Walking down the street, I silently observed everything around me. The people here showed no sense of urgency on their faces—only relaxation—as if going about their usual routines. Some were even making jokes about the recent Dream Wraith attack.
[Omitted: Non-narrative system line]
"Yeah, they're dead. Good. It's quiet now. Otherwise, every time the Yellow Wraiths come out, we have to go out and help, give them something to eat, and they're still not happy about it."
I clenched my fists and glared at the two people passing by me, but then I relaxed my grip. I had no right to judge them.
Before, I heard Nolan say that the residents here wanted to leave and return to the living world. But looking at things now, they seem well adapted to life here, with no sense of crisis at all.
It seems they believe that, within these four walls and the towering city walls, they can continue enjoying life as always, without a care that in a few days, Dream Wraiths might break into the city.
Scenes of Dream Wraiths devouring people flashed through my mind. Everyone in the city would be consumed, one by one, turned into Dream Wraiths, losing everything that made them human.
I stopped, standing in the bustling market, surrounded by an atmosphere of peace. But beneath it all, a storm of blood and carnage was gathering, ready to break.
And what can I do? I stared blankly at everything. I had come here to find John Chou and Nolan, to take them out of the Dream Realm, but now I was stuck.
This feeling of struggling just to take a step forward was suffocating. I couldn't protect anyone here, couldn't cooperate with the Dream Wraiths. My mind buzzed as I clenched my fists and walked step by step toward the west side of the city.
I heard that the Dreamborn who escaped from outside have all gathered here for now. I made my way through the streets and alleys, but the crowd grew thinner and thinner.
When I reached the west side of the city, I widened my eyes. Most of the buildings here were still unfinished, many only half-built. The Dreamborn who had arrived looked terrified—there wasn't a trace of excitement on their faces.
Many Dreamborn were still caught up in last night's large-scale attack. I saw Nolan, grinning and joking, trying to comfort everyone. Susie sat pale and distracted in an unfinished pavilion, lost in thought.
I walked over, step by step.
"Everyone, look—this is my disciple. He's really strong. We're safe now, it's going to be okay."
Nolan said with a big grin. I forced a stiff smile and walked over to Susie. She looked up at me, her eyes full of gratitude.
I shook my head.
"I was born in that village. Life was often hard for everyone, but it was never like yesterday—now they're all gone. Just the day before, we were eating together, laughing..."
As Susie spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks again. I stood silently beside her, wanting to comfort her, but I didn't know what to say.
Right now, I couldn't solve any of these problems at all.
"It's all right. We'll find a way. Everyone, stay strong."
Nolan kept shouting encouragement in the crowd, doing everything he could to comfort people. I smiled faintly and sat beside Susie, watching Nolan—I felt drawn to him.
"That kid has never complained, never said he's tired. Even after his father died, he's been so strong. I can't compare to him."
Susie wiped her tears as she spoke. I nodded. In just a day or two, I'd seen Nolan always smiling. Even with a sad past, he stayed positive, never letting it get him down.
"Disciple, do you have any good ideas?"
Nolan walked over, fully aware that the Dream Wraiths would attack in half a month. I shook my head. Nolan gave me a look of disdain.
"You're so strong—you must have a way."
I nodded and stood up, the gloom in my heart suddenly swept away.
"Don't worry, Master—I’ll figure something out."
Right now, the only one I could turn to was a ghost—John Chou. Only he might have a way to solve this.
I hurried back to the small building beside the main hall, but John Chou was nowhere to be found. I asked the nearby guards, and they told me he was out on patrol.
I smiled to myself. I knew John Chou had no real interest in the people or affairs here. All he wanted was the thing Nathan Ouyang held in Dream City—that was his only reason for staying.
Just then, from the third-floor window, I saw a few guards outside the palace, leading a Yellow Wraith up to the entrance. Nathan Ouyang came out of the main hall, and the Wraith obediently lowered itself. Nathan Ouyang climbed onto its back.
The Yellow Wraith moved on all fours, docile as a horse, carrying Nathan Ouyang out of the palace. I had heard he could tame Dream Wraiths, but I never expected it was true.
I watched silently as Nathan Ouyang left the palace and headed for the distant streets. Everyone who saw him showed deep respect.
John Chou didn't come back the entire day. Someone brought food for me. I didn't want to eat, but my hunger was real, so I ate what they gave me and waited for his return.
As dusk fell, the sky turned gray, heavy with the threat of rain. At last, I saw John Chou, followed by a pair of soldiers, walking toward the small building.
"What's up, brother? Waiting for me—got something on your mind?"
I looked at John Chou seriously, nodded, and got straight to the point.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"Brother, you mean how to defend against the Dream Wraiths that will attack in a few days?"
[Omitted: Non-narrative system line]
John Chou chuckled, sitting back in his chair with a teasing look in his eyes as he watched me.
"Is it for the sake of these people?"
I shook my head.
"No, it's not."
"Oh, brother, so that's really how it is." John Chou said, suddenly drifting in front of me, pointing a finger at my chest.
"Brother, what is your heart?"
I looked at where my heart was, not sure what John Chou was getting at. For a moment, I didn't know how to answer.
"Or to put it another way, brother—do you really understand your own instincts?"
I stared blankly at John Chou as he withdrew his hand, stepped out onto the balcony, and looked out over everything.
"No matter how many centuries pass, people are people, ghosts are ghosts. You can't make them understand, brother, can you? Even if you tell those ghosts how miserable these people are—does a person ever ask if the ant he's stepping on feels pain? It's so simple, brother, don't you see?"
"That's right. The weak are only food for the strong, trampled and consumed. No matter what sound they make, the strong can't hear them. And I am one of the weak."
"Hahahahaha..."
John Chou burst out laughing. For a moment, the overwhelming aura of a true predator hit me, and I nearly lost my balance, stepping back.
John Chou slowly raised his hand and pointed outside.
"Any era, any world—where there are people, there is conflict. Can you stop what you see? Can you bear it? Can you fight on, following your own will, brother?"
John Chou turned to look at me seriously. I didn't nod or shake my head.
"You won't cooperate with the Blue Wraiths, will you?"
I said, because I knew John Chou despised the Blue Wraiths.
"Of course not. Those useless wretches—today they betray that dead demon and try to kill him. Tomorrow, they could turn on me, John Chou. They're all evil ghosts. If you walk with the strong, no matter what the dead demon does, as subordinates, they shouldn't complain. Follow the strong, abandon the weak. Ha, brother, why is this world so disappointing?"
I stared at John Chou, seeing the aura of a true predator on his face. Even now, with his power diminished, there was never a trace of weakness in him.
"If you want something, go for it, brother. If you want to be king, step forward. It doesn't matter if what's in your way is human, ghost, or god—try it. Give everything you have to achieve what you want, isn't that right?"
I nodded and walked forward, step by step.
"I can't do it alone. Please help me."
I looked seriously at John Chou. After a long moment, he turned and patted my shoulder.
"Brother, really understand your instincts. Your greatest opponent is yourself. Brother, what kind of heart do you have?"
I gazed quietly at John Chou, and slowly, I realized all my awkwardness came from my shaken confidence—ever since I encountered those two Blue Wraiths last night and saw the state of the city.
"To solve all of this—now that I've faced it—I'm not doing it for anyone else. My instincts are growling, refusing to let me back down. I have to...fix this."
John Chou laughed again, loud and wild.
"That's more like it, brother. If you want something..." John Chou said, clenching his fist.
"Go get it. I only came here for that thing. But since you're asking so sincerely, I'll lend you a hand. Just don't expect everything from me..."
"I won't put all my hopes on you."