The Company

Chapter 63: Vibrating Heron Pavilion

【One】

The morning was as cold as the previous few days.

Old Zhang and his wife had gotten up at three in the morning to knead dough, chop vegetables, grind meat, and mix fillings... Their xiaolongbao shop had been open for over ten years, and Old Zhang's skills were masterful. Though outsiders might find their work tedious and exhausting, Old Zhang handled it with ease. Working in tandem with his wife, each step seamlessly transitioned to the next, manipulating pots and pans in a unique rhythm like performing a beautiful symphony together.

After placing the wrapped xiaolongbao in the steamer and watching the billowing white steam continuously rise, Old Zhang finally straightened up, rubbed his slightly sore back, unlocked the shop door, and prepared to open for business.

As soon as he cracked the door open, Old Zhang noticed someone standing outside.

Though dawn hadn't broken and it was pitch dark outside, the commercial street was safe, so Old Zhang wasn't frightened, just surprised. Squinting in the shop's light, he recognized a regular customer and warmly greeted, "Oh my, why are you here so early? Just finished night shift? You're unusually early today!"

The young man outside appeared to be in his twenties, wearing glasses and looking refined. Old Zhang couldn't recall his surname, only knowing he was a doctor from the nearby hospital who often came to buy buns after night shifts. Previously, he would take them to eat at the antique shop across the street, but recently he'd been eating in the bun shop instead, never setting foot in that place again.

This wasn't surprising - the antique shop seemed to have changed owners.

The young man hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping inside.

The xiaolongbao had just started steaming and would take some time to be ready. Meanwhile, Old Zhang set up folding tables and chairs at the entrance, with the helpful young man lending a hand. After finishing, Old Zhang went inside to fetch a bowl of hot porridge to warm the young man's stomach, only to find him sitting outside when he returned.

"Come sit inside! It's windy and too cold out here," Old Zhang urged immediately. If his shop weren't so small, he wouldn't have set up extra tables outside. Summer was manageable, but in winter when dawn hadn't broken, the cold wind cut to the bone.

"It's fine, I'll eat here while waiting for someone. As long as you don't mind me staying long, Uncle," the young man replied apologetically, standing up to take the porridge from Old Zhang.

"My, what kind of appointment is this early?" Old Zhang exclaimed, wanting to chat more but being called back inside by his wife to continue making buns.

Soon after, the first batch of xiaolongbao was ready, and Old Zhang rushed out promptly to serve the young man. Then, early customers began streaming in, keeping Old Zhang as busy as usual. Occasionally glancing at the outdoor table, he noticed the young man still sitting there, his porridge bowl and steamer long empty.

Due to the cold, few customers sat outside - most preferred takeaway rather than eating in the biting wind, making the stationary young man particularly conspicuous. Old Zhang didn't ask him to leave and considerately left his dishes untouched.

Who was he waiting for? This is truly torturous, Old Zhang couldn't help wondering to himself.

【Two】The doctor sat in the chilly wind for a long time, clutching the Black Jade Orb in his pocket. Lately, he had repeatedly suspected that he had lost a portion of his memories.

Human brain capacity is limited, so forgetting some past events is normal. Yet, he couldn’t recall anything that had happened in recent years. For instance, how could he have no impression of when he bought his house? More importantly, where did the money come from?

And then there was the stranger who suddenly appeared in his home last night… Was he truly a stranger?

Were the events shown to him by the Black Jade Orb real? Had supernatural incidents occurred in the house he now lived in? Why was one room sealed off?

Damn it, that Chun Ge wasn’t answering his calls—he must be sleeping like a log!

The doctor hadn’t slept a wink all night, hoping to see more from this strange Black Jade Orb, but to no avail. Suppressing his anxiety, he left a message for Chun Ge, asking him to help request a shift change. In his current state, he was in no condition to be in an operating room.

Though the night was still deep, he found himself standing at the entrance of Dumb Shop.

Two lamps flickered inside Dumb Shop, their dancing light visible through the frosted glass windows. But when he tried to push the door open, it didn’t budge—it must have been locked from the inside.

