Beneath the majestic city gates, a middle-aged scholar gazed eastward, as an old man on a green ox approached from the west. Anyone familiar with history or classical allusions would recognize this scene immediately: the departure of Laozi.

Legend held that in the late Spring and Autumn period, Laozi, seeing the impending decline of the Zhou dynasty, resolved to travel west into seclusion.

At that time, Yin Xi, the commandant of Hangu Pass, observed a magnificent spectacle in the east—a dense, auspicious purple haze accompanied by radiant light. Overjoyed by this celestial anomaly, he cried out that the purple energy from the east signaled the passage of an extraordinary being. He immediately ordered the gate guards to sweep the thoroughfares and prepare for the arrival of the sage. Indeed, shortly thereafter, an elderly man with flowing silver hair and an imposing bearing rode a green ox toward the gate.

This elder was Laozi. Following Yin Xi’s enthusiastic reception, he graciously agreed to a brief stay at Hangu Pass, where he penned the monumental Daodejing, those illustrious five thousand words that would echo through the ages.

The design on the bead depicted this very scene: Yin Xi welcoming Laozi into the pass. With every rotation of the bead, a new cycle unfolded. Wang Guan was utterly captivated, feeling as if he were deeply immersed in the shifting emotions of the figures depicted.

He felt Yin Xi’s anxious anticipation while waiting at the gate, and the overwhelming joy upon seeing Laozi arrive on the ox. He sensed the serene composure of Laozi, riding the beast with effortless ease, returned to simplicity, his heart calm, devoid of desire or ambition.

The textures of the robes, the expressions on the faces, the rendering of the background—every detail was vividly alive, not stiffly rendered, but like a scene sprung to life.

Wang Guan watched with such total focus that he lost all track of time.

“Thump-thump, thump-thump…”

It was well past five in the morning; the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the world was hushed. Yu Feibai woke up needing to relieve himself. After using the restroom, he felt thirsty and went to the living room for water.

At the same moment, Yu Feibai noticed the light still burning in Wang Guan’s room. A flicker of curiosity led him to knock gently, intending only a brief greeting.

“Haven’t slept all night, what are you up to?” Yu Feibai muttered inwardly, tapping a few times, but received no response from within.

This silence made Yu Feibai worry. Had something happened?

Of course, it was also possible Wang Guan had simply fallen asleep with the light on.

With that thought, Yu Feibai first called out softly twice, still no answer. Instinctively, he reached for the doorknob and gave it a turn.

“Click!”

The door swung open, the sound unnaturally loud in the silence. Yu Feibai cautiously pushed the door ajar, poked his head in, and whispered, “Wang Guan, are you asleep?”

Upon seeing the sight, Yu Feibai relaxed. Wang Guan was seated upright by the bedside, fully clothed, definitely not looking like someone asleep.

Seeing this, Yu Feibai grew more composed, pushed the door fully open, and walked in, casually asking, “Wang Guan, it’s so late… no, I mean, you haven’t slept all night, what have you been busy with…”

As he approached, Yu Feibai also noticed the cup placed before Wang Guan, and in that instant, he froze.

Wisps of purple energy drifted above the rim of the cup, moving like wandering dragons and serpents, dreamlike and ethereal. The bead inside floated half-submerged in the water, slowly rotating. Its surface seemed adorned with naturally formed patterns depicting the journey of Laozi heading west.

Purple energy coming from the east beneath Hangu Pass! A scene that should utterly defy reality was manifesting squarely before Yu Feibai’s eyes, shocking him to the point where he began to doubt if he was dreaming.

“A dream, yes, I must not be fully awake, I’m dreaming…” Yu Feibai mumbled to himself, patted his forehead, and turned to leave. However, his mind was hazy, his movements unsteady. As he reached the doorway, he carelessly banged his shoulder against the hard doorframe.

“Ouch!”

The sudden, sharp pain nearly brought tears to his eyes. But it was in that moment that Yu Feibai realized: if it hurt, it wasn't a dream.

Simultaneously, alerted by the loud clang, Wang Guan snapped out of his trance and sucked in a sharp breath when he looked back.

He wasn't startled by Yu Feibai, but because he had been sitting still for so long, his body was stiff. Turning suddenly had caused his neck tendons to seize up—a natural tragedy.

“Tch!”

Wang Guan hastily massaged his neck and shoulder, then looked at Yu Feibai, who was doing the same, and asked in surprise, “Why are you here?”

“I woke up and saw the light on in your room, so I came to check,” Yu Feibai explained. Ignoring the ache in his shoulder, he walked closer to the table, his gaze fixed intently on the bead in the cup, his mind still somewhat adrift.

“Wang Guan, is this real?” Yu Feibai murmured dazedly. “How can this be…”

“Uh!”

Wang Guan was completely sobered now. He glanced at his phone and realized a whole night had passed. But Yu Feibai’s question left him feeling rather cornered.

“What are you two doing up so early, not sleeping…”

Just as Wang Guan was debating whether to tell the truth, movement from the adjacent room woke Gao Dequan. Wrapped in a robe, he walked over with heavy eyelids.

“Ah, what is this…”

A moment later, having stepped into the room, Gao Dequan shared Yu Feibai’s state of astonishment. Then, he too became completely absorbed in the sight of the swirling purple mist and the Laozi pattern within the bead.

“It seems I can’t keep this secret,” Wang Guan sighed inwardly, reaching into the drawer and retrieving the three-legged golden toad whose head he had previously removed.

Having composed his thoughts, Wang Guan then reached out and lifted the bead from the cup. As the phenomena vanished, Gao Dequan and Yu Feibai snapped back to awareness.

In an instant, Yu Feibai became intensely agitated, grabbing Wang Guan’s arm and urgently demanding, “Wang Guan, what is happening?”

“Don’t get so worked up, let me explain slowly,” Wang Guan managed a wry smile, feeling a sharp sting in his wrist where Yu Feibai had squeezed until it was red and swollen.

“How can I not be excited? Guess what I just saw—a real miracle!” Yu Feibai could not calm down, spitting slightly as he spoke, his saliva flying like a fine mist.

Wang Guan quickly dodged, struggling until he managed to pull free from Yu Feibai’s grip.

“Feibai, if you stay this excited, I won’t say another word,” Wang Guan called out loudly. “Why don’t you learn from Uncle De? Look how calm he is, not rushing at all.”

“Who said I’m not anxious?”

Gao Dequan suddenly reached out and commanded, “Hurry up and hand the item over. Let me get a proper look.”

At that moment, Gao Dequan was energetic, his spirit soaring. His eyes were bright and clear, shining intensely—all traces of sleepiness gone.

“Yes, quickly bring the treasure bead here,” Yu Feibai nodded repeatedly. “I still haven’t figured out if what I saw was an illusion.”

“And what if it wasn’t an illusion?” Wang Guan smiled faintly, wiped the moisture from the bead, and handed it over. ....................... Thanks to readers JimoD Gege, Kaixin Luoba, Wuliad Xianren, Maryane, and Feiyao Wo Shenji for their patronage. Also, I have closed the reader impression feature to save certain people the trouble of working so hard. Finally, I continue to ask for collections and recommendations. Please support me. C