Red light.
Lane markings.
Crosswalk.
A truck.
A child.
The screech of brakes.
Accidents always come without warning.
Staring at the out-of-control truck and the child about to be sent flying, James found his feet wouldn’t move.
He hesitated — and in that single instant, a girl in a school uniform burst past him from behind.
Every time something like this happened, James couldn’t help but think: modern education really wasn’t half bad.
It always managed to raise kids with a positive, civic-minded spirit.
Fair enough.
After all, he had only just entered society.
There were still so many good things in this world waiting for him.
There was no need to throw his life away playing the hero — that would be a terrible trade.
Just as James was quietly congratulating himself, the truck’s front tire suddenly blew out and the vehicle rolled.
Before he could react, the steel cargo container kissed him right on the cheek.
A few steps ahead of him, two children — saved by the girl’s bravery — were now out of danger.
Behind him, the rest of the crowd had scattered in fear, keeping their distance from the accident.
“What the f—” Those unfinished words were the last thing he left in this world.
James never closed his eyes, even in death.
If there was a next time, he absolutely, absolutely would not go against his own heart again.
Whether it was charging headfirst into danger or turning tail and running — hesitation, in the end, was something you could never make peace with.
— Everyone dies eventually, and their souls are ferried to the other shore.
The heavenly realm receives countless souls every day — they are washed clean of their past and present lives in the Hall of Reincarnation and sent back to the mortal world to be reborn.
But occasionally, a few exceptions are sent to the Hall of Transmigration instead.
The goddess Meng was on duty today, responsible for one eighteen-year-old girl.
She flipped through the file in her hands.
According to the records, the girl was a brave and beautiful young prodigy brimming with talent.
Meng watched the spirit vessel slowly emerge from the sea of clouds.
All she had to do today was confirm that the girl was sent through the Gate and she could clock out — head back to her little cottage, get some proper rest, watch some anime, listen to some music.
The good life of an immortal really wasn’t anything more than that.
Just as Meng was daydreaming about her happy off-hours, a man walked out from under the vessel’s canopy and stood at the prow, gazing across the cloud-sea toward her.
The person in question was James.
Today he had gotten to experience, firsthand, being sent flying by sheer bad luck and riding a celestial vessel all the way up to the Ninth Heaven.
Standing at the prow and looking around, he saw a magnificent palace rising above the sea of clouds.
Countless spirit vessels formed a long line, looping around the palace ahead and turning back, tracing a wide U-shape.
His own vessel had clearly drifted away from the main procession, heading instead toward a circular gate before the palace.
Two large characters were inscribed above it: “Gate of Worlds.” Beside the gate on the shore stood a woman in work clothes, phone pressed to her ear, her face etched with anxiety.
James stared at her and blurted out in disbelief: “Don’t tell me you still have to work even after you’re dead?” “Rest assured, sir.
Those who work in the heavenly realm hold divine appointments.
You yourself do not have the right to remain in the heavenly realm, sir.” Unexpectedly, the vessel beneath his feet answered him.
He had assumed these boats ran on fixed autopilot — he hadn’t imagined they were intelligent enough to answer his questions.
What, did the bus die and transcend to enlightenment?
Or had the heavenly realm gone high-tech and slapped an AI into the boat?
“So where will I be sent next?” James turned and looked back into the distance.
As the vessels returning to the mortal world descended, each soul aboard entered the cycle of reincarnation.
He had a feeling — what was past would never return.
“I’m sorry, sir.
That information is restricted.” The spirit vessel answered honestly.
In this exchange between one man and one boat, they gradually drew closer to the Gate of Worlds.
The goddess Meng was dumbstruck.
Where was the brilliant young girl she’d been promised?
In all these thousands of years, this was the first time she’d encountered something like this — but there was one thing she didn’t even need to think about.
She was going to have to work overtime.
She pulled out her phone and dialed.
Unforeseen incidents like this could only be handled by escalating to her superior.
She wasn’t about to take the fall for this.
After a brief and efficient exchange, Meng received a single directive: the selection of candidates wasn’t their department’s responsibility anyway.
As long as no one found out, what did it matter who got sent through?
Meng had no choice but to hang up.
