Chapter 3 – The Countdown of Poison

[Poison Timer: 02:00:00]

Ruoshui's face darkened.

He glanced at Jiang Xue. This young man didn't seem to be aware of what was happening—otherwise, he would have reacted angrily by now.

He had been too careless to just drink it himself! The system had only hinted at alcohol but never told him to drink it.

Recalling the last line of the summary, "I offer you a cup of wine—yet do not drink the chill of river‑snow." the warning was very clear.

Now was not the time to regret. He immediately checked his health bar. The value was dropping, but very slowly. Combining this with the system's prompt, it seemed the poison acted slowly—there was still time.

Additionally, his senses were not yet impaired, and his body felt no pain.

The situation wasn't that bad. He tried to calm down and analyze.

First, every action and decision in this quest could be crucial, so he must be doubly careful from now on.

Second, the system's hints were very helpful—he needed to think deeply and extract useful information.

From the clues and story development, Jiang Xue was not favored at home, the wine was poisoned, and he was unaware. This meant someone intended to poison and harm him secretly. The system told Ruoshui to protect Jiang Xue, implying more danger was coming.

Was the same mastermind behind both incidents? If so, they were truly ruthless—if the first attempt failed, they had prepared a backup.

If not, what was so special about Jiang Xue that multiple people wanted him dead?

The system's last hint mentioned "one cup of wine with three flavors"—what did that mean? Were there multiple poisons mixed together? Was it a single concoction from the start or several poisons added by different people over time?

If it was the former, the goal was to slowly kill him through chronic poisoning. Ruoshui shuddered at the sinister thought.

If it was the latter, the situation was even more complicated...

Suddenly, a distant shout came through—not very clear, but the person was yelling, "Third brother!"

The shout interrupted Ruoshui's thoughts. He quickly summarized: no matter the case, the mastermind behind this was formidable.

What would happen next was unpredictable—the visitor's purpose, whether the poison would worsen and when—all unknown.

In such uncertainty, staying hidden was the best strategy.

Ruoshui opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Xue, who was absentmindedly rubbing the corner of his sleeve with his right hand, looking somewhat wronged.

Jiang Xue had just seen Ruoshui drink the wine and frowned at him. He didn't know what he had done wrong.

He had felt a sudden familiarity and warmth toward this stranger, thinking maybe he could share his pain. Now, seeing that the man ignored him, his old hurt resurfaced and he felt wronged again.

Ruoshui smiled, signaling him to relax.

Jiang Xue saw the smile and realized he had misunderstood, feeling embarrassed and annoyed with himself.

Observing these subtle details, Ruoshui thought, "This young master's temperament is almost like a girl's, but he seems pure-hearted, so he can be trusted."

It was good that he had drunk the poisoned wine instead of Jiang Xue—better he suffered now than lose his innocence early and become cynical and cold.

"Third brother! Are you there?"

"Third brother! Your brother-in-law wants to talk to you!"

The voice was persistent, getting closer and clearer, while Jiang Xue's face gradually showed disgust.

He clearly did not like this brother-in-law.

Having such a brother-in-law who was always around, whom you couldn't offend out of respect for family hierarchy, yet he came looking for you himself—how helpless he must feel. Ruoshui patted Jiang Xue's shoulder sympathetically.

"Your family troubles are about to get worse. I'll hide for now—don't tell anyone I'm here."

With that, he grabbed the wine flask and cup from the table, adding, "This wine is too strong. Young master, better not drink it." Then he leapt into the shadows of the riverside forest.

Hidden in the trees, Ruoshui could observe without being seen, ready to help if things turned urgent. He placed the flask and cup in his "bag" and slowed his breathing, watching carefully.

Why did Ruoshui take the wine flask and cup?

First, to prevent Jiang Xue from poisoning himself.

Second, because items in this quest could sometimes be taken out and transformed into various tools.

He was curious what they might turn into.

Watching the departing figure of Ruoshui, Jiang Xue stood silently, suddenly struck by a strange thought:

"That fine jade wine flask and cup must be very valuable."

"Also, if the flask was taken away to stop me from drinking, why take the cup too? Wait, maybe that's not important."

He shook his head, deciding not to be so petty.

Just as he pushed the thought away, another strange one popped up:

"That gentleman burst in suddenly just now, his bamboo cane hit the ground with a hollow sound, and something seemed to shatter mysteriously."

"Third brother!" Another annoying shout—knowing the visitor was close, Jiang Xue reluctantly stepped forward.

