Beiming Kingdom!


    A torrential downpour, thunder crashing, and lightning flashing in every direction.


    liam walked through the rain, wearing his flip-flops and holding a large black umbrella.


    This damn weather!


    Invited by the village beauty from the neighboring town, liam was heading to her house for a visit. Despite the dreary weather, he complained endlessly but couldn''t help feeling a flicker of excitement deep down.


    Suddenly, a deafening crack of thunder split the sky, and a fiery dragon flashed across the clouds, vanishing into thin air in an instant.


    Good heavens, that lightning was terrifying! If a woman were here, she’d probably be scared out of her wits. Thankfully, I’m a man, a brave man.


    Should I cancel? The thought of the village beauty''s delicate face and graceful figure filled him with regret.


    As he passed the crooked old locust tree at the village''s entrance, an even louder crack of thunder erupted beside him.


    liam smelled something burning and instinctively reached up to touch his hair. He turned around, his gaze falling on the twisted old tree.


    No wonder the sound was so loud. The old locust tree had been struck by lightning, and smoke was rising from it—dangerous! Luckily, it hadn’t hit him.


    Moments later, a black hole appeared in the center of the tree, and a powerful suction force pulled at him. liam struggled, but in the end, he was sucked into the tree''s hollow.


    The black hole on the tree’s surface vanished in an instant, as though it had never been there. All that remained was liam’s black umbrella, now blown about by the fierce wind.


    liam found himself in total darkness. He couldn’t see a thing.


    Was this the end? Had the tree transformed into some kind of demon that devours people?


    Sighing, liam thought to himself: I should have known better. I shouldn’t have passed under a big tree during a thunderstorm.


    And I definitely shouldn’t have let the village beauty’s allure get the best of me. Now look at the mess I’ve gotten myself into.


    “Goodbye, beautiful world. I will miss you.”


    A long while passed before liam moved his limbs, feeling that his consciousness was still intact.


    Aside from his blindness, he felt no discomfort. Could he still be alive?


    Reaching out, he groped around, but found nothing. The space around him felt vast and hollow. What kind of strange place was this?


    He remembered the old locust tree by the village entrance was barely as wide as a small washbasin. How could there be such a large space inside?


    This was bizarre. What exactly was going on with this old tree?


    liam recalled hearing his parents talk about the old locust tree when he was young.


    No one in the village knew how old the tree was, but there was an old warning passed down: stay far away from that tree.


    Now, he was living proof of what happens when you ignore the elders’ advice.


    Liam’s mind raced. He had never heard of a tree that could suck people into its trunk. Could it be due to the lightning?


    He groped around for a moment, raised his arm, and tentatively stepped forward like a zombie. Suddenly, the view in front of him cleared up.


    The sun was shining brightly here, with no trace of the torrential rain.


    Beneath his feet was a broad street paved with ancient stone slabs. The street was filled with people, all dressed in somewhat strange attire, resembling ancient Hanfu.


    Could this be an illusion? Liam pinched his arm. It hurt, really hurt, proving that everything he saw was real.


    Had he crossed over? Had he traveled to a place resembling ancient times?


    In the past, Liam had often read novels about time travel, but he never expected he would experience it himself. It was truly bizarre.


    By the way, the sky here was incredibly clean and bright, far more beautiful than the heavily polluted skies of the modern world.


    Liam looked across the street and saw two broken temples, half of their walls collapsed, with a pile of rubble scattered on the ground.


    A group of ragged beggars sat in front of the broken temples, fighting fiercely over a half-piece of black steamed bread, almost to the point of life and death.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Liam lowered his head and realized that his clothes were in tatters, even worse than the beggars on the opposite side.


    No, he had to go back, the village beauty was still waiting for him.


    Besides, there was a stash of private savings hidden behind the walls at home. It would be a waste not to spend it.


    Liam turned around and saw the familiar crooked old locust tree standing in front of him, identical to the one at the entrance of his village.


    Yes, it was this old locust tree. Liam reached out toward it, but his hand couldn''t pass through.


    He had to go back. One must keep their promises. He had promised the village beauty a date and vowed to cherish her. As a man, he could never break his word.


    Liam took two steps back and rammed into the tree trunk. His forehead hurt terribly, yet he was still stuck in this strange world.


    Was his strength not enough?


    Liam took a few more steps back, planning to use the momentum from running to charge into the tree. Maybe that would bring him back to his original world.


    He struck a cool pose, about to run desperately, when his arm was grabbed by a plump old man.


    “Young man, what’s bothering you? Are you trying to commit suicide? I can help.”


    What? He wasn’t trying to commit suicide. Who was this busybody?


    Liam turned around and saw an old man blocking his way.


    The old man was full of energy, dressed like a beggar, wearing patched dark red clothes. His face was dirty, but he had a round face that gave him a prosperous look.


    Upon closer inspection, the patches on the beggar clothes were numerous, colorful, and exaggerated, as if they had been deliberately sewn on. It didn’t look like a beggar at all.


    This old man seemed strange. He must be pretending to be a beggar, but for what purpose?


    “Old man, why are you pretending to be a beggar?”


