INT. LIN FENG'S ROOM– DAY
Lin Feng's room was quiet, almost unnervingly so. Sunlight cut in sharp lines through the blinds, painting the floor with rigid stripes. A desk sagged under stacks of books, loose papers spilling over its edge. His small frame perched on the floor, knees drawn close, eyes fixed on the flickering form hovering in the corner.
"Kiddo," the voice slithered, low and resonant, shaking the very air. "You've only grazed the surface. There are countless worlds beyond your fragile little reality… ruled by beings far beyond your understanding."
Lin Feng leaned forward, curiosity trembling through him. "Do… do you know more about them?"
Ye Ling Yun's form pulsed, edges curling like smoke caught in a draft. "Of course. I am an ancient demon lived for thousands of years. I belong to that realm myself. They call it the Realm of Spirits. They exist beyond your eyes… invisible to mortals like you ."
Lin Feng swallowed, excitement and fear twined together. "So… are they all like you? Are you evil? Do you kill? What do you all look like, exactly?"
"They exist everywhere. Mostly human in form. Some good, some bad—very bad. They walk among humans, unnoticed, shaping events quietly. Some guide, some hunt. Their presence threads through every continent, every city, every shadow you pass."
Lin Feng's brow furrowed. "Then… why don't we humans notice? Why can't we detect their energies?"
Ye Ling Yun's glow sharpened, slicing the dim room with an edge of menace. "Human… dare not step beyond your line. Cross it, and you will be crushed." His voice, dripping with arrogance, made Lin Feng's stomach knot.
"Ok… ok," Lin Feng muttered, trembling.
EXT. FAIR – NIGHT
The Lunar New Year fair sprawled below them like a living painting. Lanterns swayed overhead, red and gold glows reflecting off stalls overflowing with treats, trinkets, and steaming teas. Music mingled with chatter; laughter ricocheted across the crowd. Lin Feng walked beside his mother, fingers brushing the edge of her sleeve, while Uncle trailed behind, alert, his broad frame cutting through the crowd.
A performer caught Lin Feng's attention. Flames curled from his mouth, moving like living threads, folding and twisting with each breath. His eyes sparkled with focus; his every gesture sculpted the fire. Lin Feng's curiosity overpowered caution. He slipped through the crowd, shadows folding around him, following the man toward the backstage.
Behind the curtains, a different world awaited. Men in sleek suits moved with precision, silent, calculated. One stepped forward—blonde hair slicked back, sharp jawline, sunglasses reflecting the dim light. His suit molded to his frame like armor.
"Where is the pen drive?" The leader's voice cut through the air, cold, commanding.
The fire performer's jaw set. "I don't have it. And even if I did… you wouldn't take it from me alive."
He exhaled, flames coiling into blades and whips, slicing toward the suited men. But lightning arced from the blonde leader's fingertips, cutting through the fire like a living blade. Sparks hissed, fire twisted back, useless against the precision of the attack. Another team member fired translucent bindings, wrapping the performer's legs. From the shadows, a disc flew spinning, humming like a predator.
The fire performer twisted, weaving fire into jagged claws, whips, and spirals. Flames met lightning; a crackle of energy echoed through the backstage. He hissed through clenched teeth as another lightning bolt struck, forming a cage over his arms and torso, burning along his flesh but leaving no mark.
From behind a shelf, Lin Feng watched, his small body pressed to the wood, eyes wide. Fear tangled with fascination, but he did not turn away. When the men left, the silence throbbed in his chest. Trembling, he darted forward and snatched a black pen drive from a small chest. Heart hammering, he fled.
"Where were you!?" his mother's voice called.
Lin Feng, breathless, grabbed her phone. Dialing quickly: "I want you to do something, uncle."
INT. CAFÉ – DAY
The café smelled of roasted coffee and warm sugar. A young man, barely eighteen, sat at a corner table. A faded jacket draped over broad shoulders; rings on his sleeves glinted in the soft light. His eyes scanned the café with calm precision, every movement economical, alert.
Lin Feng approached, his small frame tense but controlled. You… you're him. In my previous life, I chased you for years. This is how I catch you.
Lu Sheng looked up, eyebrows raised. "Why are you looking for me? How do you even know I'm here?" He spoke with teasing authority, trying to mask tension.
Lin Feng's hand clenched. Cold air curled around it; a single snowflake formed and hovered. Lu Sheng froze, panic flickering across his face. "What… what sorcery is this?"
"Don't you know?" Lin Feng's voice was low, steady. "You were searching for a cultivator."
"How… how do you know?" Lu Sheng stammered.
Of course. I tracked him for years. He never pursued mortals, only made absurd demands. Now he's caught my trace. Lin Feng's lips curved faintly. "It's nothing personal."
"Release me," Lu Sheng demanded, tension sharpening every syllable.
Lin Feng snapped his fingers. Lu Sheng flinched but could move. "You're not to be underestimated, kid," he said, exhaling sharply. "You… control this… well. Impressive."
Lin Feng handed him a sheet of paper and a card. "The thing you've been searching for. Your sister's address."
Lu Sheng's eyes widened. "And… this card?"
"Don't get excited," Lin Feng said softly. He thinks I'm letting him go? He has no idea.
"So… what do you want?"
"I took a pen drive," Lin Feng said flatly. "All the information in it. And do not share it."
INT. BLACK CAVE – NIGHT
A black cave yawned before them, walls pulsing faintly with blue light. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth; a low hum of energy vibrated through the air.
"That opportunity… you're sure it's here?" Lin Feng asked.
"Wait and see," Ye Ling Yun replied, amusement in the voice.
A narrow passage led to a floating school within the cavern, glowing blue. Between it and them lay a lake, perfectly still. At its center, a tiny islet bore a single tree. Its leaves shimmered an impossible blue; the bark was nearly black with deep blue veins, the trunk twisted in ways that defied logic, radiating unnatural beauty.
Lin Feng froze. This… this isn't real. It can't be real.
He leapt, cutting through the lake with powerful strokes, water shimmering around him. Reaching the islet, he stepped onto soft moss. The tree towered above him, radiant and alive.
"Be careful!" Ye Ling Yun's voice cracked sharply.
Instinctively, Lin Feng jumped back. Coiled on the ground, a snake nearly nineteen inches long, scales dark with iridescent blue, spread fan-like frills, producing a low, menacing fisss. Its eyes glimmered with intelligence and danger. The air seemed to thrum with its power, a living threat poised and ready.
Lin Feng's heart thundered. The tree, the lake, the snake—each a puzzle of a world beyond comprehension. He clenched his fists, eyes locked on the serpent. Whatever came next… he would not falter.
The snake flared its frills like a dark, living fan, scales shimmering blue. It coiled, eyes glinting with deadly intent, every movement radiating threat—fissss!