Chapter 1, Crossing Over
Perhaps it was because he saw a person that Lu Yu felt his body relax, and his vision darkened, leaving him unaware of anything.
This abrupt topic left Lu Yu momentarily stunned, and for a moment, he did not know how to respond
He did not know whether this was merely a joke from a powerful being or a pure coincidence, but now that he had regained his senses, he was acutely aware that in such an environment, if he did not take some action, death might very well be his fate
At that moment, Lu Yu suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from outside the dilapidated temple, as if a giant python was crawling on the grass, opening its gaping maw in preparation to devour a person. The fear that originated from the depths of his soul caused Lu Yu to break out in goosebumps.
"Where am I?" Lu Yu murmured to himself, touching his subtly aching forehead
The roar of a beast echoed in his ears, and fear quickened Lu Yu's pace. As he traversed a dense jungle, a dilapidated ancient temple came into view. The crumbling walls and ruins revealed that the once grand temple entrance had long since collapsed. The thick wild grass grew as tall as a person, and the hanging plaque had also fallen into disrepair, with only a faint trace of the character 'Lan' discernible.
At this moment, everything in the dilapidated temple came back into view. It was still that warm flame, and the peculiar young man remained the same. For some reason, Lu Yu felt a sense of peace at this moment.
"Brother Lu, please wait a moment while I deal with this evil creature, and then we can have a good chat!" Without waiting for Lu Yu's response, he rushed out of the temple.
He did not expect that on the first day after his crossing over, he would encounter the legendary evil spirits. It is worth noting that in his two lifetimes, he had never seen what evil spirits looked like. To be honest, there was actually a hint of excitement in his heart.
Upon entering the temple gate, one is greeted by a grand hall, which has also fallen into disrepair. Even the once majestic statue has collapsed to the ground. Only the head remains, indicating to passersby that this is a statue of the Buddha, while a nest of bonfires quietly burns beside it
Just as Lu Yu's emotions were about to collapse, a glimmer of fire appeared in the distance, warming his heart that had already been filled with fear
By the campfire sits a peculiar individual, whose seemingly youthful face is adorned with a thick beard. A pair of large eyes appear bright and spirited, and behind him is a strange wooden box.
Lu Yu had a long dream, in which he was at times a cautious employee in the workplace, at times a diligent student immersed in his studies, at times one of the masked faces in the arena of fame and fortune, and at times the attentive gaze of his parents
Without having time to think about anything else, Lu Yu got up and walked along the mountain path. He did not know what awaited him, nor was he clear about the kind of world he had entered. The only thing he could be certain of was that this should be a setting from ancient China, as indicated by the attire of this body.
The flicker of light in the human world is so warm, and Lu Yu gazes greedily at the distant glow, for to him, this is the light of hope. Without a moment's hesitation, Lu Yu heads straight for the source of the light.
In the darkness, a person's thoughts can be magnified, and what may originally be a brief moment can be stretched out. Lu Yu currently feels this way, as he clearly senses that he has been walking for quite a long time, yet the destination remains out of reach.
As this thought arises, it seems that a radiance bursts forth from the depths of the heart, illuminating the world in an instant. In this warm light, the memories of Earth and the memories of this realm merge into one.
The young man appeared to be quite youthful, with a delicate face that showed a hint of paleness. He was dressed in a somewhat faded gray long gown that had clearly been washed multiple times, and on his back, he carried a wooden book box, making it evident that he was a scholar traveling along the mountain paths
Lu Yu stared blankly at the receding figure of Yan Dan, filled with a bellyful of confusion that he did not know whom to share with
Just as Lu Yu felt his brain was about to split, a cool breath wafted in from outside
"This wine cannot be consumed like this anymore, it is truly unbearable!" After saying this, he suddenly realized the environment he was in, and a cold sweat broke out all over him; his previously dizzy mind instantly became clear.
In fact, Lu Yu had long since traversed time, but unfortunately, his young body could not bear the vast memories, which is why he had never been able to recall them. Because of this, Lu Yu was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, often uttering astonishing words that led the villagers to regard him as a celestial being descended to earth. It was only during this journey of study that he suddenly fell ill, which triggered the memories long sealed deep within his soul
After the fusion of memories, Lu Yu no longer felt the previous discomfort; instead, he sensed a vitality radiating throughout his body, and his originally tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
After waiting for so many days, are you finally willing to show yourself! This time, I will see where you can escape to! Yan Dan looked at the scene outside the temple without the slightest fear, but instead spoke with great excitement.
Lu Yu and Yan Dan began to engage in conversation and found an extraordinary rapport. Yan Dan, with his naturally bold disposition, spoke with the vigor of youth, while Lu Yu, possessing experiences from two worlds, had a broad knowledge base and could connect any topic with a few remarks
"There is no need for politeness, my name is Yan Dan and I am a swordsman!" The boy's voice was filled with a masculine vigor, yet Lu Yu could not see where his sword was placed
Just as the two were deeply engaged in conversation, Yan Dan suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Lu, are you a believer in ghosts and deities?"
Black branches, resembling venomous snakes, slowly crawled up from around the dilapidated temple, casting mottled shadows in the glow of the fire
At that moment, he realized that his gradually growing beer belly had completely disappeared. Upon carefully examining his body, Lu Yu reached an astonishing conclusion
I have crossed over! As someone deeply influenced by online literature, he immediately realized what had happened. Following that was a profound sense of fear
Beside a rarely traveled mountain path, a slender young boy slowly opened his eyes
In the deep of night within the mountains, all is silent. Dark clouds obscure the sky, and the strong wind rustles through the dense jungle, producing a whispering sound
Conflicting thoughts filled his mind, causing him a splitting headache and making him want to scream loudly
In his dreams, he could not distinguish whether he was the middle-aged man who mingled in the world of fame and fortune or the spirited young lad full of ambition
This recent coolness has allowed him to dispel the chaotic thoughts in his mind, enabling him to calm down and carefully reflect on his situation. As he meticulously recalls everything in his mind, a sudden clarity emerges: the one who lives with a facade of flattery is Lu Yu, and the one who has endured hardships in study and achieved success is also Lu Yu
Thank you, brother, for allowing Lu Yu to take refuge!" Lu Yu naturally clasped his hands in salute and said to the young man
Where is this? Wasn't I sent back to the dorm after getting drunk? As a middle-aged man in the 21st century, he vaguely remembers arriving at the dorm after drinking during a work social event, but who can tell him why he finds himself in such a remote wilderness
The fierce wind swept over Lu Yu's frail body, causing him to involuntarily shiver. The occasional roar of wild beasts echoed through the mountains. Fear coiled around his heart like a venomous snake, compelling him to push forward with all his might