Buying Dreams

[Bridge Maiden] was actually a very busy person.

She had already begun taking over some of the affairs of the [Molting Clinic] and was the clinic’s president-in-training.

She had her own studio, where she took on the design and construction of various bridges.

She was also a foodie who loved traveling around in search of delicious cuisine.

Ever since Chen Miemie arrived at the Book-Sealing Hall, she had even more on her plate. Chen Miemie was always coming to her with one thing or another.

Just like tonight.

It was already past 11:30 p.m. when Chen Miemie sent her a message. Asking her about bridges was one thing, but he actually went so far as to ask, “Are you free to take me there right now?”

At exactly one in the morning, the two of them met outside her studio.

“Chen Miemie, can I call you Big Brother? Have you looked at the time?”

Chen Miemie felt not the slightest bit guilty. Instead, he answered righteously, “Both our societies worship the moon. Being active at night and sleeping during the day is normal for us. Comrade, have you not been devout enough?”

Only then did [Bridge Maiden] remember that Chen Miemie actually came from the [Silvermoon Court], which was famous for its aloofness.

“You talk way too much for someone who worships the Frost Moon, don’t you?”

“Sure I do. The three moons are one family—we don’t distinguish between you, me, and her.”

“I’m not sure I believe that.”

Chen Miemie refused to let the matter go and hurried to defend himself. “Have you forgotten my three-colored moonlight? Do you really think someone who isn’t devout to the three moons could possess a [Mystery] like that?”

[Bridge Maiden] was left speechless, but stubbornly retorted, “Whatever. The way you usually act, you don’t show the moon even the slightest respect.”

“Hmph. Some people only care about appearances. Unlike me—cut me open, and you’ll find that my heart is shaped like the moon.”

“All right, all right. Let’s get on with it. Besides being a stone arch bridge with water underneath, does the bridge you’re looking for have any other requirements?”

“The water should preferably be deep, and the quality should be clear.”

“Hmm, that’s not too demanding. Follow me.”

Chen Miemie followed [Bridge Maiden], and before long, the two of them arrived at an area with exceptionally lush greenery.

“This place feels strangely familiar.”

“Have you been here before? This is the [Secondhand Book Paradise], the largest park in the entire city.”

Chen Miemie immediately remembered. Wasn’t this the park in the underground world where a huge school of fat carp was raised?

“All right, here we are. What do you think? Will this do?”

In front of them stood a stone arch bridge straight out of a scene of idyllic streams and bridges.

The bridge lay quiet and still, and there was no one else around.

“It’s perfect.”

“Then I’m leaving, Chen Miemie. This is inside the city, so don’t go performing some ritual that will bring the wrath of heaven down on everyone.”

Chen Miemie panicked at once. “Hold on! What do you mean? I, Chen Miemie, am an upstanding gentleman. Back home, I was a famous urban hero. How dare you accuse me of performing some indecent ritual? Don’t leave, or people will get the wrong idea later.”

[Bridge Maiden] looked puzzled. “With a request like yours, isn’t this obviously some kind of ritual? And you’re not even trying to hide it from me?”

“A ritual is a ritual, but this one is perfectly respectable and completely harmless. You did me a favor by finding the place, so you’ll get something out of it. There’ll be enough for everyone.”

“You really do consider me one of your own.”

“Of course. Worst case, we can always silence you afterward. Now, stand back a few paces. I’m about to begin.”

[Bridge Maiden] retreated a dozen or so steps.

Following the instructions Black Hole had given him, Chen Miemie began.

He chose a suitable angle, lay down on the ground, and lowered his gaze until it was as parallel to the surface as possible.

Then he looked at the curve beneath the stone arch bridge.

There was water beneath the bridge, and the bridge’s reflection appeared in the water.

The curve of the bridge connected with the curve of its reflection at both ends, forming an ellipse.

Chen Miemie began muttering:

“Imagine this ellipse as a balloon. The water’s surface is the balloon’s line. Moonlight shines down, dyeing the entire balloon yellow.”

Chen Miemie extended a hand and aimed it at the “balloon’s line” in midair, as though gripping it.

Then he gave it a gentle tug.

“Dream Seller, I want to buy a dream.”

