A cool breeze blew through the large leaves above her head. Punya sat on the soft grass under the shade of a tall tree that seemed to protect her from the uncertainty of this new world. Li Shan took out a strange-looking fruit from his leather bag that Punya had never seen in his life.
"This is the 'Apple of Truth'," Li Shan said, his voice calm but imposing. "Whoever eats it will not be able to hide the truth in their hearts, whether they want it or not."
Punya looked at the bright red fruit in his hand with wide eyes. It did not look like an ordinary apple, but instead had faint, luminous lines that looked like a network of glowing veins.
"What about other fruits?" She asked excitedly, but her voice still trembled slightly.
Li Shan put the apple down beside her, then picked up a round, light pink fruit with smooth, crystal-clear skin. "This is the Immortal Peach. It is said that it can extend your life for many years. However, eating too much of it can cause your skin to become dry and rotten."
Punya swallowed her saliva and looked at the fruit in Li Shan's hand. The beauty that hid the mystery made her both fascinated and terrified.
"Are these fruits really that dangerous?"
"Yes," Li Shan replied, his tone slightly more serious. "Every fruit in this orchard has a hidden power, and those powers are not for fun. They can create or destroy at the same time, as I said. It all depends on who uses them and for what."
His words made Punya feel heavy in her chest. She couldn't take her eyes off the two fruits, but the feeling that there was something hidden behind Li Shan's words made her unable to rest assured.
"Why did you show me if they were so dangerous?" Punya asked, her voice filled with doubt.
Li Shan turned to look at her. His eyes looked deep, as if they could see through her soul. "Because you need to know... and you may soon become a part of this orchard."
Punya could only keep quiet, feeling that the knowledge of the fruits in this orchard was not just entertainment, but a duty that was about to be thrown into her life as if fate was teasing her.
A gentle breeze blew through the orchard, as if whispering a secret that was about to be revealed. Li Shan sat quietly for a moment as she looked at Punya carefully before picking up a small fruit. The orange glow came out from the bag.
"Try it." He handed the fruit to Punya. His expression showed no intention other than expectation.
Punya hesitated a little, but she finally reached out to bring the fruit close to her nose. The sweet, complex scent that was similar to flowers mixed with the scent of herbs was so fragrant that it made her flinch. She took a deep breath before speaking softly.
"It… feels like something so gentle, but at the same time, it also has a bitterness like a memory that she doesn't want to recall…"
Li Shan frowned, doubt evident in his eyes. "Try it."
She hesitated again before taking a small bite of the fruit. The soft sweetness entered her mouth at first touch, but suddenly, a strong bitter taste appeared, causing her to grimace. "It's… very strange. The taste is like… a happiness that is sweet and bitter. It's like… happiness that is not completely happy."
Li Shan stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Do you feel its power?"
Punya nodded, although she wasn't sure what the word "power" he meant.
"This fruit is called 'Tears of Memory'. Whoever eats it will be able to see their past memories again. But if they eat too much, It will make people immerse themselves in the past and forget the present."
Punya's eyes widened. She never thought that the smell or taste of fruits would allow her to understand their hidden power so much.
"Did I guess right?" She asked softly.
Li Shan nodded, before handing her the other fruits one by one. "Try it again."
Punya took a bite of the fruit, which was as green as jade. Its scent was cool and refreshing like a spring breeze. Its taste made her feel a certain power that helped relieve her fatigue.
"This feels like…rejuvenation," she said.
"That's right. It's the 'healing lemon'. It restores energy and makes you feel refreshed. It's perfect for couples."
Li Shan stared at her with a different gaze. He wasn't just surprised, he seemed to be considering something deeply.
"You have talent," he said calmly. "Ordinary people can't sense the power of fruits so easily. Even I, who have been here my whole life, took a long time to understand the power of each fruit."
Punya pursed her lips, feeling like she was being pushed into something she never thought she would be involved with.
"What do you mean? What are you trying to tell me?"
"It might mean that you It is the key to this place. Perhaps your arrival here was sent from somewhere." Li Shan replied with a deep sigh. "But it might also mean that you will face something harder than you thought."
His words made Punya's heart ache again. She did not know where this talent would lead her, but one thing she knew was that she did not come to this world by accident.
The gentle wind had now strangely stopped. Punya looked at Li Shan with eyes full of questions. As he paused for a moment, Li Shan's expression changed from calm to serious.
"Punya," his voice lowered, almost like a whisper. "Your talent… It's not just an advantage, it's dangerous."
