Su Cheng woke up in a daze. The moment she took a breath, cold, salty seawater poured into her throat.
A strange, sweet, and metallic scent choked her nose and mouth. Her vision was filled with teal liquid sparkling with light, along with some blurry, swaying dark shadows.
She instinctively treaded water to surface.
"Oh my god!"
An exclamation rang out nearby, "Miss, what happened to you?!"
A figure suddenly approached. Someone grabbed her and pulled her straight out of the water.
Su Cheng was still a bit dizzy. She coughed heavily twice, spitting out some water, "Thank you..."
"You're welcome," the person beside her asked with concern, even taking out a handkerchief to help wipe her face. "Are you alright?"
Su Cheng took the handkerchief and wiped her face haphazardly. The world before her suddenly became clear.
Water.
Clear water, shimmering with sunlight.
She was sitting on a stone pavement warmed by the sun. Ahead of her was a wide, tranquil waterway where dozens of crescent-shaped boats came and went. They were painted in various colors, from bright peacock blue to vibrant rose red. The boats had exquisite, slender hulls. Some were draped with bright sheer fabrics, some were inlaid with round pearls and shells, and others had canopies adorned with blooming flowers. Young couples sat arm in arm at the bows, while merchants hung their goods on the sides of the boats, hawking loudly.
Beneath the water were colorful schools of fish, swaying seagrass, and lush ferns. In the white sand at the bottom, there seemed to be vibrant coral reefs.
The sunlight turned into thousands of dazzling shards of gold, dancing and flickering in the rippling water, and washing over the surrounding bridges and buildings.
She turned her head and saw an endless series of arch bridges.
They connected the scattered neighborhoods in the water. The bridges were built from pure white coral stone. The sides and railings were inlaid with aquamarine and golden tile strips, carved with flowing swirl reliefs.
The surrounding buildings were also mostly light-colored—beige, cream, ivory, and other tinted whites—reflecting the morning sun and the water's glow, making them look even more dazzling.
The windows with thin mother-of-pearl lattice had frames carved with wave and seaweed patterns, full of exotic charm.
Su Cheng had never seen such a view before, and she couldn't help but stare blankly.
The air was incredibly humid, filled with moisture and floral scents, carrying an indescribable sense of thickness.
The morning sun leaped and refracted among the bridges, buildings, and water, casting dancing spots of light. It was so beautiful it felt somewhat unreal, as if the entire city were a projection inside a crystal.
"...I'm fine," Su Cheng took a few seconds to take in her surroundings. "Thank you for the handkerchief. Uh, let me pay you for it."
As she spoke, she reached into her pocket, which still held some loose coins.
Su Cheng rubbed the silk handkerchief in her hand and instinctively pulled out a silver coin.
"No need," the person beside her said with a smile. "As long as you're okay. However, did you accidentally fall into the water, or... did you have some terrible experience?"
As he spoke, he took off his sun hat and handed it to a servant behind him.
Su Cheng couldn't help but gasp.
Only then did she clearly see what this kind Samaritan looked like.
It was an extremely beautiful blond youth, looking about fifteen or sixteen years old.
His skin was snow-white, and he wore a light, loose outer coat that revealed part of his lean shoulders and chest.
The fabric looked milky white, but under the sunlight, a hazy aqua blue rippled through the tightly woven silk threads.
That beautiful, dreamy luster rose and fell with the folds of the clothing, showing that the material was highly valuable.
He wore equally light-colored linen trousers and wedge sandals. Under his rolled-up trouser legs, his slender ankles were exposed, adorned with several gold anklets engraved with surging wave patterns.
The youth's wrists were also wrapped in several gold chains. Those chains were delicate but showed no signs of wear, and their purity was excellent. Some hung with the teeth of some magical beast, while others were adorned with teardrop-shaped peridots.
The green of the gems was incredibly pure, like the bright emerald waters of a shallow sea, making his snow-white skin and bones look even more flawless.
His fingers were slender, and his nails were like round shells, painted with a pale, bright, semi-transparent silver-green. The skin on his hands was smooth and delicate, without the slightest sign of labor-induced wear.
As for his face...
His hair was an intense, brilliant gold. His features were exquisite and alluring, and his lips, dyed with flower juice, were crimson and full. His whole person resembled a rosebud ready to bloom.
The youth also had two black pearls pierced in his ears, gleaming with a mysterious golden-brown light.
Su Cheng kept feeling that this face was very familiar.
It was just that the contours seemed more childish, and his temperament was completely different.
The blond youth tilted his head. His dark green eyes reflected a rich emerald hue in the morning light, and his long eyelashes, like the wings of a seabird, were slightly drooping.
He seemed to sense that the lady in front of him was captivated by his appearance.
And this realization clearly made him happy.
