Sitting cross-legged in front of the girl's mummy, Liu Xing felt a strange sensation, as if the frog's death had somehow offended her spirit. He sighed, acknowledging the futility of such thoughts. The girl had been dead for centuries, and the frog and his army were gone.

Liu Xing shifted his gaze to the necklace adorning the mummy. It was a delicate piece, catching the faint light and reflecting a soft gleam. Engraved upon it were two wings, and a suspicion formed in Liu Xing's mind that this was the Red Wings of Stability.

Hesitation flickered within him. This room was a tomb, after all. Taking the necklace would be an act of desecration. Yet he couldn't deny the irresistible pull of the artifact. Determination hardened his heart and he decided to claim it. Still, a sense of respect remained, urging him to pause for a moment before proceeding.

He bowed his head, creating a brief silence as a gesture of respect. Then Liu Xing reached out to touch the necklace. The moment his fingers brushed the cool metal, the world dissolved into blinding white. It was as if he had been pulled into his own consciousness. But instead of the familiar ball of lightning bound by a silver chain, he witnessed a different scene: a girl and a frog, perched on a lotus flower, singing.

"A memory," Liu Xing murmured to himself.

He had heard stories of objects imbued with memories, but this was his first encounter with such a phenomenon. Normally, memories were used as a means to teach techniques, and were usually stored in jade slips. However, it seemed that memories could also be stored in a necklace. He sat cross-legged, absorbing the melody emanating from the girl and the frog. Happiness radiated from them as if they were the embodiment of joy itself.

Abruptly, a figure materialized beside him. Transparent, yet distinct, he could discern her delicate features. A cute face, a small nose, and an aura of gentle charm. She smiled, seemingly enjoying the song, but Liu Xing perceived a deep undercurrent of sadness in her eyes.

She turned towards Liu Xing, and when their eyes met, she pursed her lips. Finally, she offered a small nod, and then both she and the white world dissolved into nothingness.

Blinking several times, he returned to the tomb and noticed that the necklace he had touched was no longer on the mummy. A moment later, he felt its weight against his neck and realized that the necklace was already around his neck, as if the girl had helped him put it on.

The necklace radiated warmth, like a coin held near a fire.. He touched it, fingers tracing its contours, and pondered the events that had just unfolded. The image of the girl and frog singing was clearly a memory, but the transparent girl who had appeared beside him was something else entirely.

"A ghost?" he muttered.

Liu Xing knew of demonic cultivators who exploited ghosts for their cultivation, but he had never imagined encountering one himself.

As Liu Xing pondered the implications of this encounter, a sharp crack echoed through the room. The protective bubble that had maintained the comfortable, dry environment for perhaps centuries suddenly vanished. The water rushed in a sudden destructive flood, carrying away paintings and delicate jewelry. Instinctively, Liu Xing pulled the mummy into his arms and snatched a painting depicting the girl and her frog. He might not fully understand what had just happened, but he understood one thing. The girl had given him the necklace. To repay her generosity, he would make sure that her body received a proper burial.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

When he reached the shore of the lake, he looked back at the water. A small ripple briefly marked the surface. Turning his attention to the mummy in his arms, he knew he had to find a suitable resting place. Nearby, a tree with leaves of a vibrant, bright green offered welcome shade.

He carried the mummy to the tree, laid her gently against the trunk, placed the painting on her lap, and began to dig. As he worked, he considered the story of the girl and the frog. He lacked the full narrative, but he deduced that she had been confined within that bubble, possibly for her entire life. Her only companion seemed to have been the frog.

He recalled the transparent girl's appearance before the memory dissolved. She pursed her lips, yet also nodded. This gesture led Liu Xing to believe she hadn't been pleased about the frog's death, but she had accepted it.

After digging a deep hole, Liu Xing set about making a rudimentary coffin for the mummy. It was a clumsy attempt; carpentry was not his forte. But with his lightning blade, he managed to create a serviceable box. After half a day's work, the mummy rested in a makeshift coffin. Liu Xing lowered it into the grave, filled the hole, and placed an unmarked stone on top of the mound. Finally, he leaned the painting of the girl and the frog against the simple tombstone.

He nodded, this was the best he could offer and he hoped it would be enough. Liu Xing paid his respects to the deceased and wished her well in her next life.

Having finished his silent prayer, Liu Xing looked up. The sky had changed, glowing with the orange and red hues of the setting sun. He could go on to retrieve the next treasure, the Diamond Pills, but as he leaned against the shady tree, a gentle breeze rustling his hair, exhaustion washed over him.

He needed to rest. And most importantly, he needed to test the necklace. He strongly suspected that it was the Red Wings of Stability, but he needed to confirm it to be sure.

Liu Xing closed his eyes and drifted off. He vaguely wondered when he had last slept before unconsciousness claimed him. A soft snore joined the sounds of the breeze and rustling leaves. And if he listened closely, he might have heard a faint melody, like a girl singing, accompanied by the content croaking of a frog.

***

Liu Xing awoke to find the moon high in the sky, its silvery light illuminating the tranquil lake. He stretched, his body and mind refreshed with his qi fully replenished. He felt capable of retrieving the Diamond Pills that very night, but first the necklace demanded his attention. He glanced at the simple tomb, the painting still leaning against the stone. Liu Xing bowed slightly to offer his respects once more.

Turning away from the tomb, Liu Xing began to walk. He wanted to test the necklace's abilities, but doing so near the girl's resting place felt disrespectful. After walking for a while, a subtle change in the air alerted him. It was as if he had crossed an invisible barrier. Space and wind seemed to ripple around him, and he turned to see, instead of the moonlit lake, a small, shallow pond with colorful fish darting in its waters. He took a step toward the pond, expecting to return to the lake space. But there was no ripple, no transition. He simply approached the pond.

"Looks like I have to retrace my steps to get inside," he muttered.

The entry condition, he realized, was tied to leaving the inverted triangle. Returning might be possible if he retraced his path, but the triangle was gone.

A sense of finality washed over him. The lake and the tomb were probably inaccessible now, which meant that he was probably the only one who could ever visit the girl's tomb again. As he thought about it, he wondered who this girl had been. Did she have a family? A lover? Would anyone who had cared for her ever discover the simple grave he had made? The questions remained unanswered as he watched the pond.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.