I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Zhang Wanqing's fingers gently stroked the ancient jade pendant. Its surface was warm and smooth, as if it held endless secrets. Standing in the ancient books section of the library, she felt a mixture of anticipation and unease at the historical mysteries about to be uncovered. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow on her delicate features. She knew this jade pendant would be the key to her journey to the Tang Dynasty.

Zhang Wanqing sat at her desk, magnifying glass in hand, carefully studying the patterns on the jade pendant. These patterns seemed to be an ancient script, but they were different from any script she knew.

"What do these patterns represent? Are they the key to the rift in time and space?"

She began to consult various ancient books, hoping to find clues to these patterns. Her eyes were focused and serious, and her fingers slid lightly across the pages, as if she could feel the weight of history.

"These ancient books may contain the key to unlocking the secrets of the jade pendant."

After several days of searching, she finally found a similar pattern in an ancient book called "Classic of Mountains and Seas." Her inner monologue was filled with excitement: "These patterns are actually a kind of ancient code, pointing to a specific place."

She began to check the map, trying to find the modern location of this place. "This place might be the entrance for me to travel back to the Tang Dynasty."

Armed with a jade pendant and a map, Zhang Wanqing embarked on a journey in search of ancient ruins. She took a train to a remote mountainous area, uninhabited by humans, with only ancient mountains and dense forests. She was terrified, but her desire to return home emboldened her. She turned on a flashlight and sang as she walked, trying to build up her courage.

"Does this relic really exist? Can I really find it?"

She began to search in the forest, and every step seemed extremely difficult. It was fine during the day, but at night, she was very scared and hid in a cave, lying in her sleeping bag, and did not dare to come out all night.

After several days of searching, she finally discovered a hidden entrance in a dense forest. It was so small that ordinary people couldn't see it. How did she find it? She was walking in the forest when she came across a small hare. Curious, she looked in the direction the hare was running. She saw the hare disappear behind a tree. So she looked behind the tree and saw the hidden entrance.

"This entrance is hidden so deeply. Where will it lead me?"

She cautiously entered the entrance, finding the space expanding as she went deeper. It felt as if she had entered a vast underground labyrinth. The walls were engraved with ancient patterns, strikingly similar to those on the jade pendant in her hand. "Perhaps this labyrinth is the relic I'm searching for."

Zhang Wanqing stood in the center of the maze. She could feel a strange force flowing in the air. This maze seemed like a huge mechanism that required a specific method to activate.

She began to carefully observe the walls of the maze, trying to find the clues to activate the mechanism. Her eyes were focused and serious, and her fingers gently touched the wall, as if she could feel the secret of the mechanism.

After some effort, she finally found a recessed area on the wall that was perfect for the jade pendant. This should be a hidden button, and this button might be the key to activating the mechanism.

She carefully placed the jade pendant inside and pressed a button. Suddenly, the walls of the maze began to shift, revealing a massive stone door. "This stone door might be the entrance to the rift in time and space."

Zhang Wanqing stood in front of the stone gate, her heart racing and her palms sweating. She knew this would be her last chance to travel back to the Tang Dynasty. She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and pushed open the stone gate. Suddenly, a dazzling light shot out from behind the stone gate, enveloping her. She felt her body become lighter, as if it were floating. At this moment, she was filled with fear and anticipation: "Is this what it's like to travel through time? Am I really going back to the Tang Dynasty?"

So she closed her eyes, imagining that when she opened them again, she would be back in her hometown. However, just as she was about to step through the stone gate, a powerful force pushed her back. She felt like she was being restrained by an invisible force, unable to move forward.

Unwilling to give up, she tried again, but was again blocked by the same force. She fell to the ground, staring blankly at the stone door, suddenly confused. Her plan to cross over had failed again.

"Why? Why can't I travel through time? What's missing from this mechanism?" Her heart was filled with despair and confusion.

Suddenly, Zhang Wanqing seemed to recall something. She remembered reading about ancient mechanisms in an ancient book. She began searching for clues in her notebook, which contained much of the information she had found. From the Mozi to the Zhoubi Suanjing to the Kaogongji, she searched for any possible clue. Her eyes darted between the lines, trying to find the secret that could activate the ancient mechanism.

"Ancient mechanisms are the crystallization of ancient wisdom. They are hidden deep in history, waiting to be discovered by those who are destined to discover them."

Her gaze finally settled on her notes about "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature," and her heart raced as she came across a description of mechanical devices. "The principles of mechanical devices depend on the yin and yang, the five elements, and the harmony of heaven, earth, and man. Without the perfect timing, location, and people, they cannot be activated," she muttered, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

She continued to browse and found more records, including some specific rituals and sacrificial activities that seemed to be related to the activation of the mechanism. "These rituals may be the key to activating the mechanism."

Zhang Wanqing began researching the concepts of "heavenly time, favorable terrain, and harmonious people" mentioned in ancient texts. She discovered that "heavenly time" refers to specific times, such as a solar or lunar eclipse or a specific solar term; "geography" refers to specific locations, such as a mountain's dragon vein or a river's confluence; and "harmony" refers to the operator's mindset and state, requiring a clear mind and complete concentration.

"It all comes down to the right time, the right place, and the right people. I have to find the right time, the right place, and the right mindset to be free of distractions."

She began searching, and after two days of effort, she finally found a location that met all the requirements—an ancient altar, situated on a dragon vein in a mountain range. Furthermore, the upcoming solar eclipse would be the perfect time to activate the mechanism. "This altar, this solar eclipse, might be the key to activating the mechanism."

On the night of the solar eclipse, Zhang Wanqing brought her jade pendant and other essential items to the ancient altar. The altar sat at the highest point of the mountain, surrounded by lush forest. In its center was a massive stone platform, engraved with strange patterns. This altar, these patterns, seemed to tell an ancient story, waiting for her to decipher.

She began to prepare for the ceremony. According to the description in ancient books, she needed to place specific items on the altar, including jade pendants, incense burners, candlesticks, etc. Her eyes were focused and serious, and her fingers gently placed the items, as if she could feel the sacredness of the ceremony.

As the solar eclipse approached, the sky gradually darkened, and the patterns on the altar began to emit a faint light. She began chanting incantations and performing rituals according to the descriptions in the ancient texts. Her voice echoed above the altar, and she could feel a strange power flowing through the air.

As the ceremony progressed, the patterns on the altar grew brighter and brighter, and the entire altar began to vibrate. Standing in the center of the altar, Zhang Wanqing could feel a powerful force surging from the ground, enveloping her.

Suddenly, a dazzling light shot out from the center of the altar, reaching the sky. Zhang Wanqing felt her body grow lighter, as if she were about to float. "Is this the feeling of time travel? Am I really going back to the Tang Dynasty?" she asked herself again.

However, just as she was about to step into the light, a powerful force pushed her back again.

This time, she looked at the altar while crying, her heart full of resentment.