It was during the era when the world was unified, in the generation of Martin Ouyang’s great-grandson, that Mona Ouyang became the Dream Sovereign. Her vessel was always someone selected from each generation of the Ouyang Family.
As Mona Ouyang guaranteed to continually grant the Ouyang Family prophetic dreams in exchange for her vessel, the family formed a complete connection with her. Mona Ouyang even sent her Hundred Ghosts to aid the Ouyang Family.
The Ouyang Family's legacy flourished like the rising sun.
Meanwhile, Martin Ouyang, living in the Dream Realm, had begun to amass influence, controlling the minds of many who entered dreams. He also started to reorganize the Dream Wraiths and Dreamborn.
Mona Ouyang seemed fully aware that Martin Ouyang intended to seize her position. Yet she paid him no mind, despite her Hundred Ghosts repeatedly urging her to take action and resolve this threat.
“What exactly does Martin Ouyang want?”
“Endless, perpetual fantasies—he wants everything in the Dream Realm to bend to his will. But he’s just an ordinary man, unable to earn the Dream Realm’s recognition. He’s tried many things, all in vain. Yet in recent times, he’s begun cooperating with the Immortality Society and the Ghost Syndicate.”
Mona Ouyang’s instincts told me that, in my own affairs—back during the Ghost Burial Squad incident—she trusted the Ghost Syndicate. After the great battle among the sovereigns, Mona Ouyang’s Nightmare Stone was entrusted to Martin Ouyang, who ordered his family to hide it away.
This completely severed Mona Ouyang’s connection to the Nightmare Stone. As a result, she temporarily cooperated with the Ghost Syndicate to locate it.
Thinking back, Mona Ouyang didn’t unleash a massacre during the Ghost Syndicate incident. Otherwise, given her power at the time, wiping out the entire Ghost Burial Squad would not have been difficult.
Thinking of this, I stared in astonishment at Mona Ouyang’s instincts and asked, word by word.
“Tell me, Old Moe, what exactly was the relationship between you and Mona Ouyang at the time?”
The only person Mona Ouyang ever attacked and injured was Chief Stone, but later, Old Stone was healed by Old Moe. Now that I think about it, how did Old Moe bypass the Ghost Syndicate and enter the Ghost Burial Squad?
“You’ll know soon enough, Ethan Zhang. I’m here only to tell you that the Dream is utterly exhausted. He’s been trapped in his nightmare for over a thousand years.”
I looked at him in surprise.
Then Mona Ouyang’s instincts reached out, pointing at my chest, and spoke slowly, word by word.
“Only a good dream can break a nightmare.”
With a sudden jolt, I regained consciousness. I felt a powerful force throw me to the ground, and as soon as I landed, I sensed enormous tremors shaking the earth. The whole world seemed to be wailing, on the verge of being completely dragged into a horror story.
Martin Ouyang’s body began to change. I watched in shock as a layer of purple, crystal-like substance appeared on his skin, translucent and gleaming, encasing his entire body.
I could feel an immense power emanating from Martin Ouyang.
I looked up and saw Mona Ouyang still floating in midair, her whole body so transparent she was almost invisible, even her voice fading.
On the surface of Martin Ouyang’s body, those purple fragments looked like shards of stone clinging to his skin. Only his eyes shone through, burning with excitement.
I thought for a moment, then suddenly flew toward Martin Ouyang. I had to retrieve the Nightmare Stone. Even though I’d just left Martin’s body, I now knew the Nightmare Stone was hidden near his heart.
With both hands, I manipulated strands of Deathbane Aura—so much had already been condensed and injected. Each strand, like a rope, instantly sealed off all directions around Martin Ouyang.
“It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. Do you know what’s covering my body?”
I roared, and the Deathbane Aura immediately wrapped around Martin Ouyang. In both my hands, the aura swirled wildly, spinning out of control.
Suddenly, Martin Ouyang glanced at me. A flash of fire appeared before my eyes, and in an instant I was engulfed in flames. The Deathbane Aura lost its connection and dissolved into black smoke, drifting away.
The sensation of being burned alive made me instantly transform into mist, breaking through the flames. I reformed behind Martin Ouyang, my right hand still condensing Deathbane Aura.
“Ethan Zhang, let me tell you—my existence is now fully recognized. The Nightmare Stone, unlike before, has granted me real dream power, not just illusions.”
In an instant, I heard a rushing sound. My newly reformed body was torn apart, struck by an invisible attack I couldn’t see.