He couldn’t just break in like a robber, so he gritted his teeth and waited patiently in the cold wind. Things improved slightly after the bun shop opened, as there was at least a place to sit. Still, he refused to sit inside, afraid he might miss something.

He wanted to know why his memories were gone. Was it due to an accident, some kind of curse, or… had someone deliberately erased them?

This antique shop was on his daily commute—why had he never noticed it before? It felt unfamiliar, yet upon closer inspection, it seemed vaguely familiar.

The young man in Tang suit—his expression and gaze clearly showed recognition, yet when they accidentally crossed paths at his home last night, he acted as if they were meeting for the first time.

Perhaps he had stumbled upon some surreal scene and had his related memories wiped…

The doctor’s mind raced through various sci-fi and fantasy films and shows, only to dismiss them one by one. He felt strongly that his connection with the man in the Tang suit was more than a casual acquaintance.

……

Bearing a bellyful of questions, the doctor felt he was on the verge of going mad.

After what felt like an eternity, a shadow flickered across the frosted glass, cast by the lamplight inside. The doctor quickly settled his bill with the bun shop owner and strode forward to knock on the door.

Perhaps he knocked a bit too forcefully, as the carved door swung open slightly.

Through the crack, he caught sight of a young man in a dark green Tang suit standing by the counter. His breath hitched, and after a moment’s hesitation, he mustered the courage to push the door open and step inside.

Under the dim light of the shop, he realized this wasn’t the person he was looking for. An inexplicable emptiness filled his heart, but before he could ponder its source, he noticed the young man in the Tang suit.

The moment the young man looked up and saw him, his face abruptly changed.

“Wel… welcome.” The man’s voice trembled at first, but he seemed to regain his composure after a few words, forcing a smile as he explained, “It’s rare to have a guest so early in the morning. You gave me quite a start.”Although the other party had perfectly explained his own lapse, the Doctor still keenly sensed something amiss. He stared fixedly at the young man until the latter's gaze began to waver, then said calmly, "Where is Boss?"

The young man's expression shifted dramatically. His lips moved as if to speak.

But the Doctor cut him off, preemptively snorting coldly, "No need to make more excuses. I've remembered everything." This statement proved more effective than anything else. The young man seemed to have all the strength suddenly drained from his body, collapsing into a chair as he repeatedly apologized with a face full of remorse, "I'm... I'm truly sorry..."

The Doctor hadn't come here to listen to apologies, nor did he have time to ponder why the young man was apologizing to him. He simply repeated his earlier question: "Where is Boss?"

"Boss went out yesterday and hasn't returned yet," the young man answered with sincere earnestness.

The Doctor felt the young man had no reason to lie to him, but seeing no move to take out a phone and contact Boss on his behalf, he grew somewhat dissatisfied. He considered asking for Boss's contact information but ultimately held back after some deliberation—having just pretended to have fully recovered his memory, saying too much would risk exposing his ruse. Moreover, he had meticulously gone through every contact in his phone's address book and WeChat friends list last night, and none seemed to be Boss.

"I... I'll wait here then," the Doctor murmured after a long silence, ultimately choosing the simplest approach as he found a chair in the shop and sat down.

Scanning the shop's furnishings, the Doctor tried to search his muddled mind for any sense of familiarity. Yet everything his eyes fell upon were antique objects whose names he couldn't recall, each exuding an air of rustic elegance intertwined with luxury.

Composing himself, the Doctor carefully examined each item one by one: the Bluish-White Glazed Porcelain Plate, the Golden Ghost Mask, the Hundred Birds Adoring Phoenix Gold-Painted Lacquer Box, the Huzhou Wolf Hair Brush... all placed in their original positions as usual...

Wait? How did he know they were originally here? And how did he even know their names...?

The Gilded Flying Dragon Boshan Censer wasn't "billowing smoke" on the counter but had been cleaned and placed on the Curio Cabinet, apparently not having burned incense for several days. Brother Boshan must be very angry...

He must have been here before, and something must have happened.

Afraid his hands might impulsively pick up some antique, the Doctor subconsciously slipped his hands into his pockets. His left fingers touched a cold jade orb, and instantly dizziness washed over his mind...

Here it comes! This is the feeling! What would he see this time?

