To Love the Gentle Moon - Lan Xichen X Reader

A New World

A/N - Quick Hi to everyone who has started to read this story 😀 Really hope you will come to love this story 💕 Drop a Like 👍!!
As you have observed I Picked on Bai Lu's face for Feng Yuemei.. because she is the queen of costume dramas for me ... The designs *swoons* All image credits go to their respective owners 🙏
Without further delay.. Here is the first chapter !!!!
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The girl sits curled up on her cozy couch in a modern apartment, her living room dimly lit by a small desk lamp. Outside, the city's endless hum continues, but within these walls, she's transported to another world-a world brought to life by *Mo Dao Zu Shi*, the latest novel from her favorite author. She had eagerly waited for the release and snagged a copy the very morning it hit the shelves. Her anticipation had paid off; she's now immersed in the poignant tale of love, loss, and redemption. Her fingers grip the edges of the pages as she reads through the night, pausing only to sniffle when Lan Wangji names the song "Wangxian." The act, so simple yet laden with meaning, moves her to the core, and her heart aches for the devotion between the characters.

As the clock strikes 2 AM, she reluctantly closes the book, leaving the smut chapters for another day. Exhaustion tugs at her, but her mind refuses to rest. Thoughts of the story she just finished swirl in her head. She ponders the tragedy of Xichen, a man betrayed by his sworn brother and his own idealism. How could he bear such pain? Why hadn't he intervened when his brother faced the discipline whips? The weight of unanswered questions lingers like a shadow. She thinks of Madam Yu, trapped in her insecurities, and of Jiang Fengmian, blind to his son Jiang Cheng's worth. Each character's struggles and flaws unravel in her mind, weaving a tapestry of humanity that refuses to fade.

Though sleep beckons, her thoughts wander through the streets of Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier. The vivid emotions of *Modao Zushi* cling to her, blending with the quiet chaos of the Beijing night. As she finally crawls into bed, she knows the story will stay with her for days, perhaps longer, its complexities haunting her in the best possible way.

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The girl groggily stirred, the soft sensation of someone prodding her pulling her from the edges of sleep. Her mind, still clouded with the remnants of her dreams, barely registered the unfamiliar sensation. She opened one eye, squinting at the blurry figure beside her. No one lived with her in her apartment. No one even knew the passcode to her door. It was early Sunday morning, so it could be the maid, though the intrusion was strange. Her maid only arrived on Sunday afternoons to tidy up and had always been quiet, never daring to disturb her rest.

"Go clean... don't wake me up," she mumbled absent-mindedly in Mandarin, barely aware of the words she spoke.

But the response that came was not the soft, practiced apology of a domestic worker. Instead, she was met with exclamations, gasps of surprise, and a voice filled with unfamiliar warmth.

"Feng guniang, please wake up."

The girl blinked in confusion, the name "Feng guniang" sending a shiver down her spine. That was... not her name. She didn't recognize the voice, but it was a female's, calling her with a gentle but firm insistence, as though this was an everyday occurrence. The surreal situation washed over her like a dream, and she chuckled to herself groggily. 'Maybe I haven't fully woken up yet. Maybe I'm still in *Modao Zushi*-I've lost track of where reality ends and fantasy begins.'

It wouldn't be too far-fetched. After all, the world of cultivation was just that: fantasy. But there were moments where she had imagined herself there, surrounded by vast mountains and hidden valleys, immersed in a life so different from her own. The rich spiritual world, where the bonds of brotherhood and love transcended human limitations. She could almost understand it-after all, she was the second daughter of a conglomerate family. Her life, though full of wealth and luxury, was sometimes as complex and intricate as the world she had just finished reading about.

But then the voice spoke again, this time more insistent, more urgent. "Feng guniang, you must wake up. We need to complete our preparations for our journey to Gusu tomorrow morning."

The mention of Gusu sent a jolt of awareness through her mind. Her heart skipped a beat. Gusu. 'That's in the story...' She opened her eyes wide, blinking as her thoughts ground to a halt. The confusion faded into disbelief as she slowly surveyed her surroundings.

This was not her apartment. Not even close.

The room she found herself in was nothing like the modern, minimalistic space she was accustomed to. The architecture was ancient, the walls adorned with intricate wooden paneling, carved with delicate designs. The windows were wide and open, with sheer light blue curtains fluttering gently in the breeze. The air carried a softness to it, filled with the faint scent of incense. Her gaze wandered, settling on a crest-one she didn't recognize-emblazoned on the fabric of the drapes.

Her heart raced. This was... *not* real. It couldn't be. She had to be dreaming. But the weight of the air, the sharp clarity of the world around her, told her otherwise. This felt too real.

Her breath hitched as she looked down at herself. Her usual sleep attire-a simple t-shirt and shorts-was gone. In its place, she found herself clad in an elaborate outer robe, its dark blue fabric rich and luxurious against her skin. The robe was adorned with crescent moon designs, intricately woven into the fabric, shimmering faintly as if touched by starlight. It was unlike anything she had ever worn, and certainly not something that would belong in her modern life.

The girl's mind spun as she took in the reality of her situation. 'How... how could this be?'

She instinctively reached for her phone, but it was nowhere to be found. The digital world, her social media, and her texts, all vanished in an instant. In their place was this strange, ancient world that hummed with the same energy she had read about in *Mo Dao Zhu Shi*. She could almost feel the pulse of cultivation in the air, though she had no idea what her role in this world could be.

Before she could process the new flood of thoughts, a soft hand touched her shoulder, rousing her from her stunned silence. The same voice from before spoke again, more urgently now.

"Feng guniang, you are still not awake? Please, we must go soon."

The girl slowly turned to look at the person beside her. Standing before her was a girl barely in her teens dressed in pale robes, her face framed by an elegant bun of dark hair. Her features were delicate, almost ethereal, with an air of familiarity that sent another wave of confusion through her.

"Who...?" The girl tried to speak, her voice hoarse from sleep. But before she could form a complete sentence, the woman's eyes widened, as though noticing something amiss.

"Feng guniang," she said softly, her voice filled with concern, "you do not remember?"

The girl's mind was a whirlwind. This girl was calling her by a name she didn't recognize, treating her as though they shared an understanding. She instinctively stood, her legs shaky beneath her. "I... don't understand," she whispered.

The girl, still watching her with kind, knowing eyes, reached out and steadied her. "You have been lost in your thoughts, Feng guniang. You fell asleep while we were discussing our preparations for your year long stay in Cloud Recesses."

Year long stay . Gusu. Cloud Recesses.

'Could it be true? Could she really be in this world now?'

She shook her head in disbelief, but the woman's gentle insistence seemed to ground her, pulling her further from the haze of confusion.

As her feet found purchase on the floor, the girl hesitated for just a moment longer. Her mind was trying to piece everything together-trying to understand how she had crossed from her modern life into the world of cultivation, into the world she had so loved in *Mo Dao Zhu Shi*. Could this truly be real?

But when she looked into the woman's eyes, there was no trace of doubt. And for the first time since waking, a strange calmness washed over her. Perhaps, just for a moment, she could accept this new reality. After all, what was life without a little adventure?
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A/N - Here again !! Did you like the chapter ?? Comment and let me know your thoughts 💭 Don't forget to Like 👍