Lu Qingmo stood still, her gaze fixed on Han’s face as he moved closer to her. She was frozen, as if stunned, until Han was almost right up against her.

  Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock as she realized how close they were to each other.

  Only then did she react, pushing Han away. But before she could, Han quickly brushed her lips with a light kiss.

  Thud!

  Han was pushed back, and Lu Qingmo immediately jumped off the bed.

  She stood by the bed, chest rising and falling rapidly, silent. After a long moment, she shot Han a furious glare, her face tinged with a deep flush that wouldn’t fade.

  In a hurry, Lu Qingmo dashed out, her dress crumpled, her hair tousled. Not a single word was spoken.

  Han watched her retreating figure, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

  After a while, he stood up and followed her.

  Outside, a gentle breeze blew, cool and calming.

  “Mo Yi…” Han began to speak, but was immediately cut off.

  “Han,” Lu Qingmo interrupted.

  “Forget what happened just now. Let’s pretend it never happened. Don’t let it happen again.”

  “But I—”

  “Stop,” Lu Qingmo said without turning around. “You’re only twenty-two, your cultivation is just beginning. Focus on your training.”

  “There are many things you will understand when you look back at them in the future. They won’t seem as important as you think now.”

  Han fell silent. He knew she understood what was going on. She must have felt the change in him.

  She wanted him to forget…

  “I understand,” Han said softly.

  But I will still try again.

  “The dream, you must keep it secret,” Lu Qingmo changed the subject.

  “If word gets out, it could attract unwanted attention.”

  “That place is a good spot for cultivation. If you get the chance to enter again, make sure to make the most of it.”

  Han thought for a moment and said, “If the dream really has something to do with me, and I can influence it, I want to try bringing the Senior Sister into the dream as well.”

  Bring more people in, build a beautiful dream, brick by brick, to contribute to the dream of socialism.

  “Ruo Yue…” Lu Qingmo pondered before replying, “We still don’t know if the dream is dangerous. Let’s wait and see. What if it’s just a fleeting illusion?”

  “Mo Yi, have you noticed that time outside seems to have barely changed?” Han subtly hinted at something.

  “Time hasn’t changed?”

  Lu Qingmo looked up at the sky, her expression shifting in shock. She turned around suddenly.

  “We’ve been in the dream for twenty-four hours, and the outside time isn’t synchronized with the dream?!”

  “Looks like it.” Han nodded.

  A deeper surprise crossed Lu Qingmo’s face.

  This dream had more power than she had imagined.

  The forces shaping the dream were more terrifying than she had thought.

  “Truly incredible… How did this dream come into being…”

  “We can’t let anyone know about this.”

  “Even if you want to help your senior brothers, you cannot reveal your connection to the dream.”

  “They are trustworthy, but if they ever find themselves in danger, they could expose everything.”

  Lu Qingmo paused for a moment and then came up with an idea.

  “How about this? You can blame everything on me. Say I’ve cultivated a certain Taoist technique that can assist in training.”

  Han’s heart warmed. Mo Yi, the more you care for me, the harder it will be for me to forget you.

  “You don’t need to hide anything from Ruo Yue and Bai Tian. They won’t be able to hide it from him anyway.”

  “Also, when you go back to sleep, try to see if you wake up in the dream every time you fall asleep.”

  “…”

  It won’t happen.

  But Han still needed to sleep.

  After Han left, Lu Qingmo stood alone, a single flower petal drifting before her eyes.

  The events from earlier resurfaced in her mind, unbidden. Her cheeks flushed as she lightly touched her lips.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Why didn’t I resist from the start…” Lu Qingmo asked herself.

  “What was I thinking?”

  With her abilities, if she had resisted immediately, Han would never have had the chance to get so close.

  After a long pause, she sighed softly.

  “Maybe you can let it go. There’s no future for us…”

  Her emotions were complex, too tangled to explain in words.

