Father and Daughter

Chen Miemie had been up to nearly dawn, and after returning to the shop, he fell into a deep sleep.

Elsewhere, [Bridge Princess] Gongshu Key was wide awake.

The sedan chair carried her to the building where she lived, but she did not get out immediately. First, she poked her head through the curtain like a thief and looked left and right. Only after making sure there was no suspicious person nearby did she climb out.

From stepping down from the sedan chair to reaching her apartment, she proceeded with extreme caution.

She did not let the purple balloon float above her head. Instead, she kept the string very short, practically carrying the balloon in her hands. She was terrified that something sharp in the hallway might puncture her precious balloon.

Only after entering her apartment and locking the door did she finally relax a little.

“Where have you been this late?” a voice came from the darkness.

“Huh? Dad, you scared me.” Gongshu Key hurriedly hid the balloon behind her back.

“Stop hiding it. What’s that round thing?” The middle-aged man sitting on the sofa folded his arms across his chest and interrogated her in a deep voice.

The man was Gongshu Feiliang, the current head of the Gongshu family.

“Nothing. It’s just a little gift from one of our society’s partners.”

“Hmph. Don’t give me that. Who gives someone a gift in the middle of the night? I’ve already heard about it. Is it that Chen Miemie fellow?”

“Yes.”

“I heard you two have been spending a lot of time together lately.”

“Not really. Whenever he looks for me, it’s for something important.”

“I’m telling you, don’t let that boy deceive you. He isn’t from the Sealed Book Hall, after all. He’s going to leave eventually.”

“Dad, what are you talking about? We don’t have—”

“Enough. Bring it out and let me see what kind of trinket that boy is using to fool my daughter.”

“Oh, here. Be careful not to damage it.” Gongshu Key handed over the balloon.

Up close, Gongshu Feiliang had a fair, refined face. Wearing a pair of round spectacles, he was a handsome, scholarly-looking middle-aged man.

“What! A balloon? Hmm? No, this balloon isn’t right.” Gongshu Feiliang was no ordinary person. He was a high-ranking mystic as well as a seasoned artisan. He immediately pulled out a magnifying glass. “There’s [Mystery] on this balloon! It’s an illusory type of [Mystery]—extremely advanced!”

Gongshu Key quickly snatched her balloon back. If she did not take it back, her father would get carried away and press his face right up against it to study it.

“This was bought by Chen Miemie through a ritual from an alpaca anomaly called the [Dream Seller]. There’s a dream related to [Mystery] inside it. It can be used.”

“[Dream Seller]? An alpaca?” Gongshu Feiliang frowned. He had read widely and possessed extensive knowledge, and he felt as if he had heard of it somewhere before. “Wait here.”

Gongshu Feiliang returned to the family library and began rummaging through the shelves. After a while, he finally pulled out an ancient book.

He opened it and quickly flipped through the pages, stopping at one in particular.

“Found it. You saw that [Dream Seller] with your own eyes? Was it a white alpaca holding a large number of balloons?”

“Yes.”

“Then that purple balloon was sold to you by the [Dream Seller]!” Gongshu Feiliang suddenly grew agitated.

“Ah? What’s wrong?”

“Just answer me! This is serious. I’m not joking around!” Gongshu Feiliang’s tone was unusually stern.

“No. Chen Miemie bought it and then gave it to me.”

Gongshu Feiliang let out a sigh of relief.

“What’s going on?” Gongshu Key was utterly baffled. Her father was usually calm and composed, and it was rare to see him lose control of his emotions.

“Here. See for yourself.” Gongshu Feiliang handed her the book.

Gongshu Key took it and read the passage aloud in a quiet voice:

“[Dream Seller]. A half-flesh, half-rule anomaly, first recorded in the Third Epoch. Danger Level: 8. Its domain is the buying and selling of dreams, maintaining balance among the dreams of the world. It is mysterious and unpredictable, capricious, and capable of freely entering and leaving every corner of the world.

