Middle Heaven

"Xuefeng!!!"

The scream echoed through the canyon like the cry of a bird losing its wings. Dust and sand surged into the air, a gritty cloud that clawed at Liu Xuefeng's lungs and blinded his vision as he fell. His body plummeted, gravity's cruel grip yanking him toward the jagged maw of death. But through it all, his face remained eerily calm, like the still surface of a lake before a storm.

His ears rang with a deafening silence, the world muffled as if submerged underwater. No more screams, no more wind—just the relentless pounding of his heart. He knew the end was inevitable, but panic eluded him. In that suspended moment between life and death, a single thought anchored him: he had saved her.

At least Tianshi can live on to fulfill her dreams... A faint, bittersweet smile touched his lips. His life for hers—a sacrifice he would make a thousand times over. Maybe this was how it was meant to be. After all, they were from different worlds, destined to circle each other like distant stars but never collide.

Xiao Tianshi—the school president, the untouchable enigma wrapped in grace and unattainable beauty. She was like porcelain behind glass, admired but never held. Born into a world of luxury and suffocating expectations, her family sought to bind her to suitors thrice her age—businessmen with cold eyes and colder hearts. Xuefeng had been the only one at school who knew the weight she carried.

Their connection had been unexpected, blossoming quietly during late-night study sessions in the dim corners of the library. Her laughter had a way of easing the tightness in his chest, and sometimes, when the world was silent, he could feel her eyes lingering on him, a question unasked.

"Why aren't you guys dating already?" her friend had teased one afternoon, a sly grin on her face. "You look good together. Why not make it official?"

After that, the rumor mill churned viciously, whispers snaking through the hallways. Tianshi quashed them with a practiced smile and a dismissive laugh, but the damage was done.

"Xuefeng... I'm so sorry," she had said one evening, her eyes glistening under the soft glow of the streetlamp. "If my father heard about us, he'd immediately start arranging my next fiancé. Let's just focus on our studies and get into the same university, okay?"

She'd tried to smile, but it faltered, and he saw the cracks beneath her composed exterior. He wanted to reach out, to tell her that he'd fight for her, but the words lodged in his throat like shards of glass.

He'd nodded instead, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're right. Let's focus on getting into university."

Inside, something twisted painfully.

Determined, he'd thrown himself into his studies, harboring a silent hope that if he became someone significant, her father might see him differently. Maybe then they could carve out a space for themselves in a world that seemed intent on keeping them apart.

But fate had other plans.

On the last day of the school trip—a hiking excursion into the local mountains—everything changed. The day had been picture-perfect, the sun casting golden hues over the rolling hills. As the afternoon waned, Tianshi had tugged at his sleeve, her eyes bright.

"Come on, Xuefeng! One last photo before we head back."

She pulled him toward a cliff's edge where the view was breathtaking—a panorama of endless sky and distant peaks shrouded in mist. They stood close, the scent of her jasmine perfume enveloping him.

"Ready?" she asked, holding up her phone.

He nodded, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Then the ground gave way.

A sickening crack, like ice splitting underfoot. The cliff crumbled, time stretching as adrenaline flooded his veins. Instinct took over. He shoved her back with all his strength.

Her eyes widened in horror as she stumbled to safety, his name a desperate scream on her lips. "Xuefeng!!!"

And then he was falling.

Rocks scraped against him, tearing at his clothes and skin. Pain flashed white-hot, then dulled. The sky above shrank to a sliver as darkness embraced him.

Huh? Did I die? The thought drifted through his mind like a leaf on the wind. There was no pain now, no sensation at all. Just an endless void pressing in from all sides.

Wait... I can think! The realization jolted him. His consciousness was intact, floating in this abyss. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt heavy and unresponsive.

So what now? Time lost meaning as he lingered there, neither alive nor fully gone.

