Heaven and Abyss

PreludeHigh above, the wind blows from all directions, caressing my cheeks like an old friend's gentle greeting.I am wrapped in the breath of night. Looking down at the city, the colorful neon lights and street lamps shine far brighter than the stars. Their neat arrangement reminds me of the Holy Court's attendants—during every Long Night Season, they lined up just like this, holding bright lamps to illuminate every corner of the forecourt, main hall, and corridor…Nowadays, every city I've visited has a similar night view, lit up by lights. On every festive day, beautiful flowers bloom across the night sky, just like now—what a wonderful day it must be today?Sometimes, memories carry me back to the past, a time so distant it cannot be measured by years.In my memory of Luojia City, the five-colored gems on the Holy Court's palace glimmered brightly under the radiance of the Bright God. Even in the long nights, the torches in people's hands made them shine brilliantly.Yes, and fire. When was it that a hand once held out a torch to me, encouraging me to lift it and move forward in the dark? The face in the firelight was so familiar, smiling—a handsome, confident smile.It was Jianing, it was her! There seemed to be others too—my companions, where are you now? At this very moment, are you shrouded in the same night as me?Above, the crescent moon hangs slanting in the sky, its light as cold as water. I reach out, and it glides gently over my fingertips. Was the ancient Luojia City once cloaked in such a soft silver veil?Night falls too quickly in this world, but dawn comes just as fast—I can already smell it. Time here is nothing like in my kingdom, and that is precisely why I stand here, a miracle. My world, my kingdom, my people have worshipped the Bright God for generations, relying on divine grace to survive and thrive. In my era, the Bright God was like the sun and moon here—and indeed, they were one and the same. The Great Sorcerer, emissary of the Bright God, enshrined the deity atop Rishan Mountain. At the start of each cycle, the Bright God would transform into a massive fireball, soaring into the sky and circling repeatedly, while the earth ushered in the scorching Fire Season.Each time the Bright God completed a circle, a scorch mark would be branded on the stone pillar in front of the Holy Court's main hall, marking a day. As the Bright God's energy waned, its light and heat diminished, leading the earth through the Fire Season, Flower Season, Rainy Season, and Ice Season in turn.Finally, drained of energy, the Bright God would return to the holy altar, revert to its original form, and fall into slumber—ushering in the earth's long Long Night Season. Labor ceased, wars ended, and all conflicts seemed to stop. Everyone huddled by the fire, warming each other, and waited with hope for the next cycle to begin.The Great Sorcerer was the Bright God's emissary, while the ruler of the Rising Sun Kingdom—the leader of the Holy Clan, known as the Holy Lord—was the deity's most loyal servant, governing the earth on the Bright God's behalf.Once, I thought I would have the chance to climb Rishan Mountain with the Great Sorcerer at the end of the Long Night Season, offering my blood to the Bright God to bless the smooth arrival of the new cycle and the prosperity of the Rising Sun. But the Bright God did not grant me that chance.We were abandoned—not so much by the Bright God as by ourselves.In short, the era of the Rising Sun ended in my hands.For countless cycles afterward, I wandered the cosmos in search of my companions, traveling through different time and space, hoping for a miracle.After an unknown period, I set foot on this blue planet again, only to find it was no longer covered entirely by oceans.I was touched by a magical power and stopped my pursuit. My heart told me that my companions might be equally moved. So I began a new search and waited, hoping to reunite with them on this land. That hope has lasted for thousands of years in this world…"The sun is coming up?"It was Rao'er, appearing behind me. She squinted her eyes, spread her arms, and embraced the first ray of morning sun—she loved doing this, saying it felt warm, like being in her mother's arms.Yes, dawn has broken. The street lamps are going out one by one."Did you stand here all night again?" Rao'er walked gently to my side."Yes, before I knew it."I turned my head, and our eyes met. We stared at each other, reading thousands of years of longing in each other's pupils…Then, almost simultaneously, we closed our eyes and took a deep breath. In that instant, everything stopped. I turned to dust, dissolving into the pale morning air.The moon sets, no longer singing for the night.Will the rising sun warm the heart?It is the wind, blowing through your long hair—can it also carry away sorrow?Ahead, is it the end of time and space? There is confusion, and perhaps hidden hope…The Young Clan LeaderTime brushes over a classical face as elegant as the moon, descending upon the Rising Sun Kingdom, blessed by the Bright God.At this moment, the