No taboos

Chapter 444 Success (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

This is certainly not Richard's "dream," it is Xu Yuan's.

Only one person can stand in the center of the stage.

Only one person can write in that notebook.

Richard said: A dream come true, but it can only be one person's dream.

This prop cannot satisfy two people at the same time.

What is honey to me is poison to him.

Just like the story Xu Yuan wrote, it fulfilled Xu Yuan's "dream" but was a nightmare for Richard and others.

But Richard and other members of the mission personally experienced this nightmare!

Indeed, the entire delegation, including Richard and even the prop "Dreams Come True" itself, participated in this "performance."

Their "roles" inside are not played by puppets.

It's them!

To be precise, their souls were forcibly pulled onto the puppets by the props, giving them a natural performance.

They experienced it for themselves, and what their fate would be when they actually went to Beidu!
That's why Richard and the others were so distressed and dejected after this performance.

Richard was breathing heavily, and after a few gasps, he glanced at Xu Yuan with a flickering look in his eyes: "You're making up stories to fool us, none of this is true!"

Xu Yuan smiled slightly: "Of course it's not true, but if you really go to Beidu, you know in your hearts whether everything in the story will happen."

In this story, Xu Yuan is unable to fabricate anything outside his own cognitive scope.

For example, what exactly was the state of the emperor, the cabinet ministers, and the officials of the six ministries?

Xu Yuan had never seen it before, and no one had ever told him about it.

Ma Tianshou, Miao Yu, Zhu Zhanmei, Xu Miaozhi... none of them could reach that level.

So if Xu Yuan were forced to guess, it would be like an old farmer guessing that the emperor must have used a golden hoe to till the land in the Forbidden City—a ridiculous scenario.

Xu Yuan wouldn't make that kind of mistake.

But Xu Yuan had contact with Miao Yan Zhenren and that young lady.

Xu Yuan was able to deduce the state of the Imperial Observatory.

I, Xu Yuan, a mere fifth-rate individual, can see through your conspiracy hidden in "Dreams Come True," let alone those third-rate individuals in the Imperial Observatory.

Richard and the fifth-tier professionals at the core of the delegation were quite certain that Xu Yuan would not discover anything.

So, let him search without worry.

This is why the joke "the emperor must have used a golden hoe to till the ground in the Forbidden City" is so ridiculous.

They didn't actually understand Lord Xu; they speculated about him based on their own limited understanding.

"Dreams Come True" is indeed the proud work of the Xifan "craftsmen". They even designed a kind of "packaging" for this prop - that is, when it is sealed as a carriage and locked, the stains on this prop will not leak out at all.

Xu Yuan glanced at the carriage several times from a distance but didn't notice it at all.

However, as soon as the "stage" opened and "No Taboos" began to tremble, Xu Yuan knew that this prop must have some kind of "tricky" ability affecting him.

Of course, it's not directed at myself, but at everyone present.

Others were affected, so even Wenxiu forgot the standards of morality and only immersed himself in the story, hoping to become "Little Jack".

And the more they watch, the more addicted they become.

But Xu Yuan quickly realized: since it's called "Dreams Come True," it's not enough to just look at other people's dreams.

So the final result will inevitably be that I write a story myself, and this story will be with myself as the protagonist!
What are the consequences of becoming the protagonist?
Of course, I experienced an ultimate sense of satisfaction, and then... I was controlled by this tool.

Otherwise, where did that enormous soul in the prop come from?

The souls within the body harbored no resentment; they were all in a state of utmost contentment.

They were all once the "protagonists" in the story.

Xu Yuan's rational and meticulous analysis eventually revealed the true nature of the prop. The primary reason was that "No Taboos" made it immune to the trickery of "Dreams Come True".

Unlike others, Xu Yuan did not uncontrollably immerse himself in those stories; he maintained his rationality and judgment.

Since "oneself" can be the protagonist, it is natural to include the names of Richard and others, making them characters.

After Xu Yuan reached this conclusion, he decided to write a "story of the mission".