Then, piercing the darkness, a tiny dot of white appeared. It pulsed gently, growing larger as it spiraled toward him. He watched, mesmerized and wary, as it expanded, light fracturing the shadows.

The brilliance engulfed him, and when it subsided, he found himself suspended above a road that split into two paths, each leading to towering gates—one of ivory, the other of ebony.

Around him drifted countless gray shadows—human-like but hollow, their forms moving with eerie synchronicity as if pulled by unseen strings.

Are these... souls? The word settled uneasily within him.

One of the figures turned, revealing a face devoid of features, and a chill swept over him. "What the hell is this?" he called out, his voice echoing into the vastness.

No response. The souls continued their silent procession toward the gates. Most drifted toward the black gate, a few toward the white.

He tried to move against the current, but an invisible force dragged him forward. Panic nipped at the edges of his mind.

Just then, a golden light shot through the air, zipping toward him like a comet. It hovered before him, pulsating with a warm glow that stood in stark contrast to the bleak surroundings.

Unable to resist, he reached out. The light settled into his palm, and a comforting warmth spread through him.

"What are you?" he whispered.

A voice echoed within his mind, devoid of emotion yet commanding. "Come here, boy."

Before he could react, he was pulled toward the white gate, the scenery blurring until he found himself before two figures dressed in pristine robes. One was ancient, with a beard that flowed like a river of snow. The other was middle-aged, his sharp eyes appraising.

"Interesting," the old man mused, stroking his beard. "It's been a while since a Fate Spirit chose someone."

"He must have accumulated a lot of karma in his past life," the middle-aged man agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

"Fate Spirit?" Xuefeng glanced at the golden orb still nestled in his hand.

The old man smiled faintly. "Yes, boy. The Fate Spirit has deemed you worthy. As such, we can grant you one wish."

"A wish?" His mind raced. Power? Wealth? The possibilities unfurled before him like a tapestry.

The middle-aged man stepped forward. "Before you decide, understand this: you are in Middle Heaven, a crossroads for souls from various realms. We assess each soul's karma—those with positive karma are granted reincarnation; those with negative karma face judgment."

"So... I qualify to be reborn?" Hope flickered within him.

"Indeed," the old man confirmed. "However, your life link to your original realm has been severed. You can only reincarnate into a different realm—the Earth Realm, a world filled with adventure and mystery."

Xuefeng's heart sank. I'll never see Tianshi again.

"Will I at least get to keep my memories after my rebirth?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The two men exchanged glances. The middle-aged man spoke solemnly. "Normally, all souls drink from the River of Oblivion to forget their past lives. Retaining your memories is possible, but it would require your wish."

"Then that's my wish," Xuefeng said without hesitation.

"So fast?" The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed. "Think carefully. You could wish for anything—power, wealth, even immortality. Why waste it on memories?"

A soft smile touched Xuefeng's lips as Tianshi's face filled his mind—the curve of her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. "What good is power or wealth if I can't share it with her? If I can't see her again, I want to at least keep the memories of our time together."

The old man's gaze softened. "Very well. Your wish shall be granted. However, keeping your memories intact places a strain on the soul. We must reincarnate you as a teenager to accommodate this. Are you alright with that?"

Xuefeng nodded. "I don't mind."

A portal materialized beside them, swirling with ethereal light. The golden orb in his hand buzzed, then slowly sank into his chest, merging with his very essence.

"Make sure to take care of your Fate Spirit," the old man advised. "It is both a blessing and a curse, but it will aid you on your journey."

"Good luck," the middle-aged man added, a hint of a smile on his otherwise stern face. "Your path will not be easy, but lives worth living seldom are."

Xuefeng took a deep breath, steeling himself. Maybe it was foolish to waste his wish on memories, but he felt no regret. He wanted to begin his new life as the person she had helped him become—the person she knew and, perhaps, loved.

"Thank you," he said, stepping toward the portal.

As he crossed the threshold, a familiar soul has appeared in the river of souls.