Chapter Fifty-Nine: Mother’s Red Embroidered Shoes

Faced with Sun Yaohai’s provocation, Zhang Changlin couldn’t be bothered to respond in front of so many people. The two had been rivals for so many years that Zhang Changlin was already used to Sun Yaohai’s temperament. Although Sun Yaohai was the captain of the Gold Team, Zhang Changlin truly wasn’t afraid of him. After all, they were both high-ranking Dreamwalkers, and with the sequence forbidden device in Zhang Changlin’s possession, who was afraid of whom?

Moreover, after being enhanced by that cluster of black matter, Zhang Changlin’s strength had grown further; Sun Yaohai could be molded into whatever shape he desired. In reality, Wildfire had long had the strength of a Gold Team, but in recent years, luck hadn’t been on their side. Under Zhang Changlin’s lead, something always went awry during the Gold Team assessments.

“This year will be different! I feel my luck turning; after all, we recruited Du Fang. This year, Wildfire is destined to become a Gold Team.” Ambition surged in Zhang Changlin’s heart.

Even though Sun Yaohai and Zhang Changlin didn’t get along, the necessary courtesies were still observed. With a sullen face, Sun Yaohai greeted the equally stern Zhang Changlin and introduced the newcomer at his side.

“This is Captain Zhang from Wildfire, and this is our Silver Wolf rookie, Lan Xiang,” he said. “He awakened a high-tier special ability,” Sun Yaohai added meaningfully. “I think this year’s Newcomer Dreamwalker Invitational holds great promise for him to win the provincial championship.”

Zhang Changlin raised an eyebrow. “A high-tier special ability? Not bad.”

Lan Xiang looked at Zhang Changlin and grinned. “Thank you for the praise, Captain Zhang, but if I encounter a Wildfire rookie at the invitational, I won’t show any mercy. After all, I don’t want to be beaten to a pulp.”

His eyes were filled with arrogance, the boldness of youth unafraid of the old guard. Then, Lan Xiang and another Silver Wolf rookie headed toward the corridor.

Zhang Changlin, reclining in his wheelchair, squinted after Lan Xiang disappearing down the passage, then glanced at the departing Sun Yaohai. The corner of his mouth curled into a dangerous smirk.

“Every year, so many arrogant rookies think that awakening a top-tier ability makes them invincible, so much so that they lose respect for their elders,” he muttered. “Still, I prefer my Du Fang—good-looking and humble.”

Shaking his head, Zhang Changlin added, “Luckily, I, old Zhang, am broad-minded and won’t stoop to their level.” He then turned to his fuming little assistant, Su Xiaoyu.

“Assistant, has the betting for this year’s invitational opened yet?”

She paused. “Captain Zhang, you want to place a bet?”

“Yes, help me with it,” Zhang Changlin replied with a smile.

Her eyes lit up. “Of course! How could I forget to bet? I’m going to put everything on Brother Du—I’ll make him number one on the board!”

To top the betting board would cost a fortune. But Zhang Changlin didn’t take her words seriously. With a meaningful smile, he took out a bank card and handed it to her. “There’s half a million on this card. Bet it all on Lan Xiang.”

She took the card, gripping it tightly, then hesitated. “Wait, why bet on him? Don’t you have faith in Brother Du?”

“With my luck these past few days…” Zhang Changlin sat in his gleaming wheelchair, his dark face twisted in a chilling smile. “Bet everything on Lan Xiang, hard and heavy! Bet he’ll be the provincial champion.”

“Captain Zhang, how can you believe in luck? That’s just another way of saying you don’t trust Brother Du. This is aiding the enemy!” the assistant protested.

“I don’t care. I’m betting on Brother Du, and I’ll use all my pocket money for the year to do it!” she declared, clenching her fists, her eyes blazing. She’d be shouting from above while Brother Du fought below, each doing their part.

...

Inside the corridor, in the lounge—

Du Fang and Chen Xi entered early, so the lounge was still rather empty. As they stepped in, the few other rookie Dreamwalkers glanced over, noting the silver team badges on Du Fang and Chen Xi’s chests, then looked away with faintly amused smiles.

Du Fang and Chen Xi noticed that all these others wore golden badges on their chests.

“Brother Du, these are the rookie members from each city’s Gold Team,” Chen Xi whispered.

According to the tournament rules, every rookie Dreamwalker from the province would gather here for the invitational. The province had eighteen cities with Dreamwalker Towers; each city had three Gold Teams, and each team sent two rookies, so there were about 108 Gold Team rookies. Naturally, as rookies from a Silver Team, Du Fang and Chen Xi weren’t given much attention. In the eyes of the Gold Team rookies, only their own kind were worthy opponents.

