Bathed in the silver moonlight, Yun Lintian sat in his yard. A semblance of peace settled around him, yet his gaze lingered on the distant horizon, a hint of melancholy tingeing his features. f𝐫eweb𝗻o𝐯el.𝚌o𝗺

Twenty-four hours in this alien world, and Yun Lintian already found himself consumed by worry. Though confident his loved ones could escape the God Tomb unharmed, a nagging unease persisted, a constant echo in the back of his mind.

Suddenly, a gentle hand settled on Yun Lintian’s shoulder, startling him from his reverie. His father, Yun Wuhan, sat down beside him, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Troubled by the upcoming trial, Tian’er?”

Yun Lintian met his father’s gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Not quite. My thoughts are elsewhere at the moment.”

A flicker of concern crossed Yun Wuhan’s features. “Your memory,” he began cautiously, “have you made any progress in recovering it?”

Yun Lintian offered a rueful shake of his head. “Not a single shred. It’s a complete blank canvas.”

A heavy sigh escaped Yun Wuhan’s lips. “The trial,” he began, his voice laced with concern. “Are you absolutely certain about this?”

Yun Lintian’s response was calm, unwavering. “Leave your worries to me, Dad. Instead, consider the matter of the Sacred Grove – how to distribute it?”

Yun Wuhan studied his son’s face, searching for any flicker of doubt. But Yun Lintian’s expression held a steely resolve.

“I’ll bear the brunt of it all,” Yun Wuhan declared, his voice thick with emotion. “Just… promise me you won’t gamble with your life. Your mother… I couldn’t bear to face her if…” His voice trailed off, the weight of his unspoken fear hanging heavy in the air.

A slow smile curved Yun Lintian’s lips. “Speaking of her,” he began, his voice taking on a softer tone, “Can you tell me about my mother? What kind of person is she?”

A nostalgic gleam flickered in Yun Wuhan’s eyes, a stark contrast to the worry that had clouded them moments ago. A melancholic smile played on his lips as he settled deeper into his seat.

“Your mother, Wushuang,” he began, his voice a gentle rasp, “was unlike anyone I had ever met. A force of nature, some might say. Possessed of unparalleled talent and a spirit that burned brighter than a thousand suns, she captivated everyone she encountered.”

He chuckled softly, a hint of pride lacing his voice. “She was a prodigy, the brightest star of her generation in the Misty Cloud Palace. Cultivators of her caliber were destined for greatness, their names forever etched in the annals of history.”

Yun Lintian leaned closer, captivated by his father’s narration. The description of his mother resonated with a strange familiarity, a feeling he couldn’t quite place.

“But Wushuang was more than just talent,” Yun Wuhan continued, his voice turning wistful. “She possessed an unyielding sense of justice, a fierce loyalty that would make her stand against any tyranny. It was this very trait that led to our meeting.”

He paused, a faraway look clouding his eyes. “We were tasked with a joint expedition, venturing deep into the uncharted territories of the Desolation Plains. It was a perilous journey, fraught with danger and monstrous beasts.”

“It was during this time,” he continued, his voice taking on a deeper tone, “that we forged a connection. We fought side-by-side, facing countless trials together. Our bond grew stronger with each passing day, fueled by mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose.”

Yun Lintian listened intently, a tapestry of emotions swirling within him. The image of a woman defying the rigid constraints of her sect, standing up for what she believed in, resonated deeply.

“Unfortunately,” Yun Wuhan’s voice grew heavy, “love was forbidden within the Misty Cloud Palace. When Wushuang discovered she was carrying you, Tian’er, she was faced with an agonizing choice.”

A pained grimace contorted his features. “She could return to her sect and face the consequences, or remain with me, forever ostracized from the world she knew. Without hesitation, she chose to give birth to you.”

“But the consequences were severe,” he continued, his voice laced with bitterness. “Stripped of her cultivation, her name erased from the annals of the Misty Cloud Palace, Wushuang became a pariah, her sacrifice a secret known only to a few.”

Yun Lintian’s heart ached for the woman he had never met. The strength it must have taken to defy everything she knew, to choose love and family over her illustrious future.

“She vowed to return for you after a thousand years,” Yun Wuhan said, his voice trembling slightly. “But with each passing century, the doubt gnawed at me. Would she truly defy the Misty Cloud Palace a second time? Or would the years have eroded her resolve?”

Yun Lintian couldn’t help but ask, “And did she ever send word? Any sign of her return?”

Yun Wuhan shook his head, a flicker of despair crossing his features. “Nothing. Not a single message, not a whisper. The silence became a constant torment, a fear that she might have… perished.”

He let out a shaky breath, composing himself with a visible effort. “However,” he continued, his voice regaining a sliver of hope, “nearly a millennium has passed. Her return should be imminent. And perhaps, with your catastrophe, fate might take a turn for the better from now on.”

Steely determination flickered back into Yun Lintian’s gaze. He wouldn’t fail his father. But beyond that, a deeper purpose bloomed within him. He craved, with an intensity that surprised him, to meet this woman – his mother, or perhaps not his mother at all. The truth beckoned, a siren song he couldn’t resist.

Naturally, Yun Lintian would find a way back to his own world, back to Yaoyao and his friends. But in the meantime, he had a purpose here, a responsibility to this family he was inexplicably drawn to.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while longer, the silver moonlight bathing them in its ethereal glow. A newfound sense of purpose had ignited within Yun Lintian, a burning desire to unravel the mysteries of this strange new world, to find his place in it, and most importantly, to find a way back home.

***

Three days later. The appointed day arrived with an air of tense anticipation. The Yun Clan’s ancestral arena, a vast expanse of sun-baked earth ringed by towering stone bleachers, pulsed with the energy of hundreds of gathered clansmen. A hush fell over the crowd as Yun Lintian, clad in simple robes that belied his noble lineage, stepped onto the arena floor…