Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

In a bustling corner of the city, Xiao Yi locked himself in a small, cluttered study. The walls were practically covered with ancient tomes, modern scientific works, and the mystical diagrams he had personally drawn. A dim light flickered among the mountains of documents, as if threatened to be swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere at any moment. His face was haggard, his eyes bloodshot, yet a flicker of determination still burned within them.

Xiao Yi's journey of discovery began in an ancient library. He wandered between dusty shelves, his fingers gently running over the spines of books etched with the marks of time. Those yellowed pages, exuding a timeworn air, held the wisdom and secrets of countless ancestors. He flipped through page after page, meticulously examining every possible reference to time travel, from obscure myths and legends to enigmatic accounts of alchemy and strange practices. From the bizarre spatial descriptions of the Classic of Mountains and Seas to the seemingly elusive anecdotes of temporal dislocations in Records of the In Search of the Gods, he meticulously pored over them, jotting down every crucial word and every meaningful sentence, attempting to piece together a mysterious puzzle of time travel. Each ancient book felt like a hidden treasure, and he dug deep, hoping to discover the glittering pearl that would unlock the portal to time and space.

To broaden his sources of clues, Xiao Yi actively participated in various academic seminars and archaeology lectures. Sitting in the audience, he closely followed the scholars' every move, his ears keenly capturing every academic perspective and latest research findings. Whenever a topic touched on ancient civilizations, mysterious relics, or theories of time and space came up, he was completely absorbed, fearing to miss a single detail. During breaks in the seminars, he ignored the skeptical looks from others and eagerly questioned the experts about the potential connection between ancient astronomical calendars and the changes in time and space, or the possible supernatural powers contained in ancient sacrificial rituals. He engaged in heated debates with skeptical scholars, using his own personal experience and in-depth research to support his views, attempting to convince them that time travel was not entirely unfounded. His voice echoed throughout the conference hall, filled with determination and perseverance. Although he was often met with skeptical and puzzled looks, he never backed down.

Xiao Yi also delved into ancient ruins and sites. He embarked on an arduous and uncertain archaeological journey, exploring corners forgotten by time. Under the scorching desert sun, he and his team excavated ancient tombs, meticulously examining the murals, inscriptions, and funerary objects within, hoping to uncover clues to time travel within these ancient artifacts. The enigmatic figures, strange symbols, and patterns within the murals became his primary focus. He captured every detail with his camera, then, by dim light at night, analyzed and compared them with ancient texts, attempting to decipher the hidden secrets. Within the ruins of ancient temples nestled deep in the mountains and forests, he touched the shattered walls, feeling the weight of history and the vicissitudes of time, searching for clues to past anomalies. He inquired with local villagers about ancient legends and oral traditions. Although tinged with myth, these folk tales of divine apparitions and the return of time were deeply mythical, he took them seriously, hoping to unearth the truths lost in history. Every exploration was an adventure. He endured thirst and heat in the desolate desert and guarded against wild beasts and unknown dangers in the dense forest, but the faith in his heart remained firm.

Furthermore, Xiao Yi also leveraged modern technology to aid his research. He taught himself complex physics theories, particularly those concerning relativity, quantum mechanics, and the dimensions of space and time. He ran complex simulation programs on his computer, inputting various data on ancient environments and energy fields, attempting to find the key to unlocking the door to space and time through modern scientific calculations and model building. He collaborated with computer experts to develop specialized data analysis software to organize, classify, and analyze the vast amounts of information gleaned from ancient texts, archaeological sites, and folklore, hoping to uncover patterns and regularities hidden within the data. He often sat in front of his computer for over ten hours, his eyes glued to the constantly flashing data and charts on the screen, his fingers pounding away on the keyboard, as if racing against time to find a glimmer of hope in this endless ocean of data.

During an expedition to the ruins of an ancient astronomical observatory, Xiao Yi discovered some strange carvings and layouts. These carvings seemed to correspond to specific astrological positions, yet they also held unique characteristics that defied traditional astronomical records. He spent several days at the site, conducting field measurements and recording under the scorching sun during the day, and using astronomical software to simulate ancient astrological shifts at night, attempting to decipher the meaning behind these carvings. Through tireless effort, he hypothesized that these carvings might have been left during some ritual or observation related to time and space, but the specific meaning and method remained elusive. Various hypotheses and conjectures continued to surface in his mind, each one like a glimmer of light in the darkness, though faint, yet offering him hope.

