It was early in the morning after the Lunar New Year ended.
Pan Chun lay in bed, unable to sleep, and stared at the ceiling, still processing the total mindfuckery she went through the previous night. - Not only was I transported to an entirely different universe, but I was transported into the world of a danmei xianxia novel! Shit!
That made things, to put it simply, a lot more fucking complicated than it needed to be.
What? Did the universe or some cosmic power expect her to use her foreknowledge to change the novel's plot? Was that why she was here?
What could I even do anyway? I'm not in any of the major cultivation sects, let alone any sect at all. The characters wouldn't spare me a glance. I'm not even from this world. I'm just a stranger here. An intruder.
It's none of my business anyway.
As for the dark ritual that brought her here, how did it even transport her from an entirely different universe in the first place? Usually in this type of scenario, the person either transmigrates into a new body or dies and gets reincarnated. But here she was, in her original body, but much younger. What was powerful enough to do that?
The forbidden ritual wasn't the same one that Mo Xuanyu conducted to resurrect Wei Wuxian at the cost of his soul. There was an array drawn in blood, sure, but Mo Xuanyu didn't use captured demons in a spirit-trapping pouch. His body was still intact for Wei Wuxian's soul to inhabit. As for the mystery cultivator, both their soul and body had been consumed. Most importantly, Pan Chun wasn't dead.
Definitely. Not. Dead.
What was the purpose of the ritual? Why did this cultivator decide to go through with it? They must've carried out this dark ritual near a remote village like Xuhou to avoid any investigation from the sects.
Pan Heng had explained that it was as good as impossible to identify the culprit since the number of sects in existence was endless. But this was her closest, probably only lead in finding a way home.
Ugh. So much to think about.
Pan Chun grabbed a notebook and a writing brush. She needed to devise a plan. And record the plot of Mo Dao Zu Shi, just in case.
She'd have to jot down her notes in English. No telling if someone might get a little too curious for their own good and snoop through her notes. She'll just have to make them think it's gibberish.
Pan Chun sighed deeply. Time to pull her thoughts together and write.
Ok. Everything before the Sunshot Campaign only involved the cultivation sects. Nothing to do with a small rural village like Xuhou. She was totally safe.
Then there's the Sunshot Campaign itself, which Pan Chun hoped wouldn't reach Xuhou. If Wen cultivators somehow ended up near Xuhou, they'd ransack the place. Then they'd attract the attention of the cultivators from the other Great Sects, bringing them here to cause more damage with their fighting. She might even be killed in the crossfire if she wasn't careful, even with Pan Heng around. Not to mention, Wei Wuxian would probably show up to get rid of the Wens and add their corpses to his army. If news ever reached Xuhou that the Wens were approaching, she and the other villagers better evacuate before the bloodshed began.
Everything post-Sunshot Campaign was political strife within the sects, including Nie Mingjue's murder case, the resurrection of Wei Wuxian, and the fallout of Jin Guangyao's personal ambitions. All of which had nothing to do with the peasantry.
Wow, that merchant was right. Whatever mess the cultivators made was theirs to deal with. It was like the cultivators enacted a soap opera that the common folk just shook their heads and rolled their eyes at.
Pan Chun tapped the end of her brush to her chin.
Hmmm. Couldn't she just wait until everything's over and ask Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian for help? Those two were some of the top cultivators of their generation. If anyone could figure out her interdimensional troubles, it'd be the man, the legend, the founder of demonic cultivation himself, Wei Wuxian!
"…"
Pan Chun quickly erased that part. No, she didn't have nearly two decades to wait. Who knew how time in this world worked compared to her world?
"Hngh…" Pan Chun scratched her head. What else? What else?
Aha! Possible New Plan: Find Baoshan Sanren.
Baoshan Sanren was one of the oldest living immortal cultivators here. She had to know something!
One problem though, Baoshan Sanren's whereabouts were unknown. Not even Wei Wuxian, the son of one of her disciples, Cangse Sanren, knew where she was! Shit! It was a difficult plan, but still a plan.
Damn it. There was just no easy way out.
Pan Chun sighed and rubbed her head. After she finished recording her notes and parts of the novel's storyline, she lay back down in bed.
Unfortunately, it was hard to stop thinking when you're still awake.
Homesickness was a bitch like that.
