The True Beginning

Kuai, who had found an oasis in the desert, decided to rest there for a day. The relentless sun had taken a toll on him, and the cool shade of the oasis was a welcome relief. He replenished his water supply and allowed his body some much-needed rest.

As the afternoon sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the desert, Kuai prepared to continue his journey. He was about to leave when he noticed something peculiar: the water in the oasis started to glow softly. Intrigued, he approached the water cautiously and, after a moment's hesitation, stepped into it.

To his surprise, as soon as he entered the water, a soothing voice echoed in his mind. "Out of all that is forbidden, you are needed to remember."

Kuai's confusion deepened. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could utter a word, the water began to swirl around him. Panic gripped him as he thought he might drown, but instead of consuming him, the water seemed to transport him elsewhere.

In the blink of an eye, Kuai found himself in an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar place. He turned around, and there, standing behind him, was a magnificent white nine-tailed fox. Recognition dawned upon him; he knew who this fox was.

"Last Sheng," the nine-tailed fox spoke, its voice filled with wisdom, "I'm here to guide you down the memory lane. 'She,' one of the world's laws, has given the command."

Kuai's heart raced as Baihu, the nine-tailed fox, explained the purpose of their meeting in this mysterious place.

"Last Sheng," she began, "Although this is not an ordinary trip down one's memory lane, time within here affects time in the real world. If you were to stay here for five years, only five days would pass in the outside world."

Kuai's eyes widened in surprise at the notion of time behaving differently in this place. He remembered his previous encounter with Baihu within his consciousness and wondered if, finally, he would find the answers he sought.

"We spoke last time in my consciousness," Kuai said, regaining his composure. "Here, in this memory lane, will everything be answered?"

Baihu nodded in response and gracefully moved toward the entrance of the familiar cave, where a brilliant light beckoned. She turned to Kuai with a serene expression. "Shall we get started?"

Kuai nodded, his curiosity and determination driving him forward, and he followed Baihu into the blinding light.

~ IN THE ORIGINAL TIME ~

a younger man with silvery-white hair handed a bundle of fruits to another man with emerald-green eyes and long raven hair tied up into a ponytail.

"Ziao ge, these are the only fruits I could find within this forest," the younger man said.

"These are enough, Xiao Kuai," Ziao replied with a smile.

Kuai's brow furrowed as he watched the scene unfold before him, hidden behind a thick bush. The conversation between the two men was strangely familiar, but something felt off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, and the confusion was etched across his face.

"I have a sharp memory, I know this isn't the conversation that I and Ziao ge had a week ago," Kuai whispered to Baihu, his eyes fixed on the past version of himself and Ziao.

Baihu turned to Kuai, her nine tails swaying gently. "That's because this memory lane contains the forgotten memories from the original timeline. The ones you currently remember are the reforged ones," she explained.

Kuai's curiosity was insatiable, and he had more questions. "If I show myself, will they be able to see us?" he asked Baihu.

The nine-tailed fox shook her head, indicating that they were invisible to the people within the memory lane. After all, it was merely a memory.

"They can't see us," Baihu clarified, "but you can possess your past self. However, you won't have control over your body; it's more like watching a film from a third-person point of view."

Kuai's curiosity was insatiable, and he had more questions. "If I show myself, will they be able to see us?" he asked Baihu.

The nine-tailed fox shook her head, indicating that they were invisible to the people within the memory lane. After all, it was merely a memory.

"They can't see us," Baihu clarified, "but you can possess your past self. However, you won't have control over your body; it's more like watching a film from a third-person point of view."

With this understanding, Kuai nodded, deciding to watch from the sidelines for now and continued observing scene back to the past Kuai and Ziao Ge, that were now sharing the bundle of fruits. 

As they ate, o.Kuai couldn't help but express his concern.

"Ziao Ge," he began, "I've noticed you haven't been sleeping properly these nights."

o.Ziao Ge looked at o.Kuai, a hint of weariness in his emerald eyes. "It's nothing, Kuai," he replied, "I just can't seem to sleep well lately."

Despite o.Ziao Ge's reassurances, the brothers continued their journey toward Yuzhou Harbor, with the present Kuai and Baihu silently following behind.

~

{ Back in The Unknown}

Hundun hu, the former Guardian of Chaos, rushed toward a gigantic mirror in the middle of a dimly lit room. Purple candle flames flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Chanting an unfamiliar incantation, he summoned someone from the other side of the mirror.

A chilling voice emerged from the depths of the mirror. "Do you have any news? It better be worth disturbing my slumber," the voice demanded.

Hundun hu didn't waste any time. "The Last Sheng's presence has disappeared," he announced, "along with one of my greatest rivals, the Guardian of Life."

And with that, the connection went silent, leaving the room in an unsettling stillness.

The chilling voice on the other side of the mirror started to laugh menacingly. "So it's not only Destiny who's starting to move," it taunted, "even Creation is letting her disciple get involved... but eventually, we won't be needing the Last Sheng. We need my future successor, and you know who that is."

And with that ominous statement, the connection faded, leaving Hundun hu in the dim, candlelit room, contemplating the implications of what he had just heard.