She waved at the spirit vessel, guiding it toward the shore, and prepared to receive the culprit responsible for her overtime.
“Hello, Mr.
James.
Welcome to the Hall of Transmigration.
You may call me Meng.” “Hello, Meng… Goddess.” Watching the vessel turn and dock, James was running through every possible scenario in his head, hoping it wasn’t anything bad.
“I am the goddess here in charge of registering and processing transmigrations.
Mr.
James, I sincerely apologize — from this point forward, I will be guiding you through your reincarnation.
Please follow me.” After James disembarked, Meng led the way while he followed behind, taking in his surroundings as he walked.
Marble-like decorative columns stood nearby.
The only major structure was the palace ahead, with a plaque bearing three large characters: Hall of Transmigration.
Following Goddess Meng inside, the architectural style shifted abruptly — from classical antiquity to a modern aesthetic.
The interior layout was remarkably complex; after turning left and right more times than he could count, they finally arrived at a rather small office.
Classic.
Absolutely classic.
Whoever designed this terrible building must have been worried that if it were any simpler, employees would find the exit in five seconds when they wanted to quit.
Old memories caught up to James.
He thought back to the day he’d resigned from his old job — he’d spent three hours wandering a building just to return his ID badge.
A wave of bitter nostalgia washed over him.
Damn capitalists.
Once inside the room, Meng reached straight into a drawer, pulled out a document, made a few corrections, and slid it across to James.
The title read: Transmigration Personnel Registration.
“Just press your thumbprint over your name and that’s all.
The ink pad is right here.
Once you agree, you get to live another life — and you’ll keep most of your memories, of course.” At the same time, an ink pad was pushed in front of him.
James looked at the document.
Above his name was a crossed-out name — “Lara” — obviously struck through just moments ago.
“James” had been written in just as recently.
A document altered on the fly.
Suspicious, certainly — but then again, this was his first time transmigrating, and James had no idea whether this was standard procedure.
He supposed he’d just have to obediently press his thumbprint… right?
Obviously not.
James loved nothing more than telling self-important people “no.” Today, he was going to whip this workplace into shape.
“May I ask — why am I being treated differently from everyone else?
I noticed all the other vessels looped around behind the palace once and went back to the mortal world.
Why do I specifically need to transmigrate?” James had his doubts about the whole transmigration business.
If he wasn’t going to be told anything, they could’ve just sent him off without his knowledge — it wasn’t like he could fight back.
“I understand your concern, Mr.
James.
Anyone who arrives in the heavenly realm must have their past and present lives washed away and enter the cycle of reincarnation before they can return to the mortal world.” “I believe that true death is the erasure of one’s personality and memories.
Transmigration, for you, is not a bad thing, sir.” Meng was not surprised by James’s questions.
She held his gaze steadily, her eyes full of sincerity and quiet remorse.
“Regarding the matter of Miss Lara — I am truly sorry.
This was an unfortunate accident.
The person originally destined to arrive at the Hall of Transmigration was not you, Mr.
James.
But your death is now an established fact.
Currently there are only two options: first, enter the Hall of Reincarnation and be reborn through the cycle; second, take the place of the originally designated Lara and transmigrate.” As she spoke, Meng reached into her briefcase and produced a card, placing it in James’s hand.
“This card is a transmigration bonus — consider it a form of compensation for what you’ve been through.
I hope it helps you find happiness in your second life.” Death, huh… Honestly, James still hadn’t fully processed it.
Everything had happened so suddenly — he hadn’t even felt pain before he was already a soul.
And yet here he was, still thinking, still capable of pressing a thumbprint.
If there’s a next time, I absolutely have to follow my own heart.
James closed his eyes, turning over the flash of regret he’d felt at the moment of death.
Deep in his heart, his decision solidified.
“Is there really only one bonus?
Since this is your department’s mistake, giving me one or two more wouldn’t be unreasonable, would it?” His mind was already made up — he had no intention of entering the cycle of reincarnation just like that.
But that didn’t stop him from squeezing out a little extra.
He put on a solemn expression, deploying the negotiation skills he’d honed through years of haggling with the vegetable market aunties downstairs, doing his best to convey his displeasure at the situation.
Meng watched James’s grave face as he asked about the transmigration perks and narrowed her eyes slightly, stifling a laugh.
