Ling Tian was stuck between sleeping and waking. It wasn't restful sleep, the kind that makes you feel better.
This was broken sleep, like his mind was being pulled in two different directions and Every time his body started to relax, the dream would pull him back.
He was on a mountain ledge and it was Raining, he can feeling everything form the rain drop to the tingling sentaion of coldeness and a taste of a blood in his lips.
And he feels fear for some reason... His hands was pressed into the ground and a Mud squeezed under his nails.
His heart was pounding when He looked up and saw a strange plant. Its roots glowed with green, like veins, and every pulse he felt it.
like a heartbeat against his chest.
"What is this?"
Then a voice shouted through the storm: "Hey kid! Grab it and run! I'll keep them busy!"
The voice was rough and scared and It shook with fear. as for Ling Tian, he felt like he knew him.
He tried to move, to run, to jump. But he couldn't.
His body wouldn't listen. Something cold and hard pressed against his ribs,"f##k its hurt!"
Every breath felt like breathing in needles.
"I can't breathe"
Then a man appeared.. He moved like, he's some kind of mc in some sort of anime.
The man killing every one while shouting "Hold on kid!.. "
And a glimps of his face "I know him… but why does he look like him?"
His hand shaking while he reaches the glowing leaves. and when His fingers touched the green light.
Light exploded.
It was green, bright, and blinding. It rushed through his body, to his chest. Pain and heat mixed with awe.
Memories flashed in his mind. They weren't his own.
Faces. Voices. Laughter. Pain.
A smile. Screams. Rain on metal. Fire. Fear.
His fingers burned. His chest tightened. His lungs closed. Every nerve was alive.
And then… darkness.
Ling Tian woke up slowly. He saw a white ceiling. It felt cold and unfriendly. The lights buzzed. The room smelled like cleaning supplies and old sheets.
His chest felt tight. He couldn't breathe easily. He grabbed at the blankets, the sheets, the pillow, trying to feel real.
Then he feels a faint pulse something on his chest. It was the necklace a Jade and silver neclase.
Then it hit him.
The memory crashed into his mind.
"Yang!"
He shouted. His parents stopped moving. He could feel their sadness. His mother ran to him. She trembled. Tears ran down her face. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"Tian… you've been in a coma for almost two months… We were so worried… Your brother…" Her voice broke. She couldn't say any more. She just looked at him, her face full of pain.
"He's gone."
The words hit him hard. He couldn't breathe. His stomach dropped. Pain, disbelief, and guilt all came at once.
His father stood behind his mother. His shoulders were stiff. His jaw was tight. His hands were clenched. He looked away. "There was nothing we could do, Tian. The doctors did everything. You need to rest. Get better."
Rest? Ling Tian laughed in his mind. How could he rest? How could he breathe when Yang was gone? He felt empty. Memories flashed in his mind.
The rain. The mountain road. The car breaking down. Yang telling him to go ahead.
"Go on, Tian! It's your dream! I'll catch up!"
If only he had stayed.
Ling Tian held the necklace tight. The jade was cool. It felt heavy. A strange symbol appeared on its surface, then disappeared. Did he imagine it? Was it from the dream?
That night, he couldn't sleep well. Dreams haunted him. He saw the mountain ledge again. The plant glowed green. The man fought with amazing strength. Everything felt distant, but sharp.
Whispers came in his sleep. A world of power, danger, and adventure. But also loss, fear, and mystery. The light, the steel, the heartbeat called to him. They wanted him to remember.
Ling Tian tossed and turned. His mind was torn. He had lost one world, and another was calling to him. His chest ached with sadness, guilt, and something else: purpose.
Inside him, a spark started to burn. He would survive. He had to.
A week later, Ling Tian left the hospital. His legs wobbled. Every step felt strange. The world was too bright and loud. The air felt cold.
Then he saw her.
Wu Lan. Her hair was tied back in a braid. It was longer than he remembered. The sun shone on it. Her eyes sparkled. He saw worry, relief, and something else he couldn't name. His chest felt tight.
