CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 279 DREAM TUGGING TOWER

Li Banfeng realized he had been using the wrong method. To be precise, he had been misled by the white-clothed figure. But the issue wasn’t really about the white clothes themselves.

In his dream, there were only two types of people. The first type was those he created in the dream. The second type was those who invaded the dream. The woman had made it clear that she was the only one; to leave the dream, he had to find her.

The people created in the dream acted according to Li Banfeng’s cognitive logic. Qiaocui, whom he initially met at the village entrance, was a person created in the dream, and her behavior conformed to his cognitive logic.

After entering the village, the behavior of others also largely conformed to logic, except for Bai Qiusheng. Bai Qiusheng should not have appeared in Zhengjing Village. His appearance was illogical, so he was an invader of the dream.

Invaders of the dream can attach to any character in the dream. She doesn’t have sufficient understanding of the characters in the dream, but she’s able to gather information in my dream. When she heard Qiaocui call me Seventh Master, she followed suit.

As soon as Li Banfeng noticed the flaw, the invader immediately went into the latrine, leaving his line of sight. Soon, she reappeared before Li Banfeng, having attached to Ma Wu. She didn’t understand Ma Wu well enough and continued to call Li Banfeng Seventh Master, thus revealing the flaw again. Once more, she disappeared from Li Banfeng’s sight and transformed into Zuo Wugang. After Zuo Wugang revealed a flaw, she attached herself to Ah Qin.

Realizing she had exposed herself again, the invader no longer appeared easily. She started to gather more information.

As long as my dream continues, the more information she’ll be able to collect. Are the people currently in the restaurant all created in the dream? Not necessarily. Indeed, their behavior is more rational now than before. But it might also be because as the dream extended, I myself leaked more details. I can’t let them speak freely now. The more details leaked, the lower my chances of finding the invader. I must verify immediately. Of course, the verification process might also leak a lot of information, but this is unavoidable. Should I separate these people and verify them one by one? Useless. The invader can see my dream; wherever I go, I can’t screen her out.

Li Banfeng immediately looked at Ma Wu and asked, "Who’s your father?"

Ma Wu was taken aback. "Why are you asking this?"

"Just say it!"

"Ma Chunting!"

It’s true.

Li Banfeng then turned to Zuo Wugang. "Who was your former boss?"

"Let’s not talk about that..."

"Hurry up and say it!"

"Master Lu, Lu Dongliang."

Li Banfeng then asked Ah Qin, "Who is the Local Deity of your family?"

"Qiu Luoye."

Li Banfeng asked Xiao Chuanzi again, "What work did you do previously at the Ma Family?"

"Operating a road roller!"

Li Banfeng then asked Xiao Genzi, "What Taoist Sect do you belong to?"

Xiao Genzi, holding a bucket and spoon, said, "Gold Cultivation."

All true? Is the invader not here? This is my dream. Places I can see exist; theoretically, places I can’t see do not exist. The invader might be invisible, but she should be within my field of vision.

Li Banfeng looked at the restaurant owner and the other patrons. Is the invader among them? I’m not familiar with this owner, and the patrons are passing hunters, whom I know even less. Is there any way to verify their identities?

Li Banfeng shouted loudly, "All of you, tell me together, what is the name of this village?"

If even one person doesn’t dare to speak, or can’t answer, they’ll be the prime suspect.

Everyone looked at Li Banfeng and answered in unison, "Zhengjing Village!"

Everyone answered loudly and decisively.

This move doesn’t work? They can’t be verified this way? Logically speaking, my method has no problem! Unless the invader has always been invisible, preventing me from seeing her. Then how could I possibly find her? If she did that, this whole thing would be meaningless. Should I test them another round? If I continue testing, I’ll only leak more information! Where exactly is the problem? What on earth could it be...?

Li Banfeng looked up and realized where the problem lay. The problem was with the questions he had just asked.

Not every question can have a verifying effect, because information about one person had already been leaked. I asked Root what Taoist Sect he belonged to, and Root answered Gold Cultivation. His outfit and his previous performance in the dream had already revealed his sect, allowing the invader to deduce he belonged to Gold Cultivation. Could it be Root? I can’t guess wildly; a wrong guess would trap me here forever. Don’t stare at Root. If he notices and leaves the restaurant before I make a decision, it will be harder to find him again.

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea, chatted idly with everyone for a moment, then turned to Root. "How did you originally join Gold Cultivation?"

Ma Wu said, "You went with him for that. How could you have forgotten?"

Li Banfeng scratched his head. "I seem to have forgotten a bit."

Ma Wu started, "He just..."

"Have a drink!" Li Banfeng pressed a wine cup to Ma Wu’s lips, smiling at Xiao Genzi.

If he takes this opportunity to leave my sight, that will prove the invader is him!

Xiao Genzi replied naturally, "Seventh Master, you forgot. I entered Gold Cultivation through a Peddler."

The answer is flawless, but this is common knowledge.

"How much did you spend on the Gold Cultivation Powder?"

"One hundred Huan Country Banknotes. The bucket and spoon were free."

Still no flaw. Yet, for high-level Cultivators, this might also be common knowledge.

"Why did you choose to join the Gold Cultivation Taoist Sect?"

Xiao Genzi puffed out his chest and replied, "It’s the strongest Taoist Sect in the world."

Li Banfeng laughed, pointed at Root, and said, "I’ve found you!"

Xiao Genzi was stunned for a moment. In the dream, everyone froze.

Then, Xiao Genzi suddenly laughed. His coarse, short jacket transformed into a white robe. The muscular Xiao Genzi changed into a slender woman. Before Li Banfeng could get a clear look at her face, the woman quickly rose and left the restaurant.

