Chapter Sixty-Eight: Wake Up, Where Did You Get a Wife?

Du Fang offered a gentle smile to his assistant, who trusted him implicitly. The feeling of being trusted genuinely pleased him.

Then, turning to Zhang Changlin, he asked earnestly, “Captain Zhang, I heard that this Dream Calamity was only a replica. Where is the real one, the true source of this disaster?”

Du Fang was particularly concerned about this point. After all, to complete his system mission and recover his wife’s red embroidered shoes, he would have to enter the real Dream Calamity.

Zhang Changlin was momentarily stunned, not expecting Du Fang to ask such a question.

“This Dream Calamity has already ended—why so much concern? The real one is codenamed ‘Red Embroidered Shoes.’ It’s a city-destroying level calamity, and rather unique. Its specific location is in a small village on the outskirts of the Capital.”

“In fact, it was fortunate that the calamity was contained to just the village. Because all the villagers were evacuated in time, the casualties from this city-destroying class disaster were actually less than those caused by some class-three or class-four spectral calamities.”

“But it’s extremely bizarre. To this day, it’s never been conquered, not even when the National Dreamwalkers’ Association sent a top-tier dreamwalker. Because of this, various factions have tried to study it, and the area is swarming with all sorts of people.”

“Why do you ask? Were you affected by something in this last Dream Calamity?”

Zhang Changlin looked at him with curiosity.

Du Fang simply laughed, shaking his head. “Not affected, no. It’s just that I find this Dream Calamity fascinating—especially those red embroidered shoes. They really suit my tastes, and I’d love to study them closely. If I could get my hands on them, I’d give them to my wife.”

Zhang Changlin was speechless.

Are you out of your mind?

That’s a city-destroying class forbidden artifact. If it truly materialized as a forbidden object, it would be ranked at the highest sequence! Yet you want to gift it to your wife?

And, child, wake up—where did you even get a wife?

Still, Zhang Changlin refrained from saying more. He raised his brows slightly and regarded Du Fang with a deep, thoughtful gaze before breaking into a smile.

The truth was, Zhang Changlin had noticed something unusual about Du Fang. He wasn’t foolish—the formidable combat skills Du Fang had displayed in the training room and the fact that two Dream Calamities had been resolved ahead of schedule, possibly because of him, all pointed to the same conclusion: Du Fang was far from ordinary.

However, there were strict rules among Dreamwalkers: one could not casually use dream senses to investigate others. That would be a provocation, an invasion of privacy, a desecration of the innermost self.

Besides, Du Fang was now a member of his team. The only reason he’d previously asked Chen Xi to investigate Du Fang was because, at that time, he’d considered Du Fang a suspect—and an ordinary person at that.

“If you become the champion of the rookie league, you’ll have to go to the Capital for the finals. That would be a perfect opportunity to visit the ‘Red Embroidered Shoes’ Dream Calamity in person.”

“But let me remind you, this Dream Calamity is extremely strange. Although it’s not at the nation-destroying level, some experts believe it could potentially escalate to an unsolvable class.”

“That means it’s not only the Dreamwalkers’ Association watching it, but also the three great Nightmare Demon organizations, and even some foreign powers have their eyes on it.”

“If you really go, take care.”

“And don’t equate this replica with the real ‘Red Embroidered Shoes’ Dream Calamity—the dream content may be entirely different.”

Zhang Changlin’s tone was serious. In truth, he wanted to persuade Du Fang to abandon the idea.

Du Fang, upon hearing this, broke into a bright smile.

“Thank you for your concern, Captain Zhang. I know what I’m doing.”

Zhang Changlin chuckled softly and said no more—he’d already said all that needed to be said.

“All right, let’s return to the lounge. The second round of the Nightmare Demon assessment is about to begin. Chen Xi performed well this time, too—she’s managed to sneak into the next round.”

“Do your best in the second round!”

“The Rookie Dreamwalker Invitational is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each Dreamwalker.”

“This is your stage—enjoy it to the fullest, dance with abandon!”

“Leave no regrets.”

...

...

While the Province’s Rookie Dreamwalker Invitational was in full swing at the Jinling City Stadium, elsewhere in Jinling, a certain street-corner café stood quietly.

Inside, an elderly man sat in elegant attire: a formal suit, a neat hat, and a black umbrella for his cane. Before him sat a cup of civet coffee, which he was steadily sweetening with packet after packet of sugar.

Standing silently behind him was his driver, Old Chang, dressed in a sharp Chinese tunic suit and wearing a monocle.

On the wall-mounted HD television, scenes from the Rookie Dreamwalker Invitational at the stadium played live.

As the old man watched, stirring his coffee, the sharp click of high heels on the floor broke the café’s tranquility.

Liuli Lin, wearing sunglasses and silver high heels set with tiny crystals, strode over to his table in a beige trench coat.

Following her were Azure Dragon and three masked members of the “Divine Core” organization.

“A cappuccino, please,” Liuli Lin said as she took her seat, addressing the café server.

