009, Time Difference, Inquiry

After a bout of dizziness, Jing Qingxin opened her eyes. All around her was pitch black; only the faint moonlight outside the window allowed her to make out the vague outlines of her surroundings. Though she couldn’t see clearly, the sensation beneath her body and the familiar layout of the room left her in no doubt—indeed, she had once again traveled through time and space!

She immediately reached out to switch on the bedside lamp, a slight smile curving her lips. It seemed she was beginning to understand: her blood had activated the ancient ink jade pendant’s formation, and in that other era, Gao Shen also possessed such a pendant. The two pendants had thus opened a tunnel between their times, allowing her to traverse it in her sleep and arrive in that arduous, striving age sixty years past.

Unconsciously, Jing Qingxin glanced at the clock on the wall. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of astonishment flickering across her face as she puzzled over it in her heart. The swinging clock made it clear: from the moment she fell asleep to her awakening just now, less than three minutes had passed. How could that be?

She hadn’t paid attention to the exact time during her previous journey, but tonight, she had checked the clock before turning off the light, so she remembered it clearly. Moreover, this time she’d stayed much longer—she recalled her first journey lasted just over ten minutes, but this time she’d remained there for more than an hour. Why, then, was there such a discrepancy in the passage of time in her own era?

What was going on? Could there be a time difference between the two eras? Jing Qingxin frowned in deep thought. If she calculated based on the time lag, it was roughly a ratio of one to four—meaning, if she stayed four hours in that time sixty years ago, only one hour elapsed in her own world?

Astonished, she realized the time she spent in each journey was indeed different. Perhaps, as the number of journeys increased, the duration would also lengthen? She couldn’t help but speculate.

She picked up the ancient ink jade pendant hanging at her chest, letting her thoughts wander. What secrets did this pendant conceal? Why was it taking her to that era? What was the connection between her and Gao Shen? Was she meant to heal his leg? That seemed too simple an explanation.

They both possessed identical pendants—there had to be some link between them! After mulling it over, Jing Qingxin could only comfort herself: she would leave it all to time. She believed that everything happened for a reason, and that in due course, all would be revealed.

Having sorted out her thoughts, she glanced at the sky—there were still several hours until dawn. She promptly lay back down to sleep, deciding to leave the rest for morning.

At seven in the morning, Jing Qingxin woke up. As she was about to get out of bed and put on her shoes, she noticed traces of mud on her feet. It suddenly occurred to her that she had traveled through time while asleep, without shoes on either occasion. The era she visited was all brick and earth floors—no cement tiles or floorboards—so it was natural for her feet to pick up some dirt.

With a faint smile, she hurried to the bathroom to wash up, then changed the bedsheets, for her feet had left some marks on them.

Downstairs in the living room, Aunt Chen was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, and her mother was leisurely watching the morning news. She soon ran into her father and brother returning from their morning exercise.

“Good morning, Dad. Good morning, big brother!” Jing Qingxin greeted them with a smile and a wave.

Jing Qingmu, wiping sweat from his neck, grinned and teased, “Well, well, our eldest young lady, why are you up so early today?”

“Is there a problem with that?” she retorted, tilting her chin.

“No problem at all!” he laughed, heading upstairs to freshen up.

Jing Qingxin went to sit on the living room sofa, shaking her head with a gentle laugh as she gazed across the room. She had seen this scene countless times growing up—it was all second nature by now.

Her mother, originally watching the news, quickly went to fetch a cup of tea for her father as soon as he stepped in from his exercise. Affection filled the air between them, the quiet understanding of long years together needing no words. Though both were now middle-aged, their love for each other was undiminished.

Jing Qingxin glanced at them, then turned her attention to the television. The harmony and affection between her parents made their home perpetually warm; she and her brother had grown up happy and healthy in such a family, grateful and lucky to be their children.

Her parents had always been their role models, both in matters of the heart and in their professional achievements. It was only natural that she and her brother, raised by such exemplary parents, would become outstanding themselves.

After breakfast, her father left for work, her mother tended to the flowers in the garden, and Jing Qingxin went to her brother’s room, the door wide open.

“Brother, are you going somewhere?” she asked from the doorway, noticing him packing his bags.

“Oh, I’ve arranged an adventure with some friends. I want to have some fun before joining the team,” he replied, folding clothes as he spoke.

“By the way, I need your help with something,” she said directly.

He stopped what he was doing and turned to her. “What is it?”

“Could you check your ‘Hall of Flowing Light’ study and see if there are any records about my ancient ink jade pendant?” she asked simply.

“The ancient ink jade pendant? Why are you suddenly interested in that? Is something wrong with it?” he inquired, his expression serious.

“Uh… you don’t need to ask so much. I’m just curious and want to know if there’s any information about it,” she replied, raising her voice slightly.

“Alright, but I’m about to head out, so I can’t look right now. I’ll check when I find time and let you know if I find anything, okay?” Though puzzled by his sister’s request, he trusted there must be a reason and didn’t press further. Some things would become clear in time.

“Great, but you have to remember! Check for me when you get the chance—I’ll be waiting for your news!” she said happily.

With that, Jing Qingxin slipped into the ‘Brocade of Flowing Light’ space, intending to store some spring water for her brother—always useful for an adventure.

This wasn’t her brother’s first expedition. He’d started following explorers and special forces members into border forests for training when he was just sixteen.

———Author’s Note———
This story may be a bit slim, but I’ll give it a shout: Is anyone reading?
How’s the opening? Give me some feedback!
This book was first published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost!