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Chapter 223 A Lively...Nightmare

Chen Xuan had only mentioned the Shadow Demon in casual conversation with Liu Shuyue; he knew nothing about the specifics of how it entered his dreams, so he still needed to consult a professional.

He sent Lin Qing back to Mala Village to ask Liu Shuyue for a plan to slay the demon, while he stayed in the luxury suite to make preparations.

The first step was to get Su Xingwan to sleep.

This was simpler than he had expected, because Su Xingwan carried sedatives and sleeping pills with her at all times, prescribed by Beitian Hospital, which were more potent than any sleeping aids available on the market. According to Su Xingwan, she had been suffering from severe anxiety and insomnia for the past few months, and without medication, she could hardly close her eyes even when she was very tired.

Secondly, there's the place where you sleep.

The room was heated by the underfloor heating, so even though the wind was howling outside, it was warm and comfortable inside. Chen Xuan remembered that Liu Shuyue had said that it was best to fall asleep head to head so that the spiritual energy could be exchanged more easily. Therefore, the most suitable place to fall asleep was on the carpet in the living room. As long as the sofas were moved away, a large open space could be made.

Lin Qing quickly returned to the place. She didn't see Liu Shuyue by her side, but she was carrying a beautifully carved peach wood square pagoda in her arms.

Chen Xuan recognized this thing very well.

"Smoke Soul Pillar?"

It was the very same one displayed in the Liu Family Ancestral Hall, which Liu Shuyue had previously brought to Mala Village, made some adjustments to, and used to explore the abandoned buildings in the Wanshan Wilderness.

"Yes, she said she'll lend it to you temporarily." Lin Qing put down the wooden stake and patted the dust off her hands. "Considering you don't know how to operate it, they've prepared a guiding talisman for you. Just stick it on your forehead, and the Smoke Soul Pillar will use it as a target to transmit messages."

"So that's how it is," Chen Xuan suddenly understood. It seemed that the medium for entering dreams was soul smoke.

It can send information remotely and transmit sound like a brain, making it seem reasonable that people's consciousnesses are connected.

Gu Zhaoning watched Chen Xuan's every move with concern.

Although she trusted Dr. Chen completely, she couldn't help but worry when she saw him place a wooden pagoda in the center of the room and solemnly light incense.

After all, this series of actions was too much like the practices of a shaman performing a ritual.

However, she would never confront the other party directly at such a time.

Su Xingwan only decided to accept Dr. Chen's treatment after being persuaded by her friend. If she regretted her decision now, it would be tantamount to betraying her friend.

She neither wanted to betray her friends nor want to shirk any responsibility if the treatment failed.

Thinking of this, Gu Zhaoning slowly said, "Dr. Chen, please take me with you when you enter the dream."

“No.” Chen Xuan refused without hesitation. “Your friend was able to be resurrected even after being killed because she was the master of the dream. I can’t guarantee what the consequences would be if others were injured or died inside.”

"Actually, it's nothing serious, she just woke up suddenly." Lin Qing whispered in her ear, "If there were any real danger, Xiao Shuyue would definitely come in person. She said... Shadow demons are rare, but not particularly troublesome demons."

"Uh...is that so?"

Gu Zhaoning didn't hear their whispers, but her tone remained firm, "I'm willing to take all the risks. Although I'm not very capable, and I'm no good at fighting, I want to give her enough support when she needs someone by her side the most! Dr. Chen, I won't hold you back!"

Chen Xuan scratched his head. Even so, if she were really in danger, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing, could he?
"That's fine, I'll go in too." Lin Qing chuckled. "If each of us takes care of one, your workload will be much lighter."

"Eh? Miss Lin is going too?" Gu Zhaoning asked in surprise. "Aren't you afraid of the monsters in your nightmares?"

"She's much stronger than she looks," Chen Xuan sighed. "Are you sure you want to support multi-player matchmaking when entering a dream?"

"Miss Liu said that up to eight people are fine."

Why eight people?

"Because there can't be more than eight heads squeezed in."

"..." Chen Xuan was speechless. What a reasonable explanation. "Alright, since you all want to go, then hurry up and lie down."

At this moment, a look of pain suddenly appeared on Su Xingwan's face, her hands trembled slightly, and her breathing became rapid.

"It seems she's already having nightmares," Chen Xuan observed. "I'll put talismans on you... then you should go to sleep as soon as possible."

