The Gate of Eternity Curse of Heaven

THE REVELATION OF DESTINY

The full moon illuminated the hidden garden behind the Morning Dew Pavilion. Xiao Yingmei sat alone by the pond, her fingers touching the surface of the water that reflected her face-a face that now looked different after she discovered her identity as the Bridge. Her bi-colored eyes sparkled in the dimness, while her mind drifted to the secret meeting that was to take place in a few moments.

“You shouldn't be here,” whispered a soft voice from the shadow of the plum tree.

Xiao Yingmei didn't need to turn around. She already knew who had come-Li Tianshen, god of war and one of the Heavenly clan. Someone who was forbidden to interact with her personally.

“I shouldn't be the Bridge either,” Xiao Yingmei replies without turning around. “But fate has its own way.”

Li Tianshen stepped out of the shadows. Under the moonlight, his tall figure seemed to glow with the thin golden aura that was the Heavenly clan's trademark. Tonight, however, his aura seemed dim-weighed down by secrets and worries.

“The other Elders are still discussing what happened in the Reflection Cave,” Li Tianshen said, finally sitting down beside Xiao Yingmei. “They don't know that the seal is only temporary.”

Xiao Yingmei smiled sadly. “And you didn't tell them.”

“No,” Li Tianshen admitted. “Some secrets are too dangerous to share, even among the Elders.”

Silence fell between them-not an awkward silence, but the meaningful silence of two souls connected far beyond words.

“I saw the future,” Xiao Yingmei whispered at last. “I saw Lin Fengtian.”

Li Tianshen gasped. “That name...”

“Yes,” Xiao Yingmei nodded. “He will have your blood and my blood. A child born from our forbidden bond between the Shadow clan and the Heavenly clan.”

“The Elders will oppose it,” Li Tianshen shook his head, worry clearly on his face. “The relationship between us has been forbidden since thousands of years.”

“Because of the power our child will have,” Xiao Yingmei continued, ”power that will jeopardize the balance of the nine realms-that's what they always say.” She looked into Li Tianshen's eyes. “But now I know the truth. They're afraid because only the descendants of this kind of bond are able to truly fight against the Emptiness.”

Li Tianshen grasped Xiao Yingmei's hand. His hand trembled slightly-something that never happened to a Heavenly Elder who had lived for thousands of years.

“Xiao Yingmei,” he said softly, ”are you sure about this? If we go down this path, there will be no turning back.”

Xiao Yingmei placed his hand on top of Li Tianshen's. “Since I touched the nine keys, I have seen thousands of possible futures. In only one path, humanity survives-the path where Lin Fengtian exists.”

As they sat together by the pond, the full moon witnessed an unspoken vow between the two-a vow to challenge fate, the laws of the Elders, and the fear of the future.

Nine months later, deep in a hidden hut at the foot of Purple Mist Mountain, Xiao Yingmei gave birth to a boy-a boy with bi-colored eyes like his mother. Mei Lin welcomed his grandson with tears of emotion mixed with sorrow, because he knew the burden of destiny that this child would bear in the future...

“Lin Fengtian, Zhao Lingyun” Xiao Yingmei whispered, looking down at the baby in her arms. “I'm sorry your mom had to leave you too soon.”

Outside the cottage, Li Tianshen stood vigilantly, feeling the energy vibrations of the nine realms reacting to the birth of this child. He knew his time with his sons would be short. The Elders must have sensed this birth.

“Go,” Zhang Wei said to Li Tianshen. “Take Li Fengtian away. make sure he's safe, hide his whereabouts until the time comes. And take Zhao Lingyun to the Heavenly Clan to raise him there, keep them apart until the time comes.”

Li Tianshen nodded, then went inside the hut for one last look at Xiao Yingmei before fate separated them.

The next day, Xiao Yingmei prepared to face her destiny at the Reflection Cave. The Cave of Reflection was located in the most remote region of the Shadow Realm, a place where the darkness was so thick that even residents of the Shadow Realm rarely dared to approach. The walls of the cave seemed to be alive, moving slowly like the surface of calm yet deep water. Xiao Yingmei stood in the center of the cave's main chamber, her eyes closed while Mei Lin and Zhang Wei formed a formation around her.

“Open your eyes,” Mei Lin commanded softly. “And see what is hidden in the shadows.”

Xiao Yingmei opened her eyes slowly. Her breath caught at the sight before her. The walls of the cave no longer seemed solid. They turned into windows into another reality-nine different realms, each with its unique characteristics.

“This...” Xiao Yingmei stammered, “How is that possible?”

“The Cave of Reflection,” Zhang Wei explained, ”is a place where the boundaries of realms are thinnest. Only a Bridge is able to see through those boundaries clearly.”

