"Alright." I stood up immediately and said. John Chou walked over with a cheerful grin, and I shot him a glare.
"Don’t worry, Mona Ouyang. I won’t go back on my word. But I’m afraid you might. Let’s do the deal inside Ethan Zhang’s core dream instead."
John Chou spoke as Mona Ouyang nodded. Then, led by Mona Ouyang, we kept sinking deeper.
"Wait, right there." I called out when I saw a faint black patch on the purple light wall. But Mona Ouyang kept leading us on, and then I realized that neither John Chou nor Mona Ouyang could see that patch of black.
Once inside my core dream, I watched Mona Ouyang nervously. He walked forward step by step. I still had my guard up against him—if he snatched the Nightmare Stone and bolted, we’d be finished.
John Chou seemed to read my mind. He came over, patted my shoulder, and said:
"Relax. Just like you couldn’t use your powers in that corpse demon’s world, he can’t use his powers here. Now he’s weak, and in your core dream, he can’t do anything. Besides, you’ve got me here, right? Brother."
I nodded, looking at John Chou. Mona Ouyang really was walking step by step, not floating over.
"Tell us the method first, Mona Ouyang," John Chou said as the three of us reached the pavilion and sat down.
Then Mona Ouyang explained: those who want to dream up weapons must have a complete mental image of the weapon—its structure, every detail, and a deep, thorough impression, to the point of being able to recite it backwards. Only then, in the dream, can they construct the weapon’s form concretely.
So, I have to use dream sending to reach people in the real world and get them to gather as many as possible. Then, I need to make sure each of those people has a thorough understanding of a weapon—every detail in their minds. I also need to get their appearances, photos or whatever, so Mona Ouyang can see them.
That way, using the Nightmare Stone, Mona Ouyang can control their dreams and make them all have the same dream—a dream about weapons. Next, only a Dreamborn can take things out of the dream; people in the real world can’t do it.
"Huh? Then how were those houses? How were those things made?"
Mona Ouyang glanced at me and explained.
"Those are Dream Wraiths, just incarnations of the dream itself. As long as you kill them, you can use them to make anything—food, tools, whatever. But if a person’s knowledge or impression of something isn’t complete, whatever they make will be really strange."
I remembered—there really were a lot of things in the city that looked odd and off, especially weapons, all crooked, and even the clothes people wore. But then I wondered how the city itself could be built so well.
"It’s the crystallization of someone’s will. It’s not finished yet, but Nathan Ouyang knows exactly what he’s doing. You’d better not trust him too much."
Mona Ouyang said, then shot him a glance.
"It’s not like Vivian Ouyang says. Back then, when Nathan Ouyang took Martin Ouyang out of the city, it wasn’t out of conscience—it was to offer up the last Ouyang heir when things got desperate. Heh, people aren’t as simple as you think, Ethan Zhang."
I stared quietly at Mona Ouyang, but I still couldn’t quite believe it. After all, I’d always had strong hostility toward her.
"I saw it with my own eyes. Why would I lie? I know exactly what Nathan Ouyang is after. Vivian Ouyang only knows what’s been passed down in the family—those facts have always been shaped by someone’s will. I have no desire to change what they know."
"Brother, stop wasting time with that corpse demon. There are only two hours till dawn. Move fast and get Hugh Thompson to start preparing."
I nodded and floated back to my room, found the Nightmare Stone. I was still nervous, glancing around before heading out. I saw Mona Ouyang and John Chou, both looking grim, deep in discussion. Mona Ouyang kept slapping the table, while John Chou just smiled.
I had no choice but to clutch the Nightmare Stone as my consciousness faded. I entered that space and quickly found Hugh Thompson’s screen. Oddly, it was still black—his dream was, as always, a nightmare.
I glanced at Rachel Lan—her dream tonight was orange, tinged with melancholy.
I didn’t think much, and dove into Hugh Thompson’s dream. As soon as I entered, I saw him sitting at a table with a brown tablecloth, drinking red wine, the lighting dim. He seemed to be waiting for someone.
