The Twelfth Floor

(This story will be quite long. I recommend letting it build up, then letting it build up some more!)

Key point: [Twelve towers, twelve stories, twelve kinds of love.]

If you mastered the art of returning to life at the cost of everything, you could share the world's sorrow and rejoice through the ages.

Who would you remember?

The First Tower [Robes]

On the snow-covered Cangque Mountain lived a white-haired old woman. No one knew her history or her age. Time had blurred her memories, yet her fingers still turned in an unconscious rhythm.

Feng Chu recognized it: the Ten Directions Gama Seal, one of the hand seals used in the art of returning to life.

"This is the final level... You can't practice it anymore."

The old woman didn't understand what she meant. She only murmured, "I want to see him."

"What good would it do? He's already been reduced to dust."

At that, the old woman froze for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Then I'll become dust, too."

Though all the world may lie before me, I will keep stumbling onward, and regret nothing until I die.

(The first story is based on the Ten Disciples of Confucius. Compared with the others, it's more of an ensemble story than a romance.)

The Second Tower [Blue Cup]

He said that his people would protect her and keep her safe and sound, just as he had, so she would sleep peacefully and never feel alone, even when he wasn't there.

At long last, she tried to use the blue cup to summon his soul back. But all she found was a handful of yellow sand, empty and futile.

When she died, the ever-burning lamp shone for seventy-two nights. Her soul lingered near it, quietly watching the people who came to replenish the oil.

They hoped she would find her way to paradise and live forever in another world.

She had received their good wishes. But someone like her had only one place she could go.

She had never known regret. Her greatest sorrow was that she could never smile for him again.

(The second story has no source material yet. It's set in a fictional world.)

The Third Tower [Sea Kingdom]

An isolated island that had not won a war in a hundred years.

Yet its people had a courage beyond compare.

"Why must we set out to fight, to wage war, to die?"

"For freedom and love."

"No, for freedom... and you."

As the masts slowly came into view, the women watching from shore could forget the sun overhead.

The men aboard the ships could not see the vast coastline. What they saw was home, close enough to touch.

There were blooming tulips and moth orchids, fragrances they had searched for in vain in their long dreams.

And there was freedom, and you.

(The third story has a Western setting, in a fictional world.)

The Fourth Tower [Spring Longing]

Ye Tang met Zheng Mang at her most wretched.

Then she chose this man who lived by banditry.

Selfish and practical.

Their meeting was not a happy one, and they were not of one heart as they stayed together.

But when the flowers had faded across the hills, only the begonia remained.

A common man had long yearned for spring.

The one I love has never been some world-saving hero.

(The fourth story is about a bandit and his stronghold bride, set in a fictional world.)

The Fifth Tower [Dragon's Kiss]

I accidentally married a dragon.

I moved into his enormous underwater mansion.

The house was so huge, with so many rooms.

So why was there only one bed???

A human girl's social media post:

Yes. The rumors about me lately are all true.

I married a dragon.

Because when he was still a dragon, he kissed my forehead (don't ask me what kind of bizarre move that was, um... I have no idea either).

After transforming into human form, he's 1.9 meters tall, with a face so handsome it makes me want to cry.

But he's a little shy and says he hasn't practiced for long enough, so he still doesn't look that good.

I hurried to reassure him: This is good enough, really (yes, I'm that shallow).

Our home is underwater, and he told me not to be afraid.

Then I saw a ridiculously huge house with so many floors I lost count.

Later, I started to feel cooped up underwater, so I asked him if we could build our next home half above water and half below.

He said yes.

There are more details, but they're so swoon-worthy.

I need a moment.

Comments: ???

(The fifth story is a warm and funny modern romance.)

1. For now, I've only posted the blurbs for the first five stories.

2. The author types slowly, so my little angels should let the chapters build up first~

3. Thanks to the wonderful Labada from Juan'er Cover Studio for making the cover~ Mwah~

Theme: Carry courage and love in your heart as you search for yourself amid confusion