Chapter 2: 第一章 怪异的梦

On the twelfth day of the seventh month in the 37th year of the First Emperor of the Great Qin Empire (210 BC), at the foot of a mountain outside the city of Wu'an in the ancient State of Zhao (which belonged to Handan Commandery after the empire's unification), a strange scene unfolded amidst the surrounding woods: all the trees within a radius of ten zhang were scorched black, with lingering smoke swirling about. In the center lay a pit about one zhang square and six feet deep, and within that pit, a strange man lay on his back.

The man appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. There were no visible wounds on his body. He wore a set of dark gray, tight-fitting clothes that emitted a thin, silvery glow. Under this radiance, the owner's muscular physique was fully revealed; his muscles bulged perfectly, appearing as if every inch contained explosive power. His rugged face, which carried a faint scholarly air, was tinged with traces of pain and confusion.

The strange young man's narrowed eyes seemed to struggle to open, attempting to break free from something, but he could not succeed.

He found himself struggling in an endless, boundless darkness, experiencing a dream that was bizarre yet felt incredibly real—a dream about another dimension of time and space. In the dream, he seemed to have personally lived through a war lasting ten years. Every detailed scene of that war, including its causes and its progression, flashed through his mind like bolts of lightning, leaving behind profound imprints.

He dreamed of a man named Qin Yang, born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, in the nation of Huaxia. At the age of two, he lost all his relatives and grew up in an orphanage. At twelve, he was admitted to the world-renowned physics department of a university in Huaxia. Within three years, he obtained a bachelor's degree in ancient Huaxia history as a dual major, but the physics degree he was supposed to receive was delayed by a sudden war. Because of this, Qin Yang joined the military. The date was February 6th, [Year], and at the time, Qin Yang had just turned sixteen.

Subsequently, Qin Yang joined a special forces unit codenamed "Wolf Fang." (In October of [Year], he began performing S-class missions solo, completing a total of 24. Among them, he completed two 2S-class missions, eighteen 3S-class missions, three 4S-class missions, and one 5S-class mission. Additionally, he had led teams to complete four 3S-class missions. Due to his distinguished military achievements, he was promoted to the youngest Colonel in the special forces of Huaxia at the age of twenty-five.)

He also dreamed that during one mission, Qin Yang and his comrades were ambushed by a large force of enemies. Qin Yang, having volunteered to stay behind to cover the retreat, was separated from the other three men. Aside from Qin Yang, one comrade died and two went missing (captured). Refusing to obey the superior's order to retreat, Qin Yang pursued the enemy alone for three days and three nights. He then launched a night raid on the enemy camp and, under the heavy guard of an entire enemy battalion, rescued two comrades who were already dying from torture. He then hijacked an enemy vehicle and made his escape. However, the two comrades ultimately died in Qin Yang's arms due to their severe injuries; one of them had been as close to Qin Yang as a brother.

Because of this, Qin Yang felt immense self-reproach, believing he had failed to protect his comrades and brothers. From then on, Qin Yang wrapped his heart tightly in a shell; he had no more friends and spoke very little, focusing solely on training himself and his team. He was no longer willing to carry out missions with comrades. Thus, he earned the name "Lone Wolf," and his personality became increasingly reclusive. However, ever since Qin Yang began performing solo missions, he had never failed, regardless of the mission level. Furthermore, his methods were always cold and ruthless, never leaving survivors. Consequently, the terrified enemies gave him the nickname "Cold-Blooded Wolf King."

He dreamed again that after completing a 5S-class mission, Qin Yang met the Chief of the General Staff, Admiral Yu Chengwu, a man known in Huaxia as the "One-Armed General Yu Zhuge." The dream of meeting Chief Yu was so vivid—

At that time, Yu Chengwu watched Qin Yang silently. As he looked at this warrior who had risked life and limb for the Republic and struck fear into the hearts of enemies, his gaze shifted rapidly through sternness, excitement, admiration, and affection.

After a long time, Chief of the General Staff Yu Chengwu finally broke the silence.

"Little Qin, do you have any close relatives left at home?" Yu Chengwu asked.

"Reporting, Chief, there are none," Qin Yang answered immediately.

"No need to be so serious; let's just have a good chat, just the two of us. Sigh, I am just like you. If my child were still alive, he would be about your age, not much younger."

