"It's you..." Ming Yu could never have imagined she would see Hua Yun Jin here.
Chang Yu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master, you have arrived."
Hua Yun Jin nodded, then said, "Let's go!"
Chang Yu followed, walking a few steps forward. He suddenly noticed Ming Yu wasn't following.
He stopped and walked in front of Ming Yu, saying, "Miss Ming Yu, please don't mind. Master didn't mean to ignore you. Seeing you return, he's happier than anyone."
"Chang Yu, you don't need to say more. I understand everything."
The night was dark and windy, cool as water. Ming Yu sat in her room, gazing absently at the red candle on the table. For a moment, she felt a sense of disorientation. She didn't know what happened next, but she felt her vision blur, and then she fainted.
It was the scent of blood, growing stronger and stronger. In the darkness, she was suddenly enveloped by light. The sky instantly brightened, but only for a moment before a torrent of blood rain poured down.
And she stood there, ethereal and unable to move, rooted to the spot. She watched the sky filled with blood rain soak her, feeling the scent of gore as it beat down upon her.
The end was pitch black, like a deep pool. Her body moved forward involuntarily, as if drawn by a magic force. Passing through the darkness, she saw a lake ahead. A solitary boat was moored by the shore, empty. The previously silent lake suddenly rippled, and the solitary boat inexplicably drifted towards her.
In surprise, in the blink of an eye, the solitary boat stopped before her. The lake's ripples ceased, and a profound silence fell around her, so quiet it made her heart race. In a daze, she thought she heard a voice, calling her to board the boat.
She wanted to turn back, but found she couldn't. Moving forward, her body moved freely. What was happening? After some thought, she still boarded the solitary boat. As soon as she stood steady, the boat slowly drifted forward. Without wind or the lake's push, the boat simply glided towards the distant shore.
It was then that she noticed the lake water was black and murky, adding another layer to her fear. As she slowly drifted to the center of the lake, a hoarse, weathered voice suddenly spoke, "Miss, you have arrived..." Startled, her heart leaped. When had someone appeared on the other side of the boat?
A black coat covered their body, and a large hood even obscured their eyes. Upon closer inspection, it seemed only darkness lay beneath the hood.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I am here to ferry you across the river," the hoarse voice echoed.
"Why do you need to ferry me across?"
"I am only here to ferry you across the river. I know nothing else."
"Why?"
"I am only here to ferry you across the river. I know nothing else."
She asked why again and again, and the man in black repeated the same mechanical answer.
She stopped asking, knowing it was futile. Silently, she watched the solitary boat approach the shore. Darkness began to descend, seeping in bit by bit.
Finally, the darkness completely consumed the solitary boat, and her. In the darkness, she heard many voices, many familiar voices.
"Ming Yu, be well..." She remembered he had said this to her in a dream. Now, reliving it, she felt a tear moisten her eye.
"Ming Yu, promise me you won't leave me..." This voice made her tremble violently. Her heart ached fiercely. This voice was too familiar, so familiar she wanted to forget it, but couldn't.
"Ming Yu, why?" A flicker of light suddenly appeared in the darkness. She saw Hua Yun Jin clutching his chest where a dagger was, looking at her with unconcealable sorrow deep in his eyes.
"I..." Suddenly, she didn't know what to say.
"Why? Why?" She wanted to shout, to question, but she knew it was all in the past. They had become enemies.
"Miss Ming Yu, Miss Ming Yu..." A strange yet familiar voice suddenly called out to her.
"Who is it?"
"Miss Ming Yu, wake up..." The voice grew closer, clearer.
She struggled to break free, but the darkness tightened its grip. Suddenly, someone grabbed her. She realized the solitary boat was gone; she was on the lake, and the hand holding her was pulling her down into the water.
She struggled, but the hand in the lake had terrifying strength. In her blurry vision, she seemed to see the owner of the hand, a face so familiar, yet she couldn't recall who it was. Who could it be?
"Miss Ming Yu, wake up..." Chang Yu anxiously watched Ming Yu, trapped in her nightmare. In his desperation, he slapped her fair cheek hard.
"Pain..." Ming Yu, feeling the sting, suddenly opened her eyes.
"Miss Ming Yu, you're awake!" Chang Yu's eyes widened, joy shimmering within them.
Recognizing the familiar face, Ming Yu stared for a moment. Looking at Chang Yu, it took her a while to speak, "What happened to me?"
"You seemed to have fainted just now. A servant saw you had no breath and quickly came to report to me, so I came over," Chang Yu said.
"You hit me?" Ming Yu asked, touching her aching cheek.
Chang Yu twitched his lips. Why did she only remember him hitting her to wake her up? "You seemed to be caught in a nightmare, and I had no other choice but to hit you."
"You could have splashed cold water on my face..." That would have been better than a slap, Ming Yu thought, but she couldn't say it. After all, Chang Yu had saved her, and she should be grateful.
"In my haste, I didn't think of that." Even if it were cold water, he wouldn't have wanted to use it; a slap was better. It not only relieved his anger but also saved her.
Ming Yu understood Chang Yu's thoughts. Even if she was angry, it was useless. After all, he had saved her. "Thank you!" If it weren't for Chang Yu, she probably wouldn't have woken up so quickly.
"Since you're alright now, I'll leave. If you need anything, just instruct the servants," Chang Yu said.
"Okay," Ming Yu nodded.
Chang Yu left! The people attending her were also sent away. She was alone in the room again, thinking about the scene in her dream. She still felt the fear in her heart. What was she afraid of? What was the dream trying to tell her, or what was it predicting?
Chang Yu pushed open the door and saw a tall, slender figure inside the room. He froze for a moment, then respectfully said, "Master." This person was none other than Hua Yun Jin.
Hua Yun Jin turned, his handsome face utterly cold. "What happened?"
"Miss Ming Yu seemed to have a nightmare, but she's fine now!" Chang Yu said, but he didn't tell Hua Yun Jin the details. He knew his master's feelings for Ming Yu. He actually didn't quite agree with it inwardly, but as a subordinate, he couldn't interfere with his master's affairs, so he tried to downplay it. "
Chang Yu, is there any news recently?"
Chang Yu replied, "The people sent out haven't returned yet. I assume there's no important news."