Chapter Eighty-Two: Nothing Brings Me More Joy Than Fighting You

"Sun Yaohai..."

Zhang Changlin tilted his head back, gazing at the top floor of the hospital, where the shattered, blood-stained mirror stood.

The torrents of rain descending from the heavens could not conceal Sun Yaohai’s wild, unrestrained smile.

Zhang Changlin knew that Sun Yaohai was showing off to him.

That man had always been at odds with Zhang Changlin—they were sworn rivals ever since Zhang Changlin arrived in Jinling and founded the Wildfire Squad.

He sighed.

In truth, Zhang Changlin had never regarded Sun Yaohai as a true competitor.

There was no need.

Zhang Changlin knew he was merely a guest in Jinling.

He would ultimately return to the capital.

"Don’t die," he murmured.

"Although you’re flamboyant, foul-mouthed, love to show off, and always pretend in front of me..."

"But, as a Dreamwalker,"

"You are qualified."

With those words, Zhang Changlin rushed toward the black barrier.

"Captain!"

Su Jiuming held an umbrella, his pink suit strikingly conspicuous in the night. He called out.

Zhang Changlin glanced back. "Wait outside. Do not enter without permission. Seal off the disaster area. Keep outsiders away."

"Moreover, this dream disaster is clearly artificially orchestrated. There must be motives we don’t yet understand, so be cautious."

"Jiuming, stay ready for any news from the Dreamwalker Association and maintain contact with them."

Zhang Changlin issued his instructions one by one.

"Go ahead. Leave everything to me."

Su Jiuming, twirling a white rose, flashed a charming smile in the wind and rain.

Zhang Changlin nodded.

He could always trust Su Jiuming—despite his usual flamboyant demeanor, Zhang Changlin knew very well that a monster slumbered within him.

Once unleashed, Su Jiuming’s power was beyond even Zhang Changlin’s estimation.

"I leave them in your care," Zhang Changlin nodded.

Then, with a black umbrella in one hand and the broken blade in the other, he charged toward the black barrier.

Facing the black curtain of light,

Zhang Changlin gripped the broken blade, flames began to leap from his body.

Lionfire stance!

Instantly, his aura changed.

Scalding heat radiated outward from his body’s center, evaporating rain as soon as it touched him, creating a dramatic scene.

The broken blade appeared shrouded in thick flames.

With a sweeping motion, he slashed at the black barrier!

Clang!

The curtain of darkness rippled like water.

His strike triggered a powerful rebound from the barrier.

Nonetheless, Zhang Changlin held firm, his dream spirit surging, his voice roaring like an enraged lion.

A crack split open with a sharp sound.

Breathing heavily, Zhang Changlin dragged the flaming broken blade and slipped through the fissure.

As he entered,

The black barrier began to heal itself.

Su Jiuming watched Zhang Changlin struggle to carve open the barrier, sighing to himself.

The black curtain was spawned by a forbidden artifact; upon entering, one would face a disaster crafted by the same artifact.

If Captain Zhang wanted to support Sun Yaohai atop the hospital, he’d first have to break through the dream disaster.

Suddenly,

Su Jiuming froze.

Unbeknownst to him, Du Fang had walked up to the curtain as well.

Standing just a breath away.

What stunned Su Jiuming most was—

Du Fang simply stared quietly at the barrier, staring... staring...

The barrier promptly split apart, opening a vast gap, as if... it had willingly made a door.

Du Fang stepped calmly inside.

Su Jiuming was dumbfounded—Captain Zhang had exerted himself, activating his Lionfire stance and wielding a forbidden artifact, just to open a crack...

Utterly anticlimactic.

Du Fang merely glared and the curtain parted...

Could it be that the barrier judges by appearance?

Could the difference between people really be so vast?

Are all the joys and horrors of the world summed up in a single face?

...

...

Tang Nai, president of the Dreamwalker Association, clad in traditional garb, walked through the wind and rain.

With each step, the downpour above his head parted naturally, like a drawn curtain.

His face was stern, his presence so commanding that neither wind nor rain could approach.

Suddenly,

His black cloth shoes tapped the waterlogged ground, sending ripples across the puddles.

His figure seemed to float atop a lake.

He leaned on a cane, gazing into the distance.

There, a figure holding a black umbrella emerged from the rain.

Elegant black tailcoat, gentleman’s top hat, a white shirt with a somber black bow tie at the collar.

The elderly man walked out with a smile, dignified and elegant, meeting Tang Nai’s gaze.

