The sharp, piercing shrill of the alarm clock echoed through the bedroom.
The alarm was set to ring for three minutes at a time, repeating every five minutes. It had been blaring for nearly half an hour before An Ping finally opened his eyes.
It wasn't that he hadn't been awake; he simply couldn't pull himself back to reality.
In his dreams, the deafening roar of gunfire and artillery had left him dizzy, his limbs numb with shock. It took a long while to realize he was truly awake. He forced himself to stand, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed by the trash can, retching violently.
He had stayed up late the night before to study and had fallen asleep at his desk. Between the slight cold he’d caught and the chill in the air, his stomach was tied in knots. Memories felt like blood wrung from a heavy rag; images of severed limbs, darkened skies, fields of corpses, and rivers of blood flashed incessantly before his eyes.
When An Ping finally finished vomiting, he looked up to see his history notes from the night before. There it was in black and white: a neat list of battles and dates. His heart surged with a sudden, overwhelming emotion, and he doubled over to retch again.
He really should have set the alarm earlier. Feeling utterly depleted, An Ping crawled to the bathroom to wash up. He had an important exam today; otherwise, nothing could have dragged him to school.
The remnants of the dream left him a tangled mess of emotions.
Suddenly, he desperately wanted to see Mu Gesheng.
However, Mu Gesheng didn't show up for class. This wasn't surprising; though he didn't take sick leave as often lately, he still copied homework whenever possible and skipped exams whenever he felt like it. Today, however, An Ping found himself without his usual internal complaints. He stared at his history paper for a long time without moving his pen, seized by a sudden urge to leave the entire thing blank.
Compared to the weight of living through those events, these words on paper felt far too thin.
School let out at noon, but there were two more exams scheduled back-to-back in the afternoon. An Ping decided not to go home and bought a simple stir-fry at the cafeteria. When the red tomato sauce ran over his rice like a pool of fresh blood, his appetite vanished instantly. He couldn't force down a single bite.
"Class Rep, what's wrong?" His seatmate, who had come to eat with him, noticed something was off. "Are you feeling sick?"
An Ping set down his chopsticks and waved a hand. "I'm fine."
"Fine, my foot. I could tell you were out of it this morning. I signaled you several times to pass me the answers, and you didn't even blink." The seatmate wiped his mouth, stood up, and pulled An Ping toward the door. "If you're sick, don't push it. I'm taking you to the infirmary."
"I'm really okay..."
"Gimme a break. This is a golden opportunity to skip an exam—most people would kill for this. Can't you just be a little flexible for once?" The seatmate dragged An Ping out of the cafeteria without further discussion. "You're just too rigid..."
Before he could finish, a massive *boom* echoed from nearby, followed by the crashing sound of collapsing brick walls. Both boys froze in their tracks as screams erupted all around them. The seatmate stared, slack-jawed, and muttered, "Holy crap... did the teaching building just collapse?"
They stared at each other for a long moment before the seatmate slapped his thigh and looked at An Ping. "Does this mean we don't have to take the exam?"
An Ping: "..."
Teachers quickly emerged to maintain order. The campus was a chaotic mess for a while until everyone was gathered on the sports field, where the school administration made a brief announcement. The teaching building was old and had fallen into disrepair; a section of the top-floor ceiling had collapsed. Fortunately, there were no casualties. School was suspended indefinitely.
"No way, is this real?" The seatmate pinched himself. "One of my lifelong dreams was for the school to collapse—but is our school really such a 'tofu-dreg' construction? I don't want to be fearing for my life every time I go to class..."
"It shouldn't be." An Ping stood on the field, his head spinning. He forced himself to speak. "No. 1 High is a century-old school. The building that had the accident was the old one; it's been around a long time. The school definitely prioritizes its maintenance. It shouldn't have just... collapsed..." Before he could finish, his vision went black, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Whoa! Class Rep! Roomie?! ...Are you okay...?"
Through a hazy fog, An Ping saw his seatmate’s shouting face. His head felt like it was splitting open. He couldn't hold on any longer and finally lost consciousness.
