Chapter Forty-Nine: Let... Let Me Out! [Seeking Recommendation Votes]

The atmosphere inside the private room suddenly grew awkward. Technician No. 18 stared in shock, her mouth agape, while the other technicians were equally baffled. Gradually, realization dawned upon them. One by one, their interest faded, and beneath their heavy makeup, disappointment and regret surfaced—along with a hint of pity.

Such a handsome boy—how did he end up on such a path?

The male manager’s lips twitched as he looked at Du Fang, searching for any sign of jest. But what he saw in Du Fang’s eyes was clarity and purity; he was utterly serious.

A chill ran through the manager’s heart. He turned to look at Technician No. 18, who pouted ever so slightly, then spun around and strode out in her towering heels, the sound echoing in the corridor. The other technicians, though regretful, couldn’t help but glance back repeatedly, their eyes bright with excitement. Soon, they all left.

Silence settled over the room.

The manager licked his lips, turned to Du Fang, and, with a shy smile and a submissive expression, said, “Wait for me, young man. I’m still in charge here—I need to arrange a few things.”

Du Fang’s expression grew solemn. He glanced at the manager with indifference. “Shut the door.”

The manager was momentarily stunned. So eager?

Still, he was a veteran—nothing surprised him anymore. What a shame for such a handsome face.

He cocked his head, a playful look creeping over his features under the pink lights. “Don’t rush, young man. At least let me go to the door and give some instructions.”

Du Fang stared at him coldly.

Ever since Luo Luo had told him the manager was a nightmare demon, Du Fang had been tense, his emotions drained away. From Su Jiuming, he’d learned that nightmare demons possess people’s bodies, destroying their souls and taking over—nothing good. Su Jiuming said that nowadays, ninety percent of nightmare demons were evil, because each one meant an innocent soul had perished.

Worse yet, nightmare demons actively hunt for prey, becoming the scourge of society.

For the sake of world peace, for the safety of all, nightmare demons must be dealt with when encountered.

The manager went to the door, opening it just a crack. Technician No. 18 was leaning against the frame, whispering with him.

“You stay at the door. That Zhang fellow is probably a Dreamwalker—could be here for you. The young man inside is likely his bait, but I’ve got a forbidden artifact to hide my identity. Zhang might not have noticed me. Once I seize the young man’s body, I’ll infiltrate his circle and kill that black-faced Zhang when he least expects it.

“Dreamwalker… whether he’s here for us or not, he must be eliminated.

“Perhaps we’ve already been exposed.

“But don’t worry. I’ve contacted ‘Yellow Springs,’ one of the three major nightmare demon organizations. After this job, they’ll pick us up. With their protection, the Dreamwalker Association won’t dare touch us!”

He spoke in a low voice.

Technician No. 18 cast him a mournful glance, her eyes full of longing and regret as she peeked into the room at Du Fang. Such a beautiful shell—she was truly smitten.

She’d long wanted a new identity, but never found the right vessel. Du Fang’s appearance made her heart flutter.

“All right,” she said, full of regret.

So many fair-skinned, beautiful female technicians, yet Du Fang chose a man. With a hint of spite, Technician No. 18 could only shrug.

“Remember, no matter what happens in the next ten minutes, don’t open the door,” the manager reminded her.

He rubbed his hands together with a wicked grin, turned eagerly, and shut the door.

…

…

“Pfft!”

Zhang Changlin took a sip of water and sprayed it everywhere, drenching the technician massaging his legs, who shot him a plaintive look.

“What the hell?”

“He didn’t pick No. 18, but chose the male manager?”

“Little Du… has gone astray.”

A strange look came over Zhang Changlin’s face. Had Du Fang spent so much time with Su Jiuming that he’d been influenced?

“No… Something’s off…”

“I don’t think Little Du likes that sort.”

Zhang Changlin frowned, an instinctive sense of unease creeping in.

Moreover, through his dream sense, he noticed that Technician No. 18—whom he had identified as a nightmare demon—had not left, but was lingering by Du Fang’s door…

What was she up to?

Could she have her sights set on Du Fang?

