Kindness and power

“Hey, did you guys see? That guy Feiguang—he betrayed Uncle Shui’s squad.”

“Tsk tsk! He didn’t look like the honest type anyway. It’s not like the Bureau’s benefits are bad, yet he actually tried to join the Dream-Hunter Society. Serves him right that the Director caught him and sealed his powers!”

“Hey, keep it down! He’s just a useless nobody now. Who knows how he’ll even survive from now on.”

“The Director is wise! In his state, no one would even hire him for manual labor. It’s truly gratifying!”

Several staff members clutching documents dispersed after their whispering. Feiguang passed by them as he was escorted out, having endured a gauntlet of verbal abuse from the staff along the way.

Haidier had completely sealed Feiguang’s power. He was now no different from an ordinary person, save for his knowledge and experiences of the 【Dreamscape】.

“Where are you taking me?” Feiguang asked casually. He was flanked by two fully armed staff members. The one on the left spoke.

“Orders from the Director. We are to escort you out so you can reunite with your sister.”

“What?” Feiguang’s eyes widened in shock. He had expected a prison cell to be his destination.

“Don’t look so surprised. Move it! You traitor to the Bureau!” The man on the right shoved him unceremoniously. His expression beneath the mask was one of gritted teeth; if it weren’t for Director Haidier’s orders, he likely would have given Feiguang a beating.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll retaliate?” Feiguang asked as he walked.

“No one is afraid of a defenseless traitor. Besides, the Director is monitoring your movements. Don’t even think about contacting the Dream-Hunter Society or any other organization again. You are just an ordinary person now,” the man on the left explained coldly.

“…” Feiguang fell silent, processing what the two members had said. He was soon escorted smoothly out of the Dream-Protection Bureau.

“Get lost! Damned traitor! Don’t ever come back!”

The hot-tempered member cursed as he stomped back into the Bureau. The “Sincerity Co., Ltd.” sign gleamed brilliantly, as if telling Feiguang one thing:

He was free.

Feiguang stared blankly at the glass door behind him—a place both familiar and strange, a place where his mistakes had ensured he could never return.

Had Haidier forgiven his crimes?

No. She had simply upheld one of the Bureau’s core regulations.

Never use Dreamscape powers to interfere with ordinary people. Even when facing Feiguang, who had become an “ordinary person” after his sealing, she treated him with the same impartiality.

Feiguang lowered his head despondently and left the Bureau in a state of ruin. Deprived of all his dream powers, the road to the hospital felt agonizingly long.

The setting sun sank into a warm-hued sky. As the starlight of dusk prepared to descend, Feiguang finally found a bus stop. Taking the last bus, he hurried to the hospital.

Stepping out of the elevator, Feiguang finally reached Tingting’s ward.

There seemed to be noise coming from inside—quite a commotion.

Tingting’s being mischievous again, Feiguang thought as he reached for the door. But the door moved unexpectedly, opening inward before he could touch it. Standing face-to-face with him was a grey-haired man.

“Teacher?!” Feiguang looked at Uncle Shui in surprise, unable to fathom why he was here.

“Take good care of her.” Uncle Shui showed little surprise. Instead, he took advantage of the gap beside Feiguang to brush past him quickly, walking away without looking back.

“Teacher! Wait!”

Feiguang called out. The lights in the hospital corridor seemed to soften, mirroring Uncle Shui’s slowing footsteps.

“Sigh…”

A long sigh drifted back from Uncle Shui’s retreating figure, but Feiguang did not see him turn around.

“Feiguang, regarding your sister’s illness—the Director will come periodically to treat her. You no longer need to toil away for those Dreamscape ingredients. Spend more time with her. Be a good brother.”

Thud, thud.

Uncle Shui stepped into the elevator, giving Feiguang no more time.

Feiguang reached a hand out toward his departing teacher, only to let it fall dejectedly.

“Brother Guang! Come in, quick! Teacher Uncle Shui brought so much stuff!” Tingting called out. Feiguang suppressed the emotions surging in his heart, forced a smile, and entered the room.

“What is it, Tingting?” Feiguang sat on a chair, noticing various bags scattered across the table.

“I looked through them! Teacher Uncle Shui brought fruit, plus tons of snacks and books! And this afternoon, a girl Uncle Shui knows came by—she could do magic! she performed so many tricks for me, like conjuring little blue flying fish. When I touched the fish, I felt like my illness was all better!” Tingting giggled, raising both arms to flex her “muscles.”

Looking at the spirited and lively Tingting, Feiguang continued his questioning.

“What did the magician girl look like?”

“Hmm, let me think. She had sapphire-colored eyes and was dressed like a princess! There was a huge ribbon on her clothes! I want an outfit like that too!”

From Tingting’s description, Feiguang could confirm that the “magician” was indeed Director Haidier.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Not ‘cured’ yet, but I feel incredibly energetic, and my body doesn’t hurt randomly anymore.” Tingting nodded emphatically.

“Let me see your back, okay?”

“Okay, Brother Guang.”

Tingting turned around and sat obediently. Feiguang brushed aside her long black hair to reveal the area at the base of her neck. Originally, there had been a purple protrusion the size of a fist—it was hideous. But now, it looked like a common scrape, leaving only a faint purple trace.

“Tingting, your illness… it’s improving!” Feiguang gasped.

“Really? Quick, give me a mirror!”

“I’ll take a photo.”

Feiguang snapped a picture with his phone. Tingting immediately snatched it to look. Upon seeing the image, her eyes widened; she hugged the phone to her chest and began jumping up and down on the bed with joy!

“Brother Guang! I’m finally going to get better!”

“Yeah. Yeah!”

Feiguang’s feelings at this moment were beyond words. Tingting’s condition was the result of a Dreamscape encounter; top-tier hospitals were helpless against that “tumor,” and he had relied on Dreamscape ingredients from the Society just to keep her alive. But now, through the intervention of the Bureau’s highest authority, she was nearly well.

“I can wear off-the-shoulder dresses in the future! No one will ever laugh at me again! Brother Guang.” Tingting laughed and pulled on Feiguang’s arm. Feiguang wiped his eyes and nodded, a warm tear rolling down his fingertip.

Thank you… Director. And you, Teacher.

Location: Dream-Protection Bureau

“You have my deepest gratitude! Thank you for showing leniency to Feiguang!” Uncle Shui bowed in thanks to Haidier, who was currently eating. Haidier set down her chopsticks and gave a slight nod.

“It was just a specialized healing spell combined with a bit of spatial transfer; it didn’t take much time. Besides, how could I sit idly by when I know someone is suffering from a Dreamscape-induced illness?” Haidier waved her hand for Uncle Shui to stand, but his eyes remained filled with gratitude.

“Alright, stop thanking me on behalf of your precious pupil. Rescuing victims of Dreamscape encounters is the very purpose of our Bureau. I was quite harsh with him—it’s a matter of balancing discipline with mercy,” Haidier explained. To outsiders, she had only punished Feiguang by sealing his powers, but behind the scenes, she had brought hope to his sister.

“By the way, Director, what about Members Feng and Xu Xiaoyu? Should I let them go home?”

“No. Let them stay here for the time being. I can feel it… the Thirty-Fourth Dream Door will come looking for them. I intend to handle that personally when the time comes.”

Haidier looked up at the ceiling. The lightbulb flickered, as if it might go out at any moment.