I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Chapter 355: Wanqing's Return is in Sight

A spring breeze caressed the city's tall buildings, bringing a long-lost warmth. Zhang Wanqing stood at the window of the newspaper office, gazing out at the bustling streets, a sense of trance looming in her heart. She couldn't count how many times she had stood in this spot, gazing at the familiar modern world, yet filled with longing for another time and place. That was the Tang Dynasty, where she had once lived, an era filled with poetry and everyday life, where she had family, friends, and her unfulfilled dreams.

"Wanqing, are you daydreaming again?" The voice of her colleague Xiao Li brought her back from her thoughts. Zhang Wanqing smiled slightly and nodded. "It's okay, just a little tired." She turned back to her seat and continued to organize the manuscript at hand.

As a journalist, she has been working in this industry for several years. From the beginning as a naive rookie to now being able to stand on her own, she has put in a lot of effort. But even so, there is always a voice in her heart calling her, and that is the call from the Tang Dynasty.

Remember, Zhang Wanqing is a girl who traveled from the Tang Dynasty to the modern era. She rose from a rookie reporter to an accomplished journalist. Meanwhile, she never gave up her determination to travel back to the Tang Dynasty, and her quest for a method presented her with many trials and tribulations. Long ago, she attempted to travel back using the methods of renowned physicist Professor Ma Dongsheng and a long-trained Taoist priest. She nearly succeeded, but a few issues arose, ultimately leading to failure.

Recently, Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei went to visit Professor Ma again to see how his latest experiment was going. Then they went to visit the Taoist priest who gave her the talisman last time to seek new help.

Last time, after extensive research and calculations, Professor Ma told her that time travel wasn't impossible; it just required finding the right method and timing. Professor Ma realized that relying solely on lightning energy to trigger a space-time rift wasn't enough. He decided to delve into the fundamentals and delve deeper into the physical mechanisms of space-time rifts. He combined quantum mechanics, general relativity, and electromagnetism to develop a theoretical model of space-time rifts. This model would help them better understand the conditions for their formation, their stability, and how to safely trigger and close them.

Professor Ma conducted repeated experiments and calculations in his laboratory, and this time, they came to Professor Ma's laboratory again with new hopes and questions.

"Professor Ma, how is your latest experiment going?" Zhang Wanqing asked anxiously.

"Wanqing... My research has indeed been ongoing, with repeated experiments, but..." Professor Ma looked at Zhang Wanqing, with a hint of complex emotions in his eyes.

"Is it still a failure?" Fu Siyuan asked.

"Yes, alas..." Professor Ma sighed.

"Professor Ma, although I failed, thank you anyway!" Zhang Wanqing said gratefully.

"Wanqing, I must remind you that the risks of time travel are still very high. Moreover, you have lived in this era for so long, and you may face many unexpected difficulties when you return." Zhang Wanqing just smiled slightly, "Professor Ma, I understand this. But some things, once decided, are difficult to turn back."

After the three of them left Professor Ma's place, they went straight to find the Taoist priest who had given her the talisman. She still remembered that when she first met the Taoist priest, his deep eyes seemed to see through her heart.

The Taoist temple is located on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by green trees, making it particularly quiet and peaceful. The Taoist priest smiled slightly when he saw them. "I knew you would come." Zhang Wanqing was startled, but the Taoist priest simply waved his hand and gestured for them to sit down.

"Miss Zhang, do you know why you traveled to the modern era?" The Taoist's voice was low and distant.

Zhang Wanqing shook her head. She had never thought about this question.

"Maybe it's because of me, oh... it's Su Qimeng. She died in an accident, and when she was buried, the space-time rift opened, and she came here by accident. I couldn't understand why Su Qimeng fell into Zhang Wanqing's body before, but later I understood, because Zhang Wanqing is the true descendant of the Mohist school. Zhang Wanqing's ancestors traveled to ancient times and did not return, and Su Qimeng is the descendant of her ancestors. Afterwards, Su Qimeng traveled back to modern times, fell into Zhang Wanqing's body, and became the descendant of Zhang Wanqing's ancestors again. Doesn't this just complete a closed loop?" Zhang Wanqing said.

"Hahaha, Miss Zhang, you are really smart. No wonder your ancestors arranged for you to travel back in time to complete the mission given to you by the Mohist school." The Taoist praised Zhang Wanqing.

The Taoist priest continued, "You are a descendant of the Mohist school. The Mohist school has always adhered to the principle of 'universal love and non-aggression' and is dedicated to saving the people of the world. Your arrival in the modern era may seem accidental, but it is actually providential. In the process of solving each case, you have actually fulfilled your mission."

Zhang Wanqing was stunned. She had never imagined that her experiences in modern times would have such profound significance.

The Taoist looked at her, a trace of relief flashing in his eyes. "Your heart has always been concerned about the Tang Dynasty, and now that you have completed your mission, it is time to return."

The Taoist paused, then continued, "In a few days, we'll see the rare Seven Stars Conjunction, which only occurs once every 77 years. That will be the perfect time to travel through time, and you need to be in the perfect time and place to do so. If you miss it, and have to wait another 77 years, you might never get the chance to go back."

"When is the best time? Where is the best place?" Zhang Wanqing asked.

"On February 29th of this year, between approximately 9 and 10 pm, seven stars will appear in a conjunction. You can then complete the crossing on the city wall of Yongning Gate, the southwest corner of the north square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, or the beacon tower of Mount Li. But I think Mount Li is the most likely place, as the other two places are too crowded and located in the downtown area, and people will affect the crossing. Mount Li is a Feng Shui treasure land, as both Qin Shihuang and Mi Yue are buried here. So, go to Mount Li, and be sure to stand in the center of the beacon tower." The Taoist explained in detail how to cross.

Zhang Wanqing's heartbeat quickened; she had finally waited for this moment. The Taoist priest pulled out an ancient bronze mirror from his bosom and handed it to her. "This mirror was passed down from my ancestor. It can help you travel through time and space. When the seven stars align, simply point the mirror at the sky, silently recite your wish, and you will be transported back to the Tang Dynasty."

"Also, I will teach you a few more spells. You should recite them silently when the time comes. Remember, keep reciting them without stopping until you return to your world." The Taoist priest taught Zhang Wanqing to recite the spells one by one.

As the journey home approached, Zhang Wanqing's heart began to tense up again. On the way back, she kept thinking about her life in the modern world, her family and friends here, and her relationship with Fu Siyuan.

Zhang Wanqing's OS: "My heart is so confused... More complicated and chaotic than before... I want to go home, but I can't bear to leave everything here. Sigh... It's so uncomfortable..."