TheserenemountainvilgethathadbeeSukieandHanFengling’ssanctuaryceoftranquilityandlove.Yet，despitethepeacetheyhadfound，alingeringsenseofunfinishedbusinessgSukie.Sheoftenfoundherselflostinthought，ptiureandherroleinit.Herdreamswerehauntedbyvisionsofherformerlife，themodernworldshehadleftbehind，andtheunresolvedthreadsthatstilltuggedatherheart.

Onecrispm，Sukiesatbythestreamthatranthroughthevilge，thewater’sgentleflowsoothiroubledmind.HanFenglingapproachedquietly，hispresencealwaysasourceoffort.Hesatbesideher，hishalybrushinghers.

“Whattroublesyou，Sukie?”heasked，hisvoicesoftandfilledwith.

Shesighed，turningtomeethisgaze.“I’vebeenthinkingalotaboutthelifeIleftbehind，themodernworld.TherearethingsIleftunfinished，peopleIcareabout.And...there’sapartofmethatwondersifIcouldhavedonemore，beenmore.”

HanFengling’sexpressiohoughtful.“Doyoumissit?Thatworld?”

“Insomeways，yes，”sheadmitted.“Butit’snotjustaboutmissingit.IfeellikeIhavearesponsibilitytogoback，tofinishwhatIstarted.Andmaybe，ifIdo，Imakeabetterfutureforus.”

Henodded，uandingdawninginhiseyes.“You’retalkingaboutreturningtoyourtime.”

“Yes，”Sukiesaid，hervoicefirmwithresolve.“Iogobadfacemypast，makethingsright.Andmaybe，justmaybe，Ifindawaytosecureourfuture.”

HanFengling’sgriptightenedonherhand.“Iuand.AndIwillsupportyou，nomatterwhat.Buthowwillyoureturn?”

Shelookeddownattheiriwinedhands，amixtureoffearaerminationinhereyes.“I’vebeenstudyis，theohatspeakoftimetravel.There’saritual，awaytoreversetheprocessaurntomytime.”

HanFengling’seyeswidehamixofaweand.“Itsoundsdangerous.”

“Itis，”Sukieadmitted.“Butit’sariskIhavetotake.”

WithHanFengling’sunwaveringsupport，Sukiebegantopreparefortheritual.Thevilgers，unawareofthetruenatureoftheirefforts，offeredtheirassistance，providingthenecessaryherbsandmaterials.Thenightoftheritualarrived，theairheavywithanticipationanday.

Asthemoonreacheditszenit