The first sensation Lu Yuan experienced was the feeling of warmth. A soft bed beneath him, the scent of herbal medicine lingering faintly in the air. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing a dimly lit room with wooden beams above—a traditional-style house. Confused, he sat up slowly, a dull ache throbbing in his head.
"Where... am I?" he muttered.
Just as the question escaped his lips, a sharp pain stabbed through his skull. He clutched his head, gritting his teeth. "What the hell is this?!"
Suddenly, memories rushed into his mind like a flood. Helping a child cross the street, a truck speeding toward him—then, at the last second, a portal appeared. Before he could react, it swallowed his body and soul.
"My name is Lu Yuan... Yes. I was helping that child. Then a truck... and a portal... I vanished into thin air. But where am I now?"
A crisp, mechanical sound echoed in his mind:
Ding! Swallowed Star Cultivation System activated.
"Wait, what? Swallowed Star? Am I in Luo Feng's world? But this room... it looks ancient."
He glanced around. Wooden furniture, a clay pot beside the bed, and traditional decor. This wasn't a high-tech future.
Just then, a soft voice came from outside the door.
"You're awake? Finally! You've been in a coma for a few days."
The door creaked open, revealing a beautiful girl in green robes. She stepped into the room with a gentle smile.
Lu Yuan was stunned. Her face was delicate, her demeanor pure. Her presence felt oddly familiar.
"Where... where am I?" he asked, hesitant.
"You're in the northwestern region of the Jia Ma Empire," she said warmly. "This is Green Mountain Town. My name is Xiao Yixian. I found you unconscious near the bottom of a waterfall and brought you here."
Lu Yuan's eyes widened. "Jia Ma Empire...? Xiao Yixian?! Isn't that the Little Fairy Doctor? No... this isn't Swallowed Star!"
Just as he was reeling from the realization, another sound echoed in his mind:
Ding! Mission Released: Defeat Luo Feng within two months.
Reward: Unknown. Penalty: System destruction.
His face turned pale.
"What?! Defeat Luo Feng?! In two months?! Are you insane?! I'm not even in the right world!"
He looked down at himself and noticed something even more shocking. His body had changed. His limbs were thinner, his frame smaller.
He stumbled over to the pot to take a sip of water and caught a glimpse of his reflection. His face looked years younger.
"I look like I'm fifteen! Did time travel make me younger too? And these clothes... they're not mine."
He turned to Xiao Yixian, flustered. "Who... who changed my clothes?"
Xiao Yixian blushed, her cheeks turning red. She looked away shyly. "I did. Your clothes were wet, and you had a high fever. I had no choice."
Lu Yuan scratched his head and quickly changed the subject. "Uh... thanks."
"Are you hungry? I made chicken soup. Would you like some?" she asked gently.
Before he could answer, his stomach growled loudly.
Xiao Yixian chuckled softly and walked toward the door. Her gentle laughter was like a breeze on a spring day.
Just before she left, Lu Yuan called out, "You can call me Lu Yuan."
She paused and looked back with a shy smile. "Okay... Brother Lu Yuan."
He sat in silence, overwhelmed. This wasn't the world he was supposed to be in. His task was nearly impossible. And yet, he was alive—young, with a powerful system inside him. Though lost and uncertain, his story was just beginning.
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