The Gate of Eternity Curse of Heaven

PORTAL IN THE WATER MIRROR

The sun was setting faster than usual, as if the sky itself was in a hurry to welcome the dangerous plan they were about to carry out. Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian were now sneaking through the secret tunnels beneath the village-an ancient pathway that Elder Zhang said had been used for centuries by the Balance Keepers.

“Are you still angry?” Lin Fengtian broke the silence, his voice echoing softly against the damp stone walls of the tunnel.

Zhao Lingyun didn't answer right away. His hand was tightly gripping the bronze badge of the nine-tailed fox that Elder Zhang had given him-their ticket to meet the Demon King.

“I'm not angry,” he finally replied. “Just... trying to make sense of all this. All my life, I was raised to believe that demons were our natural enemies, dangerous creatures to be avoided. Now I know that demon blood flows in my own body.”

Lin Fengtian touched his younger brother's shoulder. “That's all doctrine that Zhao Liangyu and the conservative elders deliberately instilled. Our mother always taught that the two realms should coexist in harmony-like yin and yang, complementing and balancing each other.”

“Do you remember the story mom used to read about the Mirror Prince and the Shadow Princess?” asked Lin Fengtian suddenly, his tone nostalgic.

Zhao Lingyun smiled slightly, his memories returning to childhood. “Sure. The story about the prince from the light realm falling in love with the princess from the shadow realm.”

“The one you always thought was just a bedtime story...”

“...turned out to be a metaphor for the true story of our grandparents,” Zhao Lingyun finished the sentence, everything starting to make sense. “Mother always tried to instill an understanding of duality and balance, even through fairy tales.”

Silence fell over them again for a few moments, only the sound of water dripping from the stalactites interrupting the silence occasionally.

“There's something I'm still not telling you,” Lin Fengtian finally spoke, his voice turning more serious. “About the night mom died.”

Zhao Lingyun stopped walking, staring at his brother in the dimness of the torches. “What do you mean?”

Lin Fengtian sighed heavily. “That night, I wasn't in my room like everyone thought. I secretly followed mom to the Snow Orchid Pavilion.”

“Father's private pavilion?” Zhao Lingyun looked surprised.

“Yes. Mom seemed very agitated that whole day. I was... worried. So I followed her and hid behind a pillar when she met father.” Lin Fengtian paused for a moment, his eyes dreamy as he recalled the incident. “They had a big fight. Mom accused dad of being involved in the 'Brotherhood of Pure Sky' conspiracy, while dad accused mom of being a spy from the demon realm.”

“You know about mother's origins?”

“It seems so. But what's more surprising-” Lin Fengtian paused, as if hesitant to continue.

“What?” urged Zhao Lingyun.

“Zhao Liangyu was there, hiding like me, behind a red curtain in the corner of the room. I saw his shadow.”

Zhao Lingyun felt his blood run cold. “Our brother... is he...?”

“I don't know for sure,” Lin Fengtian shook his head. “After that fight, I went back to my room. The next morning, mom was found dead on the shores of Moon Lake-it was officially declared an accident. But I always suspected...”

“...that Zhao Liangyu might have been involved in our mother's death,” Zhao Lingyun finished the sentence, his voice shaking with a mixture of shock and anger.

“That's just my suspicion,” Lin Fengtian quickly added. “Without any concrete evidence. But since that day, Zhao Liangyu changed-became colder, more ambitious, and more ruthless.”

Zhao Lingyun's jaw hardened. “If he really killed our mother...”

“We need proof, little brother,” Lin Fengtian soothed. “And for now, our focus should be on stopping the ritual. Too many lives are at stake.”

With a heavy heart, Zhao Lingyun nodded. They continued traveling in silence, each lost in his own thoughts. After almost two hours of walking through tunnels that sometimes narrowed to the point where they had to crawl, they finally reached a hidden exit in the middle of the forbidden forest.

Night had fallen completely, and the full moon shone brightly in the cloudless sky. Its light created mysterious shadows among the towering ancient trees.

“Over there,” whispered Lin Fengtian, pointing towards a silvery glow in the distance. “Water Mirror.”

They moved carefully through the undergrowth and the roots of the trees sticking out, always alert to possible ambushes. After a few minutes, they arrived at a small pond whose water was so clear that it actually reflected the night sky above it-creating the illusion that one could step right down into the starry horizon.

“It's beautiful,” murmured Zhao Lingyun, mesmerized.

“And deadly,” Lin Fengtian added, pointing towards some small animal skeletons by the pool. “The Water Mirror contains pure dimensional energy. Ordinary creatures that touch it will burn from within-their souls separate from their bodies.”

“Then how can we cross it?”

