Chapter 46 – Dream One

Chapter 46 - Dream One

Jian Fengzi fell backward, and An Zhi, fearing that he might hit the back of his head, hurried forward with large strides, reaching out to catch his shoulders and support his body.

Unexpectedly, he did not feel the force of Jian Fengzi's body crashing down.

He weighed Jian Fengzi's body in his arms, as if holding a delicate piece of paper. He wondered, "How can such a strong young man weigh so little?"

As soon as he spoke, the boat shook beneath his feet.

"Master, we've arrived at Ang Liu Bay!"

An Zhi heard the voice but did not see the person.

Following that, there was a loud creak as the cabin door swung open, letting in a flood of bright sunlight and a briny sea breeze.

Feeling slightly disoriented, An Zhi narrowed his eyes. When he looked again, he saw a figure rushing into the cabin from outside.

The person, seeing the mess on the floor, panicked and exclaimed, "Let go of Master right now!"

An Zhi responded with an "oh," and explained, "Little Feng fainted, so I caught him to prevent him from falling." With that, he led Jian Fengzi over to the man and handed him back.

"Fainted? ... Could it be...?" The man seemed to recall something. He looked at Jian Fengzi's sleeping face, his brows deeply furrowed, a troubled expression on his face.

An Zhi picked up on the unfinished sentence and asked, "What else?"

The man turned to glare at An Zhi, his tone far from friendly, "It's none of your business as an outsider!"

An Zhi felt irritated inwardly: Seriously, even those close to him have such an arrogant attitude. No wonder Jian Fengzi behaves similarly.

He really wanted to turn around, grab Ju Lang and Wen Yan, and just leave without helping Jian Fengzi. But then he thought, this was a problem he had caused. No matter how much he disliked the Jian family, he needed to resolve it before parting ways.

The sooner they dealt with it, the sooner they could leave.

From what Jian Fengzi said, he couldn't take a life before he turned eighteen.

Since he hadn't taken a life, why was the female ghost haunting him?

Most phantoms were stubborn in their beliefs and wouldn't easily change their minds. Jian Fengzi must have had some encounter with the female ghost. However, Jian Fengzi had been pampered, and likely didn't keep such matters in mind.

An Zhi inquired of the man, "Let me ask you, has your young master crossed paths with someone who might end up being driven to an early grave by sheer anger in a few days?"

The man replied arrogantly, "Nonsense! Our young master is the Holy Son of Wangsi Terrace. Even if he were to scold us, we would receive it with pleasure. How could anyone possibly hold a grudge?"

Despite repeated efforts to restrain himself, An Zhi could no longer contain the simmering rage within his chest. He gently placed his hand on the man's shoulder and spoke in a solemn tone, "Shall I rephrase my question...?"

The man, who had been looking down his nose at An Zhi, finally took notice of him upon hearing this.

He vividly recalled that face.

With hair as light and pure white as the snow of the northern lands, his eyes were clear yet veiled in shadows, exuding an eerie vibe as if he were up to no good. But if one were to label him as wicked, his downturned lips seemed to convey a sense of injustice, as if he had been wronged.

And yet, the An Zhi standing before him was an exact replica of Shen Yuan, sealed beneath the Jingtan!

"Fiend God!!" A chill ran down the man's spine, his pupils constricting as he cried out in alarm.

Startled, An Zhi hastily withdrew his hand. "You know Shen Yuan!"

The man, protecting the unconscious Jian Fengzi, retreated step by step, keeping his distance from An Zhi. He stammered, shivering, "I-I'm already in my twenties, I've entered the Wangsi Terrace and seen Shen Yuan..."

He looked at An Zhi with terrified eyes, "Y-You... You're actually... alive!..."

Just as he finished speaking, the cabin door was suddenly cast in shadows as a dark figure appeared outside.

Ju Lang bellowed at him, "Look at what you've become!"

"What do I look like?" Confused, An Zhi was momentarily dazed.

Seizing the opportunity, Ju Lang rushed forward in a few quick strides and reached out to grab his neck, pushing him backwards with force.

