Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 23 Dream Boat

At some point, Ren Yuan was awakened by the glaring sunlight. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and shaded them with his hands.

When he saw that he was raising his hand instead of his hoof, he almost shed tears of happiness. He was finally free from that endless nightmare!

He stood up and looked around, and found that he was on a wooden boat. There was endless calm water all around the boat and nothing else.

"Is anyone there?" Ren Yuan called out, but there was no response. He searched the deck again, but still saw no one. He also didn't know where the sailors had gone. Were they all in the cabin?
But the door to the cabin was tightly closed and could not be opened no matter how hard he pushed. He knocked and called out hard, but there was no response from inside the cabin.

~~
There was no wind or waves, and the boundless water surface was as calm as a mirror, empty and lonely. Only this wooden boat was moored there alone, with its shadow as companion.

The boat was quite large, about ten zhang long and two zhang wide, with no oars or sails, and no one knew how it got here.

Ren Yuan sat cross-legged at the bow. After several unsuccessful attempts, he gave up the idea of opening the hatch and decided to sort out his thoughts first.

I got on this boat through the Youxian Pillow, so this should be the dreamland that the mountain goddess sister talked about.

Moreover, he brought dry food bags and water buckets on board, which proved that this was not an illusory spiritual world, but a real world.

It’s a pity that there is no one on the boat and we don’t know how to steer the boat, otherwise it would be wonderful to take the opportunity to travel around the legendary ten continents, three islands, four seas and five lakes.

But Wang Xiang and Fang Liang have been studying this boat for three years and have gained nothing. They estimate that their dream cannot be realized for the time being.

It is better to verify first whether this so-called "dream world" is the same as the world in your dreams.

The method is simple.

Ren Yuan sat cross-legged in meditation, looking inward at the furnace of creation, and saw a golden vortex slowly turning.

Then he inhaled, concentrated his thoughts, and silently recited the Golden Light Secret.

Soon, he "saw" the magnificent Jianmu tree growing in the depths of the ocean, towering to the sky and connecting to the ground, and the nine golden crows living on it.

It was exactly the same as what I had seen in my previous dream.

This basically means that he had entered this world when he was dreaming before. But before, only his consciousness entered, but now, by riding this "dream boat", even his body can enter.

This is really incredible. Ren Yuan always thought that dreams were illusions, but he didn't expect that the dreams in this world are actually real!

But how do I explain why my dreams are the same every night?
Ren Yuan thought about it but still had no idea. As he thought about it, he suddenly laughed. This is a world where people, gods and ghosts coexist. Anything can happen. Before you have enough information, all speculations are meaningless. As the saying goes-

When humans think, gods laugh.

Now all I have to know is that the dreamland here is a real world, but the flow of time is ten times faster than in reality; and that I can use the Youxian Pillow to let my body enter the dreamland!
Even if I can never find a way to start this boat, I can still use it as a time house!

~~
Ever since he knew how terrible this world was, Ren Yuan had been eager to become stronger and to have the power to protect himself. This Dream Boat was definitely a magical tool to help him practice!

After finally calming down the ecstasy in his heart, Ren Yuan couldn't wait to continue guiding the golden light into his body.

As he entered a state of oblivion of both himself and the world, the golden light, which was many times brighter than in reality, once again rushed into the House of Life and Death, passing through the Red Emperor Palace, like thousands of golden silk threads continuously hanging down into the Furnace of Creation.

In the furnace of creation, the originally thin golden vortex quickly thickened and turned into a blazing white nebula.

Ren Yuan stayed on the boat, practicing the Golden Light Technique diligently during the day and slept soundly at night. Although his life was boring and monotonous, he was content with it.

Five days passed by in the blink of an eye.

~~
"Cock-a-doodle-doo..." The crowing of roosters echoed throughout the village.

Ren Yuan was also awakened by the crowing of a rooster. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in reality.

He turned sideways and found Sister A-Yao lying on the bed, sleeping with her chin supported by her arms.

Sleeping Beauty's eyebrows were slightly frowned, her eyelashes were trembling, and there was a look of fear on her beautiful face, as if she was having a nightmare.