Trying to leave? I’ve found you, and you still won’t admit it?

Li Banfeng immediately pursued her. The woman was incredibly fast, and Li Banfeng strained to keep up, chasing her from the village to the outskirts, all the way to the base of a small hill. The woman ascended the hill swiftly, with Li Banfeng closely behind. Halfway up the hillside, she suddenly turned and darted into a forest. Li Banfeng continued the pursuit.

As he entered the forest, faint Light Halos began to appear, and the scenery before his eyes twisted and blurred. Li Banfeng forced his eyes wide open and finally woke up.

He had left the dream and was now lying on a bed.

It was pitch-black all around. Li Banfeng sat up and struck a match.

He was in a small room. If not for its different size and furnishings, Li Banfeng would have almost panicked. I was worried I was still dreaming, and even worse, dreaming about the Portable Residence! If I dreamed about the Portable Residence, that means its information has been leaked too!

Realizing this place wasn’t the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng felt slightly calmer. After checking his belongings, which were all there, Li Banfeng pushed the door open and left the room.

Outside the room was a seemingly endless corridor, with doors spaced every three meters along both sides.

What is this place?

Li Banfeng patted his Wine Gourd, but there was no response—it seemed to still be in a deep slumber. All his other Magical Treasures were also asleep. Relying on his "Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster" Technique, Li Banfeng turned left and proceeded down the corridor, searching for an exit.

After walking for several dozen meters, he suddenly heard a CREAK—a door ahead had opened.

A man emerged from the room and walked slowly ahead of Li Banfeng.

"Friend, what is this place?" Li Banfeng asked, but the other man didn’t reply and kept walking forward.

Li Banfeng lit matches intermittently while following the man. After several more dozen meters, they reached the end of the corridor. The man turned right into a room. Li Banfeng followed and discovered the room had no door, just a white curtain from which a familiar scent drifted.

This is a restroom! Is this guy here to use the restroom? How can he find his way to the restroom in the pitch dark without even a candle?

It seemed this was some sort of inn or dormitory.

Li Banfeng parted the curtain and entered, seeing the man relieving himself at a urinal.

A urinal? This thing isn’t common in Puluo State. Could I be back in the Outside Provinces?

After finishing, the man walked towards Li Banfeng. He wore a white shirt and black trousers. His complexion was pale, his hair long and unkempt, with a fringe of fine stubble around his mouth, apparently neglected for quite some time. He walked directly toward Li Banfeng, and the two nearly collided.

Doesn’t he watch where he’s going? He really doesn’t. His eyes are closed. Listening to his regular, deep breathing, this man is still asleep. Is this sleepwalking?

Li Banfeng grabbed the man and shouted twice, "Wake up, wake up!"

As he was shaken, the man opened his eyes. He stared at Li Banfeng, stunned for a moment, then took a delicate Glasses case from his trouser pocket and inserted a pair of contact lenses into his eyes.

Contact lenses? This must be the Outside Provinces!

The man looked at Li Banfeng. "Who are you? What do you want?"

Li Banfeng said, "Nothing, I just wanted to ask..."

"If it’s nothing, why did you wake me?" The man was annoyed.

Li Banfeng took out a one-hundred Huan Country Banknote and stuffed it into the man’s hand. "I just want to ask, where is this place?"

"You’re already here, and you don’t know where this is?" The man was very angry and pocketed Li Banfeng’s money. "I was right in the middle of a good dream when you woke me up!"

Li Banfeng was also getting a little angry. "What do you mean? You’re blaming me?"

"Of course I’m blaming you!" The man stretched lazily, yawned, and rubbed his stomach. "Ah, forget it. Since I’m awake now, let’s get something to eat together."

"Get something to eat? Here? That doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?"

The man laughed. "Of course it’s not appropriate here. Let’s go to the canteen."

He led Li Banfeng out of the restroom to the second door on the right near the end of the corridor. The door wasn’t locked. Pushing it open, Li Banfeng saw a flight of stairs. The stairs were steep; walking down felt like descending a hillside.

After going down two flights, the man pushed open another door, and the aroma of food wafted in.

That aroma seems familiar.

Pushing the door open, Li Banfeng saw a very spacious dining hall inside. It had no windows, but the lighting was bright, and the tables and chairs were neatly arranged.

The man sat down at a table and called out, "Two stir-fried dishes and a pot of wine! Hey, come on over and eat with me."

He waved at Li Banfeng. Having shaken off his crankiness from being woken, the man seemed friendly enough.

Li Banfeng sat opposite the man. "Are you from the Outside Provinces?"

The man nodded. "I’m from Spring Proclaim City. Are you also from the Outside Provinces?"

Li Banfeng replied, "I’ve been to the Outside Provinces."

While talking, Li Banfeng looked around. About a dozen people were dining in the canteen. One woman wore a T-shirt and jeans, and another wore a long trench coat. Apart from these two, the rest were dressed in various Puluo State outfits: Sun Yat-sen suits, magua, long robes, and plaid western suits.

Among these people, three were eating with their eyes open, while the others all had their eyes closed, apparently still asleep.

Eating while asleep? This state is certainly novel. But then again, I was also eating in my dream just moments ago. Could it be that I’ve been here before?

The man asked Li Banfeng, "How did you end up here?"

Li Banfeng said, "I arrived in a state of confusion."

The man laughed. "I really envy you folks from Puluo State. You can just stumble into such a great place. I spent nearly two million to get here!"

Li Banfeng frowned. "You paid money to come here?"

The man said, "And that’s only because I found the right connections. Someone else might not be able to get in even with twenty million."

"What exactly is this place?"

"This is the Dream Tugging Tower. There’s no better place in the world."

PS: Would someone really be willing to spend twenty million to come to this place?