Chapter 564: Chapter 48 Beyond the Dreams_3

In the painting, thousands of shapes and forms were now one chaotic blur, no longer retaining any semblance of its past appearance. Liu Zhongwu carefully rolled up the scroll, beaming as he clasped his hand together: “Mr. Yan, your divine skill is unmatched, unrivaled in the world~”

“Cut it out! Remember, use each seal only once. Use the Liangyi Seal when the time is right, and don’t use the Three-Life Seal unless absolutely necessary.”

After securing the painting, Liu Zhongwu frowned, “What level of danger constitutes your absolutely necessary? The Calamity of the Firmament coming once more?”

“Something like that,” Yan Qi put away his brush. “You and the agents handle it, I’m leaving now. As for you— ”

Before he could finish, Liu Zhongwu cheerfully interjected: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take good care of your disciple.”

As Yan Qi rummaged through the tea leaves in Liu Zhongwu’s office cabinet, he laughed: “What do you mean my disciple? The one I’ve taught is the direct, legitimate successor of our Imperial Academy. That’s your grandstudent!”

Director Liu casually picked up the book that Yan Qi had flipped through earlier, and nearly burst out laughing upon seeing it: All prepared lesson plans and teaching notes with marks of ✓ indicating progress made.

“Oh my, Mr. Yan, you’ve taught so many people all over the world, I don’t have so many cheap disciples. That doesn’t count, just so you know, it doesn’t count.”

“That stubborn head Zhang passed on to you 90% of his foolishness!”

Having pilfered a good haul of tea leaves, Yan Qi snatched the notes and sauntered out the door.

Liu Zhongwu bade farewell, his smile slowly fading, his expression turning somber.

He knew his old friend’s character all too well; Yan Qi’s light-hearted words belied a tough reality. Suppressing the Eternal King, what sort of perilous feat was that? Even for a Creator Realm Expert, there was a great risk of being assimilated by those overwhelming thoughts. The contingency measures Yan Qi had left behind were the best testament that he wasn’t sure he could return in time to intervene.

But with the King’s Shadow manifesting, they couldn’t afford not to act. The seeds had already established a connection with the King, not to mention the evil spellcasters lurking around the globe… If they didn’t strike hard now, the consequences would be dire.

The aftereffects of the fallen Void Light Dragon began to slowly reveal themselves; they needed more power. Yet the practice of Impermanence came with its own risks, and it was uncertain whether letting someone like Gongsun Ce with already unstable power to undertake it was the right decision…

But then again, no matter how much he thought it over, it was futile. All he could do now was to do his duty well and trust his old friend’s judgment.

“The responsibility is great.”

Old Liu’s worry was apparent as he looked at the two scrolls left in the room.

He sincerely hoped they would never need to resort to Yan Qi’s last resort.

·

After leaving the Cangshou Integrated Office Building, the doctor returned to her home in the same district. As expected, she found Ayane lying on the sofa playing with her phone as she pushed open the door.

“Little Manaka, you’re back~?”

As summer approached and the weather grew hot, Ayane, who was wearing only underwear and a tank top, idly kicked her legs on the sofa like a real elementary school girl. Her friend’s carefree demeanor gave the doctor just returning from the cold blue building a jolt in her heart.

“I’m back. Are you still playing that game, Ayane?”

The doctor took a seat on the sofa. Ayane tossed her phone aside, giggling.

“Ayane is done with it! This game, you see, it’s unbeatable. The final boss is set too strong, no strategy seems to give any hope of victory… So!”

Ayane lay down on the doctor’s lap. “We’ll wait until the boss leaves the map before starting the game again, that’s the real crack method!”

Such bizarre mechanics in current mobile games?

It seemed utterly inconsiderate to the players. Gongsun Ce would probably understand this kind of thing…

The doctor gently stroked her friend’s hair, and Ayane smiled mischievously.

“Thinking about that Gongsun Ce?”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t lie.” Ayane squinted her eyes, “That look, Ayane knows it well. Little Manaka! You’ve finally become a boring woman too!”

“It’s not what you think,” the doctor said helplessly, “He’s…”

Ayane stared at her intently; the doctor suddenly went silent before murmuring softly after a pause.

“He’s someone I’m concerned about.”

“Roar~” Ayane playfully poked her belly. “Let Ayane meet him, too~”

“Sure, once he’s awake.”

Speaking of which, it had been a month since Gongsun Ce had shown any activity.

Was he still in a deep sleep now?

·

Five days had passed since Yan Qi’s departure.

As evening fell that day, Qin Qianbai, having finished her lessons early, carried her schoolbag to the villa in the Cangshou District.

Since Ah Ce had fallen asleep, each day of the past month had been spent this way: school, after school, checking on someone’s condition, practicing Martial Arts… Without the constant chatter, life had become much quieter and somewhat duller.

She felt she wasn’t alone in this sentiment. Lately, not only Qiluo but Mr. Shiyu and Kardesia were occasionally asking, “Hasn’t he woken up yet?”

Who knew when Ah Ce would wake up? Even Yan Qi hadn’t given a definite answer before he left. Actually, she thought it wouldn’t hurt if he awoke later; the effectiveness of the Clarity Dream therapy was what mattered most…

The always dependable Ah Ce turning tremulous with fear was an absurd scenario she’d never imagined. She hoped that once he awoke, he would revert to his usual self.

The young lady set down her schoolbag and walked over to the slumbering Gongsun Ce, observing his sleeping face closely.

“…!”

She noticed Gongsun Ce’s eyelids tremble ever so slightly.