Mount Li—a mountain that holds an important place in Huaxia's history. From the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties to even later eras, countless stories have unfolded here.
In the age of myth, Goddess Nuwa mended the sky here with colorful stones;
King You of Zhou lit the beacon towers three times to amuse Bao Si;
Qin Shi Huang left behind the world-famous Terracotta Army;
In the flourishing Tang era, Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan enacted a love story for the ages…
Beyond these well-known figures and events, countless other wondrous legends circulate. Whether they are true is now impossible to verify, but one fact is certain—this mountain has witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties and the transformations of a nation. To the people of Huaxia, it holds a unique significance.
Now, Chu Lian and her companions stood at its base. Not far from here lay the slumbering Terracotta Army and the tomb of the First Emperor. A strange feeling welled up in her heart—familiar somehow, though she could not tell where it came from or where it might lead.
"Big Sis, aren't we going with them?" Before she could think further, Chu Chu's bouncing figure leapt from behind and clung to her.
"No. After everything they went through yesterday, this is a good time for them to relax. We'll go explore on our own. Just remember when to meet back," Chu Lian said, prying Chu Chu's hands away and stepping back to keep her from clinging again.
Seeing her big sister avoid her yet again, Chu Chu pouted. "Honestly… fine…" Her eyes darted to Inori, standing quietly beside Chu Lian. The sight of Chu Lian enjoying that calm presence only made Chu Chu more displeased. "Being a little closer should be fine too…" She still hadn't figured out why Chu Lian always avoided her.
Such gestures between girls weren't unusual, but only in private among close friends. With so many people around, the shy Chu Lian couldn't possibly allow Chu Chu to cling like that. Inori's quiet temperament, on the other hand, made simply standing nearby feel pleasing.
Ignoring Chu Chu's sulking, Chu Lian gazed into the distance. "Xiu'er's back. Let's climb the mountain after this."
Hearing that Li Xiu'er had returned, Chu Chu's eyes lit up. "Did she buy snacks?"
"No. We just ate. She went to find something else. Don't get ideas," Chu Lian said with a light flick to her forehead.
As she spoke, Li Xiu'er appeared, slightly out of breath. "Chu Lian, I'm back." Something was in her hand, but her body hid it from view, so Chu Chu couldn't see.
Gently rubbing her hand, Chu Lian smiled warmly. "Thank you, Xiu'er. We're not familiar with this place, so only someone who's been here before could help."
Basking in that rare gentleness, Li Xiu'er narrowed her eyes in enjoyment. "It wasn't too much trouble—just too many people. I don't like crowds much."
Indeed, even outside tourist season, there were still plenty of people here. In this world, Huaxia's love of reading meant people were generally more polite, with little littering or bad behavior. Still, for those who preferred quiet—like Chu Lian, Inori, and Li Xiu'er—it was less than ideal. And as for Chu Chu, sending her into a crowd without incident was wishful thinking.
Chu Lian nodded and discreetly channeled a bit of spiritual power into Li Xiu'er, soothing her mild fatigue with a warm flow that chased away the weariness. Li Xiu'er glanced at her with a complicated expression, parting her lips as if to speak, but in the end, simply savored this rare moment of tenderness.
Fortunately, they were in a rather secluded area with few visitors, and no one had recognized that two of the girls here were, in fact, the "Ruin Songstresses" who had gone viral over the past two days. Otherwise, their presence alone could have thrown the place into chaos.
"Let's head up. It's 11:30 now—teacher said to meet at the summit by 1:00. An hour and a half to climb a little over a thousand meters shouldn't be too difficult, right?" Chu Lian released Li Xiu'er's hand and stretched lazily.
"Lian, we're going this way?" Inori's voice was soft, as if she didn't want to disturb anyone.
"Mm, we'll take the more secluded paths. We'll only join the main route once we reach the key scenic spots. Remember to bring your sunhats and masks to avoid being recognized. I'll be fine with just my umbrella." She took out a white oil-paper umbrella, opened it, and twirled gracefully, the hem of her pure-white hanfu skirt swirling around her.
Today, she wore a flowing white chest-high hanfu dress paired with white canvas shoes, her long hair fluttering. With the umbrella in hand, she looked like a beauty who had stepped straight out of ancient times. Compared to yesterday's Gothic mini-dress, this outfit was far more fitting—at least judging by the way Chu Chu's eyes practically clung to her.
