Daybreak arrived. We had gathered several Dream Wraiths, packed into bundles both large and small, and carried them as we headed toward the Dream City just a few kilometers ahead.
That place was our only refuge, a temporary shelter for these Dreamborn. Nolan had said before that if anything disastrous happened here, the Dreamborn would only ever flee toward Dream City.
I wanted to get there quickly and figure things out. The situation was urgent now, and I was eager to see Nathan Ouyang and ask him what was really going on.
I was feeling tired, so I could only walk. My stomach started to rumble.
"Eat, apprentice."
Nolan said this as he pulled out a piece of dried meat from his coat. It looked almost black. I took it from him and swallowed a bite.
"Is something wrong, Qingyuan?" Xiuxiu glanced at me. I smiled at her. She still looked a little sad, but Nolan's presence seemed to lift her spirits.
I remembered the things I ate in the Ghost Realm—food meant for ghosts. I looked at the fist-sized piece of dried meat, knowing it came from Dream Wraiths. But then I wondered, isn't this human flesh?
I gagged, nearly dropping the meat. After all, some Dream Wraiths were once Dreamborn, while others were converted settlers from outside. A chill crept over me.
"Apprentice, why are you hesitating? Hurry up and eat. What are you afraid of?"
John Chou barked his orders sharply. Not long after, the city gate creaked open.
Fuming, I strode inside and waited by the stairs leading up the wall. John Chou descended, step by step, while Nolan and the others followed the crowd through the gate.
"Find a place to settle these Dreamborn," John Chou shouted, his voice commanding. The residents here seemed to obey him without question and quickly got to work.
I gave Nolan and the others a quick word, then hurried toward John Chou. Suddenly, several people blocked my way. I clenched my fists.
"This is the tough guy who drove off all those Dream Wraiths last night. I’m taking him to see Nathan Ouyang."
As John Chou spoke, the others stepped aside.
I swung a fist at John Chou, but he dodged and grabbed my hand in an iron grip.
"Hey, brother, I just helped you do what you wanted—let those people in. Why are you turning on me now?"
"Why? Everything that happened here, you—"
I was about to speak, but John Chou wore a look that said, 'What does this have to do with me?'
I gazed at the orderly streets and the city rising upward, its palace-like architecture looming above. I walked slowly, following John Chou.
Only later did I learn: when a crimson Dream Wraith—the Green-Eyed Wraith from Nathan Ouyang's legion—attacked this city, many people died. At that time, John Chou had just been released from captivity and came here, helping Nathan Ouyang. That's why John Chou is now the city governor, second only to Nathan Ouyang.
"Doesn’t it bother you not being in charge?" I teased. John Chou just smiled.
"Doesn’t matter. As long as I get what I want, that’s enough. There’s something valuable in this city, but that old bastard Nathan Ouyang refuses to talk. So, for now, I’ll play the governor."
"Besides, brother, in my current state, I can’t handle that many Green-Eyed Wraiths. Heh, that sly old cat is truly cunning."
Hearing this, I remembered—the founder of Naraku, the old man with the cat sign.
"What do you mean?"
"Brother, when Old Cat sealed that corpse demon, he didn’t use an ordinary seal. I didn’t notice, nor did the corpse demon. If the corpse demon had resisted back then, things wouldn’t be like this now. He can’t even control the Hundred Wraiths anymore—they don’t recognize him."
John Chou explained: the old man from Naraku used the Thirteen Zodiac Seal, combining his own sign with the twelve earthly branches to create a unique spell. Ouyang Dream, who was sealed, mistook it for a Twelve Zodiac Seal and overlooked the cat sign.
This kind of seal made it impossible for Ouyang Dream to notice his Ghost Sovereign dream power slowly draining away. By the time he realized, his strength was already dangerously depleted.
"Thanks to Old Cat, I broke free from that cursed storybook. Heh, the corpse demon never imagined he was tricked by Old Cat back in the Ghost Burial Squad days. Now he’s desperate to reclaim the Nightmare Stone, isn’t he?"
I nodded. John Chou continued.
"He’s probably like an ant on a hot pan right now. The Hundred Wraiths are launching a massive assault, all for something hidden in this Dream City. I want it too. If the Hundred Wraiths find it, they can escape the corpse demon’s woven dream and return to the living world. Heh."
"Why did you…?"
I didn’t finish. I had no right to judge John Chou. Against so many Green-Eyed Wraiths, even he was powerless. Just thinking about the two we met last night—Dream Thirteen and Dream Zero—I couldn’t beat either.
"You’ve met Three-Eyes, right, brother?"
John Chou asked. I nodded.
"That guy is the strongest Green-Eyed Wraith under the corpse demon. Back then, he held off Uncle Zhuang and ruined my plans."
I blinked, staring at John Chou.
"He’s that strong?" This time, John Chou’s face was expressionless; he nodded seriously.
I’d seen Uncle Zhuang’s power before, but never imagined Three-Eyes—Dream Zero—could hold him off. That alone was beyond my expectations.
As we spoke, John Chou and I arrived outside the palace and entered a small door. Inside, it was more like a giant courtyard, with guards stationed all around.
Inside the small, dragon-carved palace, I saw an elderly man in white, half-squinting, sitting at the top. Several people beside him were deep in discussion.
"Ah, Governor, you’re back. How’s the situation?"
"Not optimistic, Nathan Ouyang. I fear the Dream Wraiths will launch a full-scale assault soon. Whatever you’re hiding, hand it over. Let me deliver it to them."
I stifled a laugh, glancing sideways at John Chou. He wore a grin, while the others looked as anxious as ants on a hot pan, urging Nathan Ouyang to hand over whatever John Chou mentioned.
"There’s nothing, Governor. If I really had it, I’d hand it over. What should we do? Governor, you’re the one with answers—didn’t you drive off a Dream Wraith so easily the other day?"
"I could handle one, maybe. But a whole swarm? How am I supposed to deal with that?"
At that moment, Nathan Ouyang noticed me, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, that's Ethan Zhang. He just arrived from outside. Last night, he single-handedly drove off a crimson Dream Wraith."
Instantly, the hall erupted. Everyone turned to look at me. Embarrassed, I bowed my head—I hadn’t driven off any Dream Wraiths. In fact, I’d tried to persuade the two Green-Eyed Wraiths to join us.
John Chou patted my shoulder.
"A real talent, Governor. With you two, I think we can figure something out."
I was made deputy governor, and we left the main hall. Next to the palace was a three-story building; John Chou led me inside.
"Brother, what’s wrong? Not happy about it?"
"Why did you say I drove off the Green-Eyed Wraith?"
John Chou burst out laughing, leaning comfortably against a pillar.
"That old bastard is hiding something, I’m sure. He pretends he doesn’t have it, but I know he does."
I sighed and walked out of the small building.
"Brother, don’t be so naïve."
John Chou seemed to notice I wanted to check on Nolan and Xiuxiu. I turned and looked at him seriously.
"I just want to see my two friends, isn’t that right? Because you’re my friend, that’s why I’m here."