In the nineteenth year of Xuanwei, the Lotus Platform Mountain was lush with verdant grass and fluttering orioles, beneath a sky as clear as washed jade.
Ripples shimmered on the water, and a green shadow flickered. Meng Qi appeared on a large tree outside the Shaolin Temple, blending into the void and belonging to the heavens and earth, without disturbing the forbidden laws even slightly.
His gaze fixed on the path leading up the mountain. A man with a horse-like face carried a sickly child on his back, crossing hills swiftly forward.
The familiar appearance and aura evoked a subtle, indescribable sensation—as if beholding his past self. Meng Qi’s brows furrowed slightly, while deep within his eyes, the Dao Yi Glazed Lamp emerged, dispelling illusions and illuminating the karmic world.
The closer they approached Shaolin, the weaker the child’s breath became. Suddenly, he groaned in pain and fainted, his vitality instantly dispersing.
The dispersion lasted merely an instant before his vitality resumed, weak yet steady, showing no abnormalities.
At that very moment, Meng Qi’s “All Fruits’ Cause” revealed subtle karmic changes. The child’s soul connection first stretched outward to the heavens, then shifted to the capital city, returning to its previous state.
“Got you!”
Meng Qi’s eyes, black and white swirling, disassembled and reassembled the karmic link in layers.
“Master Second, you’re awake?” The horse-faced man put the child down, anxiously asking. Past experiences replayed before Meng Qi’s eyes. His time was up, enveloped by the Seven Killing Tablet’s light, returning to the future.
Inside the Jade Void Palace at Kunlun Mountain, ripples shimmered in the water, and Meng Qi’s figure emerged before abruptly vanishing, using the connection to project himself across space to Earth.
Penetrating through numerous crystalline barriers of time and space and traversing indescribable veils of celestial enigmas, Meng Qi abruptly beheld a radiant azure and breathtaking planet.
After many years, he finally returned.
…
The sky was dark and heavy with impending rain. Meng Qi reverted to his former appearance, wearing casual clothes with his hands in his pockets, gazing thoughtfully at the old building before him.
The location indicated by the connection was indeed the rented apartment where he had died before. However, time had passed, and new tenants had moved in, changing the layout. There was no point in reminiscing.
Glancing through the first-floor window, he saw a wall calendar and nodded thoughtfully, “Time flows unevenly. It’s only been three years.”
Three years was no short time. How many people could experience several such spans?
Returning to this familiar place stirred many feelings within Meng Qi. He slowly walked out of the residential complex, intending to fly straight home to see his parents. He wondered how they were faring after three years and the grief of losing a son.
As this thought arose, he suddenly smiled bitterly. He realized he had almost no knowledge of the exact location. Previously, he always took bullet trains or long-distance buses home, never needing to distinguish directions, only knowing it lay south of his work city—whether southeast, southwest, or further away, he had no idea.
What use was flying without knowing the exact location?
As a celestial being, he still suffered from a poor sense of direction… Meng Qi’s lips twitched slightly before he formed a hand seal with his right hand, directly calculating the correct orientation.
“Strange,” he murmured, noticing the obscured heavenly signs, making the deduction unclear.
Without interference from powerful figures, his Jade Void Divine Calculation should not fall short of professionals like Wang Daxi, who could deduce fixed geographical locations.
Frowning slightly, Meng Qi attempted to deduce other matters, growing increasingly puzzled as all heavenly signs were blurred, the results vague. For instance, a middle-aged woman he passed had a clear fate within a year, sufficient for an ironclad prediction, but beyond a year, it became too chaotic, only allowing a grasp of the general trend.
“Earth is more special than I imagined. The Demon Buddha choosing to hide ‘himself’ here was no random decision,” Meng Qi nodded slightly, calming his mind, planning to retrace his previous route home to observe.
Leaving the residential complex and entering a nearby subway entrance, Meng Qi played with a leaf he had casually picked, a flash of electricity in his palm, transforming the leaf into a banknote, complete with anti-counterfeiting features, indistinguishable from real currency—or rather, it was real, naturally, with the power he consumed capable of destroying the city effortlessly.
Just as he was about to buy a ticket, he suddenly saw a graceful figure. Shoulder-length hair, plaid skirt, refined features, and appropriate attire—clearly his former crush, Cai Yang. Unfortunately, before he could muster the courage to pursue her, she had resigned, and they lost contact. Never did he expect to encounter her again after so many years and experiences.
“Cai Yang.” Meng Qi, no longer his former self, greeted her cheerfully.
Cai Yang turned her head in surprise, her eyes as beautiful as ever, first puzzled, then realization dawning, “You—you’re Meng Qi?”
“That’s right. You still remember me.” Meng Qi smiled, feeling no former restraint in facing his “goddess.”
“Of course I remember. Among former colleagues, you were the funniest.” Cai Yang smiled slightly, inexplicably feeling a strong affinity from Meng Qi, instinctively voicing her thoughts.