He heard a faint, distant laughter.
It was very light, like the soft fur on a cat's paw, scratching at his heart over and over.
"...Why is this person back again?"
"I'm afraid he won't be getting out this time..."
An Ping’s mind was muddled and heavy. He tried to open his eyes and found himself surrounded by pitch-black darkness, save for a shimmering, hazy red light.
Where was he?
He sat up and realized he was lying on a concrete floor. His hands and feet were ice-cold, but a warmth radiated from his chest, as if something there was generating heat. He looked down; it was his protective jade pendant.
The jade pendant that had been stained with Mu Gesheng’s blood.
An Ping’s mother had bought this pendant at an auction, claiming it was an antique that would protect him and keep him safe. He had worn it since he was a child. Aside from the time he had accidentally stumbled into the San-tu Void, the pendant had never done much. Even after it was stained with Mu Gesheng’s blood, it hadn't caused anything unusual besides the dreams.
Now, the jade was glowing slightly, truly acting as a form of protection.
An Ping stood up and pulled the pendant out, holding it before him. The warm light from the translucent jade faintly illuminated the surrounding darkness.
When he finally saw his surroundings, An Ping froze. A chill raced up his spine, and he broke into a cold sweat.
Though the setting had changed significantly, he couldn't be mistaken.
This was the San-tu Void!
The air was thick with a stifling, dry heat and a murky, metallic scent—a cold, stagnant smell identical to his last visit, only much stronger. An Ping was paralyzed with fear for a moment, but he quickly regained his senses. Why was he here?
This wasn't a dream. An Ping could clearly feel the difference in the atmosphere. He had physically entered the San-tu Void again. Forcing himself to stay calm, he began to piece together what had happened—the exam, the building collapse, then he must have fainted... and when he woke up, he was here.
The building collapse—An Ping had a gut feeling it was connected to the San-tu Void. No. 1 High was a top-tier school; they weren't short on funds, and the administration wouldn't neglect maintenance. He suddenly remembered something Mu Gesheng had said: *"The old city district has over a hundred years of history. There are many ancient buildings near No. 1 High. This area was densely populated even during the Republican era. Likewise, during the war, this was where the most people died."*
*"We've probably stumbled into one of those 'half-yin, half-yang' places. These rifts are called the 'San-tu Void.' They exist in the gaps between Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld—a lawless 'no-man's-land' shunned by both gods and ghosts, filled with things that are neither alive nor dead."*
*"The appearance of a San-tu Void in the mortal realm is no small matter. Those freeloaders in Fengdu are quite spooked; they're scrambling to find the cause."*
The battlefield, the San-tu Void, Fengdu.
It was as if an invisible thread was tying everything together.
An Ping was suddenly struck by a terrifying thought: what was the connection between the current San-tu Void and the Yin-Yang Ladder of the past?
Was the ancient city in his dreams the very city he lived in now?
And the inexplicable collapse of the teaching building—An Ping instinctively linked it to the collapse of the Guan-shan-yue Pavilion in his dream, which had been caused by a riot of Yin Soldiers.
Connecting all the dots—Mu Gesheng had said he was a man who had already died. So, how did they resolve the calamity of the Yin Soldiers a hundred years ago? If the Yin Soldiers had truly vanished, why would Fengdu be so terrified by the emergence of the San-tu Void?
An Ping didn't dare think further. He had only one thought now—get out alive and find Mu Gesheng immediately.
An Ping held up the jade pendant for light and ventured forward. The scenery in the San-tu Void was completely different from last time. It was no longer a replica of the school from a few years ago; instead, it had become a chaotic blur. Only the stairs beneath his feet stretched on endlessly. Faint, ethereal laughter floated around him, as if someone were watching his every move. The further he walked, the more his heart hammered against his ribs. He was drenched in cold sweat, and he barely noticed his throbbing headache—for one reason only: this place looked far too much like the Yin-Yang Ladder from his dreams!
He hesitated to go any further. If he kept descending, would he actually end up in Fengdu? Besides, the Yin-Yang Ladder was incredibly long; at his pace, he’d probably starve to death halfway there.
