Dream Gate and Balance

Guided by Uncle Shui, Xu Feng arrived at Zhishang’s laboratory once more. This time, the layout was significantly cleaner and more organized than her previous visit. Most of the instruments were humming in operation, their red and green lights reflecting off the glass partitions, lending the space a much more professional, experimental atmosphere.

Zhishang was sitting in his swivel chair. Upon noticing their arrival, he immediately stood up to welcome them. His attitude toward Xu Feng was exceptionally warm, as if he had found a fascinating and brilliant case study.

“Come, take a seat. I’ll brew something for you to drink and grab some of my homemade snacks.” Zhishang bustled about, making tea and pulling treats from a cabinet. His overwhelming hospitality made Xu Feng feel a bit self-conscious.

Uncle Shui watched Zhishang’s enthusiastic display with a slight nod and a smile, turning to leave with a quiet reminder.

“Zhishang, make sure to communicate with her thoroughly. You might find something new.”

“Ah, I know, Uncle Shui.”

Zhishang rubbed his hands together, seemingly confident in his ability to unravel the secrets of Xu Feng’s Scale Mark.

Xu Feng sat in a chair where her feet could just reach the floor. The fragrant aroma wafting from the teacup made her feel instantly refreshed.

“Can I take a sip before we start the test?” Xu Feng asked, blinking.

“Of course! Please, help yourself. This was all prepared for you, so don’t be shy. Drink up.”

“Then I won’t hold back! Slurp~“

Xu Feng held the cup with both hands, sipping the hot liquid carefully. After a few gulps, she put the cup down, recognizing two familiar flavors in the drink: blood and coffee.

“Let me top that up for you while I tell you about my findings from last night.”

“Yay!” Xu Feng happily held her cup out to Zhishang.

After filling her cup, Zhishang pulled a stack of reports from a nearby desk. Xu Feng didn’t think much of it, simply cradling her tea and letting her taste buds revel in the delicious liquid.

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the connection between the Scale and its authority. Based on yesterday’s experiments, I think I was looking in the wrong direction. Since you obtained your power from a dream, this Scale Mark should be the manifestation of an ability belonging to that world. Therefore, I investigated the records of the recently sealed thirty-third Dream Gate and found some data related to the Scales.”

Zhishang pulled a vibrant, colored image from the reports. Three things were clearly visible:

A village shrouded in mist, terrified humans, and crimson eyes lurking within the fog. The humans appeared to be the weakest link, caught right in the middle of two unknown forces.

Xu Feng’s pupils dilated. She put down her tea in surprise and took the paper from Zhishang’s hand, studying it intensely for a long moment before closing her eyes to think.

“I think… I was right there when I entered the dream.”

“Exactly. That is also where we conducted our rescue operation.”

“So, what does this have to do with the Scale?” Xu Feng put the report down and pointed to her forehead.

“The Trade. The Scale is the symbol of ‘trade’ for the Vampires of that world.” Zhishang spoke succinctly, leaving Xu Feng momentarily dazed.

“What trade?”

“Literally. It allows for the exchange of certain things. From what we can tell, there seem to be no specific limits to it yet.” Zhishang spoke seriously, his gaze toward Xu Feng a mix of excitement and a trace of concern.

“Trade…” Xu Feng searched her memory. Had she traded anything? Buying things normally didn’t seem to have any side effects, and her physical change was due to Weijiu’s blood.

“A trade usually requires a witness. Feng, have you seen anyone or spoken to anyone about matters regarding an exchange?” Zhishang prompted.

Xu Feng thought even harder. The only thing remotely related to an exchange was the scene where those two men in black swapped money for a Dream-Seed.

Wait—and then there was that place reached by the white light… the black-haired boy sitting on the chair.

“I’ve seen a boy. He seems to be able to tell me things in my dreams,” Xu Feng summarized. Hearing this, Zhishang immediately leaned in for details.

“Is it a simple dream? You didn’t enter another world, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. But I can ‘wake up’ within the dream, and then a light shines down, illuminating certain scenes and objects.” Xu Feng tried her best to pinpoint the key details. Zhishang sat back in his chair, closing his eyes and frowning. A few seconds later, he snapped them open.

“Did you foresee through a dream that the Level 4 Dream Husk would be lying in ambush today?”

“Ah, I suppose so.” Xu Feng nodded.

“Prophetic dreams. That is a formidable authority. Did you pay a price for it?”

“Uh…” Xu Feng went silent.

Becoming a girl was probably the biggest price, wasn’t it? But that’s a secret!

“No,” Xu Feng replied with a firm expression.

“Are you sure? You shouldn’t hide these things.” Zhishang was genuinely concerned; such a young child had already endured so much from a dream event.

“Well… if there is one, it’s that my race has changed.” Xu Feng fidgeted with her fingers, turning her head away in slight embarrassment.

“Sigh… I suppose so.” Zhishang categorized the racial change as part of the “price.”

Thinking about Zhishang’s words, Xu Feng suddenly remembered the term “Dream Gate” and followed up quickly.

“Uncle Zhishang, what is a Dream Gate? And why is it the thirty-third one?”

“Oh, Uncle Shui must not have mentioned it. A Dream Gate is the boundary the Bureau uses to separate reality from the dream world. It exists in a form similar to a door, controlled and opened or closed by a Director. Every time a ‘Dream-Entry’ incident occurs, a Dream Gate is created.”

“If a Director wants to go home, do they go through the Dream Gate as well?” The moment Xu Feng asked this, the mark on her forehead glowed faintly.

“Yes. But once a Dream Gate is closed, it takes a long time to reopen—usually over a year. Furthermore, the Bureau monitors the data of the dream-state; we only reopen a gate when it is guaranteed to be safe. After all, it involves the diplomatic exchange of species between two worlds, not to mention the existence of Dream Husks. There are just too many complications.”

Hearing this, Xu Feng touched her forehead, silently telling Weijiu to remain calm. As long as there was hope, it was enough.

Once Zhishang finished his assessment of the Scale Mark, Uncle Shui led Xu Feng to see the captured Level 4 Dream Husk and promised to give her the reward she had earned.

The reward for a formal reserve member.

Upon entering Uncle Shui’s office, Xu Feng’s eyes immediately landed on a black box sitting on the desk.

“Is there cash inside?” Xu Feng poked the box with her left hand.

“No, but something that will be much more helpful to you.” Uncle Shui flipped the box open, and a pungent herbal scent wafted out.

“Uncle Shui, what is this?” Xu Feng pinched her nose.

“A few miraculous medicines to hide your characteristics.” Uncle Shui reached in and pulled out a bottle containing a pale green solution.