The Golden Bead's Secret

The rain had stopped hours ago, leaving Beijing’s streets slick and reflecting the neon glow of the city. You pulled the brim of your cap down, adjusting the mask that concealed your face. The encounter with the dying woman and the strange golden light that enveloped you still felt like a dream, but the lingering headache and the unsettling new awareness of everything around you—the hum of electricity in the walls, the distant heartbeats of strangers—confirmed it was real.

You had just finished your simple lunch at a small eatery, the image of Tang Yan and his perfect family still lingering in your mind. They were strangers, you reminded yourself, just like you were to them. Now, back on the street, the world felt different. Every brick, every leaf, every passing person felt… connected to you in a way you couldn't explain. You could see the patterns in the worn pavement, the subtle shift in the wind as it brushed past buildings, the faint energy radiating from living things. It was overwhelming, yet strangely fascinating.

You took a deep breath, the air tasting sharper, clearer. The city, once a place of quiet observation, now pulsed with unseen life and hidden information. What did that woman mean by 'merge with nature'? What had she given you?