Chapter 20: Are You Dreaming?

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Ji Xun had thought his father would definitely invite Fu Shuxing to join them for dinner. Even Ji’s mother asked, “Weren’t you talking to Xiao Xing at the door just now? Why didn’t you invite him to eat at home?” Ji’s father replied, “I did, but he refused to come.” Hu Yuebo glanced at her husband. Ji’s father cleared his throat and avoided looking at his wife. “Old Lin asked me to send some documents; I’m just going upstairs for a moment and will be right back.” With that, he immediately went upstairs. Hearing that Fu Shuxing wasn’t coming, Ji Xun’s mood lifted instantly. Ji’s mother cast him a glance but did not press her husband further.

At the dinner table, Ji’s mother said, “Since Fu Shen and Ming Yuan have been gone so long, Xiao Xing is alone at home. Don’t let anything happen to him. After dinner, I’ll go check on him.” Ji’s father said nothing. Ji Xun, however, curled his lips and, biting his chopsticks, confidently said, “What could happen to him? Today, Shi Tou even went with him for some psychological counseling.” Ji’s mother asked, “Really?” “Of course!” Ji Xun picked up a piece of meat, put down his chopsticks, and pulled out his communicator to show her a message Zhao Zhanlei sent that afternoon.

[Zhao Zhanlei: Report, mission accomplished!]

[Zhao Zhanlei: [Psychological counseling room.jpg]]

Ji’s mother looked puzzled. “Mission?” Ji Xun noticed his mother’s gaze and vaguely covered up Fu Shuxing’s injury. “Well, I heard that Brother Xing hadn’t had psychological counseling for quite some time. Since he’s so capable, he might not notice when he’s slipping, so Shi Tou was supervising.” Ji’s mother studied her son’s expression. “Is that so?” “Yes.” Ji Xun took back his communicator. Seeing she was still looking at him, he quickly added, “If you don’t believe me, ask Dad! See if Brother Xing has any problems today!” Ji’s father spoke at the right moment, “No.” Ji Xun immediately looked smug. But his father added, “Though Shuxing has both hands wrapped in bandages, he must be injured. You should still go check on him later.” Ji Xun was speechless.

He snorted and turned his head to look nearby. The coyote lay flat on the ground, lazily wagging its tail from time to time. A light brown lop-eared rabbit was lying on it, carefully plucking fur bit by bit. Once it had a sizable tuft, it hopped to the corner of the carpet to carefully pile it up, then returned to pluck more from the coyote. It seemed she was nesting again due to a false pregnancy. So adorable. Ji Xun watched for a while before snapping back to reality and quickly eating his meal.

After dinner, Ji Xun dashed back to his room. Standing by the window, he watched his mother walk toward the Fu residence. The Fu mansion was huge, but on this late night, only a single lonely light burned on the second floor. Fu Shuxing came to open the door. Ji Xun immediately raised his binoculars to observe. “Xun Xun, the child, I don’t know what he’s fussing about, locking himself in his room right after every meal. Doesn’t he want to keep you company?” Fu Shuxing, who had been scolded by Ji’s father that afternoon, not knowing the real reason for Ji’s mother’s visit, said, “I’ve been busy with training lately and haven’t had time for him.” Ji’s mother asked, “Is the training very exhausting?” “Not really.” She smiled, looking at Fu Shuxing’s face. From their brief chat, she had a rough idea of his emotional stability. She then held up the basket in her hand. “Auntie made some pork rib soup tonight, but since those two gave no face and didn’t drink much, I brought you some from the pot to help you recover.” She handed it to Fu Shuxing. “Thank you, Auntie.” Fu Shuxing reached out to take it.

Ji’s mother was immediately startled and asked with concern, “What happened to your hand?” Fu Shuxing paused but remained composed. “I got scratched during extra training.” “That careless? Let Auntie see.” Fu Shuxing bit his lower lip slightly. Ji’s mother looked at him gently. “Is it inconvenient?” After a moment of silence, Fu Shuxing stepped aside to let her into the hall and then unwrapped the bandages from his palms.

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The wound had just reopened. The bandages, hardened by dried blood, were now soaked and softened, making them easy to remove. One layer after another. The deeper they went, the stronger the metallic scent of fresh blood. Ji’s mother’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter. When all the bandages were removed, the blood-soaked gauze was taken off as well. Fu Shuxing’s right palm was drenched in blood, revealing a six to seven-centimeter fresh cut on the palm. The depth of the wound was shocking!

Ji’s mother gasped in shock. “What kind of training is this? How could you get injured like this?!” “The tail of a knife bug,” Fu Shuxing said quietly, eyes lowered. “The instructor has already examined it. Because it’s poisonous, it affects the clotting system, so the wound will bleed for two days before healing.” Ji’s mother, having no experience with insectoids, took his words at face value. “That’s incredibly dangerous! You’re just a kid of about ten. How can you fight real insectoids during training?!” Fu Shuxing replied, “I’ll be on the battlefield by the end of the year. There will only be more insects, not fewer.” Ji’s mother’s heart was heavy. Finally, she sighed and asked, “Do you still have medicine at home?” “Yes,” Fu Shuxing said. “Auntie Ji, don’t worry. This small wound will heal in a few days.”