Thinking this, she carefully examined Meng Qi, noticing his unchanged appearance but obvious signs of time’s passage. His gaze was unwavering, his speech and laughter composed, with a depth from life experiences, no longer flustered in her presence.
“You’ve become more mature.” She blurted out instinctively.
Meng Qi smiled and said, “It’s been several years. If I hadn’t matured, I’d be wasting my age.”
Meeting Cai Yang again, past feelings had long dissipated, not even a ripple, as if meeting an ordinary acquaintance.
“Which company did you go to?” Cai Yang asked casually.
Meng Qi had changed so much, becoming calm and reserved, like a true successful person.
Meng Qi thought for a moment and smiled, “Wanjie Tongshi Group.”
“What a strange name. What does it do?” Cai Yang asked curiously.
“Um, an e-commerce, express delivery, and communication company combined into a large internet enterprise.” Meng Qi answered seriously.
Cai Yang said, “That’s great. Such companies have a lot of potential. Judging from your appearance, you must be a department manager by now?”
“Chairman of the Board and CEO.” Meng Qi joked internally, as he also doubled as a “network administrator” and “delivery person,” truly embodying the concept of a multitasker.
“Ahh…” Cai Yang didn’t expect this answer, momentarily unsure how to respond.
“Just kidding.” Meng Qi smiled, “I still have things to do. Let’s chat later.”
Saying this, he sincerely said, “Remember, today ‘don’t stop by the river.'”
His voice was magnetic, tickling her ears. As Cai Yang began to reflect, she saw Meng Qi pass through the turnstile, disappearing down the elevator.
A few breaths later, she regained her senses, suddenly realizing in shock:
“He didn’t buy a ticket… didn’t swipe a card… he just went in!”
Was this VIP service? Cai Yang shook her head, puzzled, leaving the subway to meet someone at the agreed location.
The river murmured, with tea houses and cafes lining both banks, a place for relaxation. Cai Yang walked under a tree by the riverbank, waiting for her friend.
At this moment, she suddenly recalled Meng Qi’s words, “Don’t stop by the river.” For some reason, she felt a chill, a sense of fear. Thinking for a moment, she crossed the zebra crossing and waited on the opposite side.
Just as she stood there, a piercing brake screech rang out. A truck, turning unstably, overturned under the tree where Cai Yang had previously stood, dust flying, trees snapping, fortunately with no casualties.
Witnessing this, Cai Yang was stunned, her mind echoing only one phrase:
“Don’t stop by the river, don’t stop by the river, don’t stop by the river…”
She suddenly turned her head toward the subway, could Meng Qi really have such ability?
…
On the long-distance bus, Meng Qi leisurely read the newspaper, keeping up with modern society, while beside him sat a middle-aged man sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, the middle-aged man sat up, gasping for breath, his face full of panic. After a while, he recovered, realizing Meng Qi was watching him, and awkwardly smiled, “I just had a nightmare. It’s all because I watched a ghost movie last night about a haunted bus. Today, I dreamed about it.”
“I used to watch similar horror movies too.” Meng Qi was not bothered.
After some small talk, the middle-aged man took out a book to pass the time. Meng Qi casually glanced and saw the title:
“From the Supreme God of Heaven to the Jade Emperor”
The Supreme God of Heaven, the Jade Emperor… Meng Qi pondered.
Noticing his gaze, the middle-aged man smiled, “I’m quite interested in national sacrifices and folk beliefs. This book discusses how the Taoist Jade Emperor gradually replaced the original Supreme God of Heaven through historical research.”
“I’m quite interested too. Can you tell me more?” Meng Qi asked thoughtfully.
Flattering his interest naturally led to an enthusiastic explanation. The middle-aged man spoke animatedly all the way until the long-distance bus entered the county town where Meng Qi’s parents lived.
Here, Meng Qi recognized the route, while the middle-aged man’s content began to stray, losing focus.
A sudden subtle feeling stirred within Meng Qi. Instinctively, he shifted his body and appeared directly at home.
“From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era to the present, myths have undergone multiple transformations…” the middle-aged man turned to speak, only to see the empty seat and closed window.
…His mouth gradually opened, his mind recalling the ghost movie he had watched the previous night, about encountering ghosts on a bus.
Could it really be a ghost he met…
…
The home furnishings remained unchanged, the atmosphere still familiar and warm. His mother was cooking in the kitchen, bustling about, while his father wiped the table and set the bowls and chopsticks. The black-and-white cat sat on the sofa like an old cadre, watching TV with great focus.
His eyes suddenly blurred. As Meng Qi was about to reveal himself, he heard the sound of the door opening.
The door opened, and a familiar figure walked in, loudly announcing, “Mom, Dad, I’m back!”
Another Meng Qi, as if he had never left.
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