Chapter 1: The Frozen Abyss

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A dark, oppressive, and unknown space stretched endlessly before him, filled with rows upon rows of mysterious plants radiating a faint white glow. The sight seemed infinite. Qin Yue sat at the edge of the field, gazing at the distant, indistinct figures stooping to work the land, his heart adrift in confusion.

A few hours earlier, he’d spent his day off at a long-awaited national treasure exhibition. The resonance between past and present left him marveling at the wisdom and civilization of his ancestors. As he admired the seven recently returned bronze animal heads, the bronze statue of the rat suddenly seemed to come alive. Its eyes emitted two dazzling beams that locked with his own—and then, nothing.

When he awoke, it was in this enclosed space, and his mind was filled with memories that were not his. This place was called the Ice Abyss—a vast underground cavity sealed beneath a thick layer of ice. The temperature remained constant, though it was not cold. The people living here were known as the Convicted, their sole task to cultivate Ice Lotus, each person responsible for a particular plot.

Every three years, the plants reached maturity. Then, someone would descend from the “Heavenly Ladder” to collect them. If the plants were poorly tended, the quality substandard, or the quantity insufficient, the person in charge would be harshly punished.

As someone with a cynical sense of humor, Qin Yue almost wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but now he could not laugh—this was no dream.

He had crossed over.

This was a prison, inhabited by a people treated as slaves. There was no sunlight, no hope, no future.

“Convicted? What kind of crime warrants generations upon generations to be imprisoned here for life?”

“If this experience is real, then no matter what, I must escape from here!”

As Qin Yue pondered this, a whip cracked against him without warning, startling him badly.

“Who told you to slack off here?”

With the rebuke came a searing pain that instantly ignited his anger. But he quickly calmed himself; memories in his mind informed him that the one who struck him was Xu Liang, a disciple of the Zhaoyang Sect assigned to guard them.

Yet, he could not help but glance at his assailant.

“What? You’re not satisfied? If you don’t want to die, get back to work!”

Xu Liang was young, just over twenty. The long years spent underground had left his skin pale, but his features were regular enough. Now, his face cold, he stared at Qin Yue before glancing into the distance and lowering his voice: “Hurry up!”

Following Xu Liang’s gaze, Qin Yue saw several torches approaching. He silently rose, picked up his hoe, and walked back into the Ice Lotus field. He had barely started swinging the tool when the torchbearers arrived and spoke quietly with Xu Liang.

Xu Liang immediately shouted, “Everyone, assemble!”

The two or three dozen people assigned to this field gathered, and Qin Yue blended in with the crowd.

A delicate-looking young woman whispered, “Qin Yue, are you alright?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

The people around him were silent, their faces numb, as if their very souls had been diminished.

Once everyone was gathered, one of the guards spoke: “You Convicted are in luck! We’ve just received word from the Sect—the Ice Lotus Grading Contest is being reinstated!”

A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd, momentarily awakening their deadened expressions.

“Silence!” Xu Liang barked. “Have you forgotten my instructions?”

The crowd fell silent at once.

The guard glanced at Xu Liang, then continued, “The contest will proceed as before, with group and individual categories. Groups will compete for the highest yield and best quality; the winning group will be rewarded! Individually, whoever produces the finest Ice Lotus will win the greatest prize! In the past, only the top three were rewarded, but this time, it’s the top five!”

“The rewards are generous: oil, salt, spices, rice, millet, and the finest cloth!”

At these words, the crowd could no longer contain themselves, cheering with excitement. The guards made no effort to stop them; one even glanced at the still-silent Qin Yue, frowning slightly.

“Why aren’t you smiling? Are you not pleased?”

Xu Liang quickly stepped forward, eager for credit: “This one was slacking off, so I gave him a whipping.”

The leader nodded approvingly at Xu Liang. “Well done.”

He then fixed Qin Yue with an icy stare. “If you do it again, you’ll be sent to the Ice Prison.”

At these words, the crowd fell silent, fear surfacing in their eyes—even Xu Liang’s expression went rigid.

The Ice Abyss was not cold, but the Ice Prison could kill a man with its chill.

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In less than half an hour, one could suffer serious frostbite. According to the guards, the Ice Prison’s temperature rivaled the thousand-mile frozen tundra above. It was not only a punishment but a threat—a deterrent. Everyone who had been locked inside bore a deep fear of it.

Group leader Dong Zhuang hurried forward, smiling obsequiously. “Please, sirs, don’t be angry. He’s the best Ice Lotus grower in our group. Today was special—he fainted in the fields. We’ll cover his work, it won’t slow us down. I guarantee he won’t make the same mistake again.”

“It had better be so. All of you, be careful not to push your luck!”

With cold indifference, the guards turned and left.

Xu Liang, bringing up the rear, glared at Qin Yue. “You hear that? Next time, you’re dead!” With that, he hurried after the others, whispering something to them.

Fragments of their conversation drifted back.

“Just do what you’re supposed to…”

“Alright, alright, what’s yours will be yours…”

“Just mind your own…”

…

When they were gone, Dong Zhuang clapped Qin Yue on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother, we’re with you!”

Qin Yue withdrew his gaze, shaking his head lightly. “I’m fine. It’s not like I’ve never been beaten before.”

That was true—killings were rare these days, but beatings and scoldings were commonplace. Most of the Convicted in the Ice Abyss had endured such things.

The atmosphere soon brightened as everyone began discussing the contest excitedly.

“We haven’t had a grading contest in years. I thought it was gone for good, but it’s back!”

“And with two extra spots—fantastic!”

