"Ah..."
A piercing scream rang out in the silent night.
Like a sharp blade, it slashed through Lin Shisan's nerves.
He shot upright in bed.
His frightened, unsettled eyes brimmed with worry, cold sweat streamed down his body, and his heart pounded wildly.
Even his breathing came in ragged gasps.
"Yan'er... Yan'er..."
"Master's Master... Master's Master... Master's Master... you're awake..."
The sight that greeted him was Little Yan'er's eyes, swollen from crying, and her joy at seeing him.
"Master's Master, sob..."
After her joy came Little Yan'er's tears.
She threw herself into Lin Shisan's arms and sobbed her heart out.
"Yan'er... don't cry, Yan'er..."
Lin Shisan hesitantly stroked Little Yan'er's head and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, still uncertain and alarmed.
The touch felt real.
Only then was he finally certain that what had just happened was a dream.
In the dream, he had seen two blue-faced, fanged monsters approaching Little Yan'er from either side.
Yet he could only stand there watching helplessly, unable even to shout, no matter how hard he struggled.
"Yan'er, are... are you all right?"
Remembering the dream, Lin Shisan still felt uneasy.
His eyes shone as he focused intently on Little Yan'er, looking her over again and again.
Under his gaze, Little Yan'er's tears streamed down to the floor once more.
"Master's... Master's Master, what's wrong? Don't you recognize Yan'er?"
"I'm Little Yan'er, your good little granddisciple!"
"Grandpa Long... Grandpa Long, come and look! What's wrong with my Master's Master? Why doesn't he recognize Yan'er?"
Grandpa Long was an elderly man with graying hair.
He had a red goatee and wore a robe of alternating purple and red.
His brows and eyes were kindly, his hair crane-white above a youthful face, and his breathing steady.
"Whoosh..."
Lin Shisan instinctively swept Little