Chapter 65: Reality: Illusory Dream

Chapter 65: Reality: Illusory Dream

The black Maybach drove into the same night. Ming Yiyang held the steering wheel, and by chance, he caught a glimpse of the two black tote bags in the rearview mirror – they had vanished!

He slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the foggy road. He opened the back door, only to find it indeed empty.

His warm breath mingled with the mist in the chill.

He closed the door and opened the trunk.

The two black tote bags were hidden deep inside, as if playing a prank on him.

Reaching in, he instead encountered a pair of pale, cold hands.

They were thin, as if he could grasp bones directly, like the contoured topography of a miniature mountain range.

The hands were icy cold, like sashimi stored in a fridge, capable of freezing one's skin, yet they were surprisingly soft, lacking the stiffness of a corpse.

They invited one to caress and pinch them.

The man with black hair crouched in the trunk, slowly emerging under Ming Yiyang's gentle guidance. A hint of his fair calves peeped out from the dark silk, creating a stark contrast against the pure black, hanging limply at the car's rear.

Sitting on the edge of the trunk, his porcelain-white feet were as slender and bony as his hands, with prominent joints and relaxed veins visible.

Silent, he refused to step out of the car.

Ming Yiyang assumed quite naturally that the man must be hesitant to step onto the dusty road barefoot due to not wearing shoes.

Half-bending, he intended to carry the man back into the vehicle. In the haze of his thoughts, he suddenly realized that this person's attire was different from what he was used to seeing.

His initial embrace froze, leaving him just enough time to gently lay his left hand on the raised trunk lid, adopting an impromptu gesture of constraint.

The person remained seated, their apricot-colored eyes, which had been lowered, now lifted with the flutter of butterfly lashes, silently fixing their gaze upon his face as if countless words had already been conveyed without a sound.

The man's raven-black hair flowed softly, while the black cheongsam adorned with red peonies shimmered with the luster unique to silk, hugging his form tightly.

Upon his shoulders draped a matching short cloak, fastened at both shoulders with peony clasps, concealing his arms save for the pale wrists that peeked out. The skirt of his robe split high up to his thighs and was also secured with peony clasps. A mere hint of a lift would reveal an array of captivating charms.

Ming Yiyang felt that they were too close for comfort.

A fiery spice scorched his spine, making him break into a slight sweat. This unfamiliar sensation burned through his stomach, and not just that – he noticed, with a sense of unease, that his body was beginning to feel beyond his control.

His fingers, resting on the trunk lid, relaxed, and he prepared to step back.

The man suddenly turned away, his hand reaching into the shadows of the trunk as if searching for something.

This man seemed utterly oblivious to how inappropriate his attire was, nestled within the embrace of the night, the black car, and his own dark garb. His porcelain-white skin stood as the solitary beacon of light, so luminous that it could almost be blinding with each subtle movement he made.

Like fireflies drawn to light, Ming Yiyang's gaze involuntarily followed the swathe of white, struggling to suppress any wandering imaginings.

Yet, this person retrieved a pair of black high heels from the trunk.

The man bent one leg gracefully.

Despite Yan Qiling not being tall, their proportions were excellent - distinct legs and waist, with no neglected areas in terms of exercise.

The tight dress swiftly slid down their legs, pooling at the thigh root.

There was still a distinction between a man's leg and a woman's.

As the limb bent, the well-defined muscles outlined its shape, yet the smooth, streamlined contours exuded an alluring charm. When straightened, it held an unspoken sense of abstinence.

Yan Qiling began to put on his shoes.

The act itself wasn't inherently provocative, but with the attire he wore, his legs disappeared into the deep shadows above, leaving uncertainty as to what was concealed beneath.

Even the most innocent gestures now carried an implicit invitation. Amidst the thick mist, desire tinged the depths of the young man's eyes.

"What are you doing?"

A restrained hoarseness in his voice was the only semblance of composure amidst this inappropriate display.

Yet, the man still didn't respond.

With his non-slip high heels in place, he lifted his head slightly to meet the other's gaze, expressionless. He extended his leg, lifting it higher.

Then, he gently stepped on him.

The youth leaning against the car hood froze completely.

The young body was at a loss, yet the gaze of the youth unleashed an aggressively rapacious maw, slicing keenly over this person's entire form with unyielding ferocity. Rather than retreat, it was followed after a prolonged silence by a taunting smile.

A subtle purple glow ignited in Ming Yiyang's eyes.

All obstructions were rendered invisible under his gaze.

His burning palm grasped the icy limb, lifeless as a corpse. He leaned forward, forcing the person in front of him to fall back, then knelt on the narrow edge of the trunk, bending his body to crawl inside.

Inky darkness spills over the glass, oozing and cascading like an inky waterfall from its upper reaches.

Transcending into a decaying ocean scented with heather.

-

A light sleeper was roused by the honking of a car horn.

A thin sheen of sweat covered his back, and only upon feeling the presence of the seatbelt did Ming Yiyang realize that he might have just experienced a dream.

Outside, the sky was a brilliant expanse of blue. Pan Hu was not in the driver's seat, yet Ming Yiyang still felt an inexplicable palpitation.

Swiftly glancing down at his pants, he was immensely relieved that he had worn his thick winter undergarment before leaving home. Though something seemed amiss at the moment, one wouldn't notice anything unusual without a closer inspection.