Su Cheng: "..."
As soon as the other party smiled, she found him even more familiar, and then she remembered whose face this was.
Perhaps there was some difference between a teenage boy and an adult man, but it wasn't a huge gap, especially since this one also looked young after becoming a god.
But without the blessing of that divine power, he didn't look exactly the same.
Su Cheng: "I'm fine, thank you. Actually, I accidentally triggered a magic array earlier..."
She carefully sorted through her memories. The last scene stopped in a certain room, an out-of-control magic array, and an explosion of white light.
What happened before?
It seemed she was observing a special teleportation array at school, and it suddenly malfunctioned, just like that unstable crystal from before.
The blond youth slightly raised his eyebrows. "I can tell. The elemental spirits on your body are very active. I mean, in an abnormal way."
Su Cheng blinked. "Um, don't worry, I wasn't trying to commit suicide. And... how should I address you?"
"I am Gerald Weiss," the blond youth said casually. "Nice to meet you."
An unfamiliar name and surname.
Su Cheng nodded, unsure of what relationship this person had with the God of Envy, but that guy probably wouldn't be bored enough to turn into a human just to trick her.
If he really wanted to do something like that, he wouldn't use such a similar face, would he?
Su Cheng introduced herself. "...By the way, I seem to have been unconscious for a while. What's the date today?"
Gerald Weiss clearly understood mages well, showing no surprise at her question. "May 7th."
Su Cheng: "???"
May?
Why did time go backward?
A strange thought surfaced in her mind. She held back and didn't ask it directly, especially since the youth in front of her was watching her rather curiously.
"By the way," Gerald Weiss tilted his head, "forgive my presumption, but where are you from? Are you from the Empire?"
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment. "Yes?"
"Oh, your accent is very similar to a group of merchants I met before!"
He smiled, seemingly satisfied that his guess was confirmed. "Which city did you live in before? I mean, judging from the fabric of your dress, this magic array accident has taken you far from your homeland. Also, if you don't know where this is, I can tell you. This is the Free City-State of Yasuo in the Duchy of Anser, also known as the Land of Floating Reefs."
Su Cheng: "..."
The Anser Principality was located at the southernmost tip of the entire Northern Continent, and Yasuo, one of its largest and most prosperous cities, was also situated in the southern part of the principality.
It was even one of the popular smuggling routes to the Southern Continent.
So theoretically, there should be a lot of the Church's armed forces here, but she hardly saw any clerics on the nearby streets or waterways.
Su Cheng looked up and glanced around again.
Not seeing any clerics was understandable, but it was a bit bizarre that there wasn't even a silhouette of a temple to be seen. Usually, in a city like this, the temple would be the tallest building.
Gerald watched her silently as she looked around, assuming she was just curious about the place, so he didn't interrupt her.
Holding back a bellyful of questions, Su Cheng turned her head. "Am I holding you up?"
"Not at all. I just came here to eat."
The blond boy pointed to a narrow wooden door nearby. It looked like it was made from repurposed boat planks, with a signboard pieced together from scales, coral stones, and crushed crystals hanging above it.
A mixed aroma of exotic spices and grilled fish wafted from inside.
A nautilus pattern was carved into the door, and two wind chimes hung there, made of delicate transparent glass bottles containing glowing krill and colorful jellyfish.
Su Cheng noticed that these pocket-sized creatures were likely magical beasts.
Gerald warmly invited her to eat with him. After a moment's thought, she didn't refuse and walked into the shop with him.
There were only six small tables inside. The stone counters circling the windows were carved into the shapes of seashells.
The floor was paved with huge, smoothly polished shells, and the gaps between them were inlaid with fine fragments of blue giant clams, looking like scattered gems.
Su Cheng couldn't help but marvel softly, "It's really beautiful here."
The blond boy raised his chin. "You have good taste. Some foolish Imperial citizens think it's too petty, or too much in the style of the merfolk."
Merfolk, like beastmen, retained animal characteristics on their bodies, only their habitats were in the water or by the sea.
Su Cheng smoothed her skirt. "That's because they have no taste. Speaking of which, I didn't live in a coastal city before, so I've actually never seen a merman."
It was really hot in this place; the water stains on her clothes were almost completely dried by the sun.
"Oh?"
Gerald was a little surprised. "Really? What kind of magic array did you touch? All the cities around here have merfolk. It seems you came from much further away?"
They sat down in a corner, directly facing the azure waterway and the passing boats outside.
"Indeed," Su Cheng said in distress. "It's a bit complicated, and my head is a little dizzy. I feel like I've forgotten something."
"Hmm, it might be some aftereffects of teleportation. Maybe eating something will make you feel better?"
Perhaps because he had a reservation, the waiter served the food very quickly, soon bringing over a huge hexagram-shaped plate.
