Target—The Sixth Dream?

As usual, the triple plea! Votes, recommendations, and favorites!

“What is a property transfer item?”

When the dream level exceeds the fifth dream, it is possible to transfer the attributes of dream items onto a carrier, allowing continued use.

“What?!” Yang Tang was stunned by Mingwu's explanation. “If that's the case, I could dream up a game about the Xuanyuan Sword—any version—and as long as I can transfer the sword's attributes, wouldn't that be unbelievably powerful?”

There is no such possibility. The greater the difference in form and level between the transfer item and the original, the fewer attributes are preserved after transfer. Moreover, the only transfer item obtained so far is a defensive one, so it can't transfer weapon attack attributes at all.

Yang Tang felt a bit disappointed, but he accepted the explanation. “But at least it requires reaching the sixth dream to transfer item properties, and I've only experienced the second dream so far; that's quite a gap.”

This time, Mingwu didn't answer, nor did he offer any useful advice.

“When does the third dream begin?” Yang Tang shifted the topic.

The third dream begins on the 26th day of the second lunar month, the Cold Food Festival!

“And the fourth dream?”

The fourth dream begins on the 27th day of the second lunar month, the Qingming Festival!

“What? Why are the opening times of the two dreams so close together?” Mingwu remained silent.

“And the fifth dream?”

The fifth dream begins on the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival!

“Damn, the fifth dream is close to the fourth too!”

As he spoke, Yang Tang suddenly froze. He realized the dream openings all coincided with ancient folk festivals.

“Is this meant to harness the power of the ancient deity King Dizang to dream across the world? Hold on, there's a huge issue between the third, fourth, and fifth dreams! The Cold Food Festival is just before Qingming; that's clear. Qingming is the 108th day after the previous year's winter solstice, so its date varies, and could coincide with the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third month. How is that handled?”

Two ways: Either the dream is postponed, or two dreams merge into one!

“Merge? Does that have any benefit?”

When dual dreams merge, you'll know.

“Damn!”

Leaving the men's restroom, Yang Tang felt he’d gained immensely, so he was eager to leave the damned restaurant. Returning to the table, he found the two women looking troubled.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Tang asked.

He Jianni pouted, “I can’t match this couplet!”

“My poem isn’t working either,” Bai Keqing chimed in, looking dejected.

Yang Tang was about to suggest just paying the bill and leaving, but reconsidered—if the two ladies made him cover the difference, he'd be in trouble. Better to avoid unnecessary mistakes and quickly supply the poem and couplet, settle the bill, and slip away.

“Let me see the couplet?”

He Jianni immediately handed over her slip of paper with a flattering smile. “Look, it’s a repeating-character couplet.”

“I’ll take a look.” Yang Tang glanced at the slip—it read, “First line: long long long long long long long; horizontal line: long long long long!”

“This is as simple as it gets. Give me a pen!” He Jianni’s eyes lit up and quickly passed him her ink pen.

Yang Tang wrote on the blank space, “long long long long long long long!” Then he added, “First line: 247 read n3, others read n2; second line is the opposite; horizontal line reading: 2332!”

He Jianni snatched the answer, studied it, and couldn’t help but praise, “Impressive!”

Yang Tang didn’t feel particularly proud. “What about the poem?”

“Oh, here!” Bai Keqing hurriedly handed over her slip.

It read, “Compose a wine poem that must include the restaurant’s name.”

Yang Tang raised an eyebrow. “What’s the restaurant’s name?”

Bai Keqing looked surprised. “Qinchuan Grand Restaurant—didn’t you know?”

“How could I know? Got it.” His super memory quickly searched his mind for a suitable poem. He wrote, “Qinchuan fine wine, fragrant as tulips, jade goblet brimming with amber light. As long as the host can intoxicate his guests, who cares where home may be?”

He turned to Bai Keqing, “How’s that? Is it good enough?”

Bai Keqing snapped out of her daze, nearly hugging Yang Tang’s arm in excitement, but seeing He Jianni’s starry-eyed, eager expression, she held back and clapped with elegant composure. “Bravo! Wonderfully written!”

“Good, that’s settled. Wasn’t it two couplets and one poem? Where’s the other poem?” Yang Tang pressed, though his urgency went unnoticed.

“I already matched the other couplet,” Bai Keqing said, unusually proud.