Crossing his legs, he gazed silently at the two black waterproof bags in the rearview mirror, a profound sense of shame and taboo flooding his heart.

The dream faded swiftly from his mind, with many details becoming blurred in the process, leaving only hazy fragments swirling within his thoughts.

Yet, he still recalled the moist warmth of the atmosphere. But upon waking up, considering that the other participant in the dream was now... in pieces on the back seat, he dared not dwell on what exactly he had done during that time.

Although this secret was now solely his to bear.

Ming Yiyang still felt as if he might be losing his mind.

Of course, he understood that dreams defied logic, and he could easily attribute it to excessive stress. However, he couldn't convince himself why he would seek relief in such a manner, especially with Yan Qiling as the other protagonist in the dream!

Was it possible that he had inherited the old man's monstrous genes?

This rare feeling of collapse overwhelmed Ming Yiyang.

He recalled the last time he experienced something similar was when, as a primary school student, the old man had left him with Toast, who then abandoned him in the wilderness to fend for himself.

Since he successfully survived on his own in the wild, he thought nothing could shake him anymore.

But now he realized that he was still too young.

When Pan Hu returned, he saw the young man in the passenger seat tilting his head, staring at his own shoes as if contemplating some significant life matter. They were not close, so Pan Hu didn't inquire further but handed him a bag of soy milk and buns he had bought at a rest stop:

"Have some breakfast. We still have around eight hours of driving left. I'll take a break around noon, and you can take over for me."

The young man thanked him and, with a sense of relief, quickly started to devour his meal.

Seeing the youngster's enthusiasm for food, Pan Hu temporarily set his worries aside.

By the time they reached the farm restaurant at the foot of Sanqing Mountain, it was already an evening tinged with the hues of sunset.

Chi Zihe had been waiting there for quite some time.

-

This farm restaurant was a result of renovating his family's old house. It mainly served as a reception area for visitors seeking blessings, and Chi Zihe had specially closed for the day to accommodate their plans without any interruptions.

"Finally, you've arrived. Did everything go smoothly on the way?"

Ming Yiyang, carrying a heavy black tote bag, responded coldly,

"If anything had happened, we'd be sipping tea at the station right now instead of chatting here."

Chi Zihe, noticing the bags in Ming Yiyang's hands, was momentarily stunned before gasping in shock,

"Yan Qiling is inside?! How... how did this happen?!"

Pan Hu, holding two large suitcases packed and ready, answered calmly,

"I'm not sure. When I entered, it was already in tiny one-centimeter cubes. Should we discuss it here?"

Chi Zihe's expression turned unusually grave as he waved his hand,

"No need. This isn't the place for that conversation. Let's head to Sheji Village first."

Sheji Village wasn't located high up in the mountains but rather at a slightly elevated position near the foot. Unlike typical tourist routes, reaching Sheji Village required taking a bamboo raft.

Aside from the villagers native to Sheji Village and the Taoist priests, the village was practically cut off from the world. Occasionally, adventurous travelers would stumble upon it, but they were seldom allowed to stay overnight, lest their tales of hospitality draw hordes of reckless individuals up the mountain for trouble.

Chi Zihe was on the phone with his wife, arranging for someone to pick them up at the ferry.

The two men carrying items behind him remained silent.

Especially Ming Yiyang, whose hands held the bags, and in his mind, he couldn't help but visualize the fragments of whispers, sobs, and vivid colors associated with Yan Qiling that were contained within. His entire body was rigid, as if he were a stranger to himself, with an indescribable feeling of heartache.

As the sound of tinkling bells echoed, a woman wearing a bamboo hat rowed a bamboo raft across the pond's surface.

Her long braids hung down her shoulders, and she had a plump figure, wearing a white blouse tucked into a fitted brown silk pant that fluttered in the wind like ripples on the water. Her fair complexion was adorned with a small black mole the size of a sesame seed beneath one eye and beside her cheek. Her fox-like eyes were slender and enchanting, exuding affectionate allure with every glance.

As the raft leveled with the water, a few small bamboo chairs were arranged on it. Chi Zihe waved at her, "Lingshuang! Over here!"

A woman acknowledged the call and approached with a pole in hand.

She was Chi Zihe's girlfriend, She Lingshuang.

She Lingshuang glanced at the shopping bag but didn't comment. Instead, she urged them onto the bamboo raft. When Chi Zihe offered to help paddle, she waved him off.

"Stay put and don't bother me."

Chi Zihe sat on a bamboo stool, his expression pitiful as he gazed at her back. The once-intelligent look on his face was now replaced with "vulnerable, helpless, and needy."

Suddenly, he didn't seem that clever anymore.

After five minutes of paddling through the waterway, the bamboo raft entered the shade of the trees. Another five minutes later, they reached the shore.

Not many people remained in She Village, but the houses were well-maintained. A few had even built small Western-style villas, giving an impressive appearance. However, the village lacked vitality, with occasional barks from dogs breaking the silence.

Mentioning dogs made Ming Yiyang glance at Pan Hu.

Beside them, Pan Hu still maintained the appearance of a man with a square face, showing no reaction to the barking of the village dogs.

It was eerily tranquil here.