Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Zhu Feifei suddenly opened her eyes and found herself lying on an exquisitely carved bed. Silk curtains swayed gently in the breeze, and the room was filled with a rich sandalwood scent.

Everything before your eyes is distinctly Tang Dynasty: towering eaves, exquisite screens, and sandalwood furniture, exuding an atmosphere of classicism and luxury.

On either side of the bed were small, openwork carved rosewood tables, each displaying an exquisite porcelain vases filled with fresh peonies. A landscape painting hung on the wall, its brushstrokes delicate, its artistic conception profound, and a vermilion seal at the end.

"Where am I? How did I end up in a place like this?" Zhu Feifei rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't dreaming. One second he was in a modern city, and the next he was lying in this antique-style place.

He sat up and casually pulled at the brocade quilt covering him. It felt soft and smooth, like silk. The quilt was embroidered with intricate phoenix and peony patterns, so lifelike that it was clearly the work of a master. He looked down again—and was so startled that he almost threw the quilt away.

"Holy crap! What's going on?!" Zhu Feifei looked at his slender fingers, fair and delicate, with a faint pink tinge on his nails. He frantically reached for his chest, only to touch something soft—he froze instantly.

"My God! This can't be real, can it? How did I turn into a woman?" he exclaimed, unable to believe what he was seeing. He frantically scrambled off the bed, only to trip over his long skirt and fall flat on his face.

Zhu Feifei then noticed that she was wearing a simple white undergarment, over which was a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with delicate floral embroidery on the hem. On her feet were a pair of embroidered shoes, adorned with pearls and gemstones.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the jade pendant on his chest: "Silly pig, don't panic, you've already traveled to the Tang Dynasty."

Zhu Feifei froze, then suddenly grabbed the jade pendant hanging around her neck. It was a piece of warm, white jade, carved with exquisite dragon patterns; it was clearly no ordinary item. "Little White? What are you doing here? Did I transmigrate? No, how did I become a woman? How is Su Bing?"

"Sigh, Su Bing is doing well now. She's a fairly independent career woman, so you can just focus on completing your tasks." Xiao Bai's voice carried a hint of helplessness. "You are now Zhu Rong, the peerless beauty of the Tang Dynasty. Get ready for this grand spectacle!"

Zhu Feifei struggled to his feet, trying to adjust to his unfamiliar body. He staggered to the bronze mirror, gazing at the stunningly beautiful face reflected there, momentarily stunned. The woman in the mirror had skin as smooth as jade, eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and her cherry-like lips slightly parted, revealing a hint of surprise.

The bronze mirror is inlaid with various gemstones, and the frame is carved with exquisite floral and bird patterns. The dressing table in front of the mirror is filled with various delicate cosmetic boxes, combs, and jewelry boxes, all of which demonstrate the owner's noble status.

"This...this is really me?" Zhu Feifei reached out and touched her face in the mirror, feeling the delicate touch from her fingertips.

Xiao Bai's voice rang out again: "That's right, this is what you look like now. Zhu Rong, the most beautiful woman in the Tang Dynasty, the eldest daughter of the Zhu family."

Zhu Feifei took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked around; the furnishings in the room all revealed the owner's noble status. Exquisite porcelain, luxurious brocade, and priceless calligraphy and paintings—everything exuded luxury and elegance.

In the corner stood a huge rosewood wardrobe, its door ajar, revealing a variety of gorgeous dresses hanging inside. Next to it, rows of bamboo slips and thread-bound books were neatly arranged on the bookshelves, along with several rolled-up scrolls.

"Xiaobai, you have to tell me, what exactly am I here for?" Zhu Feifei sat in front of the dressing table, trying to adapt to her new identity.

Xiao Bai's voice turned serious: "Your mission is to infiltrate the palace and get close to Consort Tang. She is the reincarnation of a nine-tailed fox, and you need to obtain her tears of true affection."

"A nine-tailed fox? A royal concubine? And she needs to collect tears?" Zhu Feifei struggled to process such complex information. "This sounds like an impossible task!"

Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhu Feifei stood up in a panic, almost tripping over her long dress again.

"Miss, the master and madam have instructed that today is the day of the imperial concubine selection, and you must prepare early." A gentle voice came from outside the door.

Zhu Feifei panicked immediately: "A talent show?! Xiaobai, what's going on? Why would I participate in a talent show? I'm a man!"

Xiao Bai said helplessly, "Now you're not a man, you're Zhu Rong, the most beautiful woman in the Tang Dynasty. The imperial concubine selection is an inevitable step; you must enter the palace and complete your mission."

Zhu Feifei took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew he had no way out and could only grit his teeth and go for it.