An Zhi was pushed relentlessly backward until a sudden pain shot through his back, sending a chill through the fabric of his green robe and into his skin.

With nowhere left to retreat, his back hit the cruise ship's cabin door.

Ju Lang still had his hand around An Zhi's throat, his long and slender fingers, with their distinct joints, gradually applying more pressure, as if intent on choking the life out of him.

Those phoenix-like eyes that had always held infinite tenderness towards him were now sharp and menacing, the corners lifting up like a dagger poised to strike him down.

However, An Zhi felt neither sadness nor surprise. Instead, he found it oddly familiar and somewhat disheartening, as if this scene had unfolded countless times before.

He grasped Ju Lang's wrist, straining to utter a sound from his throat, "Ju... Ju Lang, give up, I'm tired..."

As his words faded, a chilling glint flashed before An Zhi's eyes.

In the smooth, mirror-like blade, he saw his own reflection.

His eyes were consumed by a chaotic, terrifying black, revealing a beastly, ferocious countenance.

When had he become like this?

Before An Zhi could comprehend it, Ju Lang raised the icy blade and plunged it downward, aiming straight for his abdomen. It pierced through, embedding itself into the steel hull of the cruise ship behind him.

...

A gentle breeze blew, and the rustling of the wind filled An Zhi's ears. He opened his eyes to see swaying white clouds amidst the leaves, and the dappled shadows of trees. A clear ray of sunlight filtered down through the foliage, swaying gently with the breeze.

In the dense forest, the light was dim, yet bird songs echoed around. Yet, in An Zhi's ears, an eerie silence prevailed, even the sound of falling leaves was distinct.

A few raindrops fell through the canopy, landing on An Zhi's face. He softly called out, "Ju Lang—"

"Pitter-patter" —— the only response was the rain tapping against verdant leaves.

Feeling a strange sense of disappointment and melancholy, he scoffed silently and propped himself up with both hands.

Relying on his last memory, he pulled open the collar of his garment and looked at his abdomen. It was perfectly flat, without any signs of injury.

Scratching his head, he muttered, "Odd."

Finished with his assessment, he surveyed his surroundings but found no one in sight.

Suddenly, the sound of celebratory gongs and suona horns echoed in the air.

He stood up and followed the noise.

After a few moments of searching, he spotted a pavilion adorned with pearls and green curtains, its eaves adorned with elaborate pillars.

Approaching a few steps closer, he lifted his head to read the sign hanging above the entrance: "The Painted Lotus Palace." A wave of confusion washed over him as he finished reading, "Where is this place? — Wen Yan! Wen Yan!"

Calling out for quite some time, Wen Yan did not respond to him.

Alone, he dared not venture into unfamiliar territory recklessly. In the real world, perhaps, but in the game world, who knew what monsters might leap out at him.

He turned to leave, only to hear soft sobs coming from nearby.

The sound sent shivers down his spine. He thought to himself, It must be some malevolent ghost!

As he pondered this, his steps quickened as he hastened to leave the area.

After only a few paces, a sharp "crack" echoed as he stepped on an ancient, brittle branch that had long been weathered.

An Zhi swallowed hard. "When you're down on your luck, even cold water gets stuck in your teeth—well, if I'm going to die, then so be it." He had resolved himself to face whatever monster lay ahead.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, a young boy floated into view.

The speed of the boy's appearance startled An Zhi so much that beads of sweat formed on his forehead. But upon closer inspection, the features of the child seemed strangely familiar.

With tears streaming down his face, the boy cried out, "An Zhi, take me out of here!"

Despite his fear, the tone of his command was unmistakable. An Zhi was certain that this boy was Jian Fengzi.

An Zhi gently patted his head and chuckled, asking, "Little Feng, why are you 'Little Feng' now? You're only up to my waist."

Jian Fengzi rolled his eyes and swatted away An Zhi's wandering hand on his head. Adopting an adult demeanor, he crossed his arms and declared, "This is a dream I had when I was ten."

Observing Jian Fengzi's chubby cheeks still wet with tears from his recent outburst, yet speaking and behaving like an adult, An Zhi found the contrast amusing and burst into laughter, "Hahaha!"