"Wu Lan?" he whispered. His voice was rough.
She didn't wait for him to say more. She ran to him and hugged him tight. "I was so busy with school…" Her words were rushed and shaky. But she smiled.
Ling Tian froze. Then he hugged her back. It felt strange at first. But then he relaxed. He just held her. He felt her warmth. He knew she was there. For a moment, the hospital, the coma, the nightmares all disappeared.
"You're awake," she whispered. "I should have come sooner."
He shook his head. He was too tired to talk. Words felt heavy. The hug said everything.
She smelled like flowers, books, and soap. It felt comforting and strange. His chest tightened. He wanted to tell her everything. But he couldn't. Not yet.
He just held her. He let her know he was there. He had survived.
For the first time in a long time, he breathed without fear.
Ling Tian's legs felt like lead. Every step was weak and shaky. He leaned on Wu Lan. The street smelled like wet stone and rain. But he also smelled lanterns and wood. It was his shop. His life. It was calling him.
"I want to go to my shop first," he said. His voice was rough.
His mother frowned. "Tian… you just got out. Are you sure?"
He swallowed. Part of him wanted to go home. But another part wanted to see the shop. He wanted to remember Yang. He wanted to feel alive again.
"Yeah," he said. But it was hard. His chest ached. His lungs burned. His legs felt weak. The world felt sharp and heavy.
They turned the corner. There it was. The Lantern's Fate. The sign swung in the wind. It was old and worn. It felt familiar.
The smell hit him first. Old paper, oil, smoke, and wood. His chest tightened. Memories rushed in. He saw himself folding paper. He saw Wu Lan laughing. He saw Yang watching. His throat tightened.
He stepped inside. The air was warm and dusty. Sunlight shone through the windows. The floor creaked. His hands shook as he touched the counter. He felt the wood.
Wu Lan stayed close. She smiled. "I'm happy you're awake," she whispered. "I'm happy to help… like before."
He nodded. He felt fear, relief, and sadness. The shop was the same, but it wasn't. Yang wasn't there. He pressed his hand on the counter. He felt the wood. It grounded him. But he felt off-balance.
"You're really back," Wu Lan said. She squeezed his hand. "It's okay. You're okay."
He let out his breath. He felt a little better. The shop smelled like his past, his brother, and his own work. But it also smelled like life.
For the first time in weeks, he imagined the future. The shop, Wu Lan, the lanterns he would make. Maybe he could start again.
But he felt uneasy. Everything felt too quiet, too perfect. His hands still shook. His chest still burned. The dreams weren't finished with him yet.
The moment they walked in, the smell of food wrapped around Ling Tian like a blanket. Garlic, ginger, vegetables, rice. It was ordinary, but it hit him hard. He had missed it so much.
His parents looked soft. He could feel their worry. He wanted to tell them he was okay, but he couldn't.
They sat at the table. It was quiet. Too quiet. He ate a little. It tasted strange. Wu Lan stayed close. She didn't say much. She just let him know he was there.
His chest ached. He thought of Yang. He thought of him laughing, arguing, and shaking his head. He swallowed hard.
Wu Lan noticed. She touched his hand. "It's okay, Tian. I get it… you've been through a lot."
They sat in silence. The sounds of the house felt alive again.
After dinner, they washed dishes. They laughed. It was quiet laughter, but it was laughter. For the first time in weeks, he felt steady. His chest didn't hurt so much.
Later, they walked through the house and into the courtyard. The air was cool. It smelled like damp earth and flowers. He looked at the stars. He felt a little better.
"One day," he said, "I want to make all the lanterns I imagined."
Wu Lan smiled. "And I'll help," she said.
He felt a spark of hope. The house, the smells, the night, her presence—it made him feel like he could start again.
Even though he still missed Yang, he knew he could survive. Maybe he could live again.
Wu Lan was tidying up the living room, humming a song to herself. Then she saw something under the bedroom door. A flicker. It was faint and green.