  “Your future is bright, you can walk through heaven and hell, while I can only stop here…”

  There was a deep sense of regret in her eyes. If it hadn’t been for that accident, she wouldn’t be stuck here, with no future.

  After several attempts, Han still couldn’t re-enter the dream. Lu Qingmo had her answer now: it seemed there were limits to how often he could enter the dream.

  Perhaps the dream itself was fleeting, and after today, it would cease to exist.

  That night, Lu Qingmo couldn’t calm her mind. The impossible experiences from earlier swirled around her thoughts, leaving her restless.

  Meanwhile, Han, unable to sleep after his training, couldn’t help but laugh when he thought back to what had happened.

  He reflected for a while and came to a conclusion.

  Lu Qingmo was a bit contradictory.

  During the day, as Han was about to leave the martial arts hall after his meal, he stopped Bai Ruo Yue.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  “Senior Sister, tonight, you’re coming with me to Mo Yi’s place.”

  “Why would I go there?” Bai Ruo Yue asked, puzzled. “Does Mo Yi want to see me?”

  “No.” Han said.

  “I want you to go there and rest for the night.”

  “You two can stay there, but why do I need to go?” Bai Ruo Yue frowned.

  “You just need to go. I promise you’ll get a surprise.”

  Bai Ruo Yue reluctantly agreed.

  Han also told Bai Tian and the other senior brothers to stay in their rooms after midnight and not to do anything.

  “Why?” Bai Tian asked.

  At this point, it was just Han and Bai Tian. Han replied seriously:

  “Something happened to me last night, and it might benefit us. You’ll see when the time comes.”

  They walked to the peach orchard, and Bai Ruo Yue immediately bombarded Lu Qingmo with questions.

  Han, on the other hand, went off to cultivate his soul.

  At midnight, Han reminded:

  “Senior Sister, time to rest.”

  “Stay in your room, don’t come out.”

  Bai Ruo Yue glanced at the two of them. “Is Mo Yi going to rest too?”

  Lu Qingmo nodded, saying, “Listen to Han, stay in your room, and don’t wander around.”

  Especially don’t go to his room.

  Bai Ruo Yue was puzzled. Why was she being told to stay in her room? What were they afraid she would discover?

  Was she being drawn into their plan tonight?

  The dream.

  Han immediately pulled Bai Ruo Yue in.

  When she first appeared, she was confused.

  “How did I fall asleep so suddenly, and dream?” she asked.

  “Did I dream about Little Junior Brother?”

  She touched Han’s head in surprise. “It’s just like the real thing.”

  “…”

  What’s with you and Mo Yi? Is there some special interest?

  Why does everyone have to touch my head when they enter?

  Bai Ruo Yue became bolder, extending both hands to pinch Han’s face.

  “It’s still warm.”

  “Hmph. I’ll make you regret messing with me!”

  “Senior Sister, stop playing around,” Han said, pulling her hands away.

  “This is a dream, but it’s a little different. Everything that happens here, we will remember when we wake up.”

  “Han’s right,” Lu Qingmo said, appearing in the dream as well.

  Bai Ruo Yue froze. The three of them were in the dream together. What was going on?

  “How did you bring Ruo Yue in?” Lu Qingmo asked.

  “I just thought about it,” Han explained.

  “I wanted Senior Sister to come in, so I thought about it for a while, and then she appeared.”

  Lu Qingmo considered this. Was it the power of the dream’s master?

  “What is going on here?” Bai Ruo Yue asked urgently.

  “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

  “You’ll understand soon,” Lu Qingmo said, looking at Han. “Can you pull someone in from a distance?”

  “I’ll try.”

  Han began pulling Bai Tian in, and it worked.

  It seemed the dream’s reach could cover at least the whole of Black Cloud Town.

  “My father’s here too.”

  Bai Ruo Yue was astounded.

  Han explained what was happening to Bai Tian and the others, stunning them all.

  “The world truly holds such mysterious things,” Bai Tian marveled.