"Come in," Zhu Feifei said in her gentlest voice, while silently praying that she wouldn't give herself away.

The door was gently pushed open, and several maids filed in, carrying exquisite cosmetic boxes and clothing. They were dressed in simple, elegant traditional Chinese dresses, their hair neatly styled in buns, looking clean and efficient. Upon seeing Zhu Feifei standing there, the maids immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Miss. We have come to assist you with your grooming."

Zhu Feifei nodded stiffly, letting the maids begin to groom him. He looked at himself in the mirror, gradually transforming from a plain-faced beauty into a stunningly beautiful woman with exquisite makeup and jeweled hairpins.

The maids skillfully styled his hair into a classic Tang Dynasty high bun, adorned with numerous pearl hairpins and hair ornaments that jingled melodiously as he moved slightly. Then, he was dressed in a bright red palace gown, layered upon layered, wrapping around his body like a large rice dumpling.

Zhu Feifei looked at himself in the mirror in surprise: a delicate flower adorned his forehead, his cheeks were lightly powdered, and his lips were painted with a faint rouge. He wore a long, flowing red dress, over which was a gold-threaded vest, and a jade belt inlaid with jewels tied around his waist. He looked elegant and noble, with an extraordinary air about him.

"Miss is truly blessed with natural beauty; this outfit makes you even more stunning," a maid exclaimed.

Zhu Feifei gave an awkward smile, but her heart was pounding: "Can I really do this?"

Xiao Bai's voice rang out at the right moment: "Don't worry, you're Zhu Rong now. As long as you go out, you're guaranteed to stun everyone."

Zhu Feifei took a deep breath and stood up. He took careful steps, trying to adapt to the elaborate attire. The long skirt trailed on the ground, requiring him to walk cautiously for fear of tripping and falling. The pearl hairpins and hair ornaments in his hair swayed gently with his movements, making a pleasant sound.

"Miss, the sedan chair is ready. Please come in." A maid said softly.

Zhu Feifei nodded and followed the maids out of the room. He tried his best to maintain a graceful posture, but inside he was in a complete panic.

Stepping out of the Zhu residence, Zhu Feifei saw an exquisite sedan chair already parked outside the gate. The sedan chair was painted entirely in vermilion, with the curtains made of the finest brocade and tassels hanging from the four corners.

Four sedan chair bearers in matching uniforms stood respectfully to his side, waiting to greet him. Zhu Feifei's heart pounded: This was going to the palace! One wrong move and he'd be caught up in palace intrigue.

"Xiaobai, can I really do this?" Zhu Feifei asked in a low voice, her voice filled with unease.

Xiao Bai's voice rang out again: "Don't forget your mission, Zhu Rong. You must enter the palace and get close to Consort Tang. Remember, you are now the most beautiful woman in the Tang Dynasty. As long as you remain calm, everything will go smoothly."

Zhu Feifei took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the sedan chair. He knew that from this moment on, he was no longer Zhu Feifei from the modern city, but Zhu Rong, the peerless beauty of the Tang Dynasty. He had to play this role perfectly in order to complete his mission, return to the modern world, and return to Su Bing's side.

The moment Zhu Feifei sat in the sedan chair, he felt as if he had traveled through time. The curtain was slightly pulled back, and he saw people on both sides of the street looking on curiously.

The streets were bustling with activity, vendors' cries rising and falling, and the air filled with the aromas of various foods. Someone exclaimed, "Is that the eldest daughter of the Zhu family? She is indeed as beautiful as an angel!"

Zhu Feifei's heart raced; he knew he had officially embarked on this incredible journey.

The sedan chair moved slowly forward, heading towards the palace. Along the way, one could see the magnificent scenes of the Tang Dynasty: the streets were clean and wide, lined with shops, and the restaurants and teahouses were bustling with customers. In the distance, one could see tall Buddhist temple towers, their golden roofs gleaming in the sunlight.

Throughout the journey, various thoughts flashed through Zhu Feifei's mind. He thought of modern life, of Su Bing, and of the court life he was about to face. He knew that he was about to enter a world full of intrigue and power struggles.

“Xiao Bai,” Zhu Feifei asked in a low voice, “can you tell me more about Consort Tang? How can I get close to her?”

Xiao Bai's voice carried a hint of mystery: "Consort Tang is the reincarnation of a nine-tailed fox, possessing astonishing beauty and wisdom. She is deeply favored by the Emperor, but this has also aroused the jealousy of many concubines. You must act carefully, getting close to her without arousing suspicion from others."

Zhu Feifei nodded, secretly devising a plan. He knew he had to quickly adapt to this unfamiliar environment and learn the various rules and etiquette of the palace.