A Shocking Dream

In the fifth year of Ansheng in the Daqi era, the imperial palace's autumn hunt should have been a grand event that demonstrated the royal majesty and spirit, but it was instantly overshadowed by the disappearance of the fifteen-year-old prince Qin Ruoyu.

The autumn hunting grounds were once a vast, boundless mountain forest. The autumn sun bathed the trees, dyeing them vibrant hues of gold, orange, and red. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, a melody of past glory. The rolling hills in the distance, against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, seemed especially majestic. However, now, this beautiful forest was filled with an atmosphere of tension and unease.

Upon learning of this, Emperor Qin Ronghuan of the Great Qi Dynasty was furious and immediately dispatched a force of tens of millions of troops to search for the Crown Prince. Within the imperial palace, the once magnificent palace now lost its former splendor. The long corridors were silent, echoed only by the sound of the Emperor's pacing footsteps. The flowers and plants in the courtyard seemed to sense the oppressive atmosphere, drooping their heads, their former vitality lost. Dark clouds gradually gathered in the sky, as if they too were concerned about the Crown Prince's disappearance.

Crown Prince Qin Ruoyu was born to Empress Kou Lanzhi. The Empress and the Emperor were a young couple, walking hand in hand, their bond boundless. The Empress's palace was now filled with sorrow. The splendid curtains fluttered gently, yet offered no comfort. The Empress wept daily, overcome with grief, her beautiful eyes bloodshot, as if she had lost her soul. She sat by the window, gazing out at the garden, once a scene of vibrant blossoms now reduced to desolation.

The entire court was consumed by anxiety over the Crown Prince's disappearance, with ministers offering advice and campaigning everywhere. Millions of soldiers searched for over two weeks, yet the Crown Prince seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, with no sign of him. Speculations swirled throughout the court and among the people, some even suspecting a long-planned assassination, orchestrated during the autumn hunt. For a moment, the court was abuzz with discussion, and everyone's attention gradually turned to a crucial individual.

Gazing from afar, the vast maple forest resembles a blazing flame, fiery and brilliant. Autumn maple leaves blanket the hills and plains, like a surging crimson tide, dyeing the sky red. The wind rustles gently, gently touching the maple treetops, rustling them. The yellow leaves drift down, layer upon layer, covering the ground with a golden path, like a golden carpet stretching off into the distance.

A closer look reveals a house nestled amidst a mountain of fiery red maple leaves, standing quietly like a silent guardian. The plaque on the house's gate reads "Autumn Wind and Falling Leaves," its characters simple and vigorous, revealing the passage of time and its vicissitudes. Against the backdrop of the maple leaves, the plaque appears even more mysterious and tranquil.

"Why hasn't he woken up yet?" A clear voice was filled with anxiety and worry.

"Yes, he has been sleeping for half a month." Another voice was also full of concern.

The whispered discussions in his ears gradually brought Qin Ruoyu back to consciousness. He felt dizzy and his body was extremely heavy. Suddenly, Qin Ruoyu frowned and slowly opened his eyes. What came into view was a white curtain, the soft fabric fluttering gently in the breeze. Qin Ruoyu narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to adapt to this unfamiliar environment. Where is this? He was full of doubts. He tried to recall what happened before, but his mind was blurry, as if shrouded in a layer of fog. Qin Ruoyu wanted to get up, but found that he was a little weak all over. He observed the surrounding environment. The room was simply decorated, but it revealed a light and elegant atmosphere. The sunlight poured in through the window, bringing a touch of warmth to the whole room. Qin Ruoyu tried to calm himself down, thinking about why he was here and what to do next.

"You're awake." A soft voice rang out, as sweet as the sound of a flowing spring. Qin Ruoyu looked over and saw two pretty young girls standing at the head of the bed, looking at him. Their eyes were as clear as water, and their faces were filled with surprise.

"Who are you... Where is this place?" Qin Ruoyu looked at them warily, his eyes filled with caution. He struggled to stand up, leaning against the headboard, trying to find some clues from these two strange little girls. His heart was filled with confusion and uneasiness, unsure of why he was here, nor the origins of these two little girls.

"Don't be afraid, big brother. This is Qiuluo Mountain. My name is Yuanyuan and this is my sister Kankan. Big brother, you were rescued by our great-grandmaster." One of the little girls responded, her voice as clear as a silver bell.

Rescue? Qin Ruoyu was slightly startled, his thoughts instantly pulled back to his previous memories. Yes, he was ambushed and poisoned and fell into a coma. Thinking of this, Qin Ruoyu felt a headache, as if countless fine needles were piercing his head. He frowned tightly, trying hard to suppress the pain.

Qin Ruoyu looked at the two innocent and adorable little girls in front of him, and his vigilance relaxed a little. "Thank you for saving me, your great-grandmaster. I wonder who your great-grandmaster is? Why did he save me?"

"Big brother, have some water." Qianqian poured him a glass of water, her voice as gentle as a gentle breeze. Her fair face flushed shyly, perhaps because she hadn't seen many strangers. She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and steadily passed the glass of water to Qin Ruoyu.

"Thank you." Qin Ruoyu took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. The cool water flowed down his throat, clearing his foggy mind a little. He glanced at the two sisters simultaneously. The elder sister, Wanwan, was as pure and smooth as ice, like a quietly blooming lily. Her eyes held a gentleness and tranquility that captivated everyone. The younger sister, Yuanyuan, was charming, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity, like a lively and adorable fawn.

"Big Brother, our uncle said that if you wake up, you should come with us to see her," Yuanyuan said, looking at him with anticipation in her eyes. Her little face was filled with excitement, as if she was about to accomplish something very important.