That peeling lacquer desk, the battered laptop that whined incessantly ten minutes after booting up, medical books piled all over the floor... This should be from when he first moved into the rental apartment...

Was this a scene from after the Revolving Lantern Incident? Were the events shown by the Black Jade Orb actually an ongoing series?

【Three】

After the terrifying night in the rental apartment, the Doctor had been extremely busy for a long time.

He stayed at Chun Ge's place for a while, mixing cement and sand himself on his days off to reseal the compartment storing the deceased's belongings, then bought wallpaper to cover that wall.

Anyone else would have long asked the landlord to terminate the lease, but the Doctor himself worked in a profession dealing with death and had long grown accustomed to such matters. They were just stored belongings, after all!After everything was settled and he had moved back, the doctor finally noticed that a new antique shop named "Dumb Shop" had indeed opened on the commercial street.

Such a distinctive shop name must be the one run by that man in Tang suit.

After finishing his night shift that day, the doctor pushed open the door of the antique shop with a smile, carrying a box of cake in his left hand and a gift box in his right.

"Welcome... It's you?" The young man behind the counter looked up from his book and gave a faint smile. He was very young, probably only in his early twenties. He was still wearing that eye-catching black Tang suit, with a dark crimson dragon embroidered on the right sleeve winding its way up. The fierce dragon's mouth was positioned near the collar, giving the impression that it was alive and could snap at his neck at any moment.

The doctor couldn't help but take a few more glances at the crimson dragon, inwardly wondering if the boss ever changed his clothes. Or was this crimson dragon Tang suit his work uniform? The doctor placed the cake and the gift box on the counter and greeted him cheerfully, "Congratulations, Boss, on your grand opening! I’m deeply grateful for your help the other day!"

The boss raised an eyebrow, put down the book he was holding, and glanced at the two boxes on the counter. "Are these both for me?" "Ah, this cake is to celebrate the shop’s opening. Let’s cut it and share it later!" The doctor scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, carefully swallowing the drool that was about to spill out.

Heaven knew how much he wanted an excuse to eat this newly popular internet-famous cake, but Chun Ge didn’t like sweets, and eating such a large cake alone felt a bit too pitiful. A delightful treat like cake should be shared with friends to truly enjoy it!

"And this? Is this for me too?" The boss turned his attention to the gift box beside it, reached out to open the lid, and couldn’t help but pause in surprise. "This is..."

An ancient six-sided bronze zoetrope lay quietly inside the box. "Um, I thought about it, and this thing is a bit too creepy to keep at home. Isn’t this an antique shop, Boss? You don’t just sell things—you also buy things, right? Could you help me get rid of this zoetrope?" The doctor rubbed his hands together and smiled awkwardly. He knew the request was a bit unreasonable, but he feared nothing except these mysterious objects. After the Fortune and Disaster Revolving Lantern had completed one cycle, it had never lit up again. Yet, even when stored in a cabinet at home, he couldn’t help but glance at it every time he opened the door, as if it might suddenly emit a dim yellow light and start spinning eerily again at any moment.

The boss closed the lid and sighed softly. "This Fortune and Disaster Revolving Lantern won’t spin twice for the same person. I thought you wouldn’t mind keeping it, so I only took the White Tiger Bo Ya Weight. Are you sure you don’t want this zoetrope anymore?"

"Absolutely sure... But Boss, if you take this thing, won’t you be affected by it?" The doctor was desperate to get rid of this hot potato but had to make sure it wouldn’t harm anyone else. "If it’s really not possible, I’ll just take it back home.""I'm perfectly fine." The Boss's lips curved into a perfect arc, carrying an indescribable confidence. "Leaving it at your place might risk an innocent person touching it someday. Rest assured, I'll keep it in a secure location."

"Thank you so much, Boss!" The Doctor clapped his hands cheerfully.

"However, this zoetrope ultimately belongs to you, and I can't simply take it without compensation. According to the shop's policy, would you prefer to exchange it for cash or trade it for another item from my store?" The Boss stored the gift box under the counter while speaking in a businesslike tone.