“Oh, then let’s pay the bill and I’ll wait outside!” Without waiting for the women to reply, Yang Tang strode out of the restaurant.

Outside, Yang Tang kept in mind Wu Lie’s warning and the mention of the lottery booth by the young man in the suit. He asked a security guard, crossed the parking lot, and turned into an alley opposite. Sure enough, he found the group of con artists the suited youth had mentioned, with at least ten lottery booths lining the alley.

Unfortunately, Yang Tang, scanning with his eagle eye, found no useful white items and returned disappointed, meeting He Jianni and Bai Keqing, who had come looking for him in the parking lot.

“Where did you go?”

“Just walked around. What’s up? Did you settle the bill?”

He Jianni looked at Yang Tang with a complicated expression. “The restaurant owner waived our bill and even offered us money!”

“What? Why?”

“She said your poem was perfect for the restaurant and could be used in media advertising, so she wants to buy the copyright outright, including naming rights!”

Yang Tang was noncommittal. “So, can the three of us leave now?”

“Of course. I told her we’d discuss it and decide, and left our contact info,” He Jianni said.

“Then let’s go!”

“But the poem—”

“I don’t want to talk about it now. There’s an exam this afternoon!”

The two women said nothing more, completely following his lead.

“By the way, Bai, could you give me the contact info for your flower show friend in Shenhai?”

“No problem, I’ll text it to you.”

On the drive back to campus, Yang Tang didn’t mention Zhang Jun’s men to He Jianni. Not until after the history exam, when he again rode with her back to Mist University, minus Bai Keqing, did he bring up the group led by Che Ze.

“Jianni, remember how Wu Lie called you at lunch to find me?”

“I remember. Why?”

“The three robbers killed in the South Street Bridge case had six or seven accomplices, who have all snuck back to Nanchuan.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“It’s definitely my business. Wu Lie already suspects I shot the three robbers, though I’ve never admitted it,” Yang Tang said. “The problem is, Wu Lie says the police can’t be fully trusted. Someone might let slip the news, and he’s worried the gang will come after me!”

“There’s a mole in the police department?”

“A mole? It’s not that serious!” Yang Tang smiled wryly. “It’s just that some files, which are supposed to be confidential, are accessible to people who shouldn’t see them, and then secrets get leaked inadvertently. That happens plenty in Mist University’s administration too, you know.”

He Jianni understood perfectly, but was anxious. “Even so, it’s the police! Shouldn’t management be stricter?”

“It’s not about management, it’s about human nature. Otherwise, why are there so many traitors in history—Chinese, Russian, British, American? Many started with innocent mistakes, then got blackmailed and dragged down step by step.”

“Alright, alright, you’re getting off track!” He Jianni didn’t care how the leak happened; only whether it had. “If things are as bad as Wu Lie says, what do you plan to do?”

“I’m not worried about myself, but about my parents—and you!” Yang Tang clearly had a plan. “Wu Lie sent Su Shu back to Jade Capital to teach. I’ll ask my parents to take a vacation and join me on a trip to Shenhai for ten or twenty days to ride this out!”

“And then?” He Jianni raised her eyebrows. “And me? What should I do?”

“Jianni, I heard your mother’s in the US. Why not stay with her for a while?” Yang Tang offered his most genuine advice.

“I won’t go. She divorced my dad; why would I seek her out?” He Jianni rejected the idea immediately.

Yang Tang rolled his eyes—so why are you driving such a fancy car? He said, “Then maybe move in with Principal He, and ask him to boost campus security. I doubt Che Ze’s gang could cause much trouble.”

“That’s not a good idea. I won’t be a shield!” He Jianni rejected it again. “If those thugs go berserk and rampage through Mist University, I’d die for nothing! And so would my dad!”

Faced with He Jianni’s bizarre logic, Yang Tang was helpless. “Jianni, I was the one who shot the robbers, not you! You were just a bystander. Even if Che Ze’s gang comes after you, at most they’d ask about my whereabouts. Only if they’re truly insane would they kill indiscriminately.”

“Fine, let’s say you’re right. But I’m a beautiful woman—if those thugs get me, even if they don’t kill me, what do you think would happen?”

“So what do you suggest?” Yang Tang asked, exasperated.

“How about I join you in Shenhai?” He Jianni finally revealed her intention.

Yang Tang was startled by her suggestion. “Are you crazy? My parents will be there. No way!”

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