Chapter 1: Nightmare

The wine cup slipped from Fang Yue’s hand, falling onto the table with a soft thud, shattering and sending wine splashing in all directions.

The melodious sound of the zither paused. The woman playing it stopped her movements, her slender, fair fingers still resting on the instrument. Lifting her exquisitely beautiful face, she gazed at Fang Yue with eyes as clear as autumn water and spoke softly, “What’s wrong, Master Fang? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I…” A trace of confusion flickered in Fang Yue’s eyes as he glanced around.

He found himself in a spacious room, with thick candles burning brightly in the candelabras set at the corners and center, illuminating the space as if it were broad daylight. The air was heavy with the rich scent of rare incense, soothing and calming the mind.

Aside from the beautiful woman at the zither and Fang Yue himself, there were six or seven others in the room, all dressed in scholar’s attire—wide-sleeved robes with black borders, sashes at their waists from which hung jade pendants and other ornaments.

They were seated on the floor, each with a small rectangular wooden table before them, set with fine wine and several plates of delicacies—clearly enjoying both the music and their drinks.

At this moment, the interruption drew all their gazes toward Fang Yue. Their expressions varied: some annoyed, some surprised, others indifferent.

“It’s nothing, I simply can’t quite hold my liquor,” Fang Yue managed to collect himself, forcing a pale smile. “I apologize for interrupting your playing, Miss Bai. Please, do continue.”

“Haha! It’s your first time at such a place of romance and beauty, Brother Fang, and before you sits none other than the famed courtesan Bai Yao, whose beauty outshines the flowers. How could you not be intoxicated by more than just the wine?” A plump scholar sitting nearby spoke up with a laugh.

Fang Yue looked toward the speaker, and memories surfaced naturally in his mind. This rotund scholar was Ren Junlin, the son of a wealthy merchant’s family and currently a student preparing for the imperial exams.

All the scholars present were either licentiates or student candidates.

“Master Ren jests. I am but a humble woman—how could I deserve such praise?” Bai Yao sighed softly, a hint of self-pity on her porcelain-white face. Her delicate and sorrowful demeanor stirred a sense of pity in all who beheld her.

“Deserve it you do, and more! Bai Yao is the most beautiful woman in all of Ping’an County, and her zither skills are renowned far and wide—even in the entire prefecture of Baiquan, she is famous!” Another scholar, foppishly waving a folding fan and with a scented sachet hanging from his waist, chimed in.

Fang Yue recognized this scholar as well. He was Zheng Chengyi, a student at the county academy and, nominally, a classmate of Fang Yue’s. Nominally, because their interactions were limited to polite greetings—they had never truly associated with one another.

Fang Yue was also a student at the county academy. All licentiates were considered students there, though attendance was not mandatory. Neither Fang Yue nor Zheng Chengyi had ever actually attended classes at the academy.

The reasons for their absence, however, were quite different. Fang Yue’s family was destitute—both parents gone, no relatives to rely on. He had managed, through sheer perseverance, to pass the licentiate exam, then returned to his village to open a small school just to make ends meet.

Some licentiates who scored highest in the exams were awarded government stipends as official students, freeing them from financial worries and allowing them to focus on further studies. Unfortunately, Ping’an County, with its population of over 100,000, only had twenty such stipends available every three years. Fang Yue had barely passed the licentiate exam—there was no hope of receiving one.

Zheng Chengyi, on the other hand, came from a wealthy family—thousands of acres of good farmland. After passing the licentiate exam, he immediately enrolled in the prestigious Qingxi Academy of Baiquan Prefecture, famed throughout Yun Province for its distinguished teachers and illustrious scholars, far surpassing the modest county academy.

With Zheng Chengyi’s praise, the other scholars joined in, extolling Bai Yao’s beauty and skill. Some quoted classics, others even recited poems on the spot. The atmosphere grew lively and spirited.

The sorrow on Bai Yao’s face vanished, replaced by cheerful conversation and laughter.

Fang Yue did not join in. In truth, he was still dazed, his mind in a fog.

“How could this be? It was just a dream… and now…”

Until recently, Fang Yue had been an ordinary office worker on Earth, keeping to the nine-to-five grind. Lately, he’d experienced a series of long, vivid dreams, each following a coherent storyline.

In those dreams, he was a poor scholar, who, through determined effort, had finally passed the licentiate exams.

And now, he had truly become that scholar from his dreams.

The scene and the people before him were incredibly real. He was certain: he was no longer dreaming.

“Hey, what’s with you? There’s a great beauty right in front of you, and you’re lost in thought?” Ren Junlin edged closer and whispered.

Of everyone in the room, Ren Junlin was the only one with whom Fang Yue had any real friendship. The others were mere acquaintances at best.

Ren Junlin’s father had once been a neighbor in the next village over, before making a fortune in trade and moving his family to town. As children, Ren and Fang had attended the same private school, learning under the same teacher—so they were true classmates.

Fang Yue had been dragged here by Ren Junlin. After finishing the annual county academy examination, Ren had insisted on bringing his childhood friend to see the famed courtesan of Drunken Blossom Pavilion, Bai Yao.

Of course, Fang Yue’s own resolve hadn’t been strong. In his early twenties and still unmarried, the vigor of youth and curiosity had gotten the better of him after hearing so much praise of Bai Yao’s beauty. Otherwise, given his circumstances, he would never have set foot in such a den of luxury.

Bai Yao was indeed beautiful—delicate features, fair skin, a true beauty by any standard. Yet Fang Yue’s mind was far from such frivolities now.

“I’m fine, just a little dizzy from the wine,” Fang Yue replied casually.

“Don’t overindulge. Beauty is what matters most!” Ren Junlin patted him on the shoulder with a sly wink, then returned to his seat as Bai Yao began to play once more.

The sound of the zither, flowing like a mountain stream, helped Fang Yue calm himself. He was forced to accept the reality of having crossed into his dream and began considering his next steps.

“Should I continue on the path of the imperial exams? With the original Fang’s abilities, just passing as a licentiate was a struggle—going further would be a matter of luck.”

He quickly dismissed the idea. He had no desire to spend his life chasing after empty honors, his hair turning white in the examination halls, only to accomplish nothing in the end.

That kind of life wasn’t what he wanted.

“Then perhaps business is the way. Merchants may have lower status, but as a licentiate, I could become an official merchant, which isn’t too bad. Besides, I possess knowledge of modern science and technology from Earth. If I use it well—some small inventions, perhaps—I might be able to make a living here… Wait, this world…”

Suddenly, Fang Yue’s face turned ashen. He remembered—this was no ordinary world.

The dream he’d had of this place wasn’t normal at all. It was strange, bizarre, and deeply terrifying—a true nightmare.