How long had she been gone? Had her friends reported her missing? Was there an international manhunt for her?
How was her family? Did her disappearance leave them shaken?
As for her dad…he would've made good company here. He read many classic wuxia and xianxia paperback novels that were translated into Vietnamese. He would've been great to bounce ideas off of. And he always knew how to get them out of tight spots.
What was her dad doing? Did he oversmoke himself out of worry and grief? - No. She couldn't let her thoughts spiral down that route. -
Pan Chun pulled the blanket tighter to her chin and squeezed her eyes shut. Nope, still couldn't fall back to sleep. Pan Chun groaned and rolled over on her side, facing the wall.
There was so much Pan Chun still dreamed of doing. She wanted to travel and explore everything. The sights, the history, the landmarks, the food, the music, the sky, the stars…
All those books, anime, web novels, fanfics, video games, and documentaries left unfinished...
She had an entire life to get back to.
She couldn't just sit by and wait for someone else to solve her problems for her.
She knew what she had to do.
The only way I'll know what happened to me and get back home is if I go and seek out the answers myself.
Here's to hoping I don't die in the process.
Pan Chun kneeled and bowed in front of Pan Heng, her forehead touching the ground. "Please teach me cultivation!"
A tense silence filled the room.
Pan Chun's heart pounded in her ears. Her arms and back started to ache. Had she bowed for the appropriate amount of time? Still facing the ground, she couldn't see Pan Heng's reaction.
"No."
Pan Chun froze. - No? What does he mean "no"?!
Pan Chun shot up, distraught. "What? But why?!"
"Listen, A-Chun, the cultivation world is not a kind place, especially to people like us."
Pan Chun met Pan Heng's hardened eyes, trying to show her resolve. "I understand that. But I need to become a cultivator, like you! It's the only way I'll-"
"No, you don't understand!"
Pan Chun flinched. Pan Heng had never raised his voice at her before.
"Cultivation isn't for fun! You could very well die! One mistake could cost you your life! You think you could survive? A mere peasant without any cultivation background or bloodline?!"
Pan Chun gritted her teeth. "But I have to-"
"I will hear no more of this! My answer is no!"
Pan Chun and Pan Heng glared at each other, unrelenting.
"Whatever you're thinking, you're better off staying in Xuhou." With that, Pan Heng left for his room with a scowl.
Pan Chun rubbed a hand over her forehead, shaking her head and sighing in frustration.
Desperate calls call for desperate measures.
Pan Heng had gone to bed for the night. But his irritation, which had not fully faded away, kept him awake.
What was Pan Chun thinking? Did that kid have a death wish?
It had been more than a year since Pan Chun first showed up in Xuhou. He must be growing restless and wants to take matters into his own hands. But that just wasn't viable.
The cultivation world would eat Pan Chun alive. Pan Heng did not want to put him in such danger.
His continued research into cultivation books would have to do. That was better than putting Pan Chun directly into the greedy maws of the cultivation sects. Better than knowing the poor kid got killed on a night hunt because of him...
Pan Heng's ears picked up on something.
Footsteps. Small feet padded into his room.
Pan Heng turned to the small figure standing by his bedside. "A-Chun, what-"
Pan Chun held a wooden spoon in one hand and a wok in the other.
Oh hell no. "Pan Chun, don't you dare-"
Pan Chun hit the wok with the wooden spoon, all while screaming at the top of his lungs.
Pan Heng winced. "Quiet! Quiet! You'll wake up the neighbors!"
Pan Chun paused in the middle of his screaming, but didn't stop banging the wok. "I will do this every night until you agree to teach me."
Judging by the expression on Pan Chun's face, he wasn't bluffing. Pan Heng was having none of that.
Pan Heng moved quickly, almost a blur. He intercepted the spoon and wok with one hand, lifting Pan Chun by the back of his coat with the other.
"Wha-Hey!" Pan Chun dangled from his grip.
Pan Heng brought Pan Chun's face close to his, frowning sternly. "Behave, then we'll talk."
In response, Pan Chun nodded and stopped flailing around. Pan Heng gently placed the child back down.
Pan Heng sighed and pinched the area between his eyes. "All right, A-Chun, why are you so desperate about becoming a cultivator?"
Pan Chun paused, carefully thinking about his answer. "I've...thought a lot about it and I've decided that the best way for me to find my way back home is to find it myself through cultivation...especially since I'm from another world."
