Chapter Eleven: Hmm? A Child?

The atmosphere inside the elevator was awkward, not particularly harmonious. The main reason was Du Fang’s words, which brought a sudden chill to the conversation.

Zhang Changlin was a bit stunned. He knew Du Fang would try to cover up the real reason for acquiring the forbidden object, but he hadn’t expected such an outrageous explanation.

Won it in a card game? And five consecutive spring rounds? What kind of nonsense was that!

A flying cow, and you’re still blowing hot air on the ground? Ridiculous!

Most importantly, could anyone really get a spring round every game of cards? What a daydream!

Zhang Changlin clearly didn’t believe it—after all, his own luck at cards was so bad he barely drew a joker. He felt Du Fang was just fooling everyone, not even bothering with a plausible excuse, pretending to be some kind of lucky genius.

Lin Liuli leaned against the elevator wall, her red lips curling slightly; she, of course, didn’t believe it either.

She’d investigated yesterday’s dream disaster—a third-level spectral event, code-named the Fierce Ghost’s Cards...

In the dream disaster, you played cards with a ghost, hoping to win? What could you possibly use to win?

The purpose of the spectral object was to ensure you never won a single round. Lose once, and it would chop off your finger, dig out your heart, slice your skull, and churn your brains...

That was the terror of this dream disaster, its method of killing.

If the dream disaster continued unchecked, the mortality rate wouldn’t exactly be low.

Because, in the dream, the ghost could control the deck. Did you really think it was just luck?

The outcome was decided from the start. Unless you were fiercer than the ghost...

Wait. Lin Liuli paused at that thought.

Fiercer than the ghost...

Her narrow eyes glanced at Du Fang, who looked upright and serious, and at the space where he held hands with nothing.

Fiercer than a ghost? Could it be...

Meanwhile, Chen Xi eyed Zhang Changlin, who seemed to think Du Fang was just bluffing, and hesitated to speak.

In truth, Chen Xi believed completely. She had witnessed Du Fang’s terrifying side firsthand. His thorny little cotton coat...

Perhaps even the spectral object in the dream disaster had been afraid.

“Ding!”

“The 18th floor has been reached.”

The elevator’s electronic female voice announced. Everyone exited.

Du Fang didn’t want to reveal the real reason, and Zhang Changlin didn’t care—after all, that was only natural.

Maybe Du Fang had some special, unspeakable technique for acquiring forbidden items?

Du Fang held onto Luoluo’s hand, his expression somewhat helpless.

Indeed, nowadays, no one believes the truth.

Zhang Changlin’s obvious disbelief—how could Du Fang not notice?

Chen Xi led the way enthusiastically.

Zhang Changlin felt a pang of jealousy.

Since when did this girl become so eager? She never worked so diligently for him, her captain.

“Excuse me... do you have any other business?”

“Why are you following us?”

Zhang Changlin felt the clicking of high heels beside him was loud and irritating, so he turned to look at the cool and aloof Doctor Lin, squinting his eyes.

“He’s my patient,” Lin Liuli replied indifferently.

Zhang Changlin took out a cigarette box, bit down on a cigarette, and chuckled.

That excuse... was truly flawless.

But a psychiatrist tailing her patient? Was this a coincidence? The more coincidental it seemed, the more suspicious.

Where in the world are there such coincidences? They’re all carefully planned schemes!

Zhang Changlin glanced at the handsome and dashing Du Fang.

With a bit of empathy, he shook his head with a smile.

Ah, women.

The group walked through the spacious floor.

Du Fang felt a bit embarrassed—he’d just come to take the Dreamwalker assessment, and now so many were accompanying him. Wasn’t this a bit much?

He had only invited Chen Xi to help as his sponsor.

Yet Captain Zhang and Doctor Lin had also tagged along?

They were all so warm-hearted.

It turned out that true affection wasn’t just found in dreams; it existed in the real world too!

Chen Xi led Du Fang to the hall to handle some formalities and pay the required fees for the assessment.

As Du Fang’s sponsor for the Dreamwalker exam, Chen Xi had to enter some information herself.

Once the information was recorded, they moved to the waiting area.

Du Fang sat down, placing Luoluo on his lap.

Luoluo hugged her pink pig toy, curiously observing everything around her—her first time out, and she was fascinated by everything.

Du Fang, meanwhile, nervously waited for his exam.

It wasn’t his first Dreamwalker assessment; the previous two had ended in failure because he hadn’t awakened any special ability, so he didn’t meet the standard.

So his psychological pressure was immense.

Du Fang never considered himself particularly strong-minded.

After so many failures, he too felt close to breaking down.

Outside the waiting area, many figures swayed and moved about.

Du Fang glanced over curiously.