"No, no, that's too generous!" The Doctor waved his hands repeatedly, feeling like he'd be taking advantage. How could he accept payment or goods when asking for a favor? The zoetrope had only cost him a hundred yuan—less valuable than the trendy cake he'd brought! Moreover, everything in the shop appeared ancient and refined. Even with his limited knowledge, the store's decor alone indicated these weren't cheap items.

Seeing the Boss about to speak again, the Doctor hurriedly opened the cake box and urged, "Come, come! Have a slice of this grand opening cake! Wishing your business prosperity and abundant wealth!"

The Boss's unspoken words were interrupted by the offered slice of cake. "Try it quickly! It's absolutely delicious!" The Doctor deftly cut the cake and began eating heartily.

The Boss smiled wryly, placed a cast iron kettle on the small red clay stove to boil water, and retrieved a pair of celadon lidded bowls for tea—the cake alone was rather sweet, but paired with a sip of Longjing tea, it became perfectly refreshing.

The Doctor sighed contentedly, praising the Boss's refined taste and declaring him a true kindred spirit.

As they ate, they chatted intermittently. The Boss proved an excellent listener—quiet most of the time but offering golden insights whenever he spoke. The Doctor couldn't help pouring out all his internship fatigue and frustrations.

Only after finishing the entire cake and several rounds of tea did the Doctor realize how much he'd been rambling. He scratched his head sheepishly, "Oh dear, I've been monopolizing the conversation and delaying your business..."

The mention made him aware that throughout this time, not a single customer had entered the antique shop.

"Ahem, no worries! It's just opened after all! I'll promote your shop among my classmates later!" The Doctor pledged, patting his chest. But that was for the future—since he was here now, he ought to support the business immediately. With this thought, he stood up and browsed around the shop, earnestly asking, "Boss, do you have any antiques suitable for me? You know my rental situation—something to protect the household would do. Well, actually no, that white tiger Chun Ge gave me didn't work at all... Haha, anything to boost career luck? Oh, never mind, I'm just an intern. Even with strong career luck, I wouldn't be assigned complex surgeries—that would harm patients! As for romance luck... I don't need that now. I can barely support myself, let alone have energy to please a girlfriend..."The doctor muttered to himself as he approached the Curio Cabinet for a closer look, but the more carefully he examined the items, the less confident he felt. The cups, bowls, plates, inkstones, brushes, swords, and spears... every piece was a treasure. After circling around a few times, he abandoned any thought of making a purchase. The Boss was so extravagantly wealthy that he probably didn’t care much about business anyway.

The doctor had an excellent mindset and adhered to the fine habit of asking questions when he didn’t understand something. Whenever he encountered an unfamiliar object, he would directly seek guidance, and in doing so, he learned quite a bit. It wasn’t until he had completed a full circuit that he noticed, tucked away in a corner of the Curio Cabinet, a solitary model of a pavilion.

The pavilion model was about the size of an egg and appeared to be made of resin. It looked rather out of place amidst the gold, silver, and jade artifacts filling the Curio Cabinet. Unable to resist, the doctor reached out and picked up the pavilion model, only to find it much heavier than he had expected.

This pavilion was different from the typical octagonal ones—its sides were not uniform in length. Instead, two of the sides were particularly long, giving it a narrow, slender appearance, almost like a shortened corridor. Yet, it was crafted with such delicate charm and exquisite detail. The roof was as white as snow, the pillars were slender and black, and the base was inlaid with densely packed blue bricks. One could not only discern each brick and tile but even make out the patterns carved into the blue bricks at the base—depictions of long-legged birds in various poses. Strangely enough, despite the pavilion model being only the size of an egg and the bricks as tiny as sesame seeds, the carved birds remained clearly visible. Such craftsmanship was beyond human capability; it must have been machine-carved. At the center of the pavilion, a plaque bore three characters in seal script, which the doctor studied for a long time without being able to decipher.

“Those three characters read ‘Vibrating Heron Pavilion,’” the Boss said, answering before the doctor could even ask. “‘Vibrating Heron’ is derived from the poem ‘Zhen Lu’ in the ‘Odes of Zhou’ section of the Classic of Poetry: ‘The herons flutter about, / Flying to that West Yong. / My guests have arrived, / And they too have such grace. / There, they are without fault; / Here, they are without weariness. / May they day and night / Preserve their endless praise.’”