Every raindrop seemed glued in midair, suspended.

"President Tang Nai, greetings."

The old man smiled gracefully, offering a gentleman’s bow.

Tang Nai gripped his cane, his white hair trembling in the storm. He stared at the man, a sharp light flickering deep in his eyes.

"Celestial Demon Dragon King?"

Tang Nai spoke.

"I am the Celestial Demon, Black Dragon King," the old man replied with impeccable manners.

"Are you here to stop me? Is tonight’s affair the work of your Celestial Demon organization?"

"This is Jinling City. Is your organization planning to declare war on our nation?"

Tang Nai said coldly.

He couldn’t fathom why the Celestial Demon organization, which had always restrained its dream demons, would stir up such chaos tonight. Was this a declaration of enmity with the Dreamwalker Association?

Though powerful, the Celestial Demon organization was not on par with the Association.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been suppressed for so long.

The old man shook his head. "No, President Tang Nai, you misunderstand. Tonight’s events have little to do with me. I was merely invited to stop you."

Tang Nai’s eyes narrowed.

To mobilize a Celestial Demon Dragon King...

Could it be the Underworld, or perhaps a strongman from the New World?

"But why?"

Tang Nai couldn’t understand.

What in Jinling City was worth such trouble, risking a break with the Dreamwalker Association?

The Black Dragon King smiled elegantly. "For dreams."

Tang Nai’s face darkened. A dream demon talking about dreams—how absurd!

If he wouldn’t explain, so be it.

"Then let us fight! I want to see if the Black Dragon King of the Celestial Demon organization can stop me!"

Tang Nai’s previously stooped figure suddenly straightened.

His hand brushed the cane,

A metallic ring sounded,

Every droplet of rain transformed into razor-sharp sword energy.

Within the cane,

A streak of sword light!

Piercing through the rain, slashing at the old man.

The old man smiled serenely. Behind him, a fierce black dragon’s shadow appeared, roaring thunderously. Raindrops exploded, colliding with the sword energy!

At the epicenter,

Dream spirits surged like a tsunami!

A look of relief and emotion flashed in the elegant old man’s eyes.

"To stop you, to fight you, brings me great joy..."

"No need to face the true terror."

"Let us wander the mortal realm, fighting freely, joyfully entangled."

The two clashed and separated, then shot forward again, colliding.

Constant entanglement,

Relentless clashes,

As if they were rising into the sky,

Raindrops suspended in midair burst, scattering like colored powder—blossoming like splendid flowers.

Tang Nai felt insulted.

As president of Jinling’s Dreamwalker Association, he possessed city-level strength.

Though the Celestial Demon Dragon King was equally powerful, during their battle, Tang Nai sensed the other’s joy and relief.

Was he being treated as the weaker?

Every move, every emotional flicker, felt like the utmost disdain!

Even wounded by Tang Nai’s sword energy, the Dragon King’s face showed only gratitude and simple happiness...

Even a touch of enjoyment!

Damn!

This Dragon King...

Is insane.

Utterly infuriating!

Who does he look down upon?

Tang Nai grew increasingly agitated, fury building within!

He had never encountered such a shameless dream demon.

And—

For such elaborate schemes,

Forbidden artifacts, the Dragon King’s intervention...

What was their true purpose?

...

...

The Azure Dragon donned a fierce dragon mask,

Behind the mask, his eyes held a smile of absolute confidence.

"The Celestial Demon Dragon King’s strength is not inferior to a city-level Dreamwalker president. In fact, at full power, he’s superior."

"If only this senior Dragon King were less cautious, he’d join us in facing the Fallen God. That would give us a better chance."

The Azure Dragon laughed.

Beside him, the Underworld’s Ox-Head and Horse-Face had no objections.

The elegant old man’s power was indeed extraordinary.

"Let’s go."

"While the Dragon King is holding Tang Nai back, we must act quickly. Rest assured, I will repay the favor in full."

The Azure Dragon said.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face began to move.

The three—Azure Dragon, Ox-Head, Horse-Face—shot toward Jinling First Hospital.

Azure Dragon’s mask gleamed under the city’s neon lights.

His pupils shimmered with excitement and anticipation.

According to the intelligence received through his wireless earpiece,

Du Fang had entered the area covered by Forbidden Artifact 091.

Everything was under his control; Du Fang, Tang Nai, and the others were like chess pieces on his board, to be manipulated at will.

The Fallen God’s great fish had been caught.

Azure Dragon was about to harvest a tremendous bounty!

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