Der Himmel ist das Ufer des sterblichen Staubs

Kapitel 63

Feng Junzi recognized Liu Xin, but Liu Xin didn't recognize Feng Junzi. After all, Feng Junzi looked completely different four years ago. Four years ago, when Feng Junzi met Liu Xin, he immediately sensed that the girl had suicidal thoughts. The reason was simple: her eyes looked like she was sleepwalking, and her legs were wet up to her knees, with a piece of seaweed stuck to her shoes, clearly indicating that she had gone into the sea and come back up. Later, she helped Feng Junzi up from the ground and even tried to give him all the money she had, not keeping a single penny for herself, clearly showing that she had no attachment to anything.

Feng Junzi was preoccupied with his own situation, but he couldn't help stopping her again to offer some words of advice. Feng Junzi knew that one couldn't deeply persuade or pester someone who had already decided to commit suicide; otherwise, it would only make things worse. The best approach was to guide her through the complexities of life and death, allowing her to figure things out for herself. Therefore, Feng Junzi didn't stay but turned and left. Later, Feng Junzi couldn't help but think about the girl, wondering how she was doing. The girl had gotten her money back; she should still have a chance of survival.

Four years later, at the Hanhao Bathhouse, Feng Junzi saw Liu Xin again and couldn't help but sigh. So the girl hadn't died; she'd become a prostitute! Feng Junzi was moved, but helpless; the ways of the world are beyond one person's control. He wasn't stupid; in fact, he was often exceptionally clever. He could sense Liu Xin's constant resistance towards him, so he tried to avoid any conflict or excessive contact with her. But this time, with Liu Xin in this situation, Feng Junzi couldn't ignore it. After intervening, he couldn't help but say a few words to her. These words brought Liu Xin to tears, and Feng Junzi fell silent.

What's the worst kind of alcohol in the world? Drinking in silence. This meal was ostensibly to celebrate Liu Xin's release, but everyone remained quiet. Just then, a clear, bright girl's voice broke the silence: "Feng Junzi, you're here too?... Hey, sister, what are you all doing together?"

Feng Junzi looked up. A girl in a department store uniform stood before him, smiling at him and Liu Xin. He recognized the girl; she was a saleswoman at a clothing counter in a nearby department store, named Liu Ke'er. Feng Junzi's acquaintance with Liu Ke'er was purely accidental. A few months ago, he and his friends Chang Wu, Lin Zhenzhen, Yuan Xiaoxia, Xiao Zhengrong, and Xiao Yunyi had dinner at the food court on the top floor of that department store. After dinner, Lin Zhenzhen went shopping and got into a conflict at the counter over a discount on underwear. The innocent saleswoman, Liu Ke'er, ended up getting into trouble. Feng Junzi, displeased with the situation, intervened and mediated. Liu Ke'er was extremely grateful.

Later, while strolling nearby, Feng Junzi was unwittingly targeted by a few thugs, but he was preoccupied and didn't notice. Liu Ke'er happened to pass by, noticed, and warned Feng Junzi. Later, Feng Junzi joked with Liu Ke'er and even followed her to her home. That's how they met. (See Part Four, *The Psychic Chopsticks*, for details).

When Feng Junzi saw Liu Ke'er, he stood up and greeted her with a smile: "Isn't this Ke'er? You're here to eat too? Did you come with friends?"

Before Feng Junzi could finish speaking, Liu Xin stood up as well: "Ke'er, you're off work... How do you know Brother Feng?"

After introductions, Feng Junzi realized that Liu Xin and Liu Ke'er were actually sisters! They then sat down at the same table. Ke'er had just received her paycheck and, after get off work, went to a nearby restaurant to order a rice bowl. Unexpectedly, she saw Feng Junzi as soon as she walked in, and then noticed her sister Liu Xin at the same table, so she greeted her.

She asked Liu Xin how she and Feng Junzi met. Liu Xin hesitated for a moment, unsure how to answer. Feng Junzi glanced at the expressions of the others at the table and realized that Liu Ke'er was still unaware of what her sister did. He quickly interjected, "They're colleagues and friends. They met at work and just came out for a meal together."

