Chapter 586 Asleep

Chapter 586: Slumber

"Hold tight?" Su Bai looked at the small shell of Xiao Wu before him, which looked even more childish than Yao's. A face that should have been completely disarming left him at a loss for how to react, his expression tinged with complexity.

If the other person were truly just a young child, a close little brother, then hugging, teasing, or even taking a playful bite, Su Bai wouldn't have had any problem with it.

But Su Bai knew full well that inside Xiao Wu's shell was that guy Wu Hang—the Ghost Witch Lord, who was still bound to him by a marriage contract, a terrifying Eerie Entity from the nightmare world, so mysterious and powerful it was beyond comprehension...

Knowing all this, if Su Bai really wanted to hug someone, he'd much rather hug Wu Hang's adult shell.

Otherwise, it just felt too wrong.

"Does it have to be this shell?" Su Bai hesitated, then asked in a low voice anyway.

Wu Hang didn't answer right away. Instead, as if something had hit a nerve, his gaze flickered briefly, and he looked away, a bit awkwardly.

A puppet crafted by a legendary puppeteer, with details so lifelike it was almost indistinguishable from a real person. At that moment, the "boy" lowered his eyelashes, looking a bit guilty, his voice dropping even softer: "I'd like to switch shells too... but unfortunately, I can't right now."

"It has to be this one. Because this puppet's construction is special—it's very closely tied to this shop. You could even say it's part of the shop itself." Wu Hang paused, forcing his expression into a serious, proper look.

"As long as you hold it and establish a strong enough connection, the shop itself can help you sort out the new power in your body, and also let you get a good, restful sleep to get through the most painful part of adapting to the power." His tone was calm as he said this, but a hint of softness crept into his eyes without him realizing it.

When dealing with others, Wu Hang was always cold and distant, barely bothering to acknowledge them. But in front of Su Bai, he never seemed to hold back that softness.

"Is that so?"

"But before we start, there are a few things I need to do."

Wu Hang's explanation made perfect sense, so Su Bai had no choice but to immediately shake off the jumbled thoughts in his head. He cleared his throat twice and sat up from the bed.

He set aside the business card Tian Yue had shoved at him earlier, then casually picked up the black phone from the nightstand.

It was a model provided by the Special Action Unit—solid build, with a heavy feel. Though when dealing with Eerie Entities, it was far less useful than the items from the shop, it made up for it by being durable and having a long battery life. Su Bai casually pressed the power button; the remaining charge was still plenty.

First, Su Bai called the caregiver looking after his mother in Honghuai City, explaining that he might need more time before he could return home. As for other matters, the three-story building in Honghuai City had been reinforced by the Mist Shop's power when Wu Hang was playing the role of Xiao Wu, so no unexpected dangers would arise.

Then, he called Qingliu University, stating his name and his identity as an incoming freshman. He explained that some urgent family matters required his attention and that he might need to delay his enrollment.

Based on past experience, the physical issues would last at least half a month. Though Su Bai's body was now much stronger than before, the power he needed to tame was far greater than last time, and he had no idea how long it would take.

Su Bai's request was somewhat abrupt, but after the university checked that he was the top scorer in the college entrance exam among Qingliu University's new students and was supposed to speak as the freshman representative at the opening ceremony, the person on the other end expressed regret but still hoped Su Bai could resolve his situation quickly and enroll smoothly.

After finishing both calls, Su Bai fell silent for a moment.

It seemed there was nothing left in the real world that required his personal attention. His ties to it were sparse—just that three-story building and his bedridden mother.

In comparison, the bonds he had forged in the nightmare world seemed far more numerous.

"Let's begin."

Taking advantage of his remaining energy, Su Bai washed up properly and changed into more comfortable clothes. Then he lay back down on the bed, adjusting to a cozier position. Pillowing his head on one arm, he closed his eyes and let out a faint sigh.

Perhaps due to the excessive depletion of his strength during the fight against the Eerie Tree, a wave of exhaustion struck without warning. As soon as Su Bai's head touched the soft pillow, his consciousness felt as if something was slowly pulling it away.

Just before drowsiness fully overtook him, he sensed a small body drawing near, its arms too short as it tried to embrace him.

Su Bai didn't open his eyes, but the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl up slightly. He knew who it was, so he instinctively reached out, gently encircling the small figure in his arms. His movements were tender but firm, and he held the other tightly.

Su Bai could feel the small body in his arms stiffen for a moment upon being held, but soon it stubbornly shifted, as if trying to reclaim control. Slowly, it extended its arms and hugged him back.

The Ghost Witch Lord clearly did not want to be cradled like a child.

"Don't move. This is more comfortable." Su Bai said, instinctively tightening his hold a little more, firmly embracing the puppet.

Hearing this, the puppet in his arms seemed to let out a soft sigh, then obediently allowed itself to be held, acting as a well-behaved, oversized pillow.

The puppet's body was cold, but when Su Bai held it tightly, he only felt a deep sense of reassurance.

"Don't worry. Leave everything to me." Wu Hang's voice fell by Su Bai's ear, as light as a whisper.

Listening to his voice, Su Bai sank deeply into slumber.

He dreamed he was immersed in water.

The water was warm and clear, utterly different from any source in the real world or the nightmare world. It didn't make it hard to breathe; instead, it carried a refreshing coolness that brought comfort.

The water enveloped Su Bai, flowing through every corner of his body, leaving him only with ease and tranquility, as if something was gently protecting him.

The current was neither fast nor slow, and everything around him calmed and slowed down along with it. After such a long time, Su Bai could finally let his guard down completely, just like in the distant past when his mother and Su Xuan were by his side—free from anxiety, with no need for vigilance.

Su Bai, immersed in the water, had no idea how much time had passed. He could only hear the rhythmic sound of water echoing in his ears. Sometimes, in his daze, he could faintly make out Wu Hang's voice, but it seemed to come from very far away, making it hard for Su Bai to discern what he was saying.

Yet that voice brought him great comfort.

This process went on for who knows how long.

Then, one day, still lost in his dream, Su Bai vaguely heard a familiar but irritating voice, one that disturbed his sleep, ringing in his ear—

"Dear nightmare world resident..."