When she got home, Bai Li tossed her backpack onto the sofa and flopped onto the bed. The new blanket still smelled like the plastic from the department store, but it was better than having nothing at all. She buried her face in the pillow, her tail drooping over the edge of the mattress, too exhausted to even move a finger. The fatigue from the whole day surged over her like a tidal wave. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Her consciousness began to blur. Soon, she sank into a deep sleep.
…
“Meng Mo! Damn Meng Mo, don’t hide and stay quiet!”
She stood in the dream, hands on her hips, tilting her head back and shouting.
“I know you’re around here! If you’ve got the guts, come on out!”
“What’s the matter? Going to sleep this early?”
Meng Mo’s figure materialized, still wearing that shameless outfit. Her face had a faint blush, and the corners of her mouth held a satisfied smile. She looked like she’d just eaten and drunk her fill.
“Little fox is being so proactive today?” She covered her mouth and laughed, floating a full circle around Bai Li. “Did last night’s dream leave you yearning for more?”
Meng Mo chuckled behind her hand, then leaned close to Bai Li’s ear.
“If you confess to big sister, this time… big sister can turn up the intensity. You can play with anything~ you~ want~”
“Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo.”
Bai Li stuck out her tongue at her and stepped back twice.
“Who do you think you are? Only you’re that vulgar!”
“Oh my, your mouth is pretty tough.”
Meng Mo wagged her finger, not angry at all. Instead, she laughed even more.
“Big sister is telling you, dreams only reflect the deepest desires in your heart. Whatever you’re thinking in your own mind, that’s what the dream shows you. It’s not something I can control.”
She drifted forward again and sniffed at Bai Li’s neck.
“If you really resist it so much… then why does big sister smell a trace of lingering reluctance?”
Bai Li’s face flushed crimson.
“Oh my, why is your face so red?”
“In high spirits!” Bai Li waved her hands vigorously.
“Let’s skip this topic. I didn’t come to see you because of that dream. I wanted to tell you something.”
“What is it?” Meng Mo hovered in midair, propping her chin on her hand, watching her with interest. “I’m all ears.”
“You’d better dial it down a notch.” Bai Li’s expression turned serious. “Exactly how much life essence did you drain in this area last night?”
“Do you remember how many slices of bread you ate?” Meng Mo smiled, unconcerned.
“Do you even know how many people collapsed just at the school?” Bai Li’s voice rose a few notes. “This is too conspicuous! The Bureau of Abnormal Affairs is going to notice this place!”
Seeing Bai Li’s face grow sterner, Meng Mo dropped the joking look and waved her hand.
“Fine, fine, no more jokes. The truth is, I’m in a very important phase right now. I have no choice.”
“Important phase?” Bai Li’s gaze paused for a second on the markings on her belly. “Are you about to give birth?”
“What are you talking about!” Meng Mo rolled her eyes. “I mean, do you know why I came to this city?”
“Met a rival and got chased out?” Bai Li frowned.
Meng Mo’s expression froze, then she turned her face away.
“Just a temporary setback. Once I collect enough life essence, I can go back and take my revenge.”
She paused, then turned to look at Bai Li again.
“What, afraid I’ll mess up your invasion work? Humans without the ability to resist are better for you, aren’t they?”
“What you do is none of my business,” Bai Li said. “But here, you have to be careful of a guy called the Blazing Knight.”
“Blazing Knight?” Meng Mo tilted her head. “Is he this city’s hero? The name’s a bit old-fashioned. What can he do?”
“Uh…” Bai Li thought carefully. “He’s really strong, and he can spit fire? He wears silver-gray armor and moves very fast.”
“What’s so scary about that?” Meng Mo gave a disdainful snort. “I can take him down easily. We dream demons are invincible inside dreams. No matter how strong he fights, he can’t come into a dream, can he?”
“I suggest you don’t set your sights on him.” Bai Li recalled that emotionless mask and the overwhelming sense of pressure. “We don’t know his exact abilities yet. What if…”
“Where is he?” Meng Mo’s eyes lit up, and she licked her lips. “From your description, he should have a lot of life essence, right? Maybe draining him alone would be enough for this whole area.”
“Somewhere around here, probably. We don’t know exactly either.”
“After all this talk, you don’t even know where the hero is?” Meng Mo sighed, a hint of disdain in her tone. “You monsters here sure are inefficient.”
She lifted her head, resuming that lazy look.
“Are you done? If you’re done, big sister has to go to work.”
“Fine, go on.” Bai Li waved her hand. “Just remember, don’t touch that guy named Lin Du.”
“Your little boyfriend?” Meng Mo covered her mouth and laughed. “Big sister understands~”
“No! He’s just a friend…”
“Alright, alright.” Meng Mo snapped her fingers, and her figure began to fade. “I’m off now. Thanks, little fox~”
She waved her hand, and her whole body dissipated into the void like smoke.
Bai Li watched her gradually disappear, then curled her lip.
‘Oh well, I’ve done my duty. I gave her fair warning. If she insists on picking a fight with the Blazing Knight, that’s her own business.’
She turned around, ready to leave this dream.
“Bai Li…”
A heartfelt call came from behind her. Bai Li felt a chill run down her spine.
‘Oh hell… no… it can’t be…’
Meng Mo’s silver-bell laugh still seemed to echo in her ears, but she was already gone.
What remained was the one person she least wanted to see…
Bai Li turned stiffly. It was that fake, greasy Lin Du again.
Standing three steps behind her, his eyes so tender they could drip water, a smile at the corner of his mouth that made her skin crawl. He looked exactly like the male lead in a romance novel.
“Aaaahhh—!”
Bai Li let out a scream.
“I’m taking you down with me!”
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
…
“According to clues in the database, we’ve determined that the monster capable of doing this must be from the Dream Demon clan.”
The Director tapped on the keyboard, swiveled the screen around, and faced it toward Lin Du.
“Dream Demon?”
Lin Du glanced at the information on the screen.
Just one glance, and he looked away.
“Hehe, are you shy?”
The Director chuckled, pulling the screen back and examining the illustration with interest.
“Their main ability is inducing dreams…” He cleared his throat, forcing a more serious tone. “People targeted by them get their life essence drained. Mild cases just cause fatigue and weakness; severe cases can be life-threatening.”
“Dreams…” Lin Du lowered his head in thought.
“We haven’t tested it yet, but we do have equipment to deal with dreams.”
A stranger’s voice came from the doorway. Lin Du snapped his head up.
A dark figure stepped inside—short, stocky, with a steady gait. The light illuminated his appearance: a thick beard braided into a rope that hung over his chest. Broad shoulders, powerful arms, a pair of large hands covered in calluses with thick knuckles—the mark of someone who worked with tools all day long.
Lin Du reflexively stood up and sidestepped to shield the Director, his arm already prepared to activate his wristband.
“A monster! Director, be careful!”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t get nervous, kid.”
The Director patted his shoulder, then leaned back in his chair unhurriedly.
“This is one of our own.”
The dwarf stepped into the light, showing a mouthful of neat yellow teeth in a grin.
“Young man, let me introduce myself.” His voice was gruff but his tone gentle. “I’m the Deputy Director of the R&D and Equipment Department of the Bureau of Abnormal Affairs. You can call me Doctor.”
He extended that thick palm.
“We’re developing a new device that can protect the user’s consciousness inside a dream, and even…”
He paused, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.
“Let you fight inside the dream too!”
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