Suddenly she shuddered, her cheeks slipped off her arms, and she woke up. "Oh, you're awake." A Yao quickly wiped the corners of her mouth with the back of her hand and said with a smile, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

"Sister seems to be having a nightmare." Ren Yuan quickly sat up.

"Really? Fortunately, I don't remember it." A Yao said thankfully, "In that case, not being able to remember your dreams isn't a bad thing."

"Maybe." Ren Yuan got off the bed and said, "Do you want to catch up on some sleep?"

"No need. I'm a mountain god, I don't need to sleep every day. It's just that the second half of the night is too boring, so I can only sleep to kill time." A Yao rubbed his face with his hands, and then said radiantly: "So I never use the Youxian Pillow, otherwise I would go crazy after staying on that broken boat for five days."

"It seems that as long as I use the Youxian Pillow, my memories in dreams will not be taken away?" Ren Yuan thought to himself after hearing this.

"Yeah, but it's a pity that every time I dream I'm on that broken boat, it's so boring." A Yao nodded and smiled, "Of course, for you, it's better than being turned into a sheep."

"That's natural." Ren Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "So happiness comes from comparison. A place that one person finds tormenting may be heaven to another."

"What you said makes a lot of sense." A Yao gave a thumbs up and said with a smile: "It seems that you and this pillow are a perfect match made in heaven."

"It's true, just like it was prepared for me." Ren Yuanshen said agreeably.

"You saved me, so I should give it to you." Ah Yao sighed and said deliberately, "It's a pity that this is a treasure of our sect. Without Master's permission, no outsider can get their hands on it."

"Is that so..." Ren Yuan knew what she meant when she heard the music. He knew that she had a purpose in strongly recommending him to try the Youxian Pillow.

As the saying goes, free is the most expensive.

Fortunately, there was no need to beat around the bush in this situation, so he immediately said, "Why don't you take me in as your disciple, then your own disciples won't be considered outsiders."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." A Yao thought about it and shook his head, "But I don't want to be called Master. It makes me sound old."

"Besides, I haven't even completed my apprenticeship yet, so there's not much I can teach you." She first admitted her level, and then sincerely suggested, "How about this, I'll be your senior sister, and you'll be my junior brother. I'll teach you first, and when you meet the master, you can formally become his disciple, how about that?"

"I will listen to you, Senior Sister." As long as Ren Yuan can continue to use the Youxian Pillow and continue to learn from her, it will be fine. Not to mention calling her Senior Sister, even calling her Auntie is fine.

"But we have a condition." A Yao stretched out a green finger, as cunning as a little fox.

"Please tell me, Senior Sister." Ren Yuan knew it was not that simple.

"You have to become the priest of my mountain temple and help me wash away the shame of the past three years and restore my reputation!" A Yao retracted her fingers, clenched her fist, and said solemnly.

"Sister, are you still going to be a mountain god?" Ren Yuan was a little surprised. Isn't it said that gods cannot bleed? She has been turned into a bird and imprisoned for three years. How can anyone still believe in her?

He couldn't help but guess: "Is it inseparable from the power of incense and vows?"

"No, I have practiced the skills taught by my master, and I no longer need incense." A Yao shook his head and said with a self-deprecating smile: "Otherwise, we would have died out long ago."

"Why bother?" Ren Yuan asked.

"I just want to stand up from where I fell." A Yao replied with a firm face:
"I know that I, a great mountain god, have been imprisoned by a tomb ghost for three years. Whether it is the goblins and ghosts in the mountains or the villagers, they all laugh at me behind my back for being useless. So I must do something to clear my name!"

"..." Ren Yuan was silent for a moment before spreading his hands and said, "I've never been a temple priest before. What if I mess it up for you?"

"You will be fine!" A Yao said confidently.

"I am also optimistic about you." The civet cat said in a condescending manner.

"Okay." Ren Yuan finally nodded and said, "I agree."

"Great!" A Yao was immediately relieved, holding the civet cat's paw and jumping up and down. He looked so happy, as if the scam had succeeded.

ps. It’s a new day, continue to ask for collections and votes~~~
(End of this chapter)