The morning sun bathed the mountainside cabin in golden light, but Yun Lan stirred restlessly in her sleep. Her dreams were not peaceful.
They were vivid, almost real—images of the cave she had once stumbled into, buried deep beneath the earth, filled with blooming flowers and a roaring waterfall. In her dream, she heard the whispering of voices—soft and melodic, yet urgent. They called her name again and again, beckoning her back to that sacred, hidden place.
When Yun Lan opened her eyes, her heart was pounding.
She sat up slowly, glancing toward the window where the light was streaming in. Something about that dream felt different. It wasn't just a memory. It was a summons. She knew it deep in her bones. The power she had started to feel since consuming the flower's antidote—that mysterious, humming energy—was pulsing stronger than ever.
She couldn't ignore it anymore.
She got dressed quietly, her movements quick but precise. Then she grabbed a small backpack, filling it with food, a flask of water, some herbal supplies, and a dagger wrapped in cloth. She didn't know what she would face down there, but she wouldn't go unprepared.
When her grandmother entered the kitchen, Yun Lan was already lacing up her boots.
"Lan'er? Where are you going so early?" her grandmother asked gently.
Yun Lan turned, offering a faint smile. "I have to go out for a bit. Tell Leon... tell him I went shopping. Please. Don't say anything else."
Her grandmother stared at her, worry flickering in her old eyes. "You're not going back to that place, are you?"
"I have to," Yun Lan whispered. "Something is calling me. I think there's something important there—something that can help me. I don't know what, but I need to find it. Please, Grandma... trust me."
The older woman sighed deeply, then finally nodded. "Be careful, child. And don't take too long."
Yun Lan hugged her tightly, then slipped outside, where the morning dew still clung to the grass.
She saddled a horse from the stable, packed her supplies, and rode toward the forest path with determination burning in her chest.
The journey took hours. But finally, as the sun reached its peak, Yun Lan arrived at the clearing.
The field of flowers was just as she remembered—ethereal, untouched by time. Wild blooms of every color danced in the breeze, and the air buzzed softly with the hum of bees and rustling petals. The waterfall roared nearby, spilling into a shimmering pool that glistened beneath the light.
Yun Lan dismounted, tying her horse to a low branch, and walked carefully toward the edge of the cliff where the sinkhole had once swallowed her.
There it was—still hidden behind a screen of vines and moss. She knelt and tied one end of a thick rope to a sturdy tree trunk, then threw the other end into the hole. Taking a deep breath, she began her descent.
The cool air of the cavern wrapped around her like a cloak as she climbed down. It was darker than she remembered, the light dim and dappled. But she knew the way.
Once her feet touched solid ground, she lit a small torch and entered the tunnel—the same tunnel from her dream. Each step echoed with ancient whispers. The deeper she went, the louder they grew.
The scent of flowers and moss filled her senses. Something ancient lived here.
Yun Lan walked for what felt like hours. But when she finally emerged into the hidden glade—the one buried inside the earth, where no sunlight should reach—her breath caught.
The cavern was breathtaking.
The same endless meadow of glowing flowers swayed softly, illuminated by bioluminescence from the plants themselves. The waterfall still roared, but this time, she looked closer.
Something shimmered behind the curtain of water.
A butterfly—its wings a radiant emerald—fluttered past her, then circled back and flew toward the falls. It hovered in front of them for a moment, then darted through the wall of cascading water.
Yun Lan narrowed her eyes.
Could there be something behind there?
Without hesitation, she shrugged off her outer coat and her backpack, placing them neatly on a nearby stone. Then, stepping into the cold pool, she began to swim toward the falls.
The water was icy, stealing her breath, but she pressed forward. As she reached the base of the waterfall, she ducked beneath the crashing water.
What she saw next made her gasp.
There was a stone wall, ancient and smooth, set into the cavern rock. In its center was a large palm-shaped imprint, glowing faintly with moss-green light.
Her heart thundered.
Drawn by something unseen, she reached out her hand and pressed her palm to the shape.
The moment her skin made contact, a soft vibration passed through her body. The stone responded—a click, a hum—and slowly, with a deep grinding sound, the wall began to move.
It slid open like a hidden door, revealing a narrow passage carved deep into the rock.
Yun Lan hesitated only a moment.
Then she stepped inside.
As soon as she crossed the threshold, the wall closed behind her.
Darkness swallowed her.
Back at the cabin, Leon stirred from his sleep, stretching and rubbing his eyes. The bed beside him was empty, still faintly warm.
He frowned, rising and heading downstairs. "Lan'er?"
There was no response.
He checked the kitchen, the garden, the stables. Nothing.
A chill crept down his spine.
Spotting her grandmother brewing tea, he asked, "Where is Yun Lan?"
The old woman didn't flinch. "She went to the market."
Leon studied her for a long moment. Something in her tone seemed... practiced. Careful.
Still, he nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll wait."
But unease began to gnaw at him. Something didn't feel right.
And Yun Lan... Yun Lan had always told him everything.
Why would she leave without a word?
Meanwhile, inside the hidden passage, Yun Lan lit another torch. The corridor walls were etched with strange runes, pulsing faintly. The air here was ancient—heavy with forgotten memories and secrets.
The voices she had heard in her dreams were clearer now.
They weren't threatening.
They were guiding her.
Calling her toward something deeper within.
Something that could finally explain why this power had awakened in her.
And perhaps... how to save herself.
To be continued...