The house was up in flames again—metaphorical flames, that is. It was like this every year and Gui Yin hated it.

He sat down at his desk, put on his headphones, and turned on some music. He grabbed the book nearest to him—a xianxia book he had recently picked up. These were the types of books he had been reading recently. It was a special escape from a world filled with unpleasant noises. The genre was interesting and filled with topics that would pique Gui Yin’s curiosity. However, once in a while, he found himself thinking “this specific detail isn’t correct”. When he realized what he had just thought and tried to find his own reasoning, he would come up empty.

And it was always like this.

The yelling outside Gui Yin’s door grew loud enough for the headphones to be useless. Gui Yin could only close his book, grab his CD player, and head for the window.

His hand had just touched the curtains when a strong gust of wind blew the panels open.

In front of him was no longer the apartment across the street, but a vast field.

The field wasn’t anything beautiful or heavenly. Instead, what filled his view was patchy, dead grass and scraggly trees, scattered around the field, naked of its leaves. Still, despite the loss of its key identifying features, Gui Yin still knew that these trees were some of his favorites. They were maple trees.

Gui Yin slowly began to walk forward and, as he walked, he began to transform bit by bit. His short hair grew out past his shoulder blades. His CD player and the headphones disappeared and his shirt and jeans became a set of fluttering brocade robes.

The longer Gui Yin walked, the odder he felt about this place. It was odd that he didn’t feel unsettled by the decay and instead, was rather comfortable with his surroundings. The only thing that bothered him was a sour feeling that would just sting the tip of his heart, disappearing before he could grasp it.

He eventually came to a halt. He looked around the large space and frowned.

“Is there anyone there?”

His voice seemed to echo off the nothingness. There was nothing there to answer. There weren’t even any birds to be startled.

Gui Yin’s lips pursed. He tried again. “Is there anyone out there?”

A gentle breeze brushed against the edges of his robe, tugging him in a certain direction. Gui Yin took one last look over the dreary fields before following the direction of the wind.

He walked for what felt like a long time, yet he didn’t feel tired. Time was distorted, yet Gui Yin didn’t feel an inkling of alarm. Eventually, the trees on either side of him began to regain their leaves. The grass below his feet became fuller, softer, and greener. Red maple leaves drifted from the sky and scattered at his feet. One even attempted to land on his head, but was caught by a knowing hand, as if he had done this many times before.

He smiled at the red maple leaf, not even realizing that the clothes on his body had changed again, this time to a set of arrow-sleeved robes.

Gui Yin looked up at the stairs ahead. He didn’t feel that it was tedious to climb all those stairs. Instead, he felt excitement. He walked slowly at first, but he soon quickened his pace until he was sprinting.

He was excited. He wanted to see. He wanted to see what as at the top of the stairs. He wanted to see…

A humble bamboo cabin slowly came into view. Gui Yin felt his heart pounding against his chest. His excitement was soon replaced by utter dread.

He took a step back and nearly slipped.

The entire time he was here, he had felt nothing but comfort. However, when he saw this warm and inviting home, he had a sinking feeling. The feeling that he had forgotten something.

His hands became clammy. He wanted to turn around and run back down the stairs, but something kept him rooted in place. His fingers twitched as he tried to struggle free, but a heavy pressure kept him in place. Gui Yin’s hands clenched at his side.

He closed his eyes and used all his strength to call for the thing closest to his heart.

In the next moment, a loud twang broke the silence of his surroundings.

Gui Yin caught the guqin that had flown into his hands. He drove his heel down as he flew down the steps from the impact.

The cabin grew more and more distant and his mind began to feel more and more at ease.

His surroundings soon lost their color, but Gui Yin was just glad he could catch his breath once more. He sat down beneath a nearby tree and glanced at the guqin by his side.

He smiled slightly and pulled the guqin closer, as if he were hugging an old friend. “Shui Meng (水梦), you came to save me?”

Lord Immortal Ninglan’s natal weapon hummed in discontent.

“You cannot go there yet.”

“Yet?” Gui Yin raised a brow. “Why not?”

“Not allowed.”

Gui Yin frowned slightly. His fingers gently stroked the strings. “I can’t go there now, but I can go there later?”

The instrument hummed louder, showing its growing agitation. “Cannot go. Not allowed.”

“Then, when am I allowed?”

Shui Meng seemed to have not prepared an answer for this question. It was silent for a long time before it spoke again.

“When time is right.”

Gui Yin stared at the instrument quizzically.

The moment Gui Yin began to talk to Shui Meng, he began to remember his current situation. This entire realm was either an elaborate set up, or it was his own consciousness. If it was the former, he would have trouble waking up. If it was the latter, then he would be able to leave whenever he pleased. If it was a combination of both…well, that was why Shui Meng refused to let him approach that manor, wasn’t that right?

Gui Yin smiled at the instrument. “Shui Meng, you know I’m not your master, don’t you?”

Shui Meng paused. It vibrated heavily again. “You are.”

Gui Yin raised a brow.

Although cultivators would have to go through a certain process to tell if someone really had their body stolen or not, a person’s natal weapon was different. They were connected in mind and soul. With one glance, Shui Meng would have been able to tell the difference.

“What do you—”

Knock, knock, knock.

Gui Yin’s eyes snapped open. He sat upright and stared blankly at the wall in front of him. He clicked his tongue and irritable slapped his thighs a few times.

He forgot again.

Obviously, this time there was something important in his dreams but he. Forgot. Again!!

“Shizun?”

Gui Yin looked up.

Gui Linghuo stood hesitantly at the door. “This disciple knocked a few times but Shizun didn’t respond. I got worried, so I came in without Shizun’s permission.”

Gui Yin sighed. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I just…”

“Just?”

Gui Yin looked at Gui Linghuo. “Linghuo, is Shuangye the only place in Yunjing Pavilion with a lot of maple trees?”

Gui Linghuo placed the water basin onto the table nearest Gui Yin and fell into a silent contemplation. After a while, he shook his head.

“My apologies, Shizun, I don’t seem to remember any other place with a lot of maple trees…I can ask around though?”

Gui Yin shook his head with a light smile. “No, it’s fine if you don’t know. I was just curious.”

Once Gui Yin was finished getting ready, he left his room and decided to head to the dining hall.

With the excuse that he was feeling unwell, Gui Yin had been holed up in Shuangye Peak since his arrival. The few times he did leave was to go to places only the elders of the peak could go to. He had yet to visit the dining hall, but after that odd dream today, he didn’t feel like being alone.

There were few disciples roaming the sect at this time, as most were at the dining hall eating breakfast. The moment he stepped in, Gui Yin immediately felt the eyes that fell on him. Conversations were paused midway as they shifted in topic as to why Shuangye Peak’s peak lord was gracing them with his presence or whether or not rumors of him being severely ill were true.

Being a cultivator meant your senses were heightened and with these heightened senses, he knew that he was definitely the center of attention at this moment. But the disciples were young, not quite grasping just how keen a cultivator’s sense were once they reached a higher realm. And the conversations were harmless, mainly showing concern.