Just as his thoughts were spiraling, a sudden burst of laughter erupted, and something tapped him on the shoulder.
An Ping’s hair stood on end. He had read enough novels to know the "ghost-tapping-the-shoulder" trope. You absolutely must not look back. Terrified, he broke into a frantic sprint. Yet the laughter seemed to chase him, always hovering just out of reach. Whenever he stopped to catch his breath, something would tap his shoulder again—a touch so icy it chilled him to the bone. He didn't dare stop again and kept running down the stairs.
After an unknown amount of time, he was physically spent and forced to slow down. But before he could even catch his breath, the sound of nails scratching against stone came from below, followed by a cackling laugh. Something was crawling up toward him, muttering incoherently, "...You're finally here..."
By the faint glow of the jade pendant, An Ping saw the creature clearly—it was a Nightmare Puppet, identical to the one he had seen in the San-tu Void before. Mu Gesheng had stayed behind to clear the area last time; apparently, the old guy’s eyes were failing him, and he’d missed a stray.
Mu Gesheng’s "failing eyesight" was going to be the death of him! An Ping realized now that the laughter chasing him had come from this Nightmare Puppet. The creature had used some trick to lure him here, right into its trap! He had practically delivered himself to his own demise!
An Ping stared at the Nightmare Puppet, backed away several steps, and tripped over a stair. In that moment of vulnerability, the Nightmare Puppet let out a piercing shriek and lunged at him. An Ping squeezed his eyes shut and screamed, thinking that this was it! He’d seen enough lately; if he died, he’d just have to find someone in the Underworld to get a message to Mu Gesheng!
In that split second, a flash of blade-light surged from below, instantly cleaving the Nightmare Puppet in two. The force of the blow snapped the red cord around An Ping’s neck. The jade pendant hit the ground with a *clack*, its light extinguished, plunging the world back into darkness.
Before An Ping could process what had happened, footsteps approached from down the stairs. Someone picked up the jade pendant and paused. "Is this yours?"
He couldn't tell if the voice belonged to the living or the dead, but at least it sounded reasonable. An Ping kept his eyes shut and nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, it's mine." He paused, then added, "The antique appraisal certificate is still sitting at my house!"
"My apologies for breaking your cord."
"It's fine, it's fine!" An Ping had no idea who this person was, and since he couldn't see a face in the dark, he started babbling in fear. "I'll just go buy another one at a stall near the City God Temple later."
The person didn't say anything else. They walked up and placed the jade pendant in his hand. "Keep it safe."
Then, they grabbed him by the back of his collar and said, "Pardon me."
Before An Ping could react, he felt a massive surge of strength. The person hoisted him up, swung him in a wide arc, and hurled him outward.
As the jade pendant returned to An Ping’s hand, it began to glow again. In the fleeting light, An Ping caught a glimpse of a long, crimson blade.
He suddenly thought the person's voice sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
"...Class Rep! Roomie!"
When An Ping woke up, he found himself lying in the school infirmary.
"You're finally awake!" His seatmate lunged at him, shouting. "You just fainted out of nowhere! You scared the crap out of me!"
An Ping blinked, trying to make sense of things. "What happened?" Wasn't he just in the San-tu Void? How was he back? And in the infirmary?
"You're asking me? You were talking on the field and then just keeled over. Luckily the teachers were there and carried you straight here." The seatmate said, "You nearly gave me a heart attack. You're buying me milk tea to make up for it, you hear me?"
"Deal." An Ping rubbed his temples. "I owe you a milk tea. I'll get you back later."
"Forget the milk tea. You young people really don't take care of yourselves." A medic in a white coat walked over to the bed. "A low fever from a cold, and an irregular heart rate—did you stay up all night?"
"Yes." An Ping nodded, his nose feeling stuffed. "I didn't sleep well."
"I know you're under a lot of pressure, but playing on your phone after finishing homework until dawn is too much." The medic huffed. "I've prescribed some medicine; remember to take it when you leave. Since school is closed for repairs, go home and rest. Where are your parents? Eat something light when you get back—don't go for heavy, spicy food just for the taste."
