"This... where am I?" Li Xue muttered, her voice trembling as she struggled to sit up. The world around her spun, and she blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the dizziness that clouded her thoughts. She had been tossed around far too often lately, and the relentless disorientation left her feeling weak and confused.
"I don't know," Hua Rong replied, standing a short distance away. Her tone was calm but tinged with curiosity. Hua Rong had been awake far longer than Li Xue and Chen Yi, yet the surroundings were just as alien to her. The dense forest around them buzzed with unfamiliar sounds, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers.
Chen Yi stepped forward, his movements fluid and deliberate, and extended a steady hand toward Li Xue. "Here," he said simply. Li Xue hesitated, her blurred vision barely making out his figure, but she reached out and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
"Thank you," she murmured, rubbing her temples. Her head still throbbed as the fog in her vision began to lift. She looked up, intending to thank him again, but froze mid-sentence. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly in astonishment.
Hua Rong and Chen Yi stood before her—but they were no longer the cousins she had known in the modern world.
Hua Rong's transformation was breathtaking. Her silky black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, perfectly complementing her glowing white robes embroidered with intricate pink blossoms. Her skin radiated with an ethereal glow, making her appear like a goddess descended from the heavens.
And then there was Chen Yi. The man who once had the shortest, most practical haircut now possessed locks that shimmered like threads of silk, longer and more lustrous than any woman's. He wore dark blue robes that rippled with an otherworldly grace as if they were alive. His sharp features and calm, composed demeanor made him look like an immortal sage from ancient myths.
Li Xue's gaze darted between them, disbelief etched into her expression. "What... what happened to you two?" she asked, her voice quivering between awe and confusion.
Chen Yi said nothing, his serene expression unchanged, but Hua Rong glanced at her with a faint smile.
"It's Chen Yuxuan," Hua Rong explained softly, gesturing to the jade pendant hanging from Chen Yi's neck. The translucent stone seemed to pulse faintly with a mysterious light. "The spirit in the jade... it brought us here."
Li Xue's lips twitched involuntarily. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but the situation was far too surreal for humor. Instead, she exhaled sharply and looked down at herself.
"Do I look different too?" she asked, her tone laced with apprehension.
Hua Rong tilted her head, studying Li Xue for a moment before shaking her head. ".... You can see for your self...."
Li Xue groaned. "I need a mirror," she muttered.
Hua Rong chuckled lightly. "We don't have one."
Li Xue crossed her arms, biting back her frustration. As she glanced once more at Hua Rong's divine beauty and Chen Yi's immortal-like elegance, she felt an odd mixture of envy and disbelief. Her lips twitched. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of the situation.
"There's a lake nearby," Chen Yi said in his usual calm, steady tone. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began walking through the dense forest.
Li Xue and Hua Rong exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to follow. As they trailed behind Chen Yi, Li Xue couldn't help but notice the stark change in her surroundings. The forest seemed endless, an ancient maze of towering trees whose thick canopies blocked out almost all sunlight. Only faint rays of light pierced through, creating a mosaic of shadows on the forest floor. The air was cool and carried the faint, earthy scent of moss and wildflowers.
"It's a miracle any light gets through this," Li Xue muttered, brushing aside a low-hanging branch as they walked.
The faint sound of water lapping against a shore reached her ears before she saw the lake.
"Li Xue, there! Check your reflection!" Hua Rong exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. She had already reached the lake's edge and stood gazing at her reflection in the crystal-clear water.
Li Xue hurried toward the lake, her curiosity overpowering her apprehension. She dropped to her knees by the water and leaned forward, her breath catching as her reflection came into view.
Staring back at her was someone both familiar and transformed. Her once beautiful wavy hair was now an immaculate cascade of pitch-black strands, the edges curling ever so slightly. Her almond-shaped eyes seemed larger and more luminous, framed by thick lashes that accentuated their depth. Her skin tone, a warm and radiant light brown, remained unchanged, but her face was now flawless—free of scars and blemishes that had once marked her. Instead, her smooth complexion seemed to glow faintly, as though kissed by moonlight.
Her gaze dropped to her clothing. She was clad in a robe of deep black, its fabric shimmering like polished obsidian in the light. Red embroidery, shaped like coiling dragons, danced across the sleeves and hem, their scales so intricately detailed they seemed almost alive. Her hair, left loose and untamed, fluttered gently in the breeze, adding an air of untouchable elegance to her appearance.
Li Xue stared at her reflection, stunned. She had always been confident in her looks, but now… she was far more than a beauty. There was a regal, otherworldly quality to her appearance, a grace that surpassed anything she could have imagined.
