I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

A forest of dead trees, in front of a small shop in the safe zone.

Of the remaining nine dreamers, some hesitated, while others were tempted.

after all,

Xi Xue has confirmed that the small shop in front of her is indeed not some hidden, eerie nest.

Although the art style is super weird here!

"Let's go."

While the others hesitated, Xuanjian stepped forward without hesitation.

Rather, he already seemed ready to go even before Xi Xue started promoting her.

"Master Xuanjian, you've been to the safe zone too?"

"No, this is the first time I've ever seen this safe zone either."

Seeing this, the man in the baseball cap couldn't help but ask, expressing his confusion, "Then why did you... do it without hesitation, sir?"

Logically, shouldn't big shots be more cautious?

Xuan Jian replied matter-of-factly, "At least Miss Xi Xue is safe now, isn't she? Besides... even if she encounters danger, she can just slash at it with her sword."

"In a nightmare world, we must be prepared to face danger at any time."

Is this what a big shot is like?

Not at all surprising, not at all hesitant; clearly, this kind of place isn't anything special in the eyes of the big shots.

As expected of a master!

……

Xuanjian stood frozen at the entrance of the small shop.

The surroundings made him feel somewhat dazed.

Is that correct?

This doesn't make sense, does it?

It doesn't seem impossible.

Xuan Jian only snapped back to reality when the Dreamers behind him squeezed through the crowd. He coughed lightly and walked into the shop as if nothing had happened.

It's not surprising, it's not surprising.

Xi Xue is already very familiar with the place.

The other dreamers also entered one after another, and stood there at the door until they were bumped by the people behind them and came back to their senses.

But he still seemed dazed.

"Is this still a nightmare world? I'm sure I haven't returned to reality."

The environment is so comfortable.

They had never dared to hope for this before.

We've already fallen into a nightmare world. To have a place where we can catch our breath is a blessing we can't even imagine. How could we possibly ask for anything else?

"Manager, excuse me."

"Manager, can we rest here too?"

They didn't know how this sanctuary was created, but they did know one thing: the more Dreamers gathered together, the more likely they were to attract danger.

They weren't sure if the shop owner would take them in.

I lack confidence.

There were too many of them.

Perhaps the shop manager will only take in Xi Xue, whom he knows well.

but,

"Meeting is fate, please sit."

Shi An said this, but they didn't dare to be casual about it. They all sat down properly.

But they were still very curious as to why there was such a small shop with a completely different style in the nightmare world.

Are they just too inexperienced?

Xuanjian was thinking.

"Is the shop manager... a Dream Fallen?"

If Xuanjian were hearing about safe zones for the first time, he might think that way.

but……

"Miss Xixue visited this little shop just a few days ago, and according to the shopkeeper, it seems that this little shop has always existed in the nightmare world."

is it possible?

It's not impossible!

Those who fall into nightmares can break free from them and return to the real world, but... a very small number of those who fall into nightmares encounter accidents and lose their anchor in the real world. As a result, they are unable to return and are forever lost in the nightmare world.

These people have disappeared in the real world.

In the nightmare world, they are called the lost ones or the wanderers.

Xuanjian has never encountered a lost person.

After all, for the vast majority of those who fall into the nightmare world, even experts in the control or refinement stages, the pressure increases exponentially if they survive in the nightmare world for even a little longer.

How long can a person who is lost in a nightmare world survive?

A few hours? One day, two days, three or four days?

Getting lost is almost equivalent to death.

However, his master, the master of the Jiyi Pavilion, had told him that there were indeed some "lost people" living in the nightmare world.

These people each possess unique skills, enabling them to evade the clutches of nightmares and achieve self-sufficiency in the desolate and barren world of nightmares.

They were lost, wandering, and struggling to survive.

Until one day they could no longer hold on and completely disappeared.

"So, the shop manager is a lost soul unable to return to reality?"

"But Master seemed to have said that every lost person lives a miserable life, so why does this shopkeeper seem so carefree?"