Chen Xi was quick to read his expression and explained, “Those are managers of some low-tier Dreamwalker squads. The Dreamwalker Association is officially overseen by the state, but management is actually very free and loose, almost open.”

“As long as you become a Dreamwalker, you’re eligible to register a squad, recruit Dreamwalkers, and tackle dream disasters...”

“Those managers are responsible for recording and recruiting passing Dreamwalkers. They’ll offer big promises—high signing bonuses, generous benefits—on top of the state’s basic salary.”

“But it’s best not to join such squads,” Chen Xi said.

Du Fang looked puzzled.

High bonuses and benefits... aren’t those tempting?

“Their promises of high pay and perks also mean high risk. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“To raise their squad’s level, to become an officially certified Dreamwalker squad, they have to tackle dream disasters. To level up, they must take on higher-tier dream disasters. The less reputable the squad, the higher the risk and mortality rate.”

Chen Xi continued, “Of course, not every squad is the same—everyone starts from the bottom. But generally, the less formal the squad, the more dangerous.”

“The more official the squad, the safer.”

Du Fang understood.

His scalp tingled slightly.

“The dreamscape of a disaster can be seen as another world, another battlefield...”

“Raiding dream disasters brings many rewards—Dream Spirit Springs, forbidden items, and so on... these are tangible benefits.”

“So sometimes, once inside a dream disaster, your enemies might not just be the spectral objects, but also your so-called comrades stabbing you in the back. The less reputable the squad, the sharper the knives,” Zhang Changlin said, shaking his leg and flicking ash.

“That’s why, Brother Du, if you pass the Dreamwalker assessment...”

“You can choose to join my squad...”

Zhang Changlin was very curious about how Du Fang, an ordinary person, had managed to acquire a forbidden item. That was part of his motivation for recruiting him.

Another reason was that since Chen Xi was Du Fang’s sponsor, Zhang Changlin felt responsible for his own teammate—he couldn’t let her bring harm to others.

“Um...”

Du Fang hesitated.

Zhang Changlin paused, cigarette in his mouth, and looked over in confusion.

What? You’re actually going to refuse?

His Wildfire Squad wasn’t some bottom-tier group; it was officially recognized—a silver squad in Jinling City!

“Um...”

“Captain Zhang, could you not smoke around the child?”

Du Fang pointed to Luoluo in his arms and hesitated, but spoke up.

Zhang Changlin: “???”

What’s this? Changing the subject?

He turned to Chen Xi and Doctor Lin, as if asking with his eyes, Is there a child?

Chen Xi nodded repeatedly. “Captain, there’s a child here. Be civilized, don’t smoke.”

Doctor Lin’s expression was cool, her red lips curling in brief disdain: “Put it out.”

“...” Zhang Changlin.

You all see a child?

And I don’t?

So... if you all don’t have a problem, then the problem must be with me?

Zhang Changlin instinctively glanced at Du Fang’s arms.

There really was nothing there.

Were they all acting? Making up a child to stop him from smoking?

Still, Zhang Changlin silently put out his cigarette.

This smoke had lost its soul, bland and tasteless, pointless to continue.

“Number eighteen, Du Fang, please enter the room and wait—the assessment will begin shortly.”

The door to the assessment room opened.

A man in a black suit walked out, glanced at Zhang Changlin in surprise, then resumed his cold demeanor and spoke quietly.

Du Fang immediately set Luoluo down, took her hand, and stood up.

He was so nervous—another Dreamwalker assessment!

Would he fail again this time?

Whether he could become a licensed Dreamwalker and reach the pinnacle of life depended on today!

“Luoluo! Good luck!”

Du Fang clenched his fist and cheered her on.

“Mm!” Luoluo hugged her pig plushie, her eyes forming crescent moons, smiling adorably.

On the other side—

“Brother Fang! Go for it!” Chen Xi jumped up, full of excitement and anticipation.

If Du Fang succeeded, she would have fulfilled her task—she wouldn’t become a gray portrait hung among funeral wreaths.

Thinking of this, Chen Xi glanced at the empty space where Du Fang held hands, feeling three parts nervous, seven parts fearful.

“Luoluo, good luck too!” Doctor Lin got up, her cool face showing a faint, icy smile. She nodded slightly toward the air beside Du Fang.

“Luoluo, good luck.”

Du Fang’s smile grew brighter.

With everyone’s heartfelt blessings, he took the bouncing Luoluo into the assessment room.

Zhang Changlin watched Du Fang enter alone.

He shakily pulled out a cigarette, didn’t light it, and felt complicated inside.

Am I... blind?

Beside him.

Chen Xi said, “Luoluo is so cute.”

Doctor Lin replied, “Mm.”

Zhang Changlin: “...”