Liu Ke'er asked curiously, "Feng Junzi, are you also a beer salesman?"

Feng Junzi immediately understood the importance of discerning the truth. He knew Liu Xin must have lied to her sister about working as a beer salesman somewhere, which roughly matched her work schedule. So he smiled and said, "No, I'm not a salesman. This Sister Chen is my colleague. She's dealt with your sister's distributors... we know each other, we're friends." In his haste, he almost blurted out the same lie he'd told Dean Xia at dinner that day.

After hearing Feng Junzi's explanation, Liu Ke'er didn't suspect anything and sat down as well. With Liu Ke'er sitting down, the remaining people couldn't continue talking about what had just happened, and they all pretended to be colleagues and friends, chatting away, which actually livened up the atmosphere considerably. Feng Junzi, observing Liu Ke'er's naive nature, secretly remarked: "Her sitting at this table is like a pigeon flying into a flock of chickens; the chickens have stopped talking and started speaking pigeon language."

This was only the third time Feng Junzi and Liu Ke'er had met, yet Liu Ke'er was pleasantly surprised by this chance encounter, and she was also happy that Feng Junzi knew her sister. As they chatted, the conversation somehow turned to university, and Liu Ke'er asked Feng Junzi, "Brother Feng, which university did you graduate from?"

Feng Junzi: "Binhai University of Technology has been around for almost ten years."

Liu Ke'er stopped calling Feng Junzi by his name and started calling him "Brother Feng" along with her sister. Feng Junzi found it strange, but Liu Ke'er didn't think anything was wrong. She continued, "That's the best school in Binhai. I'm afraid I won't be able to get in."

Feng Junzi: "It's not like ten years ago anymore. Universities have expanded their enrollment. As long as you pay tuition, it's not difficult to get into a school... Ke'er, do you want to go to university? Which school do you want to go to?"

Liu Ke'er: "I'm afraid I can't count on science and engineering. How about Binhai University of Finance and Economics? I heard that the admission scores for the secondary colleges are not high, but the tuition is a bit expensive—I'm saving up money!"

At this moment, Sister Chen interjected, "Brother Feng, don't you know Dean Song of the School of Humanities? Could you help me inquire about him?"

Feng Junzi glanced at Zhao Xue and said, "Little Zhao, I heard you also know Dean Xia of the School of Accounting... Never mind, it's better not to ask him. I'll ask my friends for you when I have the chance, provided that your scores are similar."

Hearing Feng Junzi say this, Liu Ke'er was very happy. She raised the wine glass in front of Liu Xin, took a small sip, and said to Feng Junzi, "Brother Feng, I can't drink. Consider this a toast to you. I'll have to trouble you later if things go wrong."

Feng Junzi: "Don't call me Brother Feng, just call me Feng Junzi, it sounds more comfortable to me that way."

Feng Junzi and Liu Ke'er grew closer and closer as they talked, their conversation becoming increasingly intimate. It was clear that among the women at the table, Feng Junzi and Liu Ke'er got along best. Liu Xin, watching from the side, felt a growing sense of unease. She had heard that Feng Junzi and her sister had only met three times today, and their overly familiar interactions were not a good sign! Deep down, she didn't consider Feng Junzi a good person, especially not a good man—aside from Chang Wu, she believed that none of the customers at the Hanhao Bathhouse were good men.

Liu Xin herself was a prostitute, but Liu Ke'er was an absolutely pure girl, and her sister's purity was especially precious to her. Now, seeing Feng Junzi getting close to Liu Ke'er made her uncomfortable, and she even inexplicably worried about her sister. In short, Feng Junzi didn't enjoy the meal at first, Liu Xin didn't enjoy it later, while the pure-hearted Liu Ke'er was the happiest.

...

The next morning, before Feng Junzi even got out of bed, his phone rang. He answered and heard Xiao Yunyi's voice. Xiao Yunyi heard Feng Junzi say "hello" without any greeting, and then angrily shouted, "Feng Junzi, you filthy scoundrel, you big scoundrel, you rotten scoundrel... Call my brother right now and have him come and deal with you!" Then she hung up.

