined, they will come to Xiyong through Zhenlu Pavilion.”

The doctor was stunned, recalling the last thing he saw before losing consciousness: himself slowly sinking to the bottom of the water...

Is he... already dead?
The young general waited patiently for the young man to show a panicked expression—everyone who came to Xiyong for the first time would do so, including himself back then.

But he saw the young man, after his initial shock, press his right index and middle fingers against his neck and mutter something, becoming increasingly calm as he spoke.

"Heart rate 102 beats per minute, slightly tachycardia. Respiratory rate 20 breaths per minute, a ratio of 1:4 to heart rate, within the normal range. Pain can be instantly felt when pinching fingertips or legs, indicating normal sensory nerve function. This also shows that the limbs can follow the brain's commands and perform limb movements normally..."

Before long, the young general saw that the young man had relaxed and said to him with a smile, "My physical condition is not bad right now. Apart from not being able to figure things out in a new place, my heart is beating a little too fast due to nervousness, and my body temperature is a little high because I was soaked in water and caught a chill. Otherwise, my vital signs are stable, and I am definitely still alive."

"But General, shouldn't you have your eye wound treated? It might leave a scar if left untreated. And I smell a strong odor of blood on you; do you have any other injuries?" The doctor, relieved, then, true to his profession, eagerly approached. However, there were no first-aid supplies, bandages, or clean water available…

“No need for treatment.” The young general calmly allowed the doctor to examine the wound at the corner of his eye. “In the land of Xiyong, time does not flow. For all those who enter Xiyong, time stands still at the moment they fall into the water.”

The doctor blinked, processing what the other person said, and suppressed the urge to refute. Following the other person's train of thought, he hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does the general mean he won't get hungry, thirsty, or old?"

The young general nodded. "When did you arrive in Xiyong, General?" The doctor seemed to realize something, took a step back, and looked him up and down.
Looking at the other person's armor, "This outfit looks somewhat familiar..."

"Qin Er Shi... three years..." The young general's eyebrows twitched, and his unhealed knife wound also moved, giving him an eerie look.

"Ah! No wonder this outfit looks so familiar, it's very similar to the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang!" The doctor suddenly realized, then felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing the answer. "So... the general came here during the Qin Dynasty? That's over two thousand years ago!"

"Has it been more than two thousand years?" A trace of melancholy flashed in the young general's dark eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "There is no sense of the passage of time in Xiyong. You will get used to it."

"Me? I can't get used to it! There's no spicy hot pot, no hot pot, no cake here. I can't stand it for even a day!" Upon hearing that this young general could endure such a place for over two thousand years, the doctor was filled with awe.

"But you're not hungry."

“Hunger and wanting to eat are not the same thing,” the doctor replied matter-of-factly. “You can eat even if you’re not hungry.” “…” The young general’s eye twitched; he clearly hadn’t expected the other person to be like this. “However, if you’re not hungry, you can’t say your vital signs are stable, because there’s no metabolism,” the doctor muttered to himself.
He said, then shook his head and said, "No, no, now is not the time to study this. Brother, you can definitely get out of Xiyong, right?"

The young general fell silent.

The doctor's hope was rekindled; if this so-called Xiyong was something he couldn't leave, then the young general would surely have given him a direct answer.

"The way to leave this place is actually quite simple." The young general couldn't bear the doctor's eager gaze and looked away. "Zhenlu Pavilion was originally a twin pavilion, resembling a white egret spreading its wings and taking flight. Later, one of them collapsed and fell into the water, while the other remained on the shore. These two separate pavilions became the connection between the underwater and the surface of the water, and also connected Xiyong with the present world."

The Zhenlu Pavilion on the shore? Could it refer to the pavilion in the center of West Lake? Could this be the bottom of West Lake? West Lake, Xiyong... they sound quite similar. Could West Lake have been called Xiyong before? The doctor started to make wild connections, but did not interrupt the other person.

"Birds need a pair of wings to fly, and the Zhenlu Pavilion was built as a twin pavilion for the same reason. Find another person who wants to leave Xiyong, and when the two of you come to the Zhenlu Pavilion at the same time, you can leave," the young general said casually.

But the doctor wasn't all smiles, because he noticed the young general's expression wasn't as relaxed as he'd made it out to be. "This person... isn't so easy to find, is he?"

“Indeed. Most of the people of Xiyong who drowned committed suicide, having no attachment to this world. Others who accidentally fell also left together. Furthermore, Zhenluting has been missing for a long time, and no new people have appeared in Xiyong for a long time. Of those who remain in Xiyong today, very few are willing to leave,” the young general said calmly.

The doctor scratched his head, then suddenly broke into a wide smile. The young general felt a chill run down his spine.

"General! You've been in Xiyong long enough. How about we go out and explore this amazing new world together?"

(End of this chapter)