Chapter 29: The Portal's Choice
The impending danger left a bitter taste in Li Yang's mouth, echoing in the pounding of his heart. Outside, the sound of hurried footsteps grew closer. The black-clad assailants bearing the emblem of the crescent moon were relentless in their pursuit. Lan Xi's eyes were filled with fear, yet there was a fire in them, the same fire that had always drawn Li Yang to her.
"Quickly, we must find an escape!" Li Yang whispered urgently, scanning the room for an exit. Amidst the ornate decor and heirlooms, his eyes settled on a peculiar circular dais tucked away in a dimly lit corner. Its surface, made of polished obsidian, was engraved with intricate celestial patterns that seemed to shimmer as if alive.
Without a second thought, Li Yang stepped onto the dais. Instantaneously, the room was filled with a brilliant bluish radiance. The intense luminosity made him shield his eyes, and just as he shouted, "Lan Xi!", an overwhelming force yanked him from reality.
Swirling vortices of light consumed him, and the sensation was surreal - like being caught in a massive cosmic wave. He felt weightless, adrift in an expanse where time and space seemed to warp and meld.
Moments later, or perhaps eons in this timeless void, Li Yang's feet touched solid ground. As the blinding light receded, he found himself in a completely different realm. Towering crystalline structures loomed in the distance, emitting a soft, calming glow. Beneath his feet, the grass shimmered like emerald fire. The air, though crisp and clear, carried with it an essence of magic.
Panic set in as he realized Lan Xi was nowhere in sight. The portal had transported him alone, leaving his beloved wife behind in the face of danger. The weight of this separation, combined with the unfamiliarity of his surroundings, threatened to crush his spirit.
Taking deep, steadying breaths, Li Yang tried to piece together his situation. The dais had clearly been a portal of some sort, but to where? And more importantly, how could he return?
Determined to find answers, he started exploring the alien landscape. The terrain was a mix of radiant meadows and dense, luminescent forests. The flora and fauna, while bizarre in appearance, seemed to coexist harmoniously.
Hours seemed to pass when suddenly, Li Yang stumbled upon a shimmering lake. Its waters, clear as crystal, reflected not the alien sky above, but instead the room he had been in with Lan Xi.
As he approached, a silvery mist rose from the lake's surface, forming into a spectral figure. This ethereal being, composed entirely of the silvery mist, gazed at Li Yang with eyes full of ancient wisdom.
"You are far from home," the figure intoned.
Desperate, Li Yang replied, "I must return to my wife. Please, guide me."
The spirit nodded slowly. "The portal you activated is ancient and unpredictable. To return, you must understand its essence and channel your deepest desires."
Li Yang listened intently as the spirit described the nature of the portal and how emotions and intentions played a crucial role in its workings.
Armed with this knowledge, Li Yang approached the dais once more. He closed his eyes, thinking of Lan Xi, and focusing all his love and desire to reunite with her.
As the portal's energy began to swirl around him, Li Yang braced himself for another journey through the void, determined to save Lan Xi and uncover the truth behind the mysterious forces at play.