"Hu Ji? Is that you?"

I looked at the charming and smiling girl beside me, widening my eyes in surprise.

"Yes, it's me," she twirled lightly in front of me, her dress fluttering. "Lu Sheng, look, this is the brocade dress newly bestowed upon me by the king. Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful..."

The girl before me was around twelve or thirteen years old, the age of blossoming youth. How could she not be beautiful?

I gazed at the figure before me, both distant and familiar, reluctant to avert my gaze.

"But...," finally, I lowered my head and looked at myself, dressed in the attire of Yan State, already a young man in his twenties. "You are not my Hu Ji."

The smile on the girl's face instantly froze.

She widened her eyes, looking pitiful and helpless.

"Lu Sheng, can't you stay? If you stay, we can be together forever."

"Have you forgotten? We grew up together since childhood, and you promised to be with me forever."

"Lu Sheng, Qin State's army is attacking again, and I'm scared!"

She reached out her hand to me, soft and delicate like a water lily, brushing against my cheek and neck, almost captivating.

And I, too, raised my hand and forcefully pushed her away.

"You are not Hu Ji; she is not here!"

Feeling the piercing pain in my palm, I saw blood blossoming little by little.

"I cannot stay here; I must go find her!"