Chapter 53: Dream

“Hm? Jing Xia? Is that her?”

Fang Xing was startled when Jing Xia suddenly appeared, her hand resting on Gu Yun’s shoulder.

Yet a heavy stone finally settled in his chest.

‘This woman really is from the Prevention Bureau—can’t forget to bring her damn dog everywhere…’

He couldn’t help mentally muttering as he looked at the bully dog sitting beside Jing Xia.

“Gu Yun is an intern from our Faith Theory Department—none of your Action Department’s business… and she’s officially assigned by the school; she won’t join your department.”

Bai Ziling’s face was cold, as if she bore a grudge against Jing Xia.

“I’m just asking… after all, I saw fire in her eyes—someone like her is perfect for our Action Department, perfect to replace those useless wastes!”

Jing Xia openly admitted it, still holding a drink in her hand: “And this student Fang—have you any interest in interning with us?”

Though she was a commanding woman, her smile made her look more like a fox.

“Sorry, this is a school-designated internship program!”

Fang Xing quickly shook his head—he was crazy if he went to the Action Department.

“What a pity.”

Jing Xia waved her hand: “If you change your mind, feel free to come find me anytime.”

“Let’s go.”

Bai Ziling said nothing more, leading Fang Xing and Gu Yun into the elevator.

Once the silver-white liquid metal fully enveloped them, Fang Xing couldn’t tell whether they were ascending or descending.

“You know that woman too?”

Bai Ziling suddenly turned and fixed Fang Xing with a stare.

“I often run into her during morning exercises—she seems to live around campus,” Fang Xing answered honestly.

“Mm. Don’t provoke her. She enjoys cruelly exploiting her subordinates and crushing them with words…” Bai Ziling sneered: “The number of her team members transferred to logistics or sent to the Wellness Center for treatment is the highest—you understand what that means.”

“Of course!”

Fang Xing nodded quickly.

At some point, the metal wall ahead opened, revealing a large open floor.

Many members of the Faith Theory Department, wearing name tags, bustled about.

“I’ll send you a map—your movement is restricted to the green zones… the library, storage rooms, and observation rooms are red zones—no entry allowed.”

Bai Ziling sent over a map, her expression serious: “Today’s task is to clean the green zones and manage the water dispensers…”

‘Do we even need to clean this?’

Fang Xing stared at the spotless floor, strongly suspecting the silver metal had a ‘self-cleaning’ function.

Even the entire building might be a metallic lifeform!

‘So we’re just here to blatantly slack off?’

“Any other questions?” Bai Ziling adjusted her glasses, as if noticing Fang Xing’s gaze.

“How much do we get paid per day?” Fang Xing asked.

“Twenty thousand per hour, bonuses included…” Bai Ziling replied.

“Then I have no issues.”

Fang Xing nodded and sat down beside the water dispenser.

“Good.”

A faint smile appeared on Bai Ziling’s face: “Xiao Yun, stay here—anything you need, come find me…”

After Bai Ziling left, Gu Yun watched her back, her expression darkening instantly.

“I thought… no matter how they arranged it, at least I’d get to see something…”

Gu Yun sat beside Fang Xing, her gaze unfocused.

Fang Xing knew she’d accepted this internship largely to get close to her father’s workplace, to learn more—and then… seek revenge.

If she could choose freely, she’d join Jing Xia’s Action Department without hesitation.

But unfortunately… it was impossible.

“Here, have some water.”

Fang Xing made no attempt to comfort her, poured her a glass, then poured one for himself.

After just one sip, he sensed something odd: “This water… seems to contain a mental drug? No… it’s something else—it calms the spirit…”

“For Faith Theory Department members, mental stability is the most critical metric—everyone must be tested daily…”

Gu Yun, however, seemed to know more; she drained her glass: “For us who cultivate A-grade martial arts, this pure water has some effect too—it’s basically a work benefit…”

‘Mm, but nowhere near as potent as the Serenity Pill…’

Fang Xing silently compared and reached his conclusion.

…

The sun set.

“Goodbye!”

He stepped out of the Prevention Bureau, bid Gu Yun farewell, and prepared to walk home—along with some exercise.

‘Inside the Prevention Bureau, security is absolute—trying to sneak around is pure fantasy; you’d only expose yourself…’

As for gaining any advantage within the Faith Theory Department?

Fang Xing, after observing all day, scoffed at the idea.

The demonic deity records he wanted—even suspected demonic scriptures—were stored in dedicated rooms, awaiting inspection and review by Faith Theory Department members.

For highly dangerous scriptures, multiple researchers had to apply, then receive approval from both the director and deputy director, and all research had to be conducted inside specialized containment chambers—not a single sheet of paper could be removed.

‘After decades of operation, the Faith Theory Department is saturated with surveillance—even their own people must be screened for mental state and contamination… how could there be any loophole for me? If there were… it’d definitely be a trap!’