"It must be an illusion; the cozy atmosphere of the little shop is what's giving me that feeling!"

He wasn't surprised by the shop's style.

The cursed artifacts circulating in the Nightmare World are too diverse, and the shopkeeper, a Lost One who can survive for a long time, must be a master among masters. It is perfectly normal for him to have a special and rare cursed artifact.

While pondering, Xuanjian's spirit remained slightly tense.

After all, no matter how comfortable and peaceful the shop was, he hadn't forgotten that they were actually in a terrifying nightmare world.

Just as he was thinking this, Xuan Jian's expression changed slightly.

Through the clean, gleaming French windows, he could see a dark shadow looming in the distance amidst the drifting gray mist.

It gradually became clearer.

Xuan Jian's brows furrowed immediately.

He did not want another battle, especially one that was meaningless.

but,

The shadowy figure attacked at an incredible speed, far exceeding human speed; in the blink of an eye, it burst forth from the gray mist.

The gray-black skin, sharp teeth, and pale, decaying face instantly became clear before my eyes.

Xuan Jian suddenly drew his sword from his waist.

The monster pounced on the clean, tidy French window, making a loud bang and the ear-piercing grinding sound of its claws striking the glass.

next moment,

The imagined shattering of the floor-to-ceiling window did not occur; there wasn't even the slightest crack or mark on it.

The floor-to-ceiling windows remained brightly lit, reflecting the hideous face of the shadowy monster, as if mocking it.

"What's wrong?"

Xi Xue looked over, her gaze falling on the raised sword.

Xuanjian coughed lightly, casually stroking the blade. "I'm maintaining the cursed artifact so that it can unleash its full power when needed."

At this point, the other dreamers gradually came to their senses.

It wasn't that they reacted too slowly, but rather that the shadowy monsters were too fast. Otherwise, some of the Dreamers wouldn't have been captured and killed before they even realized what was happening.

"There's a monster!"

"Quick! Watch out! Prepare for battle!"

"Wait, that monster doesn't seem to be coming in? Uh, right, oh, it can't get in at all!"

It was only at this point that the startled dreamers realized there was absolutely no need to be alarmed.

Look at that big shot, so calm and collected, leisurely wiping the blade of his sword.

Xi Xue had been eagerly anticipating this moment. After clearing her throat to draw everyone's attention, she began to explain in a serious tone, just like a shop employee:

"I've said it before, our safe zone is very safe. There's absolutely no need to worry about any strange attacks. Everyone just needs to take the time to rest well. There's no need to make a fuss."

"Of course, this is your first time in the safe zone, which is normal. Feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."

Little Blood's eyes widened: I'm the employee!

Oh well, since the boss didn't ask me to entertain the guests, then...

It just kept squatting there pretending to be a statue.

Who's going to put in the effort if they can slack off?

Ha~ Foolish human woman.

By this time, seeing that there wasn't a single mark on the window, everyone believed that even if a real monster attacked, they wouldn't have to worry.

The door, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the walls truly gave them an immense sense of security!

It doesn't feel like a nightmare world at all.

They truly relaxed, even lounging lazily on the soft chairs.

Not far away, Shi An lazily yawned, not even glancing at the monster outside the shop.

It didn't feel like surviving in a nightmare world at all, but rather like a relaxing vacation.

Xuan Jian was starting to doubt his previous conclusions.

"Master, didn't you say that it's extremely difficult for lost souls to survive in the nightmare world, that they're almost all like homeless people, or even corrupted and mutated? But..."

"Where is the store manager trying to survive?!"

-

P.S.: On a side note, regarding the operation of the safe zone, they will be charging a "protection fee" later on, which is indeed more reasonable (starting in the next storyline). Initially, I planned to write a behind-the-scenes story, but as I wrote, I realized that based on the current settings, I should write a shopkeeper story instead. I've sacrificed half a month's worth of hair and have already revised the outline quite a bit.

I hope we can turn the tide! I don't want to get killed!