Feng Junzi wasn't fully awake when he was inexplicably scolded by Xiao Yunyi on the phone. Had this girl taken the wrong medicine? Xiao Yunyi called him a hooligan three times on the phone. What was going on? Feng Junzi racked his brains but couldn't remember ever flirting with her. How could he dare! Xiao Yunyi's grandfather, Mr. Xiao Tianhong, and her brother, Major Xiao Zhengrong, were both martial arts masters. Feng Junzi wouldn't dare mess with her! Xiao Yunyi told Feng Junzi to call Xiao Zhengrong, so it seemed something was wrong. So Feng Junzi called Xiao Zhengrong.

The call was made to the Pingyou Port naval base, and Xiao Zhengrong answered after a while. Feng Junzi asked Xiao Zhengrong, "Your sister just called me, called me a scoundrel three times, and then asked me to call you. What's going on?"

Xiao Zhengrong laughed on the other end of the phone: "It's my fault. I accidentally told her about your deeds."

Feng Junzi: "What deeds?"

Xiao Zhengrong: "You have a lover who is a hostess at a bathhouse. She went undercover as an informant for Chang Wu when he was investigating a case."

Feng Junzi: "Who told you this? Oh, I see, you must have heard it from Yuan Xiaoxia. Yuan Xiaoxia and Chang Wu share an office... You can't trust a woman's words. Yuan Xiaoxia should know the whole story, why didn't she tell you clearly?"

Xiao Zhengrong: "Xiaoxia explained it to me and praised you for being loyal. I also explained it to my sister, and she also praised you for being loyal. I don't know why she turned around and called you a scoundrel. She was probably just joking with you. You haven't been to my house for a while, and my sister often mentions you, saying that she wants to invite you out to play when she has time."

Feng Junzi: "Don't talk about going out to play yet. It's fine if you spread this around, but please don't let it reach Lin Zhenzhen's ears. She and Chang Wu are getting married soon, so don't let this cause any misunderstandings... By the way, why did your sister ask me to call you?"

Xiao Zhengrong: "Then she's probably just worried about you. We've heard about Chang Wu's situation, and now you're involved too. My sister said the other side has a powerful expert, and she's worried something might happen to you, so she asked me to ask if you need any help?"

Part 5: Goddess's Heart 21, Hearing Ghost's Laughter

What sound in this world is more terrifying than the wailing of a hundred ghosts? People probably can't comprehend it, but here's the definitive answer: the sound more terrifying than ghostly wailing is ghostly laughter. A hundred ghosts wailing are no match for the laughter of a single ghost! Feng Junzi experienced this feeling firsthand. Just moments ago, it was the wailing of a hundred ghosts, but in an instant, the sound transformed into the piercing laughter of a single ghost. This laughter was so chilling, it almost shattered eardrums and penetrated deep into the brain.

This happened at the Hanhao Hotel, but Feng Junzi wasn't in the bathhouse; he was in a standard room in the hotel. The room had two beds, and Xiao Zhengrong was lying on one bed watching Feng Junzi sitting cross-legged on the other. Feng Junzi faced north with his back to south, sitting cross-legged, his expression seemingly peaceful, yet the scene in his meditative state was like stepping into a hellish abyss!

Black, ghostly figures drifted in the distance, obscuring the sky, the ground, the horizon, and the near. Ghostly laughter echoed in his ears, a sound both incredibly distant and incredibly close, like someone blowing cold air right against his face. This scene appeared suddenly! With Xiao Zhengrong by his side, Feng Junzi mustered his courage and accompanied him to the Hanhao Hotel. He sat quietly, listening intently, hoping to find some clues in the strange ghostly cries of the place.

However, amidst the wailing of ghosts, the scene in his mind suddenly changed, as if someone had imposed this terrifying vision on him from the outside. Those with weak willpower might even suffer a mental breakdown! While meditating, Feng Junzi suddenly became alert. This scene did not seem like a demonic realm that arose in his mind during meditation, but rather as if someone had entered his mind and shown him a horror movie.