Unaware of the reason behind An Zhi's laughter, Jian Fengzi shot him a sideways glance, exclaiming, "Giggling!"

An Zhi continued to chuckle, replying, "I'm giggling? Weren't you the one wiping away tears just now...?"

Jian Fengzi's cheeks flushed red, but he wasn't about to back down. He retorted, "You're not any better, stuttering and muttering nonsense in fear."

Both of them felt embarrassed by the other's remarks.

"You said this is a dream from when you were ten?" An Zhi cleared his throat and asked.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't knocked over my Jian Songxiang, nothing would have happened!" Jian Fengzi was still upset.

Acknowledging that he had acted impulsively, An Zhi silently accepted the blame without voicing a rebuttal.

Jian Fengzi concluded his complaint and delved into the main topic. "Our Jian family has an ancient curse that spans a thousand years: every descendant, male or female, on the night of their tenth birthday feast, enters this forest in their dreams to wed the female ghost in the Painting Lotus Palace. I experienced this dream after my tenth birthday as well. However, Father told me that there's nothing to fear, as our ancestors were all expelled by the female ghost from the Painting Lotus Palace on the eve of their weddings, and they never dreamed of her again."

"But that doesn't make sense," An Zhi remarked in doubt. "Jian Songxiang sealed that ghost. How can it still meet your family members in their dreams for a thousand years straight?"

Jian Fengzi replied, "It's precisely because Jian Songxiang sealed her that she can only meet us in our dreams."

An Zhi commented, "In that case, that female ghost must be quite powerful."

"Indeed!" As Jian Fengzi continued, he scolded An Zhi. "It's all your fault!"

"Okay, okay, it's our fault, it's our fault..." An Zhi admitted guiltily, trying not to argue with a child. He then asked in doubt, "There must be others in your Jian family. Didn't they all have these dreams after their tenth birthday feasts? So even if we opened Jian Songxiang's seal and released the ghost, she would likely haunt someone else. Why is she haunting you now?"

"How should I know? Do you remember your dreams when you wake up the next day?" Jian Fengzi shot back at An Zhi. Then, he boasted, "Hehe, maybe it's because I'm quite the looker."

An Zhi slightly curved the corners of his mouth and said, "Haha, applying powder to your face is not as valuable as cultivating virtue within."

Jian Fengzi's face turned green with anger, and he glared at An Zhi with wide eyes. "You're the one devoid of virtue!"

After the scolding, the doors of Huailian Palace opened gently, and the music of flutes and zithers, customary for a wedding ceremony, drifted out.

A procession emerged from within, marching in orderly pairs, creating a path down the middle.

Then, from the doorway, a figure clad in a dark purple robe appeared slowly.

Due to the distance, An Zhi couldn't make out the person's appearance clearly.

Despite the clear blue sky, a drizzle began to fall. An Zhi found it amusing, commenting inwardly, Rain on a sunny day, how peculiar.

Jian Fengzi hastily pulled An Zhi behind a tree trunk. Peeking out, he caught a glimpse of the procession and panicked, exclaiming, "What do we do? What do we do?... That female ghost has come out!..."

Looking at Jian Fengzi, who was utterly at a loss, then at the approaching wedding party, An Zhi soon had an idea.

He summoned Womeng and crouched down, saying to Jian Fengzi, "Lure him over here."

"You're pushing me into a corner, letting the tiger out of its cage!" Jian Fengzi turned his head away, refusing outright.

Staring at the ten-year-old Jian Fengzi, An Zhi found him rather endearing. When upset, his cheeks puffed up, making An Zhi unable to resist holding Jian Fengzi's small hand and saying, "Little Feng, listen to me. I'll hide up in this tree. You lure him under that tree, and then I'll swoop down from above and catch him off guard."

Jian Fengzi cast his gaze upon the approaching wedding procession, his heart still weighed down with concern for An Zhi's safety. Straightening his head, he posed a skeptical question, "She's a millennium-old female ghost; are you sure you can handle this?"

"One shouldn't distrust others without reason," An Zhi shrugged. "How would we know unless we try?"