The Boss’s voice was clear and melodious, his recitation of the verses rising and falling rhythmically. In the spacious, empty shop, his words seemed to echo faintly, carrying a captivating sense of gravity.

The doctor didn’t understand a single word but was filled with deep respect.

“Vibrating Heron Pavilion—what a beautiful name,” the doctor said, now even more enamored with the pavilion model and reluctant to put it down. “Does such a pavilion truly exist in this world?”

“It certainly does,” the Boss replied with a faint smile. “There once stood the Lake Center Temple in the middle of West Lake, which later collapsed. The Vibrating Heron Pavilion was built on its original site but also fell into ruin not long after. This Vibrating Heron Pavilion is the predecessor of the current Mid-Lake Pavilion on West Lake.”

“Wow!” Although the doctor often passed by West Lake, he had never visited the small island at its center. Instantly, he felt an even greater fondness for the model. Thinking it resembled a common souvenir found at scenic spots and likely not too expensive, he couldn’t resist asking, “Boss, how much does this model cost? Since we’re friends, could you give me a discount?”

“Well…” The Boss parted his lips, initially intending to dissuade him, but seeing the doctor’s affectionate expression, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. “Um, I probably don’t have enough money on me today, but I can pay in installments! I’ll come back to pay the rest after I get my salary!”

The doctor sighed and patted his thin wallet.The boss sighed and said, "Installment payments aren't necessary. This isn't... isn't something particularly valuable..." The doctor wasn't foolish and could naturally tell the boss's last words were spoken with great reluctance. He reluctantly stroked the pavilion pillar one last time and prepared to return the pavilion to its place.

"Since you genuinely like it, take it back. Consider it my exchange of this Vibrating Heron Pavilion for your zoetrope," the boss said with a sincere smile. "Don't underestimate the zoetrope you brought. Although it's an evil entity, many people still flock to it, convinced they're the lucky ones wanting to take their chances."

The doctor's hand holding the Vibrating Heron Pavilion froze, uncertain whether to put it down or take it away, regretting his impulsive gesture. "It's quite alright. This Vibrating Heron Pavilion rarely meets someone who genuinely appreciates it. It must be delighted too. Please cherish it, and if someday you no longer like it, you can return it to the shop." The Boss's words were so comforting they were hard to refuse.

Hearing this, the doctor relaxed. Since things had reached this point, not taking it home would seem like disrespecting the Boss. He'd take it back today and find an excuse to return it in a couple of days! Then he'd bring some delicious food as compensation! Perfect plan!

As for the Boss's personification of the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, he just listened casually. Pet shop owners often said similar things, as if they could truly understand the thoughts of cats and dogs. This was just a model of a pavilion after all!

"Also, when dusting the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, please use a dry tissue. Don't get it wet."

While intently examining the pavilion in his palm, the doctor heard the Boss's reminder and nodded repeatedly. No water? Made sense - probably to prevent the dye from fading.

"Remember, absolutely no water." "Understood!"

【Four】

Ah... Where was he now... His head hurt so much...

Right, he had visited that newly opened antique shop. On his way back, passing by West Lake, he saw someone drowning. He only had time to take off his shoes before jumping in...

Ah... that reckless child who fell into the lake while fishing, still clutching the fishing net, struggling desperately... When finally lifted ashore, the kid even kicked him in the forehead...

Cough cough... Was he saved now? Was this in a hospital?

But why was he lying face down? Felt like he'd just been thrown on the ground... Was this how the kid's parents treated their savior?

Gathering some strength, the doctor half-propped himself up, coughing violently. After expelling some water from his stomach, he opened his eyes in confusion.

Well, this blurry world... He really should get LASIK surgery when he had time.

Where were his glasses? Oh, he remembered taking them off and putting them in his pocket before jumping into the lake. Without much hope, the doctor felt in his pocket and was secretly delighted - the glasses were still there!

Putting on his glasses, the doctor discovered the ground he sat on was paved with blue bricks, each carved with a white heron in different poses - some pecking at food, some singing with heads raised, some spreading wings as if to fly...

