The first light of dawn painted the village in pale gold as Li Wei emerged from his home, the morning chill brushing against his skin. His heart still thrummed with the echoes of last night’s dream, her pink eyes lingering vividly in his mind. He had hoped that with the morning sun, clarity would come, but instead, the yearning only deepened. It was no longer just curiosity; it was an ache, a necessity, as if he had been waiting his entire life for this elusive presence.
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Li Wei wandered along the familiar paths, the soft crunch of leaves under his feet blending with the distant calls of birds. He traced the rivers that curved gracefully through the hills, crossed small wooden bridges, and followed narrow jungle trails where mist clung stubbornly to the trees. Everywhere he looked, he half-expected to see her—glimpses of pink in the shadows, a ripple of light that might be her hair—but always, there was nothing.
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Days turned into weeks. The villagers began to murmur again. “The boy is lost in the woods,” they said, shaking their heads. “Chasing dreams that do not exist.” But Li Wei paid them no heed. He knew, deep within, that these were not ordinary dreams. Each night, the girl came to him in his slumber, guiding him, speaking in whispers he could not hear with his ears but felt in his heart. She was real, in some world just beyond reach.
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He began keeping a journal. Each morning, he wrote down every detail he could recall: the soft sway of golden reeds, the sound of a distant stream that seemed to hum a tune meant only for him, the faint scent of cherry blossoms that always lingered in her presence. He sketched her face again and again, the pink of her eyes capturing more of his imagination than his pen could express.
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But the more he searched in the waking world, the more he realized that she existed in a space that was not entirely real—yet not entirely imaginary either. It was a place that hovered between dreams and waking life, and Li Wei felt an undeniable pull toward it. He could almost sense a path, hidden beneath the ordinary, winding through forests and rivers, waiting for him to discover it.
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One evening, as twilight settled and the sky blushed with shades of orange and violet, Li Wei ventured deeper than ever before. The jungle near the edge of his village stretched like a green sea, dense and mysterious. The sounds of insects and distant birds filled the air, and somewhere in the shadows, he felt a strange warmth—like the world itself was holding its breath.
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It was there, amidst the twisting roots of ancient trees, that he met the old man. The sage appeared without warning, as if the forest had breathed him into being. His long white beard touched his chest, and his eyes, though kind, held the weight of countless secrets. He leaned on a gnarled staff and regarded Li Wei carefully.
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“You seek her,” the sage said, his voice soft but unwavering, carrying the authority of someone who had seen far beyond the mortal realm. “I know why your heart is restless, why your dreams pull at you so insistently.”
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Li Wei nodded, words failing him. How could he explain a love that existed only in dreams, a girl whose eyes were not of this world?
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The sage continued, “The world you see with your eyes is not the only reality. There are layers, worlds that overlap and touch, and she exists in one such layer. It is fragile, hidden, and cannot endure the touch of our world. But you… you can reach her, if your heart is true, and your courage steadfast.”
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Li Wei’s chest tightened. “How?” he whispered.
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The old man smiled faintly. “Tonight, when you sleep, follow the breath of your heart. Let it guide you. When the world fades and you are unbound, you will find her. But remember—this world is delicate. Touch what belongs here lightly, and tread as though you are made of wind.”
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Li Wei’s mind raced. The danger, the unknown—yet nothing mattered. The pull of the pink-eyed girl was irresistible. He felt a strange mixture of fear and hope, an anticipation that made his pulse thunder in his ears.
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That night, as he lay down on his mat, he thought of the sage’s words. He closed his eyes and focused on his heartbeat, letting it guide him, imagining the pink glow of her eyes. The familiar warmth of dreams began to wrap around him, gentle yet insistent. The world of reality faded, replaced by a soft shimmer that beckoned him forward.
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Somewhere ahead, a path awaited him. A path that would take him beyond the limits of waking life, beyond forests, rivers, and mountains. A path to her, to the girl whose eyes had claimed his heart, and whose presence promised a love he had never known in this world.
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And as the first whispers of that otherworldly night embraced him, Li Wei felt a shiver of exhilaration. The search was no longer a question. It had begun.