Chapter Thirty: A Nightmare in Darkness

Baoling listened in silence and reverence, for she knew that voice belonged to her master.

In the Records of the Grand Historian, it is written that Emperor Yao listened to the Four Peaks and appointed Gun to manage the floods; after nine years, the waters did not subside and his efforts failed. Do you know why? When Emperor Shun took the throne, he inspected Gun’s work and found it lacking, so he executed Gun at Feather Mountain. What was the reason for this? Both Gun and Yu attempted to control the floods—one failed, the other succeeded. What was the difference between them? the voice asked.

Baoling answered: Gun tried to block the floods with self-generating soil, but the more he blocked, the narrower the channels became, and the stronger the water’s force grew, until one day it would break through the dams and surge forth. Yu, on the other hand, used diversion, channeling the waters of the nine provinces into the sea. Every river flowed smoothly and gently, ensuring the people of the land lived in peace.

She had learned this history long ago and understood the principle that diversion is better than obstruction.

So, do you understand? the voice asked.

Baoling was startled. I… what am I supposed to understand?

That matter—I have pondered it since the earliest state of my existence, even further back, since the separation of yin and yang in the previous cycle. Why is it never successful? So many have tried, and always with the same outcome: failure. Failure is tantamount to death, and with each defeat, the opposing force grows stronger…

Baoling wanted to ask several times, but never found a chance to interrupt.

This vicious cycle has repeated countless times, until I realized: the higher the dam, the greater the accumulating force of the water, and at any moment, disaster could strike. If the dam bursts, not a single creature in the world would survive; this is not just humanity’s calamity, but the calamity of the entire planet, the voice said.

Suddenly, beneath Baoling’s feet, a roar like raging waves rose from the darkness. She could not tell if it came from some crazed beast or the fierce ghosts of the underworld. At its peak, the roar shook the ground, making it hard for Baoling to stand firm.

The moment of calamity draws ever nearer; you feel it too, do you not? the voice asked.

Master, I do not understand, Baoling replied, anxious and humble.

Diversion is better than obstruction—that is the principle. Do not forget our mission, the only meaning for our existence in this world. The circumstances of fate and the drift of reincarnation brought us here, not elsewhere, all destined for us to fulfill our mission. Gun died in his attempt to control the floods; Yu took up the work, traversed the nine provinces, and finally completed the task. The lesson we draw from this is to press forward, sacrificing ourselves to subdue evil.

As the roaring receded, Baoling’s mood grew a little steadier.

Look beneath your feet, the voice said.

Baoling looked down. She could not see her hand before her face; beneath her feet was pure darkness.

She was about to ask a question when, suddenly, in the deepest, farthest dark, a spark of fire appeared, glowing like a twinkling star in a summer night sky. The flame moved swiftly, soon becoming a torch in Baoling’s eyes, then a great fireball, rushing upward at incredible speed.

Ah—she gasped in fear, for the fireball approached so quickly, she worried it would break through the ground and burst forth.

In barely ten seconds, the fireball crashed onto the ground dozens of meters below her feet, exploded, and scattered into thousands of sparks, falling like fireworks on Christmas night, emerging from the darkness and returning to it.

She glimpsed, as the fireball vanished, a hideous, snarling ghostly face flickering at the edge where light met shadow.

Do not be afraid. The Well of Cold Jade is ten fathoms thick; she will need some more time to break free. In these days, we must find a way to subdue her, to solve this problem forever. Fortunately, I have already realized: diversion is better than obstruction, release is better than confinement. When Yu controlled the floods, building channels was “blocking water,” but directing it to the sea was “diverting water.” Our purpose in confining her is ultimately to “release,” and the purpose of release is to destroy her. This time, do you understand? the voice continued.

Baoling still did not understand, but she firmly remembered those words.

As for confinement, we need not worry. In days past, the two princesses and the vassal king, together with three thousand demon-subduers of the Tang Dynasty, succeeded. Though so many died, they came to avert calamity, and each died for a worthy cause. All Tang Dynasty heroes are enshrined in the Hall of Glorious Deeds, their names shining in history; the demon-subduers, though nameless and forgotten, dying in the wilds, are equally great for this world. As for how to release and destroy, I have thought of that too. Go now, and summon him—

Baoling did not know who “he” referred to and could not reply.

He is already here. The voice suddenly brimmed with boundless joy.

From the darkness came steady, powerful footsteps. Baoling sensed the certainty and solidity in them, the rhythm like two drumsticks beating slowly upon a vast war drum, each sound strong and stirring.

Now that you are here, I am at ease. The voice said, The final battle depends on you.

The newcomer did not speak, but stood firmly at Baoling’s side.

You must have decided upon the outcome of that battle, haven’t you? the voice asked.

It is nothing more than a fierce dance amid flames. Life is a torch—burning for a hundred years, burning for a day, burning for a single instant—what difference does it make? Most important, in that flash, I have seen you all. One flare, one extinction, becomes eternity, the newcomer replied, slowly.

His voice gave Baoling a sense of warmth; standing beside him, all her insecurity vanished in an instant.

