Chapter 136: Where There Is Family, There Is Light

Lin Liuli remained incarcerated in the Nightmare Prison. Du Fang did not remove her or transfer her to another facility; for Lin Liuli, the Nightmare Prison was now arguably the safest place she could be. Even she herself likely had no desire to move. Firstly, there was no need; secondly, as a defector from the Godcore Organization who had also caused the death of the Seventh Priest, Lin Liuli was well aware that she had likely been blacklisted. Should another priest silently infiltrate Jiangling City, her life would surely be forfeit. In the Nightmare Prison, however, even a priest could not slip in so easily.

Du Fang’s inquiry into the location of the Godcore Organization’s headquarters was a decision made after careful deliberation, driven by the other self within him and its demand for "fireworks." Of course, Du Fang would not go seeking the headquarters immediately. As Lin Liuli had said, the Godcore Organization was powerful and dangerous; Du Fang would certainly not act carelessly or rush headlong into the fray. He planned to head to the capital next to steadily improve his strength. He would only consider this matter once he had reached the City-Crossing level. By then, the powers of his family members—Luo Luo, the piglet Qiqi, his sister-in-law, and others—would be further unleashed, and he would have the confidence to ensure his own survival.

Du Fang walked out of the prison. The sky was dark and heavy, with dim stars stubbornly flickering through the thick clouds of the night from time to time. Taking a deep breath, he paced along the corridor, hands resting on the railing as he gazed out at the Jiangling night. The lights were scattered like jewels, colorful and brilliant. The sight reflected in his pupils touched his heart. It was a beautiful image, like a magnificent painting etched into his soul. Reflecting on the night’s events, his emotions deepened, and he gained a greater understanding of the profession of Dream-Crossing.

What happened tonight was, in truth, even more dangerous than the incident caused by Azure Dragon previously. The Seventh Priest of the Godcore Organization was a powerhouse capable of toppling nations. Stopping such a figure could have resulted in horrific casualties, yet no one retreated. Upon learning that the Seventh Priest had appeared in Jiangling, every Dream-Crosser had charged forward without hesitation—neither Captain Zhang nor Zhao Lingyin from the capital had shown fear. Even when their own strength was far from sufficient, they had not taken a single step back. Perhaps this was the duty of a Dream-Crosser: to guard the scattered lights behind them, even if it meant stepping into the abyss without looking back.

A gentle breeze blew, ruffling Du Fang’s hair. It felt as though his thoughts were being swept into the vast sky, looking down upon the human warmth of the night.

...

In the Dream-Crossing Building of Jiangling City, the president’s office remained lit. President Tang Nai sat at his desk, still processing documents and responding to requests for support from Dream-Crossers in other cities. The Li couple watched President Tang bustling about with a smile. Despite the exhaustion etched onto his face, Li Ang felt a sense of joy in his heart.

"This is the difference between the Dream-Crossers of our Great Xia and those abroad," Li Ang said. "Abroad, if a city is attacked by a national-level powerhouse, the mercenary Dream-Crossers are happy, because every deployment brings a high fee. And if they determine there is real danger, they choose to retreat. Only by staying alive can they continue to be hired; their eyes hold nothing but profit."

Li Ang shook his head. "Profit-seeking has become the basic code for mercenary Dream-Crossers abroad. It is a sorrow—a sorrow of the corruption of the Dream-Crosser profession."

Jingxiang, having regained her gentle composure, smiled faintly. "As the era progresses, Dream-Crossers possess increasingly powerful strength. They become more indifferent to life, and profit-first will gradually become the mainstream."

Wen Ji, who was assisting President Tang with the paperwork, looked up at the two national-level Dream-Crossers, his heart filled with emotion. Tang Nai’s expression was somber and worried. "Indeed. When Dream-Crossers are corrupted by profit, their will can no longer remain steadfast. There are more ordinary people in this world, and Dream-Crossers who command such power are, in fact, the hope of those ordinary people. The tragedy is that this is a global trend. Even in Great Xia, most of the new generation of Dream-Crossers are cultivated by conglomerates. As the association undergoes generational change, it is gradually being infiltrated by these corporations, making this trend even more apparent." Tang Nai sighed, his eyes growing dim as he recalled the obstacles he had faced while trying to investigate whether there were mobile dream disasters outside Jiangling City.

"Don't worry, President Tang, our President Ye has long been aware of this situation," Jingxiang said with a smile, her eyes full of confidence. "With President Ye there, those conglomerates won't be able to stir up any major waves."

