Chapter Two: A Strange Encounter in the Cave

Staring at the pitch-black entrance, Tang Wei still lacked the courage to venture inside. Her gaze dropped to the misty, bottomless cliff below. She remembered that, just to survive, she’d originally planned to try climbing down. Now, fate had provided another path; should she muster her courage and explore the cave? But the thought of snakes or other creatures lurking within—any encounter would be a gamble with death—kept her rooted in fear. Dusk was falling fast. It was a choice between two uncertainties. Climbing down offered little hope, so perhaps she should see what lay within. After all, things had come to this—who knew if she’d ever make it back alive? She might as well satisfy her curiosity first. Even if she couldn’t find a way out, she could at least see if there was anything inside. Who could say—maybe, by some stroke of luck, she’d discover an undiscovered imperial tomb before she died, or perhaps a great treasure; the cave mouth didn’t look naturally formed, after all. Tang Wei let her imagination run wild, finding comfort in her own whimsy—a little amusement in hardship to soothe herself.

“If I’m going in, perhaps I should test whether anything alive dwells inside,” she muttered.

She spun on the spot, searching for something. Walking to the edge of the steps, she yanked a few times at the stones but found nothing loose. Trying again elsewhere, she finally pried out a fist-sized rock. Approaching the entrance, she tested the ground beside the cave to see if it could bear her weight, then tugged at some vines for extra grip. She hurled the stone into the darkness and quickly ducked aside. There was a dull thud, then silence. Nothing emerged. She threw a few more rocks inside—still no response. Standing at the threshold, she called out loudly, as if to steel her resolve. The cave remained mute.

Taking a few tentative steps into the darkness, she saw nothing ahead—her hand before her face was invisible. Her chest pounded so loud she thought her heart might burst free. Taking a deep breath, she reached into her jeans pocket, retrieved her phone, and pressed the unlock button. Instantly, the cave brightened, and the path ahead became faintly visible. She ran her right hand along the wall, scanning the surroundings with her phone in her left. Unlike outside, there were no tangled vines inside—only patches of thick moss and sections of bare stone, with no sign of smaller holes. Tang Wei felt a surge of relief: without extra nooks and crannies, surely there wouldn’t be snakes. She’d always feared those limbless, slithering creatures most.

The passage twisted downward, with steps carved into the rock. Keeping close to the wall, she descended slowly, eyes darting everywhere, ready to flee at the first sign of danger. Ten minutes passed; her heart hammered faster and faster, squeezing the breath from her lungs. As her pulse raced, her breathing grew rougher and more desperate, as if she might suffocate. She realized that if she let herself continue in this state, she’d frighten herself to death before she found a way out.

She stopped, pressing her hand to her chest, inhaled deeply, and exhaled forcefully—repeating this several times. To her surprise, her nerves eased. She stood still until she felt calm again, then resumed her descent, moving faster now. The deeper she went, the cooler the air grew.

After another fifteen or twenty minutes, the chill faded. She began to hear the faint sound of running water, and the cave seemed less oppressively dark. Rounding a bend, she found herself bathed in sudden brightness, the air tinged with moisture. Tang Wei knew she was close to her goal. She slowed, proceeding with caution, her heart pounding anew—this time with a trace of excitement mingled with the fear of the unknown. The further she went, the brighter the cave became.

At the end of the tunnel, the scene opened up spectacularly. The ceiling was encrusted with luminous pearls the size of fists, bathing the chamber in daylight-like brilliance. A little stream wound beneath an ancient wooden bridge, flowers of every color blooming along the banks.

Beneath her feet, the old wooden bridge spanned the cave’s center. The railings were entwined with unfamiliar flowering vines, broad green leaves accented by purple blossoms the size of her palm, exuding a subtle, enchanting fragrance. She inhaled deeply, feeling herself sink into rapture—her hunger forgotten. Beneath the bridge, clear spring water flowed, veiling the air with wisps of mist. Golden fish played in the stream, undisturbed by her presence. The riverbed was paved with white pebbles that continued onto the bank, forming paths that wound through the profusion of flowers, each leading to a quaint wooden cottage nestled deep among the blooms.

After taking in the wondrous sight, Tang Wei crossed the bridge and stopped before the cottage, calling out, “Excuse me, is anyone here?”

With a creak, the wooden door opened. A man in a white robe stepped out. His face was as handsome as sculpted jade, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, tall and elegant—his beauty surpassed that of any legendary figure. When he saw Tang Wei, a gentle smile bloomed on his lips, eclipsing the glory of the flowers around him. Such was his allure.

He smiled warmly, his lips barely moving: “You’ve come. I’ve waited so, so long for you.” Seeing Tang Wei stunned and motionless, he frowned slightly, “Weiwei, have you forgotten me? I am Changsheng! You promised to stay with me forever and ever, never to be parted. How could you forget me?” By the end, his voice quivered with the trace of a sob.

Although Tang Wei still felt she didn’t know him, the plaintive sorrow in his voice sent sharp pain through her chest, as if she truly shouldn’t have forgotten him. For a moment, she was at a loss.

Seeing Tang Wei’s confusion, Changsheng approached gently. “It’s all right if you don’t remember. You will, in time. I’ve waited so long for your return. Don’t leave again. From now on, the entire Valley of Forgetting Sorrow will be yours. Here, you can remain forever young, untouched by time.”

Tang Wei suddenly felt overwhelmed and helpless. “But I still have family—parents, a sister, and friends. How can I not go back?”

Changsheng smiled serenely, “They’re just ordinary mortals—not worth your concern. Here, let me show you the gifts I’ve prepared for you. As long as you never leave me, I’ll give you anything you desire.” With that, he led her into a room.

Tang Wei was instantly stunned. The room glittered with gold and jewels, agate and jade, diamonds and antiques—an opulent trove that made her heart race. After a long hesitation, she said, “It’s all very beautiful, but if I don’t return, my parents and sister will worry. Besides, I feel there are so many things I still need to do.”

Changsheng came to her, taking her hand, his smile unwavering. “Look how much your hand is bleeding—it must hurt terribly. That wretched woman—how could she treat you so? She must die. Look, I’ve brought her here for you.” With a wave, Meiling appeared at his side, apparently unconscious. “Go on! Kill her! Kill her!” Changsheng urged.

Tang Wei stared at Meiling for a long time before saying, “No. I don’t want to kill her. I won’t.”

With another wave, Changsheng brought Fang Minghui, who collapsed beside Meiling. “This man dared to break your heart—he deserves to die too!” He handed Tang Wei a small dagger, smiling as always. “Once they’re gone, no one will ever hurt you again. Go on—kill them!”

Terrified, Tang Wei backed away, shouting, “No! I never wanted to kill them. I won’t!” In her retreat, she stumbled and fell. When she looked up, the magical scenery—bridge, stream, and flowers—had vanished. Only the vast, empty cavern remained.