Three thousand years have passed.
During this time, Qingming experienced far too much.
He witnessed the rise of ancient Egypt and watched them build the pyramids. He saw Chan Dan in the underground palace of Sanxingdui—the one chosen by the Star Mark, just like him. He trekked through Maya jungles to see their prophetic stone tablets. He visited every mountain recorded in Shan Hai Jing and encountered the legendary beasts described within.
But he is still just one person.
Later, he met Qianlan.
It was a snowy night when he saw a girl struggling amidst the ruins. She was covered in wounds, yet her eyes burned with stubborn determination. In that moment, he remembered someone from the other side—the one whose eyes held the same light.
He took her on as his disciple and taught her how to wield the Star Marks. Later, he accepted Xuan Lin, Yun Qiao, Xing Yuanche... one by one, all of whom he watched grow up.
He kept his longing for the other shore deep in his heart, only bringing it out to savor silently late at night.
Once, Qian Lan asked him, "Master, have you ever had a crush on someone?"
He was silent for a long time, then said, "Yes."
"Where is she?"
Far away.
Aren't you going to find her?
He shook his head. "She's waiting for me. I'm waiting for her. One day, we'll meet again."
Qianlan didn't understand but asked no further.
Many years passed.
One night, Qingming stood atop Mount Everest gazing at the stars. Suddenly, he noticed that the distant star, which had always been dim, began to glow.
It started as a faint light, then grew brighter and brighter.
His heart skipped a beat.
"The other side..." he murmured.
The star seemed to respond, its light growing brighter.
He raised his hand to touch his brow—the vermilion dot she had placed there three thousand years ago, never faded and never seen by anyone else. It was a secret that belonged only to the two of them.
She's back.
It's really back.
In a remote corner of the world, an adventurer greedily discovered a black crystal that sealed the consciousness of his ancestor, the Nian Shi. The moment he touched it, black smoke surged into his body.
His eyes turned blood-red, and a leering grin spread across his lips.
"Three thousand years... I'm finally back in the light..." The demon lion child's voice rasped from his throat. "This time, I'll savor every moment... Those pretty little girls? They're all mine."
He licked his lips and vanished into the night.
Deep in the void, Kij's shadow-ship finally neared Earth. Its mechanical eye glowed red as a twisted longing surfaced on its half-human face.
Target planet... locked. Initiating infiltration sequence... Its voice rasped with metallic distortion. "23rd century... Volunteer 371... Experiment failed. But this time... I must succeed... to become true life..."
A black beam shot from the spaceship, heading toward Earth.
These are seeds of the new Hundred-Poison Golden Root Grass.