With a bang, a massive surge of water shot up from the ground. In an instant, I was sealed inside it, drifting like ink dissolving in water.
“What’s happening?” I muttered. I could feel the power inside me being drained bit by bit. The blackness in the water faded, growing weaker.
“Hmph, Ethan Zhang, if you can draw power from the Dream Realm, then I can make you lose it here. Take a good look—this world is about to be completely swallowed by a horror story. It’s all over.”
The darkness thickened. I could only see a few hundred square meters around me. I looked over—Quentin Yin was still smiling, floating in the air with Ironmask. Old Moe and the sinister Vivian Ouyang were watching too.
A loud creak echoed through the air.
“What’s happening?” Martin Ouyang shouted. I noticed that beneath my feet, the enormous Horror Stories book had closed shut—and the disappearance of this world had stopped completely.
I struggled to break free from the water enclosing me. With a slap, I burst out and reformed into human shape. I didn’t dare rush in again, but I still couldn’t think of a way to extract the Nightmare Stone from Martin Ouyang’s body. Only through the Nightmare Stone could I reach Mona Ouyang.
Just as I was torn, I saw Martin Ouyang suddenly charge at the sinister Vivian Ouyang.
“Ethan Zhang, catch! My great-grandfather has noticed—he’s already furious.”
In a flash of purple light, I saw a hand reach out—suddenly, a hard stone was in my grasp. My lower body turned to black smoke as I floated toward the transparent Mona Ouyang in midair.
“Don’t even think about it, Ethan Zhang!” Martin Ouyang roared. I knew the object in my hand was the Nightmare Stone, given to me by the sinister Vivian Ouyang, though I had no idea how she came to possess it.
As he spoke, a torrent of water surged up before me, blocking my path. Martin Ouyang’s whole body creaked as he gripped a purple longsword and lunged at me.
With a roar, two purple rings appeared on either side of me. From within them, two purple tigers leapt out, their bloody jaws snapping at my shoulders.
With a slap, I once again turned into black mist and scattered, but inside the waterfall, strands of purple, ribbon-like material instantly found my ghost soul and wrapped around it completely.
Martin Ouyang appeared behind me, laughing wildly, swinging his longsword to stab at me.
“It’s all yours now.”
I shouted, and then within the black mist, a crimson flame ignited. I leapt from the fire, rolled as I landed, and stood up—one hand clutching a piece of Nightmare Stone, the other holding a white bright balloon. This was a gift from Granny Nina, the last of the three good dreams.
I passed through the waterfall, reaching out with both hands, and finally stood before Mona Ouyang.
“Ethan Zhang!” Martin Ouyang shouted. I smiled faintly at the corner of my mouth.
“Did you forget? I’m neither human nor ghost—I’m half-human, half-ghost.”
I shouted, reaching out both hands toward Mona Ouyang. Suddenly, a blinding white light shot up, forcing my eyes shut and making my consciousness blur.
At dusk, by the riverbank, the scent of wine drifted on the breeze. I looked over—it was Mona Ouyang, sitting quietly by the water, drinking. I walked over step by step; he said nothing, simply raised his hand, and a cup of wine appeared.
I took the cup and sipped. It was fragrant. Mona Ouyang wore a fiery red robe embroidered with flowers, his feet exposed, reclining on the riverbank almost like a woman.
“Is it time to wake up from the dream?” I asked gloomily. Mona Ouyang shook his head.
“I had a dream. I don’t know how many years it’s been since I last dreamed.”
“Really? Was it a good dream?” I smiled. Mona Ouyang nodded.
“Life is a dream, and so are people. What about ghosts, Ethan Zhang?”
With a bang, Mona Ouyang and I clinked our cups and drank.
I stood up and reached out a hand, looking earnestly at Mona Ouyang.
“Let’s go back.”
Mona Ouyang glanced at me, then with a crack, smashed the wine cup.
“Why is that? Shouldn’t you hate me?”
I tilted my head back and looked at the sky, smiling.
“So what if I hate you? Remember this—you owe me a favor, Mona Ouyang. Get up.”
“And what if I refuse?” Mona Ouyang teased. I glared fiercely at him, grabbing his collar with one hand.
“Until I find a way to keep Vivian Ouyang alive without killing you, you’re not allowed to die, Dream.”
“You’ve gotten so much tougher, Ethan Zhang. You used to be so fragile!”
I hauled Mona Ouyang up and said, word by word.
“No matter how fragile I am, I’m still human. Even in weakness, I can help you—can’t I?”