C1 Chapter 1

“Fate’s wheel has started turning. Disaster will strike again...”

Lately, a headline about the city museum hosting an ancient civilizations exhibit had been all over the local news. For a small, out-of-the-way town, it was a pretty big deal.

Shidian was a totally ordinary college freshman. Average looks, average abilities—he blended into the crowd like everyone else. But as if it were meant to be, he made a decision that day.

“I’ve decided! I’m going to check it out,” Shidian said, springing up from his bed. “You coming or not?”

“Check out what?” asked a classmate nearby, who’d been reading intently.

“You haven’t heard, Chen Rui? The museum’s got an ancient civilizations exhibit today!” Shidian said, pointing at his phone screen.

Even though his grades weren’t anything special, Shidian had always been really into history. He’d even regretted not choosing a humanities track.

“Uh... fine. Since you’re this excited, I’ll go with you,” Chen Rui said after thinking it over. “But let’s be clear—lunch is on you.”

Once they’d settled it, Shidian and Chen Rui took the bus to the city museum. Since it was the weekend, the place was packed. After waiting in line for ages, they finally made it into the exhibit hall.

It was the museum’s first time putting on an ancient civilizations exhibit, and they’d clearly gone all out. The moment you walked in, it felt like stepping into an ancient tomb.

“Wow. This is no joke,” Chen Rui said, staring around in surprise. “They really did this up.”

“Yeah. I heard this exhibit was backed by a famous archaeologist, Mr. Feng Tingwen,” Shidian said with a nod, looking over the displays. “He put a lot of money into it.”

There was a lot on display, all tied to ancient civilizations. Shidian was fascinated, but he couldn’t tell what era any of it was from. He stopped in front of a stone slab etched with strange patterns and couldn’t help wanting to reach out and touch it—only to be stopped by the glass case.

However, the moment his hand touched the glass, a jolt shot through his fingertips like a static shock. He startled and blurted out, “What was that?”

“What’s wrong?” Chen Rui asked quickly from beside him.

“I... I think I just got shocked,” Shi Dian said, hesitating.

“Seriously? Is this thing busted? Why is it shocking people?” Chen Rui reached out and touched it too, but didn’t react at all. “How come I don’t feel anything?”

“It’s fine. Let’s go.” Shi Dian sucked on his slightly numb finger and kept walking toward the next gallery.

According to the information by the entrance, the exhibit spanned three floors and featured plenty of impressive displays. But just as Shi Dian and Chen Rui finished the first floor and were about to head up to the second, they suddenly noticed a staircase leading down inside an unremarkable little side room.

“I didn’t hear anything about a basement level,” Shi Dian said, puzzled. “Should we go take a look?”

“Since we’re already here, let’s check it out. It shouldn’t be a big deal.” After saying that, Chen Rui started down.

With no real choice, Shi Dian followed. The stairwell lights were off, though there was a glow at the bottom. The two of them crept down carefully. Shi Dian felt uneasy and couldn’t help saying, “I really think we should turn back. There aren’t even any lights—this has to be closed off.”

“What are you scared of? You’re the one who wanted to come,” Chen Rui said confidently. “There’s gotta be something really wild down here.”

Hearing that, Shi Dian’s curiosity flared. What was down there, anyway?

After a longer-than-expected descent, they stepped into a dim hall. It looked like there were a lot of display cases, but it was too dark to make out what was inside.

“I think those are statues,” Chen Rui whispered, eyeing something on one of the displays.

The moment he finished speaking, a sharp *click* sounded, and the lights snapped on all at once. Shi Dian instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes.

“What’s on display here really are statues—but not your average statues,” a stranger’s voice suddenly said.

Shi Dian and Chen Rui hurriedly looked over and saw an elderly man with a full head of white hair smiling at them.

“Ah! Aren’t you Professor Feng?” Shi Dian recognized him at once as the sponsor introduced on the exhibition poster.

“Heh, that’s right. For certain reasons, this gallery wasn’t supposed to be open anymore. But I didn’t expect you two to make your way down here. Since you’re here, you might as well take a look,” Professor Feng said with a smile.

Only then did Shi Dian and Chen Rui turn back to the statues. After just one glance, they froze. The figures were lifelike—too lifelike—and, more importantly, they were monsters they’d never seen before.

“What are these things? They’re creepy as hell,” Chen Rui said, stumbling back a few steps, while Shi Dian studied them with clear fascination.

“Heh. They’re demons and monsters from old legends. Honestly, the first time I saw them, I was shocked too. They’re supposed to be imaginary, but they’re made so realistically… it’s unbelievable,” Professor Feng said, sounding genuinely awed.

Shi Dian stared into the eyes of one creature, and a strange sensation surged through him—as if it were roaring right at him. He couldn’t help backing up a few steps.

“That’s exactly why I eventually decided to stop showing them to the public,” Professor Feng said, glancing at Shi Dian.

“This is insane… They look like they’re actually real!” Shi Dian pressed a hand to his chest; that feeling from a moment ago had left him short of breath.

“Come on. There’s something else over here you should see. Even now, I still haven’t figured out what it is,” Professor Feng said, gesturing as he headed into another gallery. Shi Dian and Chen Rui quickly followed.

This room was simple. Only one item was displayed on a wall. At first glance, it looked like a round slab of bluish stone, but on closer inspection, the patterns carved into it clearly formed the image of the sun.

“I have no idea what this strange slab is,” Professor Feng said with a sigh, tilting his head up to study it. “The only thing I can make out are these few pictographs.”

“What does it mean?” Shi Dian asked, eyeing the line of symbols with curiosity.

“Wheel of Fate.” Professor Feng glanced at Shi Dian. “That’s what it says.”

“Wheel… of Fate.” Shi Dian stared at the slab and couldn’t help taking a couple steps closer.

All of a sudden, for some reason, the slab burst into a blinding light. Professor Feng and Chen Rui both raised their hands to shield their eyes...

A few seconds later, the glare faded. Chen Rui opened his eyes and stared at the slab, stunned. Under his breath, he muttered, “What the hell was that? Did you guys stick a lightbulb in there?”

But Professor Feng didn’t say a word—he just kept staring at the slab. After a moment, he suddenly shouted, “Someone get over here! Something’s wrong!”

The shout startled Chen Rui. He shot a wary look at Shi Dian and realized Shi Dian had one hand pressed to his forehead, his face pale, like he was in serious pain.

“What’s going on, Shi Dian?” Chen Rui hurried to steady him, asking anxiously.

Shi Dian couldn’t get a single word out. He just kept shaking his head. By then, the staff who’d heard the professor’s yell had already rushed over, clustering around him and talking in low, urgent voices.

Supporting Shi Dian, Chen Rui glanced back at the slab—and froze. The slab that had been perfectly fine a moment ago was now split clean in two!

Sensing trouble, Chen Rui quickly helped Shi Dian out of the museum. “No matter what, the slab breaking shouldn’t have anything to do with us, right?”...

That night, Shi Dian lay on his bed in the school dorm, staring blankly at the ceiling. On his forehead, a sun-shaped mark flickered with a golden glow.