  “Since it’s like this, can’t I try refining my organs here, without fear of injury?”

  Bai Ruo Yue said excitedly, “Once I’ve accumulated enough experience, figured out the safest method, I can make rapid progress when I return to the real world!”

  Cultivating the organs was risky, usually requiring careful, slow progress. You never knew if a slight excess of Qi might damage your organs.

  But here in the dream, all that risk disappeared.

  Trial and error would lead to the quickest, safest method of organ refinement.

  Why do the strong advance so quickly in their cultivation?

  One reason is they are simply too skilled.

  "Father, this place is just as beneficial for you. You're exploring your way forward, and here, you can experiment freely without the fear of failure."

  Bai Tian nodded, his face filled with joy, and he looked at Han with a deeply sentimental expression.

  "Han, this dream… it’s been an immense help to me. I..."

  As a master, it was supposed to be him guiding his disciples, but now, it was his disciple who had come to his aid. The feeling inside Bai Tian was indescribable.

  "I'm glad I could help, Master," Han said with a smile.

  "I’m thinking of trying something—see if I can bring Second Senior Brother and the others into the dream too."

  "About Han and the dream, it’s best that only you know. Don’t tell anyone else," Lu Qingmo spoke up suddenly.

  "Tell your other disciples that this is a Taoist technique I’ve been using."

  "It’s not that I don’t trust them, but I hope you understand my reasoning," she added, making sure Han didn’t have to take the blame for this decision.

  Bai Tian thought it over for a moment and then nodded.

  "Yes, this approach seems more appropriate."

  "Why, Father?" Bai Ruo Yue asked softly. "Xiao Yu and the others would never spill the beans."

  "They wouldn’t, but there are too many mysterious Taoist arts and martial skills in this world. It’s better to be cautious," Bai Tian explained.

  "For Han’s safety, his connection to the dream cannot be exposed."

  Bai Ruo Yue understood now.

  Shen Long and the other four appeared one by one, each shocked by what they were seeing. When they understood the purpose of this place, their astonishment grew even more.

  "Thank you for taking care of us, Director Lu," they all thanked Lu Qingmo.

  "Don’t thank me, thank Han," Lu Qingmo waved it off.

  They assumed she meant that Han had asked Lu Qingmo to look out for them.

  "Our junior brother is truly a mountain of support to us!"

  After they understood what this place was capable of, everyone eagerly began to try their hand at cultivation.

  By midday, Shen Long and the others had entered the peach orchard, each finding their own corner. Only Han and Bai Ruo Yue stayed by the pavilion to continue their cultivation.

  Han had also brought An Lang into the dream. An Lang, who was still processing the effects of the Yellow Spring Yin Dew, appeared somewhat dazed.

  "This place will help you better understand the power of the Yellow Spring. Feel free to experiment without worrying about danger," Han explained.

  In the dream, An Lang could repeatedly experience the power of the Yellow Spring and recover from any mishaps. Her chances of mastering the ability grew exponentially.

  Boom!

  At a certain moment, a loud explosion rang out from Bai Ruo Yue’s body. She coughed up a mouthful of blood.

  "Junior Brother, quick, my liver’s about to explode, help me!" she yelled.

  A little later, Bai Ruo Yue’s chest caved in.

  "Junior Brother, my heart’s shattered, give me a boost!"

  "My kidneys are gone!"

  "Junior Brother, save me!"

  "…"

  Han was speechless. He turned to Lu Qingmo.

  "Aunt Mo, don’t you think Senior Sister is a bit... wild?"

  Lu Qingmo glanced at Han, her eyes filled with blood, her veins severed, and her organs drained.

  "Maybe you should wipe the blood off your lips."

  "Oh, right... I used ‘Sword Without Me’ ten times in a row. The cost was a little high."

  "Well, you’re not much better off than her."

  Boom!

  In a corner of the peach orchard, a violent explosion shook the ground, a storm rising as if to destroy everything in its path.

  Han calmly sipped his Dream Tea.