IN AN UNKNOWN DIMENSION WHERE ELEMENTAL FORCES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE BALANCE OF POWER
LOCATION: YAN VILLAGE, SHANYUAN EMPIRE
Chen Mingxia's eyes fluttered open to an inky blackness, the scent of old wood, reminiscent of forgotten libraries, wafted through the air, mingling with the stale scent of neglect, creaks of wooden floorboards echoing through the silence. Her fragile body felt battered, as if she'd fallen from a great height. Desiccated lips and translucent skin made her appear like a delicate, porcelain doll. The warm sunlight streaming through the grimy windowpane cast a kaleidoscope of dust motes dancing in the air, forcing her to squint.
"Where…am I?" Chen Mingxia whispered, her voice barely audible. The musty scent of aged pages and dust motes dancing in the faint light filled Chen Mingxia's nostrils, transporting her to forgotten memories.
Fragmented memories lingered: hastily picking rare, glowing flowers in the mysterious, distant garden for her ailing father, Chen Qianfan. Sixteen years ago, he returned from a mission, only to mysteriously fall into a deep coma. Chen Xingxing had sung wonders of the flowers, claiming they could cure all types of infirmities. With her father's life hanging by a thread, Chen Mingxia saw the flowers as his last hope.
Time was running out. Chen Mingxia recalled her paternal cousin, Chen Xingxing, mentioning the flowers' existence and location. With no other options, Chen Mingxia risked everything she had to obtain the flowers, racing against the clock to save her father.
A faint recollection of a sizzling sensation similar to the vibration from her cousin, Chen Xingxing's sinister ribbon blades, lingered. Had Chen Xingxing attacked her while she was plucking the flowers in the strange garden?
Chen Mingxia's gaze darted around the shabby, isolated house, her pupils dilating in shock and anxiety. This was her home, far away from the main Chen Residence, where she lived without servants.
With great effort, Chen Mingxia sat up, her slender fingers trembled as they trailed over the intricate carvings on the wooden bedframe, tracing the grooves. Her delicate frame swayed, as if buffeted by an invisible wind, as she struggled to stay in place.
'I rarely fall sick. That vibration feels familiar…Sister Xingxing's sinister ribbon blades…'
A surge of anger and helplessness washed over her. Chen Xingxing's hatred and jealousy has finally consumed her.
As Chen Mingxia reached for the water jug, a sudden, searing pain pierced her back. She fell, her vision blurring, and her head struck the wooden table. Blood gushed from her wound, soaking her clothes.
'No, I don't want to die now. Father, I don't want to leave you…' Chen Mingxia's thoughts faded as her life slipped away. She tried not to cringe or move and hot tears welled up in her jaded eyes. She felt a stinging sensation at the sides of her head and her body was gradually becoming limp and cold.
In the shadows, Chen Xingxing stood, her sinister ribbon blades still humming with dark energy. Her face contorted in a twisted, maniacal grin.
Chen Xingxing's sinister ribbon blades sliced through the air with a soft whoosh, leaving a trail of dark energy in their wake and striking Chen Mingxia's back with precision. The faint hum of the sinister ribbon blades still lingered in the air, like the whispered promise of a storm. The might and drive of the blades were more than enough to paralyze a cultivator and destroy his or her cultivation core. But Chen Mingxia, unaware of her own hidden potential, didn't know how to cultivate. The attack would not only end her life but also erase her existence, leaving behind no trace of her soul or legacy.
Chen Xingxing's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with venom as she whispered, "You'll never save your precious father, Mingxia."
"Ahahahahahaha! Oh, Mingxia, you foolish girl!" Her laughter echoed through the room, growing louder and more hysterical. "Even in death, you are still pathetic, Mingxia. You thought you could save your precious father? Ha! Those flowers were just a lure, a trap to end your pathetic life!"
Chen Xingxing's cackles reached a fever pitch, her eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"Your father will soon join you in death, and I'll be the one to inherit everything! Ahahahahahahaha!"
As Chen Mingxia's life force faded, a mysterious energy began to stir, bridging the gap between worlds….
TO BE CONTINUED
~ ~ ~
PLANET EARTH IN MILKY WAY GALAXY
LOCATION: MODERN WORLD, HUAYUN CITY
Atishoo! Long Mingxia sneezed, her blanched cheeks crimsoning. "I wonder who's thinking of me…" She whispered, lost in thoughts. Only the whiteness of her cheeks gave an indication of the stress from which she was suffering. Her feet ached from hours of standing, her muscles screaming for relief and she savored the sweetness of freshly brewed coffee, a brief respite.
The soft hum of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee receded into the background as her mind wandered. Bills, debts, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her.
Struggle had become Long Mingxia's constant companion, a shadow that followed her every step, from the towering bills to the endless debt payments. Bills piled up like towering waves, threatening to engulf her. Rent, utilities, and debt payments loomed over her like ominous clouds.
As she worked at the restaurant, she felt like a triton among the minnows – a rare gem surrounded by ordinary pebbles. Her intelligence and work ethic set her apart, but also made her a target for envy and resentment.
[A triton among the minnows – A person who completely dominates all his fellows]
"Hey girlie! Attend to the customer in the exclusive chamber upstairs, now!" Zhou Yating's sickly sweet voice pierced the air and she shoved a silver tray to Long Mingxia.
Zhou Yating glided across the room, her flaxen tresses cascading down her back like a golden waterfall, captivating the attention of patrons and staff alike. Her captivating appearance and charming smile disguised her true intentions.