But what Xu Yuan wanted was not just to tell Richard that he had seen through their conspiracy.

He wanted Richard to understand that if they really went to Beidu, they would be doomed, and he was saving them!

Therefore, Xu Yuan made numerous extensive revisions before writing this story.

This is angering the "Dreams Come True" item.

The props from the Western Regions have a high "activity level".

Such extensive alterations, for "dreams come true," are like the large areas of corrections on the exam paper during the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations.

The teachers grading the papers might not even look at them and would reject them outright.

After several attempts, the "dream come true" mentality kicked in.

The result of this "temperament" was that in the subsequent performance, the "dream come true" was portrayed with great intensity.

Richard and his entourage experienced an exceptionally strong sensory experience during this performance.

The pain at the moment of beheading is also the most intense.

Unforgettable...

This laid the groundwork for Lord Xu's next move.

Richard knew that the "story" Xu Yuan wrote was the outcome they would encounter when they went to Beidu.

They underestimated the Ming Dynasty.

The plan to secretly control the Emperor and the Ming Dynasty through the "dream come true" was a scheme they devised while in India.

In the Western Regions, there was once a high-ranking "thief" who used his professional skills to directly steal the identity of a grand duke and impersonated him, living a life of luxury for decades.

Therefore, their schemes have had successful precedents.

They believed their plot would succeed.

As the saying goes, this led to the ridiculous claim that "the emperor must have used a golden hoe to till the ground in the Forbidden City."

But now that Xu Yuan could see through the "dream come true," Richard realized that his conspiracy could not succeed.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Put it away, don't embarrass yourself."

Richard silently stepped forward and put away the "dream come true" sign.

After he finished tidying up the prop and turned around, he saw that Xu Yuan had already picked up the bell-shaped spike in his hand, his face solemn.

"Will you surrender, or shall I take action?"

Lang Xiaoba slapped his forehead and shouted angrily, "The sir's story is true! These foreign devils harbor evil intentions and presented this evil object to His Majesty in order to assassinate the emperor!"

The members of the Exorcism Bureau immediately realized what was happening and quickly surrounded the delegation.

"Take it!"

"As expected, those who are not of our kind are sure to have different hearts!"

The delegation was in chaos.

Those core fifth-tier members knew about Richard's plot and were mentally prepared.

But the other members, unaware of this, panicked: "We're innocent..."

Richard gritted his teeth, his face dark: "Your Excellency is far too arrogant! Do you think that I have been accommodating to you these past few days because I am afraid of you?"

"This noble is of the sixth rank!"

With his arms outstretched, he suddenly flipped his hands over, and in a flash, he was dressed in a brightly colored and exaggerated "magician" costume.

A rapid drumbeat suddenly echoed in the void, and an inexplicable power surged in the shadows, as if Richard could "transform" into an astonishing result in the next moment.

Xu Yuan gently shook the bell, and the sound of the bell clashed with the drumbeats, causing a burst of brilliant electric sparks to erupt in the void, which scattered like a galaxy falling to earth.

"Have you thought this through?" Xu Yuan said in a deep voice, "This place is the territory of the Ming Dynasty!"

We've made our move. Regardless of whether you can win right now, you won't be able to escape the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Richard remained unmoved, and amidst the rapid drumbeats, a tall hat suddenly appeared in his hand.

He gestured to those around him, indicating that there was no hidden mechanism in the tall hat, then quickly flipped it over and placed it on Xu Yuan's head.

Xu Yuan immediately felt that the world had fallen into darkness.

Something absorbed the void where it was located.

But it seems that there is always a way out. The hat covered the entire void, but it was not completely sealed off, leaving a sliver of light in some place.

Xu Yuan then pointed the bell-shaped spikes at the light and made a horizontal cut.

laugh--

Richard's top hat shattered!

Bells and long thorns are of the fourth class.

His skill level is comparable to Richard's.

Richard sensed something was wrong the moment he made his move.

Because he clearly felt that his speed was inexplicably a little slower than usual!
He had a vague feeling that he was being influenced by some unknown, indescribable force.