Hua Rong leaned closer, her own reflection sparkling in the lake as she grinned. "You look amazing, Li Xue. Like a queen. No—a goddess!"
Li Xue let out a breathy laugh, still processing what she was seeing. "I… I don't even recognize myself," she murmured. Her fingers brushed her hair, confirming its silky texture, before she glanced down at her attire again. "Where did these clothes even come from?"
Chen Yi, standing a short distance away with his arms crossed, finally spoke. "It's the jade spirit, Chen Yuxuan. He didn't just bring us here; he transformed us. Strengthened us." His voice was steady, his words calm, but there was a glint of something unreadable in his eyes as he looked at her.
Li Xue looked up at him, her lips twitching again as she took in his immortal-like appearance. Then her gaze shifted back to Hua Rong, whose divine beauty was nothing short of enchanting.
"Where is he now? Have you tried calling him?" Li Xue asked, glancing toward Hua Rong with concern.
Hua Rong didn't bother responding with words. She simply gave Li Xue the look—a pointed stare that clearly said, I'm not dumb, of course I've already tried.
Chen Yi sighed softly, stepping forward to take the lead. "Let's focus on getting out of this forest first and finding a place to sleep. It's already night, and we don't know what might be lurking out here by then."
Both girls nodded, falling into step behind him. The forest was even darker now, the last streaks of twilight fading into the dense canopy. They wandered aimlessly, their path marked by the occasional rustling of leaves and the chirping of unseen insects.
As they trudged along, Hua Rong let out a loud groan of frustration. She stopped to pull at her hair, which now had several small leaves and twigs tangled in its silkiness. "This is ruining my beauty!" she screeched, her voice echoing through the quiet forest.
Li Xue rolled her eyes, though she, too, was feeling the strain. Her legs ached, and her usual stamina seemed to wane in this unfamiliar terrain. "Huff… when are we getting out of here?" she muttered, her voice laced with exhaustion.
Before anyone could respond, a sudden rustling in the undergrowth ahead caught their attention. Hua Rong froze, her hand flying to her mouth. Li Xue instinctively reached for the nearest sturdy stick, ready to defend herself. Even Chen Yi stopped, his posture tense as he scanned the shadows for movement.
The sound of snapping twigs grew closer, and moments later, a young boy stepped out from behind a tree. He looked about their age, no older than sixteen. His lean figure was wrapped in simple but sturdy hunting attire—a loose brown tunic cinched at the waist with a leather belt, and dark trousers tucked into boots that were scuffed from wear. He carried a small bow slung over his shoulder and clutched a quiver of arrows in his hand.
The boy's features were sharp and slightly weathered, as though he'd spent most of his life outdoors. His dark eyes scanned the three of them with a mix of caution and curiosity, and his messy black hair fell in uneven strands over his forehead. Despite his rugged appearance, there was something kind about the slight curve of his lips and the way his gaze softened when he saw Hua Rong struggling with her tangled hair.
"You're not from around here," the boy said, his tone even but curious. His voice was clear, carrying a faint accent unfamiliar to them.
"No kidding," Li Xue muttered under her breath. She straightened, lowering her makeshift weapon. "Who are you?"
The boy hesitated for a moment before replying, "My name's Wei Lan. I live in a village not far from here. What are you doing out in this forest? It's dangerous at night."
"We're lost," Hua Rong admitted, stepping forward with a sheepish smile. "We don't even know how we got here."
Wei Lan raised an eyebrow but didn't press for details. Instead, he glanced at the forest around them, his expression growing serious. "You shouldn't be wandering around here after dark. The forest isn't safe at night."
Li Xue folded her arms. "We figured that much. Can you help us get out of here?"
Wei Lan considered them for a moment, his gaze lingering on Chen Yi, who stood silently but carried an air of quiet authority. Finally, Wei Lan nodded. "I'll take you to my village. It's not far, and you can rest there for the night."
"Thank you," Hua Rong said gratefully, while Li Xue simply nodded.
As Wei Lan turned and began leading them through the forest, the group followed closely, their exhaustion slightly eased by the prospect of finding shelter. Wei Lan's movements were confident and sure, and he navigated the dense forest with the ease of someone who knew every path and hidden trail.
"I was out hunting when I stumbled across you," he explained, glancing back at them. "It's rare to see travelers in this part of the woods. What brings you here, anyway?"
The three exchanged a brief glance, their expressions unreadable.
"It's… a long story," Hua Rong said finally, smiling nervously.