"What is that?" she whispered.
She walked closer. Her fingers touched the doorframe. Her eyes widened. The glow pulsed, slow and steady, like a heartbeat.
Inside the room, Ling Tian stirred. He felt the same pulse. He wanted to touch it, to understand it. But he also felt cautious.
He moved closer to the door. The moment his skin touched the wood, the light disappeared. The room became dark and normal. He felt disappointed.
He opened the door wider.
The lantern above the bed was glowing. Not like a normal light, but something more. It made him feel uneasy. The necklace on his chest pulsed with the same green light. Symbols shimmered on its surface.
Ling Tian gasped. The glow felt warm and strong. It wasn't scary, but it made the room feel different. Time seemed to slow down.
Wu Lan stepped closer. She hesitated. Her eyes were wide with wonder. She wanted to pull him back, but she couldn't move.
"It's like it's alive," she whispered.
Ling Tian nodded. He couldn't look away. The light reached into him, connecting with his chest. He felt shivers down his spine. Each pulse carried something. A promise, a warning, a memory.
He reached out his hand.
The moment his fingers touched the lantern, the glow became stronger. It was warm enough to feel in his skin. The shadows in the room moved. For a second, the world seemed to stop.
Wu Lan swallowed hard. She took a step back. She was mesmerized. She wanted to run, but she stayed.
The room was quiet, but the quiet felt alive. Every pulse carried weight. Ling Tian's chest tightened. He didn't want to let go.
The green light was calling him.
He knew that nothing would ever be normal again.
The glow wasn't just a flicker anymore. It pulsed hard and fast. Ling Tian's hand stayed above the lantern for too long. He was curious, but he also felt afraid. Then, without warning, the lantern exploded.
Bright green light filled the room. It was blinding and hot. Shadows stretched across the walls. The air smelled like sparks and metal. Every nerve in his body screamed at him to move back. But he acted without thinking.
He threw his arm out to protect Wu Lan. The light hit him in the chest. It connected with the necklace. The necklace burned against his skin. Warmth spread through him, twisting his body. He felt like he was being changed from the inside out.
"Wu Lan!" he shouted. But his voice was lost in the light.
The room changed. Walls stretched. The ceiling warped. The floor rippled. For a moment, everything felt weightless. Then, he was pulled away.
Gone.
The light disappeared. Darkness crashed into the room. Silence fell. Wu Lan stumbled back. She gasped. She couldn't understand what had happened.
"Tian? Tian!" she screamed. Her voice broke. She reached for him, but her hand touched only air.
She called for his parents. She banged on doors. She screamed his name. His parents ran in, their faces pale.
"What happened?" his mother cried.
"The lantern!" Wu Lan sobbed. "He touched it, and there was a light! It swallowed him!"
His father clenched his fists. "A light? What are you talking about?"
"I saw it! He was right there, and then… gone!" Wu Lan searched the room. She looked under furniture, behind curtains, in every corner.
But Ling Tian was gone.
The lantern flickered quietly. It was harmless now. No one could explain what had happened. Fear filled the air.
Wu Lan sank to the floor. She trembled. She whispered his name and she saw the necklace on the floor glowing, same as the lantern. The house felt strange, like it had shifted. Something had changed forever.
And somewhere in the darkness, Ling Tian's mind stirred. He was alive, but trapped in a world he didn't know.
Ling Tian opened his eyes.
There was nothing.
No ceiling. No walls. No light. Just darkness. It was thick and heavy. It pressed in on him from all sides. It wasn't just the dark you see when you close your eyes. This was real.
His body felt wrong.
Too light. Too heavy. Too stiff and too weak. When he tried to move his fingers, it felt slow. Like his mind and body weren't connected. A cold feeling crept along his arms and legs. His chest ached.
"What is this?" he thought.
He tried to breathe deeply, but it felt strange. The air was thin and dry. It tasted like metal.
Panic started to rise.
"Where am I?"
Before he could finish the thought, something stirred.
A voice.
It was small and fragile.