Although Feng Junzi wasn't some monk, Taoist priest, or high-ranking sorcerer, he had long heard that Young Master Sun had a subordinate called the Soul Master who was proficient in something akin to witchcraft. It seemed this person had discovered him and had already made a move! Feng Junzi had absolutely no experience dealing with this situation, and Xiao Zhengrong probably couldn't offer much help either. He could only grit his teeth and endure, waiting to see what tricks the other party would pull.

Feng Junzi sat there for over an hour, the eerie scenes unfolding before his eyes, the mournful laughter of ghosts echoing in his ears. He merely watched and listened, trying his best to keep his mind calm. After more than an hour, everything suddenly stopped abruptly. Feng Junzi was caught off guard. It was as if, during a forceful struggle, the opponent's strength had suddenly vanished; he himself was jolted, and he awoke from his meditative state with a start.

Seeing that Feng Junzi had opened his eyes, Xiao Zhengrong asked, "Feng Junzi, what exactly did you discover?"

Feng Junzi replied in a hoarse voice, "I'm afraid we won't gain anything today. Wu Dan didn't come. We don't need you to take action. But that Soul Master just made a move. He seemed to fight me for a long time with a strange spiritual power, and then suddenly stopped. I don't know why."

Xiao Zhengrong suddenly exclaimed, "Feng Junzi, you're bleeding from your nose!"

Feng Junzi also felt his upper lip getting hot, and a sticky, sweet-smelling substance dripped from the corner of his mouth. When he touched it, he realized that he had indeed had a nosebleed, and he was startled.

Unbeknownst to Feng Junzi, in a room ten floors away, sat a person completely shrouded in black. This person was thin, with deathly pale skin; his features were indistinct in the darkness, but cold sweat glistened on his forehead. He gulped down a cup of scalding hot water, muttering to himself, "Heavens, who is this person! There's no way to take advantage of him. Doesn't he have any regrets in his life? Doesn't he feel any guilt or fear in this lonely darkness? If only I had a crack, I could have squeezed through… Maybe it's because we're too far apart. Next time I must get closer. There can't be such a person!"

...

Feng Junzi came to the Hanhao Hotel with Xiao Zhengrong because Liu Xin's arrest reminded him of something. Someone was retaliating against Chang Wu. They probably wouldn't do anything to Chang Wu directly now, since killing a policeman would never be closed, and few people would do something so foolish in such a sensitive situation. But it was a different story for the others around Chang Wu, such as Liu Xin and Feng Junzi himself.

Because of Liu Xin's matter, Feng Junzi publicly admitted that he was an undercover agent assisting Chang Wu in investigating the case. If someone were to retaliate, they probably wouldn't let him off the hook. Rather than sitting at home waiting for someone to come to them, it's better to take the initiative and find out what kind of person they really are.

This trip to Hanhao was merely to probe the situation, but unexpectedly it attracted another expert, indicating that the other party had already discovered him. Feng Junzi still felt lingering fear from the experience; he knew how terrifying it was—similar to being in deep hypnosis, where almost all the regret, guilt, sadness, and despairing memories flooded his mind, making it difficult to control himself! He now somewhat understood why those people in this building had jumped to their deaths; an ordinary person might really lose control! The opponent was too terrifying and too despicable; this kind of person was far more dangerous than thugs with knives and guns.

After returning home, Feng Junzi thought for a long time, wanting to find someone to ask about what exactly happened last night. He thought of three people: Xiao Yunyi, Tao Muling, and his high school classmate Shi Ye. He decided it was best not to involve Xiao Yunyi, and since Tao Muling was far away in America, he'd better call Shi Ye. That kid had always liked studying metaphysics; perhaps he understood something.

Shi Ye never used a cell phone, so Feng Junzi called his home phone, and Shi Ye answered. Feng Junzi didn't exchange many pleasantries; after a few words, he asked on the phone, "Master Shi, I've encountered something strange lately, and I can't figure out what's going on. Could you help me explain?" Master Shi was Shi Ye's nickname from his school days (the nickname Yang Guo was just something Feng Junzi gave him), just like Feng Junzi's nickname, Feng the Half-Immortal.

