The Moment of Waking from a Dream

Fifth Beauty Store.

A plump girl had managed to snag a weight-loss pill worth 200,000 yuan, her entire face flushed with excitement!

"I got it, I really got it!"

The girl couldn’t contain her emotions, shouting in exhilaration.

Then, noticing the envious stares around her, she grew paranoid that someone might snatch it from her.

In a hurry, she swallowed the pill right then and there.

"Ahh!"

A piercing scream tore from her throat, startling everyone nearby.

White smoke began billowing from her body as if she were burning from within, seeping through her skin.

The sight was horrifying!

For a moment, everyone stood frozen in shock.

What the hell was happening?

Spontaneous combustion?

Some immediately pulled out their phones, discreetly recording the scene—this was prime content for the internet.

In this era where clicks ruled, this was guaranteed to go viral!

The girl wailed as the smoke continued to rise from her body.

The onlookers were utterly dumbfounded.

Then, as the smoke dissipated…

Her figure had transformed into something shockingly slender.

She must have lost at least a hundred pounds—her once-plump body now had curves in all the right places, with no trace of her former heaviness.

Even more astonishing, her skin remained firm and toned.

No sagging, no loose folds—just flawless tightness.

The moment the crowd processed this, they erupted in awe.

"A miracle!"

"This is a divine miracle!"

"So those videos online were real!"

"Instant weight loss—just like they said!"

In an instant, even bystanders joined the frenzy, scrambling to get their hands on the pills.

"This is me… This is really me!"

The girl stared at her reflection, tears streaming uncontrollably.

She had never imagined what she’d look like thin—because she had never been thin before.

An indescribable joy swelled in her chest, overwhelming her with emotion.

Then, a sharp pain twisted in her gut.

Clutching her stomach, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Compared to beauty, what was a little pain?

"Young Master, are you sure these things won’t cause problems?" Xue Xia asked nervously.

The Five Poisons Sect wasn’t exactly known for producing anything wholesome.

Xue Ming casually brushed his hair back and smirked. "So what if they do?"

"But… the Law Enforcement Bureau—"

Xue Xia was suddenly feeling very exposed.

He’d thought this was a legitimate business—not a death wish!

"Relax, nothing will go wrong in the short term. Haven’t you noticed? Even the experts can’t detect anything."

Xue Ming chuckled.

Only he knew the truth—these ingredients didn’t belong to this world.

Modern science wasn’t equipped to understand them yet.

He had to admit, the Hundred Ghosts Sect had some real skills.

Their materials were unlike anything he’d ever seen. Combined with the Five Poisons Sect’s refining methods, they’d created miracles like the Youth Elixir and the weight-loss pills.

Xue Dong hesitantly spoke up. "But… what about long-term?"

"By then, we’ll have made our fortune."

Xue Ming’s tone was leisurely.

With the Hundred Ghosts Sect backing them, the Law Enforcement Bureau was no longer a concern.

If they really wanted to go all out, wiping out the Bureau wouldn’t even be a challenge.

"Yihe, you’ve done well lately. I’m putting you in charge of these stores from now on."

Lan Yihe’s chubby face lit up with gratitude.

"Young Master, thank you! Your kindness is like that of a second parent to me!"

"Please, you’re over a decade older than me. How can you say something so shameless with a straight face?"

Xue Ming snorted. "Besides, you got your own mother killed. Who’d dare be your ‘second parent’?"

Lan Yihe awkwardly chuckled and quickly changed the subject.

"Young Master, the rival store—An Family Beauty’s Youth Elixir shop—is completely deserted now!"

Xue Ming glanced at the empty storefront across the street and smirked.

"Patience. This is only the beginning."

Back at his villa, An Yi lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The rise of the Youth Elixir and weight-loss pills was threatening his company’s survival.

He needed a plan—fast.

Those products were toxic. Highly toxic. And completely illegal. That was his best angle of attack.

But Fifth Beauty had somehow slipped past inspections, using the loophole to fuel their marketing.

Now, their products were selling out everywhere.

Lowering the price of his own Youth Elixir wasn’t an option—the production costs were too high.

Even if he did, it wouldn’t stand a chance against Fifth Beauty’s two miracle products.

An Yi sighed, racking his brain for a solution but coming up empty.

Finally, he pulled up a video from a certain "teacher," hoping to distract himself from his troubles.

Just as he grabbed a tissue box, a thick, acrid smell of smoke filled the air.

"Damn it! Who taught you to smoke?!"

An Yi kicked open the villa door, furious, and hurled a slipper at Hongtian.

With a cocky sidestep, Hongtian dodged the projectile and sneered around his cigarette.

"Pfft. Such petty tricks—you dare challenge me?"

Then, he felt his collar tighten around his neck.

"Yipe!"

An Yi had yanked him up by the leash, dangling him midair.

"Big Hong, feeling brave today?" An Yi’s voice was icy.

Hongtian gulped. "Uh… I’ll take it outside! I’ll smoke outside!"

"Get lost!"

With that, An Yi tossed the smoking dog into the backyard.

An Yi was ready to continue learning from his teacher, but suddenly lost the mood.

Screw it, time to sleep!

An Yi pulled the covers over his head and drifted into a hazy slumber.

That night, for the first time in a long while, he had a long, vivid dream.

In the dream!

He saw a dragon!

It was a magnificent world, like something out of a fairy tale.

A silver-scaled dragon soared through the sky, weaving between mountain peaks and dancing among the clouds.

A dragon?

Why was he having such a bizarre dream?

Then he remembered—that damn dog could control dreams!

Shit!

How could he have forgotten about that!

When An Yi finally opened his eyes, morning had already arrived.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room.

Squinting, he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the light.

As he turned slightly, his gaze met an exquisitely beautiful face.

Her delicate features were perfectly composed, eyes gently shut in deep sleep, yet even in slumber, she looked irresistibly adorable.

Her silver hair cascaded down to her waist, veiling her flawless, porcelain skin and curvaceous figure.

A glance downward left An Yi stunned.

She wasn’t wearing a thing—absolutely nothing!