At the mention of parents, the seatmate glanced at him and whispered, "Are your folks back yet?"
"Not yet. Probably not until the Lunar New Year." An Ping shook his head. "It's fine, I can take care of myself."
"Want me to come over?" The seatmate looked at him with concern. "You can just let me copy your homework later."
Before he could finish, the infirmary door was kicked open. Someone walked in and said, "I'm his guardian."
An Ping was stunned. The newcomer was Wu Biyou.
"You're his guardian?" The medic looked skeptically at the teenager. "Are you even an adult?"
Wu Biyou didn't even bother to respond. He walked straight to An Ping and looked down at him with a sour expression. "Let's go."
"Who is this guy? Your brother? I never heard you had a brother." The seatmate leaned in and whispered to An Ping, "He looks pissed. Do you owe him money?"
An Ping thought to himself: *I don't owe him money, but Mu Gesheng is another story.*
He knew Wu Biyou’s appearance at No. 1 High was no coincidence. The boy looked gloomy and irritable, likely sent by Mu Gesheng. Knowing Wu Biyou’s temper, An Ping didn't say much and stood up. "Let's go."
The seatmate was still worried, but Wu Biyou looked so intimidating that he didn't dare stop them. He could only sneakily send An Ping a text: *Call me if anything happens. If it gets bad, call the police.*
*Don't worry,* An Ping replied. *He's with City Management. He won't break the law.*
Wu Biyou had actually come to get him in a City Management transport trike. The three-wheeler was parked arrogantly in front of the school gates, keys still in the ignition. The horn was blaring a deafening rendition of "Happy Birthday," drawing stares from everyone nearby. Wu Biyou pulled a shared bike off the back of the trike and tossed it toward An Ping. "That old fossil wants to see you. Get your ass to the City God Temple."
"What happened?" An Ping stopped Wu Biyou. The boy wouldn't normally listen to Mu Gesheng; for him to come all the way to the school meant something had happened on Mu Gesheng’s end.
"I delivered the message. Stop talking so much." Wu Biyou clicked his tongue impatiently, pushed An Ping aside, got into the trike, and slammed the door. "Go ask him yourself." With that, he floored it and sped away.
An Ping stood there, looked at the shared bike, and promptly parked it by the curb to hail a taxi to the City God Temple.
This time, the scalpers at the entrance didn't stop him. They just waved him through, one of them even offering a tip as if he knew why An Ping was there: "He's in the courtyard. If you don't see him, go shout for him in the side rooms."
An Ping saw Mu Gesheng as soon as he entered. The man was standing under the ginkgo tree, still in his pajamas and holding his enamel mug. He was fiddling with a copper coin, but he turned his head at the sound of footsteps and smiled. "You're here."
An Ping walked up, about to speak, but Mu Gesheng handed him the mug. "Drink this."
The mug was warm and smelled faintly of medicine. An Ping sniffed it. "What is this?"
"Brown sugar water with osmanthus. Good for the blood and energy—standard for ladies."
*Great.* An Ping rolled his eyes but drank the contents anyway. He felt a warmth spread through him, and his head felt less foggy. "You knew I was sick?"
"I have a rough idea of what you've been dreaming about." Mu Gesheng rubbed the coin in his hand. "Did No. 1 High collapse?"
"Yes." An Ping nodded. "Did you divine that?"
"No need to divine it; the time had simply come." Mu Gesheng noticed An Ping’s gaze and handed him the coin. "A Mountain Ghost Charm Coin. You should have seen plenty of these in your dreams."
An Ping had indeed seen these copper coins often in his dreams. The Tiansuan Sect passed down forty-nine of these charm coins. This one was old, covered in a dark patina that spoke of its age. "Why aren't you using your usual pocket change today?" An Ping suddenly realized that in the real world, he had never seen Mu Gesheng use a Mountain Ghost Charm Coin.
"I felt something was off when I woke up this morning, so I cast a hexagram," Mu Gesheng said. "It showed you’d run into some trouble. But there are too many entanglements between us; ordinary coins wouldn't be accurate enough. I had to use the Mountain Ghost Charm Coin."
