Chapter 103 - 103 - Dream

"Sir, one of the prayer scripts we intentionally left behind has taken effect." In a shadowy corner, a physician from the Alchemy Commission was communicating with a certain entity using his jade talisman. "That's right. After reciting the prayer script we compiled, the man's mental exhaustion completely vanished. We personally witnessed him, full of vigor, go find his captain... It's truly unbelievable." "Therefore, I wish to apply to recite that prayer script myself. My condition can't be hidden for much longer. If this truly works, I can continue to conceal it." "...I understand. If this prayer script can genuinely work, if that entity will truly selflessly help us heal our physical and mental afflictions... then he is the earthly incarnation of the Medicine King." Subsequently, the physician from the Alchemy Commission put away the jade talisman in his hand, took a deep breath, and began to recite the prayer script they had hastily compiled after learning of Xin Yu's deeds. At this moment, Xin Yu, in his dream, found that his thoughts were remarkably clear. Moreover, he had just tried to help someone in need whom he had encountered in his dream. He found himself in a dim, grey space. It resembled the void-like place he had visited twice before, but this place lacked the ever-present power of nothingness that could assimilate and erode people. Instead, it gave a very warm, comfortable, and reassuring feeling, like a secret base that only he could enter. He flew freely within this secret base. Although the space wasn't large—a slightly faster flight would quickly reach its end—it allowed him to relax immensely, to temporarily forget what he was supposed to do, to forget the responsibilities he bore. Like a true fish, he swam joyfully in this small fishbowl. Just as Xin Yu was immersed in the joy of being a fish, an inexplicable sound once again emerged beside his ear, as if someone had begun to whisper. "Feather of New Life, grant me new life!" A scene appeared before Xin Yu's eyes. He saw a man kneeling on the ground, head bowed in prayer. It was as if he saw through the man's exterior, instantly perceiving his inner self. He saw the man's tormented and twisted spirit, his heavy and sinful soul. In a daze, through the man's eyes, he saw his past, the sins he had committed and buried deep in his heart, unwilling to confess to others. Xin Yu had never been a blindly benevolent person. He wouldn't strive to help with every matter everyone brought up. At least, this man before him, who had committed countless sins in his past, causing the deaths or monstrous transformations of 242 innocent people... ...did not deserve salvation. Xin Yu looked at the figure still praying and extended his hand. And the physician praying in that corner suddenly felt something appear and touch his forehead. Simultaneously, a voice, both male and female, old and young, clear yet indistinct, solemn yet gentle, resounded in his ear. It said. "You murdered people, twisted them into monsters, used your own compatriots as experimental fodder, and desecrated their corpses to complete your experiments." "You are not worthy of salvation." Xin Yu had initially wanted to directly obliterate this detestable fellow who had inexplicably appeared in his dream. But since it was all a dream, why not be a little bolder? Try to accomplish some of the things he had envisioned. "You must spend the rest of your life atoning for the sins you have committed." The physician clutched his head and screamed in agony. Then, thorns began to spread from his body. These thorns pierced his flesh, broke through his skin, and grew from within him, twining around his entire torso. They then writhed and reshaped themselves, finally converging upon the man's hands, embedding themselves deeply. Amidst the man's惨叫声 (miserable screams), these thorns transformed into mottled patterns and merged into his skin. "When you genuinely repent, when you are willing to offer your all to make amends for the mistakes you once made, then we shall meet again." Xin Yu directly cut off the communication channel with that fellow. Hmm, although I don't know what's going on, it's good enough that I can actually do it. Dreams are truly something else. Things I can't figure out in reality, I can achieve with a little experimentation in a dream. Weaving a binding oath from another's sins and their mental and physical pain. In reality, I wouldn't even understand what constitutes "another's sins." To put it bluntly, the sins people commit are merely a boundary drawn by people for social stability and their own moral standards. How could they possibly be visible or tangible? But thankfully, it's a dream. Dreams don't need to adhere to logic; I can just think whatever I want. It's all fake anyway. Xin Yu continued to roam this mysterious space. Then, he stood at the edge of this space, looking at the grey crystal wall that seemed to have a tangible existence. He wondered if destroying these crystal walls would allow him to see a vaster world within his dream, to roam even more broadly. Xin Yu tried attacking the massive crystal wall but found it completely unresponsive to his attacks; not even the slightest crack appeared. Xin Yu wasn't discouraged in the slightest. It was just a dream, and concepts like time were inherently vague in dreams. Trying a little longer wouldn't matter. He materialized a long saber and then slashed at the crystal wall again and again, swinging the saber in his hand repeatedly. Although it had no effect, he was enjoying himself. ... "Hah!" Xin Yu yawned and sat up in bed. After stretching his body, he found that the medicine Bailu had prescribed was truly excellent. His mental state had completely recovered; the previous fatigue and pressure were all gone. It was as if he had died and been resurrected. He picked up his phone and tried to send a message, but the signal was still absurdly bad. He couldn't send any messages, nor had he received any from the others. He could only sigh helplessly, get out of bed, and prepare to find a nurse or medical staff outside to take him to see everyone from the Astral Express. However, the moment Xin Yu stepped out of his sickroom, he saw everyone looking up towards the distant horizon. This made him look up curiously as well, only to see a colossal tree standing there, its trunk reaching from the earth to the heavens. "What happened?" The youth, who had slept through nearly a whole game update's worth of events, looked completely bewildered.