As he spoke, Yu Chengwu's eyes were filled with tenderness, like a father sharing a heartfelt conversation with his child.

"Oh? What happened to your child?"

Under Yu Chengwu's guidance, a hint of warmth finally appeared in Qin Yang's eyes.

"Ten years ago, he perished in an enemy air raid. He was only ten then. His mother, his grandparents, were all with him. Sigh, war... this is what war is." The child and his family had always been the most vulnerable part of Yu Chengwu's heart.

Seeing this Chief, who was not yet fifty but already had hair turned white, looking so sorrowful and lonely, Qin Yang's nearly long-sealed heart suddenly trembled. This national hero of Huaxia, this undefeated God of War, actually had such a fragile side. Qin Yang felt as if his lonely heart had merged tightly with this "old man" who had lost everything in the war.

"Little Qin, do you know why we fight wars? It is because our motherland is not yet strong enough, and many of our people have not yet awakened. The habits of following old ways, being bound by convention, and submissively accepting fate have not been completely changed. If our motherland were strong enough, if our Huaxia nation could be of one heart and strive for strength, why would we worry about the invasion of the Japanese pirates? Why would we fear the groundless suppression and threats from America? Why would we worry about being unable to reclaim lost territory? And why would our Huaxia people suffer such profound hardships?..."

Yu Chengwu seemed to be asking Qin Yang, but he was more like answering himself.

"Now we have an opportunity. Perhaps it can allow our motherland to stand forever at the pinnacle of the world and keep our people forever away from the fires of war. Tell me, do you think we should do it?" Yu Chengwu asked.

"Yes. If it were me, I would definitely go," Qin Yang answered with absolute determination.

"Not afraid of difficulties?"

"Not afraid!"

"Not afraid of danger?"

"Not afraid!!"

"The mission level is 5S+!"

"Still not afraid!!"

"You must go alone."

"I am used to being alone!"

"An unknown dimension of time and space?"

"In the eyes of a soldier, there is no unknown!"

"Chief, please let me go!"

"Very well. I will brief you on the mission now..."

Finally, he dreamed that one month after the meeting with Chief Yu, on February [Day], [Year], at 10:00 PM, at the Lop Nur secret base in Huaxia, a time-space shuttle project unprecedented in human history entered its countdown.

Inside the sealed compartment of the time-space shuttle, dark purple energy flickered continuously, and the energy readings soared.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."

Suddenly, a piercing alarm rang out just as the "1" was about to be uttered!

"Not good, energy fusion..." The voice of the project leader, Dr. Meng, pierced through the communicator into Qin Yang's eardrums.

Then, a streak of azure light tore through the heavens and instantly vanished into the vast night sky...

The dream was finally over, but now he had forgotten who he was. Why was he so familiar with this war, and why was he so familiar with this Qin Yang? He did not know.

He was still struggling in that boundless darkness, shouting over and over, "Who am I? Who am I? And who is Qin Yang?..."

He remembered, but he could not do it. He wanted to open his eyes, but he still could not. He was so lost and helpless. What he had to face was the endless mental entanglement and soul collision between himself and Qin Yang...

After an unknown amount of time, a young girl's clear voice suddenly came from the bushes beside the strange young man

"Grandfather, slow down, please. Be careful, the path is slippery."

"Sigh, this old man's bones are still alright. Qingyao, don't run too fast. There's no rush; the medicine won't run away. If only your father were home, we wouldn't have to come out to dig for medicine just to make a living..."

"Grandfather, you're thinking of Father again. It's been almost six years since Father went to Yunzhong Commandery to repair the Great Wall, and there hasn't been any news. I wonder..."

"Grandfather, come quickly! Come and look!" Qingyao's urgent voice drifted over.

Thinking his granddaughter Qingyao had encountered some danger, the old man hurried over in a rush.

The scorched trees, the terrifying pit, the strange man, the odd clothing, and the scattering silver light—the scene before him instantly stunned the old man, who was already past sixty. Having seen much of the world, having traveled far and wide in his youth and even served on battlefields, the old man was only stunned for a moment before he suddenly snapped into awareness.

"Qingyao, don't just stand there dazed! Quick, saving the person is what matters!" the old man shouted.

...