I took a deep breath—the air here was so fresh and clear, it chilled my lungs to the bone. I glanced at my watch, only to find it was just past one in the morning. Speaking of this watch, it’s been with me for seven or eight years now. My father bought it with his very first paycheck, so I can’t just throw it away on a whim. Even though wearing this watch has gotten me called a country bumpkin more than once.

Walking out of the station, I lit a cigarette and took a hard drag, hoping the warmth would drive away the cold. Unexpectedly, it sparked an idea in my mind.

“Driver, to Mount Tai.” I spoke in the local accent, slipped into a taxi, and lazily sprawled out on the seat, saying nothing more.

The driver, hearing my local accent, started chatting enthusiastically. I replied half-heartedly, but from snippets of our conversation, I realized that Tai’an had developed rapidly lately. Thanks to the booming economy in Jinan, Tai’an had benefited as well, basking in its glow. Plus, as a historic city, its tourism industry was thriving.

Sigh, who would have thought that in just two years, my hometown would change so much.

“By the way, why are you heading up the mountain right after getting off the train, instead of going home?” The driver, true to the straightforward Shandong character, spoke to me as if we were old friends.

I lit a cigarette for him, then another for myself. After a few puffs, I said deeply, “I’ve been away from home for two years. Naturally, I feel a bit nervous. I want to go to Jade Emperor Peak to watch the sunrise and relax a bit first.”

“Haha, interesting.” The driver cheerfully patted my shoulder and praised, “I can tell you’re a scholar, man. Not bad!”

A scholar? I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. I barely managed to get a bachelor’s degree. I thought it would secure me a place in the world, but now, bachelor’s degrees are everywhere. What’s the use? My income isn’t even as good as a taxi driver’s.

As we chatted, time flew by. Before long, we reached the foot of the mountain. The driver insisted on charging me by the meter. I couldn’t argue, so I slipped him an extra fifty yuan before leaving. Honestly, if he’d picked up an out-of-towner, he could have made much more than fifty. It’s not easy doing business in the dead of winter, in the middle of the night.

I adjusted my backpack, took a look at the towering Mount Tai, and strode up the steps.

I’ve walked the paths of Mount Tai more than ten times since I was a kid, so I know them well. Along the way, I ran into quite a few tourists, some in small groups, some in teams. I figured they all wanted to reach the summit before sunrise to watch the sun come up.

I turned down offers to walk together and instead quickened my pace, climbing alone. Out of practice, I soon found myself out of breath.

After several much-needed breaks, I finally reached Jade Emperor Peak, exhausted. I remembered that a few years ago, I only needed one break along the way.

Lying on a rock at Sunrise Peak, I used my travel bag as a pillow and started to rest. There were still at least three or four hours until sunrise, so I’d have to doze for a bit. Still, I kept the strap of my travel bag firmly across my chest—I didn’t want anyone to snatch it while I slept.

Maybe I was just too tired, or maybe I’d seen the sunrise too many times to get excited anymore. Drowsiness washed over me.

I think I fell asleep.

In a daze, I suddenly heard a shout by my ear: “It worked!”

The voice was so loud it made my ears ring. Must have been some tourist celebrating after reaching the summit.

Just as I was about to scold them, I froze. Before my eyes was a dazzling, multicolored light. What stunned me most was that, from within the light, a person slowly walked out. Looking closely, that person’s face was eerily familiar. When I snapped out of it, I suddenly realized—wasn’t that me?

No, that definitely wasn’t me. That person was wearing a dragon robe, the exact style you see on TV. But how could his face look exactly like mine?

Damn, are they filming a movie? That thought flashed through my mind.

The person saw me standing so close, was startled for a moment, then broke into a delighted grin and grabbed me, pulling me into the light.

Normally, he might not have been as strong as me. But caught off guard, I was dragged right in.

“Hurry, hurry. Take off your clothes.” Inside the light, he impatiently demanded, his hairy hands already reaching over.

What the hell! Instantly, my hair stood on end and a chill ran through me. Could it be, could it be I’ve run into one of those legendary...

Thinking of this, I clutched my collar tightly and cried out in alarm, “You, what are you trying to do?”

“Enough nonsense, I am the Emperor and I order you to undress.” He barked, a hint of authority between his brows.

But this guy called himself the Emperor. Is he crazy? What year is this? I eyed him suspiciously but said nothing. This light, and everything that had happened tonight, was just too strange.

Seeing I still wouldn’t move, he raised his eyebrows, as if about to get angry. Suddenly, for no reason, his expression softened and he smiled, saying, “Do you want to be Emperor?”