Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

In the summer of 1967, Hong Kong was as hot as a giant steamer. The air on Victoria Peak was finally a bit cooler, carrying a bit of moisture from the sea breeze. In the courtyard of He Damin's villa, the old pomegranate tree, whose age was unknown, was lush and leafy, covered with small, green fruits, each one round and plump, like an undeveloped little fist, looking so sour it would make your teeth itch.

The afternoon sun was scorching, and sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of the pomegranate trees, casting shimmering patches of light on the bluestone pavement, like scattered gold dust. Cicadas chirped hysterically in the trees, their calls growing louder and louder, disturbing the peace, yet strangely making the luxurious residential area all the more tranquil.

He Damin stood on the second-floor balcony. The balcony was completely open, paved with cool marble. He held a white porcelain covered bowl in his hand, filled with Longjing tea. The tea leaves had long since lost their flavor, and the tea was completely cold, but he hadn't drunk a drop. He just held it there, his gaze fixed on the distant, boundless sea at the foot of the mountain.

The sea was truly blue, like a giant, smooth gemstone, stretching all the way to the horizon, merging seamlessly with the clouds. In the distance, cargo ships came and went in Victoria Harbour, their smokestacks billowing wisps of smoke like swimming fish. In Central, skyscrapers grew taller and taller each day, the crane booms gleaming metallically in the sunlight—the sound of Hong Kong's relentless growth.

But He Damin paid no attention to any of this. His eyes were somewhat empty, yet deep, as if they could absorb the entire sea. He was looking at the sea, but it seemed as if he wasn't looking at the sea at all.

"Tap tap tap." Soft footsteps came from behind, the sound of high heels on the wooden floor.

He Yushui pushed open the door and came in. Today she was wearing a beige dress, her hair neatly pulled back, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. She was holding a black folder in her hand and walked to He Damin's side.

"Uncle," she began, her voice clear and melodious like a mountain stream, "would you like to take a look at the TV station's program schedule for next month, as well as some proposals for new programs?"

She spent three years in Cambridge, England, and speaks with a slight British accent, but the ending of her voice involuntarily takes a detour, still retaining that familiar Hong Kong accent, which sounds warm and welcoming.

He Damin slowly turned around, his gaze falling on his niece. The twenty-three-year-old girl had grown taller and more beautiful; she was no longer the little girl who used to follow him around begging for candy. A PhD in Economics from Cambridge University—that's a prestigious degree in Hong Kong. Last year, upon her return, Chen Xueru immediately took her to Asia TV, saying she would personally mentor her. No one expected the girl to be so quick to learn; in just six months, she had mastered the entire operation of the television station, from program production to sponsorship, even able to explain the technical parameters of the control room. Chen Xueru was overjoyed.

"I'm not going to look anymore." He Damin waved his hand casually, as if he were just saying the weather was nice today. "Your aunt said that entrusting this to you means she trusts you. You can make your own decisions; you don't need to ask me about everything."

Upon hearing this, He Yushui's face lit up with a bright smile. That smile was almost exactly the same as it was more than a decade ago when she first traveled from Beijing to Hong Kong by train with He Damin and Chen Xueru, pressing her face against the window and curiously asking, "Are there many delicious foods in Hong Kong?" Her eyes curved like crescent moons. Only now, beside that crescent moon, there was a touch more composure and competence.

"Where is Auntie?" She looked around and, not seeing Chen Xueru, asked. "I haven't seen her since I came this morning; she hasn't shown up all day."

He Damin's expression seemed to stiffen for a moment, though only for a split second, He Yushui still noticed it. He was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice lower than before: "She... had something to do and went out."

He Yushui was incredibly clever; seeing her uncle's expression, she knew something was amiss. But being sensible, she didn't press the matter. She knew there were things between her uncle and aunt that she didn't understand, nor did she need to. Those things were mysterious and distant; she just needed to do her job well and learn the skills her aunt had taught her.

"Oh, I see." She nodded, closed the folder, and put it in her bag. "Then I won't bother you any longer, Uncle. I'll be going now. I have a meeting with the GG department this afternoon, and I need to go and keep an eye on it."

"Go on, be careful on the road." He Damin waved his hand.

He Yushui hummed in agreement, turned around, and quietly slipped out, carefully closing the door behind her.

