Chapter 138: Are you human, or a nightmare?

Zhang Jie! You....

Yu Xiaomo hurriedly poked her head out from the bread costume, looking worriedly at Zhang Jie.

It's fine.

Zhang Jie gave the other person a reassuring look, got up, and left the barbecue stall with Bai Zhou.

You go ahead and eat; I'll be back soon.

Seeing the two's retreating backs, Yu Xiaomo felt a bit worried, while Liu Delie continued to gorge on the barbecue, carefree.

Aren't you worried about Zhang Jie?

Worried?

Liu Delie's hand, which was skewering meat, paused as he thought for a moment,

Are you worried that Brother Jie might be killed by that guy named Bai Zhou?

Yu Xiaomo:...

As expected of you.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jie followed Bai Zhou's winding path, and the two casually sought out a secluded spot.

With no one around, Bai Zhou finally turned to face Zhang Jie.

Here will do.

Zhang Jie nodded, just about to ask something, when suddenly a dozen light giant swords sprouted all around him, all pointing straight at him.

The nearest one was less than ten centimeters from Zhang Jie's pupil.

The light swords emitted an unpleasant sacred aura, making Zhang Jie instinctively feel uncomfortable.

Bai Zhou, Great God, what do you mean by this?

Zhang Jie slightly tilted his head, flicked aside the light sword pointing at his pupil, and gave Bai Zhou an icy stare.

Seeing Zhang Jie deflect his light sword with bare hands, Bai Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing and probing, and spoke coldly.

Mr. Zhang Jie, before answering your question, please allow me to ask you one first.

Bai Zhou's pupils glowed with golden light, and the words he spoke gave an irresistible feeling.

"Tell me," are you human, or a nightmare?

Zhang Jie frowned, puzzled by Bai Zhou's intent in saying that; he was about to retort sarcastically, but his body answered Bai Zhou's question on its own.

I'm obviously human—isn't that obvious?

As soon as he said that, both Bai Zhou and Zhang Jie furrowed their brows.

One was surprised that the other could force him to speak the truth; the other was surprised by Zhang Jie's answer.

The next moment, Bai Zhou put on a gentle smile again, and the surrounding light giant swords vanished.

That's naturally the best.

'Hypocrite!'

Zhang Jie silently cursed, his impression of Bai Zhou plummeting to rock bottom.

I'm certainly not a hypocrite.

Bai Zhou, as if he could read minds, immediately voiced Zhang Jie's inner thoughts.

Sorry, Mr. Zhang Jie, in these special times some things require special handling.

These days I'm practically a half-human leader; there are matters I must be wary of.

I hope you can understand.

What a by-the-book approach.

Zhang Jie snorted coldly, 'A gentleman repays grudges without delay—he'll get his comeuppance later!'

Thank you for your understanding.

Bai Zhou smiled, saying he wasn't using mind-reading to probe Zhang Jie's thoughts anymore; otherwise he'd surely know that he himself would soon have a rough time.

Then let me first answer your question: why the Player Management Bureau hasn't announced the reason for this.

It's simple: to prevent more uncontrollable factors, some players are better off not getting stronger.

In the Dream Realm, his destructive actions pose zero threat, but in reality, players are more threatening than nightmares.

I won't say more; you should get my meaning.

Zhang Jie gave a light nod, understanding that it's just about controlling societal instability.

Then the next question: you asking whether I'm human or a nightmare—what does that mean? And what did you mean by asking me that at the barbecue stall earlier?

Bai Zhou already knew Zhang Jie would ask that, and he lightly shook his head.

I sense no 'human' factor in you; that's what's making me doubtful.

But you needn't worry; you just need to remember that if your cognition is human, then you are human.

I can't elaborate further; you're still weak, and saying more wouldn't help you.

Hearing Bai Zhou's words, Zhang Jie furrowed his brows deeply once again.

'What the heck—if cognition being human makes you human, then I could say my cognition is a Walmart shopping bag....'

'Cognition.... what does that have to do with nightmares? I don't get it...'

Seeing Zhang Jie lost in thought, Bai Zhou seemed eager to watch that expression, and he broke into a pleased smile.

Mr. Zhang Jie, any more questions?

'Damn riddler.'

Looking at his spring-breeze-like smile, Zhang Jie was momentarily speechless, but then he too laughed, as if the tense atmosphere just moments ago had never existed.

That's it, but Bai Zhou, Great God, I also have a gift for you.

?

Zhang Jie's action exceeded Bai Zhou's expectations; he watched Zhang Jie reveal a smile, and his inner unease quickly surged.

"You want...!!!"

Zhang Jie's body quickly became attached to over ten kinds of enhanced arcane arts, four kinds of Nightmare's domination forms surged forth, and a punch flew swiftly toward Bai Zhou's abdomen.

The panel monster instantly took shape; this punch even produced a sonic boom, Bai Zhou didn't even have time to react, all he could do was condense several layers of light shield on his abdomen to block Zhang Jie's punch.

Boom!!!

Bai Zhou's body instantly flew backward, the layers of his abdominal light shield shattered, and that punch solidly struck his stomach.

The place they are currently in is the free activity area of a certain residential complex, with a nice pond and rockery nearby, but now all of this has been destroyed by Zhang Jie.

Bai Zhou's body was lodged at the edge of the pond, scattered with shards of rockery and tiles around, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Cough cough...."

"This is the strength of a top-tier player..."

Zhang Jie looked at his arm, which had already become bloody, and his life points suddenly dropped by one-tenth.

"There's also reflect damage on that light shield."

"But... my fist also hurts!"

Zhang Jie lowered his arm without a change in expression, looking at Bai Zhou who kept spitting foam, and said coldly.

"A gentleman repays vengeance without delay; this punch is my gift to you."

"Cough cough..."

Bai Zhou slowly stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and despite his pale face, he still revealed a smile to Zhang Jie.

"Fine... I'll accept this punch."

"Now we're even."

"That's best."

The arcane arts reappeared; the bit of blood skin Zhang Jie lost instantly replenished, and he no longer paid attention to Bai Zhou, turning and walking away.

Seeing Zhang Jie's gradually receding back, Bai Zhou fell silent for a moment, looking at his panel that had only a sliver of HP left after being struck, and secretly felt alarmed.

That punch almost killed him!

Although he is a mage panel with life points less than one-tenth of a warrior-type top-tier player, this punch was enough for him to acknowledge Zhang Jie's ability.

"Too hasty..."

Bai Zhou sighed, a powerful light magic appeared in his hand, and his life points instantly replenished.

He glanced at the mess behind him, the magic appeared once more, and everything around seemed to reverse time, gradually restoring its original appearance.

The surroundings returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Bai Zhou once again gazed in the direction Zhang Jie had left, sighed, his figure flickered, and he instantly vanished from the spot.