Mei Lin nodded. “This is why you were born, my daughter,” she said. “To see what others cannot see. To unite what has been separated.”

Suddenly, one of the reflections changed-displaying an image of a place Xiao Yingmei did not recognize. A snow-covered mountain peak, where a man stood alone facing a strong wind.

“Who is he?” asked Xiao Yingmei, her eyes fixed on the man's figure.

Mei Lin and Zhang Wei exchanged meaningful glances.

“That's Lin Fengtian,” replied Mei Lin finally. “Your son, he will be born in five hundred years.”

“Five hundred years?” Xiao Yingmei gasped. “But that hasn't happened yet.”

“For us,” Zhang Wei said, ”time does not always run linearly. Especially in a place like this.”

Mei Lin stepped closer to the reflection, her hand outstretched as if she wanted to touch Lin Fengtian's figure. “He, like you, is a bridge-but different. If you're a bridge between the nine realms, he's a bridge between emptiness and existence.”

“I don't understand,” said Xiao Yingmei, her forehead furrowed.

“You will understand,” Mei Lin replied. “But before that, you must complete your task. You must become a full-fledged Bridge.”

Zhang Wei took out a small box from inside his robe. The box appeared to be made of very old wood, with ancient carvings that moved around like they were alive.

“This is the Box of Nine Keys,” Zhang Wei said. “Made from the wood of the First Tree that grew in the primordial realm before the split.”

He opened the box, revealing nine small objects that emitted different energies. Each represented one realm.

“To become a true Bridge,” Mei Lin continued, ”you must absorb the essence of each key. But know that this process will change you forever.”

Xiao Yingmei stared at the nine keys, doubt in her eyes. “Will it hurt?” she asked softly, for a moment sounding like a scared little girl.

Mei Lin smiled sadly. “Yes,” she answered honestly. “But you won't be alone.”

Far away elsewhere, in a dimension unreachable by ordinary minds, the hooded figure who had previously spoken to Mei Lin was watching everything through an antique mirror. Behind him, a darkness darker than absolute emptiness twitched impatiently.

“The princess will soon become the Bridge,” the hooded figure said.

The darkness behind him moved, forming soundless words: “And Lin Fengtian?”

“The destinies are related, but different,” replied the hooded figure. “When Xiao Yingmei becomes the Bridge to close the Nine Gates, he will open the way for Lin Fengtian to face his greatest choice.”

The darkness trembled: “Prove your loyalty. Make sure everything goes according to plan.”

The hooded figure bowed deeply. “Always, sir.”

Back in the Reflection Cave, Xiao Yingmei had already made up her mind. With trembling hands, she picked up the first key-a blue crystal representing the Water Realm.

As soon as her hand touched the crystal, her body was enveloped in blue light. She gasped, feeling the sensation of being immersed in an endless ocean. The knowledge and secrets of the Water Realm flowed into her-the currents of the sea, the whisper of the waves, the depths of the ocean.

“Hang in there,” Mei Lin whispered, taking her hand.

One by one, Xiao Yingmei touched the other keys. Each key brought a different experience-the searing heat of the Fire Realm, the solidity of the Earth Realm, the softness of the Wind Realm, the strength of the Metal Realm, the life of the Wood Realm, the purity of the Celestial Realm, and the silence of the Intermediate Realm.

As he touched the last key-the Shadow Realm key-his entire body glowed in a dark purple light. He screamed, feeling the entire reality of the nine realms churning within him.

“This is too much!” she cried. “I can't help it!”

Zhang Wei was about to approach, but Mei Lin held him back. “He has to deal with it himself,” Mei Lin said. “Only then will he truly become a Bridge.”

Amidst her pain, Xiao Yingmei saw glimpses of the future-the great war between realms, the awakening of the Emptiness Entity, and a man standing on the Forbidden Peak, his hand grasping a sword made of light and darkness.

“Lin Fengtian, my son,” he whispered involuntarily. 

The process of absorbing the nine keys was finally completed. Xiao Yingmei fell to his knees, breathing heavily. When he raised his face, Zhang Wei and Mei Lin gasped. Xiao Yingmei's previously red eyes had now changed-the left iris was silvery white, while the right iris was pitch black with purple flashes.

“Xiao Yingmei?” called Zhang Wei hesitantly.

The girl rose slowly, and there was something different about the way she moved-more graceful, more powerful, as if she had become more than just herself.

“I've seen it,” Xiao Yingmei said, her voice containing a strange echo, as if several voices were speaking simultaneously. “I've seen everything.”

“What did you see?” asked Mei Lin softly.

“The void,” Xiao Yingmei replied. “They've found an opening. And...” she hesitated for a moment, ”...someone has opened the way for them.”