“Even fifth place gets a prize. If luck’s on our side and someone takes first…”

“No hope for individuals, those old-timers are too skilled. But as a group, we might make the top five! I checked the other teams’ fields—the quality of our Ice Lotus is quite good this season. We have a chance!”

“Let’s all work hard for a good result.”

Laughter filled the air. Someone glanced at Qin Yue. “Qin Five, we’re counting on you this time!”

“Take care of yourself, we’re a team, we all need you!”

“Qin Yue is so meticulous—if he’s with us, we’ll do well for sure!”

These were the friends he had grown up with, comforting him in their own way.

Qin Yue’s lips twitched, moved yet filled with sorrow.

“Qin Yue” himself didn’t understand the value of Ice Lotus, but Qin Yue could sense it. The Zhaoyang Sect dispatched disciples to this lightless place, just to guard it. After each harvest, even the stray leaves and uncollected roots left in the fields were treated as treasures by the people, gathered up for their own use.

It wasn’t just good for healing; a few bowls of water boiled with Ice Lotus roots could invigorate even someone as frail as he was.

And yet, with nothing more than some oil, grain, and spices, the “slaves” could be roused to feverish enthusiasm.

So it was with childbearing—those who had many children were rewarded, those who refused or had too few were punished…

But the people of the Ice Abyss had lived this way for generations; they were used to it. Only someone like him—a “newcomer” who had tasted true freedom and harbored a rebellious soul—could see how absurd it all was.

Ye Yu was a delicate beauty, her black hair coiled atop her head, her skin so pale as to be almost translucent, the blue veins beneath faintly visible.

Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Qin Yue with concern. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“A little dizzy. I’ll be fine after some sleep,” he replied.

“Then go rest. I’ll finish your work for you today. Also…I’ve saved some roots, I’ll bring them by later to help you recover.” Ye Yu blushed, her fair cheeks tinged with pink.

The people of the Ice Abyss had excellent night vision; seeing her expression, Qin Yue shook his head softly.

“Thank you, but really, I’m fine. Don’t waste them—save them for when they’re truly needed.”

Those roots could be lifesaving in desperate times.

“Oh my, Ye Yu, you’re already worrying over your man and you aren’t even married yet?” someone teased.

Ye Yu shot the speaker a glare. “Less talking, more working. No one’s leaving until we’re done!”

“As if!”

“Qin Yue’s got you to look after him, that’s enough.”

Though they joked, no one left. Mutual help was ingrained in the people of the Ice Abyss—especially among childhood friends. No one would let him suffer alone.

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Dong Zhuang said, “Go, get some rest. We’re aiming for a prize this time—when we win, I’ll treat you all to a feast!”

The crowd cheered.

Qin Yue clasped his hands to everyone in thanks. “Thank you, all of you.”

“No need for thanks!”

“It’s nothing.”

“Only by staying healthy can you have more children…”

“We’re waiting for your wedding with Ye Yu!”

Qin Yue: “…”

He glanced at Ye Yu, whose cheeks had turned crimson, and set off for his “home,” guided by memory.

…

The Ice Abyss contained forests, lakes, and underground rivers, home to small animals, wild greens, and various fungi—a self-contained ecosystem.

Only the guards lived in wooden houses. The people of the Ice Abyss dwelled in mud-brick homes. Qin Yue’s family lived in a four-room house—originally three, with a fourth added as the family grew.

He was the fifth child, with two older brothers and two older sisters, and a younger sister, “Little Six.” Most people here died young. His mother passed away soon after Little Six was born, refusing to eat the oily flatbread baked for her on her deathbed, saying the dying should not waste food.

His father died a few years later from overwork, likewise refusing to eat the “lavish” farewell meal. Such stories were commonplace in the Ice Abyss.

Now, the eldest brother and second sister had married and moved out, leaving four siblings, each with their own space.

When he arrived home, his fourth sister, Qin Xin, was cooking. She was surprised to see him back so early.

“Done with work already today?”

Qin Yue shook his head, “I fainted in the field. Ye Yu and Dong Zhuang said to rest at home.”

He didn’t mention the whipping, not wanting to worry his family.

Qin Xin’s face filled with concern. “Go get some sleep. I’ll call you when food’s ready.”

He nodded, went to his room, took off his coarse clothes, and touched the welt on his back—it stung sharply. In the dark, his fingertips came away stained with blood.

He lay on his side on the kang, still overwhelmed by the unreality of it all.

He used to think work was hard, life dull, the future hopeless. Now he missed those days dearly.

Here, there truly was no hope.

He worried about his parents—how would they cope with the news of his “death”? Thankfully, his eldest brother was doing well, working as a civil servant back home, about to be promoted. He was a dutiful son and would take good care of their parents.

In the past, he had dreaded his brother’s lectures every time he went home. Now, he missed him terribly.

A wave of sorrow washed over him. Why did this happen? He’d never done anything truly wrong…

His back throbbed, his mind was a mess, and in this haze, Qin Yue drifted into sleep, still wishing as he slipped into unconsciousness: If only this were all just a bizarre dream.

But as he slept, a dazzling light suddenly shone from his brow.

Half asleep, half awake, he saw a giant “bronze wheel” appear in the chaos of his consciousness, radiating an ancient and desolate aura.

Looking closely, he saw intricate patterns engraved on the wheel. Its design resembled a clock, except where the numbers should be were twelve lifelike zodiac animal heads, beautifully rendered.

At the top, in the twelve o’clock position, the rat head was lit, a soft glow flowing along the patterns. The other eleven were shrouded in dim gray.

Above the wheel were four ancient oracle bone characters. As Qin Yue struggled to read them, a thought surfaced in his mind—

—Cycle of Fate Life-Chart.

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