“Humanity possesses limited information about it. Should you encounter it, flee immediately. Those who approach it will be transformed into balloons. Those who attempt to trade with it will either remain trapped in a dream forever or be transformed into balloon strings.

“In the entire history of humanity, there have been only three people who successfully completed a transaction with it and came away unharmed. All three became Great Saints.”

“Saint” was a title bestowed upon beings of [Mystery] Levels 7 and 8.

The very pinnacle of Level 7, as well as all Level 8 beings, could be elevated to “Great Saint,” an even more honored title.

Of course, the “Great” was not always used strictly. When flattering someone, or when speaking in front of a newly advanced Level 7, people would generally praise them by calling them a “Great Saint” as well.

“So the [Dream Seller] is that powerful? But after Chen Miemie summoned it, buying the balloon seemed incredibly easy. They even chatted for a while.”

“Tell me everything that happened tonight, in complete detail. Don’t leave out a single thing.”

Gongshu Key began from the very start. When she reached the ritual Chen Miemie had used to summon the [Dream Seller], she had only just begun speaking when Gongshu Feiliang interrupted her.

“Don’t describe the ritual. Don’t tell anyone about it. You’d best forget it yourself. A ritual for summoning a Level 8 anomaly—you only saw the tip of the iceberg. If you try to replicate it, you won’t even know how you died.” Gongshu Feiliang hurriedly cut her off.

This already counted as forbidden knowledge. Merely knowing about it could bring disaster upon them.

Gongshu Key skipped that part and continued.

After she finished recounting everything, Gongshu Feiliang began asking questions.

“You mean Chen Miemie went up and put his arm around the [Dream Seller], and nothing happened to him?”

“I don’t know what method Chen Miemie used. But from what I saw, yes.”

“He said he was introduced by someone called [Black Hole]?”

“Yes.”

“I suspect this [Black Hole] is also an extremely powerful anomaly. By the way, you said there’s a dream related to [Mystery] inside this balloon, right?”

“Yes.”

“You see, your old man hasn’t even experienced anything related to—”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“What? Aren’t I still your beloved father? Can’t a father and daughter negotiate?” Gongshu Feiliang looked as though tears were about to fall from his eyes.

Gongshu Key’s eyes flickered. “Fine. You can have it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Consider it your daughter’s filial offering.”

“Hahaha! That’s my good girl.”

“However, I should warn you. In front of the [Dream Seller], I promised that after using it, I would put my own dream inside and return it to him later. I don’t know what will happen if it discovers that the dream belongs to you…”

The balloon was instantly shoved back into Gongshu Key’s hands.

Gongshu Feiliang straightened his back, righteous and solemn. “Your father was only joking. I was testing you. What kind of father would steal his daughter’s opportunity? Hurry back to your room and use it before anything unexpected happens. I’ll stand guard outside.”

The next morning.

Exactly ten o’clock.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

“Gongshu Key? Gongshu Key? Why aren’t you up yet? If you don’t answer, I’m breaking down the door.”

Gongshu Key never slept in. She usually got up around eight, and nine at the latest.

Gongshu Feiliang had truly stood guard outside her door all night. He might joke around, but she was his daughter, and he did not dare be careless.

“I’m coming, I’m coming. Stop knocking.” Gongshu Key’s voice came from inside.

She opened the door, looking bleary-eyed and half-asleep.

Gongshu Feiliang immediately grew worried. He glanced into the room. It looked as though a battle had taken place inside. Everything was in disarray, and the balloon’s deflated skin was draped over the headboard. The balloon had already been used.

“How do you feel? Do you feel anything unusual?”

Gongshu Key looked utterly exhausted and weak. “I dreamed all night. I—I think I became…”

“Became what? You’re killing me here.”

Gongshu Key’s expression changed in an instant. He put on a jubilant, smug grin, and the tubular structures on his face swelled with excitement.

“If I remember correctly, I became the youngest [Mystery] 5 in the entire Sealed Library.”