In a large hall-like room designed in the style of traditional Chinese culture, everything looked calm and ancient. The wooden beams were carved with delicate patterns, and red lanterns hung softly from the ceiling. Near the wide window, which was framed with dark polished wood, a faint golden light entered, giving the entire room a warm and serene glow.
A fifteen-year-old boy lay on the bed placed beside the window. His long black hair was scattered across the pillows and sheets, giving him a fragile, quiet appearance. A thin blanket was spread over his body, covering him only up to his chest, as the soft light from the window gently fell across his pale face.
Beside his bed, a white-haired woman had fallen asleep, resting her head near the boy as if she had drifted off while waiting for him to wake. Her calm, gentle expression revealed both exhaustion and deep affection. This woman was Feng Lin's mother.
A sudden jolt ran through Feng Lin's body, as if someone had shaken him awake from a deep sleep. His eyelids trembled before slowly opening, his blurry gaze fixing on the ceiling above.
He took a shallow breath… then in a confused, quiet voice whispered:
"Did… did I come back to that world again?"
But this time, instead of fear or confusion,
a faint, mysterious smile appeared on his face —
as if he knew something no one else did,
as if returning to this world was not entirely a shock but… a secret he recognized.
Because at this moment, the one inside Feng Lin's body…
was Alex.
Alex, who had been sleeping in his real world—Earth—and the moment he fell asleep, his conscious mind, his very soul, slipped into Feng Lin's body.
Feng Lin had already taken his own life.
And now, the two existed in a strange connected cycle:
When Alex slept on Earth — Alex awakened in this world inside Feng Lin's body.
When this body slept — Alex's consciousness returned to Earth.
It was like living two lives inside one body, switching back and forth.
The strangest part — the body never showed any sign of exhaustion or damage.
It always felt as if it had simply been peacefully asleep.
Right now, Feng Lin's body lay on the bed near the window, sunlight brushing across his skin…
Feng Lin's sudden movement stirred his body… and immediately, his mother awoke.
Her eyes widened as she looked at him, sensing the sudden shift in the room.
Suddenly…
the sound of footsteps echoed from the door.
Slow, deliberate… growing louder with each step.
Feng Lin's mysterious smile faltered slightly, his body tensing.
His mother's gaze sharpened, a mix of concern and caution crossing her face.
The room, already heavy with quiet tension, now seemed to hold its breath.
As soon as the door creaked open, a middle-aged man stepped inside.
He was dressed in a white robe, his messy black hair loosely swept back, and his short beard was streaked with black and white. Dark shadows had settled beneath his eyes—as if he hadn't slept properly for two or three days. Worry was clearly etched across his face.
Su'er looked at him with troubled eyes.
"What happened? Why do you look so distressed? Is something wrong?"
She had married su'er Hu Fang Han Bo through a love marriage, and eighteen years had already passed since their wedding.
Fang Han Bo swallowed hard, his voice trembling with fear and anxiety.
"No… no, it's nothing like that. But Feng Lin must immediately go to the Azure sword hall."
Su'er expression froze.
"Azure Sword Hall? But… az…ur…e… has… the Awakening Ceremony already started?"
Su'er's voice carried a mix of worry and slight shock.
Han Bo glanced at her with a faint frown, and both of them knew that the Azure Sword Hall was the very place where Tianjian Clan tested the true talent and hidden potential of their disciples.
It was also the place where it became clear who among them was worthy or unqualified, and where the future heirs of the Fang Family were determined.
Fang Han Bo's worry ran deep. He was the younger brother of Fang Qinxian, the head of the Fang Family, and the stakes were enormous.
If his son, Fang Lin, failed to perform well in the Awakening Ceremony, it would not only tarnish his own reputation, but also cast a shadow over his entire branch of the family.
Moreover, Fang Han Bo knew all too well that Fang Qinxian was planning to consolidate the Fang Family under his control soon, and any sign of weakness from this branch could give Qinxian the perfect excuse to fully absorb it into his own dominion.
The pressure on Fang Han Bo was immense—every heartbeat was weighed down by the future of his family and the honor of the Fang lineage.
Suddenly, something struck Fang Han Bo's mind. He turned his gaze directly toward Fang Lin, who was still lying on the bed, lost in his own world as if nothing else existed.
Then his eyes shifted to Su'er, sitting at the edge of the bed, her white robe scattered lightly around her. She was completely absorbed in worry, her face a mask of concern.
Through his mind, Fang Han Bo silently asked her, "How did Fang Lin get hurt? Did someone attack him?"
Su'er shook her head, her expression blank but tense. Neither of them truly knew what had happened to Fang Lin before this moment, and the uncertainty only deepened their worry.
Before either of them could react, Fang Lin rose from his bed. His black hair was still messy, falling over his shoulders, and the faint blood stains on his white robe had not disappeared. The cloth tied around his neck had come undone, now dangling loosely.
He spoke calmly, as if he had been thinking about it for a long time:
"Mother… Father… can you tell me what this Awakening Ceremony is, and why I have to go to the Azure Sword Hall so early?"
In truth, Fang Lin already had an idea of what the ceremony entailed. He had spent most of his time on Earth immersed in novels, and according to his reading, only after the Awakening Ceremony could one truly begin cultivation.
Han Bo and Su'er exchanged a brief glance, a silent understanding passing between them, before speaking in unison:
"There's no time for this now. You should quickly change your clothes. Soon, a servant will come to take you."
Then Han Bo added, "But before you go, tell us—how did you end up in this state?"
For a moment, Fang Lin felt a surge of excitement, a spark of curiosity lighting his mind. But almost immediately, his expression turned pale. Even he did not know what had happened to the old Fang Lin before this dream-like sequence, nor why his throat had been scratched.
It was a mystery, one that even Fang Lin could not unravel.