Pan Heng shook his head. "From another world - This again?!"
"All this time you didn't believe me…" Anger built up inside Pan Chun. "I know it's hard but trust me when I say I am from another world!"
Pan Heng glared at Pan Chun. "I took you in, do you really want to raise your voice at me?"
Pan Chun let out a long sigh of frustration, got up on his feet, and walked outside.
Pan Heng followed him to the front entrance. "What are you doing?"
Pan Chun sat and kneeled on the ground outside the house. "You will train me in cultivation. I'll stay outside the house until you agree to do so."
"Don't be a fool," Pan Heng spat.
Pan Chun didn't answer him, clenching his fists on his knees. He silently directed a hard stare at Pan Heng.
"Fine then! Have it your way!" Pan Heng slammed the door shut.
Pan Heng flipped through a page of yet another cultivation book. Still nothing notable. It didn't help that he found it hard to focus.
Pan Heng looked outside his window. - He's still sitting out there?
Heavens. Why did Pan Chun have to insist on such stubbornness?
Two nights passed since Pan Chun started kneeling outside. He would eat the food Pan Heng brought outside for him. But he was true to his word about not taking another step into the house.
Pan Chun shivered in the cold, but tightened his grip on his knees and continued facing directly ahead of him.
Pan Heng shook his head and returned to studying. Pan Chun had to learn the hard way that such stubbornness was a waste of energy, Pan Heng reasoned to himself, and pushed down his guilt.
Hours passed and it was nearing dawn.
Pan Chun's head started tilting up and down. He shook his head, trying to keep awake. But his body had reached its limit.
Pan Chun swayed and his eyes drooped. He toppled towards the ground, unable to keep awake any longer.
Pan Heng caught Pan Chun in his arms before he could hit the ground. - You just won't quit, will you, A-Chun?
Fine then. Pan Heng will hear him out.
Urgh...
Pan Chun woke up, groaning. Damn it. She ended up collapsing outside. Was this how far she had to push herself for Pan Heng to listen?
Someone cleared their throat. She looked to the side of her bed. Pan Heng sat on a stool, his arms crossed and his mouth set in a tight line.
Great. Was Pan Heng going to act all smug with her now?
Instead, Pan Heng shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "A-Chun. I'm-I'm sorry I got angry with you."
Ah geez. Pan Heng looked like a kicked Doberman. His guilt was sincere.
Pan Chun sighed. She didn't exactly act as cordially as she could have. Neither she nor Pan Heng did. "I'm sorry too."
A few moments passed in silence.
Pan Chun straightened herself up in bed. "You're ready to talk, for real this time?"
"Yes," Pan Heng replied calmly.
Pan Chun took a breath. "All right then. Let's try this again. I need to become a cultivator. A-ge, you're the only cultivator around here who can teach me."
"Why isn't my research enough?"
"Studying those cultivation books alone is getting us nowhere and you know that."
Pan Heng couldn't argue with that point. "All right. So the cultivation books aren't enough. Why don't you just ask me to search outside of Xuhou then?" Not that it would make any difference. Pan Heng could never set foot outside of Xuhou and rejoin cultivation society. Never.
Pan Chun shook her head. "No. I can't ask you to risk your life like that."
And yet you're fine with risking yours? - Guilt and conflicting emotions roiled inside Pan Heng. Pan Chun wanted to return home so badly. Pan Heng hated that their options were so limited. "Trying to find a way home by becoming a cultivator yourself isn't worth the risk of dying for."
Pan Chun's expression turned grim, her eyes resigned. "No. It's not. But it's my only option."
Pan Heng turned his head away from Pan Chun, scowling and gritting his teeth. - So it's come down to this...
Pan Heng faced Pan Chun again, his expression deadly serious. "You don't have the advantage of being descended from a cultivation family bloodline. You'll have to start from scratch, with no guarantee that you'll succeed. Understand?"
Pan Chun nodded, unwavering. "Yes!"
"It won't be easy. I better not hear any complaining from you."
"Yes!" Pan Chun's eyes got watery and she flung herself at Pan Heng, hugging him around the waist. She pressed her face into Pan Heng's stomach. "Thank you!" Pan Chun sobbed. "Thank you!"
"All right, all right, stop crying! You're getting snot all over me!"