Duan Chen, upon waking, still felt a lingering sense of loss, a faint yet palpable emotion. He remembered everything that had happened in his dream, and precisely because he did, he felt profoundly perplexed.
He propped himself up with one arm, looking down at his hands as he slowly opened and clasped them together.
"What's wrong, Instructor?" Wang Zihao turned his head upon hearing the sound, only to realize Duan Chen was awake and asked with some confusion.
In his hand, he held a book he had retrieved from somewhere. Perhaps it was due to the fatigue of keeping watch, necessitating some reading to alleviate it.
Duan Chen shook his head, not telling Wang Zihao about the dream he'd had. Honestly, he was still very confused and hesitant. What did his mother in the dream, and his dream-self, intend to convey? Where was his mother? Was that truly his mother? If it was, why was she seeking help? Why was his 12-year-old self desperately telling him to stay away from gods, to not trust them? Was that really him at 12?
Duan Chen's mind was a muddle, filled with countless questions shrouded in a fog that prevented him from thinking clearly. Wang Zihao also noticed something was amiss with Duan Chen. He pondered for a moment, then put down his book and sat down beside Duan Chen.
"Instructor, do you want to sleep more?"
Duan Chen shook his head. After having such a dream, even if he wanted to sleep, he couldn't sleep soundly anymore.
"Do you want me to keep you company and chat?" Wang Zihao asked with a smile in his voice, "No charge, free of cost."
"No, thank you," Duan Chen said helplessly. "I'm not that fragile." It was just that he was somewhat troubled by a dream.
Wang Zihao nodded and didn't dwell on the matter. They were all adults; adults knew what they were doing and had their own choices. Since Duan Chen didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't press. When he was ready, he would naturally speak, no need to force it now. So, he changed the subject.
"Instructor, up until now, this entire page has been uneventful. This village seems to have truly fallen into silence. I haven't detected anything strange here." He reported his findings from the night watch.
Tian Xi Meng sat by the doorway, where a fire had been lit. Although the door was closed and she couldn't see outside, she was busy assembling a small mechanical spider in her hands. Sensing Duan Chen looking her way, Tian Xi Meng sped up her work, finished assembling the mechanical spider, and placed it on the ground. As soon as the assembled spider touched the ground, it moved as if alive, crawling out of the door. It was so fast that it disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Tian Xi Meng turned back and said, "I assembled some mechanical spiders and mechanical mice to explore the village." The materials used were scavenged from the villagers. "But I haven't found anything unusual. Nor have I found where the bodies of the original villagers have gone."
Duan Chen wasn't very surprised by this outcome. He nodded, indicating he understood. Or rather, he felt no fluctuation in his heart about this result, as he had already considered this possibility. Since the Magician had decisively left here, it meant there wouldn't be anything here that they could find any clues from. Even if there were, they would have certainly been cleared by the Magician. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left so cleanly and swiftly.
"Then, can we go back as soon as it's dawn?" The sudden voice startled both Duan Chen and Wang Zihao. They looked to see Long Yi, who was awake with bright, shining eyes, and felt a touch of surprise.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
Long Yi complained with vacant eyes, "Not everyone can be as thick-skinned as you two." Although he seemed carefree, he wasn't brainless, and Long Yi considered himself quite perceptive. In such a dangerous situation, it would be reckless to sleep soundly. Moreover, he felt a natural aversion to this place, as if good and evil were irreconcilable.
Duan Chen tidied his clothes, sat up, and put away his sleeping bag. Wang Zihao looked surprised.
"Instructor, you're not going to rest any longer?"
Duan Chen nodded. There was nothing left to rest for. He wasn't sure if it was his own issue or a benefit, but after merging with Wang Qi, his need for sleep had gradually decreased. And with less need for sleep, it didn't mean he lacked energy when awake. Duan Chen had only rested for this period, and he felt his stamina and energy had fully recovered. He didn't want to sleep anymore, especially since the dream had made him feel deeply uneasy from the inside out.
"I'm going out for a walk," he said to Wang Zihao and the others, then opened the door and walked out. Wang Zihao had considered stopping him, but remembering that Duan Chen possessed the highest combat power among them, he wouldn't be in any danger even if all of them were in trouble. He hesitated, then swallowed the words that were about to come out.
Duan Chen walked out of the room they were temporarily staying in and into the village alone. The moon hung motionlessly in the sky, illuminating the surroundings, making the entire village appear exceptionally bright and clear. Here, there was no eerie atmosphere from the daytime. Although the red lanterns were still there, they were no longer lit. White paper money was no longer falling from the sky, but a fine, drizzling rain had begun.
Duan Chen raised his hand and brushed a raindrop from his face. This light rain was not bothersome; it seemed to be a cleansing, a new beginning for the entire village. He exhaled. The sun had yet to rise, and the sky was still a hazy gray. Walking in this abandoned village gave one a chill from the inside out.
Duan Chen wandered aimlessly, without any particular purpose, unsure what he wanted to investigate. And so, he walked until he reached the village's ancestral hall, which he had visited during the day. The main gate was open, standing silently, like a beast ready to devour.