The Whole Village Took a Tree as Their Godmother, Only to Discover a Thousand-Year Pact

(The real-life inspiration for this ancient camphor tree truly exists.)

Since childhood, Zhao Xun had regarded the ancient camphor tree at the entrance to his village as family.

As his eighteenth birthday drew near, he received a bizarre message consisting of just three words: Don't come back.

But a clue about his father, who had been missing for years, suddenly surfaced, and the red mark on his wrist was creeping toward his heart day by day.

He had no choice but to return to Zhao Family Village.

After returning, he discovered that important figures from the city regularly visited the ancient camphor tree. Villagers left admission letters, medals for military merit, and red cords for their children beneath it. Deep inside the ancestral hall, an ancient passageway leading underground was hidden as well.

As his investigation went deeper, Zhao Xun discovered that the secret of the ancient camphor tree had endured for more than two thousand years, and that many people throughout history had been connected to it. His parents' divorce, his grandfather's death, and his father's disappearance all pointed to the ancient camphor tree that shaded half the village.

Only when lights deep underground lit up for him and his name appeared on the ancient stone wall did he understand: he was the one they had been waiting for all along.

And who had sent the message saying, "Don't come back"?