Waking from the lane of her memories, Zhao Meilin's breath caught in her throat. The jade pendant—her silent witness through every agony, every betrayal—flashed in her mind like a ghost of pain. It had been her talisman, her curse, her only constant.
As she lingered in thought, a sudden burning pain seared through her chest. Her body jerked involuntarily, and her eyes widened in shock.
Stumbling into the apartment's only bedroom, she tore off her plain white shirt in front of the mirror. Her gaze locked onto the left side of her chest—just above her heart.
A phoenix.
Bright crimson, etched into her skin like a living flame. Its eyes shimmered with molten gold, fierce and knowing, just like the one carved into her jade pendant.
She gasped, trembling. The pain intensified, but she reached out, fingers brushing the fiery mark.
A wave of dizziness crashed over her.
The world tilted.
And then—silence.
She was no longer in her room.
Before she could react, she appeared in an unfamiliar space. She sat on the ground trying to wave the dizziness.
The bright light, in particular, stung her eyes.
The sound of flowing water in the stream rang in her ears, and the unfamiliarity of the high mountain trees in front of her made Zhao Meilin terrified.
'Where am I' Zhao Meilin asks herself.
She was clearly in her room trying to find to find the reason of the burning pain and the phoenix on her chest, so how could she suddenly appear in this strange space.
Zhao Meilin's fingertips trembled slightly, the corners of her lips were tightly pursed, and she looked around vigilantly.
The high mountains and deep forests in the distance giving a very profound feeling of awe to her. The water flowing down from the waterfall on the mountain formed a stream in front of Zhao Meilin.
After looking around the unfamiliar environment and not noticing any danger during the waiting time, Zhao Meilin slowly stood up from the ground.
She began to recall all her actions before she appeared here.
Thinking of something, she quickly lowered her head and looked at the left side of her chest and realised that the burning pain has vanished.
Staring at the phoenix pattern on her chest, Zhao Meilin inexplicably felt that everything happening now was related to it.
She reached out to touch the pattern on her chest again, with a strong desire to leave.
Her eyes blurred and the dizziness came over her again.
Just like before, Zhao Meilin returned to the room, confused.
She reached out her hand again and tentatively placed it on the phoenix pattern on her chest, thinking about returning to the strange place before.
A feeling of dizziness came over her, and she found herself in the strange place again.
After entering and exiting this space twice, how could Zhao Meilin not understand the current situation?
In her previous life, she had read fantasy mythological novels to learn more about the outside world and had a vague idea that she should have obtained the space now.
Zhao Meilin withdraws her gaze from his surroundings and lowered her eyes to look at the phoenix totem on her chest.
If she remembers correctly, the pattern on the jade pandent she had in her previous life was a phoenix.
After rebirth, the jade pendant is gone, but a phoenix pattern appeared on the finger where the jade ring was worn.
Gu Jin wouldn't believe it if someone said all this had nothing to do with her rebirth.
However, although she had this pendant in her previous life, there was no space for it. Otherwise she wouldn't have to go through all that.
But Zhao Meilin had a feeling that her rebirth was related to the jade pendant.
The existence of space today is the best proof.
She walked forward with a questioning look in her eyes.
The air shimmered with a quiet magic, fragrant with jasmine and wild osmanthus. A soft breeze carried the scent of fresh earth, rustling through the leaves like whispered blessings. The sky above was a gentle gradient of lavender and gold, as if dusk and dawn had made peace here.
Zhao Meilin raise her head and glanced at the small hut not far away, gently rubbing the phoenix on her chest.
She walked forward with a questioning look in her eyes.
Stop in front of the hut, She reached out and slowly pushed open the bamboo door. The door was pushed open easily, and the scene inside the house was visible.
Though seem small from outside, the hut is much bigger in reality more like a two-story villa. Upon enetering one can see a modern designed living room, an advanced kitchen with all the utensils, an advanced gym having all the equipments and a area for practing boxing as well. There is also a alchemy room and a library as well.
With a thirst clawing at her chest—not just for knowledge, but for truth—Zhao Meilin stood before the library door.
It was carved from dark sandalwood, etched with swirling phoenix feathers and ancient Chinese characters that shimmered faintly in the light. Her fingers hovered over the handle, hesitating.
What if this space held answers she wasn't ready for?
What if it held memories she had buried too deep?
She exhaled slowly, then pushed the door open.
The scent of aged paper, ink, and cedar enveloped her like a forgotten lullaby.
Inside, the library was vast—far larger than the hut should allow. Shelves stretched endlessly upward, spiraling into a vaulted ceiling painted with constellations. A soft golden glow lit the space, emanating from floating lanterns that drifted like fireflies.
Each shelf bore titles in languages she recognized—and some she didn't.
Some books pulsed faintly, as if alive.
Some whispered.
Some waited.