“I’ll have a mocha,” Azure Dragon added, his face hidden behind a fierce dragon mask.

The server glanced at Azure Dragon in puzzlement, then turned to prepare their drinks.

“Honored Heavenly Demon Dragon King,” Azure Dragon said with a smile, “when we learned you were in Jinling, we made a point of contacting you.”

The old man, swirling his coffee with a silver spoon, seemed somewhat despondent, yet still radiated an air of nobility and command. He glanced at Azure Dragon. “Do you know nothing of etiquette? Speaking to me in a mask, pretending to be an expert?”

He spoke with indifference, then lifted his coffee in a slight toast to Liuli Lin, taking a delicate sip and savoring its bitterness.

Liuli Lin nodded in return, her gesture polite.

Azure Dragon paused—then chuckled, “You’re right; I was careless.”

He removed his mask, revealing sharply handsome mixed-race features.

“An excellent body,” the old man remarked with a glance.

Azure Dragon gave a dry laugh. That kind of compliment was one he’d rather not receive.

“Ahem, you flatter me, sir. But after all, I am with Divine Core.”

He continued, “We asked you here today for a shared purpose.”

“That Fallen God is terrifying—an indescribable horror, a being that moves freely between reality and dreams.”

The old man’s gaze drifted as he stared into his coffee, the light in his eyes dimming.

Liuli Lin pressed her red lips together. He saw it! The existence of Luo Luo—the Heavenly Demon Dragon King might truly have seen it!

“So that’s why you fear him?” Azure Dragon seemed unsurprised, a slight smile playing at his lips.

“Your organization, after all, doesn’t study Fallen Gods as deeply as we do in Divine Core.”

“Whatever the truth about his power to move between dream and reality, a Fallen God’s strength always matches the strength of its host’s flesh. The stronger the body, the stronger the god.”

“Our target, Du Fang, as Suzaku’s reports confirm, only recently became a Dreamwalker. His dream-spirit is still weak. For now, his power remains within controllable limits.”

Azure Dragon spoke with an easy smile.

The old man sipped his coffee, glancing at Azure Dragon. “You’re talking nonsense.”

Azure Dragon paused.

Wasn’t the Heavenly Demon Dragon King supposed to be refined and polite?

Liuli Lin quietly sipped the coffee brought by the server, watching coldly as the two men negotiated.

“Do you know how terrifying he is? You don’t—because you’ve never felt that kind of pressure and fear. So don’t spout nonsense at me. Easy to talk big when you’re not the one in danger, isn’t it?”

The old man’s tone was icy.

Standing behind him, the one-eyed driver, Old Chang, nodded emphatically in agreement.

Azure Dragon took no offense. He sipped his coffee and smiled. “Perhaps you aren’t aware, sir: a Fallen God can evoke the deepest fear in one’s heart—it’s their nature, or perhaps a supernatural power.”

“But that doesn’t mean a Fallen God is unbeatable.”

“At least, while the host’s body is yet to reach its peak, the god parasitizing him is not invincible.”

He spoke with confidence, folding his hands.

“Besides, sir, have you ever actually fought Du Fang?”

This question made the old man pause, his hand stilling on his coffee.

Thinking back on every encounter with Du Fang, it was true—as Azure Dragon said—he’d never actually faced him directly. Each time, he’d simply sensed the terror of the Fallen God and fled immediately.

Azure Dragon, seeing the old man’s hesitation, smiled with growing confidence.

“So, if you’ve never fought him, how can you be sure he’s that strong?”

“If you can suppress your fear of the Fallen God, then Du Fang—as a mere junior Dreamwalker—is nothing to worry about.”

Azure Dragon leaned back, lips curled in a smile.

“There’s more good news as well.”

“If you’re worried about lacking manpower, our Divine Core organization has secured another partner.”

The old man raised his brows. “Who?”

“Yellow Springs,” replied Azure Dragon with a smile.

“Oh, Yellow Springs?” the old man echoed, eyes narrowing.

Azure Dragon pressed his advantage. “We’re joining forces. On top of that, Divine Core will provide you with a special potion to suppress the fear that arises when facing the Fallen God.”

“Join us, sir—let’s do this together!”

“You have nothing to lose!”

Liuli Lin turned to look at Azure Dragon, her expression blank.

With a silver tongue like that, you’re wasted here—not going into sales is a crime.

The old man hesitated, swayed by Azure Dragon’s words. Perhaps Du Fang’s real strength was nothing special, and he only possessed the power to evoke fear.

The temptation of Du Fang’s flawless body was simply too great.

Most importantly, the “Hand of God”—the key to forging the perfect body—had already been confirmed to be with Du Fang.

Thus, the old man could not help but be moved.

He downed his civet coffee in a single gulp.

Yellow Springs, Heavenly Demon, Divine Core—three major organizations. With such power combined, it should be enough to overcome his apprehensions.

The old man looked at Azure Dragon and finally allowed a refined smile to play across his face.

“In that case... let’s give it a try.”

ps: Please vote for me!