Several carriages bearing the crest of Mount Hua came to a halt on a small mountaintop. The cold, crisp air that greeted them was a stark contrast to the chillier atmosphere they had just passed through, indicating they had crossed into the southern regions of the Central Plains, where winter's grasp was less profound than in the North.

An elderly woman, Chen Feng Ling of Mount Hua, stood at the edge of the mountain, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. She could feel the biting cold in her bones, but her thoughts were far from the weather. Her heart ached as she glanced toward the nearby carriage, where her grandson, Lu Shun, lay unconscious and in dire condition. His qi was nearly depleted, and his life hung by a thread.

Chen Feng Ling clenched her teeth, determination hardening her resolve. "We must keep moving," she commanded, her voice tinged with urgency. "If we maintain this pace, we should reach the Blazing Dawn Sect in about a week." But the more they traveled, the more it seemed that Lu Shun might not survive the journey. His condition showed no signs of improvement, and each passing day drained away any hope of recovery. The thought of her daughter, unable to see her son’s face one last time, weighed heavily on Chen Feng Ling's mind. She was desperate to reach Blazing Dawn before it was too late.

Edina’s Room, Jinwei Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect,

In the quiet of her room, Junior Edina stirred awake, a yawn escaping her lips as she slowly emerged from sleep. It had been two days since the incident with Wei, when his qi had erupted violently and the Chomug parasite had been discovered within him.

At first, Junior Edina had been skeptical of the letter from her future self, Senior Edina. But after examining Wei herself and seeing him lying unconscious, she could no longer deny the truth. The sight of Wei, so lifeless and vulnerable, was a chilling confirmation of the letter’s claims. According to Senior Edina, this particular type of Chomug parasite shouldn’t have been discovered until much later, leading her to suspect that someone else might have also traveled back in time.

Senior Edina had hinted at a possible identity for this mysterious time traveler, but she had withheld the details, leaving Junior Edina to ponder the possibilities. She sighed, her thoughts drifting as she gazed out the window at the overcast sky. The clouds hung low and heavy, a sure sign that winter had arrived. The season had come early, bringing with it a sense of foreboding that matched the uncertainty in her heart.

With a weary sigh, Junior Edina rose from her bed, her cane in hand. The room was cold, and the chill seeped into her bones, but she ignored it as she called out, "Lian Hua."

Almost immediately, her personal maid, Lian Hua, appeared with a bright smile, her presence a warm comfort in the otherwise bleak morning. "Good morning, Young Mistress," Lian Hua greeted, her tone cheerful as she assisted Edina in preparing for the day. She helped her mistress dress, carefully selecting warm garments that would shield her from the cold. The winter chill had already begun to creep into the air, and the snowflakes that had started to fall overnight were a testament to the season’s arrival.

Once she was dressed, Junior Edina decided to visit Wei before heading to her class in Mu Mansion. It was on her way, after all, and she felt a need to check on him, even though the sight of his unconscious state was unsettling. Normally, Lian Hua would have accompanied her, helping her walk the distance to class, but today, Junior Edina had assigned her maid a task that required her to stay behind. So, she set out alone, her cane tapping lightly against the stone floors as she made her way through the corridors.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

As Junior Edina walked through the sect grounds, she noticed the familiar scene of disciples training in the cold morning air. The training grounds were alive with the sounds of clashing weapons and the focused grunts of those honing their martial skills. A light snowfall had begun, delicate flakes drifting down and covering the ground in a thin, sparkling layer. The cold seeped through even her thick clothing, sending small shivers through her body, but she pressed on, determined to reach Wei’s room.

When she arrived at the entrance to Wei’s room, she paused, her hand hovering just above the door. She was about to push it open when she caught sight of Aunt Li Mei sitting beside Wei's unconscious form. Aunt Li Mei’s face was etched with concern, her eyes fixed on the young boy lying still in the bed. Not wanting to confront Aunt Li Mei, Junior Edina hesitated, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly decided to step back, hiding herself behind the wall near the doorway.

Junior Edina knew that her body did not conduct qi, This unique characteristic made her virtually undetectable to even highly skilled martial artists like Aunt Li Mei, as long as they didn’t see her directly. She took advantage of this, remaining perfectly still and out of sight, her breathing shallow as she listened to the quiet sounds within the room.

Suddenly, a soft cough broke the silence. Wei stirred, his chest rising and falling weakly. Aunt Li Mei immediately turned her attention to him, her eyes widening in relief. "Physician!" she called out, her voice urgent but controlled. The physician, who had been tending to some herbs on the other side of the room, rushed to Wei’s side, carrying a gourd of water in his hand.

Wei’s eyelids fluttered open slowly, his gaze unfocused and disoriented. The physician, noticing the signs of life, gently lifted Wei’s head and brought a gourd of water to his lips. As the cool liquid trickled down his throat, Wei swallowed with difficulty, his breaths coming in shallow, uneven gasps.

“Ah, Young Master Wei has finally awakened! This is cause for celebration, Mistress Li Mei,” the physician announced, a tone of relief in his voice. Aunt Li Mei, who had been anxiously holding her son’s hand, nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and lingering concern.

“Thank you, Doctor,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “You mentioned wanting to ask some questions to understand what happened. Please, go ahead. I want to find those bastards who did this to my boy and make them pay.”

The physician nodded and turned his attention back to Wei, his expression serious. “Young Master Wei, how are you feeling now?” he asked gently, his voice coaxing Wei back to the present.

Wei blinked, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked from the physician to his mother. “I... I felt like I was about to die,” he whispered, his voice trembling with the memory. “I really thought I was dying.”

The physician nodded solemnly, his brow furrowed in concentration. “I’ve confirmed that the Chomug parasite found in your body was laced with alcoholic toxins and dampeners. These substances would have made you feel as if you were perpetually drunk, impairing your judgment and making you act on impulse. If you can recall when you first started feeling this way, it might help us determine when the parasite took hold.”

Wei’s face scrunched up in thought, his memories blurred and fragmented. “The last thing I remember clearly… was when Lin ran out of the cabin during the kidnapping,” he began, his voice hesitant as he tried to piece together the events. “I followed her, but then, out of nowhere, I had this urge to go back and help Edina… which I wouldn’t have done under those circumstances. It didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t control it. After that, every time I had a thought, I just acted on it, without hesitation.”

The physician nodded, his suspicions seemingly confirmed. “It appears our theory was correct—this likely started during the kidnapping.”

Aunt Li Mei’s grip tightened around Wei’s hand, her expression hardening with resolve. “Those bastards will pay for this,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes dark with determination.

Hidden behind the doorway, Junior Edina listened intently to the conversation. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and she now understood why Wei had seemed so different these past few months. The Chomug parasite had kept him in a state of constant intoxication, making him more restrained and making him act in ways he normally wouldn’t have—like saving her.