Lin Fengtian took out two silver medallions from his pocket-each engraved with interlocking moon and sun symbols. “With these. Elder Zhang gave it to me before we left. The Crossing Amulet-it will protect our souls as long as we cross the portal.”

Zhao Lingyun took one amulet and draped it around his neck. Immediately, he felt a cold sensation spread from the medallion throughout his body.

“Wait.” Lin Fengtian held back Zhao Lingyun who was about to take a step. “There's a special ritual.”

Lin Fengtian took out a small bottle of his own blood-red liquid that he had collected earlier. He dripped seven drops onto the surface of the pool while chanting an ancient incantation in a language Zhao Lingyun didn't recognize. Instantly, the surface of the pond rippled, and the moon's reflection on the surface of the water changed shape-revealing a different forest scene with red-leaved trees.

“That's the Red Mist Forest in the demon realm,” Lin Fengtian explained. “The portal has opened. We have to jump together. Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand.”

They held hands tightly, took a deep breath, and together jumped into the center of the pool.

The sensation wasn't what Zhao Lingyun had imagined. Instead of getting wet, he felt like he was floating in absolute emptiness-no sound, no light, no air. For a moment that felt like an eternity, he only felt the tightening grip of Lin Fengtian's hand.

Then, all of a sudden, they fell onto the hard surface of the ground.

“We did it,” Lin Fengtian panted, getting to his feet and helping Zhao Lingyun.

Zhao Lingyun blinked, adapting to the new environment. Everything looked... different. The sky above them was dark purple with two moons-one large silvery and one small golden. The trees around them were towering with deep red leaves and silvery white trunks. The air felt heavier, richer in spiritual energy.

“Welcome to the Demon Realm,” Lin Fengtian smiled slightly at his younger brother's amazed expression. “Or as the natives call it-Xieyuan, the Garden of Harmony.”

“It's not like what's described in our scriptures,” Zhao Lingyun commented, still mesmerized. “No blood-red skies, no barren lands, no screams of tortured souls...”

“Propaganda,” Lin Fengtian snorted. “Just like they portray the human realm as a land of bloodthirsty killers who exploit natural energy endlessly.”

Zhao Lingyun was about to comment when his fighting instincts flared dangerously close. In the blink of an eye, he pulled out his sword and spun around, just as an arrow shot towards them.

Lin Fengtian moved even faster, catching the arrow in midair with his bare fingers. “Show yourself!” he shouted in fluent demon language, startling Zhao Lingyun.

From behind the trees, three black hooded figures emerged. The foremost-a young woman with pale white skin and a small horn on her forehead-held a bow still aimed at them.

“Humans,” she hissed in demon language. “How did you guys get through the border?”

“We're guests of the White Tiger,” Lin Fengtian replied calmly, still in demon language. “And we brought this.” He took out a bronze badge of a nine-tailed fox.

Seeing the badge, the three demons looked surprised. They immediately knelt down with their heads bowed.

“Forgive our impertinence, gentlemen,” the archer said in stammering human language. “We were unaware of your honorable status.”

“Raise your heads,” Lin Fengtian ordered, again using human language for Zhao Lingyun to understand. “We need help to reach the Red Leaf Pavilion.”

The three demons looked at each other with shocked expressions.

“Pavilion... Red Leaves?” The archer looked doubtful. “That place is... very dangerous for humans.”

“We're not just humans,” Lin Fengtian took out his dagger and scratched his palm. The blood flowing from the wound was silvery-not red like normal human blood or black like pure demon blood.

“Mixed blood...” whispered one of the demons in amazement.

“We are Xiao Yingmei's sons,” Lin Fengtian announced in a voice full of authority. “And we require an audience with Demon King Bai Yuehu immediately.”

Hearing Xiao Yingmei's name, the three demons looked genuinely surprised. They knelt down again, this time with great reverence.

“The hidden princes have returned,” the archer whispered in a trembling voice. “The prophecy was correct...”

“Prophecy?” Zhao Lingyun frowned, not understanding.

“Later,” Lin Fengtian interrupted. “Right now, we have to make a move. Our time is limited.”

The archer got up and bowed deeply. “My name is Mei Ling, Captain of the Western Border Guard. I will escort you directly to the Red Leaf Pavilion. But we must move quickly and carefully-the palace's surveillance of humans has gotten stricter recently.”

They followed Mei Ling and her two companions through the dense forest. Zhao Lingyun couldn't stop admiring the alien beauty of the demon realm-the fist-sized fireflies that glowed in various colors, the flowers that emitted soft melodies when blown by the wind, and the strange animals that peered out from behind the trees with sparkling eyes.

