Chapter 5: A Dream?

Bai Letian bolted upright, drenched in cold sweat. The familiar sight of his bedroom greeted him, but his mind remained a chaotic mess, as if he had just escaped from another world.

He fumbled for his phone—6:29 AM. The alarm was about to ring.

Taking a deep breath, he shakily turned it off. Yet, the images in his head surged like a relentless tide—Shuisha You's chilling gaze, Jiang Xianqing's tight grip on his wrist, and the searing pain tearing through his shoulder.

"Was that really just a dream?" Bai Letian murmured, instinctively rubbing his shoulder, where the pain still seemed to linger faintly.

He went about his morning routine—washing up, getting dressed—slipping back into the rhythm of everyday life. But the entire morning, his mind was ensnared by last night's events, as if some cryptic message was hidden within them. At work, he couldn't resist sharing the dream with his close friend, Xu Yuhao.

"Hao-ge, I had the most vivid dream last night. It felt so real…" Bai Letian spoke rapidly, his voice laced with an unease he couldn't suppress.

Xu Yuhao burst into laughter. "Xiao Bai, you're just stressed! Your dreams are getting more and more outrageous."

Bai Letian shook his head firmly. "No, you don't understand. Every battle, every moment of pain—I remember it all. Even the faintest scents and textures."

Xu Yuhao shrugged. "Then write it down. At least you've got material for a story."

Taking his friend's advice, Bai Letian attempted to turn his dream into a written tale. Yet, every time he reached a certain point, he hit a dead end—the protagonists in the dream had either perished or been gravely wounded, and the plot seemed to spiral into hopelessness. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a way forward.

"How do I continue this dream?" he muttered at his computer screen.

Days passed, but the answer eluded him. He grew exhausted, and even the once-vivid scenes of the dream began to blur. He tried everything—recalling, meditating, even deliberately staying up late in the hopes of dreaming again. But nothing worked.

One night, lying in bed, his mind still tangled in the remnants of that dream, exhaustion finally pulled him under.

When he opened his eyes again, He Shengnan stood before him, gazing down with a mix of authority and relief.

"Awake at last?" His voice was both familiar and firm.

Bai Letian froze, staring at He Shengnan, his lips moving soundlessly before he finally spoke. "Da…? Master?"

Hurried footsteps approached. Jiang Xianqing rushed over and grabbed his hand tightly, her voice trembling. "Xiao Bai! You're finally awake! We thought… Thank goodness you're alright!"

Soon, Wen Qingyi and Xu Yuhao gathered around as well, their anxious inquiries filled with both joy and concern. Bai Letian, utterly baffled, looked around. This place was neither his real room nor the dreamscape he had been trapped in—it appeared to be a hidden underground chamber.

He Shengnan's voice grew solemn. "You were all drugged. That dream was an illusion. Had I not arrived in time, the consequences would have been dire."

Bai Letian's breath hitched. "Master, what exactly happened?"

He Shengnan's expression darkened as he explained, "Xiao Tao and Lin Jiu have long been colluding with Shuisha You, leading you into its trap. They are under its curse and have no choice but to aid in capturing cultivators. The food you ate was laced with a hallucinogen, designed to break your spirit so Shuisha You could devour your souls."

Cold sweat trickled down Bai Letian's back. He whispered, "We were lucky…"

Jiang Xianqing nodded, adding, "Any later, and you might never have woken up."

Reflecting on everything he had experienced in the dream, Bai Letian suddenly realized that this was more than just a close call—it was a test.

Taking a deep breath, his gaze grew resolute as he turned to He Shengnan. "Master, we can't just leave this be. Xiao Tao and Lin Jiu may be under Shuisha You's control, but an entire village remains trapped in despair. We have to put an end to this."

He Shengnan nodded slightly, his voice low. "I've already discovered that Shuisha You appears at a secluded lakeside every few nights, likely for cultivation. That is our only chance to face it head-on."

Jiang Xianqing clenched her fists. "If that's our only shot, then we can't miss it."

Wen Qingyi, however, hesitated. "But that creature is too strange—it can even manipulate dreams. Do we really stand a chance?"

"Fear won't help us," Bai Letian said calmly, but his eyes burned with determination. "No matter what, we have to try."

After brief preparations, they followed He Shengnan to the hidden lakeside. The moon cast a cold glow over the still waters, an eerie silence hanging in the air.

A lone figure stood by the lake, clad in a flowing dark blue robe, his posture elegant and composed. He gazed at the water, lost in thought, yet an icy aura emanated from him, suffocating and oppressive.

Bai Letian's breath caught, his heart pounding. He could hardly believe it—this refined-looking man was the fearsome Shuisha You.

"Is that really him?" Jiang Xianqing whispered, both shocked and uncertain.

"No doubt about it." He Shengnan's hand moved to his sword, his expression grave.

As if sensing their presence, the man turned. His face was strikingly handsome, almost unreal. A smirk played on his lips as he studied them. "Ah… Finally, someone has come to disturb my solitude."

Bai Letian instinctively took a step back. But He Shengnan strode forward, his tone unwavering. "Shuisha You, enough of your tricks. You've imprisoned innocent villagers and manipulated others into serving your evil. Tonight, we put an end to this."

"An end?" Shuisha You chuckled, his voice as sharp as a blade. "With just you lot?"

Before the last word fell, his form blurred, reappearing in an instant before He Shengnan, striking with a palm attack. He Shengnan swiftly countered with his sword, their clashing energies sending leaves swirling into the air.

Jiang Xianqing and Wen Qingyi leaped into action—Jiang conjuring a wall of fire to trap Shuisha You, while Wen chanted incantations to assist. Yet Shuisha You moved like a phantom, evading effortlessly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Bai Letian gritted his teeth, unwilling to remain idle. He charged forward, coordinating with Jiang Xianqing to block Shuisha You's escape. But with a mere flick of his hand, a wave of illusionary energy sent them staggering back.

"Not bad," Shuisha You murmured, lightly clapping his hands, his icy gaze betraying amusement. "But I have no interest in playing with you tonight."

With that, his form grew translucent, merging into the night. They scanned the area in alarm, but he was already gone.

"Damn it! He got away!" Jiang Xianqing fumed.

He Shengnan sheathed his sword, his brows furrowed. "He avoided a prolonged fight, which means we still pose a threat to him."

Bai Letian steadied himself, a strange thought gnawing at him. He turned to He Shengnan and asked in a low voice, "Master… the way you fought just now—it reminded me of Da in the real world."

He Shengnan stilled before giving a faint smile. "Da? Who's that? You're imagining things. Let's go. We'll regroup and plan our next move."

Though He Shengnan brushed it off, Bai Letian couldn't shake the feeling that his master was hiding something.

And next time, he vowed, he would uncover the truth.