This is a strange... dark forest.
The black forest spread silently in the orange-red clouds, and the twisted branches of the towering ancient trees were like dry arms, intertwining and piercing the dark purple sky.
Faint blue phosphorescence floated among the shadows of the trees, like countless pairs of prying eyes, flickering on and off.
The wind blew through the gaps between the branches, making a low whimper, as if some ancient and indescribable existence was whispering.
The extreme color collision creates an extremely strong sense of visual fragmentation.
Chains hung from the treetops, and the rusty metal surface had a dark red luster, like blood soaked by time.
They swayed silently, sometimes entangled, sometimes stretched, wriggling in the darkness like living things.
An ancient copper lamp hung at the end of the chain, with a bluish-white flame burning in the lampshade. The flickering flames cast distorted shadows that crawled and entangled on the ground, as if some forbidden ritual was quietly taking place.
Blore's footsteps sank into the damp humus, and every time he lifted his foot, there was a slight sticky sound.
The chain lights rotated slowly above his head, casting light and shadows that flowed across his face, cutting his outline into broken fragments.
He reached out and touched one of the copper lamps. The cold metal touch instantly spread along his fingertips, and some distant memories flashed through his mind.
He seemed to see countless identical nights, under the same chain lamp, he had walked this forest path countless times. And each time, at the end of the path stood that familiar figure...
He shook his head so hard that he thought he was going crazy.
But in the distance, a massive structure of tangled vines rose in the center of the enchantment. The vines were a deep indigo blue, and their surface was covered with protrusions that resembled eyes. As Blore approached, they slowly turned, watching his every move.
As the distance closed, Blore finally made out that it was a massive compass, at least thirty meters in diameter, its surface covered in a dizzying array of runes and geometric designs.
These patterns constantly reorganize as one gazes, forming new meanings. The compass needle is not made of metal, but of some translucent crystalline substance, with a fluorescent liquid flowing inside, emitting a faint blue glow in the darkness.
"This is my..."
Blore stretched out his hand involuntarily, and when his fingertips were a few centimeters from the compass surface, the vines suddenly came alive and wrapped around his wrist like snakes.
Surprisingly, the touch wasn't repulsive—the vines were cool and smooth, pulsing with some strange rhythm that gradually synchronized with Blore's heartbeat.
Just then, he heard footsteps. Footsteps so light they seemed to be walking on water, approaching from behind.
"I knew you would come here." It was Si Weijun's voice, but it was more real than in the dream, with a certain metallic resonance.
Blore turned and saw Si Weijun standing a few steps away. In reality, he looked less eerie than in his dream, but his eyes were still too deep to be human.
His long hair fluttered gently in the windless environment, and occasionally bright spots like starlight flashed between his hair.
"What is this place?"
Blore asked without turning around, his voice trembling slightly due to the vines entangled.
"This compass...why does it feel so familiar?"
A faint smile appeared on Si Weijun's lips. He walked slowly closer and gently stroked the surface of the compass with his fingers.
The runes immediately lit up with a fluorescent green light and flowed along his fingertips.
"Because it is your legacy, Blore."
Si Weijun's voice was low and pleasant.
"Or rather, a reflection of another part of you. This compass records all the branches of possibility, and you... you are the one chosen to interpret it."
Blore felt a wave of dizziness as the runes on the compass rose suddenly became legible, though their shapes defied any known language.
Some knowledge beyond common sense flooded directly into his brain, bringing a severe headache.
He saw himself in countless parallel universes, the chaos at the beginning of the universe, and the indescribable giant existence among the stars...
"No... this is too much..."
Blore tried to look away, but the knowledge had taken root in his consciousness.
He felt that his mind was being reshaped and that certain new neural pathways were forming.
"I have been looking for you. I am also your legacy."
The vines rolled up carefully but very quickly.
Strangely, he did not feel any pain, but instead felt a sense of security as if he were home.
The crystal needle at the center of the compass began to spin rapidly, emitting a humming sound like a chorus, which resonated directly with Blore's brain waves.
But when he saw these vines again, he thought of Ma Tuan again.
This isn't the first time.
But why is this?
But the vines didn't seem to want him to think about this question.
Images flashed before his eyes: twisted trees in a dark forest, their trunks covered in gnarled, human-like faces; a vast cavern deep underground, its walls engraved with runes similar to those of a compass; a group of black-robed figures performing some kind of ritual around a glowing sphere...
"Will I...go back...?"
Blore spoke with difficulty, each word coming out as if through gritted teeth.
Si Weijun nodded, his eyes now completely transformed into the color of the starry sky, distant stars twinkling in his pupils. "As you wish. However, once you accept this gift, there's no going back to the way things were before."
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