Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Upon reaching the Jade Gate, he found himself in a resplendent cage, filled with the scent of cosmetics and suffocating luxury. A Water Mill Long Writing Desk seemed to mock his former simplicity, as he now had to submit to the aesthetics of this mundane world. The table was cluttered with an array of exquisite grooming tools, each worth a fortune, each serving as a reminder that he was no longer the free-spirited Wanderer.
Inside a silver lacquer box lay Moon Palace Exotic Fragrance Powder, said to be made from the petals of Tianshan Snow Lotus. Its delicate fragrance could not mask the turmoil within her heart. An Azure Glass Lamp held Peach Wave Rouge Fluff; with just a light touch, it could enhance her allure. A Purple Flower Bowl contained a Headband embroidered with Phoenix Peony, splendid yet reminiscent of the simple garlands she once wove from Willow Twigs—simple yet vibrant.
To the east was a set of oil combs, varying in size and material—some made of jade, others from rhinoceros horn, and some polished from red stone. Each one was smooth and warm to the touch. Yet she longed for the days when she used a wooden comb to style her hair, rough yet genuine. In the Northeast Corner, an Ice Jade Bottle held Passionfruit Honey Water, said to be made from collecting nectar from various flowers and sealed with Millennium Ice for skin care, promising skin as smooth as jade. Yet she felt it was merely another form of bondage.
In the Northwest Corner, a Square Empty Jade Imprint Stone Basin held clear water, with several odd stones casually resting inside. A Bamboo Handle Small Brown Brush lay across them. The maid claimed it was for washing the face; gently massaging with this brush could remove dead skin and refine the complexion. But she remembered the refreshing sensation of washing her face in a stream, cool water cleansing her cheeks as if washing away all worries—that was true freedom.
In the Southeast were various brushes: some for combing hair, others for cleaning nails, and some for body massage; each crafted meticulously with soft textures. However, these items felt like tedious burdens to her. Finally, there was a pair of golden tweezers, jade-studded scissors, a cleansing knife, a bottle of strong rose essence, a jar of rice powder for handwashing, and a bottle of green jade scented oil—all neatly arranged beside a Bronze Mirror.
She picked up the Bronze Mirror; its surface reflected her unfamiliar face. It was painted with cosmetics: perfectly shaped eyebrows and lips painted a luscious red like a flower blooming in a greenhouse—beautiful yet fragile, devoid of its former vibrancy and life.
Setting down the mirror, an overwhelming sense of confusion and emptiness filled her heart, leaving her momentarily dazed.
Once her makeup was done, Xiong Yu jumped into the pavilion and exclaimed, “Beauty, let’s go to the Jade Gate!” The Wanderer felt joy at this news. Xiong Yu called for a sedan chair to be prepared, but The Wanderer said, “Your Majesty is truly dull! It’s just a few steps away amidst pine and cypress; why bother with a chair? It only adds to the mundanity!” Hearing this, Xiong Yu ceased preparations for the sedan.
The two took each other’s hands and stepped out of the pavilion. Before long, they arrived at the Jade Gate. The two doors were unsealed; with just a push, one swung open halfway. The Wanderer thought to herself: “If not now, then when?” She swiftly slipped through the Jade Gate. Xiong Yu hurried behind her to grab her clothing but missed entirely and fell to the ground with a thud. The Wanderer paid no mind and continued on.
As she stepped through the Jade Gate, she realized that what lay ahead was not a glorious path into the future but rather a dark tunnel that seemed bottomless.
“What is this? A future world?” she muttered to herself with sarcasm and anger in her tone. “Isn’t this just trapping me?”
She began to fall deeper into darkness as chaotic noises filled her ears. At first came Xiong Yu’s heart-wrenching cries mixed with frantic wails from palace maids—a lamentation absurd in its sorrow. But soon these sounds were swallowed by an even deeper silence. It felt as though she had been thrown into an abyss without end, surrounded by suffocating darkness and stillness.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" he roared inwardly. "I, Old Sun, am not like Yu Ji, submissive and easily manipulated! I want to see what tricks this Jade Gate and tunnel have in store!"
Just as he was on the verge of breaking down, a voice suddenly rang in his ears:
"Don't rush, don't rush, Great Sage, we're almost there, almost there."
The voice sounded lazy, laced with a hint of cynical mockery, as if it didn't care about his predicament at all.
"Who? Who's speaking?" he asked warily.
"It's me, Great Sage, right next door," the voice replied slowly.
"Next door? What next door? Open the door and let I, Old Sun, in for a cup of tea!"
"Oh dear, Great Sage, this is No Man's Land; where would I find any tea?"
"No Man's Land? You're talking to me from No Man's Land?" His anger flared; what was this? A monkey show?
"Hehe, Great Sage, how could you be so confused? I can predict things that haven't happened yet but can't figure out what's already occurred. You came in, and only then did I know you were next door."
Fuming and gritting his teeth, he felt helpless. The voice sounded familiar, yet he couldn't recall who it was. He decided to ignore it altogether, holding his breath and rolling down with all his might.
Finally, he felt his body lighten and then crash heavily onto the ground. Struggling to get up, he found himself in a desolate wasteland, surrounded by nothing but the howling wind and sand echoing in his ears.
"Is this the future world?" He chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "It really is quite 'lively.'"
Just as he was about to step away, he suddenly froze. Not far in front of him, six familiar figures were approaching, laughing and joking.
"What a small world!" He smirked coldly, tightening his grip on the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
The Six Guys recognized him immediately, their faces changing dramatically as they exclaimed, "It's you! How did you end up here?"
"What's wrong? Not welcome?" He raised an eyebrow provocatively, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
" Beautiful Lady, don't even think about escaping! Leave behind some money for us, and we might let you live!" The Six Guys shouted threateningly, yet they dared not advance.
"Hmph, just you few Petty Thief?" He sneered, swinging the Ruyi Jingu Bang. A fierce wind whipped up, sending dust and debris flying, causing the Six Guys to panic and flee in terror.
"Thinking of running away? Not so easy!" He leaped forward like a streak of golden light, chasing after them.
Comment 0 Comment Count