Author’s note: Sponsored by Boss Lertthundorn, Jean F, and Erik G!! Thank you all so much!?

Host’s note: Host not author.

January 21, 2017 07:24:11 P.M.

This was the exact same year Hu Feng was in, before he was whisked away to WuDang.

“This…is the twenty first century?! I’m not in the Martial Era anymore??” Hu Feng’s thoughts raced as excitement, relief, and disbelief welled up inside him.

“M-mom…I…I am home.” Hu Feng stammered with emotion, as he looked at the middle aged woman sitting on the table,

But there was no response from his mother, nor from any of his family members.

It was as if they did not even realize him standing right next to the table.

“Eh? Why can’t they hear me?!” Hu Feng panicked as he continued to shout.

No, no, no! This can’t be a dream! Please, no! Mom! Dad! Xiao’mei! I-It’s me, Li Yang!

Hu Feng moved towards the table and reached out his hand to grab his father’s shoulder. But just as Hu Feng’s hand reached him, it went right through his father’s shoulder.

“…!”

Confusion and frustration immediately clouded his eyes, as Hu Feng frantically touch his surrounding; trying to feel something.

But it was no use.

His hands merely went right through them.

Then, the scene in front of Hu Feng began to recede backwards, becoming smaller and more distant.

“No! Wait, don’t leave me behind! I’m right here! Hey! Heeeeey!” Hu Feng shouted as he chased after the fading scene.

But it was as if some mysterious force was preventing him from doing so; his body felt sluggish and powerless. The scene continued fading further and further and away from him…

(TL: This is exactly how I feel when I’m in my dreams. T^T)

“Ahhh!!! Damn this fat body of mine!” Hu Feng screamed bitterly out loud as he fell to the ground, weakly.

Suddenly, his surrounding began to warp again.

In a split second, Hu Feng once again found himself in a white space, except this time, there were several “holographic” imageries being played all around him.

It was as if Hu Feng was a watching several television screens at once, except it seemed that only a select episode would be shown before him, while the rest were all blurred and whirling around Hu Feng in rapid circles.

Scenes after scenes from his time on Earth flashed before Hu Feng.

His happiest birthday, his first acceptance to a university, his first date, his first family trip to another country…memories of his most joyful times replayed before him. Familiar colors and sounds gushed out all around Hu Feng, enveloping him in an intense feeling of nostalgia.

Tears slowly streamed down his cheeks, as Hu Feng saw his past memories. Wiping away the tears as they fell, Hu Feng watched on as his environment changed repeatedly.

This continued for some time before suddenly, everything twisted and Hu Feng’s surrounding was plunged into darkness once again.

A different scene slowly faded into view. Wooden boards pixelated the ground and the atmosphere lighting was of a fire-like, orange hue –the color brought about by a fading afternoon sun.

“These clothes…I am myself again?!” Hu Feng exclaimed when he noticed the black jacket and khaki pants he was wearing. At some point, his body had reverted back to his original slim feature. Even his previous semi-long hair had reverted back to his original short haired style, touched with a hint of messiness.

Looking up, Hu Feng narrowed his eyes when he saw three men in black suits talking to his parents. They were standing in front of his family door. The surrounding had changed to Hu Feng’s hallway.

Standing a few feet behind his parents, who were facing the three men, Hu Feng could hear their conversation.

“Please, just give us another month. We will definitely pay off the debt..” A middle aged woman in red shirt and jeans spoke in a pleading voice.

“This is already the second time, ma’am. If you guys do not start paying up, we will have to confiscate your house as a payment.” One of the black suited men standing in the center, a middle aged man with snake-like eyes, said in a flat tone. “Our agency can give you another month, but the interest rate will be doubled this time. Is that fine?”

“Yes, yes, of course! We will definitely make sure to pay next, definitely! Thank you so much!” The middle aged man with round rimmed glasses, standing besides Hu Feng’s mother, spoke up as he furiously bowed towards the three men.

Seeing this scene, Hu Feng’s heart ached, as he glanced to his left.

Leaning against the corner of the wall, hidden away from his parents and the men, was a young teenager. His face was ordinary, with ruffled black hair, a few pimples on his face and thick eyebrows.

It was Hu Feng’s original self: Li Yang.

Li Yang’s hands were balled into tight fists as he gritted his teeth, having overheard the adults’ conversation…

Before Hu Feng could walk over and say something…

*Whoosh!*

The scene was once again changed, and Hu Feng found himself looking at his younger self toiling at a construction site in the middle of night. The setting was painted by devilish blue color, the streets being illuminated by the streetlights and a half covered moon overhead.

Hu Feng’s eyes glittered with reminiscence, recalling the days he had to secretly work a part-time job at night in order to help pay off his parents’ debt. The stress he had to endure while balancing poor family life, his night job, and school, were tremendous.

It could be said that those were the most dull and miserable periods of his teenage life.

*Whoosh!*

The surrounding again changed, as new scenes appeared one after another.

His first break up with his girlfriend, him opening the mail letters and seeing that he was rejected to nine out of the ten universities he had applied to, his parents arguing in front of him about where they should go for a trip that was the least expensive, arguing about their meager budget, arguing, arguing, and arguing…..

*Whoosh!*

Hu Feng’s setting changed another time, as he saw a youth in a black jacket and khaki pants walking in the woods. That was “himself”. Sun was peeking down from overgrown trees, illuminating the emerald plants and moist soil.

“This place…I remember it should that time when I came here on a school outing. I had wanted to get some fresh air by myself, and then…and then…” Recalling up to this point, Hu Feng’s eyes suddenly widened.

“It was here!”