He looked at An Ping and made a simple statement of fact. "You fell into the San-tu Void again."
"Yes." An Ping finally remembered the urgent matters and started rattling off questions. "What's the connection between the school collapse and the San-tu Void? Is it related to the Yin Soldiers from back then? Is the San-tu Void the Yin-Yang Ladder? Oh, and I was saved by someone—who was that?"
"Slow down, one at a time. My memory isn't what it used to be." Mu Gesheng waved him off. "You've probably realized some things by now. This city is the same one I lived in back then."
*As I thought.*
"When the Yin Soldiers rioted, we suppressed them by force. But the price was high, and my own memories have gaps." Mu Gesheng continued, "You probably noticed in your dreams that certain key parts are blurry."
An Ping was taken aback. "Then how much do you remember?"
"I only have a few clues. The purge of the Yin Soldiers was a bloodbath. But there were some lingering grudges that couldn't be fully eradicated. I used up one of the Mountain Ghost Charm Coins to seal them away again." Mu Gesheng spoke slowly. "The San-tu Void isn't the Yin-Yang Ladder, but it's a space formed by the resentment leaking from it. Those grudges have been sealed in the Yin-Yang Ladder for a hundred years, and the seal is loosening. No. 1 High was built right on a leyline, which is why the collapse happened so suddenly."
An Ping was horrified. "You mean... the Yin Soldiers from back then are coming back?" The tragedies from his dreams were vivid; he could see the overwhelming sea of blood the moment he closed his eyes. If the Yin Soldiers, who had required such a devastating price to suppress, were to return, he couldn't imagine the consequences.
"Don't worry, I'm here." Mu Gesheng saw the look on An Ping’s face and laughed. "Do you know what the street outside the City God Temple is called?"
"Chengxi Street..." An Ping suddenly realized. "What's the connection between this place and the West City Pass?"
"Many people think it's called Chengxi Street because it's on the far west side of the old city. But that's not it. The end of this street is where the Yin-Yang Ladder was sealed. I've lived in this temple for so long specifically to guard this spot." Mu Gesheng patted An Ping’s shoulder. "As long as I am here, this is the West City Pass. The Yin Soldiers aren't getting out."
An Ping looked at Mu Gesheng, momentarily speechless.
"You've been in the San-tu Void and are tainted with its aura. With the leylines being unstable lately, it'll be easy for you to fall back in." Mu Gesheng led An Ping toward a side room. "You'll stay here tonight. Wait until the rain clears and everything is auspicious again."
"The rain clears?" An Ping looked up at the sky; it was cloudless. "The weather report said it would be clear for the next few days."
"The weather report is wrong." Mu Gesheng tossed the charm coin into the air. "There will be a great storm tonight."
"Don't be scared if you hear anything during the night. My 'daughter' will be here. The kid has a bit of a temper, but his heart is in the right place." Mu Gesheng said casually, "And I didn't make him go get you. His face changed the moment he saw my hexagram, and he rushed off to No. 1 High to save you."
This was unexpected for An Ping. "Then... who was it that saved me in the San-tu Void?"
"An old friend from the past." Mu Gesheng smiled with the air of a wise sage. "Don't worry. You'll find out in due time."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
三途间 | San-tu Void | A liminal space or rift between the realms of the living and the dead.
阴阳梯 | Yin-Yang Ladder | A supernatural structure connecting the mortal realm and the underworld.
阴兵 | Yin Soldiers | Ghostly or spectral soldiers from the underworld.
山鬼花钱 | Mountain Ghost Charm Coin | A type of numismatic charm used for protection and exorcism in Taoist tradition.
城西关 | West City Pass | A historical location/fortification mentioned in the dreams; now linked to the modern Chengxi Street.
魇傀儡 | Nightmare Puppet | A monstrous entity found within the San-tu Void.
天算子 | Heavenly Diviner | The title held by Mu Gesheng as the head of the Tiansuan (Heavenly Calculation) Sect.