After Shi Ye understood the situation, he said to Feng Junzi over the phone, "I think I know what happened. The other party used the Opening Technique from his Mind-Reading Technique."

Feng Junzi: "I know about telepathy; I've read about it in books. But what is the art of opening doors? I've never heard of it before!"

Ishino: "You're not that you haven't heard of it, you've just forgotten. Let me explain it in a way you can understand. It's like some hypnotists who can show you a scene from their mind while you're in a deep hypnotic state. This is to influence a person's mind and behavior. Actually, it's not easy for you to do this to them either. They have to enter that scene first before they can let you see it. You said they suddenly stopped later, I guess it's because they couldn't take it anymore."

Feng Junzi: "I think I understand a little bit. What do you think I should do?"

Shi Ye laughed on the phone: "Why are you afraid of him? Don't worry about him, he won't do anything to you. I reckon this guy is just a half-baked cultivator who hasn't even entered the first stage of cultivation yet, I don't know where he learned this shoddy evil magic from. If he were a real master, he wouldn't use such methods against you. Unless he's taken the wrong medicine!"

Feng Junzi: "I've heard a bit about that. Not long ago, an old gentleman told me about the rules for cultivators all over the world. It's that they can't use methods beyond worldly understanding to interfere with worldly affairs. It seems this person is not very well-behaved."

Ishino: "Listen to me, and you can rest assured. What you need to worry about is not this kind of tactic; if he continues to treat you like this, he will face retribution. What you need to be careful of now are those people with knives, guns, and clubs; those are your real threat."

Feng Junzi: "But I had a nosebleed at the time. Could it be that I was injured?"

Ishino: "Have you been getting easily irritated lately? If you're irritated and have nowhere to vent, spend a few hundred dollars to go to a sauna. Remember to bring a condom!"

...

Shi Ye said Feng Junzi had a bad temper, and Feng Junzi had indeed been holding back his anger lately, but couldn't find an outlet. He knew Chang Wu wasn't the real hero who cracked the drug trafficking case, but merely a small pawn in the power struggle between the underworld and legitimate society in Binhai City. Young Master Sun and his group shouldn't be fools; they should know this, yet judging from the situation, they still targeted Chang Wu, and Feng Junzi himself had been dragged into it. He was acting like a villain with a clear conscience, but acting like a good guy was terrifying. How could he not get angry?

Feng Junzi had another burning desire. Tao Muling had been back in America for several months, and Feng Junzi had been alone all this time. He wasn't a monk, and he was in his prime; unfulfilled desires naturally fueled his anger, and a nosebleed was probably normal. Feng Junzi chuckled to himself at this thought. He suddenly remembered the Hanhao Bathhouse, the aromatherapy massage Zhao Xue had given him, and those gentle yet stimulating hands.

Just then, his phone rang, and he was startled when he answered. He had just thought of Zhao Xue, and now she was calling. The last time Zhao Xue called him was because of her brother, and this time she was calling again because of her brother, Zhao Lei. This Zhao Lei was really in trouble; he was in trouble again!

Zhao Lei's accident this time had nothing to do with anyone else; it was entirely his own fault. However, Zhao Lei cried even more bitterly on the phone than last time, as if it were all her fault again! Zhao Lei's situation this time was rather strange. He hadn't been to school for over a week, spending all his time playing online games in an internet cafe far from the school. After several all-nighters, Zhao Lei suddenly fell into a coma in front of the computer. The internet cafe owner found him and took him to the hospital. He lay in the hospital for three days and three nights, unable to wake up!

Zhao Xue thought Zhao Lei was sick, but the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. The EEG showed that Zhao Lei's brain activity was very high, not typical shock or coma, but he couldn't be woken up! Zhao Xue panicked, not knowing who to ask for help. Out of habit, she thought of Feng Junzi again.