He was puzzled and did not know that this was the effect of "ruling the world".

After the bell pierced Richard's magic trick, it continued its pursuit, its sharp edge aimed directly at Richard's face.

Richard remained still, drifting backward as he floated away.

The "magician" also possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enabling him to perform all sorts of incredible feats.

But he didn't expect Xu Yuan's physical abilities to be so strong!

Under the "Dragon Transformation Technique," Xu Yuan moved incredibly fast, his bell-shaped spikes maintaining their forward thrusting posture, only three inches away from Richard's face.

Richard could only continue retreating, his back crashing into a building in the inn and collapsing.

At the same time, a deck of cards flew out of Richard's jacket pocket.

They kept clattering and blocking the long spikes of the bell.

Each card is a flower card.

The bell-shaped spike pierced through a document bearing the inscription "Duke".

Xu Yuan suddenly felt the long thorn in his hand become heavier.

After piercing dozens of them, the "kings," "queens," and "dukes" were all stuck on the long thorns and became too heavy to lift.

Slaughtering nobles was a "serious" crime in the Western Regions.

Xu Yuan lowered his arm, shaking the playing cards off the bell spikes, and Richard, taking advantage of the opportunity, suddenly turned around—

The void floated, and darkness enveloped the surroundings, after which a "stage" appeared.

A beam of light shone down from above, and a chair appeared in the circular spot formed by the light.

Richard politely gestured to Xu Yuan, inviting him to sit down. Xu Yuan, seemingly unable to resist, stepped forward—to cooperate with the magician's performance.

Just as Xu Yuan was about to sit down in the chair, Richard's lips curled into a sly smile.

Suddenly, a crack appeared above his head, and a cold, dark light shone down, sweeping across Richard's forehead like a whisk.

Richard's mind went blank for a moment, as all sorts of thoughts that didn't belong to him entered his head.

The "magic trick" being performed was suddenly disrupted.

Xu Yuan broke free of the control, and the long dagger in his hand quickly pointed at Richard's throat.

laugh--

The bell-shaped spikes pierced Richard's neck precisely.

But suddenly a black rectangular box appeared outside Richard, enveloping him completely.

Xu Yuan frowned and pulled out the long thorn.

The box was opened, and Richard emerged unharmed, seemingly greeted by enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Richard bowed to those around him, having just completed a brilliant magic trick.

Richard then turned to Xu Yuan, bowed, and did not make any further moves.

He was just disturbed by the power of the "dream world," which made him very wary.

He was stabbed in the neck, but he escaped the fatal injury thanks to a highly difficult "trick"!

The "tool" in Xu Yuan's hand can kill him, and Xu Yuan can also manipulate the power of the "Dream World".

Richard was no longer certain of victory.

What if we can't win?
The Anelians will negotiate immediately.

“You can’t kill me,” Richard said. “We may indeed be unable to escape, but I will kill everyone here.”

I could even hold a grand performance in your city, and have the entire city be buried with me!
You understand our profession, you know my profession; the more audience, the greater the power!

Xu Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief; as long as this guy was willing to talk, that was good.

Using the power of "Lingxiao" to interfere with the mortal realm is now extremely difficult for Xu Yuan.

In fact, the connection between Xu Yuan and the lice was immediately severed after the spell was cast.

It will take some of your attention to Piron to re-establish this connection.

In the midst of battle, one cannot afford to be distracted. This means that Xu Yuan can only use the "Lingxiao" technique to interfere with the mortal realm once in battle.

If they continue fighting, they might be exposed.

"If you really think I can't kill you, then you should continue to fight me!" Xu Yuan said in a deep voice.

Xu Yuan reached out, and the tiger-headed guillotine appeared out of thin air, landing with a loud thud beside him.

Xu Yuan raised the bell-shaped spike in his right hand and the guillotine in his left.

Zheng!
A tremendous power is gathering between heaven and earth!

Richard's expression changed slightly.

Xu Yuan sneered, "Under the protection of the imperial dynasty, you barbarian ghosts are also evil spirits!"