"Ethan, it’s been days—I can hardly hold on. Every night I have to fight to control my dreams, waiting for you. It’s so hard."
I rushed over—this was a cozy little bar, crowded with people. I could even see the bartender’s face clearly. Finding Hugh Thompson was definitely the right move.
I sat down and hurriedly spent nearly an hour telling Hugh Thompson everything that happened over the past two days. We really need weapons now.
"This is such a strange place, Ethan. You always get mixed up in the weirdest things. I think I understand the problem now. When I wake up, I’ll contact Old Eccentric and get the whole police force—trainees or officers, whatever—rounded up. I’ll get the pros to teach them."
I nodded right away.
"Don’t forget their photos."
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Hugh Thompson gave a helpless smile.
"To memorize so many faces in such a short time is nearly impossible. Sigh, ask the Ghost Sovereign if there’s another way."
"It’s my first time meeting someone like you—so clear-headed in a dream, able to control your own dream so freely."
Mona Ouyang’s sarcastic voice rang out behind me. I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine. I turned and glared at him.
"Tell me, Mona Ouyang—what exactly do we have to do?"
"Go find Vivian Ouyang. After you get out, draw her blood and give a little to each person who knows the weapons inside and out. Just a drop will do. As long as I have her blood as a medium, I can skip the step of seeing their faces."
"The Ghost Sovereign can even do that? Impressive. Ethan, you’d better be careful. In the dream world, those things aren’t easy to handle."
I felt like Hugh Thompson’s last words were directed at Mona Ouyang. Then Mona Ouyang left Hugh Thompson’s dream, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, Hugh, what weapon would be best?"
"AK47, I guess."
I let out a sound of surprise and laughed.
"Wouldn’t the firepower be a bit weak?"
"I picked that weapon because it’s powerful and everyone knows it well enough. That way, we don’t have to spend time teaching people what a gun looks like, right?"
I nodded immediately. Just hearing AK47 brought back memories—when I was in middle school, my cousin took me to play a game called Counter-Strike, and it had the AK47. I could picture it instantly.
After we finished discussing, Hugh Thompson closed his eyes and seemed to sense the surroundings, then looked like he had something more to say.
"Ethan, the person I wanted you to watch out for isn’t John Chou or Mona Ouyang—it’s Martin Lane. Be careful."
I let out a sound of surprise and looked at Hugh Thompson.
"Based on what you and I said, I just made a quick deduction. Since Mona Ouyang’s power has declined and he can’t control his Hundred Ghosts, they’ve already rebelled. But Martin Lane still hasn’t shown up. You said Mona Ouyang mentioned someone incited his Hundred Ghosts, and John Chou said it wasn’t him. Who else could it be? Other than Martin Lane and Nathan Ouyang, there’s no one. I think Martin Lane is the most suspicious."
Hearing that, I felt a bit resistant inside.
"Of course, Ethan, you can trust that Martin Lane has no hostility toward you. He might even help you—after all, you’re supposed to be his future son-in-law. If he did anything to you, that crazy girl would eat him alive."
I couldn’t help but blush and looked at Hugh Thompson awkwardly.
"Just be careful. Someone who can quietly put the Vermilion Mantle on you, and is secretly working step by step behind the scenes, is dangerous. The most important thing: People of the Hades Circle are always under the Underworld Court’s surveillance—except Martin Lane. He’s the only one who escaped their watch."
My heart skipped a beat, and then the scene around me slowly faded away.
"Ethan, remember, be careful."
I regained consciousness and saw Mona Ouyang and John Chou sitting at my table, quietly waiting. Mona Ouyang kept staring at the Nightmare Stone in my hand.
I hurriedly pulled the Nightmare Stone back and stuffed it under my blanket.
"Don’t even think about trying anything."
"Enough, Ethan Zhang. We’re partners now, so let’s not cross any lines. I’ll tell you some weaknesses of my foolish subordinates—it should help you."