A Lively Nightmare

Chen Xuan had only heard about Shadow Demons while chatting with Liu Shuyue. He had no idea how to enter a dream, so he still needed to consult an expert.

He sent Lin Qing back to Mala Village to ask Liu Shuyue how to slay the demon, while he stayed in the luxury suite to prepare.

First, he had to get Su Xingwan to sleep.

That proved easier than he expected. Su Xingwan carried sedatives and sleeping pills with her, prescribed by the Northern Heaven Institute. They were stronger than anything available over the counter. According to her, severe anxiety and insomnia had plagued her for months. Without medication, she could hardly close her eyes no matter how exhausted she was.

Next came the place to sleep.

The floor heating kept the room pleasantly warm despite the howling wind outside. Chen Xuan remembered Liu Shuyue saying it was best to lie head-to-head when entering a dream, since that made exchanging Spiritual Energy easier. The living room rug was the best spot. They only had to move the sofas aside to make plenty of room.

Lin Qing soon returned. Liu Shuyue was nowhere in sight, but Lin Qing carried an exquisitely carved square peachwood tower in her arms.

Chen Xuan recognized it at once.

"The Smoke-Soul Pillar?"

It was the one from the Liu family ancestral hall. Liu Shuyue had taken it to Mala Village and made some adjustments so it could probe the abandoned building in the Myriad Mountain Great Wilderness.

"Mm. She said you could borrow it for now." Lin Qing set the wooden pillar down and dusted off her hands. "Since you don't know how to operate it, she prepared the Guiding Talismans for you. Stick one on your forehead, and the Smoke-Soul Pillar will treat you as