After the meeting at the Sea God Pavilion ended, assignments were swiftly handed out.
To hunt down Nether Emperor Ha Luosa, Shrek Academy divided the search into the five most likely areas. The most dangerous and mysterious of them was—Dreamshade Valley.
Tang Wulin and Gu Yue were assigned to this perilous place.
Dream Valley lay northwest of Shrek Academy, shrouded year-round in an eerie purple mist. It was said that countless tiny purple motes drifted through the valley, like fireflies in the night, giving off an uncanny glow.
But beauty often came hand in hand with death.
Rumor had it that these purple motes were formed from the lingering obsessions of countless wronged souls. A single touch would instantly drag a person's consciousness into endless nightmares, never to find release or rebirth. Though these were only rumors, few throughout history had dared enter lightly, and not one of those who ventured inside had ever emerged whole.
Beyond its deadly nightmares, Dreamshade Valley had an even stranger legend.
Anyone who entered the valley was highly likely to lose their memories, or even suffer mental regression. In milder cases, their mind would become that of a three- to five-year-old child; in severe cases, they would lose every memory, becoming a blank slate.
"This place sounds... a little sinister."
Tang Wulin stood before the entrance to Dreamshade Valley, watching the purple motes dancing through the air, and instinctively clenched his fists.
"Sinister?"
Gu Yue stood beside him, her long silver hair particularly dazzling amid the mist. As she watched the purple motes, there was not the slightest fear in her eyes. Instead, there was a hint of... nostalgia?
"There's really nothing to be afraid of."
Gu Yue spoke casually, her tone as calm as if she were commenting on the pleasant weather.
"Why?"