Those words made Punya's heart twitch. She frowned and asked in an uncertain tone. "How is it dangerous? I only know the power of the fruit…"
Li Shan shook her head. "It's not just that," he said solemnly. "There are many people in the imperial palace who want to obtain the power of these fruits. They won't stop at researching, but will do everything they can to control it. If anyone finds out that you have such a special ability…"
He paused for a moment, as if hesitating to continue.
"…You may become a target."
Punya was stunned, his eyes widening as his words echoed in his head over and over. "Target… What do you mean? I don't want to have problems with anyone."
"No one wants to have problems with you," Li Shan replied in a serious tone. "But this world isn't that easy. You have to understand that this isn't your world. This place… is full of competition and hidden secrets."
Punya felt the pressure starting to increase. She looked down at her slightly trembling hands before she muttered softly, "Why am I here… I don't want to be a part of this. Sigh!"
Li San let out a long sigh before leaning in closer. His voice softened to a whisper. "You have to promise me something."
"What…?" Punya asked, looking at him with caution.
"Don't tell anyone about the secrets of this garden. I know you can feel some energy here, no matter how trustworthy that person seems."
"But…" She opened her mouth to argue, but Li San's resolute gaze stopped her.
"I don't expect you to trust me," he continued. "But you have to learn to trust yourself, and know that in this world, there is no one you can trust completely."
Those words made Punya pause. It felt like she was being pushed to the edge of a cliff. Fear and confusion erupted in her heart. She looked at Li San with eyes full of doubt.
"Then can I trust you?" She asked directly.
Li San paused before lowering her eyes slightly, as if she was considering how to answer. In the end, he spoke in a resolute tone, "I will protect you… as long as you don't put yourself in danger."
That answer was not what Punya had expected. She felt like she was walking on a path filled with thick fog, and she didn't know where the path ahead would take her.
She was silent for a moment before nodding slightly, "I'll try to be careful."
Li San nodded, but there was still worry in his eyes. He stood up and held out his hand to Punya. "Let's go. I'll take you to a safer place."
Punya held his hand and stood up. The sky that was once bright began to have light clouds moving in, as if it was a sign of what was about to happen.
Upon arriving, Punya stood looking at the "apple of truth" again with a mixture of excitement and hesitation. This tree, upon looking at it closely, looked different from the others in the garden. It was tall and slender, its leaves shone like the moonlight, and each apple shone with a sparkling light as if it had a life of its own.
Li San stood beside her, staring at her with a serious expression. "This is your chance to experience the true power of the fruits in this garden," he said, pointing to the bright red apple hanging at the lowest point.
Punya swallowed hard, her eyes full of questions. "What if I eat it?"
"The apple of truth will reveal what's deepest in your heart, as I said before," Li Shan replied. His tone was calm, but his eyes seemed to be watching her reaction. "It might make you feel the truth you've been trying to deny, or something you've been hiding… even from yourself."
Those words made Punya stop thinking. She turned back to look at the tree. The bright red apple seemed to be calling out to her. She felt a pull that was hard to explain.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that," she muttered softly, turning her face away. But Li Shan spoke in a firm tone.
"In this world, the truth is something you can't avoid. The sooner you realize it, the better prepared you will be for what's coming."
Punya turned back to look at him. She saw the seriousness and anticipation in Li Shan's eyes. She took a deep breath before deciding to take a step forward.
She reached out and grabbed the apple. It was so cold and soft that it gave her goosebumps. She looked at Li Shan again for confirmation. He nodded slightly, signaling that she could start.
Punya took her first bite of the apple. It was sweet and juicy, but the fragrance seemed to be too deep for her to describe. Suddenly, a surge of energy flowed into her body.
In her mind, memories began to appear… The image of the small smoothie shop in her old world, the laughter of her friends and customers, the image of the family she had left behind. Everything seemed ordinary, but suddenly, a heavy feeling appeared in her heart.
"I don't want to leave everything like this…" She muttered unconsciously, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I'm tired… I just want to escape the chaos… I just… want to start over…"
"I'm tired of smiling like that every day, when sometimes… I don't even want to smile."
Li Shan listened with an indifferent expression, but his eyes had a spark of understanding. He didn't say anything until the surge of energy in Punya's body calmed down.
When she opened her eyes again, Li Shan was looking at her with a different gaze. It wasn't just sympathy, but there was a certain expectation that she couldn't understand.
"The truth is inevitable," Li Shan said softly. "But accepting it is what makes you stronger."
Punya Without saying anything, she stood there looking at the apple in her hand, with a multitude of thoughts running through her mind. She began to realize that in this new world, there was no room for her to hide anything anymore.