The nights at River Viewing Terrace were noisy.
There were too many stories here, too much history.
Only the feelings people had nowhere to set down were scattered across the clouds, drifting quietly away with the Long River.
"Sugar figurines! Buy a sugar figurine! Shall I make you one?"
"Little Wang, your father was a good man. I bought two kinds of medicine on credit from him the year before last, and he still hasn't come to collect. I've been too ashamed to visit him. I never thought... What a pity!"
"Come, come! Hot mutton soup, and fragrant sliced boiled mutton!"
Jiang Wang felt as though his mind were light, yet also far away.
"Senior Brother Jiang, heh heh, I'd like to ask you for some pointers on swordsmanship!"
"Not bad, Junior Brother Jiang. You've got quite a bit of your senior brother's old flair."
"Jiang Wang! Now that you've entered my Dao Academy, remember to work hard and endure hardship. The future of countless common folk will rest on your shoulders!"
His soul drifted aimlessly, not knowing where it wandered.
"Third Brother! Come drink with us!"
"Third, you should get some rest. I'll call for you again tomorrow."
Rumble.
It sounded like thunder.
Before his eyes, the earth split open. Lava surged out, houses collapsed, and people fled.
Crying, shouting, voices filled with hatred.
"Third!"
"Third Brother!"
"Jiang Wang!"
Jiang Wang abruptly awoke and looked around. He was still in his own bed, alone.
So it had been a dream.
It had been a long, long time since he'd dreamed.
He spent almost every night cultivating.
Tonight should have been no exception.
But thinking of how he would compete in the main event tomorrow, vying for the title of the best under heaven, he had let his mind relax