The Echoing Cry of the Abandoned Fortress

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a long shadow over the ancient fortress that loomed over the once-bustling town of Jinglong. The fortress, now a dilapidated shell of its former glory, had been abandoned for decades, its walls covered in vines and ivy. It was a place of whispers and shadows, a place where the echoes of the past still lingered.

Li Wei, a young historian with a penchant for the arcane, had always been fascinated by the fortress. She had spent years researching its history, piecing together the stories of the warriors who had once lived within its towering walls. But it was the legend of the Echoing Cry that had drawn her here, a tale of a lost love and a tragic end.

As she stepped through the creaking gates, the air was thick with the scent of decay and the distant hum of the town, now a ghost of its former self. The fortress was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. Li had brought a tape recorder with her, hoping to capture any sounds that might reveal the secrets of the past.

She wandered through the empty halls, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The tape recorder hummed softly, recording the silence. As she reached the highest tower, she could feel a chill run down her spine. The wind howled through the broken windows, and she shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her.

Suddenly, the tape recorder whirred to life, and a voice echoed through the tower. "I love you," it whispered, barely audible. Li's heart skipped a beat. She had heard the legend of the lost lovers, but she never expected to hear their voices so clearly.

The voice grew louder, more desperate. "I can't live without you," it cried. Li's eyes widened as she realized the voice was coming from the room at the top of the tower. She rushed to the door, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she pushed the door open, she was greeted by a sight that took her breath away. The room was filled with old furniture, dust-covered and forgotten. In the center of the room stood a young couple, frozen in time. The man, dressed in ancient armor, held a handkerchief in his hand, his eyes filled with sorrow. The woman, dressed in a flowing gown, clutched his handkerchief in her own, her expression one of eternal love.

Li approached them cautiously, her eyes wide with shock. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man looked up at her, his eyes filled with tears. "I am Li Jun," he said, his voice breaking. "And she is Mei Lin. We were to be married, but the war came, and I had to leave. I promised to return, but I never did."

Mei Lin's eyes met his, and she nodded. "I have waited for you, Li Jun. I have loved you all these years."

Li's heart ached for them. She realized that this was not just a legend; it was a love story that had transcended time. She reached out and touched the couple, and to her horror, they began to fade away, their forms dissolving into the air.

"No!" Li cried, reaching out to grasp their hands. But they were gone, leaving behind only the echo of their voices.

Li stumbled back, her legs weak. She looked around the room, her eyes searching for any sign of the couple. But they were gone, vanished as if they had never been.

The tape recorder continued to hum, recording the silence. Li picked it up, her fingers trembling. She pressed play, and the voices of Li Jun and Mei Lin echoed through the room once more.

"I will always love you, Mei Lin," Li Jun's voice whispered. "Even if it means waiting for eternity."

Li's eyes filled with tears as she listened to the echoes of the past. She knew that she had to share this story, to let the world know of the love that had transcended time and space.

As she left the fortress, the sun began to rise, casting a golden glow over the once-abandoned town. Li felt a sense of peace, knowing that the love of Li Jun and Mei Lin would never be forgotten.

The Echoing Cry of the Abandoned Fortress was not just a ghost story; it was a testament to the power of love that could endure even the passage of time.