They met by the riverbank, and Jiang Xue greeted, "Brother-in-law!" as a formality.

Du Yan ignored Jiang Xue's mood and teased, "Third brother, there's an important guest at home today. Why hide out here instead of greeting them?"

Jiang Xue turned his face away in silent defiance.

Du Yan acted understanding, "I get it, I've been there too. That Miss Han grew up with you but ended up marrying that scoundrel from the Jin family. For the Jin family to still come visiting today... it's understandable you don't want to see them."

Jiang Xue snapped, "Brother-in-law, if you have other business, please leave!"

"Sigh! You're so stubborn. Say two words and you get upset. No wonder your sister dislikes seeing you. It's only thanks to my patience that I don't argue with you."

Du Yan seemed used to this and continued, "I've got huge news for you today."

He glanced around and motioned Jiang Xue closer.

Without hesitation, Jiang Xue said coldly, "There's no one here. Speak."

Du Yan awkwardly withdrew his hand, cleared his throat, and said, "Miss Han ran away on her wedding night!"

Jiang Xue blinked in disbelief for a moment, then asked, "What? Is that true?"

Du Yan grinned, "Absolutely! The Jin family doesn't want this publicized—only a few know. I overheard it outside elder brother's study. They probably suspect Miss Han is hiding at your house and came to spy."

"Impossible!" Jiang Xue said firmly.

He had a letter from Han Suwen herself, declaring she had to sever ties with him for family reasons. If she truly put the family first, why would she run away? She was decisive, not fickle.

Du Yan scoffed at Jiang Xue's reaction, "Oh? You didn't hide her? Then Miss Han really must care for you—risking everything to run away…"

Jiang Xue ignored him, muttering, "It can't be. Her letter was so firm…"

Du Yan snapped back, "Hey! Letters can be forged, handwriting copied! You really are naïve, third brother!"

He rolled his eyes and added, "I saw elder brother secretly burning something in the study once. Maybe he forged the letter. Copying handwriting is easy for him…"

"Shut up!" Jiang Xue was furious.

Du Yan's words struck a nerve.

Born into a martial family, Jiang Xue had a constitution unsuitable for fighting, always looked down upon. His mother was low-born and died young. He was ignored and despised by the family elders and servants alike.

While the old family head was alive, he was distantly treated. His second sister disliked him, and even distant relatives ignored him. But as the third son, no one dared openly offend him for fear of the family head's wrath.

After the old head passed, disdain became more blatant—even servants with some martial skill sneered openly.

Under such conditions, Jiang Xue became insecure and withdrawn. Everyone in the household, from ladies to servants, treated him harshly.

Fortunately, three people treated him well.

First was Han Suwen, childhood companion and fellow martial family member, who never looked down on his weak constitution and often praised his gentle, thoughtful nature—unlike most brawny warriors.

She was Jiang Xue's emotional pillar.

Next was his personal maid, Qin'er, chosen by the old family head as a rare kindness. Though sometimes blunt, she cared for Jiang Xue like an elder sister.

Most importantly was the eldest brother.

Compared to Han Suwen and Qin'er, eldest brother provided real, practical support and was Jiang Xue's anchor for survival.

Han Suwen was an outsider, and Qin'er just a maid—neither could shield him from the household's cruelty. Eldest brother's influence made others at least moderate their behavior.

Thanks to him, Jiang Xue was not abandoned by the family.

In Jiang Xue's heart, this elder brother who stood up for him had a sacred status. No one could slander him!

Hidden in the nearby woods, Ruoshui listened carefully to every word.

A heartbroken youth clashing with a meddlesome brother-in-law—ready to fight but not quite life-threatening.

Although eager to help, Ruoshui knew it was too early to reveal himself.

Better to wait until real danger appeared.

Chapter 2 – The Cold Spring Wine and the Young Noble

Jun Ruoshui exhaled a shallow breath and took in the scene around him. He stood upon the surface of a frozen river, each footfall sending faint ripples through the crystalline ice. Though the sheet of ice was thick enough to support his weight, it shivered beneath him like a fragile glass floor. In the distance, a slender, timeworn bridge arched gracefully from the riverbank to a solitary pavilion nestled at the very heart of the waterway. Beyond the pavilion, shadowy clusters of ancient trees lined the banks, their dark silhouettes stark against the pale glow of the moon.

Aside from the bridge, pavilion, and twisted trees, nothing disturbed the stillness.