“How far is the Red Leaf Pavilion?” asked Zhao Lingyun to Mei Ling who was walking beside him.

“About fifty li to the north,” Mei Ling replied. “But we'll use a shortcut through the Floating Crystal Cave-we can get there in two hours if we hurry.”

Zhao Lingyun nodded, then ventured to ask, “May I know about that prophecy you mentioned earlier?”

Mei Ling glanced at Lin Fengtian who was walking in front, as if asking for approval. When Lin Fengtian gave a small nod, he replied.

“The Two Moons Prophecy,” Mei Ling began, her voice lowered to almost a whisper. “An ancient prophecy passed down from generation to generation among rebels who want peace with the human realm. It is said that when the Silver Moon and the Golden Moon align like tonight-which only happens once every fifty years-the two half-blood princes will return to unite the two realms and end the cycle of hostility.”

Zhao Lingyun glanced at the two moons in the sky that were indeed in perfect alignment. “And you believe we are the princes in the prophecy?”

Mei Ling smiled slightly. “I personally don't really believe in prophecies, Young Master Zhao. But the fact that you carry the Blood Covenant Badge and claim to be Princess Yingmei's son... that's stronger evidence than any prophecy.”

“You knew my mother?”

“All progressive demons know Princess Yingmei,” Mei Ling looked at Zhao Lingyun with a respectful look in her eyes. “She was a symbol of hope-real proof that the union of the two realms was possible. The news of her death shattered the hopes of many here.”

Zhao Lingyun was stunned, once again realizing how little he knew about his own mother. Throughout her life, Xiao Yingmei had always been portrayed as a loyal wife and loving mother-not as an influential political figure bridging the two worlds.

Their journey continued in comfortable silence. After about an hour, they arrived at the mouth of a cave whose walls glittered with colorful crystals. Even more amazing, most of the crystals were floating without being attached to the cave walls-slowly rotating in seemingly random yet beautiful formations.

“Floating Crystal Cave,” Mei Ling announced. “The secret entrance to the Northern Border Region. Be careful, gentlemen. Do not touch the red-colored crystals-they react to human energy.”

They walked carefully through the winding cave passage. The floating crystals glowed brighter and brighter as they approached, some even moved as if attracted to Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian's presence.

“Amazing,” murmured Zhao Lingyun, as a light blue crystal floated up to him and swirled around his head like a giant butterfly.

“They're sensitive to spiritual energy,” Mei Ling explained. “And your spiritual energy... is very unique. A blend I've never felt before.”

Lin Fengtian, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped. “Something's wrong,” he whispered, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, they heard the sound of footsteps and the clink of iron from the end of the cave in front of them.

“Palace troops,” Mei Ling hissed, quickly pulling Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian into a narrow gap in the cave wall. “They shouldn't be patrolling this area.”

“Are they looking for us?” asked Zhao Lingyun.

“No way,” Lin Fengtian shook his head. “No one knew we were coming except for Elder Zhang and his team.”

“Unless...” Zhao Lingyun widened his eyes. “Unless there's a traitor among the Balance Keepers.”

Just as Zhao Lingyun finished his sentence, the sound of clattering steps drew closer. The torchlight illuminated the cave passage, and shadows danced on the crystal walls, making the entire cave seem to be alive and moving.

“Search every crevice!” came the order in a rough demon language. “The Shadow King believes the intruders entered the realm through the Water Mirror.”

“Shadow King?” whispered Zhao Lingyun to Mei Ling.

“The Demon King's main advisor,” Mei Ling replied in a very low voice. “A mysterious figure who always wears a mask. No one knows his true identity, but his influence is enormous in the palace.”

Lin Fengtian and Zhao Lingyun exchanged meaningful glances. The description reminded them of the masked figure who spoke with Zhao Liangyu on the balcony of the Blue Sky Tower-the mysterious advisor who was said to be involved in the ritual plan.

“We have to move,” Lin Fengtian whispered. “A frontal attack is too risky. Mei Ling, is there another way to the Red Leaf Pavilion?”

Mei Ling looked thoughtful, then her eyes lit up. “There is. But it's extremely dangerous and has never been attempted by humans.”

“Tell me,” Lin Fengtian urged.

“We can use Crystal Currents,” Mei Ling pointed upwards, where floating crystals seemed to move in a certain flow. “These crystals move with the flow of realm energy. With a little manipulation, we can 'ride' the current all the way to Mirror Lake-just a kilometer from the Pavilion.”

“How?” asked Zhao Lingyun.

Mei Ling looked at the two of them seriously. “You have to release control over your spiritual energy and let it attract certain crystals. When the crystals accumulate enough, they will form a kind of energy boat that you can board.”