In the blink of an eye, the wedding procession was almost upon them.

With the situation becoming critical, there was no time for further words. An Zhi solemnly advised Jian Fengzi, "Little Feng, since this is your nightmare, your utmost priority now is to awaken yourself from it."

The moment the words faded, he leaped onto the tree.

Jian Fengzi lifted his gaze to glance at An Zhi, who was hiding in the tree, and murmured, "Wake up?... How to wake up?..."

He swiftly turned his mind, considering only one solution – pain.

Lowering his head, he scanned the ground with his eyes.

Eventually, his attention settled on a sharp, broken branch.

He approached it, crouched down, reached out to pick up the branch, and concealed it within his sleeve.

Rising to his feet once more, the female ghost had already taken her position behind him.

"Little Feng—" The female ghost called out to Jian Fengzi, her voice still androgynous as it was that night outside Ciye Forest.

Without turning to look at the ghost, Jian Fengzi hastily ran to the tree where An Zhi stood.

The female ghost wore a fox mask that concealed the upper half of her face, leaving only a sharp jawline and a pair of lips exposed.

Her lips were naturally rosy, not too thick nor too thin. They were delicately shaped with pointed corners.

With his back pressed firmly against the trunk of the tree, Jian Fengzi threatened in a childish voice, "If you dare touch me, Wangsi Terrace won't let you get away with it!"

"Ha-ha-ha—" The ghost laughed as she approached Jian Fengzi.

Despite mentioning Wangsi Terrace, the female ghost showed no fear. Jian Fengzi, now flustered, stammered, "Wangsi Terrace… It has Lord Jiu Li's support…" His voice dwindled as he spoke.

"Dian Shan has no ties with the Jian family. On the contrary, the Holy Master of Jingtan often sends someone to check on you," the female ghost stated, rather than asking Jian Fengzi.

"I am dear to the Holy Master. If you so much as harm a single hair on my head, he will never forgive you!" Jian Fengzi regained his proud demeanor.

The female ghost curled the corners of her lips into a faint, mocking smile.

Though the meaning behind the smile was ambiguous, seeing that the ghost didn't halt her steps, it was clear she wasn't afraid of the Purifying Pond Saint Lord. Jian Fengzi had no choice but to seek another solution.

He stepped behind a tree trunk to buy some time. Pulling out a branch from his sleeve, he pointed its sharp end at the center of his palm. After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, closed his eyes, and stabbed downward with force.

Expecting a searing pain in his hand, Jian Fengzi opened his eyes.

The branch was mere fractions of an inch away from his palm.

The female ghost firmly grasped his wrist, suspended mid-air.

"Indeed, you have the heart to do such a thing to yourself!" the female ghost said angrily.

No sooner had the voice faded than a blur sliced down from the treetop. In the span of a single breath, the horrifying sound of flesh and bone parting echoed, and a geyser of blood splattered before Jian Fengzi's eyes.

The female ghost's severed hand fell from her wrist, hitting the ground and rolling several times before it came to rest, covered in dirt and decaying leaves.

With effortless grace, An Zhi landed before Jian Fengzi, intercepting their path. At that moment, the power to control fate returned firmly into his grasp.

The female ghost stumbled backward, staring at her bleeding stump. She laughed heartily, looking up at the sky.

After her laughter subsided, she stood still.

Feeling the gaze beneath the mask directed at him, An Zhi shuddered, "What are you looking at?! If you keep staring, I'll chop off your other hand too!"

Having relied on a surprise attack to sever the ghost's wrist, An Zhi wasn't sure if he could triumph over her again. He could only hope that she would retreat in the face of adversity.

Just then, the female ghost vanished before their eyes.

An Zhi's nerves relaxed as he exhaled deeply. Turning around, he saw Jian Fengzi staring at the ghost's severed limb with a pale face. Concerned, he asked, "Little Feng, are you alright?"

Jian Fengzi was momentarily dazed but soon regained his composure. Blinking, he shook his head and replied, "I'm fine."

In that instant, the earth rumbled, trees toppled, and a massive crevice split the ground.

Both of them were unable to escape in time and tumbled into the chasm.

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