Chapter Sixteen: I Quit, I Want to Resign
Jiangling City, Dream Crossing Tower.
Eighty floors up.
Nightmare Prison.
“Beep——”
On the monitor, the lines no longer fluctuated, but became a single straight line.
The heart had stopped beating.
The mechanical sound echoed, harsh and piercing.
Outside in the corridor, hurried footsteps approached.
Moments later, a stream of masked medical staff in white coats flooded the room, crowding it to capacity.
“Report: The disaster of Nightmare Parasite No. 07 has been annihilated. Neural damage to the brain, physical functions beginning to decline, heart has ceased beating…”
A doctor, after examining the emaciated, wild-haired woman lying in the nutrient pod, spoke.
Beside him stood an elderly man in traditional attire, his hair white but his eyes sharp and bright.
“Mr. Chairman, Nightmare No. 07 carried the disaster code-named ‘Specter Teahouse.’ Those trapped in the disaster would drink tea brewed from eldritch objects, suffering deaths reminiscent of food poisoning…”
“Specter Teahouse is a fourth-grade eldritch disaster… Normally it’s sent to the association’s lower floors, its level compressed, used for Dreamwalker assessments.”
“The death of this Nightmare was caused by the annihilation of the disaster.”
The analyst responsible for the investigation informed the elderly man in traditional clothes of the cause of death.
The death of a Nightmare imprisoned by the Dreamwalker Association could be insignificant, unless the higher-ups decided to pursue it.
Nightmares are those whose wills have been taken by eldritch beings within dream disasters, beings who can skillfully wield and release dream disaster powers.
The existence of Dreamwalkers is not only to resolve dream disasters, but also to eradicate Nightmares.
Nightmares survive by parasitizing human bodies, feeding on their spiritual energy, and ultimately usurping the flesh.
Once parasitized, the body begins to deteriorate and eventually dies, so the Nightmare cannot stay too long in one body; after a time, they must find a new host.
Thus, Nightmares are extremely dangerous—a continuation of the disaster.
“Let it go. Death is a relief for her.”
The elderly man in traditional clothes flipped through the file of Nightmare No. 07. In the real world, the woman parasitized by this Nightmare was pitiful.
She and her husband started from scratch, bought a house, opened a noodle shop. Just as their business began to flourish, their location was targeted, bulldozed by a wealthy developer’s son with not a penny in compensation.
They confronted the developer, the husband was beaten to death, the woman went insane, and in her despair, resonated with a dream disaster, becoming a Nightmare. She used the disaster’s eldritch objects to kill many, including the developer.
Dream disasters don’t arise without cause.
Sometimes, they are tied to the emotions of real people.
“But death caused by the destruction of the disaster? Who did it?”
The elderly man rested his cane, falling into deep thought.
Those around him were also pondering and analyzing.
Not far away.
A man in a black suit stood, his expression shocked and unsettled.
He had originally come to report that Du Fang had been detected as possessing an “Infinite Dream Spirit.”
But unexpectedly, he witnessed this event.
The death of an imprisoned Nightmare was not unusual, but the circumstances of this one’s death… made the man in black shiver.
Because Du Fang was currently undergoing the Dreamwalker assessment, and the disaster for that assessment was none other than Specter Teahouse!
Deeply conflicted and shaken, the man in black did not hesitate. He stepped forward and reported all he knew.
“You believe the one who broke through the disaster… is a candidate with Infinite Dream Spirit?”
The elderly man in traditional attire looked at the man in black.
Before he could respond, others beside the elder began to question, “Deputy Wen Ji, are you certain of what you say?”
After all, Infinite Dream Spirit… is exceedingly rare.
The last detected Infinite Dream Spirit became the leading figure of the Dreamwalker Association in the capital!
Many have predicted that this individual will take the crown in the upcoming tenth National Dreamwalker Competition, becoming the youngest champion in history.
Now Wen Ji claims Jiangling City has produced another Infinite Dream Spirit prodigy?
“Chairman Chu, I have no reason to lie—there’s nothing to gain. I was present during the test, and the Dream Spirit Orb used for detection shattered. The destruction of the orb… you know what it means.”
The man in black, Wen Ji, spoke with agitation.
He spoke the truth!
Wen Ji could swear on the icy composure he’d cultivated since childhood.
The white-haired elder in traditional clothes nodded, gently lowering his hand to calm Wen Ji.
“What is the candidate’s name? Du Fang, is it? Bring me his records.”
The elder smiled. His identity was that of Jiangling City’s Dreamwalker Association Chairman, a distinguished figure and high-ranking member.
It’s said he was among the earliest Dreamwalkers.
His black-suited secretary nodded and quickly fetched the files.
The elder perused them for a while.
His smile lingered, but a gleam of surprise shone in his eyes.
