The Himalayan wind clawed at Arya's face, sharp and relentless, carrying the icy tang of ancient glaciers and the faint, distant scent of pine.
He lagged behind the main group, his breaths measured and deliberate, each exhale misting in the frigid air.
Around him, towering peaks rose like jagged sentinels, their stark silhouettes slicing through the endless blue sky.
This… this is what they meant by breathtaking, he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He had never seen so much snow in his life.
This trek was supposed to be a shared journey—a much-needed escape with his closest friends. They had made plans, dreaming of this adventure together.
But when the time came, their schedules had pulled them away, leaving him to face the mountains alone.
At twenty-six, his peers were carving out their futures—climbing corporate ladders, securing promotions, and meeting family expectations.
Meanwhile, Arya remained adrift, unemployed and stagnant. He had chased jobs with dwindling enthusiasm, the weight of societal expectations pressing down on him like the oppressive mountain air.
Even here, amidst the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Himalayas, the shadow of his perceived failures loomed. He tried to focus on the scenery, to lose himself in the beauty around him, but his thoughts were relentless.
His introspection was interrupted by the cheerful chatter of a couple from New Zealand.
They were seasoned climbers, on their second Himalayan expedition. Their laughter echoed through the crisp air, a stark contrast to Arya's somber mood.
Maybe there's more to life than just chasing a secure job, he thought, a flicker of hope igniting within him.
As they continued their ascent, a glint of gold in the snow caught his eye. A small, unadorned object, no larger than two inches, lay partially buried, its dull, metallic surface reflecting the sunlight.
'What's that?' He turned toward it, curiosity overriding caution. Arya veered off the path, his boots crunching on the fresh snow. 'Could it be gold?' A thrill of adrenaline surged through him.
He bent down, his fingers brushing against the cold, smooth metal. The moment he touched it, a jolt like an electric current shot through his body.
His vision exploded in a blinding flash of white, his senses overwhelmed. A silent scream tore at his throat, but no sound escaped.
He crumpled to the ground, his body paralyzed. His gaze fell to his hand, where a clean cut across his skin oozed blood.
'But how…?' The object had no sharp edges, yet it had sliced through his flesh as if it were butter.
'What is this thing?' Panic, cold and sharp as the mountain wind, seized him. He wanted to run, to escape, but his body refused to obey.
The golden object began to hum, a low, resonant thrum that vibrated through his bones and soul.
An ethereal light pulsed from the point of contact, spreading rapidly, engulfing his hand, then his arm, and finally, his entire body.
Strange, luminous symbols—ancient runes—danced across his skin, their meaning incomprehensible.
He felt a terrifying sensation of being emptied out, his essence draining away, replaced by something cold and void. His mind grew foggy, thoughts slipping through his grasp like sand.
'No, no, no…' The silent protest echoed in his mind, a desperate, fading plea. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring the distorted world around him.
'I don't want to die,'he thought, a wave of despair crashing over him.
'Not like this. Not here.' He longed to see his family one last time. His heart ached for his mother, his father.
"Please, God. Stop this. I'm begging you."
"Mom, Dad, I never told you how much I loved you. Please, somebody help me."
He pictured their faces, their smiles, their unwavering belief in him. He yearned to tell them he loved them, to apologize for being such a disappointment. He tried to move, but his limbs were lifeless.
A tear escaped his eye, tracing a lonely path down his cheek before freezing in the unforgiving cold. He thought of his younger brother and sister, their playful bickering, their unwavering support.
The golden light intensified, becoming blindingly bright. The humming grew louder, morphing into a deafening roar. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped.
The light vanished. The humming ceased. Arya lay motionless on the snow, his body still, his eyes vacant, staring at the cold, white expanse.
The life within him was gone, leaving behind only an empty shell. His journey had ended on this lonely mountain.
---
(Jiang State. Qingyun Region. Qingyun Sect)
Su Family Manor
A gasp, a desperate intake of air, shattered the stillness of the opulent chamber. Su Kang's eyes snapped open, his body drenched in cold sweat. His heart pounded against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden silence.
He clutched his head, a sharp, stabbing pain lancing through his skull.
What was that? he thought, his mind reeling. It was a dream. No, not a dream. It felt far too real.
Fragmented memories, vivid and disorienting, flooded his consciousness.
Then, just as suddenly, the torrent receded, leaving him trembling and confused, stranded in the unfamiliar landscape of his own mind.
Who am I? The question echoed in the silence of his room, a desperate plea for understanding.
Am I Arya? The name felt foreign on his tongue, yet it resonated with a deep, unsettling ache in his heart.
But then who is Su Kang?
He looked around the room, his gaze sweeping over the familiar furnishings—the intricately carved wooden furniture, the silk tapestries depicting scenes of mythical beasts, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.
This was his room, his home, yet it felt strangely alien. This was his room in the Su family branch in Qingyun City. He hadn't seen this room since leaving Jiang State.
He was confused by his own thoughts.
He rose and walked toward a large, bronze mirror, its surface polished to a gleaming sheen. He stared at his reflection—a young man with a warm, wheatish complexion, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and piercing black eyes. Silver earrings, shaped like miniature dragons, glinted in the soft light.
This is my body, he thought, his voice a near whisper. But the soul within felt like a fractured mosaic, a patchwork of two different lives, two different worlds. He also saw his future.
He closed his eyes, trying to untangle the knot of memories. He remembered Arya's life—the crushing weight of expectations, the final, desperate journey to the Himalayas.
He remembered the bone-chilling cold, the glint of gold, the searing pain, and the darkness. It was all so vivid, as if he had lived through it himself.
But he also remembered Su Kang's life—his childhood in the Su Manor, his rigorous training in cultivation, his close bond with his younger brother, Su Ting, and his family.
He also had memories of future events related to Su Kang. The young man began to piece together his fragmented recollections, his mind racing.
A few minutes later, he arrived at two conclusions about his situation.
Either his soul had traveled to this body, but that didn't fully explain his memories of future events—specifically, his death and the destruction of his entire family two years from now.
Arya thought about Su Kang's death and the golden metallic object in his possession. Su Kang would come across this object in the future, but he hadn't known what it was.
He had kept it as a clue to some ancient treasure, as even the most renowned treasure pavilions couldn't decipher its purpose. It had remained inert until his final breath, when it suddenly glowed.
The second conclusion was that he had reincarnated in this world, died at the age of twenty-six alongside his family, and somehow returned to a point two years before his death—all because of that mysterious object. Only that object could provide answers to his confusion.
Arya leaned toward the second scenario. His emotions toward his family in this world were as deep and genuine as those he had felt for his family on Earth.
His memories of Earth had only awakened moments ago, during the searing headache.
The young man turned back to the mirror, observing his surroundings. This was the same room he had left two years ago.
He had spent his entire childhood here, and everything about it brought him comfort.
After leaving the Su family, his life had been fraught with danger and conflict. He had helped his friends, but over time, he began to notice the growing gap between them.
What disappointed him most was his own naivety and the cruel hand of fate.
This time, he vowed to avoid those mistakes and teach his so-called friends a lesson.
As he processed the sudden awakening of his memories and the weight of the future events he now knew, the young man decided to calm his thoughts and emotions—for now.