Chapter 007: Hypnosis, Token

"Yes!" Zhao Jun nodded emphatically.

The jade pendant Zhao Feng produced was strung on a red cord. He loosened his palm, letting the pendant dangle straight down.

Placing the pendant before Zhao Jun, Zhao Feng said, "Dad, look at this jade pendant!"

Zhao Jun scratched his head. "Xiaofeng, what are you getting at?"

Beside him, Chen Lan gave Zhao Jun a slap on the back. "If your son tells you to do something, just do it!"

"Oh, oh!"

At this moment, everyone present was a bit puzzled.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, "I understand, it's hypnosis!"

"Hypnosis?!"

The crowd was startled, craning their necks to see who had spoken.

It was Chen Ying.

"Miss, what is hypnosis?" asked an older woman, a villager from the small river village, notorious for her gossip—a classic case of long hair and short insight.

Chen Ying looked at the woman. "Auntie, what should I call you?"

The middle-aged woman chuckled, "Just call me Aunt Wang!"

Chen Ying nodded, "Alright, Aunt Wang."

Aunt Wang beamed instantly.

With an easy familiarity, she sidled up to Chen Ying, grabbing her hand. "What a pretty girl! Do you have a boyfriend?"

"I—I…" Chen Ying's cheeks flushed red.

She shook her head shyly, "N-no…"

As she spoke, she stole a glance at Zhao Feng. But Zhao Feng stood there, his gaze fixed on Liu Dahua.

Chen Ying didn't know why, but she felt an ineffable aura emanating from Zhao Feng—a presence that seemed almost otherworldly.

Yet, a sense of loss welled up inside her. After Zhao Feng had stepped forward earlier, he had not looked at her again.

"Sigh."

Chen Ying let out a soft sigh, disappointment clouding her heart.

Just then, Zhao Feng slowly turned, his gaze landing on Chen Ying. As he looked at her, a thrill surged through her heart.

Zhao Feng spoke in a measured tone, "That's right, Miss Chen is correct. It is indeed hypnosis."

A stir rippled through the crowd.

The villagers erupted in chatter.

"Hypnosis? I've only ever seen that on TV!"

"That's right, me too—only on television!"

"Well, at least you all have seen it. I've never even heard of it!"

"Exactly!"

"Hmph!" Liu Dahua scoffed, "Don't listen to his nonsense!"

Zhao Xiao piped up loudly, "That's right, all talk!"

Zhao Feng paid no heed to the chaotic voices around him. He turned calmly to Zhao Jun. "Dad, do you trust me?"

Zhao Jun nodded, "Son, I trust you!"

Zhao Feng nodded back, "Good! Dad, let's begin!"

Zhao Jun nodded.

"Now, keep your eyes on this jade pendant!"

"Alright!"

Zhao Jun fixed his gaze unblinkingly on the pendant as Zhao Feng began to sway the red cord.

"Now, close your eyes and imagine a ball of energy in your lower abdomen."

Zhao Jun slowly closed his eyes and began to picture a gathering of energy at his core.

Zhao Feng's voice guided him, "Now, imagine this energy rising, slowly reaching your chest."

"Alright."

Zhao Jun visualized the energy gradually ascending to his chest.

"Now, the energy rises to your mind!"

"Alright…"

By now, Zhao Jun's consciousness was growing hazy, as if he were about to fall asleep—yet he remained standing upright.

"You find everything before you shrouded in darkness, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Now, ahead of you is a tunnel in the mountains. Walk forward."

"Alright."

In his mind, Zhao Jun saw nothing but blackness; he couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. All he could sense was a long, endless passage.

Panic crept in. "Where am I? Xiaofeng? Xiaofeng?"

A voice echoed from the void, a sound like the creator himself: "Have you noticed? Not far ahead, there's a ring of light."

As the voice spoke, a white circle of light appeared before Zhao Jun.

The godlike voice spoke again, "Walk forward, step into the ring of light."

Feeling the rough stone walls, Zhao Jun moved forward, step by step, toward the glowing circle.

Five meters. Three meters. One meter…

He drew ever closer.

Standing just before the circle, anxiety fluttered in his chest.

"Now—step into the light!"

Startled, Zhao Jun nonetheless complied.

As his foot crossed the threshold, a dazzling brilliance flared, obscuring everything around him.

Slowly, Zhao Jun opened his eyes and was stunned.

He found himself in a dimly lit room, illuminated by a kerosene lamp. The flame flickered with the breeze.

Before him were two figures, and he himself lay on the bed.

Zhao Jun glanced at his own arms and was shocked—they were short and small, just like a baby's.

"Me? I've gone back to my childhood?"

Astonishment washed over him.

He exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the fear in his heart.

Zhao Jun looked at the two people by the heated brick bed—his parents, Zhao Han and Wang Pei, who were also Zhao Feng's grandparents.

Wang Pei spoke in a low voice, "Old Zhao, we don't have the money to send our eldest daughter to school anymore."

Zhao Han took a drag from his pipe. "I'll find a way."

Wang Pei shook her head. "Old Zhao, why don't we sell the incense burner?"

Bang! Zhao Han slammed the table. "Nonsense!"

Wang Pei jumped in fright.

Zhao Han shook his head. "That's an ancestral heirloom—it cannot be sold!"

Wang Pei frowned. "But why?"

"I'll tell you later."

Curiosity flickered in Wang Pei's eyes. "What is it, exactly? I'm a bit curious."

Zhao Han slapped the table again. "Enough questions!"

Wang Pei grew angry. "We've been together for over ten years, and now we have three children! Our eldest is old enough to work!"

Zhao Han sighed and relented. "Alright then."

Wang Pei brightened immediately.

Zhao Han beckoned her closer.

As she leaned in, Zhao Han whispered, "My father told me—it's a token."

"A token?"

"That's right."

"What kind of token?" Wang Pei asked.

"Shh!" Zhao Han hurriedly covered her mouth, "Lower your voice!"

Wang Pei nodded, "Alright, I understand."

Zhao Han breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Pei leaned in, asking softly, "So what kind of token is it?"

Zhao Han shook his head. "That's all I know."

The scene faded as the two turned in for the night.

At that, the vision ended. Zhao Jun slowly opened his eyes, confusion and puzzlement clouding his face.

"Dad? Dad?"

"Ah? Ah…" Zhao Jun opened his eyes to see Zhao Feng looking at him.

He blinked. "Xiaofeng? What's wrong?"

Zhao Feng shook his head. "Nothing. Dad, what did you see?"

Zhao Jun glanced around, then motioned for Zhao Feng to come closer. As Zhao Feng approached, Zhao Jun leaned in and whispered in his ear, "The incense burner is a token…"

"A token?"

"Yes."