He extended a cautious step toward the pavilion, pressing down to test the ice's integrity. A sharp crack echoed beneath his boot, slicing through the silence. His pulse quickened. Every direction offered the same precarious footing. He recalled the system's earlier poetry, the first two lines merely painting a frosty backdrop, but the latter couplet—mentioning wine—lingered in his mind. Wine must be the pivotal clue.

Before anything else, he needed to reach solid ground.

Concentrating, Ruoshui invoked Phantom Step, an ethereal light swirling about his legs as his weight lifted. Like drifting mist, he glided across the fragile surface. Yet the skill's power was fleeting: a seven‑second window before it vanished, followed by a five‑second cooldown. He forced himself to maintain focus, recasting the ability repeatedly with each heartbeat. Running or bounding felt too perilous; a misstep would send him plunging into the icy depths.

Thus, he began his slow dance across the river's frozen expanse.

Inside the pavilion, a lone figure stood cloaked in white. The youth's robes billowed softly in an unseen wind, and his gaze was fixed upon the river as if lost in some distant reverie. Time appeared suspended for him; his stillness mirrored the pavilion's hushed tranquility.

Without warning, movement—sharp yet graceful—broke the calm. A figure in cyan robes emerged across the ice, each step so light that his footprints vanished almost as soon as they formed.

Could he be a celestial envoy, the white‑cloaked youth mused, or merely a mysterious traveler? His heart fluttered with both curiosity and apprehension.

At that very moment, Ruoshui's Phantom Step glowed anew, ascending to Level 2. The skill's cooldown shrank to three seconds, and its duration extended to ten. His passage became smoother, the prints he left behind nearly imperceptible. Relief washed over him—each step grew less fraught.

Drawing nearer, the skill advanced further, unlocking Level 3, Level 4, and finally Level 5 within just a few strides. Now, with a mere one‑second cooldown and thirty seconds of duration, the ability rendered him effectively weightless, even granting a subtle acceleration to his movement. Seizing the moment, he sprinted the final span and vaulted into the pavilion without hesitation.

He landed lightly upon the stone floor—only to freeze in place moments later. A sudden jolt of caution told him he might have rushed into a trap. He should have surveyed the interior first.

Before he could retreat, a holo‑projection flickered into existence at the corner of his vision. The system had activated, streaming a scene onto a translucent screen.

In that instant, he also noted the pavilion's simple furnishings: a single stone table flanked by three stone stools. Atop the table sat an exquisitely carved jade wine flask beside a matching cup—the wine, undeniably, the clue.

Slumped on one stool was a boy of about sixteen, his features delicate and tinged with adolescent sorrow. No weapon in hand; he appeared vulnerable, lost in his own thoughts.

Ruoshui's gaze shifted to the holo‑screen, where the scene transitioned to a moonlit garden behind a grand mountain villa. A lantern‑bearing maid, her silken attire brushing the stone pathway, approached a reflective pool.

The system's raspy voice intoned:

"The Jiang family—one of the Four Great Houses of the martial world—rose to prominence by crafting the legendary 'Cold Spring' wine. They later diversified into taverns, inns, and teahouses, bringing them in contact with wandering swordsmen. Forced to master martial arts, they gradually became a powerful lineage.

After the old patriarch's passing, only three direct heirs remain. The eldest, recently installed, lacks both experience and the guidance of elders; the second is proud and fiercely headstrong; the third, though compassionate, is physically unsuited to martial training. Meanwhile, ambitious cadet branches have grown strong, each eyeing the head house. Beneath the family's calm facade, turmoil simmers—tonight may decide the Jiang family's fate."

A scratchy audio clip followed, as though pulled from a worn magnetic tape, bathing the scene in tense ambience.

In the footage, a young maid—Qin'er—stepped toward a lantern‑lit figure by the pool's edge. She started to retreat, but he blocked her path.

"Young Master," she whispered, eyes darting, "what are you doing here? If Miss finds out…"

He chuckled softly. "Qin'er, you wound me. I seek only to know the young master's whereabouts."

He teases the maids freely, Qin'er thought, yet never dares approach the mistress. She crossed her arms. "He's gone to the river again—refuses to let anyone follow."

Her slip revealed more than intended. Flushing, she hurried to cover her mistake: "Why must you see him?"

He stepped closer, voice low and gentle. "I worry for his heart. And you—now you have freer standing. With the mistress wed, your future might be brighter."

