Chapter Twenty: The Scent of Mother

This was the first time Du Fang truly took in the members of the Wildfire Squad.

Zhang Changlin, Chen Xi, Zhao Lu, Si Nan, Su Ninem—five people in all, each a Dreamweaver with their own distinct style.

In truth, from their speech alone, one could already sense the unique quirks of each.

Take Su Ninem, for example—delicately holding a white rose, dressed in a pink suit, radiating an unmistakable air of flamboyance and effeminacy.

Zhao Lu appeared mild and honest, but an astuteness flickered in his small eyes.

And then there was Si Nan, the red-haired young woman, whose hair dyed a vivid blood red marked her as the epitome of nonconformity.

“I look forward to working with you all,” Du Fang said, introducing himself, holding Luoluo’s hand with a slight bow. As a newcomer, a rookie freshly joining the team, he maintained the humility and respect such a position required.

“All right, now that we’ve all met, let’s save the details about special abilities and the rest for after the mission. For now, let’s head out to the site of the dream disaster,” Zhang Changlin said, extinguishing his cigarette.

The other members, clearly trusting Zhang Changlin, offered no objections.

“Du Fang, keep up,” Zhang Changlin added, as the group made their way toward the elevators.

Du Fang, holding Luoluo’s hand, instinctively followed after them.

Suddenly, he felt as if he’d forgotten something.

Su Xiaoyu stood quietly where she was, watching the others recede, her lips pouting. She’d been just about to introduce herself…

Even if she was just an assistant, did that mean she didn’t deserve to introduce herself? Did assistants have no rights? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west… Oh, forget it.

As the elevator doors almost closed, Su Xiaoyu hurriedly trotted over to catch up.

The ride down took them to the first basement level. When the doors opened, Du Fang was greeted by the sight of row upon row of luxury cars parked in their spots, a dazzling array.

Zhang Changlin flicked a fresh cigarette from his pack, noticing the wonder in Du Fang’s eyes. “Looks decadent, doesn’t it?” he said quietly. “But remember, even though Dreamweavers are public servants, our work could mean death at any moment. For us, money is for spending—enjoy it while you can.”

Du Fang felt a rush of excitement. So being a Dreamweaver really was a path to wealth!

“Du Fang, can you ride a two-wheeler?” Zhang Changlin asked, turning to him.

Du Fang hesitated. Did shared bikes count?

“Why a two-wheeler…?” he asked, puzzled.

“They’re less likely to get stuck in traffic,” Zhang Changlin replied with a grin. “Ninem, the newbie’s yours. Take good care of him.”

Su Ninem—still resplendent in his pink suit—gently tucked the white rose into his breast pocket. He shot Zhang Changlin a look full of drama. “You’re dumping him on me again, are you?”

Zhang Changlin burst out laughing and clapped his hands.

Lights blazed on, one after another, in the basement. In the distance, heavy motorcycles gleamed under the new illumination, parked at sharp angles, metal sparkling.

Du Fang, still holding Luoluo’s hand, gaped at the spectacle, dazzled by the sight of those bikes.

The members of the Wildfire Squad each chose a motorcycle, their movements almost synchronized as they flicked their black coats and mounted up, donning their windproof helmets.

The engines roared to life, echoing through the garage.

“Come on, Du Du, hop on,” Su Ninem called. “Every member of Wildfire needs their own bike. It’s the only way to race to the scene of a dream disaster—every second counts.”

“Now then…” Su Ninem gave Du Fang a flirtatious wink. “Hold onto my waist.”

“No… no need, I’ll sit steady,” Du Fang protested, baffled by how a man could be so coquettish.

Despite his inner reluctance, Du Fang eventually put on his helmet and climbed onto the back of Su Ninem’s bike.

“Careful, I’m fast,” Su Ninem warned, glancing over his shoulder. “Hold on tight.”

“Hold on, Luoluo,” Du Fang replied, turning to the girl.

Su Ninem: “???”