Despite claiming the umbrella was enough, Chu Lian still wore three layers of white gauze over her face, leaving her features faintly veiled.
Inori was dressed in a pink-and-white Western-style gown, topped with a lace sunhat. A trailing white veil hid her long pink hair, and with the brim tilted, her eyes remained unseen. Unless someone looked very closely, her face was obscured.
Chu Chu had kept her Gothic style but switched to a long dress with covered shoulders. White long sleeves hid her arms, and a purple hairclip held her hair as it cascaded over her shoulders. In this heat, such clothing might have been unbearable for most, but with their special constitutions, it was nothing.
In truth, none of them—Chu Lian, Inori, or Chu Chu—liked exposing their skin. Even when wearing short skirts, they paired them with stockings or socks. Showing bare arms was already pushing their limits, so whenever possible, they wore long clothing.
Li Xiu'er, with an ordinary constitution, couldn't afford to dress the same way without risking heatstroke. She opted for shorts, sneakers, and a white blouse, her hair in a high ponytail, exuding vibrant youth.
Chu Chu and Inori were both a little surprised by her outfit, but Chu Lian, who knew her well, understood that if there weren't others around, Li Xiu'er might dress even bolder.
Restless as always, Chu Chu bounded ahead, cradling a sleeping Tina. Inori followed quietly, while Chu Lian and Li Xiu'er stayed at the rear.
Once the others were out of earshot, Li Xiu'er extended her hand, passing a small object into Chu Lian's palm. Feeling its familiar shape, Chu Lian smiled softly. "So it's this. Thank you, Xiu'er."
"As long as you don't hide things from me in the future… if possible," Li Xiu'er replied cryptically.
Chu Lian's steps faltered, countless thoughts flashing through her mind before she answered with a wry smile. "If it's something I can tell, I will."
"If you can…"
"If I can…"
"Mm. Then I'll take that as a promise." Li Xiu'er's face lit up with a sweet smile before she dashed ahead, clearly pleased.
"Looks like I won't be able to keep it from her for much longer… as expected of someone with a Spiritual Illusion Body." Chu Lian watched Li Xiu'er's back, murmured softly, then shook her head with a faint smile. "But I never planned to hide it from her for long anyway. It's about time I helped her awaken her unique ability—otherwise, being with us in the future will be far too dangerous for her."
Though her mind was occupied, her steps didn't slow. With a measured pace that seemed unhurried yet was swift, she soon caught up with Chu Chu and the others, coming to stand beside Inori.
"Lian, is it done?" Inori asked softly by her ear. Both she and Chu Chu had left earlier to give Chu Lian and Li Xiu'er some private space, knowing there was something between them that needed to be addressed.
Now, with Li Xiu'er smiling and Chu Lian joining them, it seemed things had gone well. Still, Inori asked just in case.
"It's done, Inori, don't worry. Xiu'er will always be one of us, so there's no need to keep so much from her anymore." Her words were not just for Inori, but also for Chu Chu ahead, who was clearly listening in.
"I trust you, Lian, and I trust Xiu'er," Inori replied with her usual calm, a serene expression that wasn't an act but a habit she'd grown into. In the end, Chu Lian's efforts had yet to make smiling a natural part of her.
Chu Lian looked at her deeply, knowing she still carried something inside. Yesterday, when they had gone to rescue her, Inori's cry—"Don't even think of capturing me. I'm no one's replacement!"—still echoed in her mind. Yet neither had spoken of what they truly felt in that moment.
Inori didn't know how to express it; Chu Lian didn't want to force her. She would wait—someday, Inori would choose to tell her.
"Then… how am I supposed to deal with my problem?" Holding the umbrella in her right hand, she walked slowly along the mountain path, her left hand pressing lightly to her chest as she spoke in a low voice.
"Ever since arriving in Chang'an, this calling has been there… and now that I'm here, it's even more frequent. Who is calling me? Who is it that's summoning me? What connection do I have to this place… Why do I feel this strange familiarity, as if… as if I was meant to be here?" No one could give her the answer. To find out, she had to discover who was calling her. Chu Lian was certain—that person was somewhere atop Mount Li.
"Can you… hear my voice?"