Richard gritted his teeth. This official of the Ming Dynasty still had a second tool that could harm him!
"Damn it!" Richard cursed under his breath. "Is the Ming Dynasty really that rich?"
"Let us go!" Richard shouted hoarsely, "or we'll all die together!"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Your attempt to murder our emperor is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family. We cannot let this go so easily!"

Richard's ears twitched. What did that mean? They couldn't just let it go like this. There was still room for negotiation.
"What do you want?"

Xu Yuan: "I will escort you to the Northern Capital and execute you by slow slicing!"

Richard said impatiently, "Lord Xu, be honest!"

"Leave all your items behind, and get out of Huangming territory!"

Richard understood: "You want your 'dreams to come true'?"

The wizard in the delegation couldn't help but shout, "Your Excellency, give it to him!"

Richard flew into a rage and glared fiercely at the wizard, only to be shocked to find that the wizard was surrounded by several wisps of black energy, looked completely listless, and had blood seeping from the corners of his eyes.

During their brief exchange, the wizard secretly cast several curses.

All of them failed!
All the curses backfired on themselves, manifesting as those few wisps of black energy.

The wizard was truly terrified.

He had previously performed divination on Xu Yuan, but all attempts had failed.

He was completely baffled. How could Xu Yuan restrain himself so strongly?!
He didn't want to fight Xu Yuan, feeling that he was doomed to die.

Xu Yuan looked coldly at Richard: "You're a bunch of businessmen, are you really going to fight to the death with the government?"

Richard gritted his teeth and glanced at the sign that read "Dreams Come True".

A sense of disgust arose in my heart towards this prop.

When Xu Yuan used "Dreams Come True", he made extensive alterations to the prop multiple times, deliberately provoking it.

As a result, the emotional intensity of the "Dreams Come True" story left an indelible and painful memory for Richard and the entire delegation.

The ability to "make dreams come true" can subtly influence one's mind.

Richard knew that "Dreams Come True" was very expensive, and that the prop was not actually his, but rather the property of "the company".

The decision to present it to His Majesty the Emperor was made by the entire company.

However, if he did not present it to His Majesty the Emperor, he needed to bring the prop back intact, otherwise he would have no way to explain it to the other shareholders of the company.

But now that Xu Yuan has made this condition, he really wants to agree.

Because he really hates this prop now.

Once you become the protagonist of the story and experience ultimate satisfaction, your soul will willingly merge into this prop.

Similarly, if it is not "satisfaction" but pain, it is also extremely intense.

Richard was still hesitating. If he really handed it over, how would he explain it to the other shareholders?
At this moment, Xu Yuan had already diverted a portion of his mind to the leather dragon.

Another gap appeared on Richard's head!
Richard yelled, "I agree to the deal! Let us go!"

The gap has been closed.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Make way, let them pass!"

Richard took out the key and quickly rubbed it in his hands: "I left a magic trick on the key! If you don't abide by the agreement and continue to hunt us down, you won't be able to use this item!"

"Rest assured, I have no interest in your dog lives."

Richard tossed the key to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Let them go!"

The members of the Exorcism Bureau made way, and the wizard was the first to rush out without regard for anything else.

I want to go back to India!
No, I want to go back to Anelia!
This place to the east is too eerie; someone here is my natural enemy as a "wizard"...

Richard, at least, maintained the demeanor of the head of the mission, staying at the back until everyone had withdrawn from the gap. Only then did he turn around, clap his hands in front of everyone, and with a bang, a ball of flame wrapped in white smoke shot up from his palms.

He vanished completely, concealed by the flames and smoke.

Xu Yuan said loudly, "The Blue-eyed Barbarian Indian delegation harbored malicious intentions and attempted to assassinate His Majesty. They were discovered by our Champa Exorcism Bureau. After a fierce battle, the bandit leader Richard and his men escaped. We request the court to issue an order to arrest them!"

The entire Purification Department exclaimed in unison, "That's exactly right!"

The nature of this case has been determined today!