Human thought processes are strange. If you can always find a certain person to help you with something, you'll think of that person again when you need something next. And for the person who helps, if you've helped someone before, the next time that person asks for your help, out of habit, your first thought is often not to refuse.

Feng Junzi still had his own unresolved matters to attend to, and now the Zhao siblings were bothering him again. He was annoyed, but didn't refuse, and went to the hospital to check on Zhao Lei. In the ward, he saw a haggard-looking Zhao Xue. Zhao Lei hadn't opened his eyes for days and nights, and neither had Zhao Xue. After inquiring about the illness, Feng Junzi frowned and asked Zhao Xue, "Regardless of how he got sick, tell me about his condition before he fell ill? Why didn't he go to class? Why did he spend all his time in internet cafes?"

Zhao Xue's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face again. She sobbed, "I know, I know why. It's all because of me!"

The situation was as follows: After the argument between Zhao Lei and Guan Xian, things seemed calm on the surface, but Zhao Lei had a new worry on his mind. This worry was about the woman at the Hanhao Bathhouse who looked remarkably like his sister; he wanted to see her. For some reason, he felt he needed to see her in person to feel at ease. He thought this, and he found an opportunity to do so.

That day, when Zhao Lei saw Zhao Xue in front of the Hanhao Bath Center, Zhao Xue also saw Zhao Lei. Startled, Zhao Xue dropped her purse and stood there speechless. Zhao Lei, without saying a word, turned and walked away.

Zhao Lei realized that what Guan Xian had said was true! After returning to school, he became much more withdrawn, no longer willing to communicate or interact with his classmates, and gradually became isolated. Later, he simply stopped going to class and hid in internet cafes to play games, immersing himself in the virtual world of the internet. After spending several days and nights in the internet cafe, he suddenly entered his current comatose state.

After hearing the whole story, Feng Junzi recalled several psychological case studies Tao Muling had told him about. He already guessed what illness Zhao Lei had. It was an extreme form of autism! Autism is related to addiction to the virtual world, but its root cause is not online games, but rather Zhao Lei's own desire to escape, to escape the gaze of his classmates, and to shut himself off. Online games became a convenient outlet for this. When this autism develops to its extreme, Zhao Lei's entire consciousness enters the world he wants to escape. In other words, Zhao Lei appears to be unconscious now, but his consciousness may be stuck in the online game he was playing before he fell unconscious, cut off from the outside world.

As Momoko Rin has mentioned, treating patients with extreme autism involves entering their mental world, awakening them, and guiding them back to reality. This is extremely difficult. First, the psychologist must understand the specifics of the patient's closed-off mental world. Second, the psychologist must undergo deep self-hypnosis and suggestion to enter that same world. It sounds magical, but the underlying principles don't violate common sense; it's just that the techniques are incredibly challenging.

Feng Junzi's first thought was of Tao Muling; perhaps she could do it, but unfortunately, she was in America. Next, he thought of the "Soul Master" he'd never met, yet who had once entered his mental world to fight him. He'd be the perfect candidate to awaken Zhao Lei, but that was impossible too. It seemed he'd have to ask Shi Ye again. How exactly could one master the "Opening the Door" technique? Feng Junzi would have to try it himself. Before that, he needed to know Zhao Lei's current state. He might still be stuck in the online game; Feng Junzi first needed to try out that game himself.

Thinking of this, he said to Zhao Xue, "Don't cry so sadly, this is not your fault! ... There is a way to save him, but I need to know which internet cafe he was in before he fainted, which seat he was in, what game he was playing, and what character he was in the game?"

Zhao Xue: "I know... I know his game character's name, and I can guess his password... Zhao Lei uses my birthday for all his passwords."

Part 5, Goddess's Heart, Episode 22: You Are Her Dream

In the ward, Zhao Lei remained unconscious, while Zhao Xue sat by his bedside, looking at him with a worried expression. Two other people stood by the bedside—Feng Junzi and Xiao Yunyi. Feng Junzi looked at Zhao Lei, while Xiao Yunyi stared intently at Zhao Xue, her eyes filled with questions.

"Xiao girl, stop looking around. I'm ready. Are you ready?" Feng Junzi said, finding a chair and sitting upright in front of the bed.