The room returned to silence, with only the faint chirping of cicadas and the distant, indistinct sound of waves coming from outside the window.

He Damin turned around again, returned to the balcony, and continued gazing at the sea. But this time, his eyes had changed. If they were empty before, now they seemed to hold a starry sky within them—deep and sharp.

His divine sense, like an invisible net, spread out silently, crossing Victoria Peak, the bustling city, and Victoria Harbour, extending all the way to the vast South China Sea.

He's looking for a place. A suitable place.

He started looking three days ago.

We need an uninhabited island. It can't be too big, nor too small. The key is that it must be secluded, far from the main shipping lanes, far from fishing grounds, and far from any place that might be inhabited or disturbed. Ideally, there should be some spiritual energy gathered there, but it shouldn't be too conspicuous, lest it attract unnecessary trouble.

After searching for three days, I finally found it.

About eighty nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong, there's a very small island, probably less than a square kilometer in area. The island is completely barren; there aren't even a decent tree, let alone people. There are only some oddly shaped black rocks, pitted and scarred by the sea winds and waves, like weathered faces. In the crevices of the rocks, however, a few clumps of shrubs grow tenaciously, their leaves small, stiff, and dark green, clearly showing their strong vitality.

Seabirds have built nests on the reefs, and their white silhouettes can be seen circling overhead from time to time. The waters surrounding the islands are crystal clear, and schools of colorful fish can be seen darting and playing among the rocks. Most importantly, the islands are far from the main shipping lanes, the waters are not very deep, and there are many hidden reefs. Not to mention large cargo ships, even fishing boats that make a living in the nearby waters year-round consider the area too dangerous and lacking in fish, and rarely approach it.

It's absolutely perfect.

He Damin withdrew his divine sense with satisfaction, and the invisible net vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. He turned and went into the house.

The bedroom door was ajar, and he gently pushed it open.

Chen Xueru was sitting cross-legged on the bed, her back to the door. She was wearing a loose white martial arts uniform, her long black hair loosely tied in a bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. The room was dark, with only sunlight filtering through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow.

Her eyes were slightly closed, her breathing long and slow, with a strange rhythm. With each breath, a soft golden light swirled gently in her lower abdomen, in the dantian area. The light was not dazzling, but rather had a warm and gentle texture, like a ripe, juicy fruit radiating an alluring glow.

"Are you ready?" He Damin walked to the bedside, lowered his voice, and asked softly.

Chen Xueru slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was very different from usual, strikingly bright, as if two small flames were burning in her eyes, carrying a hint of expectation, a hint of nervousness, and an undeniable determination.

"Mmm," she responded softly, her voice a little hoarse.

"Don't rush." ​​He Damin sat down beside her, reached out and gently took her hand resting on her knee. "Press it down a little longer. When your cultivation level reaches that point, the Golden Core will naturally form. The longer you suppress it, the thicker the accumulation will be, and the more stable your foundation will be. When the tribulation comes, you'll have more confidence."

Chen Xueru nodded, closed her eyes again, and continued to concentrate.

He Damin held her hand quietly, keeping her company. Her fingers were slightly cool, with a jade-like texture, but her palm was burning hot, as if she were holding a small heater. That was a sign that the Golden Core was about to take shape; the energy within her body had reached a critical point and was about to stir.

Seven days ago, Chen Xueru had already clearly sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. According to the normal cultivation process, she should have started preparing for Core Formation at that time. But He Damin stopped her, making her forcibly suppress the impulse and continue to stabilize her realm and compress her true energy.

The Golden Core Tribulation is no joke. For cultivators, it is a crucial hurdle. Overcoming it is like leaping over the dragon gate, becoming a true Golden Core cultivator, greatly increasing lifespan and revealing supernatural powers; failing to overcome it will result in the complete loss of cultivation or even death. The more thorough the preparation, the greater the chance of success.

Time passed by, and the room was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing, and the occasional chirping of cicadas outside the window.

"Brother Damin." Chen Xueru suddenly spoke again, her voice very soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Hmm? I'm here." He Damin squeezed her hand.

"Do you think... I can do it?" She didn't open her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Although she remained calm throughout, it was her first time experiencing such a life-or-death situation, and it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous.