A Dream of Vortex and Blood

The sunlight had become unusually gentle and bright. Bai Chen practically dragged Bai Qiao into the garden outside. It was a rare day of such leisure, and as Bai Qiao gazed upon the tranquil scene, she couldn’t help but feel that everything she had experienced was nothing more than fleeting smoke, a mere illusion.

The newfound relaxation only made her body feel more exhausted. Her perpetually taut nerves finally loosened, and a profound weariness washed over Bai Qiao. Leaning back into a chair in the courtyard, she drifted into a deep sleep.

“Mmm…”

Bai Qiao rubbed her eyes. She stared at the vast expanse around her, a swirling tapestry of black and blue, and for a moment, she was utterly bewildered. She swayed, attempting to stand, only to find her body impossibly heavy, to an unbearable degree. Yet, fueled by sheer willpower and a deep sense of dignity, Bai Qiao gritted her teeth and pressed forward.

The pressure ahead seemed to intensify. Bai Qiao, clenching her jaw, found blood beginning to seep from between her teeth. Many of the meridians throughout her body started to rupture and bleed. Yet, miraculously, her vital heart meridian remained unharmed, as if the most lethal areas were deliberately avoided.

Still, Bai Qiao halted her advance, not out of fear. Before her was a colossal, bottomless vortex. It evoked a primal terror deep within her. Her body trembled uncontrollably, yet she yearned to touch its very core, as if it held her deepest desires. That ethereal entity also seemed to crave proximity, even fusion, with her.

Even though it was right there, seemingly within reach, it felt incredibly distant, as if existing in another dimension. The ethereal entity appeared bound and sealed. Despite its attempts to forcefully break through the restraints, it invariably met with failure. Witnessing the ethereal mass struggle and fail repeatedly, Bai Qiao’s heart filled with nothing but panic and urgency. This feeling made her want to rush forward recklessly, to help that ethereal being break free.

The moment she took a step, a colossal force repelled her. It seemed this power was immune to her as well. A wave of confusion washed over her; she had no idea where she was. Her mind was a chaotic mess. The space itself relentlessly corroded her body, and even with her formidable willpower, she couldn’t remain entirely unaffected.

“Pfft!”

Finally, she couldn’t hold back, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

****

“Hey! Hey! Qiao! Wake up!”

Bai Chen, who had been sitting by, watching Bai Qiao sleep, was truly terrified. Bai Qiao’s face, after suddenly spitting blood, had turned deathly pale. Bai Chen, who had always viewed women as mere playthings, felt a genuine, wrenching pain in his heart. He was terribly afraid, terrified that she might never wake up. His palms were drenched in cold sweat, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Despite his fear, Bai Chen didn’t miss the fleeting blue markings that flickered across Bai Qiao’s body. His expression shifted repeatedly, becoming far more subtle and guarded. A hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. Yet, the moment Bai Qiao opened her eyes, all of it melted away into a gentle, spring-like warmth:

“Qiao, are you alright?”

“………”

Bai Qiao’s gaze was somewhat dazed; she shook her head vigorously before finally clearing her mind a little. But was everything that just happened a dream? Subconsciously, she touched the corner of her lips—clean, smooth, with no trace of blood. Was it all just a dream? Why did it feel so incredibly real? Why did she still feel an inexplicable emptiness in her heart?

“It’s alright now.”

Bai Chen gently stroked the top of Bai Qiao’s head with a hint of tenderness. Reaching out, he scooped Bai Qiao into his arms, and with a mere flicker of his form, they were inside the house. Bai Qiao remained as distant as ever, speaking little to him. Recalling her demeanor from yesterday, Bai Chen suddenly wished he could suffer more injuries; perhaps then she would care for him, truly *see* him?

After settling Bai Qiao, Bai Chen noticed her spirits weren’t as good as before; she clearly had something on her mind. A tremor ran through Bai Chen’s heart once more, and a flicker of undetectable resolve and ruthlessness passed through his eyes. He then adopted a gentle expression and said:

“Qiao, rest first. If you need anything, just call me.”

Receiving no reply, Bai Chen walked out the door. The gentle expression on his face instantly transformed into a mask of ice the moment he stepped outside, radiating an aura of chilling ruthlessness:

“Go invite King Qing. There are matters we need to discuss tonight at the hour of Zi!”