Heavy rain mixed with sleet poured down.

It drifted in under the eaves of the shop's sign, striking Lu Yuan's face with a chilling sensation.

Lu Yuan stretched out his hand, drew his vital energy deep into his body, allowing more of his skin to feel the raindrops.

Is this reality... or a dream?

Lu Yuan mumbled to himself, the two inexplicable loops having left him somewhat confused.

He closed his eyes, letting the cold raindrops stream down his face.

A moment later, Lu Yuan opened his eyes.

It's a nightmare.

He had found the answer. He took a deep breath.

The cold air surged into his lungs, wiping away the cowardly emotions that had spread like moss.

It's the power of the Lady of Nightmares.

Lu Yuan's expression calmed, his mind regaining its usual composure and sharpness.

She sensed that I'm investigating Xia Zhijing, so she gave me... a warning?

Lu Yuan used his authority to look up information on individuals connected to cases involving the 'Lady of Nightmares.'

However, the records showed that among those who had come into contact with individuals completely drawn into dreamscapes by the 'Lady of Nightmares'—be they family or friends—none had been affected.

Being pulled into such a dream loop seemed to be an experience unique to him.

Either way, it seems I can't continue this meeting...

Lu Yuan thought, shaking his head. He opened his contact list, preparing to tell Xia Zhijing their date was canceled. For the time being, it was best they continued communicating online.

However, Lu Yuan opened his contact list and flipped through it several times but couldn't find the chat contact "Quiet Zhu Bao."

Did she change her name? Lu Yuan wondered, surprised. Or did she temporarily delete me?

Just a few minutes ago, they had been exchanging messages on a chat app.

He checked his address book again but found nothing.

What's going on?

Lu Yuan couldn't help but frown. After a moment's thought, he decided to use his Flying Bear authority to try and contact Xia Zhijing.

But a moment later, Lu Yuan suddenly realized something.

This matter seems much more serious than I imagined.

「 」

"When did I tell you I had a friend who's had insomnia since childhood, like she was cursed?"

"Xia Zhijing? Zhu Bao? Brother, what are you talking about? I don't have anyone like that on my friends list."

"The last time I used your phone, I chatted with someone, but it was a girl named Ling Yue... Oh, right, brother," Lu Jing nudged Lu Yuan's arm and said jokingly, "Ling Yue told me she's had a crush on you since middle school but didn't dare to confess. Tell me the truth, are you interested in her? I think she's pretty good."

Lu Yuan listened expressionlessly as Lu Jing spoke, his Spiritual Power enveloping her like water, sensing every fluctuation in her emotions as she spoke.

It was all very normal, nothing unusual. This proved that everything Lu Jing had just said was true—at least, true to her.

"Alright, I get it."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Lu Yuan had no time to listen to Lu Jing ramble on about Ling Yue, crushes, or confessions. He turned and left, leaving an annoyed Lu Jing pulling faces at his retreating back.

After leaving the house, Lu Yuan walked aimlessly, listening to the report from the Yellow Bear Intelligence Group.

"We've investigated. Xia Chong did indeed have a daughter, but her name was Xia Qin, and she died prematurely at the age of three."

"Xia Chong did indeed spend ten million to purchase a Direct Disciple examination slot from the Weishan Crane Sect, and it was indeed for you, sir. However, our investigation shows Xia Chong paid this sum because he was persuaded by someone named Lin Zhiquin..."

"There has never been any student named Xia Zhijing enrolled at Burnt Rock City No. 1 Middle School... There are a total of seven women named Xia Zhijing in all of Burnt Rock City, but none match the description you provided, sir."

"The data on your phone shows no signs of alteration or deletion. As for the investigation into the 'Lady of Nightmares' you previously commissioned us to conduct, those records do exist."

"..."

"Alright, I get it."

Lu Yuan hung up the communication and closed his eyes.

No registration information, no message records, no social connections—no trace of the person whatsoever.

Even the girl Lu Yuan had risked his life to save in that rainy alley had become someone else entirely.

Everything about Xia Zhijing had been silently erased from the world.

If Lu Yuan hadn't experienced it himself, if he wasn't so utterly certain that a girl named "Xia Zhijing" had truly existed in his life, perhaps he too would wonder—was she just a figment of his imagination?

All traces have been erased. The Lady of Nightmares took her away...

Lu Yuan opened his eyes, murmuring to himself. He had experienced such incredible power from an Ancient Evil God before, in the Lament Ruins. When the Crow God Lamashtu seized the faith of the Holy Light Sect, She had erased all memories related to the Holy Light Sect from the minds of everyone in the Ancient Brent Kingdom.

What had happened to Xia Zhijing was even more terrifying. Even the very traces of her existence had been altered and wiped clean.

Lady of Nightmares... Lady of Nightmares...

Lu Yuan silently repeated the ancient name, the image of Xia Zhijing shattering like a soap bubble before him at the milk tea shop entrance flashing relentlessly in his mind. Before she was completely erased, she had even urged him to flee...

For a moment, a profound sense of powerlessness and confusion, deeper than any he had ever known, washed over Lu Yuan.

He was powerless to stop it, powerless to change it, unable to hold on, and he didn't even know where to begin investigating.

Facing such legendary divine methods, it feels like I really... can't do anything, he thought.

PHEW—

Lu Yuan exhaled lightly, his gaze inadvertently falling upon a noodle shop across the street. Its sign read: "Rebirth: Selling Knife-Cut Noodles in Burnt Rock."

The horse-faced Guardian Lin was now standing at the shop entrance, looking at him with an expression of fawning respect.

As Lu Yuan looked at the man's face, a thought suddenly struck him, and he walked over.

"Greetings, Emperor God!"