His tone grew intimate, a subtle implication that left Qin'er's cheeks aflame. He paused long enough to make her flush before turning away, strolling off with languid ease.

As he departed, Qin'er spat quietly and muttered, "May all who wrong my young master meet their end." She stormed into the shadows of the garden, leaving the moonlit water hushed again.

The holo‑screen's image faded. Ruoshui turned his attention to the boy before him. This had to be the fabled Jiang Xue, drowning his sorrow in solitude and wine.

Hidden among the pavilion's shadows, Jiang Xue heard the soft tap of bamboo against stone. He looked up, surprise flashing in his clear, starlit eyes, to see Ruoshui standing calmly at the threshold, frost dusting his staff.

Their gazes locked—Ruoshui's aura was cool and composed, his eyes reflecting a quiet determination. Jiang Xue felt his breath hitch, mesmerized by the stranger's presence.

Summoning his composure, Jiang Xue leveled his shoulders, smoothed his robe, and cupped his hands respectfully.

"Sir…?" he began, voice soft.

Ruoshui inclined his head in return, his tone gentle. "No need for formalities. I apologize if I have intruded upon your solitude."

Jiang Xue forced a small smile. "Not at all. I come here often, whenever the night weighs heavy on my heart. This wine…" He nodded toward the jade flask. "It is called 'Cold Spring.' Crisp, delicate, rarely savored outside my family's estate. You are welcome to partake."

A flicker of unspoken pain crossed Jiang Xue's features, but he held the flask with quiet dignity. Ruoshui sensed the undercurrent of sorrow and yet felt compelled by both curiosity and duty to accept.

Ruoshui lifted the jade cup, its surface cool beneath his fingers. "Thank you. I accept your hospitality."

He drank deeply. The wine's flavor unfolded in his mouth: a crisp chill like a spring snow, a subtle floral bouquet, and a lingering warmth that hinted at hidden fire. Yet before he could savor the last notes, a sharp sting bloomed in his chest, accompanied by the system's stark warning.

System Alert ①: Poisoned. System Alert ②: Main Quest Triggered—Protect Jiang Xue. Achievement Unlocked: Heroic Act—Drank another's toast. Achievement Unlocked: Connoisseur—Detected three distinct flavor notes.

Ruoshui froze. The pavilion's hush pressed in around him. He swallowed hard, realizing that even the simplest cup of wine could conceal deadly intentions.

Chapter 1 - Starlight and Snow, Echoes of a Forgotten Past

In the dead of night, the city was a sea of concrete silence, its stars dimmed by the neon glow. Inside a modest apartment, Jun Ruoshui jolted awake, gasping for breath. Cold sweat beaded his brow.

That dream again.

Blood ran like rivers. Corpses littered the ground. He stood at the heart of the carnage, his hands stained crimson. His body felt foreign—heavy, numb, as if it no longer obeyed his will. His mind blurred, vision fracturing. He tried to cry out, but no sound escaped his throat.

Then, in that desolate silence, he saw someone—a figure in white walking slowly into the distance. Their robe fluttered lightly like mist, and their slender frame moved with an otherworldly grace. They looked as if they didn't belong to this world at all.

"Wait…" he called out in his heart, but even raising a hand was impossible.

The figure never turned back. Without a pause, they vanished into the mist and darkness.

A faint whisper echoed in his ears."Ruoxie…"

A sharp, inexplicable pain pierced through his chest. His body trembled, as though something buried deep in his soul had begun to stir. Something old. Something forgotten.

And just like every time before, the dream ended there.

Jun Ruoshui sat up, soaked in sweat. He wiped his forehead and glanced at his phone. 2:00 AM. Again.

Thirsty, he opened the fridge, grabbed a can of beer, and chugged it in one go. The images from the dream still lingered in his mind like smoke.

Insomnia again.It was becoming more and more frequent these days.

Ever since his thirties, sleep had started to evade him. He had tried everything—sleeping pills, intense workouts, heavy liquor. Sure, he'd fall asleep, but the next day would be a painful blur of migraines and foggy thoughts.

He even sought therapy, but the psychologist could only offer vague theories. "Maybe it's stress from work."

He knew it wasn't.

But if not stress, then what?

With a weary sigh, he gave up on thinking too much. A notification blinked on his phone. It was a message from Pangzi, the chubby guy at his studio.

Apparently, because he'd skipped out on the last team-building event—again—he was now being punished with a game livestream. The hardest difficulty, of course. He had to stream until they were "satisfied."