“Let go of control?” Lin Fengtian looked doubtful. “That's very risky. Our spiritual energy could explode and pull in all the crystals in this cave.”

“There's no other choice,” Mei Ling glanced at the approaching troops. “I will distract them. You guys follow my companion, Feng Xu.” She pointed at the tall, thin demon boy beside her. “He will guide the formation process of the Crystal Current.”

Before they could protest, Mei Ling had already leapt out of hiding, drawing the soldiers' attention with a loud shout and a volley of arrows at them.

“Follow me!” Feng Xu immediately ran in the opposite direction, leading Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian to a deeper, more spacious part of the cave-a huge cavern with a ten-meter-high ceiling filled with floating crystals of various sizes.

“Here,” Feng Xu stopped in the center of the cavern, right under the greatest concentration of crystals. “Now, stand facing each other and clasp each other's hands.”

Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian did as they were told, standing opposite each other and clasping each other's hands.

“Now,” Feng Xu continued, ”gently open the flow of your spiritual energy. Imagine the energy flowing from your navel throughout your body, then radiating out through your linked hands.”

With their eyes closed, the two brothers followed Feng Xu's instructions. Nothing happened at first, but slowly, Zhao Lingyun felt a warm sensation radiating from his navel, up his chest, then flowing down his arms and hands.

“Good,” Feng Xu's voice sounded from a distance. “Now, focus your mind on the place you want to go-Mirror Lake. Imagine its sparkling surface, its clear water, and the red willows that surround it.”

When Zhao Lingyun focused his mind as instructed, he felt his energy start to resonate with Lin Fengtian's energy. Then, something incredible happened-the crystals above their heads started moving faster, spinning in perfect circles above their heads.

“Amazing,” Feng Xu's voice sounded amazed. “Your energy is so strong... stronger than I've ever seen.”

The crystals continued to gather, getting more and more numerous and closer together, until they finally formed a large disk that floated above their heads. The surface of the disk sparkled with thousands of colors, creating a mesmerizing sight.

“Now, release your hands and jump onto the disk!” Feng Xu shouted.

They did, and to Zhao Lingyun's surprise, the crystal disk not only held their weight, but also felt solid like it was standing on solid rock.

“Your journey has begun,” Feng Xu shouted from below, his voice getting farther and farther away as the crystal disk started moving quickly through the cave passages. “Think of the Mirror Lake! Do not lose your focus!”

The crystal disk moved faster and faster, weaving through the narrow passages, sometimes only inches away from the cave walls. Strangely, instead of feeling fear, Zhao Lingyun felt an overwhelming sense of excitement-as if his body remembered this sensation from a past life.

“This is amazing!” he shouted to Lin Fengtian who was standing beside him, both with their legs spread wide to maintain balance.

“This crystal responds to us better than I imagined,” Lin Fengtian replied, his eyes full of amazement. “Maybe it's because of... our blood.”

They continued to glide through the cave, and Zhao Lingyun started to realize that the crystal disk wasn't just taking them through a physical passage, but was also penetrating some sort of intermediate dimension-sometimes the cave walls disappeared, replaced by scenes like a vast expanse of starry sky or a sea of surging energy.

“We're crossing realm layers,” Lin Fengtian explained, as if reading his brother's mind. “The demon realm has seven overlapping layers. This crystal takes us through a dimensional shortcut.”

After a journey that felt like a dream, the crystal disk finally slowed down. Ahead of them, there was a crack of light-a doorway out of the cave system. The disk glided smoothly through the opening, and they were suddenly in open air, hovering several tens of meters above a lake whose surface sparkled like a giant mirror.

“Mirror Lake,” Lin Fengtian whispered. “We did it.”

The crystal disk descended slowly, landing softly on the edge of the lake under a giant willow tree with red leaves that dangled down to touch the water's surface. As soon as their feet touched the ground, the crystal disk slowly disintegrated-the crystals that made it up floated freely again, then one by one disappeared like broken soap bubbles.

“Perfect location,” Lin Fengtian nodded in satisfaction. “The Red Leaf Pavilion should be right across this lake.”

Zhao Lingyun scanned his surroundings warily. The place looked deserted-too deserted for such a beautiful place.

“Strange,” he muttered. “There are no guards, no residents. It's as if this place...”

“...is a trap,” a heavy voice finished her sentence.

From behind a willow tree, a tall, bulky figure in jet-black armor emerged. His face was covered in a plain white mask devoid of any features except for a pair of eyeholes emitting red light. Behind him, dozens of soldiers in similar uniforms appeared, surrounding them from all directions.

“Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian,” the masked figure stepped forward. “Your long journey ends here.”

Lin Fengtian pulled out his sword, preparing to fight. “Who are you?”