Another World

“Hiss… Where am I?”

When Fan Qiuming opened his eyes again, he found himself no longer in the forest but in an unfamiliar place.

“Young master? You’re awake?”

A voice beside him caught his attention.

He turned to see a stranger before him, and as he tried to sit up, pain shot through his entire body.

“Young master, please don’t move. You’re covered in wounds. I’ll go fetch my young lady and the physician.”

With that, the manservant withdrew from the room.

Fan Qiuming looked around, trying hard to recall what had happened before he lost consciousness.

It seemed he had been fighting with Bai Shiquan and the others when Bai Qianyu ambushed him by surprise, causing him to stumble into a teleportation portal. The portal’s array was incomplete; if one wasn’t careful during transit, it was easy to lose one’s life in the turbulence of time and space. The injuries he bore were sustained in that chaos, after which he passed out. Surviving at all felt like a stroke of luck.

“But where is this place? Is this Bai Shiquan’s world? The spiritual energy here is abundant.”

“It’s just like my original world—perhaps all the spiritual energy from there now lies in this one.”

He struggled to sit up, discovering that his entire body, except for his head, was wrapped tightly in bandages, making him look like a mummy. Blood still oozed faintly from the gauze.

Just then, the door opened and the manservant returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man and a graceful young woman.

The middle-aged man went straight to Fan Qiuming’s bedside and took his pulse, his eyes full of amazement.

“In over thirty years of practice, I’ve never seen such a remarkable patient. Last night, your pulse was that of a dying man; today, it is steady. With a few more days’ rest, you’ll be able to get out of bed.”

He gave Fan Qiuming a strange look as he spoke.

Hearing this, the young woman’s tense expression eased at once.

“I’m so relieved that you’re well, young master. Thank you, Doctor Zhang.”

She offered her gratitude to the physician.

“I did little—just dressed his wounds. You flatter me, Miss Zhao.”

He returned her courtesy with a respectful gesture.

“Since the young master is out of danger, I shall take my leave.”

“Yes, you may go.”

Once the physician had left, the young woman turned to the manservant.

“You may leave as well.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When the servant had shut the door behind him, the young woman came to sit at the bedside.

“Do you remember your name, young master?”

Fan Qiuming looked up at her. She wore a long robe of lake-green, which set off her fair skin, a pearl belt circling her slender waist like a willow branch. Her brows were lightly arched, her hair casually gathered and pinned with a jade hairpin, with two strands framing her delicate face. The attire was simple yet carried the dignified air of noble upbringing.

Snapping out of his daze, Fan Qiuming quickly replied, “Fan Qiuming—‘Fan’ as in Lin Fan, ‘Qiu’ as in grain and fire, ‘Ming’ as in sun and moon. May I know your name, lady?”

Noticing his distracted gaze, she lifted her sleeve to her lips and smiled.

“You’re quite amusing, young master. My name is Zhao Xinying.”

“May I ask where you come from?”

She pressed further.

Fan Qiuming shook his head, unsure how to answer. He couldn’t exactly claim he’d come from another world.

“If you don’t remember, it’s all right. Just rest here for now. If you need anything, call for the servants.”

“I’ll take my leave, then. Please take care.”

With that she left, instructing the manservant about something outside the door.

Lying in bed, Fan Qiuming’s mind was a jumble.

Where am I? I have to return, or else Qiulin will worry. But I don’t even know the structure of the teleportation array—how would I get back? Besides, I don’t even know where I am now—how can I possibly return?

…

Elsewhere

Saturday night.

“It’s almost eleven. Why isn’t my brother back yet?”

Fan Qiulin sat idly on the sofa, the little cat in her arms yawning, clearly sleepy.

“Why not give him a call?” Shangguan Wanwan suggested.

“All right,” Fan Qiulin said, picking up her phone and dialing Fan Qiuming’s number.

Beep… “Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is not in service. Please try again late—so... y…”

“What’s going on? I can’t get through?” Fan Qiulin frowned in confusion.

“What is it? He’s not answering?”

“He’s out of service. Where could he have gone? Why would his phone be out of service?”

Shangguan Wanwan was growing uneasy as well.

“His phone’s out of service? Where could he be?”

“Let’s wait a little longer. Maybe his phone battery died.” Shangguan Wanwan tried to reassure her.

But even after waiting until midnight, Fan Qiuming still hadn’t returned to the apartment.

The little cat was already curled up and fast asleep in its nest.

Fan Qiulin kept dialing his number, over and over, but every time it was out of service.

“What’s going on? Still not back? And his phone’s still out of service…”

Shangguan Wanwan was now clearly alarmed.

“Could something have happened to him?”

“But even so…”

“Qiulin, you call the police first. I’ll go out and look for him.”

With that, Shangguan Wanwan quickly gathered her things and left the apartment.

