The morning bell tolls in the mountains, startling the birds resting overnight.
Accompanying the bell's sound is the chanting of monks, their clear and sacred voices continuously echoing in the tranquil mountain ridges, as if they could cleanse all worldly impurities and dispel darkness.
Yet Shang Ruyi finds herself unable to wake from the darkness.
It's not that she doesn't want to wake, but she's utterly exhausted. At this moment, even in the deepest dream, she feels as though her bones have been completely disassembled and reassembled, and her body no longer feels her own. She can't even muster the strength to move her fingertip.
However, despite her exhaustion, someone refuses to let her rest in peace.
A pair of strong and scorching hands—the very hands keeping her from sleep—now hold her shoulders, turning her over and pulling her into a firm embrace. Feeling the warmth of his hands, Shang Ruyi can't help but gently push away.
"No…"
