Chapter 184

In the deep of night, within the world of dreams.

Xia Zhi frowned slightly as he gazed at the cyan-colored dream bubble before him.

Shenhe was having another nightmare tonight.

This was the third nightmare of hers that he had witnessed.

Each time, it was the same cyan color representing fear.

After standing still and contemplating for a moment, Xia Zhi decided to enter and take a look.

He wanted to help her resolve the troubles plaguing her dreams.

First, he needed to understand exactly what she feared.

Xia Zhi reached out his hand and touched the bubble.

The scenery before him blurred, and then he found himself in an unfamiliar small courtyard with a lush tree.

Not far away was a little girl, leaning against the courtyard gate, staring blankly into the distance as if waiting for someone.

Xia Zhi activated the stealth mode of his [Hat of Secrecy] and walked toward the little girl.

Standing before her, he studied her features. Her expression was sad and lost, and in her childish face, he could faintly see traces of the Shenhe he knew today.

This little girl must be Shenhe from her childhood.

At this time, she was just an ordinary little girl with normal black hair, lacking the otherworldly and cold aura of an adeptus that she would later possess.

Xia Zhi stood with her for a while before turning to walk through the courtyard into Shenhe's house.

The house was eerily quiet and empty, though he found some ritual implements in the main hall and a memorial tablet standing on a table.

Xia Zhi glanced at the memorial tablet and searched the house carefully, finally finding a brief notebook written by an unknown person in a somewhat messy study.

He opened the notebook and read carefully.

"The doctor says you're very ill. Don't worry, even if it costs us everything, I will definitely save you."

"Watching you grow weaker, with no cure in sight, my heart feels like it's bleeding. If I could, I would gladly suffer in your place..."

"You say you have no regrets in this life, your only wish is for me to take care of A-He, but if you have no regrets, why are you crying?"

A-He.

Must refer to Shenhe.

Such a way of address suggests the notebook's owner was Shenhe's elder.

"These days I don't know what I'm doing, living each day in a daze, searching through ancient texts trying to find a way to save you, yet finding nothing day after day."

"I found it! So Elder was hiding the book that could save you! I've taken the book back, and according to what it says..."

The notes ended abruptly here.

Xia Zhi contemplated as he put down the notebook, returning outside to stand beside young Shenhe, accompanying her as she waited.

It seemed like a long time passed, yet also felt like just a moment.

A weathered-looking man approached on the distant road.

Young Shenhe's face lit up with joy as she ran toward him.

"Father, you're back!"

"A-He..."

The man stroked his daughter's head, a flash of struggle passing through his eyes before finally transforming into a crazed smile.

"Father will take you somewhere."

"Where are we going?"

"Outside. Father has prepared a big surprise for you."

"Is it a present?"

"Yes..."

Young Shenhe looked up happily, following her father without any suspicion.

Xia Zhi silently followed them to a nearby cave.

Inside, a strange altar had already been prepared.

The man stood in the center of the altar, softly chanting strange incantations.

A cold wind began to blow inside the cave, and a horrifying black "deity" suddenly appeared, its blood-red eyes fixed intently on the little girl before it.

"Mortal, you have done well... This sacrifice pleases me..."

"Then don't forget your promise to me..."

"First, give me the sacrifice!"

Young Shenhe was terrified by the scene before her. Instinctively, she reached to grab her father's clothes, but the man seized her wrist instead.

"Fa... Father...?"

Young Shenhe looked up at her father in confusion, only to see a face devoid of emotion.

"This was your fate from birth."

"Just by being alive."

"You bring danger to those around you."

"Better to die like this."

"In exchange for her return!"

After speaking, the man pushed her toward the black "deity" in the altar and left the cave without looking back.

Young Shenhe fell to the ground, looking up with tears in her eyes only to meet those malevolent blood-red eyes.

"Heh, truly a bearer of ill fortune..."

"No! Go away, go away, go away!"

"Heh, little girl, your fate is too bitter. Living in this world would only be torment. Why not let me devour you instead!"

The monster let out a strange shriek of laughter, its black mist body transforming into a giant mouth lunging toward young Shenhe.

Young Shenhe's mind went blank. She wanted to call out to her father, but the man had already abandoned her.

As she watched the black mist mouth drawing closer, she could only clutch tightly to the memento her dead mother had left her—an evil-dispelling dagger—while desperately swinging it around through her tears.

A piercing cry of pain rang out.

The black mist suddenly retreated.

The dagger seemed to have wounded the monster.

Those blood-red eyes now held even greater malice, staring at her with resentment.

Young Shenhe's body trembled involuntarily, but then her grip on the dagger grew stronger.

"...I don't want to die... I promised mother... I must live..."

She kept mumbling to herself. The dormant ferocity, bloodthirstiness, and indomitable spirit in her fate all burst forth in this moment.

Those forces were like invisible shields and unseen swords, arming her fragile frame.

They granted her power, gave her fangs, permitting her to attack the lowly demon before her, vowing to tear it apart to prove that she was the most savage evil in the darkness.

For several days, their life-and-death battle continued without cease.

Hunter and prey constantly switched roles, the stalemate remaining unbroken...

Young Shenhe felt exhausted. She was, after all, just a little girl who needed to eat, drink, and sleep, but she dared not close her eyes, fearing that if she did, she would never open them again.

At this critical moment between life and death, a bright crystal fell into young Shenhe's hands.

What... is this?

Young Shenhe didn't recognize this Cryo Vision, but she instinctively learned how to use its power.

The balance completely tipped in young Shenhe's favor, and the outcome was decided.

The monster howled in unwillingness, leaving behind only a lingering aura of malice.

Young Shenhe collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Was she going to see mother now?

As she thought this, she suddenly heard a sigh full of pity echo through the cave.

Then, she felt strong hands lift her from the cold, damp ground, cradling her entire body in a warm embrace.

Who?

She struggled to raise her head from this person's embrace to see their face.

She didn't recognize them.

Yet somehow, they felt familiar.

"[Healing Arts]."

She saw them raise one hand, which glowed with a gentle white light.

The light merged with her body, making her feel wonderfully warm all over.

She couldn't help but close her eyes, unconsciously falling asleep in their embrace.

Xia Zhi looked at her adorable sleeping face, his gaze gentle.

He hadn't expected Shenhe to have such a tragic past of betrayal by her closest kin...

Even in sleep, she held tightly to his clothes. Xia Zhi tried to remove her grip but heard her sleep-talking.

"Don't... leave me..."

Xia Zhi paused, lowered his head, and quietly promised her.

"Don't worry... I will never leave you..."

--

The next day, Shenhe woke from her dream, sitting alone at her bedside, staring at the wall adjoining Xia Zhi's room, her expression somewhat dazed.

Last night... I seem to have dreamed about the boss...

That dream again...

But at that moment of despair and helplessness... the boss appeared...

How strange...

Shenhe sat blankly for a while before getting up to slowly brush her hair.

She used the "Jade Comb" given to her by her master.

After changing out of her nightclothes, Shenhe left her room, just in time to meet Xia Zhi coming out of his room.

"Boss, good morning."

"Shenhe, good morning."

Hearing the boss's familiar, pleasant voice, Shenhe's heart skipped a beat for some reason she couldn't explain.

Another peaceful and tranquil day.

She thought.

This is nice.

----

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