Zhang Changlin wasn’t foolish; he was on high alert. After all, their target was a nightmare demon, and every one of them was cunning.

“Is that male manager… problematic too?”

Zhang Changlin sensed something amiss.

Du Fang must have discovered something; Zhang Changlin had instructed him to use dream sense to detect demons. As a possessor of infinite dream spirit, perhaps Du Fang had uncovered something.

Zhang Changlin had intended for Du Fang to handle Technician No. 18, since he was sure she was a nightmare demon—though not a particularly strong one, which made her suitable for practice.

Now, it seemed the manager was an issue too.

“How did that manager evade my dream sense? Does he have a forbidden artifact?”

Zhang Changlin’s expression darkened, his dream spirit surging toward Du Fang’s room.

But the No. 18 demon blocked the doorway, raising her pretty face. Suddenly, cracks appeared across her powdered cheeks, twisted and terrifying, as her dream sense roared to life, cutting off Zhang Changlin’s probe.

Zhang Changlin withdrew his sense instantly.

He stood, still in his bathrobe, cigarette dangling from his lips, ready to push open the door.

Yet—

Technicians No. 19, 20, and 21 suddenly rose.

“Brother Zhang, don’t go.”

“Come, let’s have some fun.”

They spoke mechanically, their flirtatious smiles vanishing, eyes pale and soulless, like puppets, shambling toward Zhang Changlin.

He sidestepped and slapped one, sending her sprawling onto the sofa.

But she deflated like a punctured doll, collapsing into a sheet of human skin.

Zhang Changlin’s face changed instantly.

Damn! These women weren’t even human?

His identity must have been exposed long ago.

While he was scheming against the demons of the bathhouse, they were scheming against him.

One thing was certain: Technician No. 18 couldn’t possibly have detected him, which meant—there were other demons present!

“The male manager!”

Zhang Changlin’s teeth ached.

His luck—he’d stepped right into a trap.

To evade his detection, perhaps… a demon escaped from a high-grade dream disaster! Or perhaps the demon carried a forbidden artifact that blocked dream sense!

Without hesitation, Zhang Changlin charged toward the door.

But the remaining two technicians, like zombies, lunged at him.

Bang! Bang!

With two explosive sounds, they burst like balloons.

A surge of dream spirit radiated from their remains, flooding the room in an instant.

“A dream disaster?!”

Zhang Changlin’s expression shifted. He wasn’t afraid of dream disasters, but worried about being caught in one—breaking through would take time, and he might miss the chance to rescue Du Fang.

He dashed for the door.

Yet as his fingers touched the handle, a wave of drowsiness swept over him, and the scene before him twisted and changed.

He had been drawn into the dream.

…

…

Technician No. 18 leaned languidly against the doorframe, glancing at Zhang Changlin’s room. Sensing the faint traces of dream spirit in the air, she smirked, her slender fingers pinching a lady’s cigarette, taking a slow drag.

“A forbidden artifact of fourth grade, after detonation and abandonment, can trigger a dream disaster that traps a high-level Dreamwalker for ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes is more than enough for the manager to forcibly devour that young man.”

“Once we’re done and gone, with Yellow Springs’ protection, the Dreamwalker Association won’t be able to touch us.”

She laughed softly.

Looking back at the room behind her, envy shone plainly in her eyes.

She recalled the manager’s instructions before he closed the door. No matter what happened inside, don’t open it for ten minutes. Clearly, the manager was confident he could finish in that time.

She leisurely exhaled a plume of smoke.

A minute later—

Bang!

The door behind her rattled violently.

She covered her mouth and laughed, “It’s begun.”

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The brutal pounding echoed behind her.

Her laughter trembled like blossom petals.

Young man, young man, this was your own choice—the manager is very rough, you know.

She took another drag, red lips exhaling smoke.

“If only he’d chosen me. I’m gentle.”

Behind her, the pounding grew fiercer.

Faintly, a familiar voice drifted through, accompanied by hoarse, low cries—painful, fearful, desperate.

“Help… help me!”

“Let me out…”