At home, Ji’s mother told her husband about it. “Don’t let Xun Xun go to the battlefield.” She clutched her chest, still shaken. “If he gets hurt like that, my heart would break! Half his palm was sliced open.” Ji’s father comforted her, “Our son won’t be going to the battlefield. With his courage, he jumps and screams at a bug the size of a thumb. How could he kill insectoids?” Ji’s mother continued, “Xing is still a child! Such a deep wound, and he didn’t utter a word or complain of pain. Fu Shen and Ming Yuan really...” “Don’t worry. Everyone’s different.” Ji’s mother looked at her husband. “Did you hide something from me this afternoon? Something about Xing?” “Their children’s affairs are none of adults’ business.” Ji’s mother understood from his words and fell silent for a moment. Then she sighed, “Those two boys were barely knee-high before. In the blink of an eye, they’ve grown so big...” Ji’s father asked, “By the way, besides the hand injury, is Shuxing okay otherwise?” “He’s fine.” Ji’s mother knew what he meant. “I checked. His mental state is stable. It looks like he just had psychological counseling.” Ji’s father was relieved to hear this.

It seemed the pheromone fluctuations Ji’s father sensed from behind Fu Shuxing when he entered the house that afternoon were merely an illusion. As for Ji Xun, after seeing his mother leave the Fu house, he put down his binoculars. Now he had a thorough understanding of the enemy’s situation. Very good. Time to start the battle! He drew the curtains, locked his bedroom door, lit some incense, took a shower, and set a timer after drying off. He turned off the lights and got to work.

Ji Xun took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. He emptied his mind and meditated... This time, he had no unusual experiences. When the timer sounded, he quietly chanted, “I want the spirit of the lion, I want the spirit of the lion, I want...” After half an hour, the timer went off again, and the session ended. Ji Xun turned on the light and drank some water. He peeked through a small crack in the curtains to look across the way. The second-floor light was off. It seemed Fu Shuxing had already gone to bed.

Hmph! This time, I’m more diligent than you! After drinking, Ji Xun climbed into bed. But just as he closed his eyes, he felt himself suddenly lighten. His eyelids twitched. This feeling was familiar—just like the last time he accidentally entered his own spiritual realm. The difference was, last time he drifted like smoke or a tendril, calm and peaceful. This time, it was as if a storm swept him up—he was sucked in by a tremendous force!

When he opened his eyes, Ji Xun was stunned by the scene before him. Darkness everywhere, sand and stones flying wildly. Countless grains and pebbles blocked the sky, a fierce sandstorm raging! Yet far away, the sky was clear and bright! The spectacle was terrifying, and Ji Xun felt uneasy. He tried to move toward the peaceful half of the world. Although the sandstorm caused him no real harm, the overwhelming sense of déjà vu made him uncomfortable all over. But as soon as he moved slightly, he was violently pulled backward! The immense suction made him temporarily lose sight.

He felt himself fall to the ground but without pain. All around was pitch black. Ji Xun opened his eyes wide but saw no light. Reaching down, he touched the surface beneath him—a flat floor. “Awooo.” Hearing a sound, Ji Xun immediately turned, alert! In the pitch-black darkness, he saw a pair of small spheres glowing with emerald light, floating midair. Those were not just spheres. Ji Xun’s father’s spiritual form was a coyote; Fu Shuxing’s was a white tiger. Those “emerald spheres” were the eyes of a beast in the night!

Seeing their position, Ji Xun was secretly startled. This was definitely a huge creature! Yet he felt no great sense of danger, only puzzled uncertainty. “General?” he whispered. “Awooo.” The green eyes drew closer. Soon Ji Xun heard the white tiger’s heavy breathing and its occasional uneasy roar in the darkness. He reached out and felt its back, confused. “General, how did you get here? Where is this?” Ji Xun asked, “Am I dreaming?” The general nudged him with its head. Though he didn’t understand its meaning, instinctively Ji Xun hugged it, stood up, and climbed onto its back. The general seemed to carry him very far. Very far.

When Ji Xun opened his eyes, he saw faint light—it was his bedroom. He immediately switched on the light! Feeling his bed and then his forehead, he quickly jumped out of bed to pull back the curtains! Something was wrong! Had it been so long since he’d seen the general? Fu Shuxing used to release the general often to roam the yard. But since the night Ji Xun heard the general’s roar and Fu Shuxing refused to admit it, he hadn’t seen the general again!

Ji Xun put his thumb and forefinger to his lips and let out a sharp whistle, piercing the night! After whistling, he immediately looked across with his binoculars. But after a long wait, Fu Shuxing’s bedroom curtains remained still. Something was wrong. Ji Xun’s instincts told him trouble had come. That strange, eerie dream seemed to foreshadow something bad. His heart sank. But he wasn’t sure if his premonition was right or wrong. After all, his mother had gone to see Fu Shuxing that night, so there should be no problem.

Ji Xun took out his communicator and called Fu Shuxing twice.