“I’m very sorry, sir.
Since you seem so displeased with the transmigration arrangement, I’ll get you scheduled into the reincarnation cycle right away.
Please wait a moment.” Words and action came as one — Meng swiftly pulled another document from the drawer and began filling it out.
James watched with a visible twitch at the corner of his eye.
“Whoa whoa whoa, hold on, ma’am — I accept, just get me into transmigration, okay?
I’m leaving right now.” He scrambled to stop her, then turned and walked straight out the door, turning left, giving Meng no time to react.
Good thing I was quick about it.
Switching gears on the fly — everyone can do it, but can you keep up with how fast I just changed my tune?
Try me, pal.
James was still mid-thought when he heard someone cough behind him.
“Ahem.
You went the wrong way.
The back exit is to the right.
And you still haven’t pressed your thumbprint.” James turned around to find Meng staring at him with a dead-fish gaze.
His face flushed red with embarrassment on the spot.
He walked back like a good boy, pressed his thumbprint, and fell into step behind Meng.
Under Meng’s guidance, just a few steps later they were back at the Gate of Worlds.
She then went over the key points with him.
“Transmigration can only preserve most of your memories, but past events will become hazy.
Your feelings about what happened will remain — this is to ensure that you are still you, while severing your ties to your previous life.
If you ever gain the ability to return in the future, the heavenly realm places no restrictions on that.” Meng pulled out a tablet, and while explaining, she transferred the 0083 authority permissions to James.
“As for your transmigration bonus — there will be certain thresholds required to use it.
The 0083 permissions have been transferred to you; they will assist you in using your abilities going forward.
You may board the vessel now.” At Meng’s urging, James stepped onto the spirit vessel.
The vessel promptly set course toward the Gate.
As he departed, it was only natural to feel a pang of longing for what was left behind.
He turned and looked back at where he’d come from — and it felt as though he could see everything he had ever had.
“Good luck.” Meng tapped a few things on her tablet and tucked it away.
Then a point of white light burst from the center of the Gate of Worlds, spreading until it filled the entire gate.
And just like that, the spirit vessel carried James silently into the Gate, where it disappeared.
The proof of his existence faded along with the ripples that spread outward, vanishing from this world together.
In a haze, James felt someone calling his name — but he was sinking, deeper and deeper.
Can’t open my eyes.
So dizzy… A suffocating sensation, like drowning, wrapped itself tightly around James.
He flailed his limbs helplessly, trying to break the surface.
Just as James was nearing his limit, the darkness trapping him suddenly vanished.
His eyes snapped open and he gasped for air.
Only a gentle, soft breeze passed over him, accompanied by the faint calls of birds.
“Didn’t I just transmigrate?
Where is this?” Staring at the lake and the forest before him, James couldn’t quite make sense of the situation.
He had assumed transmigrating meant being reborn as a baby.
No city.
No buildings.
There wasn’t even a single other human being anywhere nearby.
Just transmigrated and they’re already testing my wilderness survival skills?
Perfect — absolutely guaranteed to die.
James stood up.
He hadn’t even recovered from the shock of that fact yet.
Fortunately, there was a lake right beside him.
The water was crystal clear — at least he wouldn’t die in the next few hours.
Just as James was thinking about how to survive in the wild, a line of blue text floated into view before his eyes.
“In the name of the one true God, I bestow upon you my blessing.
You shall not fear the darkness.
The world shall be changed by you.
To the one who came from another world — Lara.” Lara?
James froze.
Wasn’t that the girl who was originally supposed to transmigrate?
How had this ended up addressed to him?
Could it be that the gods on both ends had failed to communicate and the receiving side had no idea there’d been a switch?
He brushed the mud off himself and decided to get cleaned up before solving the problem.
He walked over to the lake to wash his hands — basic hygiene first.
Who knew how long he’d be stuck out in these mountains.
He walked to the water’s edge and crouched down — and what met James’s eyes was a girl with long straight black hair and vivid crimson eyes.
He found himself thinking, oddly, that she looked kind of pretty.
…
“WHAT THE F*!!!!” ____ ________________________________________ 🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push…
and you can help!
The romance won’t stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P).
You know that’s where the magic happens…
😉