Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dream

After committing the incantation to memory, I was just about to test the power of the Heaven and Earth Mirror when Lin Weiyan stopped me and said, “With your current level of cultivation, you’re not able to wield the Heaven and Earth Mirror. You should take a look at the notes that Old Mr. Jiang left you first.”

Since Lin Weiyan had said so, I could only nod in agreement.

At that moment, Feng Zimo’s voice drifted in. “Hey, what are you two doing, hiding away together in a room? Alone, man and woman… are you two…?”

Hearing this, a blush rose on Lin Weiyan’s cheeks. “You crazy idiot, what nonsense are you spouting?” she snapped back at Feng Zimo, who was just outside the study.

Opening the study door, I saw Feng Zimo staring vacantly at a flat-screen TV.

I walked over and asked, “Feng, what are you watching?”

He glanced up at me, a look of approval in his eyes. “I like that, calling me ‘Feng.’”

Lin Weiyan, however, was dissatisfied. “You’re still calling him ‘Feng’? Might as well call him ‘Madman.’”

Feng Zimo didn’t mind at all. He chuckled, “Call me whatever you like. It’s just a name.”

“So what do we do next? Can we keep investigating these cases?” I asked.

Lin Weiyan replied, “Given the current situation, it’ll be very difficult.”

Feng Zimo nodded in agreement.

Honestly, I didn’t need them to tell me it would be hard. But just because it’s hard, should we give up? So many lives lost—should we let their deaths go unavenged?

I’m not some savior, but since fate has placed this in my path, I can’t let the murderer go unpunished.

Maybe others would say I’m meddling or overestimating myself. To me, none of that matters; I just want a clear conscience.

So I said to Lin Weiyan and the others, “Even if it’s hard, I have to try.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Zimo tried to persuade me, “Are you crazy? Think about it carefully. The Phantom Demon isn’t an ordinary demon.”

Lin Weiyan also tried to dissuade me. “Brother Chuyun, there’s no need for you to take such a risk.”

I replied, “You don’t need to persuade me. I know I can’t defeat the Phantom Demon now, but I want to try.”

Lin Weiyan said, “All right, since your mind is made up, I’m with you.”

“And me too! I support Big Brother!” Xiaoling poked her head out of a room, chiming in.

Feng Zimo, seeing that everyone had voiced their support, let out a sigh. “Ah, count me in as well.”

“Thank you, Feng. Really, thank you all for protecting and helping me,” I said gratefully.

Lin Weiyan smiled softly and looked at me. “Brother Chuyun, since you’ve decided, you should hurry and improve your cultivation.”

Not wanting to hold them back, I locked myself in a room and pored over the notes Old Jiang had left me.

In his notes, I found that Old Jiang had recorded many interesting tales of exorcism, as well as methods and spells for banishing demons.

At first, the spells he’d written seemed incomprehensible, but gradually I began to understand a little. By the fifth page, I realized that most spells were fundamentally similar—the difference lay in personal insight and mental discipline.

I spent the whole afternoon practicing in my room and felt I’d made significant progress. Stretching, I happened to spot a cup; an idea struck me, and I tried using a spell to make it float.

Amazingly, it worked. I was overjoyed—I really had improved.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Xiaoling’s voice called from outside, “Big Brother, it’s time to eat! If you’re late, Feng will finish everything.”

I opened the door to find Xiaoling adorably nibbling on a chicken leg. She grabbed my hand and led me to the living room.

At the table, Feng Zimo was still completely absorbed in the TV. Curious about what show could have him so entranced, I glanced at the screen.

“Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf.”

“Is it any good?” I asked.

Without even looking at me, Feng Zimo nodded.

Lin Weiyan placed some food in my bowl and asked, “How did your training go this afternoon?”

“Not bad. I’ve made a lot of progress compared to before,” I replied.

Lin Weiyan then said, “From now on, you all should stay here. It’s safer for us to look after each other together.”

At her words, Feng Zimo reluctantly tore his gaze from the TV and looked at her. “That’s fine with me. I agree.”

And with that, his eyes returned to the screen.

I thought to myself, You just want to stay here and watch TV.

But Lin Weiyan was right. Ever since I learned that demons existed in this world, danger could strike at any moment. Besides, living here would also save on rent, and Old Jiang had already left me this villa.

“All right,” I said.

Hearing my agreement, Xiaoling put down her chicken leg and clapped her hands. “Great! Now Big Brother can play with me every day!”

Her innocent smile warmed my heart, and I smiled too.

After dinner, I shut myself in my room again. To become stronger and not drag them down, I had to push myself to train even harder.

Opening the notebook, I sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating in the second stage, entering a meditative state.

I don’t know how much time passed, but a wave of drowsiness came over me, and I fell asleep.

In my dreams, I found myself playing cards with the Black and White Wardens of the Underworld again. No matter what, I refused to play, and then the Emperor appeared.

He led me to a river whose waters ran red, its banks overgrown with strange flowers.

I stood at his side as he spread open a black fan in his hand. Gazing at the crimson river, he spoke slowly, “Do you know why the Other Shore Flowers bloom here?”

“Because of the red river…” I began.

The Emperor shook his head. “The Other Shore Flowers only bloom along the Road to the Underworld…”

“You mean this is the Road to the Underworld?”

He nodded. “That’s right. It’s also the road you must walk.”

“What do you mean?”

The Emperor let out a cold laugh. “You really don’t know what I mean? Have you found any clues about the Soul-Gathering Pearl I asked you to seek?”

When he asked that, I actually had questions for him.

So I said, “Let’s not talk about the Soul-Gathering Pearl just yet. I have a question for you first.”

“What is it? Go ahead,” said the Emperor.

“The other day, you said you’d given me a pair of Yin-Yang Eyes. Are they truly Yin-Yang Eyes?” I asked.

He replied, “Haven’t you already figured it out? Why ask what you already know?”

“Yes, I have figured it out. I just don’t understand—why did you set me up?” I demanded.

The Emperor shook his head with a cold chuckle. “If I really wanted to harm you, do you think you’d still be alive now?”

“Then why did you do it? Was it really for the Soul-Gathering Pearl?” I pressed.