Choose your own time. We'll all be watching, the message said gleefully. A game link was attached.

Jun Ruoshui stared at the screen, unamused.Whatever. Not like I can sleep anyway.It was a Saturday night. He could always sleep in tomorrow.He wasn't some big streamer—there probably wouldn't be more than a handful watching.

He sent a lazy reply.

Instantly, Pangzi responded:"Brother Jun, we're all here! Been waiting for this! (⁠☆⁠▽⁠☆⁠)"

...Fantastic.Everyone knew he was terrible at games.If they just wanted to watch him socially implode, they could've said so.

Clicking on the link, the screen loaded into a beautifully minimalist, ink-painting-style homepage. Just one line of description:

"Wandering Blades & Immortal Shadows: A fully immersive 360° neural-linked single-player RPG. Explore limitless realms. Experience full sensory reality."

Never even heard of this.He sighed and got to work setting up his stream.

He logged into his near-empty account and titled the stream:"Late-night punishment stream. Don't flame, I'm just here to suffer."

When he went live, over ten people joined immediately. Five were from his studio. The rest? Probably bots the system gave him out of pity.

His co-workers wasted no time spamming the chat:

"Front row secured!""Popcorn's ready!""Recording device armed and ready!"

Jun Ruoshui ignored them, activated the setup, and launched the game.

A swirl of light sucked him into a void-like tunnel of distorted time and space. When the swirl calmed, he appeared in an antique-style room, stepping out of a shadowy vortex.

His in-game avatar wore a long cyan cloak. His black hair was tied with a blue ribbon, half-up and half-down. In one hand, he held a jade-carved bamboo staff. At his waist hung a wooden token. On his feet—simple hemp boots. He looked the very image of a wandering cultivator.

The game had no fixed classes. Players could customize their starting world—wuxia, court intrigue, modern, xianxia, or even dark fantasy. His outfit and weapon were based on his chosen style.

As the vortex behind him faded into nothingness, he lifted a hand toward the empty sky.

With a shimmer, a glowing scroll unfolded mid-air, revealing three difficulty levels:Easy, Normal, and Hard.

The chat exploded.

"HARD MODE! HARD MODE!""I give him 10 minutes tops.""Prepare for infinite deaths. Let's gooo~"

Jun Ruoshui sighed again and silenced the chat window.

Fine. Let's get this over with.

He tapped "Hard."

The scroll instantly froze and shattered into ice shards. Then—

He plummeted.

The world blurred as a freezing wind howled past his ears. The cold bit into his skin, stabbing through his chest like knives.

A raspy system voice began narrating the dungeon intro:

The stars shimmer in silence.Frost veils the boundless land.Raise your cup, my friend—But beware the snow that swallows souls.

When his feet finally touched solid ground, he stood amidst an endless field of glimmering snow.

Unlike the other difficulties, Hard Mode didn't bother with friendly tutorials or mission tips. It simply tossed you in and left you to fend for yourself.

Just as the intro said, the night sky was ablaze with stars, snow reflecting the light like thousands of tiny mirrors. It was so bright, it felt like daytime.

How long had it been since he'd seen stars like this?

Living in the city, one forgets.But now, the sky stretched into a shimmering sea of light, infinite and vast. Layer upon layer of starlight. Just one glance could make a person lose themselves.

And then—That same chill from the dream returned.

In the back of his mind, the figure in white flickered into view again. That silent silhouette. Drifting away.

This isn't just a dream. And it's not just a game.

That figure… felt like someone from another lifetime.

In this land of starlight and snow, something ancient was awakening.Something that had waited through lifetimes and death itself.

Just then, a system notification popped up:

Quest Triggered: Soul Fragment CollectionCurrent Progress: 5/1000

A thousand fragments? Whose soul is that shattered? What could break a soul like that?

Jun Ruoshui blinked, bewildered. It sounded absurd—but deep down, he felt it. This had something to do with those dreams.

He checked his skill menu. All his regular abilities were locked—greyed out completely.

But below them, a few new skills had appeared, marked specifically for this dungeon:

Phantom Step

Snowfall Waltz

???

With a note:

Due to the unique nature of this realm, all standard skills are restricted. You may only use dungeon-specific abilities.

The first looked like some kind of movement or evasion skill. The second probably an ice-based attack. As for the third—it was still hidden.

He'd have to figure that one out on his own.