Chapter Two: A Dream Back to the Great Tang Dynasty

Dreams of the Great Tang

It was as if an eternity had passed, or perhaps it was only the brief closing of an eye. The entire world seemed shrouded in a somnolent haze, as though adrift within a ship on the vast ocean, gently rocking with the currents.

All of this felt dreamlike. The void was filled with a mist as thin as silk, gray and indistinct, suffused with a sense of oppression. Bai Qi drifted through this space like a dandelion loosed from its stem, carried wherever the air might take him.

Time stretched unmeasured. Suddenly, Bai Qi lifted his head, peering into the distant gloom, sensing something unusual ahead. He felt like a drowning man struggling in a mire, striving desperately to reach that faint anomaly.

After some time, Bai Qi focused his attention. Suspended a few yards away was a bluish object, quivering ever so slightly, its movements so subtle they were nearly imperceptible.

How could he describe it? It was like a gentle, fragile glow in a vast, dark room, always on the verge of being extinguished.

Carefully, Bai Qi edged closer, his “body” enveloped by the blue radiance. Even his translucent form took on a faint azure hue.

The warmth emanating from it washed away all other concerns; he gave no further thought to his current state or to Heizi’s whereabouts. It was not indifference, but rather the sensation of leveling up in a game—so pleasurable he feared even the smallest disruption might shatter it.

He seemed to linger in that feeling for an eternity, as if centuries had passed. Suddenly, the once-still blue light began to move within the void, its radiance shifting like an iceberg set adrift, descending swiftly and inexorably. Bai Qi was startled awake by the abrupt change.

...

A gentle breeze caressed the young grass along the riverbank, pressing the tender blades flat.

"Ugh, why is my body so stiff?" Bai Qi muttered, awakening from his slumber. He slowly moved his limbs, loosening his muscles. After a moment, he propped himself up and sat, rolling his neck and gazing around. Distant mountains and flowing waters, willows green and swaying, a river only a dozen steps away—its waters so clear he could see the creatures at the bottom.

Unsteadily, Bai Qi made his way to the river, scooped up water and splashed his face, trying to clear his mind. The water was surprisingly warm, imparting a distinct sense of comfort.

How had he ended up here? Where had Heizi gone? Had he fallen here from that mysterious space, or was it all a dream? And what was that seahorse-like creature? The more he pondered, the more confused he became, overwhelmed by the succession of strange events. Bai Qi stood there, dazed like a wooden post.

"Heaven and earth are vast, I tread the Eight Wastelands singing my song..." A distant chant drifted closer, rousing Bai Qi from his reverie.

"With no self, no memory, journey through the Nine Realms, straw sandals... bamboo pole..."

"Across the ages, a single journey through the endless sky..."

...

The sound grew nearer—a grass boat approached, steered by a bent old man in blue-gray robes and a bamboo hat, paddling slowly toward the shore.

Bai Qi waved and called, "Elder, may I ask, where is this place? And why are you dressed in ancient clothes? Have you seen a dark-skinned man wearing a black T-shirt like mine?"

He gestured and rambled on, but the old man grew impatient. "What kind of odd fellow are you? What’s all this about shaving? And ancient times?" The old man seemed as confused by Bai Qi’s words as Bai Qi was by the situation.

Yet soon the old man gathered his thoughts. "This is the Great Tang Kingdom. Emperor Xiao rules here—a mighty sovereign who has reigned over the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands for nearly five centuries, bringing prosperity and peace, and defending our lands from the eastern sea beasts. You stand now in the northern region of Qingshan, under the jurisdiction of Liang Prefecture, managed by the Qingshan Sect."

Bai Qi listened, understanding only in part. The old man spoke of kingdoms and lands, but not of the planet itself. Bai Qi pressed on, "Elder, what is this world called?"

The old man paused, his eyes hinting at deeper thoughts. He shook his head. "I’ve never left Qingshan in my life. But in the markets and streets, I’ve overheard travelers—this place is called, ah, yes... Tianhuan. My memory isn’t what it used to be."

