The cold lingered long after the snow stopped falling.
Crown Prince Longxuan stood at the edge of the forest clearing behind the abandoned mountain house. The blue jade Zither was strapped across his back with a length of white cloth, wrapped carefully as if protecting a precious part of himself.
His breath misted in the morning air.
And something was calling him.
Not with words.
Not with sound.
But with instinct, deep in the bones.
"I'm going out," he told the others earlier that day. "I'll be back soon."
He didn't wait for their protests. Not even when Huayin narrowed his fox-like eyes in suspicion. Not even when Fenglan shouted, "Eh?! Take us with you, Your Highness!"
He only smiled softly—and left with nothing but his blade and the Zither.
Because he had a feeling…
The Zither would show him the way.
—————
The forest path stretched deep into a frozen valley. Icy trees reached high like silver fingers toward the sky. The silence here was not empty—it was watchful, old, like the land itself was holding its breath.
Each step Longxuan took was slow, steady.
And then—
The Zither thrummed faintly against his back.
Just once.
A single low hum. Vibrating into his skin like a pulse.
His eyes snapped up.
There, nestled between twin mountain ridges where the snow did not fall, was a ridge of stone archways. Ancient, cracked, covered in celestial moss and heavenly inscriptions. They stood like a forgotten gateway.
At the end of them—towering, sealed with glowing jade seals—was a massive gate carved from white stone.
Inscribed on it were the words
[幽界之門 — Gate to the Spirit Realm]
Longxuan stood frozen.
"Spirit Realm…?"
He stepped closer. The air here was different.
Thin but charged.
The blue jade Zither began to glow faintly again. Its Yin energy curled upward like mist—reaching toward the gate as if yearning to return home.
And then he heard it.
A voice—not from the world, but from within the Zither itself.
A whisper that brushed across his soul like a breath on snow "He is there."
Longxuan's heart pounded. His hand unconsciously tightened on the strap across his chest.
He is there.
HisTianzun…
Behind this gate?
No. It couldn't be that easy.
He reached out and touched the white stone.
It was cold. Too cold.
The seals across the gate flickered with celestial talismans and protective spells.
He tried to press forward, but a divine force flared in resistance and flung him backward.
Longxuan skidded across the snow and grunted.
"…Not allowed to pass?"
He sat up slowly, panting, snow on his lashes.
But he didn't stop smiling.
Not even as his knuckles bled slightly.
Because he finally had a clue.
He stared at the massive door and said quietly, "You're just waiting. Aren'tyou?"
He stood once more, brushed the snow from his robes, and placed one hand over his heart.
"If the Spirit Realm protector won't open the gate…"
"…then I'll find a way to break it."
—————
From the cliffs above, hidden behind a spiritual illusion, a pair of eyes watched silently.
A robed figure, hair silver as moonlight and skin pale as frost, observed Crown Prince Longxuan.
He tilted his head. His eyes softened with something like… regret.
But he didn't descend.
He only whispered, "You always chase what others fear to approach."
The wind carried the words away.
And so did the figure.
Longxuan never knew how close he'd been—only a heartbeat away from the man he sought.
—————
Back at the abandoned house, Fenglan paced.
Zhenhai folded his arms. "He'll be fine."
"He always says that before running off and almost dying."
"Are you worried?"
"I'm worried he'll come back with another ancient treasure and force us to guard it!"
Huayin rolled his eyes.
But Shuiyun looked out the window, sensing something strange. "There's movement," he murmured. "In the air. He's found something."
Zhenhai turned. "Something good?"
"…Something big," Shuiyun said softly.
—————
Far beneath the snow-covered sky, Crown Prince Longxuan sat down before the Spirit Gate.
He removed the Zither from his back.
And began to play again.
A slow, haunting melody—each note seeping with longing.
Not just a call.
But a promise.
That no matter what lay beyond this gate…
He would reach him.
Even if he had to move the stars.
—————
Author's Note: good morning everyone! I hope you guys still enjoying reading this novel of mine and I hope someone still reading this HAHAHAHAHA, I'm just a little sad because a lot of you is just a silent reader and won't comment or vote, but it's okay. Thank you for reading!