7. The White Jade Space

Her fragile body remained completely unscathed, so how could the jade pendant, tightly clutched in her hand, simply vanish?

It defied all logic. Even though Black Sky was damaged, its core remained intact; she could restore it at any time if she wished, after all, the Star Chronograph contained a vast array of materials and components.

Thinking of the Star Chronograph, Jiang Ruo glanced at her wrist—her Star Chronograph was perfectly intact, and since she had been protecting the jade pendant all along, it certainly should be unharmed.

But… where was the jade pendant? How could it have disappeared?

Frowning deeply, her mind raced as she silently pondered the mystery.

Suddenly—

Jiang Ruo: “…”

Before she could even register the discomfort of weightlessness, she stared in shock at the scene before her.

The room was gone, along with all its components. Instead, before her stretched a patch of dark earth, no larger than two or three football fields.

The edges were shrouded in dense mist, with faint streaks of lightning flickering within. Just looking at it sent an electric current rising from her feet, tingling her entire body.

Beyond the vast black soil stood a solitary thatched hut in the center.

A genuine thatched hut, exactly as described in books.

Its door was tightly shut, and faint arcs of lightning clung to the hut’s surface, lending it an air of mystique and a subtle hint of danger.

This place... she stared in disbelief!

The thick mist and crackling lightning brought her wits sharply back.

For some inexplicable reason, it reminded her of the Valley of Death.

That place was perpetually engulfed in thick fog, with chaotic magnetic fields and frequent lightning storms.

Jiang Ruo refused to believe there was no connection between the two.

But how had she ended up here?

No plants grew here; only the thatched hut and the black earth surrounded her.

Unlike the oppressive, violent danger of the Valley of Death, this place held no sense of threat. Even the lightning felt strangely familiar, almost warm.

“Jade…”

Could it be...

Jiang Ruo’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes suddenly widened.

Could it be just as she feared?

But how to get out?

Yet the answer came instantly.

As the thought crossed her mind, her body vanished from this strange space, reappearing back in the room.

Jiang Ruo: “…”

Seemingly understanding something, she silently recited the word “jade pendant” and her body vanished again.

Appearing and disappearing repeatedly, Jiang Ruo, though initially reluctant, gradually accepted the truth that the jade pendant had transformed into a spatial realm. Instinctively, she pictured the space in her mind, recalling the flash of white light that had appeared during the lightning strike, and it all began to make sense.

No matter what… as long as it hadn’t disappeared, it was fine.

Her panic eased considerably, one hand clutching her chest tightly.

The chase, the Valley of Death, the thunderstorm, the lightning strike, then arriving in this strange world, killing the tiger, meeting “her,” then becoming “her,” and finally meeting her grandparents—she had found a home again.

What a thrilling day it had been, stirring her long-dead heart back to life.

And her grandparents.

Lowering her hand from her chest, a smile curved upon her lips, her eyes shining brightly. She collapsed onto the kang bed, her gaze filled with stars and seas as she replayed “her” memories once more. Closing her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifted.

Tomorrow will surely be a beautiful day.

In the courtyard, the bright moon hung high, slowly unveiling a smile. The autumn breeze rustled the pomegranate tree, producing a soothing rustle.

...

Jiang Ruo slept deeply and soundly—a sleep more peaceful and fragrant than any she had had in years.

Awakening refreshed, she stretched lazily and noticed dawn was just beginning to break.

Having gone to bed early and risen early, she felt an unusual lightness in both body and spirit, as if all shackles had vanished overnight.

After washing up, before she realized it, she was already jogging along through Banwaizi Village.

Fortunately, the original owner had the occasional habit of running. Her grandfather had been a militia company commander, and since the region's full liberation in recent years, the old man had drilled the family extensively. Except for the women, everyone, young and old, had been trained thoroughly.

“She” was purely interested, and with her brother’s approval—he said she was beautiful and should learn to protect herself—she had trained alongside her grandfather for several years. Only after starting high school did the frequency lessen, but she still maintained the habit of running every now and then.

With her body and mind so relaxed, and the air so fresh, Jiang Ruo was in high spirits.

She found a quiet spot and practiced some unorthodox boxing techniques taught by her grandfather. These techniques, though unnamed, looked impressive and were highly practical; every move was designed to be lethal. Combined with her natural agility, she became even more formidable.

After completing the full set, Jiang Ruo’s energy and spirit were renewed. Her entire being seemed radiant, the harshness in her expression softened, replaced by warmth. Adjusting her breath, she happily trotted home.

Though only one night had passed, her sense of belonging to this home had already taken root like grass and trees.

Especially with her grandparents—this felt like heaven’s compensation to her.

Her parents had tragically died when “she” was ten, leaving a deep scar. Those memories were fragmented and blurry.

Lost in thought, a figure suddenly blocked her path.

Jiang Ruo stopped, looking at the middle-aged woman before her with some confusion. At the same time, a face in her mind matched this woman perfectly.

“Good morning, Aunt Liu,” she said with a faint smile, her tone distant yet polite—neither warm nor cold, but impeccable.

The original owner had behaved this way too; Jiang Ruo thought this habit was quite good.

She wasn’t a particularly warm person, especially since these people were strangers to her. Otherwise, her character would certainly have broken down.

“Morning, morning, morning... Ruo Ruo, you’re up so early!” Aunt Liu was much more enthusiastic, her eyes narrowing into slits as she approached, reaching out to grab Jiang Ruo. But Jiang Ruo casually stepped back to avoid her.

Aunt Liu was not offended. After all, this girl had disliked being touched for some time—a bit fussy, yes, but everyone doted on her.

Seeing no one else around, Aunt Liu stepped forward again, but her hand was much gentler this time.

“Ruo Ruo, I heard you ran into some bad people on the mountain yesterday afternoon. Auntie was so worried! Did you really meet some bad folks? Who were they? Tell Auntie, and I’ll avenge you.”

Jiang Ruo looked at Aunt Liu with eyes flashing the words “big gossip.” Was she really such an innocent, easy mark?

Even the original owner was usually taciturn with strangers.

Moreover, Aunt Liu was known throughout Banwaizi Village as the nosy gossip who spread every piece of news she learned to the entire village.