And death? Are you afraid? the voice asked.

Death is temporary, life is eternal, and vice versa. I was born to subdue evil, I will die for the same cause. If I die for it, it is as it should be, the man replied.

Then set down all burdens, go forth. The voice said.

In the darkness, a hand reached out and grasped Baoling’s hand firmly.

Baoling let herself be led, slowly moving forward.

She wished to see his face clearly, but the darkness was endless; even with wide eyes, she could only discern a vague outline.

In this life, no matter what happens, I will not let you walk alone, he said.

But—I want to see you clearly, Baoling said, urgently.

All right, look—light is just ahead, he replied.

Baoling looked forward; indeed, a spot of white light appeared in the distance.

Remember, in this life, I will never let you walk alone, he repeated, resolute.

Let’s run—Baoling could not wait, quickening her pace, finally breaking into a trot. She longed to see the man’s face, for she sensed some deep connection between them. The moment he appeared, her heart ached. Only lovers deeply in love have such a unique intuition.

From their conversation, she knew he would soon sacrifice himself for the mission. Their time together would be short. All the more reason she wanted to hurry out, to see him clearly, and forever remember the face of the man she loved.

Suddenly, Baoling stumbled, unconsciously letting go of his hand.

When she steadied herself and reached out, she found he was no longer at her side.

Are you there? Where are you? Where are you… she called out in fear and confusion, repeating herself a dozen times, but there was no answer.

Where are you… she hesitantly stepped back, stretching her arms as far as she could, but could not touch him. Only the unfathomable darkness surrounded her.

Where are you… Her emotions suddenly collapsed, and she wept bitterly, unable to name the man, tears streaming like rain.

Who… who are you? Who are you in my life? Why won’t you let me see your face… Heaven, why do you torment me, drag me into darkness, let me hear him and touch him, but not see him? Why… why won’t you even let me know his name… Heaven…

I awoke crying. At the end of this recounting, Baoling gently and sadly said, Every time, I wake myself in anguish, every time I cannot make the dream last a little longer, cannot hold on until we reach the place of light hand in hand. Every time I wake, my stomach twists in agony, a pain that shakes my whole body.

In the darkness, Guan Wen felt the corners of his eyes grow moist—for Baoling, and for himself.

But you have Gao Xiang, don’t you? he asked.

Yes, I have Gao Xiang—so what? Baoling sighed sorrowfully.

It was only a dream. Don’t be sad, all right? Guan Wen comforted her.

Baoling sighed more deeply, her throat tight. After a while, she answered, voice tinged with tears: It is a dream, but it marks the beginning of another, deeper nightmare—a bloody nightmare. The previous dream only left me exhausted, my organs twisted in pain. But the next dream terrifies me to my very soul.

Guan Wen stepped forward, for he sensed Baoling’s body still trembling.

Don’t come near; you’ll destroy my dream, Baoling said immediately.

Guan Wen froze, all his warmth falling to zero. He forced a smile: I just wanted to give you some comfort.

Baoling quickly explained: Don’t misunderstand. I truly appreciate your care; you are a good person. But I sense you will destroy my dream. After so many years, I have become deeply dependent on those dreams. If I lose them, I do not know if my life will suffer a dreadful void. For their sake, I can seal off my emotions, not let outsiders in…

In his heart, Guan Wen quietly wondered: Then what about Gao Xiang? Isn’t he your boyfriend? Hasn’t even he entered your emotional world?

Everyone, every day, spends more than eight hours with their dreams. If a dream repeats itself over and over, does it want to tell you something? I don’t know, I don’t know… Baoling sighed.

Yes—a dream is a special activity of the human subconscious. Whatever it wants to tell you comes from your subconscious. Speak, I am listening, Guan Wen said softly.

In the latter dream, I saw a skeleton, Baoling’s voice trembled again.

Don’t be afraid. Even if it is the deepest hell, the endless netherworld—it is not real, only a construct of thought. What must pass, will pass; what must happen, has already happened; what must end, is already over, Guan Wen said.

Baoling seemed not to hear, only gasping quietly for breath.

After a long time, Baoling began a slow, low recounting—

That skeleton was bound to an iron pillar, against a backdrop of infinite sky and clouds. In many documentaries, Baoling had seen skeletons or anatomical specimens; those were gray or ivory white, their joints fixed with plastic screws, and rarely were the skeletons complete—some parts would always be missing. Moreover, they were only bare bones; there could be no organs, flesh, or sinews.

This time, she saw a fully intact white skeleton, with traces of sinew and blood still clinging to it. Even more horrifying, its internal organs remained, only the flesh outside the bones had been peeled away. She had seen amputees, the white bone protruding from within, a shocking sight no movie prop or makeup effect could compare to.

Now, what she saw was more shocking than ten thousand amputated limbs.

The skeleton’s eyes were still moving, bloodshot and swollen, staring at the three people beside it.

The three each held a sharp blade, circling the skeleton slowly, their free hands caressing its body, as if deciding where next to cut.