As for how the wise and astute Champa law master Xu discovered the Blue-eyed Barbarians' conspiracy—tonight, let those literary scholars carefully fabricate a story.

After compiling it, distribute it to everyone. Everyone should memorize it well so that no matter who asks in the future, they can tell them a story like a storyteller in a teahouse, vividly recounting "Richard's cunning and treacherous intentions, and Xu Zhanglu's clever thwarting of the barbarian's scheme."

As for the idea of ​​"dreams coming true," that doesn't exist, absolutely not; we've never seen it.

What? You're saying these foreign devils plotted to harm His Majesty? How can you let them go after accepting their bribes?

The emperor is thousands of miles away, and the salary of the Purification Department is only a few coins.
The Champa government's private treasury could support the entire livelihood of the families of fallen comrades!
……

Richard and his party emerged from the west gate of Champa, seized horses from a caravan on the main road, and sped away along the road.

Everyone in the delegation remained silent with grim faces.

It's not that no one thinks that the commander handled the situation improperly.

Why should we, a group of professionals, be so afraid of the Ming Dynasty?
If we can't beat them, we can run away. We wreak havoc all over Huangming territory, and they can't do anything about it!
Using this as leverage, they could blackmail Xu Yuan.

But no one dared to question it.

Richard's face was so gloomy it looked like it could be squeezed dry.

This failure was utterly devastating.

Richard had no desire to become a "bandit" within the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Only a few in the delegation understood that the key to this failure was that the company's overall plan against Huangming had failed.

Leaving behind "Dreams Come True," quickly departing from Jiaozhi, and preserving the core strength of the mission would be the wisest choice.

If things really escalate to the point of no return, burying the entire mission in Jiaozhi, then this "deal" will be a complete loss.

Richard, on horseback, looked back at Champa with a sinister gaze, but his heart was absolutely resolute: war was not the way to go.

A company needs to make money.

War is the last resort.

But since the Ming Dynasty is so wealthy, we must find a commodity that they can't resist and have to buy, so as to create a huge trade surplus and transfer all of the Ming Dynasty's wealth into the pockets of our Anelians!
……

Xu Yuan dragged the carriage, now a "dream come true," back to the government office, humming a little tune all the way. Anyone could tell that our master was in a very good mood.

Xu Yuan was indeed very happy; Richard had not discovered the true value of this prop.

Richard abandoned his "dream come true" partly due to circumstances and partly because he developed a strong aversion to the prop.

Thirdly, Richard felt that the use of "dreams come true" was narrow.

Unable to engage in direct combat, it can only be used to subtly and stealthily ambush targets.

But Xu Yuan knew that the greatest effect of this prop was its influence on the "subconscious".

The subconscious corresponds precisely to "Lingxiao"!
As Xu Yuan was pondering how to maximize the power of this prop, he saw a female Taoist priest walking towards him on the street.

Xu Yuan's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed. He dismounted and greeted her, saying, "Greetings, Immortal Miaoyan!"

Miao Yan nodded slightly: "Lord Ma asked me to come and help you."

Xu Yuan wrote a letter to Ma Tianshou, seeking help because of the conflict between the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and the Repentance Sect.

Unexpectedly, Ma Tianshou invited the immortal Miaoyan to oversee things for him.

Xu Yuan immediately said in a deep voice, "Master, the Indian delegation harbored malicious intentions and wanted to assassinate His Majesty under the guise of paying tribute. After I saw through their scheme, they fled Champa and headed west!"

With a flick of her whisk, Master Miaoyan headed west, saying, "I'll be right back."

Xu Yuan had already planned that once Ma Tianshou sent him strong reinforcements, he would ask them to hunt down Richard!
But I didn't expect it to come so quickly and so powerfully!

Of course, Lord Xu never intended to let Richard go from the very beginning.

I did promise you I would not pursue you, but it's not me who's pursuing you, it's Master Miaoyan who's going to kill you!
Since Miao Yan Zhenren was not fluent in Elijah, Xu Yuan was not worried about the matter being exposed.

(End of this chapter)