He had also heard a mysterious legend about an isolated island far off the coast. On it lay an ancient stone well, said to reflect scenes from the past or future under certain times and weather conditions. Without hesitation, Xiao Yi embarked on a journey to the island. After bobbing for hours on a small boat across the turbulent sea, he finally arrived. The island was deserted, with little vegetation, and only the stone well stood quietly at its center. He waited by the well for days, enduring the howling sea breeze, hunger, and loneliness, awaiting the legendary moment. However, despite countless hardships, his wish was ultimately unfulfilled. The well remained calm, his anticipation fading, and no miraculous visions emerged. Gazing at the well, disappointment washed over him like a tide, but he quickly pulled himself together, believing it was just one of many failed attempts, and he couldn't give up.

Xiao Yi also sought clues from eccentric folk figures. He inquired, seeking out those purportedly endowed with special abilities or knowledge. He found a sorcerer who claimed to be able to communicate with the spirits. In a dimly lit room, the sorcerer chanted incoherently, wielded magical instruments, and claimed to summon a spirit through time and space for guidance. Xiao Yi watched the sorcerer's performance with a glimmer of anticipation. However, as time passed, nothing materialized, save for the lingering smoke and eerie atmosphere. He then sought out an elderly man skilled in feng shui. After examining his birth date and living conditions, the man shook his head and explained that his fate was being manipulated by a mysterious force, but he could not explain how he could travel through time and space. Despite these experiences, he remained undeterred.

In his relentless pursuit, Xiao Yi's body and spirit were gradually stretched to their limits. He often forgot to eat, his body gradually became thinner, and his once healthy body became weaker. He slept less and less, and every time he closed his eyes, he would imagine Li Lingyuan in ancient times: she, clad in a gorgeous yet heavy phoenix robe, alone in the magnificent yet perilous imperial palace, facing various difficulties, her eyes filled with fatigue and longing for him. These images were like a knife, constantly piercing his heart, making him want to return to her more desperately. His eyes often revealed fatigue and confusion, but the glimmer of determination never faded.

He had also tried extreme methods, following rituals from ancient legends. On full-moon nights, he would ascend tall buildings and place various objects symbolizing the elements of time and space in specific locations, muttering to himself a mantra, attempting to summon the mysterious power that could transcend time and space. However, each attempt ended in failure. Nothing happened around him except the silent night sky and his lonely figure. Gazing at the bright moon in the sky, he felt helpless and despair. He began to doubt whether he could truly travel again, and whether he and Li Lingyuan were destined to be separated in two different time and space, never to meet again. This thought haunted him like a demon, leaving him tossing and turning for countless sleepless nights.

His agent, friends, and family were all worried about his condition and came to persuade him. His agent said earnestly: "Xiao Yi, you can't go on like this. Your career and your life have been messed up because of this incident. You have to accept the reality. Maybe you and that ancient woman are really not destined to be together." Xiao Yi responded angrily: "You don't understand. She endured so much pain alone in that era. How could I watch her? I must go back to her." His friends tried to enlighten him in a light-hearted way: "Maybe this is just a strange dream. You should let it go and start your life again." But Xiao Yi just shook his head silently. He knew that this love was not a dream for him, but his whole life.

After repeated failures, Xiao Yi finally collapsed. In his cluttered study, he huddled on the floor in agony, his head in his hands. Books and materials scattered around him, like shattered hopes. He burst into tears, his voice filled with despair, self-blame, and resentment of his fate. He had once believed that if he worked hard enough, he would find a way to travel through time. But reality was so cruel, it shattered all his efforts. His body trembled violently, and tears flowed continuously, soaking the ground in front of him.

Yet, on the brink of collapse, a faint voice in his heart still cried out, "I can't give up. Lingyuan is still waiting for me." This glimmer of faith, like the last ray of light in the darkness, prevented him from completely sinking into the abyss of despair. He knew he had to pick himself up again, even if the hope was slim, he had to keep searching, because he and Li Lingyuan had a love agreement that spanned thousands of years, and he couldn't go against his heart and give up on their love.