A survivor of a ninth-grade eldritch disaster,
Yet he had not awakened any special ability,
Possesses Infinite Dream Spirit… but usually does not display it.
“Could it be this child’s awakening ability… is Infinite Dream Spirit itself?”
The elder pondered.
If so, it would be a pity…
He closed the records, reflected for a long time, then glanced at Wen Ji: “Deputy Wen, you say this Du Fang is undergoing the forbidden artifact mastery assessment, and has joined Zhang Changlin’s team ‘Wildfire’ as a trainee Dreamwalker?”
Wen Ji nodded.
He dared not conceal anything from the elder, especially since he had witnessed it himself.
He’d even received confirmation from Zhang Changlin.
The elder broke into pleased laughter: “That rascal Zhang Changlin moves fast… Let’s just grant this child the Dreamwalker title for passing the assessment.”
“A pity he did not awaken any special ability, or perhaps his awakening is capped. But, if his actions are connected to Nightmare No. 07’s death, he might have some potential…”
“Assign a special agent as his assistant, responsible for monitoring his physical and mental state, ruling out the possibility of being parasitized by a superior Nightmare. Also, reassess his potential.”
“Don’t bother with the rest. Since Zhang Changlin has already recruited this seedling, all consequences fall to him—whether he’s found a true gem or a handful of mud, it’s up to luck.”
“As for news of Nightmare No. 07’s death…”
“Seal and encrypt it. No leaks allowed!”
The elder spoke sternly.
“Additionally… bury the body.”
“Death is a kind of relief for her.”
The elder sighed softly, resting on his cane, and turned to leave.
The crisp tapping of his cane echoed down the corridor.
……
……
Du Fang opened his eyes.
He yawned and stretched.
How comfortable!
The Aunt of the Ravine and those cheongsam-clad, long-legged ladies—all so welcoming!
“Daddy, you’re awake!”
Beside him, a childish, sweet voice sounded.
Du Fang turned his head and saw Luo Luo, hugging her pink pig plushie, gazing at him with a face as delicate as a fairy tale princess.
He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion or something else.
Du Fang felt the pig plushie in Luo Luo’s arms… seemed ever so slightly plumper.
How could a plush toy gain weight?
Du Fang smiled, thinking it must be lingering effects from seeing so many ravines—everything looked fat to him now.
Suddenly, he felt a tingling in his palm.
Opening his hand, he found a single jade-green tea leaf lying there.
[Aunt’s Tea Leaf]
A notification flashed deep in his retina.
Du Fang was startled—had he acquired another forbidden artifact?
His heart stirred.
The panel appeared.
……
A Loving Family
Head: Du Fang
Age: 20
Dream Spirit: 100
Items: Aunt’s Playing Cards, Aunt’s Tea Leaf
Members: Luo Luo (daughter), (missing), (missing)……
Task: Strive for family reunion and happiness. Work hard to conquer dream disasters and find family members lost in the dream (in progress…)
……
Another enthusiastic aunt!
A smile curved Du Fang’s lips.
This tea leaf was undoubtedly a gift from the Ravine Aunt.
From the system’s panel, Du Fang learned its function.
Unlike the playing cards, which were offensive forbidden artifacts,
The tea leaf… was restorative.
[Aunt’s Tea Leaf: Place the leaf on the tongue; within one minute, restore 50% of Dream Spirit. In dreams, recovery speed increases by 80%. Five-hour cooldown. No side effects.]
Du Fang’s heart raced as he finished reading.
He recalled the Ravine Aunt under the sunset.
Du Fang couldn’t help but praise—
So nurturing!
The effect of this tea leaf,
Absolutely remarkable!
For Dreamwalkers, the importance of Dream Spirit is self-evident; every bit more could mean another chance to survive a disaster.
Restorative forbidden artifacts are exceedingly rare.
If word of ‘Aunt’s Tea Leaf’ got out, it would spark a frenzy!
How had Du Fang, of all people, received such favor from the aunts?
For a moment, Du Fang felt guilty for refusing their matchmaking attempts.
The aunts were so warm; why couldn’t he fulfill their modest requests?
Always freeloading forbidden artifacts from them—he felt embarrassed.
Du Fang quietly tucked away the tea leaf.
In the assessment room,
Zhang Changlin, Chen Xi, and Lin Liuli had no idea how the evaluation had turned out.
The screen remained a chaotic snowstorm, filled with static, making it impossible to observe Du Fang’s performance within the disaster.
But seeing Du Fang refreshed and clear-eyed, and the professional skirted girl drenched in sweat and disheveled, they felt this assessment…
Was anything but simple.
The professional skirted girl collapsed on the floor, limp as a ball of cotton…
“It’s finally over…”
“I—I quit… I can’t take it anymore…”
After a long time, the girl came to her senses, tears streaming down.
She was done!
The world outside was too terrifying—she’d rather go home and inherit the family business!
“I resign…”