"Help… someone…"
Ling Tian froze.
The voice wasn't around him. It was inside his head. It was soft and shaky.
His heart beat faster.
"Who's there?" he thought.
There was a pause. Then the voice came back, weaker than before.
"My name… Lin Yun…"
The name echoed in his mind.
Lin Yun?
He felt confused.
"Wait… what?"
He tried to think clearly. This wasn't a dream. It felt real. The voice had weight, emotion, and fear.
"I'm Ling Tian," he answered.
Silence. Then the voice spoke again, full of fear.
"Why are you in my body?"
A shaky breath.
"Are you… an immortal?"
The question hit him hard.
Immortal?
Ling Tian swallowed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he thought. "I don't even know where I am."
The fear in the other presence grew stronger.
"I can't move," Lin Yun whispered. "I can't feel my body anymore. Everything hurts… and it's so cold…"
Ling Tian clenched his jaw.
"Hey," he said, trying to stay calm. "Listen to me. Don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you."
A weak voice answered.
"Then… why are you here…?"
Ling Tian didn't have an answer.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'm here now. And I won't let anything happen to you."
The words surprised him. But they felt right.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then… silence.
Not just the voice, but something deeper. The presence of Lin Yun faded. It was like someone falling asleep.
Ling Tian was alone again.
He looked ahead.
In the darkness, something pulsed.
A faint green glow.
A faint green glow. It was barely visible. It felt familiar.
Warm. Alive. Real.
And dangerous.
Ling Tian stared at it.
Whatever world this was…
Whatever body he was in…
This was just the beginning.
Ling Tian could hear fire crackling nearby.
At first, he barely noticed it. Just a faint orange glow in the dark. The sound of burning wood mixed with the night sounds. Wind through the leaves. Something moving in the bushes. Someone breathing close by.
Ling Tian couldn't move.
His body felt heavy. It wouldn't listen to him. He couldn't even lift a finger. His arms and legs were there, but they wouldn't work.
Sunlight pressed against his eyelids, too bright, too real. His head throbbed, a slow, deep ache that made him want to groan. Before he could, something tapped his cheek.
Not gentle. Not rough. Just enough to pull him out.
"Hey… hey, kid."
A voice. Close. Casual.
"What happened to you?" the voice continued, followed by a low whistle. "Look at all this blood… geez."
Ling Tian forced his eyes open.
A man crouched beside him.
Broad shoulders. Solid build. Clothes worn and practical. His expression was relaxed, almost amused, like he'd stumbled onto trouble and decided it was interesting rather than dangerous.
And then—
It hit him.
Hard.
Master Baby's face.
The shape of his smile. The way his eyes crinkled slightly when he smirked. Something about the angle of his jaw, the casual confidence in how he carried himself—
It reminded him too much.
Too damn much.
"Brother?!" Ling Tian gasped, the word tearing out of his throat before he could stop it.
Master Baby blinked, surprised. Then he laughed, short and rough, like gravel rolling downhill.
"Heh." He straightened a little, arms crossing. "Didn't think you'd make it, honestly."
He looked Ling Tian up and down, nodding to himself.
"But look at you. Still breathing. Still kicking. That's luck, I guess."
Ling Tian stared at him, chest tight, heart pounding for reasons he didn't want to unpack yet.
Master Baby grinned wider, clearly enjoying the confusion.
"Name's not Brother," he said. "But you can call me Master Baby."
He paused, then added with a shrug—
"Yey."
Ling Tian lay there, blood drying on his skin, mind spinning, staring up at this stranger who felt way too familiar for comfort.
And for the first time since waking up in this world…
He wasn't alone.
Ling Tian heard bushes rustling.
It wasn't the wind.
It wasn't animals.
His stomach dropped.
Three people stepped out of the trees. They moved slowly, like they knew they had him trapped. They wore rough clothes. They carried weapons. Their eyes were sharp. They looked at him first.
He knew what that meant.
"Oh no."
He couldn't breathe. His hands were cold. He knew he was in trouble.
