Qiao Zhi stood expressionlessly as the blinding brilliance before her eyes gradually faded away. The sudden light was like a blade piercing directly into her retinas, and for a few long moments, her consciousness seemed to sway as if she were standing at the edge of a dream. It took her a good while before her vision cleared, and the overlapping shadows and dazzling glimmers finally resolved into a coherent image. Only then did her mind settle into place, her sense of self fully returning after the long voyage.