Awake from the Dream

Night finally fell, and the sky seemed to be covered by dark clouds.

Rain poured down, turning into sharp swords striking against the window.

Listening to the sound of raindrops outside the window, Sui Ming sat alone in the guest room, chin resting on his hands, lost in thought.

If he analyzed it this way, then this illusion was Bai Luoxia’s knot in her heart.

If she was to recover, this knot must be untied.

But the problem was, the person had been found, but what exactly was that knot?

Could it be that he needed to beat up the entire empire so she could vent?

Or kill all those who had bullied her?

In any case, Sui Ming had no clue.

Not to mention, that was completely unrealistic.

Boom!!

Thunder roared outside, but Sui Ming maintained his original posture, unmoving, like a wooden figure.

Knock knock knock…

Suddenly, Sui Ming’s door was knocked on.

“Um… can I come in?”

A weak, girlish voice came from outside the door.

Slowly opening the door, he saw a seemingly pitiful blue-haired girl standing outside, hugging her pillow.

“You are…?”

“Lightning… I’m scared… I…”

First, he checked if his nose was bleeding. Although Sui Ming appeared calm on the surface, his heart felt as if a bomb had been planted inside.

Was this still the cold and ruthless Bai Luoxia he knew?!

How could she be so cute?

Resisting the urge to affectionately pinch her cheek like a greasy old man, Sui Ming gestured for her to come in.

The girl sat obediently by Sui Ming’s bed, her jewel-like eyes quietly watching outside the window.

“You look a bit troubled,” Sui Ming said, sitting beside the girl.

“It’s just… I feel… I’ve never been this content in my life…”

“After Father and Mother left the year before last, I felt there was no need for me to exist in this world anymore.”

“No matter who it was, they all seemed to not want me to live on. Teacher… you say… is my life truly worthless?”

“No, that’s not true,” Sui Ming said righteously.

“Everyone’s life is unique, therefore it holds a singular meaning.”

“The meaning of a hero protecting the country is to safeguard its people; the meaning of a high and mighty king is to maintain the country’s stability; the meaning of a small street vendor is to provide convenience for others.”

“There is no one in this world without meaning, and that absolutely includes you.”

“Meaning is something that you decide for yourself. If others give it, and it’s good, then listen. If it’s not good, just treat it as nonsense.”

“Haha—Teacher, what you’re saying.”

“Otherwise? Do you expect me to slap them to feel better? That works too, but it’s a bit violent.”

“So, Teacher, where do you find your meaning?”

“Me? Just living an ordinary life is fine. I don’t have many aspirations; I just hope to live a peaceful life, then get married, have children, and die surrounded by my family.”

“Perhaps that is my meaning?”

Although Sui Ming had lectured Bai Luoxia with many grand principles, the girl seemed to have only focused on one phrase.

Marry a wife?

An impractical thought suddenly blossomed in the girl’s mind.

If that wife were me…

“What’s wrong? Why is your face so red?”

“Nothing, nothing at all!”

Boom! A dazzling flash of lightning streaked across the sky outside the window, startling the girl, who was still lost in fantasy.

She immediately hugged Sui Ming beside her.

The latter was also startled by the girl’s actions, but given that her mind seemed to be like that of a seven or eight-year-old child, Sui Ming didn’t mind.

Just as long as she doesn’t throw me in jail later.

After a moment, Bai Luoxia realized her behavior was a bit… too intimate.

She quickly let go, turning into a steam engine once more.

“S-sorry…”

However, Sui Ming suddenly noticed something and immediately sat up from the bed.

A strong smell of burning permeated the air.

But it was raining now! Why would there be a fire?

Could it be…

“I’m going out for a bit, you stay here.”

But on second thought, since they were in her memory, she, as the protagonist, must be at the center of the event.

Grabbing a damp towel and covering the girl’s mouth and nose, Sui Ming said, “Forget it, come with me.”

However, unlike the upstairs, which was intact, the mansion downstairs had completely turned into a sea of fire.

Burning rafters suddenly collapsed, raising a cloud of dust.

“This is…”

Bai Luoxia murmured in disbelief, covering her mouth and nose.

Looking at the inferno, Sui Ming suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as if this scene had happened before.

“Teacher, are you okay?”

Bai Luoxia asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Xiaoxia, do you know the location of Mr. Heist’s room?”

“Mm-hmm, follow me!”

As they walked through the burning corridor, Sui Ming’s strange feeling grew stronger, even fiercely affecting his vision.

He had to let Bai Luoxia support him as they moved forward.

Finally, the two arrived at the end of the corridor.

“You’re here,” Heist said calmly.

“You… you are…” Sui Ming’s eyes gradually blurred, even Heist, who wasn’t far away, couldn’t be seen clearly.

Only a vague figure was visible.

“It seems you are still on the verge of memory integration. Do you need me to give you a push?”

Heist turned his head and said.

“No need, I can do it.”

A familiar female voice came from the side.

In the midst of the blazing inferno, a small crow now appeared and landed on Sui Ming’s shoulder.

The crow smiled sinisterly, and then a mysterious purple glow suddenly emanated from its wings.

“It’s time to remember some past events, Sui Ming.”

“Teacher! Teacher! What’s wrong with you? Teacher!… Teacher, don’t leave me… Teacher!”

The girl’s cries came from his ears, and Sui Ming’s consciousness seemed to sink into the sea, as past scenes unfolded before his eyes.

From their initial blade-to-blade encounter at the door, then teaching and learning, spending a beautiful time together, to Heist going astray, and finally being personally slain by him in the sea of fire.

To make Bai Luoxia always believe that Heist had always been a good person, Sui Ming voluntarily took the blame, declaring himself the culprit of all sins, and Heist had merely stood in his way.

Although this would make her hate him, it didn’t matter.

Instead of letting her feel that life was not worth living and resent the world’s injustice, it was better to let her carry hatred, regret the past, and aim to kill him.

And was this not a way to motivate her growth?

All these things now echoed in Sui Ming’s mind, lingering.

But now… “The dream, it’s time to wake up.”