"Tianhuan?"

"You, young man, dressed so strangely, clearly not from here. In the past, outsiders were unwelcome in the Great Tang, but for some reason, that’s changed. Now they’re even supported."

"Elder, could you take me in? I’ll do any work you need. I came from elsewhere and know nothing of this place. Please, have pity—I won’t eat for free." Bai Qi pleaded earnestly.

The old man hesitated for a long time, then sighed. "Very well. I have no sons, no family to carry on my name. My life has been lonely." Tears welled up in his eyes.

He wiped them away and continued, "Since fate has brought us together, consider yourself my grandson. My surname is Kun—everyone in the village calls me Mr. Kun. And your name, child?"

Bai Qi replied quickly, "Elder, my name is Bai Qi."

"Good—‘Bai,’ the dawn from the east, a rising talent." Kun seemed delighted. He laughed, "Come, let’s visit the market. I’ve caught some fine fresh fish. We’ll sell them, buy some wine and meat, and feast tonight, just the two of us!"

With that, he leapt onto the boat and paddled toward the marketplace. The green mountains and clear streams on both banks were beautiful, but Bai Qi’s heart was still unsettled. This world felt ancient, yet there was something mysterious, something otherworldly about Tianhuan—a realm both alluring and enigmatic. Questions surged in his mind like waves: was it fear of the unknown, or just curiosity? Bai Qi’s eyes betrayed his inner struggle.

Sensing his turmoil, Kun steadied the boat and spoke gently, "Child, since you’re here, think about how to adapt and change. If someday I’m gone, and you have the heart to lay me to rest, perhaps someone will help you return. For now, learn what you can from me. It may not be much, but it will be enough for you to find your place in this land."

Hearing this, Bai Qi’s eyes shone with determination. "Yes, Grandpa Kun, I understand. I’ll do my best. After all, I used to be a top student."

"Top student?"

"Uh, it means I was very good at what I did," Bai Qi explained with a grin.

Kun paid it no mind, propped up his bamboo pole, and steered the boat onward.

...

The marketplace was a cacophony of voices and clamor, the hustle and bustle of city life unfolding before Bai Qi’s eyes. Carriages rolled by, children squabbled and played, the scene a living tableau of ancient life. Bai Qi was astonished, and even more so, fascinated. Had he really traveled through time? There were butchers selling monstrous beasts—boar-like heads with longer tusks and a horn protruding from the forehead, their eyes still rolling though severed and laid on the chopping block. Yet the people paid it no heed, as if such sights were ordinary.

Weapon dealers displayed blades engraved with strange patterns that shimmered faintly. Some wore blue gauze and white robes, others donned armor that glimmered with colored lights visible to the naked eye. There were Daoists too, levitating three feet above the ground, seated atop gourds as large as sheep, manipulating dark clouds in their hands, from which came the occasional bloodcurdling roar.

The market was a spectacle of wonders, dazzling and overwhelming. Was this a world of immortals and cultivation? The thought struck Bai Qi with a jolt—could such a world truly exist? Or was he still dreaming? Unconsciously, he pinched his cheek, wincing at the pain.

People eyed Bai Qi curiously, puzzled by his odd attire and behavior. Their questions, however, were of a different kind entirely.

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the crowd, "Come quick! The assassin who attacked the Liang Prefecture envoy is about to be executed at the east end of the market!"

The crowd surged towards the eastern market, leaving only shopkeepers and clerks behind. Bai Qi turned to look at Kun, only to see a sudden chill in the old man’s eyes—a glint of icy resolve, sharp and merciless.

"Grandpa, what’s wrong?" Bai Qi asked.

Kun’s expression softened as quickly as it had changed. He cleared his throat and, with some hoarseness, said, "Let’s go see for ourselves."

Bai Qi supported Kun as they quickened their pace, eager to uncover the truth.

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