The Nightmare Experience of a Useless Person

As for where the goddess was, the answer was obvious. Jiang Zhiyang had already noticed the magnificent palace built against the mountain. Every exquisite and beautiful brick and tile shone like a dazzling gold brick in the sunlight. On that remote piece of land, its existence vividly displayed the extravagance and debauchery of its owner.

Without modern transportation, Jiang Zhiyang could only walk to his destination. Even though the palace was right in front of him, the road seemed to grow longer and longer. Jiang Zhiyang was panting as he walked, and his back was burning hot from the sun.

In this dream, the sky is always clear, there are no sandstorms, no endless rainy seasons, and no terrifying storms and lightning. No matter whether the people on the ground are happy or sad, the sun is always warm.

It seems somewhat heartless...

So tired. The last wisp of random thoughts in my mind evaporated with the heat. The mountain gate was right in front of me, but I wondered how much time it would take to find someone among these layers of buildings.

Jiang Zhiyang wiped away his sweat and huffed and puffed as he climbed the hundred-step stone steps again.

Step by step, a hundred steps to pray for blessings, the long staircase is filled with believers. With each step, they put their hands together in prayer, walking from sunrise to sunset. At sunset, they light incense in the main hall, showing their utmost piety.

Among them were elderly men with wrinkled faces, who could barely walk with a cane; there were inseparable lovers, holding hands tightly; and there were children laughing and playing, racing to see who would reach the finish line first. There were also many middle-aged couples, the women carrying bundles that disappeared when they descended the mountain. Jiang Zhiyang noticed this but wasn't surprised; they were probably just some dry rations or offerings to the goddess. It didn't matter.

Jiang Zhiyang had no time to pretend to be devout; Yu Qingjun was still waiting for him up there. The young man rolled up his trouser legs and got to work! But after a while, the soreness slowed him down, and his mouth became dry.

He carefully turned around, a gentle breeze brushing his sweat-drenched forehead, and the entire town and flower fields came into view.

What a prosperous and bright scene! The flower fields were fertile, the commercial streets were crisscrossed, everyone lived in peace and contentment, and everything was thriving. If it weren't for that fire, the four of them would have been just another ordinary family among the masses, enjoying a simple and peaceful happiness!

But what did he exchange for all this beauty? The more he looked at this prosperous scene, the more eerie he felt. Guanyin weeping, the well, the sudden fire, the strange goddess and fairy... everything before him was like a huge piece of driftwood, and beneath the filth must lie unknown filth.

That goddess... Yu Qingjun would never do anything bad.

After struggling to climb to the main hall, he discovered that only this floor was for receiving guests. The goddesses and fairies lived in the temple a hundred steps up, and outsiders were not allowed to enter. Now, he didn't even have the right to suffer.

Despair, both physical and mental!

Taking advantage of the daylight, Jiang Zhiyang tried various methods, including but not limited to disguising himself, feigning illness to seek medical treatment, climbing mountains to clear a path, and even forcing his way through. The result was obvious: he not only ended up in a mess, but was also almost chased and beaten.

As night fell, Jiang Zhiyang, filled with frustration, vented his anger on the mountains. With a cry of "Ah—", he exhausted the last bit of strength in his body, and was ultimately met with an echo of "Ah—" from the mountains, a mocking response.

"Who are you, and why are you making such a fuss here?"

A soft, eerie female voice startled Jiang Zhiyang so much that he almost broke out in a cold sweat.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, I didn't mean it, I didn't mean to offend you." He quickly raised his hands above his ears, bowed, and turned around.

The newcomer was a maid, dressed in that familiar silk dress. However, her half-closed eyes and graceful, boneless posture looked strangely familiar, just like an acquaintance.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyang's cowardly appearance, the little fox was satisfied and transformed, shedding her disguise.

"Hello, handsome young man~" It was a familiar tone.

"Shiro, Master Shirochan?"

"Congratulations, you guessed right."

"How did you get here? How did you get here?" Jiang Zhiyang's mouth was stuffed with a date, and his tongue was tied in knots.

"Hahahaha, every time I see you looking like this coward, I feel that you are quite cute, hahahahaha..." Bai Chan laughed unrestrainedly. Jiang Zhiyang felt like a clown jumping around, being played with in the palm of someone's hand, no, being played with in the palm of a fox.

After laughing enough, Bai Chan suddenly seemed to remember something important. "What do you care how I got here? These myriad dream realms are all my territory, so of course I can come and go as I please. But why are you all so slow? This isn't a place for fun. If you linger here too long and forget who you are, you won't be able to get out."

Jiang Zhiyang stammered, unable to speak. He thought to himself that as an ordinary person, he had been forced to accept so much new knowledge, and it was already very brave of him not to cry or run away. Although he had indeed enjoyed some happy days here, he had no choice but to try his best.

Although he felt useless, he still tried to defend himself, or rather, to argue his case...

"Here, take this. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), sneak in while their men are changing shifts."

A familiar set of clothes, yet a set of clothes that could never possibly fit him.

"Women's clothing?" Jiang Zhiyang's lips twitched awkwardly.

"That's all I can do for you. I'm very busy."

The moment I opened my eyes, the white fox had vanished. It truly came and went as it pleased.

Now, Jiang Zhiyang could only spend the night at Guanyin Temple for the time being. He sat blankly under the high eaves, gazing at the night sky. The stars were like spilled white sugar, scattered on the black curtain. So beautiful, were they sweet? But his mouth tasted so bitter.

He leaned against the stone pillar, imagining himself resting on Yu Qingjun's shoulder, imagining her hand gently stroking his hair, imagining her haughtily telling him to get lost, and he felt a little more courageous.

He once admitted that he was timid. Because of his weakness, being bullied was commonplace. Anyone in the world could bump into him, kick him, or manipulate him without showing him any kindness.

So he timidly shut his mouth and pretended to be nonchalant, but he was like a bulging hydrogen balloon, seemingly full, but it would burst immediately if poked.

When Jiang Zhiyang thought of Yu Qingjun, he seemed unwilling to remain a silent, cowardly wretch. He wanted to chatter away and break down her feigned arrogance, to stand confidently by her side, to make her laugh, to make her happy, to make her fulfilled, he missed her...

We haven't known each other for very long, but it feels like we've lived together for ages... We don't have that intense emotional connection, but this separation has severed the sense of security she provided, and the most important piece of the puzzle that we finally managed to complete has been removed...

A burning longing for him simmered within me.

"I will come to you when the sun rises."