In the winter of 1949, the light of New China had not yet fully dispelled the lingering darkness in its remote corners. As the new order emerged, the old refused to fade away quietly. Amidst the desolation of a refugee road, fleeing civilians encountered bandits lying in ambush.  

A beautiful and resolute woman pushed her two children down a steep slope, covering them with dry grass. She desperately warned them, “No matter what you hear, don’t make a single sound. Wait until dawn—only when the sun rises and the bad men are gone can you crawl out!”  

The brave woman then ran in the opposite direction, leading the bandits away.  

The bandits had targeted her, but they hadn’t expected her to fight back so fiercely. One of the outlaws let out a bloodcurdling scream as she gouged out his eye. In his agony, he wildly swung his sickle, slashing her neck.  

“Damn bitch! Even in death, you took one of us down. We won’t let your corpse off either—we’ll strip you naked and hang you up. Only then will my hatred be satisfied!”  

“Old Wu, go back and get your wound treated. The rest of you, come with me to find those two brats. We took the employer’s money—not a single head can be left unclaimed.”  

Just as these merciless bandits were about to discover the children’s hiding spot, Jiang Zhen was hacking away at mutated creatures with a cold weapon while rushing toward a mirage-like vision.  

Legend had it that if one could leap into a mirage before it vanished, they could escape the apocalypse. And against all odds, Jiang Zhen had actually encountered one.  

The bandits had already found the children and raised their blades. Meanwhile, the claws of a mutated beast behind Jiang Zhen were inches from her neck. The mirage hovered over the edge of a cliff. Without hesitation, she jumped—either she would plunge to her death or enter the world within the mirage. Either fate was better than being devoured by the monster behind her, reduced to a pile of bones.  

……  

“Mom, promise you’ll never leave us again.” Jiang Tangtang clung to Jiang Zhen’s neck, sobbing uncontrollably.  

Jiang Zhao tightly gripped her arm. “Mom, I’ll never make you angry again. If we die, let’s die together.”  

“Alright, I heard you. But Mom hit her head just now and can’t think straight. Let me rest for a bit.”  

The two children immediately fell silent, not even daring to cry. They wiped their tears soundlessly, afraid of upsetting their mother further.  

Steadying her mind, Jiang Zhen sorted through the memories of the woman who had been swallowed by the collapsing earth. She had crossed over through the mirage, barely managing to grab the woman’s hand as she sank into the pit. Though she couldn’t pull her out, she had absorbed her memories, gaining a full understanding of this world and the woman’s life.  

This world had endured prolonged chaos before finally achieving liberation and unity. The woman had been traveling to Qingcheng to reunite with her husband. According to the bandits, she had been assassinated—someone had paid for her death.  

From the woman’s memories, Jiang Zhen learned she had a long-lost twin sister. She wasn’t sure if that sister was her, but their resemblance was uncanny. Before finding the children, she had changed into the clothes left in the woman’s cloth bundle and styled her hair in the same braids. In their extreme panic, the children hadn’t noticed the difference.  

Moreover, the deceased woman had been unusually strict and cold toward her children, making them fearful of her. So now, Jiang Zhen’s word was law.  

The bundle also contained identification papers, household registration documents, and travel permits. The woman’s name was **Jiang Zhen** (姜臻)—same surname, similar pronunciation, and nearly identical in appearance. Jiang Zhen’s hands trembled.  

Back in the apocalypse, she had been taken in by the base’s foster care center. The swaddling clothes she was found in had the name **”Jiang Zhen” (姜真)** embroidered on them—that was how she got her name.  

But now, she could no longer go by **Jiang Zhen (姜真)**. From this moment on, she was **”Jiang Zhen” (姜臻)**, a person with legal documentation.  

……  

Soon, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers arrived to suppress the bandits, rescuing the panicked refugees. They handed out their own dry rations, saying, “Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone. Take your time.”  

Jiang Zhen accepted the sweet potato a soldier handed her and immediately bit into it. Before coming here, she hadn’t eaten in days. This sweet potato was heavenly—crisp, sweet, utterly delicious. As she devoured it, she broke the second one in half and gave it to the children.  

Gu Liancheng handed her a third and offered his canteen. “No rush, there’s more. Have some water first.”  

Jiang Zhen nearly snatched the canteen from him, gulping down half of it in one go. The water here was so refreshingly sweet. Uncontrollably, tears welled up in her eyes.  

After thanking him, she passed the canteen to the children. They clearly weren’t as thirsty, taking only a sip before handing it back. Jiang Zhen drank the rest in one go. As she returned the canteen, she memorized the soldier’s face.  

“My name is Jiang Zhen. Thank you.”  

**Jiang Zhen? Which “Zhen”?** Gu Liancheng made a mental note of this strikingly beautiful woman who had been moved to tears by a single sweet potato and a canteen of water.  

“Just ahead is the ferry. Follow this road, cross the river, and you’ll reach the garrison. They’ll help you settle in.” Gu Liancheng pointed the way before turning to rejoin the bandit-suppression unit.  

……