A fleeting dream

Sizzle—

A crimson hue fell from the darkness overhead like a falling star. The moment it dripped onto the flat ground, it blossomed with a radiance akin to a sunrise on the city horizon.

So bright.

Xu Feng couldn’t help but raise a hand to shield her eyes, observing the fading light through the gaps in her fingers.

Whirrr—

The moment the light vanished into the dark, a heatwave surged against her face following the light’s descent; an ancient, savage aura came howling forth.

It smelled coarse—like rust mixed with yellow sand? And the scent of soil after a heavy rain?

Xu Feng felt her body gradually grow hot and dry, as if the moisture was being steamed right out of her.

The world fortified by darkness began to teeter. Whether above or below, in front or behind, the darkness flickered as if being burned, scorched into holes of varying sizes. They looked like fatal bugs in a world’s program—once triggered, they were like a cancer that could not be stopped.

Xu Feng saw something through those gaps.

The blueprint of a bustling, ancient green city? A golden herd galloping under the sun? And a general, eyes closed, sitting quietly against an ancient green tree with a long halberd in hand?

Xu Feng quickly rubbed her eyes to clear her vision and look at those gaps again. Her gaze stopped on the general she had just seen.

What was wrong with that general? His golden armor was covered in terrible wounds. His shattered helmet and visor hung beneath the blood-stained halberd. Looking closer, his tattered brown cloak was stained crimson, and a peculiar blood-color was spreading across the earth.

Who was he?

Xu Feng looked toward the areas where the gaps had not spread. The blazing liquid had cooled into a dark gold, seemingly connected to that general.

What did this dream foreshadow?

Xu Feng couldn’t figure it out. She wanted to take a closer look at the contents of the other gaps, but the darkness surged back to life, covering them like growing moss.

Who was obstructing her?

Xu Feng walked forward in confusion. The pancake-shaped cooling product was glowing; she could crouch down and touch it.

It was slightly warm and felt extremely grainy to the touch.

Xu Feng lifted her hand. It looked as if a bottle of sparkling powder had been scattered over her palm—it was very bright.

Click!

The sound of a switch being flipped.

A white light struck down again in a nearby corner.

“Hi. How does the touch of God’s Blood feel?”

The boy’s voice was crisp and efficient. Xu Feng knew it well.

“Average. But it’s you again.” Xu Feng walked forward, seeing that same armchair and the black-haired boy sitting elegantly upon it.

“How have you been lately?” The black-haired boy raised his right hand. A glass of red wine appeared abruptly in his white glove, which he offered to Xu Feng as if in a toast.

“Better than ever.” Xu Feng didn’t take the glass. Instead, she crossed her arms irritably, glaring at the boy’s golden eyes.

“You’re really getting more and more adapted to your body. Does being a girl feel that good?” The black-haired boy gave a mocking smile, lightly swirled the wine in his glass, and took a small sip.

“None of your business. Besides, I don’t think you’re old enough to drink.” Xu Feng was much more frank in facing the boy now, perhaps because her mindset had changed. Though he was mysterious, he didn’t seem to have any intention of harming her.

“Only after tasting the wine yourself do you know the flavor. Just like how only after personally touching the dreamscape and becoming what you are now do you know what it feels like for life to be a dream, isn’t that right? Miss Xu Feng.” The boy turned the empty glass toward Xu Feng, then let go, allowing it to fall into the swamp-like ground.

“I don’t like what you’re calling me…” Xu Feng shook her head, her brow furrowing.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. Back to the previous topic—you saw it all, didn’t you? The scenes of another world. A bleeding deity.” The boy interlaced his fingers and leaned forward, looking at Xu Feng’s face with great interest.

“So what if I saw it? Should I send him to a hospital?” Xu Feng didn’t care much; the information was too fragmented.

“Perk up. That is the place you are about to go, whether you want to or not.”

“Huh?” Xu Feng looked at the boy in surprise. Ignoring her confusion, the boy pulled a coin from his suit pocket and flipped it toward her.

“Hold onto it. Prepare to pay the price for 【Foreseeing the Future】.” The boy resumed his elegant sitting posture, a standard youthful smile on his face.

“Since the price can be paid with your coin, why don’t you give me a few more?” Xu Feng examined the uniquely shaped coin in her hand; it was roughly the size of two one-yuan coins.

“One at a time. If you do well on the tasks, I’ll give you more.”

“Who asked you about tasks? We aren’t in a boss-subordinate relationship, pfft~” Xu Feng stuck her tongue out at the boy dismissively; her personality had become more childlike.

“You will do it. It’s simple: just enter the dream and come back out. Of course, you don’t have to go to the Dream-Protection Bureau, but your sister will be the one to suffer.” The boy stated the facts while maintaining his smile, lightly resting his left hand on his forehead.

“Show me some evidence! How can I believe you if you just talk?” On the surface, Xu Feng acted like she didn’t care, but her hand had already tightened slightly.

“I’m only telling you this: whether you believe it or not, you will choose the former.” The boy’s expression turned cold, like a bystander removed from the situation.

“You… you’re always so cryptic. Who exactly are you!” Xu Feng reached out in anger to grab him, but the boy didn’t dodge. He simply squared his chest and let Xu Feng seize his collar.

At such close range, Xu Feng saw the boy’s face clearly. He was a carbon copy of herself, except for the different hair and eye colors.

“Getting this close… do you want to kiss me?” the boy teased mockingly.

“Get lost!” Xu Feng shoved him away and quickly retreated. her face flushed slightly red; she felt a sense of cognitive dissonance from losing her temper at “herself.” She was angry, but it felt strange.

“Since you’re so amusing, I might as well tell you my name. Let’s have a bit more trust between us, Boss.”

“You want to work for me? I don’t want an employee like you.” Xu Feng puffed her cheeks and glared at him.

” ‘Boss’ is my name,” the boy corrected helplessly.

“So narcissistic! Capitalist!” Xu Feng spat at the boy. Knowing he wasn’t liked, the boy clapped his hands, causing everything around them to begin twisting.

“Time to wake up. Your phone is ringing. If my math is right, it’s the Dream-Protection Bureau calling.”

“Just get lost! Let me go back to reality!”

Just as Xu Feng finished cursing the boy, the darkness before her receded like a tide. She was once again in her teenage boy form, lying on the sofa. The phone was buzzing on the floor.

Buzz! Buzz!

Xu Feng picked up the phone and saw the caller ID.

Uncle Shui.

Xu Feng glanced around. The room door was wide open; her sister and Weijiu were gone. They weren’t napping.

【Big brother! I’m being taken to the Dream-Protection Bureau by Sister Xiaoyu!】

Weijiu’s voice transmitted into Xu Feng’s mind. Xu Feng felt that things were taking a turn for the worse.

“Mangqiu, deactivate the voice filter.”

“You got it.”

Xu Feng restored her voice and then canceled the magic. Reverting to her original form, she answered Uncle Shui’s call.

“Hello? Uncle Shui, what’s up?”

“I sent a message for Xiaoyu to bring you here. When will you arrive? The Director wants to meet you both personally.”

“Oh! We’re about to head out! Be there soon!”

“Alright, hurry up.”

The call ended. Xu Feng pulled out her hairpin and rushed out from the balcony, soaring into the blue sky above.

She absolutely could not let anything the boy said come true!