    “Young man, you’re sharp. You can tell I’m pretending.”


    Wasn’t that obvious? The beggars at the temple gate had fought fiercely for a half-piece of black steamed bread, but how could this man eat so round and well-fed?


    However, the old man had managed to deter Liam from ramming the tree.


    His life was more important. Ramming the tree was too dangerous; he could try throwing a stone first.


    Liam picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at the crooked old locust tree. There was a dull thud, but the stone didn’t enter the tree. It just fell to the ground.


    Liam was infuriated. He rushed to the tree and kicked it, cursing, “Damn tree, let me go back! I have a date with the village beauty!”


    After tiring himself out, he plopped down under the old locust tree. It seemed he couldn’t go back for now.


    Here, there was no money, no car, no house—how would he survive?


    Liam shouted, “System, system! Speak up!”


    No one answered. Other people who traveled through time always had a system. Why hadn’t the heavens given him one? This was so unfair!


    Liam turned to look at the old man who had tried to stop him earlier and got an idea.


    Old people usually knew a lot. He could ask this old man about this strange world.


    “Excuse me, old man, where am I?”


    “Young man, you’re in Wuyin City of the Zhongyue Kingdom, very close to the Kingdom of Women.”


    So, this place was called Wuyin City, and he had crossed over to a unique place?


    Wait, the Kingdom of Women? Was it the one from Journey to the West?


    That meant the Great Sage, Sun Wukong, should be here!


    The Great Sage was extremely powerful and had been Liam’s idol since childhood.


    “Old man, what’s the situation with the Great Sage now?”


    The old man responded indifferently, “The Great Sage? He’s always causing trouble. He’s been suppressed under the Five Finger Mountain again by Buddha.”


    The old man spoke as though it was nothing important.


    Liam felt conflicted. This world actually had the Great Sage. It was fascinating! Maybe if he stayed here, he’d get the chance to meet his idol!


    But the village beauty was still waiting for him to fulfill his promise.


    He wanted to explore this strange world, but he also wanted to go back and date the beauty. What a dilemma!


    Liam leaned weakly against the old locust tree, continuing to observe this strange place.


    Next to the broken temple was an elegant two-story building with the words "Xunhuan Lou" written on the front.


    From upstairs came the sound of charming laughter. Several beautiful girls in red and green leaned on the railing, laughing, just like the ancient beauties on TV.


    Not bad, the girls’ smiles were lovely and pleasing to the eye, no worse than the village beauty from the neighboring village.


    As they fanned themselves gracefully with their delicate silk fans, they waved their colorful handkerchiefs toward the pedestrians on the street. The handkerchiefs came in various shades—pink, yellow, red—fluttering in the wind, instantly drawing attention. Many men stopped in their tracks to take a closer look.


    "Sir, come on up and have some fun!"


    "Sir, come listen to a tune!"


    A wave of alluring fragrances drifted through the air. Liam felt as if the women were beckoning him, their sultry gazes filled with an irresistible charm.


    The girls here are so passionate. I like it!


    It seems that life in this world is quite exciting. As the saying goes, since I’m here, I might as well settle in.


    For now, returning is out of the question. I might as well take in the sights of this world—consider it a vacation back in ancient times!


    "Freshly made dough figurines for sale!"


    "Sweet and tangy candied hawthorns!"


    "Hot sesame flatbreads, Wu Dalang’s famous flatbreads!"


    Wu Dalang’s flatbreads? Hopefully, there’s no Pan Jinlian or Ximen Qing involved.


    Hearing the vendors’ calls, Liam suddenly realized how unbearably hungry he was.


    Hmm… Food is the most important thing for the people. I need to fill my stomach before I can explore this Journey to the West world.


    He stepped onto the bustling street, observing the townsfolk as they shopped. He quickly noticed that the currency in use consisted of copper coins and silver taels, just like in ancient times.


    So hungry!


    When he got sucked into this world, his umbrella, phone, and everything else had vanished without a trace. Now, he had nothing but the tattered clothes on his back.


    What should I do without money? Steal? No way—I’m an upstanding citizen!


    The worst thing I’ve ever done was steal crops from virtual farms in online games… and I had the time of my life doing it.


    As he wandered forward, Liam scanned his surroundings, hoping to spot a wealthy yet gullible person who might lend him some silver.


    Before long, he found his target.


    A young nobleman in luxurious white robes stood before a stall, admiring a calligraphy scroll. Hanging from his waist was an exquisite jade pendant, and beside it, a blue silk pouch.


    Liam guessed that the pouch probably contained silver.


    But there was something odd about this nobleman’s attire.


    He wore an elegant, scholarly white robe, and his hair was adorned with a flawless white jade hairpin—clearly an item of great value.


    The folding fan in his hand also exuded an air of refinement, with a pendant made of top-quality glass-like jade, the most expensive kind.


    However, what stood out the most was the thick gold choker around his neck. It was so gaudy that it completely ruined his otherwise refined and scholarly look, making him seem more like a nouveau riche than an aristocrat.


    One thing was certain—this white-robed nobleman was wealthy.


    But was he foolish enough to lend money to a complete stranger? That remained to be seen.