“Xia, open the door.”
Yu Nian’an said.
Listening to the faint knocking, Qi Xia felt his hair stand on end, his heart pounding as if it might leap out of his throat.
He had no idea what awaited him behind that door.
“Xia, open the door.”
Yu Nian’an repeated.
“No… impossible…”
*Knock, knock, knock.*
The knocking continued behind Qi Xia, enveloping him in an unknown terror.
Before him stood Yu Nian’an—faceless, expressionless—while behind him, the relentless knocking persisted.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Xia, open the door.”
Qi Xia struggled to steady his breathing before asking, “Tell me first… who’s outside?”
The faceless Yu Nian’an seemed to shift slightly, her smooth, featureless face rippling.
Though she had no eyes or mouth, Qi Xia could *feel* her smiling—a chilling, unnatural grin.
“Xia, it’s me outside.” Yu Nian’an spread her arms in an inviting embrace. “Open the door. Let me see you.”
“If it’s *you* outside…” Qi Xia felt himself teetering on the edge of collapse, “then what the hell are *you*?”
“I am me,” Yu Nian’an replied. “And outside is also me. Let’s reunite—let me step into your heart.”
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“You damn lunatics…” Qi Xia clenched his teeth. “You know my weakness is her… so you keep pretending to be Yu Nian’an to toy with me…”
“How could I be your weakness?” The figure before him took slow, deliberate steps forward. “No one is pretending. I *am* me. If you won’t open the door, *I* will. Don’t be afraid, Xia.”
“What do you *want* from me?!”
Qi Xia felt his thoughts unraveling again. This place was warping his mind, disrupting his reasoning.
“What do I want?” Yu Nian’an’s face rippled once more, her smile—if it could be called that—growing even more sinister. “Xia, I want nothing. I just want you to be happy.”
“Stop toying with me!” Qi Xia’s entire body trembled. “You say you want me ‘happy,’ but every time I see you, I fall apart! What’s your real goal? Just to torture me?”
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Xia, open the door. Let him speak to you.” Yu Nian’an chuckled. “Don’t you want to find the *real* me?”
“The real you…?” Qi Xia froze.
“Yes. Open the door. Find me.”
Slowly, Qi Xia turned toward the aged door, his pupils flickering uneasily.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Whoever was knocking was patient.
“Open it,” Yu Nian’an urged. “Welcome our guest.”
“*Our* guest?” Qi Xia frowned. “I have no friends. Who would visit me?”
“But he’s here.” Yu Nian’an’s voice twisted unnaturally. “He’s seen you. He’s come for you.”
Qi Xia’s hand rose, trembling, and grasped the doorknob.
He had no other choice.
This wasn’t home. This wasn’t real. If he wanted answers, he had to open that door.
*What the hell is happening?*
With a slow turn, he pulled the door open.
First, endless darkness. Then—a figure.
Clad in an old, flowing robe, with hair cascading to its waist and a crimson dot on its forehead—clearly male, yet just as faceless as Yu Nian’an.
“Long time no see, White Ram.”
Its voice was neither male nor female, as if two people spoke in unison.
The surrounding darkness swirled like whirlpools, distorting reality.
“You—” Qi Xia clutched his head, pain splitting his skull. Memories struggled to surface, only to be locked away by an unseen force.
“No rush. We have time.” The figure stepped closer. “Won’t you invite me in? Let’s talk.”
Qi Xia stared into the abyss beyond the door. *Where does it lead?*
“Breaking into the door of your mind wasn’t easy.” The figure took another step.
“The door of my… mind?”
“I found you, White Ram.”
Its face contorted. A sudden gale tore through the room, flinging the door wide open. Qi Xia staggered back as the figure crossed the threshold.
A putrid stench flooded the space. Now, two faceless beings stood before him—both radiating an indescribable wrongness.
“Why lock your mind so tightly?”
The words came from both—or neither. Without mouths, Qi Xia couldn’t tell who spoke.
“This place is already in ruins. What are you clinging to? You opened the door last time, didn’t you?”
“I—”
“Why not rest? What are you afraid of? Sleep. Dream. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“I can’t… I can’t sleep…”
“But you’re exhausted. It’s time. Who will wake you now?”
“You…” Qi Xia’s voice wavered. “*Tianlong*…?”
“At your service.” The figure tilted its head. “Ruler of *Taoyuan*.”
“You invaded my dream…?”
“Would I need to?”
Tianlong glided to the small dining table and waved a hand. Instantly, it expanded into an ornate *Eight Immortals* table, chairs materializing around it.
Qi Xia blinked—Yu Nian’an was gone.
“Speaking with you is… *challenging*.” Tianlong chuckled, touching its blank face. “How do I look in your dream?”
“Like a grotesque monster.”
“Is that so?” Tianlong mused. “I expected something more… fearsome.”
“Tianlong, are you scared?”
“*Me*?”
“Why invade my dream?” Qi Xia pressed. “Are my actions unsettling you?”
“Ha. Haha.” Tianlong’s faceless visage rippled with amusement—or something darker. “How amusing, White Ram. *You*—who hasn’t slept in seven years—accuse *me* of fear?”
“Then face me properly!” Qi Xia snapped. “Why slither into my mind?”
“Relax, White Ram.” Tianlong bowed its head slightly. “Why resist me?”
It gestured for him to sit. “Every nerve in your body is strained. *Rest*.”
“Speak plainly.” Qi Xia stood his ground. “I won’t lower my guard.”
“No hurry.” Tianlong’s face shifted again. “As I said… we have time. Now that I’m here, you can’t leave—unless someone wakes you.”
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