Chapter 362: Nightmare’s Sleep-Inducing Techniques (10)

Chapter 362: Nightmare's Sleep-Inducing Techniques (10)

Inside the ornately decorated coffin, the air gradually thinned.

Song Chuyi propped himself up with one hand against the coffin wall, clicking his tongue softly.

Was this going to be a game of cat and mouse?

Speaking of which, what kind of nightmares did Jiang Zhuxiu believe humans experienced?

Humans are truly strange creatures.

They often love and fear the same thing at the same time.

It’s just that their feelings change over time, so their fear and joy vary.

To easily absorb human negativity in dreams, the Nightmare Clan creates something all living beings universally fear.

Death.

But death by itself isn’t enough.

Death can scare people, but it can also give them courage.

The will to survive.

Song Chuyi pushed against the coffin lid with one hand, smirking slightly as he applied force.

The coffin lid cracked, and air flooded in.

Even in a dream, the suffocating feeling was all too real.

The rush of air felt real too.

He took a deep breath, kicked the lid open, and climbed out.

Sure enough, he was in a mass grave.

This was the kind of place that would send chills down anyone’s spine.

Song Chuyi stepped out, and mud quickly dirtied his white shoes.

He walked forward, feeling as though demons and monsters were luring him from behind.

This path seemed to stretch on forever.

But he pressed on until he heard the whoosh of air behind him.

Song Chuyi dodged to the side and turned to face the newcomer.

It was a swirling mass of black mist, shapeless and indistinct.

"Are you here to kill me?"

Jiang Zhuxiu’s voice echoed from the black mist.

"You’re meant to die."

Song Chuyi nearly cracked.

Creating a dream is one thing, but why are you getting involved personally?

He pretended not to recognize Jiang Zhuxiu's voice and shot back:

"Why should I die?"

Jiang Zhuxiu did not answer him.

The sword's energy sliced through the air, aimed to kill him.

Song Chuyi casually grabbed a branch and clashed with him.

Though Jiang Zhuxiu was a Nightmare, his swordsmanship paled next to Song Chuyi's, who had mastered the art.

But Jiang Zhuxiu could control the dream.

Suddenly, the branch in Song Chuyi's hand vanished.

A cold blade pressed against Song Chuyi's neck.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes sparkling like stars.

"I’m okay with dying."

He whispered softly.

"I need to see him."

"Who?" the black mist hissed.

"Jiang Zhuxiu," Song Chuyi said, his eyes fixed on the black mist. "Have you seen him?"

The black mist remained silent.

Song Chuyi continued, "I don’t know where I am or why I’m here."

"You want to kill me, and I won’t ask why. I just need to see him, okay?"

After a long pause, a raspy voice emerged from the black mist.

"Why do you need to see him?"

Song Chuyi leaned back against the rough bark, his body slowly relaxing.

"Do you understand love?"

He smiled, his face glowing with happiness.

"I’m in love with him."

"So I need to see him before I die."

Shadows had long enveloped the burial ground; he had nowhere to run, nor did he need to.

In the black mist, Jiang Zhuxiu sensed the fear emanating from Song Chuyi.

Fear... his favorite negative emotion.

Eagerly, Jiang Zhuxiu pulled the fear from him.

Rolled into a ball and popped into his mouth.

Incredibly sweet.

It was the sweetest taste of negative emotion he'd ever experienced.

This sweetness was enough to ease the long wait he'd endured, fading the blood-red in his eyes significantly.

He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Suddenly, a wave of extreme bitterness surged up, filling his entire mouth.

Jiang Zhuxiu's pupils narrowed sharply.

How could this be... how could this be happening!

This intense bitterness... it was happiness.

But why would Song Chuyi be happy, even in the face of death?

Jiang Zhuxiu, hidden in the black fog, rasped in confusion.

"Why are you happy?"

Song Chuyi slightly raised his eyebrows, "Why what?"

"Why are you happy?" he asked.

"Just thinking of him fills me with joy," Song Chuyi replied.

The black fog lingered in silence for a moment.

"Why are you scared?"

His fear was genuine, yet he had savored that hint of sweetness.

It was a sweetness so palpable.

"The thought of dying and never seeing him again scares me a little," Song Chuyi said.

He hugged his knees, head tilted slightly against them.

"Afraid he'd be heartbroken, afraid he'd long for me."

"Yet, I'm overwhelmed with happiness."

"Just the thought of him brings me immense joy, even in my final moments."

Fear intertwined with happiness is like a candy—sweet on the outside, with a core of bitter dark chocolate.

Sweet on the surface, bitter within.

For the first time, Jiang Zhuxiu experienced such a "candy."

A blend of sweet and bitter, leaving him uncertain whether he was consuming negative or positive emotions.

Uncomprehending of humans, Jiang Zhuxiu was propelled by his nightmare instincts.

His sole desire was to consume negative emotions. In this bittersweet paradox, Jiang Zhuxiu found himself lost between the realms of joy and despair.

The sword pressed against Song Chuyi's neck disappeared.

A chilling laugh came from the black mist.

"You wish to see him? Very well, I’ll grant you that."

The scene abruptly changed, turning warm and inviting.

Song Chuyi blinked in surprise; it was Jiang Zhuxiu’s office.

But the 'Jiang Zhuxiu' before him was embracing a young man, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

The young man’s back was turned, obscuring his face.

Song Chuyi nearly burst out laughing.

If they were trying to fool him, they should’ve picked someone else, don’t you think?

Wasn’t that young man actually him?

Though the face was hidden, he recognized the small red mole behind the left ear better than anyone.

He glanced to his right, where the black mist loomed.

The voice emanating from the black mist was frigid.

"He’s betrayed you. You ought to be furious, don’t you think?"

Song Chuyi struggled to stifle his laughter and forced out, "Yes, I loved him deeply, and he betrayed me. I should be enraged."

The black mist appeared content.

Shadows coiled around Song Chuyi’s forehead.

Jiang Zhuxiu sensed it—the anger radiating from Song Chuyi.

Humans truly loathe betrayal.

This time, he could savor the sweetest essence.

Jiang Zhuxiu drew that anger in and relished it on his tongue.

It was undeniably sweet.

He grinned, satisfied.

But then a wave of bitterness washed over him.

Jiang Zhuxiu was baffled.

"What’s got you so cheerful?" he finally blurted out.

Song Chuyi couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst out laughing.

"You’re just too cute."

Song Chuyi extended his hand and gave the black mist a gentle shove.

The black mist abruptly scattered, unveiling Jiang Zhuxiu’s form.

Unlike his tall, aloof human appearance, Jiang Zhuxiu in the dream sported two demonic horns.

A slender tail with a hooked tip trailed behind him.

His face grew even more striking, blending coldness with a hint of allure, a paradox that begged to be unraveled.