As soon as Lu Yuan reached the front of the Knife-Cut Noodle Restaurant, the horse-faced Guardian Lin immediately greeted him with utmost respect.

Guard Ying, who was inside the shop watching TV with a thermos, saw Lu Yuan arrive and hurriedly stood up to welcome him.

Lu Yuan glanced around the shop. Seeing no customers, he beckoned to Guardian Lin.

"Come inside with me. I have some questions for you."

Seeing Lu Yuan's cold expression, Guardian Lin's own expression immediately turned solemn.

Guard Ying dutifully pulled down the roller shutter door and then stood guard at the entrance, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk.

Sitting down at a table in the rearmost part of the shop, Lu Yuan looked at Guardian Lin and asked, "Your Evil Energy comes from the Burrow Sect. Have you ever heard of the Lady of Nightmares?"

Guardian Lin looked slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting this question. But he quickly replied, "I have. What would the Emperor God like to know? This subordinate will tell you everything I know..."

Lu Yuan raised a hand, cutting short Guardian Lin's effusive assurances, and proceeded to explain Xia Zhijing's situation in detail.

Guardian Lin frowned, lost in thought for a moment, then carefully replied, "The situation Your Majesty described... it sounds very similar to what the Burrow Sect legends call the 'Sleepless Heavenly Woman,' who is chosen by the Lady of Nightmares..."

Sleepless Heavenly Woman?! Lu Yuan's expression subtly brightened.

Originally, he had just thought of casually asking Guardian Lin, since his power came from the Burrow Sect, making him the person Lu Yuan knew with the closest ties to the Lady of Nightmares. He hadn't expected to unearth something so unexpected.

"What is a Sleepless Heavenly Woman?"

Guardian Lin hesitated. "I've only read about it in an ancient text of the Burrow Sect... It's said that the Lady of Nightmares reincarnates each time She has sown a trillion nightmares. The mortal vessel She chooses for Her reincarnation is known as the Sleepless Heavenly Woman. A characteristic of the Sleepless Heavenly Woman is her gradual detachment from mortal dreams, after which the consciousness of the Lady of Nightmares within her progressively awakens. During this process, all traces of the Sleepless Heavenly Woman in the mortal realm quickly vanish... This is because reincarnation marks the Lady of Nightmares' period of greatest vulnerability. To prevent other gods from tracking Her down, the Lady of Nightmares removes all traces She has left in the mortal world..."

Lu Yuan's eyes flickered. He remained silent for a moment before asking, "How long does this period of weakness last?"

Guardian Lin hesitated. "It seems... it's also a trillion nightmares..."

A cycle of a trillion nightmares?! Lu Yuan blinked.

"I'm not entirely sure either," Guardian Lin confessed helplessly. "The Burrow Sect's legends about the Lady of Nightmares state that Her divine power is related to the number of nightmares She sows. The more nightmares She sows, the stronger She becomes. Theoretically, Her period of weakness lasts until... She has sown Her first trillion nightmares."

Lu Yuan waved his hand dismissively, a little speechless.

Regardless, what Guardian Lin had said provided him with significant clues and inspiration.

According to Guardian Lin, Xia Zhijing is the reincarnation vessel chosen by the Lady of Nightmares, the so-called mortal body. To avoid Her enemies tracking Her down during Her weakest period, the Lady of Nightmares erases all traces of Her mortal body in the world. Xia Zhijing 'disappeared' only recently, which means the Lady of Nightmares' consciousness has just awakened within her. This is when the Lady of Nightmares is at Her absolute weakest.

Light sparkled in Lu Yuan's eyes. Everyone else's memories have been altered, but I still remember Xia Zhijing. I am the last trace of her left in this world. Earlier, at the milk tea shop, the Lady of Nightmares intended to erase me, this final trace. But She... failed! Is it because She's too weak right now to do so, or is there... another reason?!

Lu Yuan didn't know.

But thinking back to the two nightmares I experienced, the one holding the red umbrella in the first was probably the Lady of Nightmares' true consciousness. And the second one... that might have been Xia Zhijing herself. Xia Zhijing warned me through that second nightmare. Does this mean... she hasn't been completely assimilated or devoured by the Lady of Nightmares yet?!

Upon this realization, Lu Yuan immediately felt invigorated.

This might even be why the Lady of Nightmares so hastily erased all traces of Xia Zhijing's existence from the world after that second nightmare. She is too weak; She cannot completely suppress Xia Zhijing's consciousness. She's afraid Xia Zhijing might reveal more clues to me. That's why She's in such a hurry to hide and resolve Her internal issues first!

So I still have time, an opportunity! Perhaps I can save her before the Lady of Nightmares completely devours Xia Zhijing's consciousness!

A flicker of hope ignited in Lu Yuan's heart, his eyes suddenly blazing.

But... the light in Lu Yuan's eyes wavered the very next second.

Is it worth it? he asked himself, a hint of confusion in his eyes. For Xia Zhijing, is it worth provoking an ancient, powerful deity, one considered incredibly formidable even in myths and legends?

Besides, even if I know all this, what good would it do? The Lady of Nightmares has already taken Xia Zhijing away. I can't even find Her, let alone know how to save Xia Zhijing. My current efforts feel as futile as an ant contemplating how to take down a weakened elephant.

No, it's not entirely for Xia Zhijing, Lu Yuan thought. It's also for my own sake. I am currently the Lady of Nightmares' last remaining trace in the mortal world, the sole loophole in Her current reincarnation. She's weak now, so She can't deal with me yet. But once She recovers, the first thing She'll inevitably do... is eliminate me, to patch up Her last vulnerability!

HISS—

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute once more. It was an unprecedented level of determination.

I must eliminate Her before She gets through this period of weakness!

With my own strength, I naturally can't eliminate Her, but... others can! And I... happen to know quite a few gods, don't I?

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