That night felt different.
The night sky was darker than usual, as if draped in a thick black blanket. Heavy clouds hung overhead, obscuring the moonlight that usually brought a hint of peace to the midnight hours. The wind blew harder, rustling tree branches and producing a chilling whisper. Cold air slipped through the seams of my clothes, biting into my bones, making anyone long to hurry home.
But I—Li Feng—had just stepped out of the office.
Today, like every other day, I'd worked overtime until late into the night. My life felt like an endless cycle: wake up, work, go home, sleep, repeat. Just like an ox tied to an ancient plow, pulling weight without ever knowing the destination.
"Feels like I'm the only one stuck working like a tireless plow ox," I muttered while walking along the empty sidewalk.
Streetlights flickered; some were completely dead. No cars passed by, no people walked the streets. The city felt… lifeless.
My steps were heavy. My body exhausted. My head throbbed.
Empty thoughts swirled in my mind like a never-ending storm.
And deep down, I asked myself—what's the meaning of all this? Is this really all there is to my life?
My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn't had dinner.
"Ugh… I haven't eaten yet. Guess I'll have to use Xuanchuan," I mumbled, pulling my phone from my jacket pocket.
Xuanchuan was the city's most popular delivery service.
Rumor had it they could send you anything—even things that defied logic. From hot meals to ancient relics, clothes to rare accessories—whatever you wanted, as long as you could pay for it, they'd deliver.
I strolled slowly, scrolling through the food list on my screen.
Seafood fried rice? Spicy grilled chicken? Or maybe fiery red ramen with extra chili? Everything looked tempting.
But before I could decide, my steps halted.
Thunk!
My foot had kicked something hard.
I stopped and looked down.
Lying before me was a worn-out book.
Dust clung to its cover, as if it had been abandoned for ages. It was deep navy blue, and on the surface were golden embossed letters:
"Xuanchuan Sky."
"What is this… a book?" I whispered, puzzled.
I tore my eyes from the phone and picked it up.
It felt heavy, as if I were holding something not of this world.
"Xuanchuan Sky? A shopping catalog for the heavens? Can you order… heaven?"
I chuckled softly, though I didn't really find it funny.
But curiosity overpowered reason. Without thinking, I opened to the first page.
Thud!
Suddenly, the world around me shifted.
The wind stopped, as if the air itself had frozen.
The streetlights dimmed. The moon grew larger, its light focusing solely on me, like a spotlight on a darkened stage.
My body weakened. My vision blurred.
I dropped to my knees—then collapsed.
In the fading edge of consciousness, I saw a brilliant blue light pour out from the Xuanchuan Sky book. Strange letters floated into the air, glowing softly, spinning around me—before seeping into my skin.
"Hah… maybe I really am dying from overwork…" I whispered weakly—
Then everything went dark.