As soon as he called out, a huge shadow appeared not far away.

“Ploo~ Who summoned me?” The Dream Seller made its entrance.

[Bridge Maiden], standing in the distance, nearly cried out. She immediately went into combat mode.

She screamed inwardly: Chen Miemie! This is what you call a respectable, harmless ritual? You actually summoned an ultra, ultra, ultra-high-risk anomaly in the middle of the city!!!

Chen Miemie rose from the ground and brushed the dust from his clothes.

Tonight was the Eternal Moon. Even in human form, Chen Miemie could act without the slightest restraint.

He walked straight up to the Dream Seller and circled it, examining it from every angle while clicking his tongue in amazement.

“So you’re not humanoid after all.”

The Dream Seller was a white alpaca wearing sunglasses. In one hand, it held more than a dozen thin strings, each tied to a balloon floating in midair.

“Ploo~ Stay farther away from me. If you get too close, you’ll turn into a balloon.”

“No problem. You can’t mutate me. But why do you go ‘ploo’? Since you’re an alpaca, shouldn’t you go ‘baa’?”

“Ploo~ Allow me to educate you. Alpacas belong to the camel family, not the sheep family.”

From a distance, [Bridge Maiden] watched this lunatic, Chen Miemie, start chatting with an anomaly and felt utterly speechless.

“Chen Miemie, get over here! This is a Level Seven or higher anomaly! Even if it doesn’t attack you, its passive effect alone can transform you!”

Reminded by [Bridge Maiden], Chen Miemie remembered why he was here. “I want to buy a dream.”

A glint flashed across the alpaca’s sunglasses. “Not just anyone is qualified to take part in the dream trade.”

“I was introduced by Black Hole.”

“Black Hole! Where is that guy? He still owes me payment for three dreams!”

Chen Miemie curled his lips and cursed inwardly: No wonder Black Hole didn’t want to show up in person. Turns out he’s a deadbeat.

After the alpaca hurled several choice curses at Black Hole, it finally said, “Fine. Since you were introduced by someone in the circle, I can sell to you—but not too much. I can sell you two dreams at most.”

In reality, anyone hoping to buy dreams from the alpaca had to meet two conditions.

First, they needed an introduction from someone the alpaca knew. Its business operated on a membership basis; strangers weren’t welcome.

Second, they needed sufficient strength. The power of dreams was not something just anyone could touch. Chen Miemie had been standing so close for so long without losing even a single hair, which proved that he was strong enough.

“Let me give you an introduction.

“All these balloons behind me contain a dream. The larger ones last a little longer, while the smaller ones are shorter-lived.

“Red dreams are festive or bloody. Blue dreams are melancholy or free. Green dreams involve healing or nature. Purple dreams concern mysteries. Pink dreams are related to love. Black and gray dreams are nightmares...

“What about yellow dreams?”

“Yellow dreams are generally about hope or change.

“Once you take one home, tie it to your bedpost. That night, you’ll dream the dream inside the balloon.

“Oh, and my business only accepts dreams in exchange for dreams. However many you take, you’ll have to return the same number of your own dreams.”

“Fine.”

Chen Miemie turned and called toward the distance, “[Bridge Maiden], you heard that, right? I said everyone who saw this would get a share. I’ll give you one. What color do you want?”

[Bridge Maiden]’s eyes lit up. She knew she had stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity.

As the heir to a mysterious family of bridge-builders and the president-in-waiting of a major society, she quickly realized that Chen Miemie had summoned a special kind of anomaly—one that dealt in trades.

Being able to trade with an anomaly like this was no different from stumbling across a hidden master disguised as a beggar, selling a peerless secret manual.

“I want the purple one,” she called out hurriedly.

Chen Miemie turned back. “One green and one purple.”

The alpaca fished two strings out of the pile of balloons and handed them to Chen Miemie.

“Once the dream inside has been used, the balloon will deflate. Keep it tied to your bedside, and it will absorb your next dream and float again. The next time we meet, you’ll need to return two floating balloons to me.”

“No problem.”

The alpaca nodded. The way it left was different from how it had arrived; it didn’t simply vanish.

Instead, the mass of balloons in its hands lifted it into the sky, carrying it away until it disappeared from view.