"Setting that aside, did Du Fang go to the Nightmare Prison earlier? What did he say to that member of the Godcore Organization?" President Tang asked, looking at Wen Ji.

Wen Ji shook his head. "I don't know. He shielded himself from everyone." Given Du Fang’s current status and standing, no one would force the issue when he chose to keep things private.

President Tang pondered for a moment, then looked at Li Ang. "Du Fang’s situation... is there a problem? This child is too strange. Harboring two Fallen Gods in his body—could it cause harm to his psyche? Can his body withstand it?"

Li Ang hesitated. "Looking at his mental state, he seems quite fine. Among all the Dream-Crossers who harbor Fallen Gods, his mental state can be said to be unprecedentedly good... Others suffer from insomnia, severe mood swings, rage, depression, schizophrenia—all sorts of emotional issues. But none of these appear in Du Fang. His mental state is extremely stable, wonderfully so." Even as he analyzed it, Li Ang felt unsure. It was simply too bizarre.

"Could it be that because two powerful Fallen Gods are hidden within him, they have created a subtle balance, preventing any major negative impact on his spirit?" Wen Ji, who had always maintained a cold demeanor and rarely spoke to strangers, had abandoned his principles due to his interest in this topic.

Li Ang glanced at Wen Ji. "That is an interesting theory. It’s not impossible."

Encouraged, Wen Ji seemed even more excited. "There is actually another possibility. Perhaps there is a third Fallen God within Du Fang, and this one might be even more powerful, allowing it to suppress the other two, maintaining an even more subtle balance between the three. A triangle is more stable." As a Dream-Crosser inclined toward theoretical research, his suggestion was thought-provoking.

Li Ang meditated for a long time. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. And the more he thought, the more his hair stood on end. If that were truly the case, then Du Fang... was terrifying. To harbor an even more fearsome Fallen God inside? My goodness! Was this guy a favorite of the Heavens, or its enemy?

President Tang suddenly spoke up. "You have seen Du Fang’s current situation. The Fallen Gods within him may draw the covetous gaze of an even more powerful Godcore Organization. Of course, with Du Fang’s strength, he can handle common dangers. But if the Godcore Organization targets him, they will dispatch increasingly powerful foes. If he remains in Jiangling, the city can no longer guarantee his safety."

Li Ang looked up at President Tang. "Are you suggesting we report to the President and have Du Fang transferred away from Jiangling?"

Tang Nai’s choice was indeed understandable. Even Zhao Lingyin, who had been tilting her head and listening drowsily, with a trail of drool leaking from the corner of her mouth, gave a start and pricked up her ears to listen carefully. If Du Fang were transferred away from Jiangling, would she, Zhao Lingyin, have a chance to team up with him? Once they became true teammates, she could challenge Du Fang anytime, anywhere!

However, President Tang shook his head. "No... I meant, could we ask the President to dispatch more powerful national-level Dream-Crossers to reinforce Jiangling? We cannot always rely on Du Fang to protect the city."

The Li couple: "..."

"If you think we're weak, just say so."

...

Du Fang returned to his residential complex. The entire area was deathly silent. Outside, lines of caution tape had been strung up. Inside, all the lights were dim; even in the middle of the night, there would usually be a few rooms with lights on, but tonight, not a single one could be found. The residents had all been evacuated—not only for isolation and investigation but to ensure their safety. Besides, the residents could no longer live there. After all, a national-level villain had died within the complex.

The complex was sealed, and others were not permitted to enter, but Du Fang’s status in the Jiangling Dream-Crossing world was already extraordinary. It was not just because he was the top newcomer in Jiangnan Province, but because of his own strength—after all, the national-level Godcore powerhouse had been killed by him. Thus, no one stopped him as he returned.

Du Fang looked at the complex, which seemed to have become dilapidated and desolate overnight, and felt a sense of melancholy. He looked up. The entire building was as black as ink. Suddenly, the lights on the thirteenth floor flickered on. On the balcony, Su Su was smiling brightly, and Luo Luo was squatting on the railing, holding piglet Qiqi in one arm while waving excitedly at Du Fang.

In the dark of night, light had suddenly appeared to illuminate the path ahead. It was the light of family. Even if the road ahead was desolate and dark, where there was family, there was light.

Du Fang smiled and began to walk toward the pitch-black complex. His steps grew lighter and more joyous. Where his family was, it seemed as though the endless darkness ahead had transformed into infinite beauty.