Fan Qiulin had already dialed the emergency number.

“Hello? Is this one-one-zero? I need to report a case.”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“My brother is missing, and his phone is out of service—I can’t reach him.”

“How long has he been missing? He went out around eight, and he still hasn’t come back.”

“What? You can’t open a case until it’s been twenty-four hours? How does that make any sense?”

Hearing the officer’s response, she was instantly furious and slammed down the phone.

She stared blankly at the TV, her phone slipping from her hand to the floor.

“Brother, where did you go?”

That night, Fan Qiulin didn’t sleep a wink, just sat curled up on the sofa, waiting for Fan Qiuming and Shangguan Wanwan to return. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying so many times, her expression haggard. She sat there trembling, just as she had a week before—pitiful and helpless.

Meanwhile, with Fan Qiuming—

He was sitting cross-legged on the bed. From his storage ring, he took out a healing pill and swallowed it, then began to absorb the spiritual energy around him to recover from his injuries.

After a long while, Fan Qiuming opened his eyes—most of his wounds had healed, the pain had lessened, and he could get out of bed.

At noon, the manservant brought him a meal.

“Young master, here’s your lunch. I’ve brought it for you.”

“Thank you,” Fan Qiuming replied.

The servant set the food on the table and withdrew.

Fan Qiuming looked at the meal but had no appetite. He didn’t know if, in his absence, Fan Qiulin was eating properly at home, or if she was being naughty. Was she sad because he wasn’t there?

And what about Shangguan Wanwan? Was she worried about him?

“Why has it turned out like this?” Fan Qiuming sighed, overwhelmed by helplessness.

He didn’t touch the meal, but instead took a set of sword robes from his storage ring, put them on, and stepped out. By now, it was noon.

Leaving the room, he saw that all the houses were built in the ancient style—there wasn’t a trace of a modern city anywhere in sight. All the buildings were brick and wood. He himself was staying in an especially grand residence. Fan Qiuming opened his spiritual sense to scan the surroundings.

There were only ordinary people without spiritual power, with just a few possessing some, but none were a real threat.

“Young master, my lady instructed that you shouldn’t be wandering around these days, lest your wounds reopen,” the manservant said anxiously upon seeing him.

“No need—I’m almost fully recovered. Would you please take me to your young lady? I’d like to thank her in person.”

“As you wish. My lady did say to meet your requests if possible. Please, follow me.”

The servant led the way, Fan Qiuming following behind.

As they passed through the residence, the other servants began to whisper.

“Hey, did you hear? That’s the man our young lady picked up from behind the mountain.”

“Handsome, but it’s a pity our young lady’s already engaged.”

“Engaged, yet she brings home a man from outside—tsk tsk… If word gets out, our master’s reputation will be ruined.”

“Hush! Lower your voice—aren’t you afraid the master will cut your tongues out?”

Hearing their words, Fan Qiuming’s face darkened, but he had no choice.

As they neared the main hall, he heard an angry male voice inside.

“What am I supposed to say to you? You’re already engaged, yet you bring home a strange man? What do you expect people to think of me?”

“You’ve completely disgraced me! You’re the eldest daughter of the Zhao family—can’t you show some restraint? Think of the consequences!”

“Do you realize the ramifications? Our family business has been struggling for years, and only after the Wang family agreed to the match did our fortunes improve. Now you’ve gone and done this—what if the Wang family hears and breaks off the engagement? Embarrassment is the least of it—if the business fails, the whole family will be left with nothing.”

“I really don’t know what goes through your head.”

He slammed the table in anger and let out a long sigh.

“Father, I know I was wrong, but when I found Young Master Fan, he was on the brink of death. You taught me never to ignore someone in need.”

Though Zhao Xinying felt apologetic, she did not believe she was truly at fault.

“You have to know when to make exceptions! You’ll be the death of me!”

At this point, the manservant entered the hall to make his report.

“Reporting, sir.”

“Well, out with it! Can’t you see I’m furious?”

“Young Master Fan is waiting outside the hall—he requests to thank Miss Zhao in person.”

“What? He dares come here? Bring him in—I want to see what kind of man he is!”

The master of the Zhao family was clearly incensed at this news.

“Father, please don’t make things difficult for Young Master Fan—he’s still badly injured.”

“You… you… ah!”

Zhao Xinying’s words gave him a feeling as if a cabbage he’d raised had been trampled by a pig—he hadn’t even felt this way when the Wang family came to discuss the engagement.

“Fan Qiuming thanks Miss Zhao for saving my life, and also thanks Master Zhao for raising such a wise and compassionate daughter.”

Upon entering, Fan Qiuming cupped his hands and bowed deeply to them both.

“So you’re the man my daughter picked up from the mountains?” the master of the Zhao family snorted coldly. “Hmph, you may look handsome, but who knows what kind of person you really are.”