"I can't fight."
"I don't know how to fight."
"I don't even know where I am."
One of them smiled. He rolled his wrist. His knife caught the light. Another shifted his feet. The third just stared.
His heart pounded.
"Move!"
They charged.
Steel flashed. The sound of a knife cutting through the air was loud. He stumbled backward.
He barely had time to raise his hands.
Then something appeared in front of him.
A cube.
It was solid and perfect. It didn't belong there.
It appeared out of nowhere, stopping the knife. Metal hit it with a crash.
"What the—?" someone shouted.
Ling Tian stared.
"Did I do that?"
"How?"
There was no time to think.
Master Baby moved.
He didn't shout. He didn't pose. He didn't waste time.
He was just there. One moment, he was leaning back. The next, he was a blur. Steel flashed. There was a wet sound. One person fell.
The second attacker tried to react.
He couldn't.
Master Baby moved with skill. A strike, a step, a twist of the wrist. Another person fell.
The third person froze.
Fear filled his eyes.
Too late.
It was over in seconds.
Silence rushed in. His ears rang. His legs gave way. He fell to the ground. He gasped for air.
Master Baby didn't look tired.
He walked over and pulled Ling Tian up.
"Don't pass out," he muttered. "It's annoying to carry dead weight."
He turned and lifted Ling Tian onto his back.
"Hold on," he said. "Or don't. Either way, we're moving."
The forest blurred.
Trees flashed by. Branches snapped. Wind whipped his face. He held on tight. His heart still pounded.
He was alive.
Sunlight broke through the trees. The ground became smooth. He heard sounds of people.
Voices. Laughter. Shouting.
Master Baby slowed down.
Then Ling Tian saw it.
A village. It was messy and alive. People shouted prices. Children ran through the streets. Animals wandered around. Smoke rose from fires.
Life.
In the center, there was a wooden building. Light shone from its windows. A sign creaked in the wind.
*The Drifting Lantern.*
He smelled roasted meat, smoke, alcohol, and sweat. It felt familiar and strange.
Master Baby set him down.
Ling Tian just stood there. His chest was tight. His eyes were wide.
This wasn't a dream.
This wasn't a vision.
This was real.
And he had no idea how he would survive.
Master Baby didn't ask Ling Tian what he wanted.
He just looked at him once, then turned to the counter. "Food. Whatever's hot," he said.
He tossed some coins down.
Then he looked back at Ling Tian. "Sit. Don't move. And don't stare too much—you'll look stupid."
Master Baby walked away and disappeared into the crowd.
Ling Tian sat down slowly. His body felt stiff. The tavern was loud. People laughed, shouted, and argued. The sounds pressed in on him.
He looked around the room.
Too many people.
Too many eyes.
Everyone looked normal. Farmers, travelers, maybe soldiers. They had rough hands and worn clothes. Some glanced at him, then looked away. Others stared.
He felt self-conscious.
The food came. It smelled like roasted meat and bread. It made his stomach twist. It smelled good, but it also felt strange.
He picked up a piece of bread.
"This is real food," he thought.
"In a world that isn't mine."
He took a bite.
It was warm, soft, and salty.
His chest tightened. Eating shouldn't feel this strange. But it did.
Then the door slammed open.
The sound cut through the tavern.
Cold wind rushed in. Conversations stopped.
An old man walked in first.
His clothes were worn. He wore a hat that hid his face. But his eyes were sharp.
Behind him came a girl.
She was small. She wore a hat that hid her face. She walked calmly.
That made Ling Tian uneasy.
The old man looked around the room.
The girl did not.
Her head turned slowly.
Her eyes swept across the tables, the people, the shadows.
Then she stopped.
She looked at Ling Tian.
His stomach dropped.
It wasn't curiosity.
It wasn't surprise.
It was recognition.
She walked toward him.
He stayed frozen.
She stopped at his table and tilted her head.
Then she spoke.
"Ah… haa…"
And then, calmly:
"It's him."