"These are the tentacles of a White Shadow Octopus."
The blond boy elegantly picked up a fork. "You can try it. I'm guessing you probably haven't eaten this before. Don't misunderstand, it's because it's not a very precious dish. This plate only costs ten silver coins; it wouldn't appear at the banquets of wealthy Imperials."
Honestly speaking, the daily wage of most commoners was only one or two silver coins, so this dish was indeed not cheap.
But at the banquets of the rich and powerful, dishes easily cost hundreds or thousands of gold coins. By comparison, it seemed unworthy of a grand table.
Su Cheng perfectly understood what he meant.
"There are quite a few of these magical beasts, and they reproduce quickly, but they only gather in the waters around Yasuo..."
In each pointed compartment of the plate lay deep-fried tentacles.
These plump pieces of meat were fried to a golden brown, crispy and aromatic, coated in a special golden chili sauce and salt-and-pepper powder. One bite revealed a firm and chewy texture.
Su Cheng gave a thumbs up. "It could also be that they can't swim out of this area because you guys fish them all up to eat."
Gerald was amused by her. He waved for the waiter to continue serving dishes, then rested his chin on one hand and looked at her. "You look hungry."
"Sorry, if you need, I can order another portion for you," Su Cheng nodded. "I'll pay for it."
"No, no, no," he waved his hand dismissively. "The weather has been too hot lately, and my appetite isn't great. Two spoonfuls of each dish is enough for me."
"...Isn't it hot here all year round?"
"Well, there's still a slight difference. Wearing the same piece of clothing and feeling a little warm versus feeling very hot—that's different, right?"
"...Makes sense."
The waiter quickly brought over a huge iron pan.
The grilled fish was placed on a giant banana leaf. She used a small hammer to crack open the crispy, charred scale crust, revealing the snow-white, piping-hot meat underneath that was as tender and smooth as tofu.
Next to it was a small dish of dipping sauce made from a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, chili, and garlic paste.
The fish meat was incredibly tender and juicy, and pairing it with the sour and spicy dipping sauce made it even more refreshing.
Su Cheng ravenously devoured half the fish before realizing that the other half was practically untouched.
Gerald hadn't exaggerated at all; he had merely scooped out two small holes with his spoon and didn't continue eating, instead looking out the window in boredom.
Su Cheng stood up. "I'm going to the counter to see what there is to drink—"
Gerald gave a sound of acknowledgment and was about to call his servant to accompany her and pay the bill for her.
Su Cheng hurriedly said it wasn't necessary, telling the two to quickly sit back down.
She darted to the counter and asked the boss to recommend some flavored drinks. The boss had long seen she was a foreigner and immediately started talking non-stop.
Su Cheng took the opportunity to look around and finally spotted a small calendar in the corner of the counter.
She fixed her eyes on it.
May 7th, Year 206 of the Cold Moon Calendar.
Su Cheng: "......"
The Cold Moon Calendar.
The character "Su Cheng" was born in the Year 699 of the White Moon Calendar, which was 1,500 years from now.
Had she actually traveled back in time over a thousand years?
What was going on?
The boss handed her a specially mixed fruit juice, alternating orange and red, garnished with a slice of lime.
Su Cheng took it, paid the money, and walked back with floating steps. She sat down in a daze, feeling entirely unwell.
"...What's wrong with you?"
Gerald seemed to sense the change in her mood and looked at her curiously. "Is the drink that bad?"
Su Cheng looked down at the beverage in her hand. "No—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the blond youth suddenly leaned in close. His petal-like red lips almost touched the rim of the cup.
Then he stopped.
He sniffed lightly a few times, his beautiful, slightly upturned nose twitching slightly. "Hmm, the smell of the chrysanthemum berries is normal. They shouldn't have used spoiled ones."
Gerald tilted his head, looking like a confused golden retriever. "So what's wrong with you?"
Even without the enhancement of a divine halo, he was simply too beautiful.
Su Cheng was finding it a bit hard to resist. "Um, I was just thinking that I might have broken another mage's belongings. It's going to be pretty troublesome when I get back. My family is incredibly harsh with me... Sigh, never mind, let's not talk about it. Actually, I have another question. I don't know why, but you look a bit familiar to me?"
When she brought up her family, she deliberately kept a close eye on his expression.
A complex, conflicted look flashed through Gerald's eyes, mingled with resentment and hatred.
Feigning embarrassment, Su Cheng said, "I might have seen a portrait of someone who resembles you, but they weren't quite as young as you are..."
The blonde youth was taken aback for a moment before replying nonchalantly, "That might be my older brother. A bard wrote a song about him and even painted a magical portrait of him. I heard they were sold all the way to the Empire."
