Volume One, Chapter 53: State of Mind

One by one, people jumped into the secret realm. Jiang Chen was the second to last to enter, but before stepping inside, he had left a precaution outside, so he wasn’t worried about others playing tricks behind him.

After an irresistible wave of dizziness, Jiang Chen woke up on a sandy beach. The moment he opened his eyes, he felt a sense of disorientation, for the beach before him was familiar beyond all measure. Then a sharp pain throbbed in his head, as if something was buried there he couldn’t recall, no matter how hard he tried.

“Brother, you’re awake. Let’s go home. Mom and Dad are waiting for us to come back for dinner.” Beside him, a little girl like a porcelain doll blinked her clear, wide eyes and spoke softly.

Jiang Chen rubbed his temples, “Sister? Do you know Ning Rou and Su Yike?”

For some reason, those names had suddenly sprung into his mind, but once he uttered them, he could no longer remember either of them.

Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment and shook her head. “Brother, what are you talking about? Who’s Ning Rou? Who’s Su Yike? Are they your friends?”

Friends?

No, they weren’t just friends. Jiang Chen was certain in his heart those names meant more than that.

After a brief silence, Jiang Chen smiled. “It’s nothing… Let’s go home.”

His sister happily grabbed his arm. “Hehe, come on, let’s go back and eat dumplings.”

On the way, Jiang Chen listened to her cheerful chatter, feeling both happy and helpless.

He gently rubbed her head. “Sister… what’s your name?”

The little porcelain girl pouted. “Jiang Chen! Listen carefully, my name is Jiang Wan! Jiang as in the river, Wan as in night! I’m not talking to you anymore.”

She wanted to run away in a fit of stubbornness, but Jiang Chen scooped her up in his arms. “Sorry, I’ll buy you something tasty when we get back. Don’t be mad.”

She snorted lightly, “Then I forgive you, but don’t do that again. It’ll make me sad.”

It was only a five-minute walk from the beach to their home. The house stood by the sea, its courtyard fenced with bamboo and fishing nets drying on the rails. The small yard was lively, with a little native dog kept at the edge, beside a hand-made swing.

Jiang Chen was lost in the scene. Having wriggled free, Jiang Wan saw he hadn’t followed and grew angry, though it lasted only a moment before she tugged at his hand.

“Brother, let’s go home.” Her small hand held his large one as they returned, just like always.

“Chen Chen’s back? Quick, take your sister to wash her hands…” His mother saw the sand on him, hurried over, brushed him off, and muttered, “Eighteen already, still messing around. Your sister’s in elementary school, but you’re in college and still fooling about. Change your clothes and wash up for dinner.”

Jiang Chen stared at his mother, tears filling his eyes as he stretched out his arms. “Mom, can I have a hug?”

She looked puzzled for a moment, then gently embraced him.

“Such a big kid, still wants Mom to hug him. Don’t cry. If you have troubles, don’t carry them alone. Tell Mom, she’ll help you.” Her comfort was like a candle in the night—unable to banish the darkness, but offering warmth that belonged only to him.

“All right, go wash up. When your dad’s home, we’ll eat,” she said softly.

Jiang Chen nodded heavily, holding back his tears.

After helping his sister wash her hands, he lingered at the door, taking in the room’s arrangement. The house was small—three rooms and a living area—but though the space was limited, it overflowed with warmth.

“Oh, what’s happened to you? Did you and your sister kick up sand on the beach?” The familiar voice sounded behind him, and the emotions he’d suppressed threatened to burst forth.

His father’s back was slightly bent, calloused hands shining from years of work, his skin darkened by sun and sea.

Jiang Chen took his father’s fishing gear at the door and found him a pair of shoes. His father patted his shoulder, “You’ve gotten stronger.”

Jiang Chen smiled bitterly, “I’ve been eating well.”

Words between father and son were few. The siblings carried chairs to the table, and when their mother brought out the dishes, Jiang Chen stood to pour wine for his father.

He then filled his own cup, which was meant for juice, with wine.

“Son, you’d better not drink. You’ll miss your classes,” his father joked.

Jiang Chen shook his head. “Dad, don’t you remember? I only got drunk when I was ten. Now I can handle it.”

His father lowered his head, murmuring, “You’ve grown up. Eight years gone, you’ve grown so much.”

Jiang Chen raised his cup, choking up, “Dad, this one’s to you.”

He drank it down. His father didn’t move, only asked, “You’ve seen through it all?”

Jiang Chen sighed. “I saw it as soon as I arrived. I just wanted to stay a little longer, see you all a little more.”

His mother added a piece of meat to his bowl. “Don’t wear yourself out.”

He rubbed his sister’s head. “I won’t rest until I’ve destroyed the Lin family. I can’t forget that day, and neither can my heart. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

Since arriving, Jiang Chen had felt a warmth he hadn’t known in eight years, the only time he could feel family after being shrouded in nightmares. Yet it was just an illusion, a fantasy constructed by the dream to keep him from entering, a projection of his inner longing.

He gazed out the window for a long time, silent.

“I have to go. I hate to leave, but this world is only in my mind. Dad, Mom, Sister, take care.”

Though a thousand regrets tugged at him, he would not linger. He had debts of blood to repay, and those who wielded power and covered the sky with their hands would all pay the price. Those who prospered by staining his family’s blood would face his retribution.

Drawing a deep breath, Jiang Chen stepped forward. The scene shifted instantly—sky and earth spun—and the true secret realm appeared before his eyes.

He stood in place; the clearing was strewn with rocks, blue plants sprawling everywhere, as if the whole secret realm were a blue ocean.

Now, he had truly returned to the secret realm.

“Help… help me, is anyone there?”