Was that meant for me? Ah, men—they always say one thing and mean another. What an intriguing newcomer.

With a soft laugh, Su Ninem twisted the throttle, sending clouds of exhaust billowing from the pipes.

The motorcycles roared out of the garage as one.

...

Jiangling City, First Girls’ High School.

Police tape had already cordoned off the entrance. Around the school, armed guards stood at various points, sealing the entire campus within their perimeter.

Outside, police cars were parked in a line, and bodies lay on the ground, shrouded in white cloth.

Armed officers with grim faces secured the area, keeping back gawkers and curious journalists with cameras.

Even in an age plagued by dream disasters, there were always those unafraid of death.

For the media, in particular, such calamities were the key to traffic and attention. The first to the scene, the first to write an eye-catching story—massive clicks were guaranteed.

Humankind was ever curious about the unknown.

The roar of engines drew every eye as the motorcycles arrived. Figures in black coats dismounted in quick succession.

Du Fang removed his helmet, letting out a long breath.

So this was how Dreamweavers traveled to their missions? Weaving and darting through the gridlock on the elevated roads, slipping into every gap between cars!

It was… dangerous! Did they not care about traffic rules at all?

He turned to Luoluo, who clutched her pink piglet plush with sparkling eyes, thrilled by the wild ride.

“Daddy! That was so fun!” she squealed. “Let’s do it again sometime!”

Her delicate face lit up as she stomped her feet with excitement.

Du Fang smiled gently. “Of course. Daddy will get his own bike soon, and then we can go for rides together.”

“Yay!”

...

“The new Dreamweaver team is here!”

“Keep the scene secure; prepare to hand over and be ready to attack!”

“This dream disaster is strange—drive out all media, forbid them from reporting or taking photos!”

...

The police captain, fully armed, approached Zhang Changlin. After a salute, he straightened up, his tone grave. “Thank you for coming.”

Zhang Changlin stubbed out his cigarette and glanced at the First Girls’ High School. “Tell me the situation…”

“My intel said another Dreamweaver team had already taken on this attack,” the captain said. “Usually, for dream disasters below the fifth grade, only one team is assigned.”

He drew a deep breath, face growing ever more somber. He recognized Zhang Changlin as the leader of Wildfire, the city’s Silver Team.

“This disaster was originally assigned to Mr. Zhao He’s Bronze Team,” the captain went on. “After arriving, they assessed the dream’s level based on dream energy fluctuations and the number of deaths, and gave a preliminary rating of Grade Two—nothing too severe.”

“Only Grade Two?” Zhang Changlin frowned. So low? Why would they need backup for something so minor?

The captain’s expression darkened. “The students within the disaster zone haven’t died—so the rating is based solely on dream energy readings. However…”

He hesitated.

“After Mr. Zhao He and his team entered the dream…”

“They were all…”

“Killed.”

...

While Zhang Changlin was in tense negotiations, Chen Xi, Si Nan, and the other Wildfire members unloaded equipment from their bikes, spreading out to conduct data readings and scans on the dream disaster.

Zhao Lu and Su Ninem also pitched in, working seamlessly with Chen Xi to set up the gear—it was clear they’d done this many times before.

Everyone was busy and highly professional.

Su Xiaoyu, who had ridden with Chen Xi, found the experience of her first dream disaster mission exhilarating. As a junior Dreamweaver herself, she felt a faint sense of anticipation.

But on arrival, seeing everyone so busy and competent, she felt out of place, unable to help at all.

She glanced over at Du Fang, who stood alone nearby, still holding Luoluo’s hand and staring in bewilderment, his mouth slightly open.

The sight gave her a small comfort. At least she wasn’t the only one who seemed out of place and unqualified.

...

At that moment, Du Fang looked down at Luoluo, who was gazing up at him, her delicate face alight with excitement.

Utterly bewildered.

“Daddy, daddy!” she cried. “Luoluo thinks she smells Mommy nearby!”