“Who?” demanded Zhang Wei, wary.

Xiao Yingmei shook her head, her different-colored eyes staring into the distance. “A traitor. Someone very close to us.” Then her gaze refocused, looking directly at Mei Lin. “Someone who has access to the Intermediate Realm.”

Mei Lin gasped, as if hit by a harsh reality. “There's no way...”

“What do you mean?” asked Zhang Wei, confusion showing on her face.

Before anyone could answer, the entire Reflection Cave shook violently. The reflections on the walls began to crack, revealing the absolute darkness behind them.

“They're already here,” Xiao Yingmei whispered. “The Emptiness Entity has found a way in.”

“It shouldn't be this soon!” exclaimed Mei Lin, panic beginning to creep into her normally calm voice. “We're not ready yet!”

Zhang Wei took out his weapon-a sword made of solid shadow. “We have to hold on. The Elders are on their way here with troops.”

Xiao Yingmei stepped forward, standing between her parents and the widening dimensional rift. “It's not troops we need,” she said. “But time. Time to prepare Lin Fengtian.”

“Lin Fengtian?” Zhang Wei gave his daughter a puzzled look. “What does this have to do with anything?”

Xiao Yingmei smiled-a smile that contained sadness and knowledge beyond her years. “I cannot close the Nine Gates completely, Father. I can only hold them for five hundred years. After that, there will be another bridge. My son Li Feng Tian.”

“Lin Fengtian,” Mei Lin muttered, finally understanding.

The dimensional rift was widening, and from within it, tentacles of emptiness began to creep in-not darkness, but total nothingness that erased whatever it touched.

Xiao Yingmei raised her hand, and the shadows around her moved to obey her, forming a shield that held back the tentacles. “Mother, Father,” she said, ”you must go. Carry this message through time. Make sure Lin Fengtian knows his duty in the future.”

“No!” refused Zhang Wei firmly. “We won't leave you!”

Mei Lin, however, saw the truth in her daughter's words. With a heavy heart, she tugged on her husband's arm. “This is her destiny, Zhang Wei,” she whispered. “As her parents, our duty is to accept and support her.”

“But she's our daughter!”

“And also the Bridge,” Mei Lin continued. “Her destiny is greater than our bond as a family.”

Tears streamed down Zhang Wei's cheeks-a rare sight from a man who had lived thousands of years and seen countless horrors. “There must be another way,” he whispered desperately.

Xiao Yingmei smiled at her father. “There is no other way, Father. But this is not the end-just the beginning of something bigger.” She turned to her mother. “Mother knows what to do. About my note, about the sword.”

Mei Lin nodded, tears flowing silently from her eyes. “I'll make sure everything is kept safe, waiting for the right time.”

The tentacles of emptiness grew more and more numerous, pressing against Xiao Yingmei's shadow shield. The girl began to look pained, but her resolve did not waver.

“Go now,” Xiao Yingmei urged. “Open the portal to the Intermediate Realm. Bring this knowledge across time.”

Reluctantly, Mei Lin used her power as a Traveler. The air near them shook, forming a portal that revealed a view of the Intermediate Realm-a place where time runs differently.

“We'll come back for you,” Zhang Wei promised, unwilling to leave his daughter behind.

Xiao Yingmei shook her head. “No, Father. I will look for you guys.”

With a final push from Mei Lin, Zhang Wei stepped into the portal. Mei Lin herself paused for a moment, looking at her daughter one last time.

“I'm proud of you,” he whispered. “More than I can ever express.”

“I know, Mother,” Xiao Yingmei replied. “Now go. Lin Fengtian needs you, in the future.”

Mei Lin nodded, then stepped into the portal. Just as the portal closed, Xiao Yingmei's shadow shield cracked. Tentacles of emptiness broke through, surrounding him.

But Xiao Yingmei did not flinch. Her different-colored eyes flashed with determination. She raised both hands, and the nine keys that had fused with her body shone brightly.

“With the power of the Bridge,” she cried, ”I close the Gate!”

Light exploded from his body, so bright that it illuminated the entire Cave of Reflection. The tentacles of the void screamed-a sound that did not come from any world. They retreated, but did not completely disappear.

When the light subsided, Xiao Yingmei was still standing-but something was different. Her body seemed half-transparent, a part of her having become part of the fabric of reality itself.

“Five hundred years,” she whispered weakly. “I can hold them off for that long.”

With those last words, her body completely merged with light, becoming part of the dimensional seal that held back the Entities of Emptiness. In his final moment, Xiao Yingmei caught a glimpse of the future-the figure of Lin Fengtian standing on the Forbidden Peak, facing a similar choice.

“Goodbye, my son,” he whispered before his being completely dissolved into pure energy.