"Dr. Chen, please wait!" Gu Zhaoning suddenly called out to him.

"what happened?"

"I...I'm very nervous right now," she said rather embarrassedly. "Do you have any tips on how to fall asleep quickly?"

That's right, not everyone can fall asleep whenever they want. Su Xingwan's sedative medications only worked effectively because she suffered from severe sleep deprivation. For someone who doesn't experience anxiety or insomnia, sleeping pills would be much less effective.

“Simple, look me in the eye.” Chen Xuan said, giving Lin Qing a wink.

The latter nodded, silently circled behind Gu Zhaoning, and delivered a chop to her neck.

Gu Zhaoning collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound.

Luckily, her bodyguards were all outside the door; otherwise, they would have definitely rushed up and fought them if they saw this. "What about you?" Lin Qing asked with a smile, "Do you want me to help you?"

"No need, thank you. I have an exceptional ability to sleep." After activating the corresponding ability, Chen Xuan tilted his head back and lay down. The moment he closed his eyes, an intense drowsiness overwhelmed him.

This is the feeling I got here.

As he inhaled the white mist emanating from the Smoke Soul Pillar, he felt as if he had returned to the days when he worked overtime at the factory.

……

Su Xingwan hugged her knees and curled up in a corner of the dimly lit room.

No matter what kind of nightmare it is, the sky outside is always gloomy, as if a torrential downpour is about to fall at any moment.

A clock hung on the mottled wall, its hands ticking away as if it were real. But she knew this wasn't reality at all; no matter how many times the clock hands turned, for everyone else it was just a single nap.

She has been waiting for an hour now, and the surroundings remain completely silent.

Yes... dreams can't just appear out of nowhere. Even if the other party is incredibly powerful, they couldn't possibly know what's going on in their head...

This nightmare was destined to be experienced by her alone.

Su Xingwan suddenly felt like crying.

In the past, she would curse, yell, and try to fight against the monster, but this time she found herself exceptionally vulnerable, as if her carefully constructed facade of strength had completely melted away.

why?
Is it because a glimmer of hope was finally ignited, only to be extinguished by a despairing outcome?
Or... maybe we should give up.

Su Xingwan felt her vision gradually blurring.

Once I wake up from this nightmare, it will all be over...

Although she felt very sorry for her family and friends, she could no longer go on.

pat.

A strange noise suddenly came from outside the door.

Is it a monster?
Su Xingwan instinctively reached for her weapon, but when she realized that all resistance would be futile, she slowly withdrew her hand.

"Ugh...why does my neck hurt so much?"

Then a familiar voice came, making Su Xingwan's eyes widen in surprise!

“Don’t worry about it, it’s a side effect of the quick sleep method,” the other person said.

"Okay..." the girl's voice sounded a little aggrieved, "Are we dreaming now?"

"Look at how dark it is outside, does it look like reality? Anyway... let's find your friend first. Let me use my divine sense to search."

"Dr. Chen, could you perhaps really be... an enlightened immortal?"

"Pretty much. Hmm? The reactions are very close."

The moment she finished speaking, the door opened, and Chen Xuan actually appeared before her. What Su Xingwan found even more unbelievable was that not only Chen Xuan… but also her doctor's assistant Lin Qing and her best friend had appeared in her dream!
"Am I... dreaming?" Su Xingwan murmured.

“Yes, you are indeed dreaming.” Chen Xuan frowned. “Why are you crying? Are we late?”

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Gu Zhaoning rushed over and hugged her tightly. "Have you encountered the monster?"

"No, and I didn't cry!" Su Xingwan retorted, choking back tears. "I just... I just yawned!"

"Stop staring at it, go outside for a while," Lin Qing said, pushing Chen Xuan.

"At a time like this, you still have time to be embarrassed?"

"People need time to adjust."

"It's okay, you can cry if you want to. It'll make you feel better if you let your emotions out," Gu Zhaoning comforted her earnestly. "I have some tissues with me."

"I already said—I didn't cry!"

They're so...noisy.

The world, which had been completely silent, suddenly became incredibly noisy.

Su Xingwan complained inwardly, but the fear vanished without her realizing it. This was the first truly extraordinary dream she had ever experienced since she started dreaming... and also the first nightmare that brought her peace of mind.

(End of this chapter)