These blue bricks... looked familiar...

Suppressing a sudden chill down his spine, the doctor looked around and couldn't help widening his eyes - this was an unusual octagonal pavilion with two particularly long sides, narrow and slender. The roof was pure white like snow, the pillars thin and black.

Pushing himself up from the blue bricks, the doctor stumbled out of the pavilion and looked up at its front.

Three curved seal script characters graced the plaque above. "Those are the characters for 'Vibrating Heron Pavilion'..."

The Boss's voice seemed to still echo in his ears. The doctor rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but the Vibrating Heron Pavilion still stood before him.

Something he had been holding in his hand just minutes ago now appeared before him, enlarged hundreds of times...The doctor instinctively reached into his pocket. He remembered placing the pavilion model there, but his pockets only contained a soaked phone and wallet—nothing else.

Could it have fallen into the lake when he was rescuing someone? But how could that explain the Vibrating Heron Pavilion before him, identical to the pavilion model?

"Use dry tissues to dust the Vibrating Heron Pavilion—no water." "Remember, absolutely no water." The Boss's repeated warnings surfaced in his mind, sending a chill down the doctor's spine. No water? He'd practically dunked the pavilion model in water! Was this some kind of urban legend?

Steadying himself, the doctor noticed more oddities: not just the pavilion, but the sky overhead was a gloomy, oppressive deep blue. Wild grass surrounded the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, devoid of people, with only faint, hazy lights flickering in the distance. It felt as if he'd suddenly been transported to a desolate wilderness.

Where was he? If the pavilion model enlarging into a real pavilion was an urban legend, he should still be by West Lake, not in this godforsaken place.

Slumping onto the steps of the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, the doctor shook the water off his phone.

Surprisingly, the phone still turned on, but perhaps due to water damage, it showed no signal—persistently displaying "No Service."

After fiddling with it briefly, he gave up. He should be grateful the phone hadn't enlarged after being soaked, even if it had no signal.

His clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin, soaked and chilly. Fortunately, there was no wind here to worsen the chill, but the air was stifling, carrying an indescribable fishy odor. The doctor took off his jacket, wrung it out forcefully, and shook it vigorously.

As he shook it, he heard a rustling sound from the nearby grass. Instinctively turning, he locked eyes with a pair of starkly contrasting black-and-white pupils.

The doctor wasn't startled, as a closer look revealed a child of about seven or eight. His first thought was that the child he'd rescued was also here. But after taking two steps forward, the child leaped out of the grass like a frightened rabbit and bounded away.

Realizing he'd mistaken the child, the doctor noted the long hair and ancient-style robe, though he couldn't discern the gender or features. The child vanished swiftly, leaving only trampled grass as evidence—almost making the doctor doubt it had been real.

Despite the strangeness, the presence of people was reassuring. Since he was here, he might as well adapt.

Hanging his wrung-out jacket on the pavilion's railing, the doctor sat on the steps in his undershirt, calmly playing a game of Snake. Before he could finish the round, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from afar.

The newcomer was a gaunt, sallow-faced man in his forties, dressed in ancient attire with long hair tied under a crown. His patched, ochre robe looked shabby.

The doctor intended to ask where he was, but the middle-aged man ignored him, instead staring up at the Vibrating Heron Pavilion with a complex expression.

"Um... Excuse me..." the doctor ventured awkwardly.The middle-aged man directly cut off the Doctor's words, cupping his hands politely as he asked, "Excuse me, sir, have you seen a child?"

Observing the man's demeanor and sensing the strong resistance emanating from him, the Doctor deduced that he had no desire to engage in conversation with anyone. Silently sighing, he pointed in the direction the child had run off.

"Thank you." The middle-aged man bowed courteously and hurriedly chased after the child.

Gazing at the retreating figure of the middle-aged man, the Doctor hesitated. Was it unwise to remain here idly? Should he venture toward the distant lights? But he feared that leaving the Vibrating Heron Pavilion would make it easier for him to get lost.

"Eh? The Vibrating Heron Pavilion has reappeared? How rare." A voice suddenly rang out, filled with astonishment.

