A Pill in a Dream, a Stranger Upon Looking Back

Chen Cuo froze. He focused his gaze, and the old beggar's appearance came into sharp relief—

A tangled beard, ragged clothes, but a body that was far from gaunt. The arms and legs exposed beneath his clothes showed bulging muscle. He was sturdy and strong!

This was no ordinary old beggar!

From the man's face, Chen Cuo was fairly sure he was the one he had seen from the ox cart.

But the fragments of Chen Fangqing's memories contained nothing about an old beggar, so Chen Cuo could not tell whether this was the same man his younger sister Chen Jiao had mentioned.

Still, after running into him time and again, and now seeing him through the Ink Crane's eyes, Chen Cuo would have to be a fool to think there was nothing strange about him.

Chen Cuo was weighing whether to wake up and look for the beggar when the old man, who had been sitting with his head bowed, slowly raised it. He split his face in a grin at Chen Cuo, bunching it into wrinkles!

Chen Cuo gave a start!

After all, he was watching through the Ink Crane. The old beggar was smiling at the Ink Crane beside the wall!

"What..."

Just as Chen Cuo was about to call the Ink Crane back, the old beggar raised a hand. He was holding a stone...

Is he going to...

Chen Cuo's heart jumped. He thought the old beggar meant to smash the jade crane!

For all the Ink Crane's wonders, it was made of jade. A stone the size of a fist would surely shatter it. He had no intention of gambling on whether Zhou Youzi's sect had used some special method to reinforce it.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Chen Cuo hurried to pull the Ink Crane back, but the old beggar struck the wall beside him three times with the stone. Then he tossed it away, laughed, and turned to leave. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the end of the alley. When Chen Cuo looked again, he was gone!

Chen Cuo breathed a sigh of relief, then grew grave.

Even if he isn't the one who gave Chen Jiao the paper crane, he's no ordinary man. Why show up now? Hmm? Three knocks on the wall with a stone—was he hinting at something?

For some reason, a scene he had seen in his previous life came to mind.

Three knocks means a meeting at the third watch? That can't be a universal signal, can it? Forget it. I'll bring the Ink Crane back first. If something happens to it out on the street, who could I complain to?

At a thought from Chen Cuo, the Ink Crane flew over the wall into the courtyard. As it crossed the wall, he again felt heat and cold intertwine. All the less willing to linger, he sent it darting toward the study the moment it entered the courtyard.

When the Ink Crane landed on the desk, Chen Cuo opened his eyes, got up, and put it away. Once seated again, he wanted to go looking for the old beggar, but shook his head.

I found nothing during the day. If I go now, it'll probably be the same. But those three knocks at the end...

The more he thought about it, the harder it was to let go. At last, he made up his mind.

There's nothing to lose. I can get up and take a look when the time comes. First, though, I need a way to keep time...

With that, Chen Cuo ordered Chen Hai to take some men and smash the water clock in the rear courtyard.

"What's this about now?"

Chen Hai was full of questions, but one glare from Chen Cuo kept him from asking. He obediently led the men in smashing the man-high water clock to pieces.

The device used flowing water to tell time.

Once it was in pieces, Chen Cuo sent everyone away, took out his gourd, and drew the fragments inside.

He ran a hand over the gourd and pondered for a moment. Then he returned to his room and smashed his writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, table, chairs, and sitting mat. Outside, everyone exchanged bewildered looks, wondering who had angered their lord this time.

Ignoring them, Chen Cuo gathered up the broken objects one by one. He ate dinner, went to bed early, and soon fell asleep.

A few breaths later, Chen Cuo appeared amid the boundless white of Dream Marsh.

He wandered about, first setting up the lone table and chairs in the white expanse and laying out his writing materials. Then he went over to the shattered water clock and, with a thought, reassembled it. He adjusted its markings and checked it several times before beckoning. Something dropped from the air—

A pill.

A Clarity Pill.

He held it to his nose and sniffed.

What a strong fragrance! I've got time to spare. Why not try one and see whether it really works in Dream Marsh? The Ink Crane works here, so the pill might too!

Before taking it, Chen Cuo pointed at the Clarity Pill and chanted, "One becomes two. Now!"

An identical pill appeared out of thin air and fell into Chen Cuo's hand.

He sniffed it, his face lighting up.

"Hmm. It's barely any different from the real one. Whether it works the same is another question."

All this had taken quite some time. Remembering why he was here, Chen Cuo glanced at the water clock, and his expression changed.

"The third watch is almost here. I can't delay."

He sat cross-legged and let his awareness sink, ready to wake from Dream Marsh. But at the last moment, he slapped his forehead.

I nearly forgot. I need to see whether a pill swallowed in Dream Marsh still has any effect after I wake up. And while I'm at it, I can find out how the copy compares to the original in more than just appearance...

He swallowed the copied pill and prepared to wake from Dream Marsh.

But as the pill went down, a cool sensation rose from his stomach and shot straight up to his head. In an instant, he felt refreshed beyond words, his thoughts clearer than ever!

At a thought, several difficult problems from his previous life surfaced in his mind. Answers came at once—some problems had as many as nine!

It's that effective?

Chen Cuo finally understood how Stone Lord had turned the tide of that game of chess and saved a losing position with a pill in his mouth!

The Clarity Pill lives up to its name. No wonder Daoist Zhou said his sect's disciples use it to help them break through. For someone who lives to solve problems, it's practically a household essential!

With that thought, Chen Cuo glanced at the water clock once more. He delayed no longer and closed his eyes.

His real body opened its eyes in the waking world.

Sitting up, Chen Cuo found his mind still perfectly clear. He could not help but rejoice.

Not only did I test the pill, I found a way to use Dream Marsh indirectly!

Setting his excitement aside, he dressed and strode out.

The guards outside greeted him at once and moved to escort him to the latrine.

"I'm not going to the latrine. I'm going out!" Chen Cuo was speechless, though he could hardly blame them. He quickened his pace and, escorted by the guards, passed through a small gate to the alley where the Ink Crane had landed that day.

"Stand guard here. Unless I call for you, don't come over," Chen Cuo instructed. After taking two steps, he added, "Don't let anyone else near, either." Only when the guard acknowledged him did he head deeper into the alley.

It was the third watch.

A faint rustling came from deep in the alley. Chen Cuo focused and looked closely. He could just make out a figure huddled in the corner by the wall, and he quickened his steps.

By the moonlight, Chen Cuo could already make out the figure's outline. Two steps closer confirmed it: this was the old beggar from earlier that day.

Chen Cuo took a deep breath and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, senior."

Two installments for you today. Dear readers, please cast your votes!