‘At least I’ve seen something, learned Jing Xia’s identity, and found out the pay is high… Huh?’

Fang Xing suddenly looked up, gazing at the orange-red sky: “Why do I suddenly feel watched?”

Thinking of it, he quickened his pace and vanished at the end of the street.

…

A few minutes later, a figure stepped from the shadows, voice hoarse: “No wonder he’s a prodigy who’s already entered A-grade martial arts—his spiritual force is beginning to subtly transform. We can’t get too close to observe… this warrior’s instinct is a nuisance.”

The figure was wrapped entirely in a black robe, and the surrounding surveillance cameras flickered with sparks, as if malfunctioning.

Behind the black-robed figure walked two students.

One, built like a bodybuilder, gazed at Fang Xing’s back with faint complexity—it was Liu Wei.

The other wasn’t Bai Lianyi, but Liu Wei recognized her—a classmate from Yucai Middle School, delicate-featured, named ‘Guo Peipei’.

At that moment, Guo Peipei looked at Liu Wei: “I heard this guy is your good friend? He’s become quite the big shot—now a favorite of Xia Long’s teacher, and even got into the Prevention Bureau.”

“If needed, I can eliminate him.”

Liu Wei replied in a low voice.

“Eliminating him is simple—but it benefits us nothing. This Fang Xing’s value keeps rising.”

The black-robed figure chuckled strangely: “I hope he comes to worship our Lord, becoming a force for Him within the Prevention Bureau.”

“That’s unlikely…” Liu Wei frowned. Normal people wouldn’t willingly associate with cultists.

“Master, please let me act!”

Guo Peipei smiled: “My ability is ‘Dream Entry’—I can infiltrate his dreams, corrupt and taint him, silently and unseen…”

“Dream Entry? That could work…”

The black-robed emissary pondered, then said: “You’ll handle it. But your ability level is low—you can’t enter dreams from afar. Getting close carries risk. I’ll assign two ‘Divine Generals’ to protect you…”

“Thank you, Master!”

Guo Peipei’s eyes gleamed brightly.

…

Night fell, silence absolute.

Fang Xing completed another round of Fierce Tiger Stance, played a few games, then ordered late-night takeout.

After eating his fill, he immediately collapsed into bed.

His current realm was too low—he still needed sleep; he couldn’t replace rest with meditation or standing postures, and every night he slept soundly.

But tonight was different.

A hazy mist.

The entire neighborhood seemed shrouded in a thin fog.

Within the mist, a low, buzzing hum echoed—like countless insects writhing, rustling, as if the murmurs of countless voices had merged into dreamy whispers.

“What’s going on?”

Fang Xing rose and looked out the window—then froze.

He saw… the entire neighborhood had shattered. Countless broken walls and ruins floated midair, defying gravity.

In the distance, something incomprehensible loomed.

It was composed of countless orbs, vaguely shaped like a gate.

But when he stared closely, it wasn’t a gate—it was layer upon layer of dimensions; each colorful orb seemed to carry the ultimate truths of worlds and universes.

One glance—and one could not look away.

Fang Xing felt his head throb, as if about to explode.

Strange knowledge and information surged like countless red-hot iron spikes, threatening to pierce into his skull.

“This is… an outer realm demon god? No… no, if it were real, I’d be dead already—couldn’t even think… This is an imitation, a disguise!”

The next instant, Fang Xing’s forehead veins bulged, his expression ghostly and divine.

“Even if it’s a ghost or god, I’ll cut it down with one slash!”

“Cut the Ghost God!”

He formed his hand into a blade and slashed fiercely at the strange light gate.

Ghost God Blade—Cut the Ghost God!

A stunning blade of light shot skyward, stretching over ten miles, directly shattering that strange gate…

Countless mists dispersed, faintly accompanied by the scream of a woman.

“Ah!”

Inside the bedroom.

Fang Xing sat up instantly, his right hand gripping the Ink Pattern Sword.

Outside the window, the night wind was cold; a few night cats yowled in heat, their cries like infant wails. The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful, everything as usual.

“A dream?”

A flicker of suspicion crossed his face: “The Void Gate? Why would I dream of such a thing for no reason? No… no, someone is scheming against me! A cultist!”

As for that outer realm demon god, it was merely the cultist’s imagination—not even a projection or trace of the true entity.

The reason was simple: even cultists, if weak, would descend into utter madness or death upon seeing the demon god’s true face!

“Who did I anger?”

Fang Xing growled low, fury boiling within him.

It was like this in the marketplace—and like this on Chick Hawk Star too!

He had been cautious, done nothing at all, just wanted to bide his time and grow strong—why did people keep scheming against him?

Then, as if remembering something, he reached out and seized a talisman, which appeared in his hand: the “Seek Qi Talisman!”

“That woman in the dream left behind a trace—she must still be nearby…”

Fang Xing gripped the Ink Pattern Sword, his expression dark…