TCPM 4

 

Chapter 4

That afternoon, Wei Zai accompanied Xu Jianyou as they toured the entirety of Huiling Mausoleum. As the sun began to set, she escorted Xu Jianyou to the eastern gate, which connected directly to the western entrance of Xiyang University. Only a single city gate separated them, yet Wei Zai was bound by the boundaries of the mausoleum—meaning once Xu Jianyou crossed that threshold, Wei Zai might never see her again. Reluctant to part, her footsteps slowed of their own accord.

Oblivious to this, Xu Jianyou lingered on the threshold between the interior and exterior, glancing back at the lingering Wei Zai. Seemingly struck by a sudden thought, she smiled and suggested they grab a casual meal together at her university cafeteria.

Feeling a pang of sorrow—desperate to draw closer even if this person wasn't truly Xu Qingchu—Wei Zai hesitated. Before she could register what was happening, Xu Jianyou reached out and caught her wrist—her hand making contact with a warm, living touch.

Startled beyond measure, before Wei Zai could react, she found herself being pulled forward past the threshold. Turning her head in a daze, she realized the gates of Huiling Mausoleum had been left behind her. How could this be possible? She had tested it countless times; she was never able to leave the mausoleum grounds, nor could she physically touch any person or object! Stunned, she stammered, "You... can actually touch me?"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I? Though your hand feels a bit chilly..." Xu Jianyou replied casually.

It took a while for Xu Jianyou to realize something was amiss when a passing classmate greeted her, looking utterly bewildered as to why Xu Jianyou was holding her hand aloft with nothing inside it. When Xu Jianyou gestured toward Wei Zai, her classmate insisted nobody was standing there, teasing her about April Fool's Day or seeing ghosts. When the classmate stepped right through Wei Zai's ethereal form to prove her point, panic briefly flickered before Xu Jianyou hastily invented an excuse to brush it off and dragged Wei Zai back into the secluded quiet of the mausoleum grounds to catch her breath.

Seated on a stone step, Xu Jianyou looked up in exhaustion and demanded to know what sort of entity Wei Zai truly was. Upon learning she was a spirit, Xu Jianyou’s initial shock gradually gave way to pragmatic acceptance as she questioned why Wei Zai had followed her out. Wei Zai protested her innocence, pointing out that Xu Jianyou had been the one to pull her across the boundary.

When Xu Jianyou pressed for her identity, Wei Zai answered honestly that she was Wei Zai. Stunned by the coincidence, Xu Jianyou pointed toward the main hall and asked if she meant the historical Emperor Xianzong, to which Wei Zai calmly agreed. Overwhelmed by the surreal afternoon, Xu Jianyou checked the time, apologized for the disturbance, and politely excused herself to leave.

As Xu Jianyou walked away, she noticed Wei Zai silently trailing behind her. Stopping in frustration, she asked why she was still being followed. Wei Zai confessed that she believed Xu Jianyou was the reincarnation or counterpart of Xu Qingchu. Though Xu Jianyou pointed out they merely shared a name and a passing facial resemblance, Wei Zai insisted that her ability to cross the boundary exclusively through contact with her proved a deep, undeniable connection. When pushed further about their past relationship, a flustered and desperate Wei Zai blurted out that they shared a bond spanning three lifetimes—and that she intended to hold her to that ancient promise.

Left utterly speechless by the revelation, Xu Jianyou stood frozen in absolute disbelief.

---