Du Fang and Chen Xi found a quiet corner to sit and watch as the Gold Team rookies mingled, feeling very much like background characters.

When Lan Xiang entered the lounge, it caused a stir.

“That’s Lan Xiang, the Silver Wolf rookie from Jiangling—rumor is he awakened a high-tier special ability!”

“We all have his profile. He’s a seeded candidate for the provincial title!”

“They say Silver Wolf spent fifty million to sign this genius rookie—he’s a tough one!”

Whispers buzzed incessantly around them.

Du Fang inhaled sharply, his eyes almost green with envy. “Fifty million signing bonus…”

Comparison is the thief of joy. He was nearly drooling with envy, suddenly resenting his own lack of talent, his inability to awaken a special ability, and his fate as a mere trainee Dreamwalker—with not even a signing bonus to his name. Unlike Lan Xiang, who had fifty million—enough to buy a house in the capital!

Lan Xiang was used to the awe around him. His gaze swept the room, finally settling on Du Fang in the corner, whose eyes were slightly red.

So this was the Wildfire rookie Zhang Changlin claimed could beat him senseless?

Lan Xiang took only a brief glance before dismissing him.

In terms of special abilities, he had the high-tier “Soul Control.” In terms of Dream Spirit strength, he was already at the peak among lower Dreamwalkers, approaching one hundred energy units. In terms of forbidden devices, he had the high-grade “Ghost Mirror” provided by Sun Yaohai.

What did Du Fang have to challenge him with?

“Nothing special,” he decided upon first meeting, except perhaps for his looks. There was nothing about Du Fang that seemed threatening. Was Zhang Changlin just joking?

Of course, Lan Xiang saw no need to make trouble for Du Fang—there was no point. Dreamwalkers proved themselves by strength; Du Fang would be eliminated in the first round of the invitational, and Zhang Changlin would be embarrassed by his own words. Seeking trouble would only make Lan Xiang look foolish.

Time passed, and the lounge grew more crowded, with clear divisions emerging: Gold Team rookies in one area, Silver Team rookies in another. Bronze Team rookies weren’t even here—there were too many of them, so they had a separate lounge.

As the sun climbed the sky, Du Fang saw the familiar Wen Ji. Dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, cold and aloof, Wen Ji appeared at the lounge entrance.

“Everyone, prepare to head to the sports center,” he announced coolly.

The Gold Team rookies led the way, followed by the Silver Team rookies. Du Fang and Chen Xi rose and joined the crowd, passing through the athletes’ tunnel toward the sports center.

The tunnel was dim and the atmosphere tense. Du Fang held onto Luoluo, leading Chen Xi, slowly making their way forward. When they emerged from the tunnel, a blinding white light burst forth, as if they’d stepped into another world.

Thunderous cheers, explosive excitement, applause like crashing waves!

For every new Dreamwalker, there was a crowd of ten thousand spectators in the stands, their faces alight with fervor and reverence. For many of the rookie Dreamwalkers, this was the first time they so directly felt the respect and adulation their path commanded.

The cheering didn’t last long. In one corner of the arena, the hosts sat at their desks in suits, calming the crowd until the stadium grew quiet.

Du Fang looked ahead. Around the court, Dreamwalkers in black coats stood at attention, faces grave and solemn.

At the very center stood Tang Nai, president of the Jiangling Dreamwalker Association, dressed in a traditional Chinese jacket, his expression severe as he held a tray covered with a white cloth. Even from a distance, one could feel the surge of Dream Spirit energy emanating from it.

From the host’s platform, the MC explained that the tray in the president’s hands held the forbidden device for the first round of the Newcomer Dreamwalker Invitational.

Under countless watchful eyes, with many rookie Dreamwalkers tense with anticipation, Tang Nai slowly lifted the black cloth.

On the tray beneath lay a pair of blood-soaked, crimson embroidered shoes.

The moment the cloth was removed, everyone’s gaze was drawn to the shoes—even Du Fang was no exception. Looking at the embroidered shoes, he felt a wave of inexplicable familiarity crash over him.

Suddenly, at his side, Luoluo tilted her head, waving her little pig plushie, her delicate face alight with excitement.

“Daddy, Daddy! These shoes… they look just like the red embroidered shoes you gave Mommy!”

Du Fang was startled by this, his breathing growing heavier.

His wife’s red embroidered shoes?

Then… these were his?

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