"Okay," Qin Ruoyu replied softly. He was also filled with curiosity. Who exactly was this great-grandmaster? Why had he saved him? He struggled to stand up and tried to get out of bed. Kankan hurried forward to support him, a look of concern on her face. Supported by the two sisters, Qin Ruoyu slowly walked out of the room.

What was the origin of this great-grandmaster who had rescued him from Hunting Mountain and brought him here? Qin Ruoyu was filled with doubts. As he pondered this, he walked out of the room, supported by Wanwan and Yuanyuan.

The moment he stepped out of the door, Qin Ruoyu was stunned by the view before him. The maple leaves covering the mountains were a fiery red, stretching out before him like a vast, boundless scroll. The intense crimson seemed to burst into flames, shocking his soul. A gentle breeze rustled the maple leaves, as if telling an ancient story.

Qin Ruoyu stared blankly at this unprecedented scene, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up in his heart. It turned out that such a beautiful place existed in this world. He seemed to forget his own situation, lost in this picturesque scenery. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the maple leaves, forming golden beams that added a touch of mystery to the sea of ​​red.

Wanwan and Yuanyuan looked at Qin Ruoyu's amazed expression, and happy smiles appeared on their faces. "Big brother, isn't it beautiful here? We like it here too." Yuanyuan said happily.

Qin Ruoyu nodded slightly, "It's indeed beautiful, like a fairyland." His gaze still stayed on the maple leaf, and his heart was full of curiosity about this mysterious place.

"Where is this place? How far is it from the capital?" Qin Ruoyu couldn't help but ask as he followed the two sisters through the maple forest. His eyes were filled with a hint of anxiety and longing, desperate to know where he was and how far away he was from the capital.

Wanwan remained silent, walking quietly. Only Yuanyuan uttered a word, "I don't know." Qin Ruoyu frowned slightly, wondering if these two sisters didn't know where the capital was. Could it be that they had always lived in the mountains? A complex emotion welled up in his heart: pity for these two innocent girls, yet also worry about his own situation.

Qin Ruoyu looked around. The maple forest seemed endless. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating patches of light that felt like a dream. He didn't know how long he would have to stay here, or if he could return to the capital safely. But he knew he had to meet his great-uncle first; perhaps she could offer him some clues.

They continued to walk through the maple forest, the fallen leaves under their feet making rustling sounds, as if telling the story of the years. Qin Ruoyu's mood gradually calmed down, and he decided not to let his thoughts wander.

"Who is he?" an ethereal voice echoed, like the sound of a mountain spring, crisp and melodious yet tinged with a chill. Falling maple leaves, like dancing elves, added a touch of poetry to the scene. Not far away stood a woman in red, her back to them, her figure radiating grace against the backdrop of the maple leaves. Her long, flowing hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, her red dress fluttering in the wind, creating a breathtaking scene.

"Master, this is the man my great-uncle rescued two weeks ago. Now I'm bringing him to see him," Kana replied respectfully as the two sisters saluted. Her voice trembled slightly, clearly filled with awe for this master.

Qin Ruoyu was slightly startled, his gaze fixed on the woman in red. He secretly speculated about her identity. Judging from her temperament and the attitude of the two sisters, she was definitely not an ordinary person. But why was she here? And what was her relationship with that mysterious uncle? Qin Ruoyu's heart was filled with doubts. He waited quietly for the woman in red to respond, as if time had stood still in this moment.

"Oh? It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Daqi. Go ahead." As soon as the woman finished her voice, she vanished like a phantom. What a beautiful Qinggong! Qin Ruoyu was stunned at the place where she disappeared. Qin Ruoyu had learned martial arts from his uncle Qin Rongchen and others since he was a child. He had also witnessed many Qinggong in the martial arts world, but he had never seen such a beautiful and swift Qinggong.

Wait? She just found out who I am? Countless questions flooded Qin Ruoyu's mind. Who was she? Who was this so-called great-uncle master? Could this be some sect in the Jianghu? Why would they save him? A series of questions swirled in his mind, leaving him increasingly confused.

Qin Ruoyu frowned, his eyes scanning the surrounding maple forest, as if trying to find the answer in this beautiful yet mysterious place. The two sisters looked at Qin Ruoyu's shocked expression and were also a little at a loss.

"Brother, don't worry. Since our uncle-master saved you, he will definitely not harm you." Yuanyuan looked at Qin Ruoyu with clear and sincere eyes.

Qin Ruoyu looked at Yuanyuan blankly, his heart filled with surprise. How did she know what he was thinking? Could she be a mind reader? This thought flashed through Qin Ruoyu's mind, making him even more alert.

"Yuanyuan, why do you know that I am worried that my uncle-master will harm me?" Qin Ruoyu couldn't help but ask, his eyes full of confusion.

Yuanyuan blinked her eyes and smiled brightly. "Brother, your expression is all over your face. I can tell you're worried. And my great-uncle is a good person. She saved many people."

Qin Ruoyu was slightly startled, and looking at Yuanyuan's innocent smile, his vigilance relaxed a little. Perhaps he was overthinking it. These two little girls were so innocent and kind, and their uncle-master shouldn't be a bad person.

"I hope so," Qin Ruoyu said softly, and continued to follow the two sisters towards his uncle's residence. He didn't know what was waiting for him, but he decided to face it bravely and solve the mystery in his heart.

Qin Ruoyu didn't know how long he'd followed the two sisters. Even the maple forest seemed endless. The fiery maple leaves seemed boundless, enveloping them in a splendid display. As they walked, the two sisters stopped. Kanan walked under a tree and touched it, as if searching for something.

Suddenly, with a crackling sound, the maple forest before them shifted, clearing a path. Amazing! Qin Ruoyu had seen many sorcerers and foreign magicians, but nothing was beyond what he was seeing. He was filled with shock and curiosity. How many secrets did this place hold?