Overjoyed, the Doctor turned toward the sound and discovered a young man who had somehow appeared inside the Vibrating Heron Pavilion. The young man was squatting nostalgically on the ground, stroking the blue bricks carved with herons.

This young man was also dressed in ancient attire, but his appearance was entirely different from the middle-aged man's. His hair was completely tied up in a topknot, giving him a sharp and spirited look. Instead of a robe, he wore dark red leather armor adorned with intricate patterns, suggesting he was no ordinary soldier—likely at least a lieutenant. The young general carried an iron sword and wore military boots, yet it was unclear how he had entered the Vibrating Heron Pavilion so silently.

"Um, hello, may I ask what this place is?" the Doctor asked urgently, not bothering to ponder the deeper meaning behind the man's words.

"Oh, it's been a while since we've had a newcomer," the young general remarked as he stood up, dusting off his hands and casting an indifferent glance toward the Doctor.

"Newcomer?" The Doctor couldn't help but chuckle at the term, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. As a medical intern, he was most frequently referred to by this very word. The familiarity of the term lifted his spirits slightly. He noticed that the young general's skin was tanned a wheatish hue, his features handsome and rugged, with a stubble of about an inch on his chin. His lips were pressed tightly together, exuding an aura of aloofness that kept others at a distance. This attitude was quite similar to the middle-aged man's earlier demeanor. Just where was this place? Why was it so unwelcoming to newcomers?

As the Doctor pondered this, he saw the young general's expression suddenly change. The general took a swift step toward him, reached out, and grabbed the Longevity Lock hanging around the Doctor's neck, demanding sharply, "Where did you get this?"Startled by the overwhelming killing intent, the Doctor took a step back, but the tug on the Longevity Lock pulled him forward again." Up close, he could see a fresh knife wound above the young general's left eye, hidden beneath his bangs. Looking more carefully, he realized that the patterns on the general's leather armor were not painted designs but rather a series of knife marks, stained in uneven shades of dark red.

Familiar with the scent of blood from his work, the Doctor detected a strong, metallic odor and realized these marks were soaked in blood. Had this general just returned from battle? What kind of place was this?

Feeling an almost suffocating pressure on his neck, the Doctor quickly raised his hands to show he meant no harm and replied defensively, "I've worn this since I was a child. It was left to me by my mother."The young general stared at the Longevity Lock for a long while before shifting his gaze to the Doctor's face, scrutinizing him intently. The Doctor forced a smile while pinching his own thigh. It hurt—so this wasn't a dream... If this deadly star demanded the Longevity Lock, should he hand it over or not?

Fortunately, the young general made no attempt to seize it by force. After a moment, he released his grip and said calmly, "Newcomer, this is West Yong." The Doctor rubbed his neck, wondering if it was his imagination—ever since the young general had touched his Longevity Lock, his attitude had softened considerably. Seizing the opportunity, the Doctor pressed further: "West Yong? Why does that sound so familiar? Do you know how to get to West Lake, brother?"

"The herons flutter, o'er West Yong's waters," the young general recited, each word deliberate.

The Doctor's smile froze on his lips. The Boss had once quoted this very line—was it not merely literal? "Yong means 'blocked'—a marsh formed by dammed waters. Look up and see for yourself," the young general tilted his chin upward.

The Doctor immediately raised his head, his eyes widening in shock. What he had mistaken for flocks of birds drifting across the deep blue sky were actually schools of fish swimming languidly.

This place was...

"Correct. This is the bottom of the waters," the young general continued after a pause, as if unaccustomed to explaining. "Those who come to West Yong Village have all drowned. Only by fate's design do they pass through the Vibrating Heron Pavilion to arrive here."

The Doctor stared in stunned silence, recalling the last image before he lost consciousness: himself slowly sinking beneath the water's surface...

Had he... died?

The young general waited impassively for the panic he knew would dawn on the newcomer's face—every soul who first arrived at West Yong reacted this way, himself included years ago.

But instead, he watched as the young man, after the initial shock, pressed two fingers against his own neck while muttering observations. With each passing moment, he grew calmer.

"Heart rate 102 bpm, slightly elevated. Respiratory rate 20 per minute, maintaining a 1:4 ratio with pulse—within normal range. Pinching fingertips and limbs produces immediate pain response, sensory nerves functional. This also confirms motor nerves are operational, as limbs respond to brain commands..."

Soon, the young man relaxed entirely and smiled cheerfully at the general. "My physical condition is quite stable. Aside from disorientation in a new environment, slightly elevated heart rate due to tension, and mild fever from water immersion, all vital signs confirm I'm very much alive."

"Speaking of which, General," the Doctor added, his professional instincts resurfacing now that the tension had eased, "that wound by your eye needs attention. Left untreated, it may scar. And I detect a strong scent of blood—are there other injuries?" He leaned in with concern, though he had no medical supplies, clean water, or bandages at hand...

"Unnecessary," the young general replied calmly, allowing the Doctor to examine the cut near his eye. "Time does not flow in West Yong. For all who enter here, it ceases at the moment they sank beneath the waters."The doctor blinked twice, digesting the other's words and suppressing the urge to argue. Following the other's train of thought, he hesitated for a moment before asking, "General, are you saying you don't feel hunger, thirst, or age?"

The young general nodded. "When did you arrive in West Yong, General?" The doctor seemed to realize something and took a step back, scrutinizing the other's armor. "This attire... it looks somewhat familiar..."

"The third year... of Qin Er Shi's reign..." The young general's brow twitched slightly, causing his unhealed blade wound to shift as well, creating an eerie impression.

"Ah! No wonder this armor looks so familiar—it resembles the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang!" The doctor suddenly understood, then froze as he processed the answer he'd just heard, a chill running down his spine. "So... you've been here since the Qin Dynasty? That was over two thousand years ago!"

"Has it been two thousand years already?" A trace of melancholy flashed through the young general's dark pupils before his expression returned to calm. "In West Yong, one doesn't sense the passage of time. You'll grow accustomed to it too."

"Me? I could never get used to this! There's no mala tang, no hot pot, no cake—I couldn't last a single day here!" Hearing that this young general had endured over two millennia in such a place, the doctor suddenly felt deep respect.

"But you won't feel hungry."

"Hunger and craving are two different things," the doctor retorted confidently. "One can eat without being hungry." "..." The young general's eye twitched, clearly not expecting such a personality. "Though without hunger, we can't say vital signs are stable since there's no metabolism," the doctor muttered to himself before shaking his head. "No, no, this isn't the time for research. Brother, there must be a way to leave West Yong, right?"

The young general fell silent.

This instead ignited hope in the doctor—if West Yong were truly inescapable, the young general would have directly said so.

"The method to leave this place is actually quite simple in theory," the young general finally said, unable to withstand the doctor's desperate gaze and looking away. "The Vibrating Heron Pavilion was originally a twin structure, resembling a white heron spreading its wings to fly. Later, one collapsed and sank into the water while the other remained on shore. These separated pavilions became the connection between the underwater and surface worlds, linking West Yong to the present realm."

The Vibrating Heron Pavilion on shore? Could it be referring to the Mid-Lake Pavilion of West Lake? Is this place actually beneath West Lake? West Lake, West Yong... they sound quite similar. Was West Lake formerly called West Yong? The doctor's mind raced with wild associations, but he didn't interrupt.

"A bird needs two wings to fly—that was the meaning behind constructing the twin pavilions. Find another person who wishes to leave West Yong, and both of you come to the Vibrating Heron Pavilion simultaneously to depart," the young general said casually.

But the doctor didn't rejoice, noticing the young general's expression didn't match his light tone. "This person... isn't easy to find, is he?""Indeed. Most of those in West Yong who died by drowning took their own lives, having no attachment left to the present world. As for those who accidentally fell into the water, they have long since departed in groups. Moreover, the Vibrating Heron Pavilion has been missing for a long time, and West Yong has not seen any newcomers for ages. Few of those currently remaining in West Yong are willing to leave," the young general said calmly.

The Doctor scratched his head, then suddenly broke into a broad smile. The young general couldn't help but shiver.

"General! You've been in West Yong long enough. How about coming with me to explore the fascinating modern world?"

(End of Chapter)