Chapter 3: The First Step Beyond Ordinary
In Tianyuan City , where modern life moved at a steady, unremarkable pace, lived a boy named Gu Yunhe.
He was sixteen years old.
An only child, born to Gu Tianwei and Su Meilin, his family was neither wealthy nor poor. They lived a simple life—stable, ordinary, and far removed from anything extraordinary.
There was nothing particularly eye-catching about his background. No powerful connections. No hidden wealth.
Just a quiet household where expectations were modest and the future followed a predictable path.
Recently, Gu Yunhe had graduated from Qinghe Senior High School .
Like many students his age, he now stood at a turning point. Ahead of him lay the entrance examination for Tianyuan University —a goal he had set for himself long ago.
There were still three months left.
Three months of freedom.
Most students spent this time relaxing, celebrating, or preparing in advance. But Gu Yunhe was different.
He did not like wasting time, nor did he enjoy meaningless distractions.
Instead, he chose something unusual.
While browsing the internet one evening, he came across a remote location—the Namcha Barwa Mountain region.
It wasn't particularly famous. There were no crowds, no trending travel posts, no exaggerated reviews.
But the images…
Snow-covered peaks piercing the sky. Dense forests untouched by modern development. Rivers winding through valleys like silver threads.
There was a quiet beauty to it.
Something… pure.
For reasons he couldn't fully explain, Gu Yunhe felt drawn to it.
Not excitement.
Not curiosity.
But a subtle, almost instinctive pull.
And so, without hesitation, he made his decision.
A solo hike.
Over the next few days, he prepared everything carefully—equipment, supplies, route planning. Every detail was checked and rechecked.
His movements were efficient, precise, almost mechanical in their accuracy.
When the day finally arrived, he set out alone.
Leaving behind the familiar streets of Tianyuan City, Gu Yunhe began his journey toward the mountains—unaware that this simple decision would change the course of his life entirely.
By the time Gu Yunhe reached the mountain region, the scenery had already exceeded his expectations.
The air was fresh, far cleaner than the city. Lush greenery stretched across the landscape, forests swaying gently under the breeze, and distant peaks stood tall beneath the open sky.
For the first time in a long while, he felt… at ease.
A quiet, genuine sense of happiness rose within him.
He exhaled slowly, his gaze lifting toward the higher peaks.
"I should reach the top," he murmured to himself.
From there, he could see everything—the valleys, the forests, the vast stretch of land below.
Without hesitation, he continued climbing.
Hours passed.
The path grew steeper, the terrain rougher, but his pace remained steady. His movements were efficient, controlled, conserving energy with every step.
Then—
He stopped.
Not far ahead, nestled against the mountainside, stood a structure that clearly did not belong to nature.
A shrine.
It was old—ancient, even. Its surface was worn, edges softened by time, yet it still stood firmly, as if untouched by the passing years.
Gu Yunhe frowned slightly.
"Who would build something like this… here?"
Curiosity stirred within him.
He changed direction and approached.
As he stepped closer, he noticed a bell hanging at the entrance of the shrine. Its surface was dull, slightly aged, yet strangely intact despite everything around it.
Gu Yunhe wasn't particularly devout, but he respected tradition.
Before entering, he reached out to ring the bell.
However—
As his hand moved upward, the edge of the structure above the bell scraped against his skin.
A sharp, rusted protrusion.
"—"
A thin cut appeared on his finger.
A drop of blood slid down and fell onto the surface of the bell.
At the same time, the bell swayed slightly.
Clang—
The sound was soft, almost dull, echoing faintly through the mountains.
Gu Yunhe glanced at his finger briefly, then ignored it. It was nothing serious.
Without thinking much of it, he stepped inside the shrine.
The interior was quiet.
Too quiet.
Faint carvings lined the walls—ancient scripts, symbols worn by time. They seemed complex, layered with meaning, yet completely unfamiliar to him.
He stared at them for a moment, trying to understand.
But it was useless.
"…Strange."
After a short while, he lost interest.
There was nothing else of note.
Turning around, he began to leave.
But the moment he stepped out
Something changed.
Behind him, the bell trembled.
Without warning—
It tore itself free.
There was no sound of breaking. No visible force.
It simply… detached.
And in the next instant—
It shot forward.
Gu Yunhe's eyes widened slightly, but before he could react—
The bell transformed into a streak of light and entered directly into his forehead.
Everything froze.
"…What?"
His body stiffened, instinctively raising his hand to his head.
There was no wound. No impact.
But something… was there.
Inside.
A strange, overwhelming energy flowed through him. His vision blurred. His legs gave way.
Before he could comprehend what had happened, darkness claimed him.
He collapsed to the floor of the shrine, unconscious, the ancient bell resting silently above him once more.
For the first time in his life, Gu Yunhe had encountered something completely beyond his understanding.
And far away—