Rising Sun faces a fateful challenge.Moments ago, the new leader of the Holy Clan was chosen in the clan council. This means the Rising Sun Kingdom is about to welcome a new ruler.The news will be announced throughout the kingdom. Chieftains of all tribes and lords of vassal states will gather in Luojia City, the seat of the Holy Court. In the main hall of the Holy Court—Ziri Hall—they will join the Holy Court officials in questioning and debating the new Holy Clan leader, then express their stance on the legitimacy of ascending to the Holy Lord's throne. This is what is known as the Court Council.Nominally, the Court Council plays a decisive role in the Holy Lord's succession. In reality, however, the Holy Clan holds absolute power in the Rising Sun. For a long time, the Holy Clan leader has held all authority and acted arbitrarily, making the Court Council a mere formality—nothing more than a show of pretense.Yet, passing the Court Council does not mean the Holy Lord's royal power is recognized. There is still a crucial step—though a ritualistic procedure, it is extremely important:The Great Sorcerer, fulfilling the duty of the Bright God's emissary, will climb Rishan Mountain to pray for divine guidance. The Great Sorcerer must obtain a Bright Stone from the holy altar, perfectly sized to inlay into the Sword of Authority, and bring it back to the Holy Court. During the Holy Lord's coronation ceremony, the sorcerer will personally inlay the stone into the Sword of Authority—a symbol of royal power—representing the Bright God's blessing and protection for the successor.Only at that moment is the Holy Lord's royal power truly confirmed.The entire process from the Court Council to the Great Sorcerer's authorization constitutes the Holy Lord's coronation ceremony. Every Holy Lord must complete this process to ascend from Holy Clan leader to the highest position in Ziri Hall.This coronation is scheduled for the Flower Season of this cycle. Barring any accidents, the new Holy Clan leader will officially govern the Rising Sun, commanding thirty-six tribes and twelve vassal states, and serving as the nominal suzerain of the two tributary states—Yumo and Xiling.The Flower Season is the most beautiful time in the Rising Sun. The turquoise lake smiles at the patchwork of blooming hope in the fields, where every blade of grass seems to blossom and every leaf hums a melodious song…By the window, Luojia stares into the distance. The window's shadow falls on her face, and the dimples at her lips flicker faintly. As she turns, she draws the orange curtain shut, and a ray of light slips through the gap, falling on her shoulders—thin, childlike shoulders.Without attendants, Luojia walks to the mirror alone. She ties up her long hair, puts on her armor, slips on her ring, and hangs her short sword—every movement is neat and decisive. Then she stands quietly before the mirror.In the dimly lit room, she cannot see her reflection clearly. Because of the darkness, the person in the mirror might not even be herself. This is only her fourteenth Flower Season.Luojia touches her right ear—her brother's earring is still there. She reaches for her neck, where a necklace engraved with the Holy Clan's coat of arms rests. Her hand accidentally brushes the cold metal on her chest, and she knows that from this moment on, her heart must grow and be strong.Step by step, Luojia walks firmly up the long steps leading to Ziri Hall. She knows the main gate of the Holy Court is already open, and the participants of the Court Council are filing in. On either side of the road to Ziri Hall, the elaborately dressed attendants have been replaced by the Holy Court's guards—clad in battle gear, holding sharp weapons, their faces hidden behind golden helmets, motionless as two rows of golden statues.Luojia's steps are slow, as if the three-hundred-step path to royal power before her will take a lifetime to traverse. Since the sudden death of Holy Lord Sanyin and his eldest son Luoyi, the fate of this young girl has shifted abruptly, stretching toward an unknown direction.The tragedy happened so suddenly that the entire Rising Sun Kingdom was shocked. People were filled with doubts about the father and son's deaths, and rumors spread like wildfire—some even implicating the Great Sorcerer and the Holy Lord's wife. But no matter how many rumors there were, they could not penetrate the high walls of the Holy Court. Since the news was announced, the calm order within the Holy Court and the unity of the entire Holy Clan left no room for speculation, turning rumors into falsehoods that gradually faded away outside the court walls.The Holy Clan's rules clearly stipulate the order of succession for the clan leader: the previous leader's sons, then brothers, daughters, and sisters. If none of these exist, the respected elders of the clan have the right to select candidates from young noblemen closely related to the previous leader during the clan council.Yet the Holy Clan has always been prosperous, with nearly every Holy Lord fathering numerous children—until Moyu's reign.