Xiao Yunyi: "No need to prepare, it's all up to you. Lin Zhenzhen's mother is the chief physician of this hospital, and this ward is under her jurisdiction. No one will come in to disturb us this afternoon. ...Hey, Feng Junzi, why aren't you wearing the Spirit Locking Ring? With that, you won't have to worry about any accidents."

Feng Junzi: "Let's not talk about that ring anymore, let's wake up the person in front of us."

Zhao Xue looked up and asked, "Brother Feng, are you really sure?"

Feng Junzi didn't answer, so Xiao Yunyi continued, "It's not that he's confident, it's that I'm confident. I'm confident I can get him in. As for whether he can get your brother out, that depends on luck... I really don't understand why he would take such a risk..."

Zhao Xue didn't quite understand what they meant by "going in and coming out," but she knew that Feng Junzi wanted to wake Zhao Lei up using a special method, and that Xiao Yunyi, whom they had invited, was there to help. She gave Feng Junzi a grateful look, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Feng Junzi sat down in the chair, quietly gazing at Zhao Lei on the bed, then slowly closed his eyes. Everything in the ward was quiet. Suddenly, Xiao Yunyi said to Feng Junzi, "Wait. Feng Junzi, have you read that online game novel I gave you? Do you know how to contact those people?"

Feng Junzi opened his eyes and said with a wry smile, "I've seen it. The imaginations of these kids these days are truly astounding... Enough talk, let's begin." He then closed his eyes again, beginning to regulate his heartbeat and breathing. Xiao Yunyi's expression also turned serious. She stood behind Feng Junzi, staring at Zhao Lei on the hospital bed. One hand was pressed against the back of Feng Junzi's head, and the air seemed to slowly solidify.

...

Above him, blue skies and white clouds stretched out; beneath his feet, lush green grass carpeted the ground. Before him lay a beautiful valley. Seeing this, Feng Junzi couldn't help but marvel at the exquisite detail of modern computer games; no wonder so many people loved them! On a nearby hilltop, a young man, clad in silver armor and a fiery red cloak, wielding a gleaming golden longsword, was engaged in combat with a gigantic humanoid monster—or perhaps an alien.

The man moved with incredible agility. His sword flashed and swung, while strings of red numbers rose above the monster's head. Wow! What a cool move! Zhao Lei was currently lying unconscious in a hospital bed, but who would have thought his consciousness was so freely and effortlessly suspended in the game? Feng Junzi watched from below the mountain, seeing Zhao Lei had already dealt with the monster, which lay on the ground and gradually disappeared. Zhao Lei slung his longsword behind his back, laughed three times, and his armor gleamed in the sunlight—he looked absolutely magnificent!

Feng Junzi walked up the mountain and came to a short distance from Zhao Lei. He called out, "Heavenly Swordsman!"

Zhao Lei noticed Feng Junzi approaching and, upon hearing him speak, alertly raised his sword at him: "Who are you, and what business do you have with me?"

Feng Junzi quickly took two steps back. He knew about Zhao Lei's mental state, but he wasn't sure if he would actually be injured if Zhao Lei struck him with his sword in this illusion. He waved his hand and said, "Put down the sword. I'm a system NPC, your attacks are ineffective..." He chuckled to himself as he finished speaking.

Zhao Lei looked puzzled: "System NPC? You look like a player to me... You're a GM, right?"

Feng Junzi was both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself, "Am I some kind of extraterrestrial, ET?" However, he said aloud, "Say what you will. Tianjiao Swordsman, haven't you noticed something's wrong? How long have you been offline?"

Zhao Lei raised his sword again: "You're here to kick me offline? Let me tell you, my offline time hasn't ended yet!"

Feng Junzi stepped aside again, smiling as gently as possible: "No, no, you've triggered a hidden system quest by killing a certain number of monsters in a row. I'm here to punish you with this quest. Do you want to accept it?"

Zhao Lei sheathed his sword, nodded, and said, "Hidden quest? Of course I'll accept! What's the reward?"