Long Mingxia gazed at her reflection in the shiny tray, her mind whispering 'ordinary'. Average looks, slender figure, pale complexion, wild dark brown hair that was always tied in a sloppy bun, thin lips, and expressionless eyes – she was satisfied with her simplicity.
"Huh? It is not my turn, it is Lok's turn to attend to the customers," Long Mingxia protested, but Zhou Yating's clenched teeth silenced her.
As the maître d'hôtel and oldest waitress in the three-star restaurant, Zhou Yating commanded respect, but her beauty and charm hid a cunning nature. She ruled the restaurant with an iron fist. She delighted in pushing Long Mingxia around, orchestrating conflicts with the other waitpersons. The other waitpersons would snare the lucrative customers, leaving Long Mingxia to deal with the difficult ones.
[Maître d'hôtel – Someone who is in charge of a restaurant, and who welcomes guests, gives orders to waiters, etc.]
Zhou Yating reveled in stirring up conflicts. She manipulated the other waitpersons, fueling their animosity towards Long Mingxia. With a sweet smile, Zhou Yating would whisper venomous words, turning colleagues into adversaries.
The restaurant, once a haven, had become a battleground. Long Mingxia's patience worn thin as Zhou Yating's antics escalated. Previously, Zhou Yating always drop trays, shatter glasses and upset customers. Long Mingxia would always rush to pick up the pieces, her mind labeling Zhou Yating "idiotic" for her carelessness.
"Ugh! My day has been ruined!" A customer cried out, as Long Mingxia rushed to pick up the pieces. Zhou Yating deliberately dropped a bowl of soup that was meant to be served to the customer.
"Sorry sir. Please, let me compensate you with a complimentary dessert," Long Mingxia apologized, her eyes locking onto Zhou Yating's smug grin.
"Clumsy oaf!" Zhou Yating spat at Long Mingxia as she brushed her small shoulder against Long Mingxia's. Later on that day, the displeased customer chased after Zhou Yating like a fly and made Long Mingxia a laughingstock by rejecting the dessert. He still chased after Zhou Yating, even till the present day.
Long Mingxia tossed the memory of that embarrassing incident to the back of her mind and heaved a long sigh.
As she worked, Long Mingxia noticed the customers' growing discontent. The waitresses' loutish behavior and constant bickering displeased even the most patient patrons. The restaurant's reputation suffered, and her gaze drifted towards the door, her heart aching with the desire to escape the toxic restaurant and its manipulative staff.
With a swift motion, Long Mingxia flung the tray at Zhou Yating, her patience worn thin. "Today has been hellish for me, and your tantrums are the last thing I need! Next time, expect a punch in the nose!"
Zhou Yating's voice dripped with saccharine sweetness, "Oh, Long Mingxia, you're so daft."
Her anger dissipated as a commotion erupted at the entrance. Waitresses fawned over a young man – the boss's son, Xiao Xuan.
"OMG, The boss's son is back!"
"He's grown taller!"
"Did you see his biceps…?"
"His shoulders are perfect for bear hugs!"
The restaurant's neon sign cast a gaudy glow on the rain-soaked pavement, the vibrant colors blurring like watercolors on wet papers. As Xiao Xuan walked from his car to his father's restaurant, his confident stride and warm smile captivating the people around him, a hint of fatigue lingered in his eyes, betraying the weight of his responsibilities. He was presumed to be twenty-one years old or twenty-two years old. His chiseled features and broad shoulders made him a magnet for admiration as he exuded confidence and charisma, making him the center of attraction. Long Mingxia's pulse stuttered as Xiao Xuan's gaze met hers, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and her secret crush rekindling. Her heart raced, her cheeks and neck went red like a ripe tomato. She'd had a secret crush on Xiao Xuan since joining the restaurant but dared not express her feelings. The waitresses and schoolgirl customers fawned over him, making her hesitant to reveal her emotions.
In her heart, Long Mingxia admired Xiao Xuan as a handsome being, so handsome that he could effortlessly charm both men and women. His impending graduation and future takeover of the restaurant only added to his allure. She believed that he deserved the all-round special treatment, and she couldn't help but be drawn to his enchanted presence.
As Xiao Xuan entered, the restaurant's tense atmosphere began to dissipate, his charisma soothing frazzled nerves, like mist evaporating in the morning sun. As he interacted with the staff and customers, his genuine smile and kind words disarmed even the most skeptical hearts.
"Hey, Long Mingxia, how's it going? Nice?" He asked, his voice low and smooth, with his smile flashing like a ray of sunlight. Long Mingxia simply nodded with a strained smile.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yating's smile twisted into a snarl as she watched Xiao Xuan's gaze linger on Long Mingxia. Her eyes slitted, her voice taking on a venomous tone, "You think you're special, Long Mingxia, but you're just a pathetic little insect."
Long Mingxia hesitated, her feet rooted to the spot, as she watched Xiao Xuan charm the crowd with effortless ease, a pang of insecurity stabbing at her heart after hearing Zhou Yating's comment. However, she saw her cat, Bo, in Xiao Xuan's arms.
Xiao Xuan's bright blue eyes, though glacial, seemed to hold a hint of warmth as he stroked Bo's fur.
"Meow…!" Bo purred, content.
As the evening wore on, Long Mingxia found herself lost in thoughts, her gaze drifting towards Xiao Xuan who was in the midst of lovesick ladies, as usual. Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would sweep her away from this toxic world and into a realm of ancient secrets and mysterious powers.